Just so you guys know, this story is also posted on AO3 which is where my permanent home will be when it comes to all my writing. Please check me out over there my username is lion_ness, but as always thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!

"Stiles, seriously, you look fine. You've changed nine times now, I don't think he's going to care about your outfit."

Danny rolled his eyes when Stiles shot him an irritated glare and continued to fish through his closet. T-shirts and flannels littered the room accompanied by numerous pairs of pants and multiple pairs of Vans. His nerves were getting the best of him and his anxiety had been climbing for the past two days. It was one thirty in the afternoon on Thursday and in a half an hour Stiles would be face to face with an international war hero. He huffed and puffed about how ridiculous he was going to look and tore the shirt he was wearing off to replace it with a long sleeve black shirt. He fidgeted and fumbled with the buttons before he smoothed it out over dark jeans. "You know, Danny, I'm about to meet the man that nuked an alien race, okay? I at least want to look slightly presentable when I tell him I don't want to pilot for him." He looked at himself in the mirror and tugged at his hardly-styled hair before pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. Between the anger still aimed at Danny and the anxiety swelling in his gut he was having a hard time deciphering what exactly he was feeling and that made him extremely uncomfortable.

"Wear your docs," Danny piped from the other end of the room, "the little ankle ones that you got from your Dad last Christmas." Stiles arched a brow and his mouth quirked to the side before he ducked into his closet and pulled out the 8-eyelet boots and nodded over his shoulder to his friend who looked as calm as could be. The smug smile he had sported all day made Stiles want to punch him again but the ache in his hand told him that (it) probably wasn't the smartest idea. He slid the boots on and tied them slowly, glancing up at the clock above the TV. One forty-two. The breath in his throat caught and came out low and shaky. Stiles had gone over everything he was going to say in his head, from the apology to the over-whelming expression of gratitude. He would shake his hand and tell him that (it) was all a huge misunderstanding and he was so sorry for the inconvenience. He would thank him for the opportunity and let him know that it just wasn't for him and he knew that there was another candidate who would be honored to pilot a Jaeger. It would be horrible and embarrassing and completely ridiculous but it would also be quick and as painless as he could possibly make it. He would walk out and get back on the track he was supposed to be on, the one where he translated for multi-billion dollar companies and brought in enough money to live comfortably in Colorado or Tennessee. It would all be resolved and he would put this awkward situation behind him. "You alright?" Danny(')s voice pulled him out of his head and he jerked his chin to the side and nodded, "Oh, yeah, yeah I'm good just... trying to figure out how I'm going to do this," his words were faint and all-too honest. He saw Danny look away and fiddle with his fingers and Stiles turned his gaze back to his reflection. He reached up and poked gingerly at one of the more prominent freckles next to his mouth, an audible sigh filling the silent room. "I should probably walk over there," he said softly, grabbing his phone and keys from his desk. His ears were ringing and his eyes settled on Danny who smiled shyly at him and nodded, "Good luck, man." Luck wasn't what he needed at this point, right now he needed courage and something to stop the shaking in his hands.

The walk across campus was slow and tolling, his boots scuffing across the ground as he went. He passed a couple other students and focused on the sound of their foot steps instead of the sound of his heart beat and took in a deep breath when the Rockafeller Library materialized before him. Stiles looked at the doors and saw his reflection look back at him. It was one fifty-seven and as he opened the door he felt his insides clench and twist, his heart skipped and sputtered and his mind was still trying to put together something adequate to say. It was dimly lit inside, like it always was, and books lined the shelves on every wall. A few desks with computers were set up along the isle and the large space was completely empty except for three figures seated at the cherry wood tables at the end of the room. Stiles walked forward with his head held high and forced himself to swallow the lump of uneasiness growing in his throat. His boots echoed against the smothering quiet and the hair on the back of his neck stood up as the scene he had been preparing himself for came into clear view. Two men in sharp black suits stood at the end of the table and stepped aside when Stiles approached. His mind was shaking just as badly as his body and his glasses were sliding to the tip of his nose as his fingertips brushed against the polished table top, tapping gently, "Hello." It was all he could manage to say as he looked down to the man sitting at the table. A beaten up bomber jacket was slung over his shoulders and his eyes were bright and much too comfortable as they flicked up to Stiles. A warm, inviting smile creased across Raleigh's face and he stood, reaching out to shake Stiles' hand. "It's nice to meet you, Stiles," his voice was rough and deep but it made Stiles feel much more at ease to be around someone who was as down to earth as Raleigh seemed to be. Amber eyes watched the pilot carefully and Stiles tried his best to offer up a smile and nod, "Yeah, it's an honor to meet you," he was surprised that his voice carried any kind of strength but it did and he sat down across from Becket and folded his hands on the table to keep from fidgeting. Raleigh smiled with his eyes and exuded a natural kindness that made Stiles feel even worse about not telling him on the phone that he wasn't interested in the program. A few minutes went by before Raleigh cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair, licking lazily across his lips, "So, you wanna be a pilot?" the words were blunt and a chill ran up Stiles' spine as the silence swallowed them whole. Every single rehearsed statement he had lined up went right out the window and he was left stringing together words that didn't even make sense or explain the situation in the slightest. His mind was just throwing out a slurry of 'I'm sorry' and 'this is all a big mistake' but making some kind of excuse like the ones currently registering as valid in his head would only come across as completely asinine.

