Chapter 9
“WHAT?!” Bucky blurts it out in unison with Peter, dropping the piece of bagel he was holding.
“You heard me.” Tony looks at them both, and he's…he's being serious.
Peter jumps behind Steve and hides behind his broad back. Bucky groans. As if that's gonna save him.
“Hiding's not gonna help, and you know it, baby.” Tony rolls his eyes.
Steve looks absolutely helpless. He clearly wants to scoop the kid up and hide him from mean Tony, but they all know he won't do such a thing.
“You knew you were breaking the rules, Peter,” Tony says harshly, and even Bucky feels uncomfortable under his piercing look. “The moment you decided to sneak out, the moment you came up with that mastermind plan of yours – and do I even need to mention that winery passage?!”
There's a little whine from behind Steve's back.
“We’re under a threat of getting attacked, and you're hiding this information from me?” Stark’s voice is booming in the kitchen. “Fucking hell, Peter. I know you're a brat, I know you love to play – and Lord knows I enjoy it, kid. But for your own sake you need to learn when it's time for games and when it isn't.”
Everyone keeps silent. They all know Tony is right. Peter just keeps hiding behind Steve.
“Look what happened. Thank God Bucky was there on time, thank God you both managed to deal with those scumbags – but imagine what would happen if-”
Tony shuts himself up, rubbing a palm over his face.
“Tones, breathe,” Steve says in a soothing voice. “Everything ended well.”
“It's not ended yet, Steve, and just think about the danger – danger that wouldn't have happened if Peter was just obeying my orders.”
“Or if I didn't tell him all that shit, Tony,” Bucky adds quietly. “It's my fault.”
Tony shakes his head.
“No. He could've called me. He could've been a total little shit to you. He could've done anything – but he knew it was forbidden to leave the mansion. I explicitly said how important it is. I explicitly said how hard the punishment is gonna be. Didn't I, Peter?”
Bucky sees the kid clutching on Steve's vest, looking like a scared puppy.
“Yes, sir…you did…”
“So now you're going to find out what happens when you disobey me on this level.”
There's a whimper, and the kid peeks from behind Steve.
“But what-what do you mean from you both???”
Tony pins him with a stern look.
“You have to learn to obey. Me and Bucky. Because he's your babys- fuck me, I mean, bodyguard. He's the only one I trust with you when I'm not around. Because I know he has a firm hand that you so desperately need.”
“Hey!” Steve crosses his arms, looking offended as hell.
“What?” Tony groans. “Oh come on, you know what I meant.”
“You didn't have to say it like that!” Steve literally pouts, making both Bucky and Tony roll their eyes. So much for a serious moment.
“Yeah, it was mean to Stevie!” Peter wraps his arms around Steve's shoulders from behind.
“Zip it, the adults are talking.” Tony hushes him, and now the kid pouts too. “Steve, I know you love the kid and would protect him with your life. I also know you'd break into tears yourself before managing to discipline him when he deserves it.”
“I'm not as soft as you're making me sound!” Steve mumbles, clearly knowing himself that it's the filthiest lie ever.
“Yes, you are.” Tony and Bucky speak at the same time.
Bucky scoffs.
“C'mon, Steve. You would just be like ‘Aw, Petey, it was naughty to do it, you won't do that anymore, right? Good boy, go get ice cream.’ When in reality it would be something deserving a real damn punishment.”
Steve just uncrosses his arms and then crosses them again, all dignity, and doesn't say a word.
Tony nods at Bucky, looking satisfied. Then turns to Peter.
“Didn't you tell me you've accepted Buck into your family, huh, baby boy?”
Despite the situation, Bucky feels something warm melting in his chest. Steve immediately forgets that he's pouting and glances at him with heart eyes. Bucky wonders if his heartbeat can be heard by everyone in the room.
“I did…” Peter sniffles from behind Steve, tugging on his vest. “Doesn't mean I want him to beat my ass…”
Not like I want it either is frantically screaming in Bucky's head.
Tony actually lets out a chuckle at that.
“It's not about what you want, kid. It's about what you need. And when I say that I need you to listen to Bucky without questioning, I'm not doing it for giggles.” He rubs a hand over his face with a deep sigh. “Of course you only listen with a red ass – or under a real threat of getting it. Should've known it from the very start, my bad.”
“So if anything, it's kinda your fault, Daddy?” Peter pipes up in a way-too-innocent voice. “Nothing to punish me for.”
Steve closes his eyes and shakes his head. Bucky just barely refrains from telling the boy to shut up. This sass? Now? Seriously, kid?
Tony seems to be thinking the same, his dark eyes widening, carrying a threat.
