Superheroes

Nothing Left to Lose

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!! This chapter contains heavy discussions about assisted suicide that may be triggering. If you want to avoid these sections, skip to the end once Stiles states his age. There's a small summary in the end notes so you don't miss plot. Do whatever protects yourselves, this chapter will still be here to read when you're able.

Stiles hasn't been outright avoiding being at the Tower, but he hasn't made much of an effort to stay there. He picked up extra hours at the PTSD Research Center, working with more clients and learning as much as possible from the professionals at Columbia. When he and Derek are at the tower, they're either alone in their rooms, or hanging with Thor or Darcy. Jane gets sucked into her research, which Stiles can relate to, and he doesn't like disturbing her. They've had dinner together three times since he first met Thor.

After one of his extra shifts at the center, Stiles and Derek are on their way up in the elevator to the floor their apartment was on, when a soft chime echoes, and Friday's voice filled the silence.

"Continuing to Penthouse. There's a guest who would like to meet you both."

He doesn't bother hiding his groan, and almost asks if he really has to. Derek is normally the level-headed one, but even he looks ready to punch whoever this guest is. They both sigh as their floor is passed and the numbers on the digital screen continue to rise.

"Hope for Thor, prepare for Stark," Stiles mutters, trying to give himself a last-minute pep talk. "Because this is somehow my life."

Of course, all the Avengers are gathered, and Stiles is surprised to see Jane and Darcy there, too. Darcy salutes him and goes back to eating the bowl of cereal she's holding. He looks over everyone else gathered as he walks over to her, dumping his heavy backpack next to her barstool. He saves the worst for last, meaning Barnes and Rogers. And it's by the scowling duo that he finally spots this guest, blinking to make sure he isn't seeing things.

Nope. The Falcon is standing next to the Surly Twins, arms crossed and a wide smile on his face. He's seen the man in the media, running small missions mostly with Rogers, but after Sokovia, he became part of the Avengers. During the contract signing, Stiles was told that most of the Avengers would be at the new training compound a few hours away, and that since Barnes was at the Tower, limited Avengers personnel were allowed.

"Holy shit," he says lightly, a faint grin forming as he walks towards the center of the room. "What the hell are you doing here, dude? I thought you were at the compound upstate?"

Stiles hadn't even considered running into him. He didn't even think that the man remembered him very well, given when they were introduced. Washington D.C. after the Hydra reveal and SHIELD fell was chaos, but they still managed to cross paths quite a few times.

Sam moves forward to shake his hand. "Yeah, man, but I thought I'd swing by when I heard you were hanging around. You're a hard dude to track down. I'm glad someone finally did." He looks over Stiles' shoulder. "Hey, Derek."

"Hi, Sam," Derek replies, coming up to shake his hand as well.

"Wait," Rogers says, eyes darting back and forth between him and Sam. "You two know each other?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Sam tells him, sounding anything but as he gives him an unimpressed look. "Did you expect me to take your side in this beatdown?"

Rogers' jaw works open a few times but no sound comes out. Everyone else seems just as surprised at their familiarity. Stiles gives himself another mental point.

Stark helpfully supplies, "I think that's a yes."

"Man, you have no idea who he is, do you?" Sam asks, glaring not only at Rogers, but the rest of the group.