Mission 15: Bread Crumbs


Stiles looked at the phone he was holding. It was showing the contact number of his dad. He had been pacing his room for quite some time now.


"Just tell him the truth, Stiles." Jackson suggested who was sitting on Stiles' bed. The werewolf went to find him the minute Stiles decided to call his dad. He had heard the anxiety in his heartbeat and checked on him if something was wrong.


Stiles glared at him. "Do you want him to have a heart attack? He's old you know. His heart can't take this kind of news."


Jackson rolled his eyes. But he got it. This was a whole lot different than your average teenage revelations. "He's the Sheriff, Stiles. He has been living a high stress life for years now. I'm sure he can take it."


Stiles shook his head. His relationship with his dad was not good to say the least. He was treading water with this reestablished bond. It was tenuous to begin with, even before he started looking for dead bodies in the woods. He didn't want to risk it.


Jackson instantly felt guilty. The sadness and anxiety coming from Stiles was sharp and strong. It compelled him to do something. He reached out and took Stiles' hands onto his.


The younger man looked down at him. Jackson cleared his throat before he spoke. "I'm sorry. I had a.... different upbringing than you. I shouldn't have said that."


"No, it's okay. Besides, Dad deserves the truth."


"Then, why don't you start telling him parts of the truth." Clint suggested.


Stiles jumped at his voice.


"Holy shit!!! How long were you there?!? Jesus, this just keeps happening. Warn a guy sometimes!" Stiles clutched his chest. Clint's smirk only grew bigger. He looked at his beta who was trying not to laugh. "And you didn't even bother to inform me someone was lurking outside my room."


"He told me not to. Said it was part of werewolf spy training." Jackson defended.


Stiles glared harshly at Clint. "Now that's just bullshit."


The archer shrugged.


"Unbelievable... But what do you mean by parts of truth isn't just that technically lying by omission."


"Not when you're trying to give enough for him to digest so he wouldn't have a heart attack. Give him some bread crumbs. Just enough for him to follow where you actually are. Just enough for him to know that you didn't just abandoned him. Not on purpose anyway."


Stiles realized it was a good advice. "That actually sounds good. I'll try it."


"I'll just be outside." Jackson said. He didn't need to say he was just one call away, but it hanged genuinely in the air. Jackson and Clint left the room. He knew they will be listening. But he doesn't mind.


There were so many things jumping in his head. He needed to catch the important ones, the ones his dad needed to hear. He took a deep breath before he dialed his dad. He felt his heart pounding as he heard his father's ringtone.


"Hey dad." Stiles greeted.


"What did you do?" The Sheriff asked.


"Can't I just call my dad to say 'hi and I miss you'?"


John huffed. "Did you now?"


Stiles squawked indignantly. "Yah...well no... but I do miss you, Dad." Stiles said honestly.


"I miss you too, Stiles." Stiles could hear the smile in his father's voice. "Now tell me what you really wanted to say." And there came the Sherriff's voice. Stiles huffed nervously. Time to come out clean.


"I... ahh... want to stay here. Like longer and live and go to school kind of stay."


"Why?"


"I think... I've got a good thing going here and I want to keep doing it while I can. I kind of joined a group-"


"Are you doing drugs?" Sherriff asked.


"What? No! It's kind of a group for all kinds of people who wants to make the world a safer and better place. Uncle Phil is in it too."


"You're not doing drugs?" His dad asked, unbelieving.


"No... Wh-why would you think I'm doing drugs?"


Stiles could hear his father's suffering sigh.


"If this is about after the game... can you give me more time? I'll talk about it. I promise. Just... give me more time." The line became silent for few seconds. Stiles wanted to bite his nails. He bit his nails.


"This is a pretty big decision, kid. Are you sure about this?"


"I am, Dad. Let me try for this school year and if doesn't work out. I'll come back. I promise."


"Okay. May be it's for the best for you to stay there for now. I'll make calls to arrange your transfer."


"Okay, Thanks Dad."


"Take care of yourself, Stiles. Don't worry your Uncle too much."


"I'm won't. Bye, Dad. I love you."


"Love you too, kid." Sherriff Stilinski hanged up.


Stiles puffed a relieved breath. His dad agreed. He was going to stay. He could now feel the weight of his decision. The decision to change his life, to be stronger, to be a part of something bigger than himself. Stiles take a deep breath to reel in the panic attack. He would not be conquered by the fear of the unknown. He could do this. He would do this.


It felt good, Stiles realized. He might not have completely came out clean but he wanted this. He wanted to do good from now on.


Stiles went out of his room and face Jackson and Clint. Clint grinned widely.


"We better tell the others." Clint said, cheerily. "JARVIS, tell everyone to meet us in the common room."


"You're not even going to pretend to ask me how'd it go?" Stiles asked sarcastically.


