Chapter 8
Stiles found himself walking into Tony's workshop a month later, easily weaving the tables filled with parts and unfinished projects, well used to the chaos.
He found Tony in his corner, fiddling with some 3D mock-up for a new suit.
Stiles just silently huffed, moving forward and handing him today’s New York Times.
Tony didn’t even take his eyes off the screen as he spoke. "You know I don’t like being handed things."
Stiles scoffed. "Yeah, well, you're going to take this and read it."
Tony rolled his eyes, yet took the paper from him, reading it intently.
Once done, he eyed Stiles, brow raised, trying not to smirk but failing when Stiles beamed right back.
Well, the media has clearly picked its crown prince.
The article debated between Stiles and General Ross, asking who was truly the best choice to run the avengers.
The article spoke of General Ross being more experienced, but also spoke of some leaked botched missions – ones that Stiles was sure Tony had leaked out of spite – anger issues, and personal vendettas, and how Stiles, although young and less experienced, had proven himself to be more than capable of guiding the people’s beloved superheroes. Their efficiency levels actually having risen by twenty percent now that they were properly managed and property damage having gone down by thirty percent.
Tony smirked. "Told you, kid. How could they not like you?"
Stiles huffed. "Yeah, now if they could just stop trying to put me in a relationship with everyone. "
Tony smirked. "Less likely to happen. The media loves scandals and romance."
He rolled his eyes, grimacing. "Yeah well, I just wanted to show you the article. I should head out and meet with Danny, I promised I'd beat him at Call of Duty."
Tony tried not to pout. "People are going to start thinking you're dating him. Besides, when’s the last time you actually came and hung out with me?"
Stiles scoffed. "Tony, anytime I game with Danny, you suddenly find an excuse to join in and we see each other every day. It's not like you're lacking Stiles time."
Tony was now obviously pouting and trying his hardest not to sound whiney, much to Stiles amusement. "Everyone gets one on one Stiles time, even the Hulk, but since you took over full time you haven’t had any time to hang out with me."
Stiles let out a small sigh, trying to hide his smile, and picked up his phone, texting Danny. "What did you want to do? Gaming can wait for another day."
Tony grinned, motioning him over to what he had been working on. "It's just a few anti supernatural pieces from the information you gave me, so far they have proven effective.”
Stiles looked everything over appreciatively before pointing to the armor. "What about infusing the armor with mountain ash and mistletoe?"
The billionaire gave him a feral grin. "That would completely work, I could infuse it into the paint."
And off they went, talking animatedly until they moved to schematics for Tony's new suit, bouncing ideas off each other.
Stiles sighed wistfully, bent over a piece of armour, grinning up at Tony. "Flying the suit must be a ridiculous rush."
Tony blinked at him for a moment, stilling, before a grin spread across his face. "Want to try it out?"
He stilled for a moment, eyes widening. "Are you joking right now? Don't joke about something like that Tony, that would be really cruel."
The billionaire rolled his eyes. "I never joke about the suits."
Stiles cheered, fist thrown in the air. "Heck yes! Show me how to run one of these!"
Tony spoke up. "Jarvis, add Stiles to the suit authorisation protocol, password India, Romeo, Delta, six, six, eight."
Jarvis spoke up, echoing around the room. "Yes sir, Stiles has been added to the authorisation list."
The billionaire motioned Stiles over. "Jarvis take out suit 1005 for Stiles."
Hydraulics whooshed as one of the suits appeared from the floor, and Tony proceeded to show him how to get into the suit.
Once it closed in on him, Stiles couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face.
Tony walked him through walking and moving around before showing him how to hover using the thrusters.
Once he thought Stiles was ready, Tony himself suited up and blasted off, challenging Stiles to follow him.
Stiles whooped , causing Tony to chuckle at his childish exuberance. "Don't lose focus Stiles, we don't want you to crash."
He chuckled lightly, sliding in next to him. "Yes, dad."
Tony stuttered, slightly flustered, causing Stiles to laugh. "I let you fly one of my suits and this is the thanks I get."