Stiles bit down on his bottom lip and tried his best not to look taken a back, "Well, you see, I actually... My uh, my room mate actually did this thing and- wow. I am... this is not even going to come out right but-"

"Relax, man. I'm not going to shoot you," Raleigh arched a brow and rolled his eyes playfully, waving a finger for Stiles to continue. Blood rushed to fill his cheeks and Stiles swallowed, unfolding his hands to drum his fingers against the top of the table. "My room mate submitted my application. I wasn't interested in being a pilot and I feel like a complete idiot right now," his words were rushed and he stared at the table for a long moment before peeking up at the man across from him whose expression had hardly wavered. An endearing smirk still cradled his mouth and his eyebrows were still raised as he nodded his head and waved his finger again as if Stiles had more to say. He blinked a few times, reached up to take his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'm really sorry. I didn't know what to say and I just choked I guess, I didn't know how to say no and I'm honored, really I am, it's just..." his words failed and faded out into the air. The library smelled like old books and printer ink and it took his mind off the excruciating situation he had currently found himself in. Confidence seeped out of Raleigh like it was some kind of pheromone and Stiles found himself completely baffled at how unresponsive he was to such weak excuses. The ringing in his ears was deafening and he kept blinking away from Raleighs unmoving stare, "You're a World Language major, yeah?" the question was more of a statement and Stiles nodded dumbly before the pilot continued, "and you lost your mom a while ago. High school right?" Stiles visibly stiffened and his eyes narrowed dangerously. That wasn't something he had wanted or even slightly prepared himself to discuss and the anger pressing into his expression made Becket tilt his head to the side and nod slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, she died when I was fifteen and I don't really know exactly what that has to do with any of this seeing as I'm formally declining your offer," Stiles hissed and picked his glasses back off the table to clean them nervously with the tail of his shirt. His heart was beating fast and he could feel waves of heat soaking through to his bones as he tried to calm himself down. Him and his own father didn't discuss the passing of his mother, he wasn't going to sit here and let someone else try to get into his head about it. Not even the man who saved the planet.

"No need to get routey, Stilinski, I was just mentioning a few things I saw in the paper work," Becket was calm and patient and he blinked a few times as Stiles looked away and stared off at a book shelf a couple feet away. "Are we done here or are you going to keep asking me questions even though I literally just told you I'm declining your offer?" Stiles was angry. Angry from the trickle of memories filling up his head and angry from the overwhelming feeling of complete intrusion on his personal life. His mother's death had nothing to do with his abilities and she most certainly had no place in this conversation. The smile that Raleigh sported made him even more on edge and Stiles rolled his eyes and started chewing on one of his nails. "You have an amazing skill set and your transcripts are untouchable by many of the other candidates. We aren't just looking for brute strength anymore, we're looking for intelligence. I'd like you to re-think your decision."

Stiles raised his brows and gritted his teeth, "Well I'd like you to never bring up my mother again and tell me exactly what my amazing skill set could be used for while piloting a giant fucking robot?" His words were snide and he set his glasses back on his nose and wiggled it, earning a chuckle from the man sitting across from him. "Jaeger," he corrected firmly, "and we can use you for programming and deciphering language recognition when it comes to the Kaiju. You're minor was Ancient Languages so we figure you can put that to use."

