Sterek Fic Recs
Here are links to my Top 10 favorite Sterek fics/series with my personal ringing endorsements for each. Not all of them are slow-burns, but most are, and all take place in canon.
33,090 words/Explicit
He doesn't know his name, he doesn't know who he is, and neither does the werewolf he's on the run with. But he's pretty sure they hunt monsters, because they seem to be really good at it.
This is my number 1, absolute favorite Sterek fic. It currently has over 21,000 kudos and for good reason. Stiles and Derek lose their memories and have to figure out who they are, who did this to them, and how to get their memories back. The fic does a beautiful job utilizing Stiles' detective skills to retrace their steps and shows how well these two work as a team with just their personalities and no prior history. Plus, who doesn't enjoy a Supernatural-style, monter-hunting roadtrip? Just absolutely gorgeous, made me tear up at the end, very well written, love of my life.
25,301 words/Explicit
After the events of season 3b, the group in Beacon Hills graduate high school and move on with their lives… everyone except Stiles and Derek. Beset by their demons, they decide they need to get away for a while to clear their heads. Cue the road trip. (companion piece to “Occam’s Razor” but can be read alone)
This is actually Part 2 of a series, but can be read alone (which I highly recommend you do!!!). It honestly hits much harder when not tied to Part 1 (and in my opinion actually has very little to do with Part 1), the tones are completely different, and the ending of Part 1 left a sour taste in my mouth. Just trust me on this one. Read this without Part 1. If you're still curious, go back and read it AFTER. THIS fic, however, is one of the subtlest, slowest burns I've ever read. It's very gradual but not in a frustrating way, since it's giving Stiles enough time to heal. Stiles, one day, just goes, "I can't anymore" and drops everything, including school, to essentially run away from his problems. Instead of trying to stop him, Derek, without any questions, opens the passenger door and goes "Where to?". A long, epic roadtrip ensues where they ignore the rest of the world and go from allies to the only ones that truly understand each other. It is absolutely beautiful.
42,812 words/Explicit
When Stiles gets thrown into the bank vault about twenty minutes after him, Derek isn’t even surprised. As it turns out, neither is Stiles.
This is probably the most well-written, in-character Derek I've come across. Prickly, snappy, but still cares for the well-being of others even if he doesn't show it. This fic is also meta at times in a funny way, with Stiles constantly calling out why the universe keeps shoving them together and why their lives keep playing out cliche' tropes. It doesn't get 4th-wall-break-ey, though, and it's mostly serious and hits you pretty hard in the beginning. It's not as overindulgent as you might think as you learn that all the times they're shoved together aren't just coincidence.
7,083 words/Explicit
Healing was a slow process. It was like driving up a mountain in the winter without snow tires; you’d make a little progress, slip back a little, keep moving forward, get stuck in a snow drift and have to dig yourself out.
More Nogitsune trauma and Stiles trying to live with himself in the aftermath. No one but Derek truly understands what it's like to experience that much guilt and grief. Derek tries to show that Stiles is thoughtful and caring and nothing like the Nogitsune. There's a scene of Stiles remembering Derek's birthday that absolutely tore me up.
43,947 words/Explicit
A pack of alpha werewolves is burning a war path through Beacon Hills; Stiles shouldn’t have the luxury of trying to get laid.
I honestly don't think I could describe this in a way to do this story justice. Just know that there's a reason that it's one of my top 5. The whole fic revolves around the Alpha pack wreaking havoc and leaving warnings all around town, mostly setting fires. Stiles and Derek steadily come together in a physical way but spend most of the time not quite knowing what their exact relationship is to one another. Stiles and Derek reminisce about loved ones, trading stories of fond memories. A story of navigating a relationship with neither one having any clue what they're doing or what they want, all while under a constant looming threat. There's also a bit in the beginning about Stiles taking some sort of healing potion that causes hallucinations, but so much other important stuff happens that you kinda forget about that part.
36,590 words/Explicit
Derek doesn’t know how Stiles always does this every time they have to work together: he gets Derek caught up in these ridiculous, circular conversations and Derek finds himself arguing over inconsequential things that he doesn’t actually feel that strongly about. It’s like Stiles has an innate ability to bring Derek down to his level of immaturity.
This is the best kind of dynamic. Their constant arguing and UST reaches a boiling point. You don't usually see this kind of fic from Derek's point of view, especially a Derek who, despite making the first move, is unsure and insecure and is just so terrified of taking advantage of Stiles, like Kate did to him (and the fear of becoming Kate is so crippling). It's also refreshing to see a headstrong Stiles that's confident and doesn't let Derek second-guess himself or run away when things get scary, who isn't afraid to say "Oh no you don't, buddy. We're going to sit here and talk this out." They're both awkward dorks that have a hard time communicating properly (it can get a little frustrating at times), but you can tell they're trying so earnestly, harder than they ever have with any other relationship. There's tons on monsters-of-the-week, hunters, witches, etc. There's plenty of excitement and drama. Also bottom!Derek, because he just needs someone to take care of him.