Stiles huffed in Tony’s ear. "Just teasing Tony. Thanks for this though, this is a dream come true."
They continued flying for a while, reaching the clouds, and then going low, causing a few people to point up at them.
Tony chuckled. "We may need to head back before we end up on the front page of a newspaper, people wondering who the second person is flying a suit that is definitely not War Machine."
Stiles let out a teasing. "Roger that, back to the tower."
They both turned, Tony impressed by how well Stiles was handling the suit.
Stiles was a little rough on the landing but not completely horrible considering Tony had practically smashed his suit on his first few landings.
Once they were both out of their suits, Stiles was flushed, red cheeked and eyes glimmering with excitement, causing Tony's breath to hitch in his throat, something squeezing painfully inside his chest. "Thanks Tony, I never in my wildest dreams ever imagined I'd ever get to use one of these suits."
Tony was silent for a moment before he huffed out a breath he had been holding and turned on his heels. "Yeah well, how about building one? You come up with the concept, I'll help you build it. Show me what you got?"
Stiles was silent for a long time, causing Tony to finally turn to see him rooted in place, jaw dropped. "You're catching flies Stiles, come on, you've helped me repair my suit, you handled this one quite well. I'd like to see how you'd do building your own."
He finally unfroze, whooping and running to Tony's side. "You are so on. I've got a pile of ideas that might work."
Tony grinned, showing Stiles how to get Jarvis to help him out with simulations, the both of them working into the early morning light on their own suits, Stiles only interrupting Tony here and there with questions or guidance.
It was Pepper walking in and stopping in her tracks, eyes wide in shock that had both of them turn to stare at her, with twin bleary sleep deprived eyes. "Well that's not creepy at all."
Tony grunted. "Pepper, what can I do for you, I'm almost done my new suit design."
Pepper rolled her eyes. "I told you I needed some paperwork signed for the sale of the penthouse. Did you seriously not sleep all night? Stiles as well?"
Stiles yawned. "We got a lot done. Jarvis, run that simulation again would you?"
Peppers jaw dropped once more. "Are you.... helping Tony with a suit?"
Tony grinned. "I challenged Stiles to build his own suit, I’m curious to see what he's capable of."
Pepper was silent for a moment. "Tony... You never let anyone touch your suits, let alone tinker."
Tony shrugged. "He's shown that he's got skill for it when he helped me fix my suit when we first met and he did really good flying the suit last night."
The room was silent before Pepper burst into laughter. "You actually let him fly one of your suits? Oh Tony, you are so in over your head right now."
Both of them looked at Pepper causing her to laugh even more. "Neither of you even realise it either. Never mind, it'll be more fun watching it happen."
Tony sighed, no idea what Pepper was talking about but signed the paperwork on the condo that they had co-owned, the final piece of their cohabitating finished. He felt like he should have felt some form of hurt over this but he didn’t. He still loved Pepper deeply, she was his best friend next to Rhodey and that would never change.
He watched her leave before Jarvis spoke up. "Sir, both of you have a meeting in two hours, might I suggest bathing, a change of clothes and food?"
Tony and Stiles gaze met and they nodded. "Meet up in half an hour for breakfast before meetings?"
Stiles nodded. "Let's get something delivered, it should be here by the time we’re both done. Order enough for the rest of the team just in case, you know how they can get."
The billionaire smiled and then yawned, jaw cracking. "Deal."
They both showered in record time, and were sitting eating breakfast wraps and hashbrowns in companiable silence while sipping coffee when the rest of the team descended on them, claiming the rest of the food just as Stiles had foretold.
Banner bumped shoulders with Stiles companiably, their relationship having cemented along with the Hulk’ss. Since he didn’t feel like he had to fight himself all of the time, the scientist seemed much happier.
Thor was his regular cheerful puppy dog self, thanking them before stuffing his face full of food.
Cap was much quieter, giving them a small smile and murmured thank you, looking much softer in the morning before his first cup of coffee.
Natasha and Clint looked like they could murder someone before their first cup of coffee and Stiles preferred to leave them alone to caffeinate.