Stiles didn't want to be intrigued or to be interested in the slightest but something in his gut was wrenching forward and he bit back down on the insides of his cheeks to keep himself at bay. "You want me to analyze the unidentifiable screeching and howling of the alien race we're trying to exterminate...? That's my use? You're serious?!" When he laughed Raleighs handlers looked over their shoulders before turning back towards the front of the library. Becket nodded and shrugged his shoulders, moving forward to set his elbows on the table, "Yes, actually," he started, looking over to Stiles, "You'll pilot a Jaeger and you'll research the Kaiju in regards to their vocals, try to figure out if they have a way of communicating that isn't just telepathic." Stiles blinked down and fidgeted under the table, his fingers pinching at each other nervously. His life had suddenly come to a screeching halt and everything he had worked for became vital in a way he had never even considered. This wasn't his plan, this wasn't what he was supposed to do with his life or what he even remotely wanted to do with his life. He was a simple young man with a life ahead of him that most people would dream of, a life of normalcy and comfort. It was something people strived for these days and he was only four months away from obtaining it. Raleigh kept his eyes on Stiles as he mentally fought with himself before a few minutes went by and he tapped his finger on the table, snatching Stiles' attention back where he needed it, "You have the chance to use your skills to save humanity. The chance to do something that a hundred thousand other candidates are going to be denied. We all have fear," Raleigh paused when Stiles looked up at him and his mouth parted slightly, "and we all have regrets and weaknesses. But we also have the ability to become greater than that fear, that weakness." Stiles swallowed and shook his head to keep himself from blurting out a bunch of stupid excuses and even more apologies, "I just..." He looked down at the table and winced when he saw a drop of blood pooling around his cudicle from the nervous picking. Raleigh nodded and gave a heavy sigh before he waved to the two men and stood. He watched Stiles carefully, from the blush spread across his cheeks and nose to the repeated tap of his boot against the floor. "If you don't think you're cut out for it then there's nothing I can do to convince you. I'm not looking for pilots who can't even see their own worth," Becket gave Stiles a brief smile and shrugged his shoulders before turning his back to walk towards the glass doors at the other end of the library.

Stiles' heart was beating so hard in his chest that it was almost painful and his lungs were constricted so tight that every breath seemed rushed and short. His thoughts were fighting viciously with each other and he didn't know how to say anything. He didn't know how to say 'okay' or 'you're right' or 'I'm scared.' He just sat there starring down at his blurred reflection in the overly polished wooden table. He could hear their footsteps clicking across the tile and before he had a chance to re-think the words dancing on the tip of his tongue his voice had broken the silence. "I'm not a coward," he called, standing and pacing towards Raleigh who had stopped and glanced over his shoulder. The pilot grinned and nodded, looking to Stiles who was biting down on his bottom lip once again. His fingers trembled but he pulled them in and fisted his hands at his sides, "I'll do it. I accept." The words escaped him before he could reel them back in and his stomach knotted and clenched. He didn't know whether it was immediate regret or excitement that washed over him, but something was pulling and tugging at his emotions. Raleighs hand fell across Stiles' shoulder and he gripped softly, strong eyes locking on to his own. He probably looked like a deer caught in the glow of headlights, like a scared animal waiting to go to slaughter but he straightened his back and tried to feign as much strength as he could. "This is something you'll never forget, something a lot of people will never forget," Becket paused and removed his hand when Stiles shoved his thumbs in the front pocket of his jeans, "Your flight leaves Sunday morning, just tell them at check-in who you are and you'll be escorted through. Get some sleep on the plane because you'll start training as soon as you get to Shatterdome." Stiles didn't know if Raleigh had been expecting him to say yes in the end or if he was just being short because he had somewhere to be, but all he did was nod and let a faint 'thank you' slip from between his lips. It didn't register what exactly Becket had said until they were opening the doors and walking down the steps. "W-wait, wait, Shatterdome? Hong Kong, you're sending me- I'm going to Hong Kong to train?!" Stiles tried to keep his breathing even and the shocked expression on his face at bay but Raleigh nodded and reached out to shake Stiles' hand again, "Yeah, Hong Kong. You'll be with the big guns. I wanted you stationed with Mako and I so we could coach you." His cheeks flushed again and Stiles tried to nod his head and stammered out and 'okay' and another 'thank you' as Raleigh laughed lightly and pushed Stiles' shoulder with his palm. "Don't worry, man. You'll be fine. I'll see you next week," steel blue eyes turned away from him and Stiles stood in front of the library with his eyes darting over the faded 'gipsy danger' logo on the back of Raleighs jacket. The pilot climbed into a sleek black car and dissapeared down the road and off campus.

