Chapter 4
Two weeks had passed since his first visit to Stark tower with his Uncle. His confidence had grown and he no longer felt like an outsider who had to sneak from one area to the other for risk of being kicked out.
On his way to the elevator he nodded to Rose, who smiled and waved back from the front desk.
Happy nodded approvingly as Stiles waved, seeing his badge clearly visible.
Stiles entered the elevator and couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. “Jarvis, my man, how are you on this fine day?”
The elevator echoed with the A.I’s voice. “Very well, sir. How was school?”
Stiles shrugged. “School is school. It’s been about dodging bullies with Nick and being more advanced than everyone else in my classes. Did anything interesting happen while I was away?”
Stiles stepped out of the elevator and the A.I’s voice followed him. “Mr. Stark made the new intern cry when he tried to move one of his projects, thinking it was a statue.”
Stiles snickered, entering Pepper’s office and freezing in his tracks when he fell under Tony’s unimpressed gaze. “You are teaching Jarvis to gossip now? First you try teaching him slang and now this. You, Stiles, are a bad influence to my A.I.”
Pepper chuckled. “Let it go, Tony. I think Jarvis likes Stiles, isn't that right, Jarvis?”
Jarvis responded immediately with affection clear in his voice “I enjoy his company immensely.”
Stiles tried his best not to laugh at Tony’s jealous reaction at Jarvis’s declaration.
Shaking her head, Pepper handed Stiles her credit card with an order list wrapped around it. “My assistant isn't back yet, so how about you go get us some coffee? Don’t forget to get yourself something too.”
Stiles nodded, used to being asked to do small errands like this.
He quickly made his way back to the elevator and then out of the lobby, waving goodbye to Rose.
In no time he was at Starbucks and had Pepper’s order filled and a Caramel Macchiato with an extra pump of hazelnut for himself.
He was almost to back to Stark Tower when he was grabbed from behind and shoved into the alleyway and thrown hard against the brick. The boiling hot coffee spilled all over his chest, causing him to scream before he was quickly shut up by a fist connecting with his face.
He heard the voice before a foot connected with his chest. “Think you can show me up, you fucking asshole?”
Stiles tried to take in a rattling breath before he felt a fist connect with his other cheek.
Kyle managed to land a few more hits, his voice booming, and yet stiles could not hear any of his words because of the buzzing in his head.
He landed a few more hits before Stiles was able to lift himself from the ground and shove him hard enough for him to fall back.
Stiles did not wait to see if he was followed. He ran back inside Stark Tower, making his way towards the elevator, pressing the top floor button over and over as he saw Kyle running towards him.
The doors closed just before Kyle could shove his hand inside.
Stiles felt his hands shake as he pressed the emergency stop button between floors, breath ragged.
Jarvis spoke through the intercom. “Stiles, are you all right? Your heartbeat is elevated and your breathing is erratic.”
He grabbed for the console pulling the controls up, typing as fast as he could, every lesson Skye had taught him coming to the forefront. He did not need Jarvis taking over the elevator just as he was about to have a panic attack. The last thing he needed was his uncle hearing about this.
Once he was done, he stepped backwards until his back hit the corner and he slid down to the floor. “Jarvis, please don’t tell anyone about this.”
He wrapped his arms around his head, letting the panic attack take over; today’s events triggering memories of the Argent's basement and Erica and Boyd both strewn up and electrified. The world around him was fading away, flashbacks enveloping him.
His head was buzzing, the pressure like a vice squeezing his head, his breathing erratic, his ribs aching, the burns on his chest and the bruises on his face throbbing.
He never registered the arms enveloping him or the voices speaking to him for the longest time.
The first thing that registered as he came down from his panic attack was Tony’s hands rubbing his back and then finally his voice. “Come on, Stiles, breath. You can do it. I know you can. You’re stubborn; you can’t let something like a panic attack take control, huh?”
Stiles slumped against Tony’s side, gulping a breath once more before finally managing to speak. “That’s the first time you've ever called me Stiles.”
Tony huffed lightly. “Yeah, you’re still a kid; don’t let it go to your head.”
His lips quivered lightly as he managed a smile. “Thanks. I haven’t had such a bad panic attack in a long time.”
He let Stiles slump over him, squeezing his shoulder gently. “Want to tell me who beat you enough to trigger this panic attack?”
Stiles muscles protested as he stiffened, pulling away from Tony lightly. “It’s –”
Tony cut him off before he could finish. “Kid, if you tell me it was nothing, I will get Jarvis to bring up all the surveillance cameras in the vicinity of your trip to Starbucks and he will happily hand me over the footage within seconds.”
Jarvis backed Tony up. “Just say the word, sir.”
