Tony groans as he comes to, his head, pounding. He looks around and sees that he's chained to the wall with a thick chain around his ankle, in some basement. Fuck. Hydra. He looks at his wrist and feels relieved when he sees his tracker bracelet on. Rhodey'll find him as soon as he realizes he's missing. He's sure of it.
Tony hears a noise and his head snaps up. He meets the eyes of a boy, maybe 14 or 15. He was peeking at Tony from behind a large box and hides when Tony sees him.
"Who're you?" He asks, his voice hoarse.
The boy cautiously steps out from behind the box.
"Did they take you too?"
Tony pauses as he examines the boy. He had brown curly hair and these adorable wide Bambi eyes. He wore these raggedy old clothes and had bruises all up and down his arms and legs. Peter carefully sits down on the ground, several feet in front of Tony.
"Yeah, I guess they did. What's your name?"
The boy gazes at Tony and slowly scooches closer to him.
"Experiment 2781," The boy recites.
Tony looks at him, confused.
"You don't have a name?"
The boy shrugs.
"How long have you been here?" Tony asks.
The boy looks down at his hands, sadly.
"Forever. I was born here. They killed my parents."
Tony's heart drops. This poor kid.
"...Hey! How about we give you a name now, huh?"
The boy's eyes widen.
"Really?"
Tony smiles, pleased to see the boy's sad expression change into an excited one.
"Sure! Let's see.... Alex...Harry...Spencer... Peter...Yeah. You're definitely a Peter."
The boy smiles for the first time in a while.
"Peter.... I like having a name."
Tony's heart warms at the boy... Peter's personality. It makes Tony realize how much he takes advantage of his blessings everyday. This little boy here was ecstatic to have a name. It made Tony angry. So angry. That Peter has to go through the pain of dealing with Hydra every damn day of his life. It wasn't fair. Tony wasn't going to stand for it.
"What's your name?" Peter asks, curiously.
Before Tony could answer, Peter's eyes grow wide and his hands immediately cover his mouth.
" 'm sorry 'm sorry 'm sorry"
Tony, caught off guard by the sudden change of mood, reaches out his hand and grabs Peter's shoulder, noticing how Peter flinches.
"Peter hides his eyes behind his hands.
"I asked a question. I'm sorry. You can hit me."
Tony scooches closer to Peter. He gently removes Peter's hands from his face. Peter doesn't remember the last time someone was so gentle with him. Probably before his parents died. Peter didn't notice how touch-starved he was until Tony came around. Tony holds Peter's hands in his own and rubs his thumbs against Peter's hands.
"Hey. Listen. I don't know what these monsters did to you, but you don't have to be sorry for asking a question. I like questions. And you can absolutely trust me when I say I will Never lay a hand on you, harmfully. My name is Tony. Tony Stark." Tony adds with a reassuring smile.
Peter quickly returns the smile.
"I like your name"
This. combined with Peter's innocent, curious face, makes Tony laughs out loud.
"Well, Thanks."
The happy mood is quickly changed when the thick steel doors closing off the basement open and several Hydra agents walk in, a man wearing a lab coat leading the way.
"Брать тот эксперимент," The man in the lab coat says in straight Russian.
Tony doesn't know what it means until he sees Peter stiffen and two burly men go over to him, unchain him, and lift him out of the room.
"Don't touch him! Leave him alone! He's just a kid!"
The man in the lab coat sneers.
"Don't get involved with the experiment, Mr. Stark. We are almost finished with our testings and once we kill him we will deal with you," The man says in a thick Russian accent.
Tony's heart was in his throat as he thrashes with the chain around his ankle.
"Do whatever you want with me! Just leave him alone!"
"Lucky for us, Mr. Stark. We can do both."
The man then turns and leaves Tony screaming profanities, as the other men follow him out.
As hours pass, Tony's anxiety grows and grows from the absence of the young boy he just met. He was already growing quite fond of the teenager and the thought of something terrible happening to him was making Tony sick. The sound of the doors opening alerts Tony. He whips his head up and finds Peter being shoved into the room. He falls to the floor, his legs giving out.
"Peter!"
Tony tries to reach Peter but his chain restrains him.
"Peter, I can't reach you. I need you to come to me. Make your way to me."
Peter wipes his teary eyes and weakly crawls towards Tony. Once Peter was within Tony's reach, Tony grabs him and wraps his arms around him protectively. Peter practically melts into the embrace. Tony pulls away and cups Peter's face and examines him. Peter had a bloody nose and had fresh bruises. Tony's face falls at the sight of the injuries. He hugs Peter again, tighter this time.
"I swear to you, Peter, I'm gonna get us out of here. You're gonna come live with me and everything's gonna be okay."
Peter sniffs.
"You mean it? You want me to live with you?"