“Excuse me?”
There’s a frightened squeak behind Steve's broad frame.
“I take it back, I take it back!!! Sorry!!!”
“Oh yeah,” Tony says grimly. “You're going to be sorry, pup, trust me. Come out.”
“Nooo!” Peter whines, making Tony snap.
“Did you just say ‘no’ to me? Now, Peter.”
Bucky sees Steve whispering something to the kid softly, coaxing him to come out.
“Stop coddling him, Steve!” Tony barks out, losing his patience. “He knows an order when he hears one.”
Steve sighs, flashing them a guilty look. Yeah, Tony was right. Steve would cry before the kid even thinks of shedding a tear.
There's a little sniffle, and Peter slowly crawls out from behind Steve, looking up timidly. Bucky doesn't miss the sneaky little push Steve gives him. He just rolls his eyes. Tony pretends not to notice. He appraises Peter with a stern look.
“Go to the bedroom and wait for us there. You know how I expect you. And think about everything you've done.”
“Yes, Daddy…” The kid mumbles obediently, bowing his head and going out of the kitchen.
Tony watches him. After they hear the bedroom door click shut, he turns to Bucky. Bucky's stomach immediately ties in knots. He opens his mouth, but Stark raises his finger.
“Before you start going on about how you don't want to punish the kid, about how you're too strong and afraid to actually hurt him, about how you don't want him to hate you after you two just started bonding – did I miss anything?”
Bucky just purses his lips. These are exactly the things he was about to spit out. Stark nods, humming in a ‘thought so’ manner.
“So, let me tell you something before all that. Peter is a strong boy – pretty sure you witnessed some of his skills last night. He's been forced to be like this pretty much his whole life, before we found each other. I'd tell you the whole story, but, first, it's Peter's story, and second, I don't want to make the poor kid marinate too much. So we'll save this talk for another time.”
Bucky nods. He's curious to find out more about the kid's background, but it can wait. Can only imagine how Peter's fidgeting, waiting for his punishment.
“He can be a badass, but he really is a kid. Let's put it this way – it's the first time he gets to be a child, and he needs all aspects of it. He wants to be loved and taken care of. To be safe. To be the baby of the family.”
Tony's voice is filled with such pure fondness, softness and…love…yeah, that's what it is.
“Peter's accepted you in our family, in his family – honestly, I knew it would happen, but you've won his trust even faster than I thought. And he needs to know that you care. Needs to know you care enough to discipline him. Needs to deem you worthy of obeying.”
There's an offended sound, and both of them look at Steve.
“By the way, Peter listened to me back then when I watched over him once!” Steve is clearly not over being considered ‘unworthy.’ “And he was such a good boy too!”
Tony nods solemnly.
“Yes, yes, he did. I spanked him so hard the day before that there wasn't any brattiness left in him…at least for a while. And I literally was out for two hours, during which you ordered takeout with everything the kid wanted and were watching his favorite movie. Anything you want to add?”
Steve purses his lips, and Bucky wants to kiss it off him. He squeezes his thigh.
“Hey, at least the kid has someone to play a good cop. Right, Tones?”
Tony looks like he's tired of dealing with everyone's meltdowns – and he didn't even start Peter's punishment yet. Bucky kinda feels bad for him.
“Stevie, Peter loves you. You have your own important place, with all your softness…he needs that too. So, calm down and take your role proudly, will you?”
Steve gives them a sheepish nod, looking somewhat more content.
Tony looks at Bucky, more serious than before.
“Peter answers to the combination of love and power. If you don't love him, he's never gonna let you overpower him. But if you love him, but he doesn't feel like you're stronger than him, that’s gonna create a problem. He's not gonna listen to you for shit. It's like in the wolf pack. I wouldn't say that you gotta show that you're the Alpha – we all know there's only one Alpha here. But you sure as hell need to show Peter his place. Need to show that between the two of you you're the one who's in charge, and he has to obey. Only then will he be safe with you.”
Bucky looks down, sighing. Tony is right. Of course, he's always, always right.
"Can't I show it in a different way though?" He makes one more attempt – kind of knowing it's pointless right away.
"You saw the little shit." Tony isn’t even a bit phased by his question. “Spankings are pretty much the only thing that works on him – a clear consequence, a display of authority, and when it's done, it's all over with. A good stress release as well."
Steve just squirms nervously near them. Bucky can bet there's a 'thank God it's not me who has to do it' flashing in his eyes.
"Okay." Bucky winces, bracing himself already. "But I – I have no idea how to do it."
Tony gives him a wolfish smile.
"Don't worry. I'll teach you everything."