18,411 words/Explicit
The kissing. That’s important, very important. Not that the homicidal lycanthrope dragging him through dirt and fallen leaves isn’t important, but the kiss that follows? The path to this monumental push of lips on lips began even before this ill-fated venture to the Hale house. The douchebag manhandling him through the forest, hand clamped tight around Stiles’s throat to keep him from screaming, is just a bonus.
A cute, slow burn romance with a mostly soft Derek and an unsure Stiles that is always worried if the next thing he does is going to be what makes Derek break up with him (not realizing that Derek adores him). I love how supportive and understanding the sheriff is in this. Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a sucker for Stiles remembering Derek's birthday, but this fic reverses that with Derek being sweet and thoughtful for Stiles' birthday instead, which is almost just as nice. The main reason this fic is at my top 10 is because of one moment in particular, in which (not knowing of Derek's past with Kate) Stiles licks Derek's stomach...the aftermath of this broke me HARD. It is absolutely tragic for the both of them, but they find comfort in each other and it's very warming to read how they handle it. Plus, they face some monsters. All in all, their relationship is very wholesome and sweet, and not as heavy or riddled with grief as my other recommendations may be. You get the sense that they're together because they're fond of each other, not just because they're both hurting and lost.
25,935 words/Explicit
Stiles is on his back on hard-packed dirt. He's cold and there are leaves stuck to his neck and there's a four inch gash in his side that he thinks he can feel his ribs through. There's so much blood around him he feels like he's floating on a pond and everything is so much dimmer above him than it was a minute ago, which is saying something because he's in the dark center of the forest in the middle of the night. And the worst of it is that he's alone, totally alone with the smell of his own blood drowning him and the soft side of him run through by a tree. As his eyes slip shut, the last thing he thinks is, "This is going to kill my dad."
Another cute slow burn but with a surprisingly funny Derek. Stiles gets hurt and Derek takes it upon himself to dote on him. Stiles has printed out werewolf research laying out on his desk and Derek makes a habit out of writing sarcastic and hilarious notes between the lines. Made all the more hilarious because, despite what he's writing, his demeanor doesn't change. He's still stone-faced and broody all while doodling dicks on Stiles' research. At the same time, Derek can be socially awkward. It's adorable how these two learn things about each other and the witty banter and quips between these two are non-stop and pure gold.
144,224 words/Explicit
Stiles is fairly certain that a case could be made for every bad thing in his life coming back to Peter Hale. This time it's pissing off a powerful witch, who retaliated by swapping Stiles and Derek a la Freaky Friday, because sure. That makes sense. Um, there are GPAs on the line, not to mention the whole thing where his dad wants to shoot Derek on sight. Except who he sees as Derek is actually Stiles, and Stiles did not sign up for filicide. Great. Wait...does this mean he's the Alpha until they figure this out? Holy. Shit. **** Derek had stood in front of the bathroom mirror for a few minutes trying to control the panic as he saw himself as Stiles. As the loud mouthed human friend of the pack. He was going to kill Peter. He was going to kill the witch, then he was going to kill Peter. Maybe even resurrect him again just to kill him all over. They were going to have to play this cool. They would have to stay calm and focused. Which is of course why the universe threw him into this situation with someone who physically couldn't be calm and focused. Of course.
A body-swap fic that focuses on them learning each other's lives. Derek experiencing what it's like to have a father again via the sheriff is so heartwarming and Stiles learning about Derek's history with Kate is heartbreaking. I know I've got a few Derek comforting Stiles fics on this list, so here is a sweet Stiles comforting Derek fic. Stiles is also pretty hilarious in this, super funny one-liners and banter from Stiles.
Total: 30,526 words
Part 1: Nothing Less
11,422 words/Explicit
Derek even does up Stiles’s seatbelt, which Stiles thinks he should comment on, because it’s not like he got hit with kanima juice or something. He’s fine. But then Derek’s already sliding behind the wheel, and Stiles keeps losing little pockets of time.
Part 2: Something More
19,104 words/Explicit
In this sequel to Nothing Less, Stiles and Derek navigate the choppy waters of their new relationship. They also have to deal with that nasty alpha pack, who aren't going away without a fight. Drama and angst ensues.
A two part series that MUST be read together. I cried and was frantically thinking the whole time "The author wouldn't do that, would they? WOULD THEY?!" There are major twists and turns in Part 2 that will make you want to stop the hurting, but TRUST ME, you HAVE to read it to the end. As expected, Part 1 is a slowburn of them getting together. Stiles asks Derek to teach him how to shoot so he can stop feeling helpless. Part 1, I should mention, starts off with the Alpha pack attempting to sexually assault Stiles before Derek rescues him. Nothing happens, but just figured I'd put a warning.