Pepper returned with chocolate chip cookies in hand, offering one to Stiles, who thankfully grabbed one to busy himself with, while deciding how to go about explaining. “On my first day at school, I saved my friend Nick from getting gay bashed by a bully and his posse. Since then he’s been after me too. It was nothing at first, he called me a fag, not like it bothers me.”
Tony cut him off, outrage clear in his voice. “He was bullying the both of you because you’re gay?”
Stiles shrugged lightly. “I’m bisexual and come from a pretty open town. It’s not that anyone ever knew, I never really told anyone; I've never seen anyone bullied for being gay at my old school. When that didn't work, he told me to stay away from Nick if I didn't want to get my ass handed to me like Nick did. He had been preening about getting an internship at Stark Tower so when I, in his eyes, showed him up by doing an internship with Pepper, he got pissed. This was two weeks coming; I was just good at getting away from him. He snuck up behind me when I was coming back with the coffee and dragged me into an alleyway.”
Stiles was taken aback by the look on Tony’s face, so used to his easygoing facade. He had never seen Tony look so furious. “I’m going to find out who did this and he is going to be dealt with. We are going to take steps to make sure that this does not happen ever again.”
Stiles raised a brow. “How do you expect to do that? I’m 147 pounds of pale skin and fragile bones. Sarcasm is my only defense.”
Tony smirked. “We are going to give you tools to defend yourself. First a new wardrobe and reputation and then self-defense lessons.”
Stiles couldn't help but snort. “Shouldn't I know self-defense first?”
Tony just stared back before answering. “You would be surprised how much a good wardrobe and self-confidence can help.”
Stiles sighed tiredly. “Whatever. If you think it’ll help, I’ll do anything right now.”
Before Tony could say anything more, his uncle stormed in, face full of concern and Stiles groaned loudly. “You guys called my uncle? Seriously?”
Phil didn't say a word until he was kneeling at Stiles feet with hands gently lifting Stiles’ face from one angle to the other, assessing the damage. His voice was deadly quiet when he spoke. “I want a name, and I swear to god if you try to protect him, I will find him and his punishment will be even worse.”
Tony piped in next to him. “I’d give us a name, kid. Things will be much worse for him if Jarvis has to look him up. Phil and I are a pretty dangerous combination when we get together to bring someone down, let alone when it’s family.”
Phil gave Tony a look, demanding he shut up, and Tony snorted, refusing to be cowed.
Stiles sighed deeply. “Fine, it’s not like I owe him anything and I’m way too exhausted to argue. His name is Kyle Doherty. He goes to my school and has a work term in security here at Stark Tower. It’s probably how he knew where I was going; he has access to the cameras. Just don’t hurt him or make things worse for us at school, please.”
Stiles sighed deeply when Phil and Tony shared a look and Tony finally spoke. “Jarvis, contact Happy and get him to bring Mr. Doherty up here and contact his father and let him know he needs to get here immediately.”
Stiles gingerly lifted himself off the couch he was sitting on and waved everyone off as they moved forward to help him. “I’m going to the bathroom. You guys are overreacting.”
Phil frowned. “Stiles, we should get you looked over at the hospital.”
Stiles shook his head, refusing. “I’m fine.”
Phil balked. “You could have burns or a concussion and we wouldn't know.”
Stiles sighed tiredly. “I’m fine, uncle Phil.”
Jarvis, the angel that he was, piped in. “Stiles has received second degree burns from the spilled coffee and minor bruising and he has not suffered any broken bones or a concussion. I would suggest treating his burns and bruises; however, a hospital visit is not necessarily needed.”
Phil remained quiet for a moment before nodding, allowing Stiles to step out of Pepper’s office and make his way to the nearest bathroom.
When he finally got back he heard his uncle arguing with Tony. It was the closest he had ever seen him to yelling. “You are not buying my nephew a Ferrari, Tony.”
Tony huffed. “Fine, but I’m re-hauling his wardrobe and I’m driving him to school. Kid needs to get bumped up if he is going to get away from bullies. Popular kids are untouchable.”
Stiles couldn't help but huff out. “You wanted to buy me a Ferrari? I thought you didn't like me, Tony.”
Tony shrugged. “I didn't trust you around pepper, so there’s a difference. I like you kid, you’re smart, make up your own ideas on things. You ask questions, but don’t ask stupid ones, and don’t hover or fawn over Pepper or myself. You’re okay in my eyes. Now, that’s enough emotional talk. I’m picking you up tomorrow at eight in the morning and I will be picking you up after school to go shopping.”
Pepper dragged Stiles away before he could reply. “Come on, Stiles, I’ll make sure you get home while your uncle and Tony deal with that bully of yours. You do not need to be here for this.”
