Chapter 9
Stiles saw the familiar face pop up on Skype and smiled, waving.
Scott grinned and waved back, his voice echoing in Stiles room. “Hey, man! Why haven’t we done this sooner? I miss you.”
Stiles snorted. “Because I hadn’t fully forgiven you yet and we are still working over how our relationship has changed and how you are going to make it up to me.”
Scott whined, looking like a kicked puppy. “I’m sorry, dude. I really don’t know how many times I’m going to have to say it, but I’ll keep saying it over and over again if I need to.”
Stiles shook his head. “It’s okay, Scott, I promised I wouldn’t bring it up on our Skype time. So, how goes the ‘Become a Better McCall’ Program?”
Scott smiled. “It’s going pretty good; I’ve been going to summer school and getting my grades up. It’s been hard without you here, though. And I’m trying not to think about Allison…”
His face fell lightly and Stiles sighed. “Buddy, you’re going to find someone else eventually. You and Allison were just not meant to be. A hunter and a Werewolf are completely Romeo and Juliette material.”
Scott sighed sadly and nodded. “Yeah, I know you’re right. It’s just hard, that’s all.”
Stiles shuffled around his room, getting ready to meet Steve and Natasha for training and making sure everything was packed as he was going to the range with his Uncle afterwards. “I get it buddy but you’re going to have to get used to it.”
Stripping his shirt off, he heard Scott’s loud intake of breath. “Jesus, what happened to your torso?”
Stiles looked down at the healing bruises, which didn’t hurt anymore, but rather just looked really nasty and shrugged. “Natasha doesn’t pull her punches like Steve does.”
Scott was silent for a moment before he finally spoke. “I still can’t believe that you’re being trained by Captain America and the Black Widow, and that you’ve practically been adopted by Pepper Potts and Iron Man. I mean, what the hell, Stiles?
Stiles laughed. “You and me both. I still can’t believe it, but they like me and I like them back; some even more so than I should…”
Scott grinned teasingly. “You always had a thing for redheads. Is it Natasha? She is seriously hot.”
Stiles laughed. “Dude, she’s called Black Widow for a reason. That woman can be scary as hell if you get on her bad side.”
Scott looked thoughtful for a moment. “Then, is it Pepper? She is strawberry blonde and she looks really nice.”
Stiles fake gagged. “Pepper is like a mother to me.”
Scott looked confused for a moment. “Then who?”
He sighed, sitting himself down at his desk chair with a defeated plop. “It’s Steve, okay?”
The boy was silent for a moment before he replied disbelieving. “You’re… In love with Captain America…”
Stiles felt himself stiffen at the comment that was not even a question. “Yes, Scott. I’m bisexual, is that a problem?”
Scotts eyes widened in shock. “God no, Stiles. I’m just surprised, that’s all. You were in love with Lydia for so long I never really figured you would ever look at anyone else.”
Stiles visibly relaxed. “Well, I finally moved on with a lot of things in my life. Steve is just so great. He’s beautiful, yeah, but he’s so much more than that. He’s selfless, nice, caring, and he treats me like I really matter.”
Scott smiled brightly. “That’s great, man. Are you two dating?”
Stiles shook his head. “No. I’m pretty sure he is as straight as an arrow. He’s completely accepting of my sexuality, though. I guess I’m just doomed to fall in love with unattainable people.”
Scott looked offended for him for a moment. “Anyone would be lucky to have you, guy or girl. Have you told him how you feel? Maybe he feels the same.”
Stiles scoffed. “You are ever the optimist, Scott, but I am not risking everything on confessing to him. I’d rather just be by his side than confess and make things awkward when he says he doesn’t feel the same. Anyway, I have to go or I’ll be late for my training. Nat can be a hard ass when it comes to that. After that, Uncle Phil is picking me up to go to lunch and then we are going to the range for some target practice; you know, some uncle and nephew bonding time.”
Scott nodded sadly, not wanting him to go. “Alright, we can talk again later. “
Stiles nodded and smiled lightly. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Scott agreed and they disconnected, then Stiles grabbed his gym bag and headed out downstairs and to his jeep.
When he sat down and put the key in the ignition, a voice greeted him. “Good morning, Stiles. Off to your self-defense lessons with Mr. Rogers and Miss Romanoff?”
Stiles grinned widely, still highly amused that he had the AI inside of his Jeep. “Got it in one, Jarvis, my man. “
Jarvis replied as Stiles was backing out of his parking spot. “Try not to let Miss Romanoff do any more damage to your body; you are only now healing from the last time.”
Stiles chuckled. “I’ll try my best, Jarvis, but Natasha is a beast.”
Jarvis hummed an affirmative and they drove in silence to the gym.
When he walked in, Steve was waiting for him and Stiles couldn’t stop the grin that came to his face.
They went through their warm-ups and a then they ran around the park before finally getting back to the gym.
Stiles was silent for a moment before he finally met Steve’s gaze. “Hey, Cap, I had a favor to ask.”
Steve smiled, raising a brow teasingly. “So long as it’s nothing illegal, I’m listening.”