Tony smiles and nods. Peter looks down at his hands.
"I've never left this place. What's it like out there?"
Tony looks at Peter sadly as he dabs at the blood on his face with Tony's shirt.
"It's great, buddy. You're gonna love it."
Peter smiles at that.
His blinking starts to slow and Tony notices his heavy eyes so he guides the kid into laying his head on Tony's lap. Peter's eyes droop slowly until they close and he falls asleep, letting out soft little snores. Tony relaxes at the sound and the sight of Peter looking peaceful. Tony wished Peter could look like that forever. Tony begins running his fingers through Peter's messy curls almost as if it were a second nature to him. Before, Tony hadn't given a single thought to having a kid. Now? He would die before letting Hydra 'experiment' on him again. Now that the kid was in his arms, he wasn't planning on letting him go. The sound of Peter's soft snores like a lullaby, Tony is lulled to sleep as well.
However, the sound Tony wakes up to wasn't as pleasant. He was startled awake to the sound of distant screams. He looks at his lap and doesn't find Peter there anymore.
"fuck fuck fuck," Tony mutters as dread fills him, realizing who the screams belong to. "I broke my fucking promise already."
Tony pulls on his chain as hard as he could to break it off the wall as he shouts,
"Let him go! Leave him alone!"
Tony's resisting pauses when he hears something smash through the wall. He looks up and smiles when he sees his suit.
"Rhodey I could kiss you... Jarvis, Blast this chain."
The suit immediately obeys and as soon as he's free, Tony climbs into the suit and blasts the doors open. He desperately searches each room for Peter, blasting Hydra agents along the way.
Eventually, he opens the door to a room with an unconscious Peter laying on a medical bed, wearing an oxygen mask, and the Russian scientist from earlier, hovering over Peter, holding a knife. The man looks up at the sound of the door opening and Tony wastes no time shooting him. He runs over to Peter and practically rips the mask pumping drugs off. He cups Peter's face, gently.
"Peter! Pete! Wake up!"
When Peter doesn't stir, Tony carefully lifts Peter into his arms and flies out of there. As he's flying Peter to the tower, he does something he's never done before. He plants a kiss on the top of his head.
After a 10-ish minute flight, Tony arrives at the tower. He quickly gets out of his suit and races to the Medbay. He immediately lays him on the gurney. One of the doctors rushes in.
"Patient's name?" She asks, as she puts on gloves.
"Peter... from Hydra," Tony responds, sinking into the chair beside Peter's bed.
The doctor nods knowingly. She places an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, this time actually giving out oxygen.
"Peter? Peter, can you hear me?" The doctor calls out, using a voice that's louder than a normal talking voice. When Peter remains silent, Tony wonders if the doctor feels the same panic he feels, but her face remains calm.
"He seems okay overall. Just dehydrated and malnourished, obviously not speaking on behalf of the visible injuries in him but they should go away."
Tony nods.
"Thank you."
The doctor nods sweetly. She turns and walks out. Tony grasps Peter's hand, tightly.
Several minutes pass and Tony notices Peter's eyes fluttering under his eyelids.
"Peter?" Tony says, using the softest voice he's ever used.
Peter's eyes open and he looks around, disorientated. He blinks, confused, before his eyes widen and he rips his oxygen mask off. He starts breathing heavily as he looks at where he is, panicked. He tries to get out of the bed while panting.
"Hey.. Hey.."
Tony moves to be in the center of Peter's vision.
"Pete, It's me. It's Tony." Peter stops resisting and looks at Tony, his breathing not slowing one bit.
"..M-Mister Tony?"
Tony smiles.
"It's me. It's Mister Tony."
Peter wipes his eyes.
"Where am I?"
Tony sits on the bed, directly next to Peter and wraps his arm around him.
"This is my tower. You're safe now. You're free."
Peter's eyes widen.
"I'm free?"
Tony's heart breaks at the innocence on Peter's face.
"You're free, Buddy."
Peter smiles as he hugs Tony, tightly. Tony instantly returns the hug.
"Thank you, Mister Tony."
Tony kisses Peter's cheek.
"You don't need to thank me, Bub."
Tony loves watching Peter's eyes sparkle every-time Tony calls him by his new name or other nicknames. Peter was deprived of attention his entire life. Tony was now planning on pampering him for as long as Peter was staying with him here. He pats Peter's back.
"C'mon Pete, Let's go see your bedroom."
Peter's eyes grow wide but he doesn't say anything. Tony stands up and Peter does the same. As Tony leads the way, Peter keeps his arms wrapped around Tony's waist, not wanting to let go of Tony. Tony chuckles nervously as he shows Peter the guest bedroom right across the hall from his own room in case anything happened.
"It's pretty bland. I wasn't really planning on using it. We can go shopping tomorrow for some things."
Peter looks around the room, mesmerized.