Stiles hadn't realized how badly he was shaking until he walked quickly back to Morriss Hall and leaned against a shady wall. Adrenaline coursed through him and it felt like static every time he brushed against anything. They could have sent him to New York, Los Angeles, Hawaii, to the base in Montreal or Portland but instead he was about to be shipped off the China where Striker Eureka and Gipsy Danger's new models had been re-designed and where the best pilots around the world had been stationed. He had never heard of some entry-level student going off to train in Hong Kong. "What the fuck..." the words were whispered and he set his hands on his thighs, hanging his head low as he tried to catch his breath. He moved up and smoothed his hand over his mouth, letting it fall back to his side. This was a disaster. A horrible, tragic disaster that he did not want to deal with. Everything he had worked for, all the years spent busting his ass in college all led up to this irrational decision he had made based on two insignificant words that kept flashing in his mind. What if. The entire time Raliegh spoke that was all he could hear, all he could see, and in the end it was that tiny phrase that had pushed him far enough to completely eradicate every plan he had made for himself. Stiles took in a deep breath and looked up to strain his eyes against the rays beaming down from the sun. In three days his entire life would change forever and in three days he would take a risk that just hours before had been unacceptable. He leaned off the wall and pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking away from the blinding light to the glass screen. He scrolled slowly through his contacts before he stopped and ran his thumb across the screen. DAD was spelled out in large letters and a number was set below it next to an e-mail and a picture of the two of them from Thanksgiving. He felt his eyes fill with tears but bit back the urge to let them fall and lifted the phone to his ear. It rang a few times before his fathers low voice sounded through the speaker. It was a dull 'hello' and Stiles choked when he tried to return the greeting. He explained everything, the situation with Danny, the phone call and the meeting. His voice shook when he told his father he had accepted and was relieved when the retired sheriff did nothing but praise and support him. They talked and laughed for what seemed like an hour but as the conversation winded down he heard the breath catch from other end of the phone and Stiles reached up to wipe his eyes with the back of his hand. "You're still coming out to see your old man for Christmas, right?" Stiles didn't want his father to hear the quiet sob caught in his throat and he let the phone drop, biting down on his lip and taking in a shaken gulp of air, "Yeah, Dad, of course. Of course I'm still coming home for Christmas..." Both of them knew they were fighting back tears but neither of them were going to admit it so they exchanged heart felt 'I love yous' and his father made him promise that he would call as much as he could. "I'm so proud of you," his father breathed out and Stiles closed his eyes and smiled softly before mumbling a quick 'talk to you later'.

He could only imagine what his father was going through. His only son had just informed him that he was going off to war and not just as some translation specialist but as a Jaeger pilot and in the end everyone knew what happened to most of the pilots over-time. Some survive and go on to continue the legacy, but most are lost in battle with the Kaiju. A chill ran up his spine and he cleared the scratchy dryness from his throat. But what if he was one of the pilots who survived, what if he made a difference, what if this was his chance to become something greater than he had ever thought imaginable. It had hurt more than he thought it would to hear his father sound so heart-broken when he asked if he would be home for Christmas because both of them knew that right now the answer wasn't on the table.

The trek up the stairs and back to his room was slow and filled with thoughts about what was going to happen, where he was going to go and everything he was going to learn. How utterly confused he still was about how easy it was for him to throw his future off a cliff and into the unknown was also a huge part of what was playing on his mind. The idea still made him exceedingly uncomfortable but there was nothing he could do now and as much as he wanted to convince himself he would take it all back based on principal, realistically the excitement settled in his bones was far too strong for him to think of going back. Danny was grabbing a cold bottle of water out of the fridge when Stiles opened the door and he narrowed his eyes when he looked a little closer at his room mate. "I figured it'd be hard but... are you okay? You look like you were crying," Danny's voice was soft and he took a step forward when Stiles aggressively batted at his eyes and took off his glasses. He walked passed Danny and over to the mirror where he groaned and rolled his eyes at the sight of his puffy optics and flushed blotchy cheeks. "Well, I was a little bit," Stiles wasn't going to lie to his best friend and he took in a deep breath, arching a brow, "I cried when I called my Dad and explained everything to him." The confusion on Danny's face subsided when a smile tugged at the corners of Stiles' mouth and he laughed with his whole body, pointing a finger and walking forward, "I knew it! I told you! God, man, are you serious? You're going?!" Stiles nodded and laughed when Danny threw his arms around him and pulled him into a warm hug. The night went on with Danny sticking his tongue out at Stiles and yelling over and over again about how amazing everything would be and how he had to keep in touch no matter what. Stiles rolled his eyes so much that they were sore and tired. They drank a couple cheap beers and Danny rambled about anything that had to do with Jaegers or China and even insisted on throwing a going-away party for him. Stiles vehemently argued against it but in the end he knew that it was inevitable. As the two turned off the lights and Stiles crawled into his bed he stared up at the ceiling and wondered about what life now had in store for him. For the last six or seven years he had just known exactly what steps he would take, he knew exactly where he would go, what he would do. Now there was a void of darkness where his future used to be and he had to muster up the courage to walk towards it with his head held high.

