Heavy

1

Stiles touched his bruised cheek before looking up at the house before him. Chances of his ex-best friends recognizing him, especially after nearly 4 years, are next to none. A weight settled over his shoulders as he raised his fist to the door. Three raps hit the wood, he bites his tongue and picks at his nails as he waits for the door to swing open.

It does, a muscular man who he doesnt know opens the door. "What's up?" He asked, edging polite and rude.

"I need to speak to Brian, or Roman," he said softly, intimidated.

"What was that?"

"Brian, or Roman?" He spoke up a little more, still quiet. The man smirked at him, nods, and turns into the house.

"Yo, Rome!" He shouts. There a grumble and footsteps to the door. Stiles held his breath as the man stepped back and another took his place.

-

Dom called Roman to the door, steps back to let him see who's there. A teen, late probably. Lithe, nervous looking, only about 6 feet, maybe a few inches shorter, brown eyes, brown hair, freckles dotted periodically on his face. He seemed to be only a buck 90, maybe 95, but strong. Pale, skin dyed a dark purple from a bruise in his cheek, his lip was split too. He probably had more bruises, maybe scrapes under his clothes.

That look, downcasted eyes and picking at his hands with a new collection of bruises, sent a shock through Roman. He doesnt speak, looks over the male.

"I'm so sorry to bother you. You probably have better things to do. I needed to- Never mind. I'll leave," he rambles a little.

"Come in, Stiles," he speaks up, catching his wrist when he tries to turn and leave. "You look like shit."

"You don't look much better," he counters, letting Roman tug him inside. Dom watches as he tensed at being pulls but let's ignore happen.

"Dom, this is Stiles. Stiles, this is Dom." He offers a hand, Dom shakes it. "Stiles used to run with Brian and Me back in our trailer park days."

"Nice to meet you," he flashes a smile, winces as if tugs at his lip and bruise.

"Hey, Rome-" Brian cuts off, sees the smaller male beside the two bigger ones, looking around curiously. "Holy- Stiles?"

"Yeah, apparently," he smiled again, ignores the discomfort to keep it a little longer.

"I almost didnt recognize you, probably wouldn't if you weren't ten shades of bruised."

"Bitch."

Jesse swears loudly as he drops something in the kitchen, Stiles flinches, nearly jumps. He chuckles, laughs it off and carefully pulled a figurative mask. It slides into place, but he looks like the world's on his shoulders. Roman and Brian share a look.

They vowed to protect Stiles, no matter the cost. Even now, after not seeing him for a few years, after hes changed. Even after theh shouted they hated each other at the end of their last engagement with eachother.

"Who?" Brian asks first, warm hand holding the boys jaw to inspect the bruise.

"What?"

"Your bruise," Roman adds, standing to the left of him, the side with the bruise.

"Who hit you?"

"Ran into a door," he pulled away.

"Again?"

"Yeah, didnt see it. You know how clumsy I am."

"You're not clumsy. I've seen you walk across a bridge rail," Brian answered. "See you do all types of shit clumsy people cant," he adds when Stiles goes to protest. "Who?"

"A fucking door."

"Who?" Dom demands. He likes Roman and Brian, they're family. If Stiles is their friend, then hes family too. The boy flinches, tenses and centers his stance in preparation for a hit.

Brian and Roman grit their teeth, Dom clenches his fists. Slowly, the boy looked at them.

"Ok, it wasnt a door."

"Who?" Dom dropped his voice to a quieter tone, it soothed Stiles a little. He looked down.

"Dads drunk again. I need a place to crash for a few days."

"Yeah," Brian agrees. "Imma hug you now, okay?" Stiles wrapped his arms around him before Brian could even move. He chuckled, rubbed his back carfully. Roman gets a hug too, Dom calls the family to meet the newest member.

Stiles let's Mia and Letty clean up his scrapes and cuts. Brian watches from the door of the bathroom and growls when he sees still healing cuts, in a pattern indicating that someone broke multiple bottles over his back. He was too skinny too, hip bones and ribs poking out of his pale skin. He reports to Roman as Letty instructs Stiles to shower and gives him a pair of Dom's sweats and Jesse's hoodie.

A little later, he comes back down. The clothes are miles too big, odd since he and Jesse are within 15 pounds of each other, assumingly.

"Here," Mia hands him a bowl of lasagna. "You missed dinner, but I heated you up some."

"Thank you. Seriously, for everything," he said, settling to sit on the floor next to Dom's seat. Mia sits beside him, they watch tv and Stiles eats.

Later, Roman gives Stiles his room, sleeps on the floor of Brian's.

6 the next morning, Brian woke up to start his day, finds Stiles at the kitchen table, biting his lip as he looks at his phone.

"You ok?" He asked, pouring himself a mug of coffee.

"Yeah, yeah," he wipes his face and puts his phone down. "My friends arent too kind when I disappear like this."

"You know you can stay as long as you'd like? We can enroll you here. Mia's a senior too," Brian offered. "You can stay, Stiles. With us, have a real home."

"No, I dont wanna bother. Plus, dad'll be better in a few days."

"How many times have you said that lie?" He asked. "About running into doors and being clumsy?"

"Bri," he shakes his head. "Dont."

"How many?"

"Too many."

"Your underweight," he tells him.

"Yeah."

"You cutting?"

"Really, Brian?" He scoffed, stands.

"So, you are?" Stiles growls, doesnt answer. "I'm trying to get the know the full situation, man."

"Fuck," Stiles runs his face, wincing when he pulls on the bruise. "Yes, yeah, I am."

"Suicidal?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Fine. Some times."

"Drugs, alcohol?"

"No. I try to steer clear given dad"

"Anything else I need to know?"

"No."

"Did you sleep last night?"

"No. Couldnt."

"Ok. Coffee?"

"Sure."

"Morning," Mia smiled as she came in. "How're you feeling, Stiles?"

"Been better," he tells her. He looks at the mug Brian sets before him. "If... if I were to take you offer, how'd we hide from dad?"

"You can use my name, I'll be come your legal guardian," Brian offered. Stiles stood and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you."

"Of course, Stiles."

"Call me Mitch, please. Stiles is his name."

"Sure, kid."