"I love it! It's for me? Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you!" Peter exclaims, hugging Tony tightly.
Tony laughs as he hugs him back and ruffles Peter's hair.
"C'mon Kiddo. Let's go get some dinner. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
Peter giggles and follows Tony to the kitchen. Peter cautiously sits down at the counter, watching Tony get a pot and fill it with water and it begins boiling. Peter watches it in amazement.
"It's bubbling!"
Tony laughs.
"It sure is. The heat from the stove heats up the water and makes it 'bubble' or boil," Tony explains.
"That's so cool"
Tony smiles and finishes making the food before placing a bowl of Mac and cheese in front of Peter. Peter looks at it curiously.
"um.. Mister Tony.."
"Yeah Kiddo?"
Peter looks at the unfamiliar food but doesn't continue talking, too scared to ask a question. Tony, who easily figures out Peter's dilemma, sits down beside him with his own bowl.
"It's called Mac and cheese. Try it."
Peter bravely takes a bite of the pasta and smiles.
"It's good."
Tony laughs.
"Glad to hear it. Mac and cheese is on the safe list," Tony announces.
Once they were finished their food, Tony shows Peter to the couch.
"How about a movie?"
Peter tilts his head and looks at Tony like a confused puppy.
"You'll see."
Tony puts on Star Wars: A New Hope, and Peter watches in awe as the big black box suddenly displays moving pictures of People. Tony takes pride in the excited expression on Peter's face. Halfway through the movie, Peter starts nervously fidgeting with his hands. Tony gently places his hand over Peters', stopping the movement.
"Pete?"
Peter looks up at him.
"Mister Tony, can I ask you a question?"
Tony smiles at the name assigned to him now.
"Of course. Remember? I love questions."
Peter smiles halfheartedly.
"Why are you so nice to me? You could've left me with the bad people and you could've gone home to be by yourself."
Tony's eyes soften. He gently strokes Peter's hair.
"Peter, the second I met you, I knew you were special. You're the sweetest, kindest boy I've ever met. There was absolutely no way I was ever leaving you with those bastards."
Peter smiles, unshed tears in his eyes. Tony kisses his forehead and wipes the tears, as they fall down his cheeks, with his thumbs.
"c'mon, here comes the best part."
The two's attention returns to the movie and by the end of it, Peter was yawning every thirty seconds. Tony smiles as he stands up.
"Come on, Petey-pie. Let's get some sleep huh?"
Peter nods and follows Tony back to the room. Tony sits on the edge of the bed and pats it.
"Here's your bed. Bathroom's right through this door. A couple extra pillows and blankets in that cabinet, I'm right down the hall in that room. We'll have to get you some clothes and pajamas tomorrow."
Peter bites his lip, scarring around it tells Tony that this habit isn't new.
"uh.. Mister Tony... I haven't slept in a bed before. can you... um... sleep in it with me tonight? It's okay if you don't want to. I'm sorry."
Tony shakes his head.
"Hey, Shhh. Don't be sorry. It's okay. Let's go sleep."
Tony switches off the lights and gets into the bed. Peter hesitantly snuggles up to Tony, laying his head on his chest. Tony kisses Peter's temple and rubs his back.
"Mister Tony?" Peter whispers, quietly.
"Yeah Pete?" Tony responds with the same volume.
"Why do you do that?"
"What buddy? Kiss your head? I can stop if you don't like it," he offers.
Peter frantically shakes his head.
"No I like it. But why?"
Tony smiles.
"Well uh... I guess that's just how I show my love, kiddo."
"Oh"
Peter takes a moment to ponder this in silence before speaking again.
"I love you too, Mister Tony."
Tony pauses. He looks down at the kid, looking right back up at him, curiously, head on chest.
"Yeah, Love you."
Tony watches in amusement as Peter's eyes slowly droop. Tony soothingly brushes the loose curls off Peter's face and caresses his cheek. The droppings slow until Peter's eyes close and they don't open again. Tony waits silently and patiently until he hears the familiar sound of Peter's cute little snores.
"Night, Buddy."
Tony rests his cheek on the top of Peter's head and falls asleep. When he wakes up, he can't help but feel relieved when he sees Peter still there, asleep, drooling on Tony's shirt. Tony chuckles, his voice a little hoarse from just waking up. He reaches for his phone and his eyes widen when he reads the time, 11:28am. Almost half the day was gone and Tony still needed to go shopping for Peter's necessities. Tony lightly shakes Peter.
"Pete," He whispers.
Peter's eyes flying open and he pushes Tony away, panting. He swings his arms, disorientated, but Tony catches them and holds them gently.
"Hey, shh, It's Tony. Tony's house."
Peter stops struggling at the sound of Tony's voice and he tries to catch his breath.
"Oh.. I thought..."