Stiles tried to protest, but he was too exhausted. He just let himself be guided by Pepper, not even able to muster the energy to react as they passed Kyle, pale as a ghost, being dragged to the office by an extremely angry looking Happy.
He managed to fall asleep once they were in the car, gently shaken awake by Pepper once they arrived home.
The guard gave Stiles a concerned look, which Stiles managed to return with a tired reassuring smile and a shake of his head.
Once they were in the condo, Pepper managed to slide his jacket off and get Stiles to gently unbutton his shirt.
He couldn't help but stare down at the stained shirt in his hands sadly. Pepper had bought him that shirt.
He looked up at her apologetically. “I’m sorry the shirt got ruined.”
Pepper waved him off. “We can always get you another shirt, Stiles; you are much more important. Now stay here while I go get the first aid kit.”
He stared down at the blisters on his reddened skin, only now becoming aware how lucky he was that he did not receive worse burns than those.
Pepper returned with the first aid kit and took out a tube of Aloe Vera gel, placing it gently on the burns before putting some antibiotic ointment on his skin and covering it with some gauze.
She then pulled out an Arnica tincture and placed it gently over the bruises on his face and chest. She then placed everything back inside the first aid kit. “Alright, go get ready for bed; you look like you are about to keel over. I’ll get you some water and pain killers.”
Stiles tiredly made his way to his bedroom and stripped down to his underwear and crawled into bed.
In no time, Pepper was at his bedside handing him some Tylenol and a glass of water.
He thankfully took the glass and downed the pill and water before letting himself be tucked into bed. Sleep took him over so quickly he might have imagined the gently press of lips against his forehead as Pepper whispered. “Sleep well, Stiles.”
~*~
Kyle was sitting on the couch with Happy angrily looming over him when his father stepped into the office. “I was in the middle of an important meeting with a client. What is the meaning of this?”
Phil was the first to speak, his voice deadly calm. “Please have a seat, Mr. Doherty.”
He grudgingly took a seat next to his son before Phil nodded to Tony, who finally spoke. “Jarvis, dim the lights and bring up the video footage.”
The voice echoed through the room. “As you wish, sir.”
The lights dimmed and the holographic video screen came up, playing a very clear footage of Stiles walking back from Starbucks when Kyle grabbed him and started to attack.
When the video was over, the lights came back on and everyone was silent for a moment before Kyle’s father finally spoke. “I really don’t see the big deal here, kids will be kids. He seemed to walk away from it pretty easily.”
Phil and Tony both stiffened in outrage and Kyle flinched back.
Phil was the first to speak. “That was my nephew that your son attacked. He is lucky that he did not cause any lasting damage. It’s enough he has second degree burns all over his chest and bruises all over his face and most likely his stomach too.”
Much to everyone’s disbelief, Mr. Doherty did not show one ounce of concern. “I really don’t see what the big deal is. It’s normal for kids to roughhouse, it shows everyone what their place is in the scheme of things.”
Phil lunged forward but Tony managed to press his hand against his chest to stop him before finally speaking. “Alright, Mr. Doherty, let me show you where your place is in the scheme of things. That boy’s uncle here has enough influence to get you blacklisted from any court you try to step into and he can get you disbarred with just one word. He has the influence and I have the money and technology to make your life a living nightmare, while Jarvis here has taken a liking to Stiles and has access to all the satellites orbiting the planet and can monitor your every move for the rest of your life. You mess with this kid, you mess with all of us. Do I make myself clear enough for you?”
Both of them nodded mutely, showing a healthy dose of fear behind their eyes.
Tony pointed to the door. “Happy, please see them out. As I’m sure you are aware, for obvious reasons your son will no longer be welcome at Stark Tower for his work term; we do not condone bullying or homophobia here. And for God’s sake, get your son into therapy. If he is gay-bashing, he definitely has his own issues he needs to deal with, most of them probably being having you as a father, I’m sure.”
When they left the room, Phil and Tony shared a look before Tony turned and took out a decanter, pouring them both a drink.
Phil accepted the drink thankfully. “That kid got off easy, if he had been an adult I would have sent May and Skye after him.”
Tony sipped at his drink. “I would have frozen all his assets and given him one hell of a criminal record.”
They both shared a look before Phil sighed. “I took him in to keep him safe and here he is being bullied. I thought I could make things better.”
Tony couldn't help but snort at that. “Things don’t change overnight. I was bullied like hell before I learned to stand up for myself; he will get there. He’s one hell of a smart kid; reminds me of me when I was his age. I know someone who can teach him some self-defense, so just let me take care of that. It won’t take long before he grows into himself.”
Phil nodded quietly, sipping at his drink wondering how he was going to explain this to his brother.