Once everyone was fed and full of coffee, they made their way to the meeting room where Stiles briefed them on their next mission before sending them off to pack and get ready.
They would be away for a few days, scouting their target.
Stiles stood in the empty room, feeling slightly out of his depth, not knowing what to do with himself. This was the first mission with any form of down time between him sending his team out and needing to be in the com room, making sure everything went well.
He fished his cellphone out, texting Derek. "You up for a run? We could meet at Central park."
It only took a minute for Derek to text back. "Sure, Meet by Bethesda Fountain?"
Stiles grinned before responding. "Sure, see you there in half an hour."
Stiles rushed over to change out of his suit and into a black wife beater and running shorts, keeping his watch with the inserted panic button on the wrist band and snapping on his belt with a water bottle, mace, a knife and pistol. Sadly it was a little harder to get out than a normal conceal carry since it had to be hidden in a pouch.
He spoke up as he left his rooms. "Jarvis, alert my security detail that I'm heading out for a run and my location so they can do whatever it is they want to do to keep an eye on me."
Jarvis sounded amused as he spoke. "I shall alert them, Sir. I would advise to wait for them to meet you at the door but I assume it will fall on deaf ears."
Stiles snorted. "Got it in one my man. I'm heading to meet up with a werewolf. I doubt they can protect me better."
His security team was waiting for him at the door, despite Jarvis's remark. "Mr. Stilinski, you need to let us know in advance when you plan on going out. We can't keep you safe without proper planning."
Stiles scoffed. "Guys, I survived a nogitsune, I'm sure I can go jog through central park."
Joe, his head of security, looked like he was going to pop a vein, yet stayed impassively polite. "Riley and I will accompany you."
Stiles shook his head, amused. "You are going to run after me... In full suits?"
Joe just stared back at him, straight faced, and Stiles sighed. "Have it your way, just try to keep up."
He set off, texting Derek to let him know he had been derailed but was on his way.
When he arrived, Derek grinned, moving forward, and Stiles couldn’t help meeting him halfway and giving him a big Stilinski hug, loving the fact that Derek would accept hugs now.
Therapy had done what Stiles thought was impossible, actually getting Derek to accept touch. "Nice to see you, big guy."
Derek grinned back. "Nice to see you, too. Think you can keep up?"
Stiles grinned. "You're on, big guy. Let's see if my security detail is worth their metal."
Derek snorted and they set off on a brisk pace, enjoying each other’s company.
Half an hour later Derek gave Stiles a look, surprised that he was keeping up with him, a soft sheen of sweat pouring down his skin but still easily keeping pace. "I'm surprised you’re not screaming for mercy yet."
Stiles grinned. "I'm being trained by Hawkeye and the Black Widow with the occasional boxing lesson from Captain America, I've build some stamina."
Derek grinned, bunny teeth out and proud. "I've noticed, Your confidence has grown too. You’re in a wife beater instead of covered in layers of clothes, your shoulders have broadened and your arms are much more defined and muscled.
He couldn’t help the smirk. "Why Derek, are you checking me out?"
Derek shoved Stiles playfully and Stiles burst into laughter as they stopped to take a breath. Stiles pulled the edge of his tank to wipe the sweat from his brow and Derek whistled, chuckling. "Training definitely paid off, Stiles. "
Stiles huffed. "Never thought I’d see the day that Derek Hale would be checking me out."
Derek laughed. "I’m just surprised the awkward little teen that I knew finally grew up."
Stiles scoffed, amused. "Laugh it up, I'm the world’s golden boy now, everyone wants to date me."
Derek grinned, and they set back off, smack talking and laughing, Stiles enjoying this new Derek that was comfortable enough to tease and banter with him.
He looked behind him before looking back at Derek, a mischievous glint in his eye. "What do you say we try to lose my shadows?"
Derek laughed, upping his speed, and Stiles whooped, following him.
They gave them a good run for their money, leaving Derek and Stiles pretty impressed. Tony had definitely put good money into his security detail.
They finally stopped at a park, children shrieking in the distance as they played.