The next couple days had gone by fast, in a blur of frantic packing and meticulous planning. Stiles looked out the window of the plane and mouthed the words to the song playing through the speakers in his head phones. The going-away party that Danny put together was pleasant and heart felt. Laurie, her brother, some of his classmates and a few of their friends got together and hopped around the bars outside of campus. They talked loudly and laughed until they cried, Laurie kissed Stiles on the mouth before the night ended and even though he didn't swing in her direction, he kissed her back. He closed his eyes and turned up the music to try and drown out the all-too fresh memory of Danny clinging to him and crying into his shoulder about how he would keep in touch and promised to write long hand-written letters because no one did that shit anymore and he wanted Stiles to know how much his friendship meant. Stiles cried too and they stood in their dorm for a long time just laughing and crying as they made promises to each other that they both know might not be kept. A flight attendant tapped him gently on the shoulder and he pulled one of the headphones out of his ear, "Sir, we'll be landing shortly, is there anything you needed? Would you like another drink?" He shook his head and offered a smile, "No, thank you," Stiles murmured and handed her the empty glass from the cup holder next to him. The clouds were dark gray and spread out evenly across the night sky. He hadn't expected to be flying first class nor to be escorted through the airport by the same two men in suits that he had seen back in the library with Raleigh. He tried to ask them their names but they simply shuffled him along and sat in the back of the plane with magazines in their laps. Stiles didn't push them for any information and instead focused on his ridiculous anxiety and tried to find ways to keep himself calm. Bastille was working at the moment and he fell right back into mouthing the words as the stewardess walked away and he slid the headphone back into his ear.

He didn't know what to expect. His mind wandered from one place to another as he thought back on his last few hours in Rhode Island. Stiles had told his teachers about his sudden change of heart and received nothing but encouragement from each of them but it still didn't make him feel completely comfortable with the reckless decision he had made. His eyes flicked up to the over-head where the seat belt sign flashed on and he wrapped his head phones around the thin MP3 player laying on his thigh. A scratchy voice came across the speaker asking that the passengers fasten their seat belts and prepare for their descent into Hong Kong. It had been a sixteen hour flight and as nervous as he was, Stiles was itching to get his feet on the ground. Amber eyes peered out the window as they cut through the clouds and his breath caught in the back of his throat when the city lights began to blink awake out of the darkness. Tall sky scrapers reached towards the moon and soon the entire city came into view, fluorescent lights lined buildings and he could see the tiny flicker of headlights from crowded streets and highways. His skin prickled into goose bumps as his eyes trailed across the large white bones jutting out of the street and between buildings where a Kaiju had fallen years ago. They were massive and ominous and they reminded him that this was war- war against creatures bred by a race of beings that the world knew nothing about, and they were ruthless. The runway came into view and his body jolted slightly when the tires hit the asphalt. Stiles inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth again and again. This was real and as the seat belt sign flashed off and the other passengers began to shuffle with their belongings Stiles sat un-moving in his seat. He swallowed nervously and glanced to the back row of seats where the nameless men stood and walked towards him. Get up. His legs were trembling as he tried to flash a smile to the handlers, raising his brows, "So, uh, I guess you're leading the way?" One of them nodded and gestured towards the exit of the plane. Stiles bit down on the inside of his cheeks and his heart fluttered in his chest as they walked through the hollow docking. He let a sigh of relief fall from his lips when they finally entered the busy airport.

Hong Kong International was large and people from all corners of the world paced and hurried to try and catch their flights. "A car is waiting for you, we will escort you out and collect your things. Your luggage will be waiting for you in your room at Shatterdome when you get there, Mr. Stilinski," the taller of the two men nodded towards Stiles as they were waved towards the exit. A few hushed whispers were exchanged between a young couple as they passed by which made heat rise into Stiles' cheeks. "Oh, yeah, alright, thank you... I mean, I can get my stuff myself it's-"

"That won't be necessary."

Stiles' brows arched and he shrugged while he pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. He wasn't going to argue when he was in a strange country, about to be shuttled off to a base where the most talented Jaeger pilots were stationed and trained. Anxiety swelled in his gut as they opened the doors for him and pointed him in the direction of a black town car with a driver waiting patiently at his door. He was too nervous to ask questions and too stuck in his head to worry about anything besides forming a sentence when he got to the base. They hadn't given him any instruction for what he should do upon his arrival or who he should consult when he got there and that alone terrified him. A car horn made him jump in the back seat and a set of soft wrinkled eyes peeked at him in the rear view mirror, "你还好吗?" Stiles was caught off-guard for a moment but answered, clearing his throat when his voice came out broken and squeaky, "Yeah, I'm fine, uhm - 是的，我没事..." The man nodded and Stiles went back to gazing out the window to the busy streets. Lights streamed across the windows of crowded apartment buildings and people on bicycles raced across the sidewalks. Shops were stacked on top of each other and buildings were so close to one another that they had no room to breathe. His lip was raw from blunt teeth gnawing reluctantly on the sensitive flesh and he switched to picking at his nails as they made a sudden right down a deserted road away from the city and towards the coast. A gate was the first thing to greet them and Stiles listened as the driver jabbered something to the guard who waved them through without protest. He had said a few things about Stiles being Raleigh's new recruit and assumed these drivers were well-briefed and privately employed by the Marshall if they just let him drive through without a second thought. It was dark but he strained his eyes to see the looming hangars scattered around the area. Lines of cars were parked in a parking lot out front and a few people wandered around the grounds. It was hard to make out exactly what was what but that thought was cast from his mind as the driver parked and slid out of the drivers seat. Stiles squeezed his eyes shut and took in a couple deep breaths. "You are not a coward. You are not a fucking coward." The words were whispered to himself before the door opened and he took a shaky step out of the car.

