Peter and Tony had been kidnapped days ago. By their estimate, it had to be at least a week. Their captors wanted Tony to build something and threatened Peter to get the man to do it. For the most part they have left Peter alone. After the first time they beat the kid up to get Tony to cooperate, the man caved and said he would do anything if they left the boy alone. Now, when Tony is taken, Peter stays in their cell, a small dreary, dim room with one bed, a stained lumpy, torn mattress, and a silver toilet and sink.
Tony gets taken at gunpoint in the morning after breakfast and is brought back in at night right before dinner is shoved through the rusty slot in the door. Sometimes Tony comes back fine, well, as fine as he can be as a captive. Although, the bags under his eyes seem to turn a shade darker each day they are there. They are almost black now. Once in a while he will come back with a black eye or a split lip, but he’s had much worse in his life.
They have developed a routine together. Get up, turn around while each uses the bathroom. Wait for food and eat, Tony often gives Peter part of his portion because of the kid’s enhanced metabolism. Then talk and wait until the thugs with guns come in and take Tony away. While he is gone Peter does things to keep his mind busy, like reciting the Periodic Table and Pi.
When Tony is returned Peter asks what happened and the mechanic explains. They wait for dinner, and once it comes, they eat what measly potion that they have been supplied with. They both use the bathroom once more and then settle on the bed. It’s not big enough to both lie down, so they sit up against the wall. Tony slings an arm around Peter’s shoulders pulling him tight against his side. Peter rests his head on his mentor’s shoulder and closes his eyes. That’s how they sleep, until they get up and do it all again tomorrow. No end in sight.
They tried to escape once, but that's when they hurt Peter. Tony refuses to try again after that. He assures Peter the Rohdey will find them soon. But for now they use the bathroom, eat, leave the cell/pass the time, eat again, use the bathroom once more, and then huddle together, one arm around Peter’s shoulders and sleep.
Bathroom
Eat
leave the cell/pass the time
Eat
Bathroom
Sleep
Repeat
Bathroom
Eat
leave the cell/pass the time
Eat
Bathroom
Sleep
Repeat
It’s the same thing over and over. But one day they just throw Tony back in the cell without a word and shut the door. Peter stares as the man lays three, no movement. “M-Mr. St-Stark?” Peter asks hesitantly.
No answer.
“Mr. Stark?” Peter says again pushing himself off the wall and then off the bed,
No answer
“Mr. Stark?!” He rushes over to find the man’s eyes closed. His breath hitches when he sees the crimson smeared across his mentor’s forehead. The blood is leaking from a deep gash starting at the man’s hairline and disappearing under his dark brunette stands. “Mr. Stark, can you hear me?”
No answer.
Peter holds his breath since his own heartbeat is so loud he cannot hear Tony’s. He puts two fingers to the man’s neck and lets out a rush of air in relief as he feels the thrum under his finger pads. “Okay, you're okay.” He says more to himself than the unconscious man in front of him.
Peter carefully slips one arm under Tony’s back and one under his knees. He lifts the man up in a bridal style. Usually Tony would basically be light as a feather to the kid, but with the malnourishment, he grunts at the weight and staggers over to the bed. Peter, as gently as possible, puts Tony on the discolored mattress and sits him up against the gray concrete wall. The mechanic's head droops forward, his chin on his chest. Peter crawls onto the bed and sits next to his mentor. He lifts Tony’s limp left arm and pulls it over his own shoulders. Slotting himself in his usual place, though this time he sits a bit more forward so he can get in front of his mentor if the kidnappers come in while Tony is still out. Peter leans into the unaware man and silent tears race each other to the ratty mattress beneath. He can now hear Tony’s even breaths and the boy clings to the sound like a life preserver. Peter tucks himself as far into the man’s side as he can and then maneuvers Tony’s head to rest on his shoulder like he would usually do, but the other way around.
“It’ll be okay.” He whispers, again more for himself. The weight of his mentor's arm is calming, his heart slowing down.
When dinner comes Peter doesn’t move to go get it, he stays with Tony, Petr lets his head rest on the crown of Tony’s and closes his eyes, “We’ll be okay.”
_____________
Tony wakes in the morning and immediately, after he sees that the man’s eyes are open, Peter starts to sob. The mechanic is confused by this, but hugs the kid anyway, worried. “Pete, talk to me. What’s going on? Did they hurt you?!” The last part is said with a bit more force, anger directed toward their captors.
“Yo-You… You wouldn’t wake u-up.” He hiccups.
Tony is confused by this and his head is killing him., Hebrings his right hand to his forehead and feels something dry and crusty. When he takes his hand back he can see flecks of red… oh. “I’m okay.” Peter looks at him like he doesn’t believe him, tears still flowing down his face, “I’ve had way worse kiddo, promise.”
Peter doesn’t say anything, but he also doesn’t fight him. Tony just tightens his hold on his kid, “We’ll be okay.” He says, not realizing that those were Peter’s exact words to him last night.
They don’t come for Tony that day, giving him a reprieve after being knocked unconscious for half a day. Tony uses this time to assure Peter and makes sure the boy eats. He had seen the full tray by the door, showing that neither of them ate last night.
When they both hear shouting and fast, heavy, footsteps Tony shoves Peter behind him. If had listened closely he would have realized that those loud footsteps were not made by the combat boots all their captors were, but metal. Metal, like his suit.
Clang
Clang
Clang
Clunk
Tony's eyes are wide as he stares at the door, body shielding Peter from whatever is about to come through. There is loud banging against the door that echoes through the mall but tall cell. Peter puts his knees to his chest making himself small, he has never heard the kidnappers this mad before.
A second later the door slams open by the force of the banging. The metal door hits the wall with an unpleasant sound. Standing there is War Machine. The tension in the room drains as they lay eyes on each other. “Thank god,” Rhodey says once his faceplate is up, showing off his concerned face.
“See,” Tony said, turning back to Peter, “told you he would come.” Peter nods, but Tony can still clearly see the gleam of worry in Peter’s irises. “We’re okay now,” Tony states. Although, in truth, it might be a long while until the two of them are anywhere near the ballpark of okay.
“Let’s get you two out of here,” Rhodey cuts in, eyeing them carefully for injuries.
Peter and Tony both stand on shaky legs. They all start walking out of the cell, Peter and Tony behind Rhodey. The kid is still on edge and anxious, his Spidey sense has been off the charts since they got there.. Tony can see this and puts an arm around Peter’s shoulders. That seemed like the exact right thing to do as the mechanic can physically feel the rest of the tension leave the boy.
Peter doesn’t want to make it harder for Tony to walk, but he can't help but lean into his mentor’s side. It was the only safe place to be in the cell and he is not ready to leave that safety now.