"you know you're family to me, right?"
The Quinjet touched down on the landing pad of Avengers Tower, its engines powering down as the rear ramp lowered. Peter Parker slowly walked down the ramp, his shoulders slumped and his head lowered. He stopped at the bottom and let out a shaky breath, raising his hand to wipe at the tears that streaked down his cheeks beneath the Spider-Man mask.
Taking another breath, Peter reached up and slowly peeled the mask off. He blinked against the bright lights of the hangar, scrubbing a hand over his face. With heavy footsteps, he made his way inside, each step feeling heavier than the last.
As Peter entered the common area, Natasha Romanoff looked up from where she sat reading on the couch. Her eyebrows furrowed in concern as she took in his disheveled appearance and tear-stained cheeks.
"Peter?" she asked softly, setting her book aside and rising from the couch. "What happened, baby?"
Peter shook his head, his throat tightening. "I...I couldn't..." His voice broke and he lowered his head, fresh tears welling in his eyes.
Natasha's heart ached at the sight of the usually upbeat teen so distraught. She stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Peter. Come sit down."
She guided him over to the couch and he sank down heavily, dropping his head into his hands. Natasha sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his back.
"FRIDAY, can you ask the others to come to the living room?" she requested quietly and discreetly. "I think Peter could use the support right now."
"Of course, Ms. Romanoff," the AI replied.
A few minutes later, soft footsteps approached down the hall. Wanda Maximoff entered first, her brow furrowed with worry for her fellow teen Avenger. Tony and Pepper followed close behind, with little Morgan perched on Tony's hip. Steve, Bucky, Clint, and Thor filed in after them, their faces etched with concern.
"What happened?" Tony asked, his voice gentle as he took in Peter's hunched form. "Is the kid okay?"
Natasha gave a subtle shake of her head. "I'm not sure yet. He came back from patrol very upset. I thought it would help for him to have everyone close by right now."
Wanda hesitantly approached the couch where Peter still sat with his head in his hands. "Peter?" she asked softly, laying a hand on his shoulder. He flinched slightly at the contact. "What is wrong?"
When he didn't respond, she carefully sat down beside him and put an arm around his shoulders. At her touch, his breath hitched on a sob and he turned into her, burying his face against her shoulder. Wanda wrapped both arms around him, hugging him close as he cried. She met Natasha's gaze over his head, her own eyes glistening with tears.
Seeing Peter's raw despair, Natasha's maternal instincts took over. She stood from the couch and crossed over to Tony, gently taking Morgan from him. The little girl immediately snuggled into Natasha's embrace, her head coming to rest on the assassin's shoulder.
Natasha carried Morgan over to the couch and sat down on Peter's other side. She balanced Morgan on one knee and reached out to card her fingers through Peter's curls.
"Peter," she murmured. "We're here for you. All of us. Please talk to us. Let us help you carry this burden, whatever it is."
Peter's sobs quieted after a few moments and he pulled back from Wanda's shoulder, scrubbing at his eyes. He looked over at Natasha, noting Morgan's presence with surprise. Seeing the trusting, innocent gaze of the little girl who saw him as her big brother caused a fresh wave of anguish to wash over him.
"I'm sorry," he choked out. "I...I couldn't save them. There was nothing I could do."
Natasha's heart clenched. "Save who, Peter?"
He swallowed hard. "A family. Their car went off the bridge during the storm. By the time I got there..." His voice broke off with a shuddering breath. "The mom and dad were already gone. And the two kids..."
Peter dropped his head into his hands again, overcome. Natasha slid her arm around his shoulders and pulled him against her side. She presses a kiss to the top of his head as he cried, then rested her cheek against his curls.
"You did everything you could," she assured him softly. "I know you did. Some things are just beyond our control."
Peter shook his head bitterly. "I should have been faster. Or gotten there sooner. If I had just..."
"Peter, look at me," Natasha interrupted gently. She waited until he lifted his head and met her gaze, his eyes red-rimmed and devastated. "You cannot keep replaying it and blaming yourself for what you could have done differently. It will eat you alive."
She cupped his cheek, brushing away a stray tear with her thumb. "What happened was tragic, and my heart breaks for that family. But it was not your fault. You didn't fail them, Peter. Fate failed them."
Peter's lower lip trembled. "But I'm Spider-Man. I'm supposed to save people. And I didn't save them..." His voice cracked on the words.
"Oh, Peter." Natasha's heart splintered at the pain and guilt ravaging the sweet, good-hearted boy before her. She hugged him close again, one hand coming up to cradle the back of his head. "You have the biggest, kindest heart of anyone I know. You've saved so many lives, and you'll save countless more. But you can't save everyone, no matter how hard you try."
She leaned back so she could meet his eyes. "That family was not your responsibility. Their loss is a tragedy, but it does not diminish the value of all the good you've done, and will continue to do, as Spider-Man."
Peter searched her gaze, desperately wanting to believe her words. "I just wish I could have saved them," he whispered.
"I know, baby. But dwelling on the ones we couldn't save will only break us." Natasha cupped his cheek again. "The best way to honor that family is to keep being the selfless hero this city knows you to be. Not for glory or gratitude, but because helping people is part of who you are. That's what makes you a hero, Peter. Not your abilities, but your heart."
Peter's eyes glistened with fresh tears as he leaned into her motherly touch. After a long moment, he gave a small, shaky nod. Natasha offered a tender smile and brushed away a falling tear with the pad of her thumb.
Without thinking, Peter turned his face into her hand and murmured, "Thanks, Mom."
Natasha froze, surprise flitting across her face. Peter's eyes went wide as his exhausted, emotion-addled brain caught up with what he had said.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" he stammered.
But Natasha recovered quickly, a soft look settling on her face. "It's okay, Peter," she assured him gently. And to his surprise, she didn't let it go but instead asked, "Do you...think of me that way?"
Peter dropped his gaze, his cheeks flushing. "Sometimes," he admitted quietly. "Especially after my aunt..." He trailed off, still struggling to speak about losing May.
Natasha's expression softened further. She reached out and tipped his chin up so he would meet her eyes.
"You know you're family to me, right?" she told him. "I'll always be here for you, Peter. Whatever you need."
Peter's eyes shone with gratitude and love. Unable to find the words, he simply wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug. Natasha held him close, closing her eyes against the surge of maternal affection swelling inside her.
After a long moment, they drew back. Natasha cupped Peter's face in both hands. "Why don't you go get cleaned up, then come back and join us for dinner. We'd all like you close tonight."
Peter managed a small, tired smile and nodded. As he stood, Wanda immediately wrapped him in another hug. One by one, the others embraced him as well - Tony's grip especially tight - before Peter headed down the hall to his room.
Natasha watched him go, pride and protective love mingling with sorrow in her heart. Peter was resilient and courageous beyond his years, but even heroes needed to be cared for. She was grateful that he at least never had to carry his burdens alone. Not while his Avengers family was there to lift him up.