Relief flooded through him when he saw a familiar tall blonde walking towards the car, "Stiles, how was the flight?" Raleigh put a hand on his shoulder and Stiles smiled through a nod, "It was extremely long. I haven't spent that much time in one designated place in a while." Becket gave a throaty laugh and Stiles bit down on his cheek to stop the tremble in his arms. The buildings were larger once he stood in front of them and as he raked his eyes across each one he felt the air come out of him in a breathy sigh. Raleigh nodded, "It's a lot to take in at first, I know, but c'mon. We have to get your paper work done and your medical taken care of." Stiles was trying desperately to keep a hold of himself as he followed the pilot through a large metal door on the side of one of the buildings and choked on the air in his lungs as it slammed behind him. It was astonishing to think that a week ago he would have never thought he would be there with his feet firmly planted on polished linoleum floors and his eyes frantically trying to take in everything in the gigantic room. The ceiling seemed to be miles away and grated metal walkways with staircases wrapped around the building at different levels. A few people were walking the floor, some carrying tool boxes and others barking at each other with clipboards in their hands. However, what stole his attention indefinitely were the metal beasts crowding the room. The Jaegers were amazing pieces of technology and each of them looked more powerful and un-godly in person than he had ever imagined. Striker Eureka was stationed to the left with a crew of technicians working on the damages from the last Kaiju battle. Gipsy Danger stood to the right of Striker, poised with a rustic, classic design. Chromebuster was there as well, along with the lone Lionheart hidden in the shadows, standing idly as a few workers shined the jagged chest piece that the old-school Jaeger sported. They were beautiful and Stiles saw Raleigh smile out of the corner of his eye as he watched his new recruit gawk at the four guardians, his mouth parted slightly as Stiles reminded himself again and again to breathe.

"You'll get to know them all pretty well, but we'll have to see which Jaeger you'll be driving after we get you paired up with a co-pilot." He watched Stiles blink a few times and nod slowly, processing the information that he had neglected to think about until that moment. Stiles would have to let another human being into his head, he would have to share their memories, their pain, their life. He ran his fingers absently through his hair and tried his best to ignore the anxiety twisting in his chest. Raleigh led him up a flight of stairs and through another large metal door. A few people passed and he got a couple smiles, one from a pretty brunette with a tool belt wrapped around her waist and another from a nurse carrying a cardboard box full of empty vials. "So, basically, tonight you'll be signing a bunch of shit and getting a bunch of shots," he smiled over his shoulder at Stiles who tried his best to smile back. The walls of the facility were bare and cold and Stiles' heavy boots echoed down the hallway. Raleigh continued to chirp encouragement at him and explained the reason for the medications as they walked into a sterile room with blinding white walls and a matching white floor. Stiles had to squint and stopped for a minute to look around, thrown off by the complete lack of distinguishability between the floor and ceiling. A few clean white beds were spaced out along the open area and things became more clear when he made out the stark white cabinets that lined one of the walls. A polished metal tray stood at the foot of one of the beds and Raleigh gestured for Stiles to sit, "Once you're done here a nurse will walk you down to your room. Go ahead and get comfortable, relax, un-pack. The clock has been pretty spot-on for the passed few weeks so we shouldn't have a breach for the next couple days." Stiles didn't know what to say, he didn't know if he should nod dumbly like he had all night, ask a question or thank him again. Stiles was completely lost. Raleigh had his thumbs hanging through the belt loops of his jeans and he licked across his bottom lip as Stiles continued to fidget, "I know..." his words were rough and warm and they coaxed Stiles to look up over the rim of his glasses, "I know that this is fucking horrifying and over-whelming and that's why I'm giving you tonight to collect yourself. Get it out of your system, man." Stiles let a pent up breath be released from his constricted lungs and a weak smile pulled at the edges of his mouth, "Thanks... This is just a wee bit foreign to me," Stiles muttered, absently scratching his head as he looked to Raleigh who nodded back and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, well have fun getting stuck with a bunch of needles and get some rest because tomorrow," he paused as he walked backwards towards the front of the room, his tongue pinched between his teeth in a boyish grin, "tomorrow you start combat training." Raleigh waved two fingers at Stiles as he rounded the corner, stumbling into a nurse and laughing an apology as he placed his hands on her shoulders to help her regain her balance.

