"Our Memories Are Numbered" by Rufflefeather (NC-17)
Title: Our Memories Are Numbered
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Categories: Amnesia, First Time
Length: Long (23,105)
Warnings: Dubious Consent (because of the amnesia)
Author on LJ: rufflefeather
Author Website: AO3
Summary: Stiles’ Jeep grinds to a halt, he sees someone running through the rain, he's not expecting it to be Derek. He's not expecting a Derek without any memories either, or an Alpha pack that's coming for all of them. He probably should've, because lately nothing goes the way he expects.
Review: I love a good amnesia story, and "Our Memories Are Numbered" is one of the best in this fandom. While driving through the woods one day, Stiles comes across an amnesiac Derek on the run from something he can't remember. As they try to piece together the puzzle of Derek's missing memories, Stiles finds himself increasingly drawn to this newer, more carefree Derek -- and the feeling is obviously mutual.
The great irony of Teen Wolf amnesia fic is that the trauma of Derek losing his memories is always less than the trauma of getting them back. Without the shadow of his family's death hanging over him, Derek is confident and magnetic, almost carefree. I love watching him interact with the pack. There are some great moments with Isaac and Peter, especially. I also really liked the way Rufflefeather wrote Sheriff Stilinski. The sheriff's initial suspicion towards Derek rang true to me, as did his begrudging acceptance later in the story. My favorite aspect of this story, though, is the chemistry between amnesiac!Derek and Stiles. This is a Derek who knows exactly who and what he wants, and without Kate's influence, he sees no problem with trying to take it. Stiles, meanwhile, desperately wants to succumb to Derek's advances, but is trying to hold off out of respect for the Derek he knows. The mutually-acknowledged UST is smoldering in this, and when the sex finally does happen, it is well worth the wait. As befits an amnesia fic, there is plenty of angst in this story, but it stems naturally from the characters and the situations and never feels artificial. The ending is deeply satisfying to me. I've read this story a good half-dozen times, and probably will read it several times more before I've finished with this fandom.Also make sure to check out the amazing artwork by alby_mangroves, which is embedded in the story's AO3 post!
Our Memories Are Numbered
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Categories: Amnesia, First Time
Length: Long (23,105)
Warnings: Dubious Consent (because of the amnesia)
Author on LJ: rufflefeather
Author Website: AO3
Summary: Stiles’ Jeep grinds to a halt, he sees someone running through the rain, he's not expecting it to be Derek. He's not expecting a Derek without any memories either, or an Alpha pack that's coming for all of them. He probably should've, because lately nothing goes the way he expects.
Review: I love a good amnesia story, and "Our Memories Are Numbered" is one of the best in this fandom. While driving through the woods one day, Stiles comes across an amnesiac Derek on the run from something he can't remember. As they try to piece together the puzzle of Derek's missing memories, Stiles finds himself increasingly drawn to this newer, more carefree Derek -- and the feeling is obviously mutual.
The great irony of Teen Wolf amnesia fic is that the trauma of Derek losing his memories is always less than the trauma of getting them back. Without the shadow of his family's death hanging over him, Derek is confident and magnetic, almost carefree. I love watching him interact with the pack. There are some great moments with Isaac and Peter, especially. I also really liked the way Rufflefeather wrote Sheriff Stilinski. The sheriff's initial suspicion towards Derek rang true to me, as did his begrudging acceptance later in the story. My favorite aspect of this story, though, is the chemistry between amnesiac!Derek and Stiles. This is a Derek who knows exactly who and what he wants, and without Kate's influence, he sees no problem with trying to take it. Stiles, meanwhile, desperately wants to succumb to Derek's advances, but is trying to hold off out of respect for the Derek he knows. The mutually-acknowledged UST is smoldering in this, and when the sex finally does happen, it is well worth the wait. As befits an amnesia fic, there is plenty of angst in this story, but it stems naturally from the characters and the situations and never feels artificial. The ending is deeply satisfying to me. I've read this story a good half-dozen times, and probably will read it several times more before I've finished with this fandom.Also make sure to check out the amazing artwork by alby_mangroves, which is embedded in the story's AO3 post!
Our Memories Are Numbered