Stiles snorted. “Please, as if. You would totally do something illegal with me if it meant saving the world or saving my beautiful face.”
Steve laughed shoving stiles playfully. “You have me mistaken with Tony.”
Stiles batted his lashes. “Keep telling yourself that. Actually, I wanted to know if you would talk to my LGBTQ support group. I think it would mean a lot to them to see that superheroes are allies and support us. Some of them come from pretty rough backgrounds and are a bit bitter for it and I think it would help, especially if it is the Captain America.”
He smiled, clapping Stiles on the back. “Sure, I’d love to.”
Stiles smiled brightly at Steve. “Thanks, man, I really appreciate it.”
A voice echoed through the gym. “Now that you lovebirds are done, it’s time to whip the boy into shape. Come on, Stiles, into the ring you go. Make sure you don’t favor your right side like you did last time.”
Stiles snapped to attention and hopped into the ring. “Just wait, I’m going to win this time.”
Natasha smirked as she climbed into the ring and Steve exited.. “It’s nice to have dreams.”
They circled each other slowly, looking for an opportunity.
Stiles tried to think of a way to beat Natasha. For the longest time he kept trying to keep her at bay, but that was Natasha’s method; strike down your opponent fast and as far away from your body as possible. If he got up close, he could have a chance to take her down, but at the same time, getting that close to her doubled his risk of getting some heavy damage dealt to him.
Stiles moved forward first, going on the offensive like Natasha had taught him and just managing to deflect the blow he knew would come.
Sweeping low, he managed to hook her leg, throwing himself onto her knowing he needed to get her down as fast as he could in order to defeat her.
Gravity caused them to both land on the matt with a thud, Natasha kicking her legs up to unseat him.
Having anticipated the move, he thrust his hips as she kicked out, jamming his body as close as he could to hers.
In any other situation he might have gotten flustered at how suggestive their position was, laying crotch to crotch with the black widow, but he was too busy making sure none of his body parts were anywhere near enough to her teeth.
He managed to pin her arms down and, with the strength he had gained from training with Steve and Natasha, he managed to successfully keep her pinned and unable to get enough momentum to buck him off.
After a moment she finally stilled and met his gaze with her own before speaking the words he had only dreamed of ever hearing from her lips. “I yield.”
Stiles jumped up, whooping as he pumped his fist in the air in victory.
Steve laughed, highly amused at Stiles antics.
Stiles finally offered Nat his hand, helping her up and she smiled. “Well done, Stiles. Sometimes it’s not about how strong you are, but about finding out your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and then finding a way around them. I normally go for more debilitating take downs, but your method still worked.”
She clapped his shoulder gently. “Now I trust you realize that besting me once means that your training is only going to get harder now.”
Stiles groaned, “Steve, help me!”
Natasha had him in a gentle, to her, chokehold in no time, voice teasing. “Too late for Steve to help you, you’re mine now.”
Steve shook his head before hopping into the ring. “Don’t worry, Stiles, I got you.”
Natasha smirked back at Cap. “Does Captain America think he can take down little ol’ me?”
Steve pounced and they all fell into a three-way wrestling match that ended with all of them plopped on the matt breathless with laughter and unaware of the time that had passed until Phil cleared his throat to announce his presence.
When he saw his uncle, Stiles jumped up and dusted himself off, waving goodbye to Nat and Steve before grabbing his bag and heading out with his uncle.
After some debate, they decided on Korean food for this time, and Stiles followed his uncle’s car to the restaurant.
Once they were seated, they quickly ordered and chatted while they ate. He was really digging the Samgyeopsal he had ordered. He loved watching the meat cooking in front of him and then wrapping it into a sesame leaf with some of the sides that were offered and popping it into his mouth.
Once they were done, they made their way to the range and Stiles grabbed his gun safe and walked into the building with his uncle following behind him.
He almost ran into Natasha and Steve, who were staring back at him in surprise.
Natasha and Stiles both spoke at once. “What are you doing here?”
Steve snorted, obviously having spent too much time with Stiles and Natasha. “Nat and I have a bet going. She thinks I’m going rusty with my firearm training and I think I’m just as sharp as ever.”
Stiles pursed his lips lightly. “Yeah? How about you go up against me and see?”
Natasha scoffed lightly but Steve eyed him speculatively.
Phil smirked from behind Stiles. “His dad and I have been taking him target practicing since he was barely reaching our navels. Don’t underestimate my nephew, Cap.”
Stiles rolled his eyes and felt his heart swell when Steve looked his uncle in the eye, face dead serious. “I would never dream of it.”
Stiles turned to his uncle. “Do you mind if they join us for our target practice? I mean, if they don’t mind either.”
They all agreed and made their way to Stiles and Phil’s usual spot and everyone took their weapons out, checking them over before getting started.
Natasha smirked at the both of them. “Alright, here are the rules. You have to unload your entire clip, whoever has the most within the inner target wins. Whoever wins goes up against me, with same rules. We will do this one at a time.”