Stiles watched him leave and the familiar bite of dread crept up his legs and into his stomach. It was strange but Raleigh made him feel at ease, and now that he was alone he felt completely stripped and vulnerable. It wasn't a feeling he was used to and it certainly wasn't pleasant but he tried his best to smile at the nurse, "Hi," his voice was meek and shallow, "I guess you're the one who gets to stick me with something sharp, huh?" The care-giver was a short woman with ghost white hair and deep brown eyes. She was thin and Stiles could see the sharp cut of her collar bones resting below her long pale neck. "Yes, sir, I am," her words were playful and her chapped lips creased into a smile. Stiles laughed nervously and folded his hands in his lap, "My name is Harmony, you don't have to call me Nurse this or Nurse that. It's not going to be too bad, but you will be a little drowsy after the last shot I give you so don't be alarmed when you start getting tired once we get you to your room." He nodded and relaxed as his feet dangled off the edge of the bed, toes dragging shallowly across the reflective white floor. Harmony was kind but it didn't stop Stiles from being curious about each medication and as she loaded up the first syringe he cocked his head to the side and raised a brow, "And dose number one is...?"

The nurse laughed and flicked her index finger, "Off with it!" Her voice came out in a laugh and Stiles clutched at his black shirt. "M-my shirt?" he stammered and couldn't keep himself from spitting out a sarcastic laugh, "Where you gonna put that thing, anyways?" She rolled her eyes and tapped at her wrist as if they were on a budget for time and Stiles painfully complied as he lifted the shirt above his head and set it reluctantly down behind him. He licked over his lips and bit down on his cheek when she told him to sit up straight and take a deep breath. He winced when the needle slid into his abdomen, "This is just a standard anti-inflammatory so that your body will accept the rest of the medication." He nodded and took one deep breath after another, flinching a few times depending on where she stuck which needle. Once in his side, another time low on his hip and then another in his abdomen again. "Flu shot, anti-fungal, hepatitis A and B and now," Harmony walked to the other side of the room where a large metal freezer was locked and hummed softly. Stiles poked at his stomach and whimpered, "Anti-fungal? I mean c'mon now, really? You guys are worried about me contracting some kind of fungus?" He stuck his tongue out and his expression twisted in disgust at the thought but Harmony shrugged her shoulders and set an icy vile full of opaque blue liquid on the steel tray. "Well, if you get bit by one of the ticks that like to crawl all over our ugly friends out there, you might just contract some kind of disease. We've seen it happen before and we found out it's some kind of fungus but we don't exactly know how to cure it. So the anti-fungal is just a precaution," she flashed a smile and Stiles felt his stomach flip and he grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut before the sound of shoes clicking against the floor interrupted his sudden wave of regrets. "As I was saying before, and now for the last shot which will be delivered by the surgeon in this wing, Dr. Lahey." The small woman gestured to the man who just entered the room and was flipping through a file which Stiles presumed was his.

The doctor was tall with a strong stature and a broad defined jaw. His cheekbones rested high on his face and aquamarine eyes darted up to Stiles as he closed the folder and set it down on the tray next to the vile. "Stiles?" he purred like a cat when he spoke and Stiles nodded in response as the doctor continued, "I'm Isaac, everyone here likes to refer to me as Dr. Lahey but honestly it makes me feel older than I am." Stiles tilted his head to the side and slid his eyes down the white lab coat draped over his shoulders which tapped gently against the back of his knees until raking them back up, catching a glance at the dog tags dangling around his neck. "Okay, well Isaac, your lovely assistant has plunged like five needles into my body so... can we wrap it up or do I have to sit here while you guys play darts?" Stiles smiled as he spoke and was relieved when Isaac laughed and shook his head back and forth, "I know, I know, but basically all I'm here for is to make you sign some paperwork, give you the last immunization and clear you for combat and simulation training. Also, I like to at least introduce myself to the recruits so if anything happens to them they'll know whose hands will be all over their bodies in the operating room." Blood rushed to Stiles' cheeks and he choked out a laugh when the doctor smirked and loaded the blue liquid into another syringe. It was strange how it almost glowed in the ridiculously bright room and it stole his attention away from the strangely flirtatious doctor. "What... what is that...?" There was something off about the way it looked, how thick and distorted it seemed to be and Stiles stiffened when Isaac placed a swab of alcohol against the side of his neck. A small sigh drifted over the young doctors mouth and his brows rose, "It's a derivative of Kaiju blue. Everyone knows that Kaiju cells begin to corrode as soon as they're killed but my father found out how to clone them. Not the Kaiju themselves but the cells inside their blood, which in turn allowed us to create a type of immunization against the effects of Kaiju blue. It disintegrates almost anything it touches, correct?" Isaac looked over to Stiles and wide, fear filled eyes greeted him. Stiles' mouth quivered and his tongue clicked against his teeth as he tried to find some way to protest getting anywhere near that needle. When Stiles didn't respond Dr. Lahey continued, "Well, now we've created something that will trick the blood into recognizing your cells as its own for a short period of time. It's a small window, five to seven minutes, but it's something and so far its saved two lives."