Tony doesn't need him to continue. He hugs Peter tightly.
"You're never going back there ever. You're with me now, okay?"
Peter nods.
"I'm sorry."
Tony gently pinches Peter's cheeks playfully.
"Excuse me, Sir, 'Sorry' is a banned word in this house, you hear me."
Peter reluctantly nods and Tony smiles and ruffles his hair.
"Atta boy. Come on. Let's go shopping... It's raining out today, let me get you a sweatshirt," Tony says, looking out the window at the miserable day outside, "FRIDAY, start my car will ya? Turn the heat up."
"Certainly, Boss.
Peter jumps up and hides behind Tony,
"Who was that?" he asks.
Tony laughs.
"It's okay, Pete. That's my AI. She's like a robot. Say hi, FRI."
"Hello Peter," FRIDAY chimes in.
"H-Hi miss Friday."
Tony rolls his eyes at the kid's extreme politeness but soon stops and feels guilty realizing this is how Hydra trained him to be. He throws away the thought of Peter at Hydra as he searches his closet for one of his sweatshirts and pulls it over Peter's head and helps him put his arms through. Peter looks down at the sweatshirt he was wearing and then back up at Tony and smiles.
"Ready to go?"
Peter nods. He follows Tony to his garage but freezes in his tracks when he sees Tony's car.
"We're gonna go inside of that?"
"Yup! It's totally okay, I go in there all the time."
Peter slowly follows Tony into his car. Tony sits Peter into the passenger's seat. He hold Peter's seatbelt.
"I'm gonna put this around you, okay? It's gonna go across your lap and chest. It's just to keep you safe."
Peter's eyes widen but he nods.
Tony buckles Peter's seatbelt and pats his knee.
"You brave boy."
Peter watches as Tony closes his door and walks around the car and gets in, beside Peter.
"You ready, Bud?
Peter nods, nervously. Tony sees the anxiety on Peter's face and grabs his hand. He starts driving and Peter gasps.
"The car's moving!"
Tony laughs. There was nothing like the joy of watching Peter be entertained by the most normal things in Tony's life.
"Thank Goodness for that."
Peter looks at Tony in awe.
"That's so cool!"
Tony shakes his head and chuckles.
"You're a funny kid."
Peter watches out his window the entire ride to the clothing store. Tony gets out and helps Peter out and they both make their way into the store where Tony buys several several outfits for Peter. RIght when Tony and Peter were about to leave, a large group of people and paparazzi start flashing lights and cameras. Peter flinches and Tony tries to grab a hold of him, but the large crowd separates him from Peter.
"Get the hell away from me!" Tony shouts, fighting his way through the crowd until he finds Peter. He grabs the boy's wrist and storms out of the store.
Peter's eyes were on Tony on their entire walk to the car. He was looking at Tony's furious expression, terrified.
"I'm sorry." Peter couldn't help but mutter.
Tony's angry expression immediately vanishes when his eyes find Peter.
"Oh Pete, Don't be sorry. I'm not angry at you. at all. I'm pissed at those stupid harassing people for upsetting you. I shouldn't've scared you like that," Tony explains, buckling Peter up.
"I don't think I like shopping very much, Mister Tony."
Tony chuckles.
"I don't blame ya, kid. Next time let's just use Amazon."
Tony ruffles Peter's hair before getting into the car and drives back to the tower. Tony quickly makes dinner for himself and Peter.
"You're a good cook, Mister Tony."
Tony smiles, taking Peter's bowl and putting it into the sink.
"Thank you, kid. You wanna jump in the shower and get ready for bed?"
Peter nods and makes his way to the shower and then changes into his new pajamas, and brushes his teeth. Peter was so excited and grateful for all of his new belongings. Peter's excitement fades as he attempts to go to sleep. Tony has already checked on Peter and for all Peter knew, he was probably asleep. Peter tossed and turned but he couldn't find sleep.
Eventually, Peter decides to test his luck. He quietly makes his way to Tony's room and finds Tony awake on his phone.
"Mister Tony?"
Tony immediately looks up.
"Peter? What's up?"
Peter anxiously bites down on his bottom lip.
"Can I sleep with you just one more night? 'm sorry"
Tony smiles and pats his bed. Peter cautiously enters the bed.
"I'm sorry. I know I'm being a baby."
Tony narrows his eyes as he places his phone back on his nightstand.
"You're not being a baby. You've been through so much. You didn't deserve any of it. And what'd I say about saying sorry?"
Peter smiles and lays his head on Tony's shoulder.
"Can you play with my hair? It calms me down."
Tony smiles and kisses Peter's button nose.
"You betcha. Luckily it does the same for me too."
Tony gently runs his rough, calloused fingers through Peter's soft curls until he hears Pete's comforting snores.
Tony smiles, pleased with this new life of his.