They were all bent over their waists, taking deep breaths, Joe trying to speak between gasps. "Never.. try.. to...escape... your...detail...again... Mr. Stilinski..."
Stiles huffed a laugh. "I just wanted to see how good you guys were, relax Joe."
Derek laughed, eyes crinkling in mirth before he stilled, going on alert and shoving Stiles with all his might. The chain link fence behind him suddenly melted, the now liquid metal pooling around Derek and the security detail before it solidified again, trapping them in place.
Stiles landed with an Oomph, hand automatically going for his Beretta, cursing the zipper as he rose to his feet, eyes scanning the area.
His gaze landed on the man walking towards him, eyes shining an unnatural bright silver.
Finally managing to take his Berretta out he pointed the weapon at his enemy's chest , and removed the safety before noticing the weapon starting to melt in his hands.
Dropping it, he widened his stance, ready for hand to hand combat. “Melting a chain link fence over my friends isn’t the best way to get my attention, dude.”
The man smirked before looking away from him out towards the playground, the slide melting and collapsing, children scattering and screaming in fear. “How’s that for getting your attention?”
Stiles stealthily pressed the panic button built into the watch Tony had given him. "Hey, dude, if it's me you want, then face me, don't bully little kids like a coward."
The man scowled, marching forward as Stiles moved to meet him half way, dodging the punch that was sent his way and weaving, sending a fist into the guy's solar plexus, the man barely reacting.
Whoever he was, the man was trained for combat and gave Stiles a run for his money as they both landed punches, flipping each other and grappling until Stiles managed to drop kick the guy right to the head, knocking him down and out, just in time for an enraged bellow to fill the sky as the Hulk arrived, scanning for something to smash, sending even more kids screaming.
Stiles moved forward to intercept. "Easy big fella, I'm ok, just a few scratches."
The Hulk moved forward, picking Stiles up in a gentle, for him, bear hug. "STILES OKAY? HULK WORRIED!"
Stiles huffed a laugh, patting his cheek. "I'm fine big guy, but could you help get Derek and the others out from under the fence?"
The hulk plucked stiles up and set him on his shoulder like they usually did in the training room and lifted the fence off of everyone just as Tony and the rest of the team arrived.
Tony was the first to move forward into the Hulk’s space. "Stiles are you okay?"
Stiles nodded, putting his team at ease. "I'm okay, that inhuman over there needs to be brought in for questioning, though. He's going to have one heck of a headache when he wakes up. I’d suggest using rope, he can melt metal."
Natasha and Clint both grinned at him, looking proud, as Cap tied the inhuman before Thor slung him over his shoulder.
A crowd had drawn at the noise so Stiles asked the Hulk to put him down, which he gently did, and Stiles moved forward to disperse the crowd. "Everything is fine now everyone, the person responsible is apprehended. Were any of the kids hurt?"
One of the children who was watching was the first to answer, the adults mute from shock, mainly staring nervously at the hulk. "Julie hurt her knee but everyone else was ok."
The boy pointed to a little girl who was crying in her mothers arms, leg scratched and bleeding.
Stiles approached. "Hey there, Julie, right?"
She sniffled and nodded shyly, her crying abated at the attention. "I'm Stiles, and these guys over there are the avengers and my friend Derek. I hear you were really brave when the bad guy attacked."
Her little voice quivered as she hid half her face in her mother’s chest. "I got hurt."
Stiles nodded solemnly. "So did I, but think of the stories you can tell your friends when they ask why you were hurt."
She looked at him with wide eyes, tears finally abated. "If it's okay with your mom, how about you come meet the Avengers and we'll tend to your knee."
The little girl looked up to her mother who was nervous and slightly reluctant as she stared back at the Hulk.
Stiles smiled. "I promise none of them will hurt her, especially not the Hulk; He loves kids and you’re welcome to come with us."
She nodded silently but allowed her daughter to slide from her grasp and into Stiles arms.
