Frank
Frank coaxed the kid into getting dressed with little to no fuss, his only refusal was wearing something that belonged to Red.
“This is Mr. Murd- Matt’s Columbia hoodie! Won’t he be mad that I’m taking it?”
Frank conceded, practicing patience with Peter, knowing at the back of his head if it was anyone else, Frank would’ve pushed and argued. With Peter, despite only just meeting him mere hours ago, it didn’t feel right. He looked so young with his floppy brown hair, and wide set eyes, oozing innocence.
“Alright kid, in that case, you can have this.” Frank gingerly handed over a well worn sweatshirt. “It’s mine, so you can’t refuse it.”
Peter held up the piece of clothing, to look at it before shrugging it on.
Big, bold letters stitched in white on the navy blue sweatshirt read ‘MARINE CORP’.
“You were in the Marines?”
Frank grunted an affirmation. Stifling through the closet some more. He pulled out a pair of sweats Matt kept for the winter, the inner lining was fleeced.
“You okay to get dressed yourself?” Frank felt stupid as soon as he asked it, Peter was basically grown, fully capable of putting on clothes. It just felt nice to take care of someone like this again. Frank felt the urge to brush the kid’s hair, teach him how to throw a football and shave all at once, the feeling hit him like a truck on the freeway going 100 km/hr over the speed limit.
“Yes, sir.” Peter nodded diligently, taking no notice of Frank’s embarrassment.
“Alright then. C’mon Max.” Frank gestured for the dog that had been napping on the bed to get up. “Let get you fed, good girl.”
Peter patted Max’s head as she trotted by him, she nuzzled into his palm, and for some reason that short circuited Frank’s brain for a minute. It felt so natural, as if Peter had always been here.
“Let me know if you need anything, kid.” Frank choked out.
Peter nodded again, this time giving Frank a small smile, and it reassured Frank that the kid was okay.
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Frank wrapped both arms around Matt’s waist, placing his chin on the man’s shoulder, breathing in the aroma of blended spices stirring on the stove.
“Smells great, Red.”
Matt laughed as Frank nuzzled into his neck a little.
“Did you get Peter something to wear?”
Frank nodded, placing his hand on top of Matt’s, stirring the pot with him. Max yapping at their feet happily. Everything felt so right, even the rain outside couldn’t bring Frank down. In his arms was the man he loved, who was happy to build a little life with him.
Frank was so entrenched in how content he was, breathing in Matt, that he didn’t notice Peter approach.
“How can I help?”
Peter stood in the kitchen, and Frank barked a laugh when he saw the kid.
“You’re really drowning in that, huh?” Frank put an arm around the kid and pulled him closer.
The sweatshirt went as far as Peter’s knees, and the sleeves bunched at his wrists, no doubt going well beyond his palm if unfurled. But washed up, in clean clothing that dwarfed him, Peter looked so incredibly small, Frank heart couldn’t handle it.
“You should see him, Red. He looks real sweet.”
“I can chop the carrots.” Peter said, a little flushed.
“That’d be great, Peter.” Matt nodded, smiling.
They prepared dinner, talked and laughed. Frank at one point put on a James Brown record, and acted dramatically offended when Peter didn’t know the music. Both Matt and Frank made it a point not to press for any details of why Peter was here quite yet, they seemed to have silently agreed that getting the boy cleaned, clothed and fed was a top priority, it seemed like he hadn’t had access to some of these basic necessities for a while.
Matt said grace, citing thanks for the food, the warmth, and the delightful presence of their guest Peter Parker.
On hearing that, Peter head dropped a little, and Frank could sworn he saw glassy eyes, so he squeezed the kid’s hand comfortingly.
After dinner Frank did the dishes, as Matt sat Peter down on the couch. Frank listened to the conversation over the running water of the sink.
“What happened, Peter?”
Frank heard the kid shudder a little, and from he corner of his eye, saw Matt quickly wrap the kid in a blanket. He was swaddled tightly before responding.
“The room I was renting got infested. Everything I owned was crawling with roaches, which was not much mind you.” Peter let out a humourless laugh.
“And the company hired to fumigate, threw everything I had to the curb. Landlord claimed nothing was salvageable.”
Frank gripped the soaped glass in his hands tightly, allowing it to slip a little.
“They were supposed to put me up somewhere while the building was closed off, but they never did. Once I vacated, and they trashed my things, my landlord cut contact.”
Peter let out a small sob, Matt shushed him gently, telling the kid to breathe.
“For the last two night, I slept on a park bench.”
Frank’s grip on the glass tightened further, causing it to shatter in his hands. Cutting his hands in the process. He wiped it on a towel, immediately, not wanting Red to worry and take any attention away from the kid. It was all superficial cuts anyway.
“Oh sweetheart.” Matt pulled Peter toward him. Holding the boy as he shook.
“I only came here, Mr. Murdock, because it rained pretty hard, I got disoriented out in the cold. I had nowhere to go, and then remembered - I knew you, and as a lawyer you might be able to help.”
Frank thanked god there wasn’t another glass in his hand, instead he held on to the counter for his dear life.
“Peter, you could have came to me even if it wasn’t a legal issue, you know that right.”
Frank breathed deeply, Matt always had a way with words, Frank was so glad he was the one Peter was talking to right now, hopefully the kid was seeing the love Red was ready to give.
Peter cried harder into Matt, and Frank cornered the couch, rubbing the kid’s shoulder blades while looking at Red. Never had he seen the man more distraught, all the death, despair and tragedy Matt had faced, and the suffering of an innocent child is what broke him.
In that moment, Frank realized he’s do anything for either of them. And despite Peter’s situation, and Matt’s heartbreak, Frank realized it felt good to care about someone that much again.
It felt good to have a family again.