"Welcome to the Avenger life, kid." Clint hailed, cracking a devious smirk but his eyes were delighted. He slung his arms over their shoulders and stirred them out of his room. "Now bake me something to celebrate this occasion."


Stiles rolled his eyes but he was already thinking of few things he could whip up on the spot.


Stiles did not need to tell anyone. They all heard about it already somehow. Everyone welcomed Sties and Jackson to the team. Although only as an inactive, for-future-and-emergency-purpose-only member, they felt elated to be part of the fold.


His uncle and Natasha didn't make it. They were in a mission but they managed to video call for a few minutes.


There was a bit of debate whether they would continue to stay at the tower given they'll go to a public school. Phil suggested they move back to their house.


Thor and Clint immediately said "Nay."


Tony quickly dismissed the idea, denouncing its existence. Tony could amply provide for two teenagers. "Besides, they are already Avengers-in-training. They might as well live here."


Phil agreed. He promised to sort out the details when he gets back.


It was also the time Stiles finally met Pepper Potts. The strawberry haired woman came in when Stiles was handing out smoothies.


"What's this new recruits I heard about from Phil?" Pepper demanded to know.


"Pepper!" Tony interjected immediately. He better do something to put him in her good grace or he'll suffer under her wrath for the next hours. "Meet the person who saved my ass and helped my recovery, Stiles Stilinski."


Pepper looked at Stiles, surprised to see him. The grateful smile on her lips was genuine. She took his hands and squeezed them gratefully. "Thank you for saving, Tony. What you did was incredibly brave."


"It was nothing. Smoothie? It's lemon, zested with orange and spiked with lime." Stiles said handing her one. Pepper looked around and seeing everyone else were enjoying their drink, she took a sip. She made a pleased hum.


"This is good. Who made this?"


"I did." Stiles piped.


Pepper made a surprised noise.


"And he also bakes." Tony thrown in.


"We should hire him." Pepper said.


"Already tried. He won't take it. Said he'd do it for free if we asked nice enough." Tony said, sounding still peeved by Stiles' decision. Like it personally offended him that someone wouldn't accept a job he offered. He pouted at Pepper. Pepper just raise a perfectly shaped eyebrow at him.


"You can't buy everyone, Tony." Pepper shook her head fondly. "So you are Phil's nephew? I didn't know Phil have any relative."


"I didn't know my uncle was a super secret agent in a super secret agency. So..." Stiles shrugged his shoulders.


Pepper looked at the kids. Then she realized with a paralyzing fear that they were the new recruits. She gasped, unbelievingly. "Oh my god. Tony, they are just kids!" Pepper said angrily.


"Miss Potts." Steve called softly. Pepper stilled and turned to Steve, but her eyes were trained on the kids. "We've already discussed this with Agent Coulson. He made sure we have all the necessary protocols to keep them safe and far from the wrong people."


"But they are just kids."


"Yes, we know, Peps." Clint move to her side. "Let me talk to you for a sec." He said, already stirring her away from the kitchen.


Clint signed with a flare of his hands for them to continue and he with Pepper went to the common room.


Stiles would look every now and then at the two talking. He can see how stressed Miss Potts is with the situation. Clint was holding up a phone. Jackson told him that Natasha was on the other line, explaining things to Pepper.


Stiles felt an arm on his shoulders. "Don't worry. It'll be fine." said Tony, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "Why don't we start doing lunch while we wait for Pep's verdict?"


"You mean I and Bruce cook our ass off while you wait to be fed?" Stiles mocked without heat.


"Hey, you said ask nicely so..." Tony grinned and patted his shoulders in an almost mocking encouragement.


Pepper and Clint came back while Stiles was watching Bruce put the chicken he helped marinate.


"This just won't do, Tony. They should be insured. I want a five-year college plan for this two. A premium medical care."


"Peps, tell you what. Write everything you want and I'd sign it."


"You should damn well do, Tony." Pepper glared him until he agreed. Then, she turned to the young boys. She took Stiles and Jackson's hands. "I have to go. I have a meeting to attend to in a minute. If you two need anything, don't hesitate to call me. JARVIS will give you my personal contact. I'll get in touch with Phil and I may even consult Jen with this."


Jackson could hear genuine honesty of her offer like a cozy blanket on a chilly night. "We will." Jackson says.


"I will see you later." She gave them both a squeeze before she turned away and left.


"Tell Jen I say 'hi!'." Bruce shouted after her.


"I will." Pepper said without pausing.


"She means well." Steve said when Stiles still looked a bit troubled.


"I know. She just reminds me of my mom."


Steve hears that sadness in Stiles voice but there was an overpowering sense of pride and love as well. "Then, she must be amazing."


Stiles looked at Steve and smiled tearfully, "That she is."


Steve smiled back at him.

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