Stiles had his fingers wrapped around the edge of the bed and he gripped it firmly when Isaac asked him if he was alright. He wasn't alright, not in the slightest. His heart was racing and his stomach was in knots, but as his eyes lingered on the syringe he realized that backing out at this point wasn't an option. He took his glasses off, sat them on top of his shirt and took in a sharp breath, exhaling slowly into the quiet infirmary. "Y-yeah... I'm just not too cool with you shooting Kaiju blood into my veins but-"

"It won't hurt you, Stiles," Isaac interrupted with all too delicate words and offered a warm smile, "Everyone here at the facility's has had the shot, including myself, and I promise you we all had our reservations."

Stiles' throat was dry and he swallowed tightly before he nodded and tilted his chin to the right so that the doctor could slide the needle into the supple skin a few inches below his ear. "One, two," Isaac murmured quietly and Stiles gritted his teeth when the hollow needle bit at his flesh, "three." It felt like ice in his veins and it dripped slowly down his neck and into his shoulder. He had expected a sting or burn but instead it was freezing and goosebumps rose over his skin. His mind was swimming and his eyes blurred for a moment before a loud snap of Isaac's fingers grounded him and he hastily snatched his glasses, clumsily setting them back on the bridge of his nose. Isaac was chuckling and his mouth was spread into a wide smile, "It's powerful, I know," the doctor reached for the file and opened it, handing it over to Stiles who had his hand pressed to the throbbing area on his neck. "Now, this is just saying you've received all the immunizations and consented to each of them, sign here," Stiles obliged and scribbled his signature where the doctor pointed, "and here... and once more," he flipped the page and Stiles nodded, chills running down his spine as he read the bold words on the bottom of the sheet above the blank line.

STILES STILINSKI - JAEGER PILOT

He signed his name and handed the paper back to Isaac. The doctor showed his open palm and Stiles reached out to shake it firmly.

"Congratulations, Mr. Stilinski. Welcome to the resistance."

The walk to his room was short and Harmony reminded him once again that he would soon start to feel uncommonly drowsy and that it was just his body fighting and accepting the foreign substance. It still made Stiles extremely uneasy that he had any kind of Kaiju blue swimming around his blood stream, even if it was cloned DNA and he started fidgeting with his nails again as they walked up a flight of stairs to the third floor. Round metal doors lined the walls and as they approached the third door on the right Harmony stopped and nodded politely, "Here we are, Stiles. Your belongings are waiting for you so feel free to make yourself at home. Mr. Becket informed me to tell you," she cleared her throat and raised dainty fingers into air quotes, "'You better get yourself ready because tomorrow I'm going to kick your skinny ass into shape.'"

Stiles pulled his lips into a thin line and huffed, "I'm not that skinny..." Harmony smiled sweetly and poked Stiles in the back to get him to walk inside, "You get used to his charm," she piped and waved to him as he closed the heavy door to his new home. Amber eyes washed across the small enclosure. The bed was to the right and was decently sized with black sheets and a black comforter, a small dresser was pushed against the wall and a large square mirror hung above it. A nightstand sat next to his bed and the walls were empty of any decoration besides three shelves on the far wall to the left. It wasn't a big space by any means but it would do. His suitcases were set in the middle of the room and a dull ache settled at the bottom of his stomach as he unzipped them, plugged his phone in and began to fill the drawers of his new dresser with his clothes.

It didn't take him that long to unpack and as he came close to finishing he could feel the effects of the last shot sucking the energy out of his body. He sat on the edge of his bed and kicked his shoes off, starring down at a framed picture. A beautiful woman with an up-turned nose and long brown locks had her face buried in the belly of a laughing baby boy and it coaxed a soft smile to cradle Stiles' mouth. He set the frame on the wooden top of the nightstand and let himself fall back onto the bed, tired eyes blinking up at the ceiling. He yawned and his eyes lidded closed and he wondered once again about what it is he had got himself into. He reminded himself absently that this was an adventure, a risk, and that was the last thing he thought to himself before his breathing fell into an even pattern and he drifted to sleep.