They slowly made their way to the gang who were staring back at him, slightly perplexed. "Hey guys, this is Julie and her mom. Julie got hurt when Jerk Face over there melted the slide. Julie, this is Derek, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Captain America, Thor, and last but not least, The Incredible Hulk."
They all waved back at her and she gave a little wave back, hiding her face slightly in Stiles chest, incredibly shy.
Stiles smiled. "Hey Julie, Derek here is able to take pain away, would you let him?"
She eyed Derek, who tried to look as un-preditory as possible and nodded as he came forward, smiling, flashing his bunny teeth. "Hey Julie, I'm going to take some of your pain away, okay? Can you hold my hand?"
She extended her hand and he gently clasped it, causing Julie's mother to gasp as she saw the black marks crawl up Derek's arms.
Once he was done, Tony stepped forward, faceplate pulled back, and grinned at the little girl. "Hey kid, lets get you fixed up. I have a spray that will help you heal really fast, you won't even get a scar and even better..." Tony pulled out Avengers band-aids. "You get to pick what avengers you want on your knee."
Julie beamed pointing to Iron Man and Captain America. "Can I have two?"
Tony spoke teasingly. "Greedy little girl, of course you can. First I’m going to spray this on your knee, It's going to be cold but it won't hurt."
Pointing to the injury, the tip of Tony's gauntlet flipped up, spraying a light film over it before he handed the band-aids to Stiles, who stuck them onto the girl’s knee. "There you go, good as new."
She squirmed, sliding out of Stiles arms onto the ground excitedly.
Julie tested her little leg before beaming up at Derek and Tony. "It doesn’t hurt at all anymore, thank you!"
Tony smirked, eyeing Derek with superiority yet keeping quiet, much to Stiles surprise.
Stiles took her hand and brought her to meet everyone, happy that his team was on their best behaviour, including the Hulk who extended a first to let her fist bump, much to his amusement since he had taught him the move.
They all waved goodbye as the little girl left, hand in her mother’s, who thanked them profusely.
He waved to the rest of the crowd, advising they needed to get the culprit back into a holding cell.
Tony chuckled as they walked away. "You do realise that the paparazzi were all over you right? You are going to be even more the golden boy after all of this."
Derek grinned, bumping shoulders with Stiles. "They have been following us since we started our run, they probably got all of it on camera."
Stiles groaned. "Derek... They are going to think we're dating."
Derek shrugged. "Better than everyone else they keep pairing you with."
Stiles stilled. "You've been reading about me?"
Derek scoffed. "Stiles, you're all over the papers, news and tabloids, of course I’ve kept up."
Stiles grinned. "So what, you want to be my beard? My pretend boyfriend so the media will lay off?"
Derek’s eyebrows came into play, but Stiles knew that look, it was his ‘I'm trying to act annoyed when I'm really not’ look. "I’m pretty sure that's not exactly what beard means when its two men, Stiles. Besides, you've been texting me non stop about how the media has been driving you crazy. This may be the answer to making them lose interest. I still consider you as pack, so touching you in public isn’t an issue."
Tony scowled. "I don't like this idea, definitely not."
Natasha butted in with a smirk. "I think it's a great idea. If they see Stiles in a stable relationship, they will eventually stop with all the romance tabloid stories."
Hawkeye smirked back, eyes glinting with amusement. "I’m in agreement. Let Derek and Stiles pretend to be dating."
Tony scowled at his team. " Et tu, Clint and Natasha?"
Everyone chuckled and Stiles sighed. "Alright Derek, but you better woo me like the pretty princess I am!"
Tony muttered something about being able to woo Stiles under his breath that only Derek caught, causing him to chuckle." I'll keep that in mind Stiles."
That eventful evening was also how Stiles was woken up early the next morning by his father, screaming into his ear asking why Stiles was dating Derek Hale and why he needed to hear about it over the media instead of from his only son.
That morning Stiles, for just a moment, cursed the media and the Avengers, but then thought of the little girl’s beaming smile as he introduced her to the heroes, and his grumpiness eased.
He loved his team, and he loved his job. The media, on the other hand, was a pain in his ass and his dad was going to have to get used to it.