Natasha pulled a quarter out of her pocket and asked for both of them to call heads or tails.
Steve won and went first unloading his handgun in record time.
When the target was brought forward, the majority of his bullets were in the chest but there were a few in the secondary and third ring.”
When stiles moved forward he took a breath, relaxing himself and focusing on his target. One of the only perks of having ADHD being that when he did concentrate, his focus was dead on.
He unloaded his clip and pressed the button to bring his target forward and Natasha whistled, impressed. “Nice shot, kid.”
All of the bullets were in the inner chest circle, except for a few bullets he had showed off with and gone for headshots.
Steve patted his shoulder gently with smile on his face, obviously not sore about having lost. “Good job, Stiles.”
Stiles preened under their praise. “You can thank my uncle for that. Although dad has brought me a few times to do some target practice, he’s always a bit uncomfortable with me being around guns with my ADHD.”
They all chuckled at that, having seen what Stiles was like when he went without Adderall or was on too much of it.
Natasha placed a new target and picked up her handgun, aiming confidently and quickly unloading bullet after bullet into her target.
When it came back, she had a neat littering of bullets in the chest area.
She smirked at Stiles as he stepped forward to replace the target and put in a fresh clip into his berretta.
He lifted it, aiming taking a deep breath and then suddenly felt Natasha’s hand lift the corner of his hearing protection to quickly whisper. “If you beat me, I’ll set you up on a blind date with Cap.”
Stiles felt his concentration snap completely and his first shot completely missed the target.
He took a deep breath, focusing, not wanting to let her beat him completely and continued to empty his clip.
When the target came closer there was one bullet on the third outer circle and the rest in the inner circle.
Stiles quickly put his safety on and ripped his hearing protection off. “You suck, Natasha! I totally would have had you if you hadn’t pulled that stunt!”
Natasha broke out into rich laughter.
Steve looked utterly confused. “What did she tell you, Stiles?”
Stiles damned his pale skin as he blushed wildly. “ Nothing! Nope, nothing! Absolutely nothing!”
Natasha burst into another peel of laughter, which caused Steve to shake his head. “Well, since you won, Nat, how about you go up against Phil here?”
Phil smiled. “You won’t be able to distract me so easily.”
Natasha grinned, loading a fresh clip. “You’re on.”
They each took their turn and in the end Phil came out on top, causing Stiles to whoop in triumph.
After that, they each took a booth and continued practicing, taking breaks in between to chat and give Stiles pointers.
Stiles teasingly gave Steve a pointer here and there.
Steve would salute just as teasingly and yet, his aiming improved greatly by the end of their session.
When they all stepped out of the building, Natasha finally said what had been on her mind the whole session. “I’d like to up Stiles’ training. He has a lot of potential and could be a great agent one day.”
Steve tensed beside her. “He’s just a kid, Nat, not a weapon.”
Natasha shrugged looking between all three men, trying to plead her case. “I was trained at a much younger age than he ever was. He’s improved by leaps and bounds in just the few weeks I’ve been training him. He’s a great shot. With more polishing, people would be throwing themselves at him to enlist him into whatever program he wants to get into. Stiles, I know you’ve said that you want to be a police officer, but with your potential you could be so much more than that. We can make that happen, just let me step up your training.”
Steve looked to Phil, who shook his head, indicating he was staying out of the matter; it was his nephew’s decision. “Stiles, you’re still young, you should be enjoying life, playing with your friends, falling in love, and being a teenager. You should not become a killing machine.”
Stiles shook his head. “This is what I want. I want to be able to help people and I don’t want to feel weak and worthless. Training with you and Natasha has made me feel like I have purpose for the first time in my life. I want to keep going and get better. Besides, the only other friends I have here are Pepper, Tony, you, Natasha and Nick.”
Steve sighed “I’m only letting this happen if you spend time with Nick at least once a week and we go out to do something together for fun. You can’t just be training all the time; it’s not healthy. I didn’t start to train you to watch you lose your childhood. You need to get out and be a teenager.”
Phil smiled. “Steve is right, Stiles. Even agents and superheroes have days off. I’ll allow the extra training if you accept Steve’s terms.”
Stiles nodded, having no trouble with the terms. “I already promised Nick to spend time with him once a week. We can do stuff together, Steve, but so you even know what teenagers these days do for fun?”
Steve’s body visibly relaxed and he smirked. “I have no idea. Back in my day we went to the fair or the diner. There’s nothing like a good malt shake.”
Stiles grinned back, patting Steve’s arm. “I’ll teach you what teenagers these days do and you can show me what you used to do for fun back in your day, old man.”
He shoved Stile’s shoulder gently. “That’s a deal. Maybe we can even go out with Natasha and Nick and a few others for paintball. Tony and Nat have brought me to one before and it was pretty fun.”
Natasha nodded with eyes bright with excitement. “It’s a great way to put your training into practice and still have fun.”
Steve rolled his eyes and Stiles couldn’t help but laugh at the gesture.
Stiles had obviously been rubbing off on Cap.