"even heroes need help sometimes"
Peter trudged up the steps to the Avengers compound, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion. It had been a long week filled with school, patrols, and helping Mr. Stark in the lab. He was running on fumes but didn't want to bother anyone with his problems.
As he walked inside, Natasha looked up from where she was reading on the couch. She frowned slightly, noting the dark circles under Peter's eyes and the way he dragged his feet.
"Hey Pete, how are you doing?" she asked gently.
Peter dredged up a smile. "I'm good, Nat. Just tired. Think I'll head to bed early tonight."
Natasha's keen eyes tracked him as he grabbed a snack from the kitchen and disappeared down the hall to his room. She suspected there was more going on than just being tired. Peter had a habit of taking on too much and not asking for help when he needed it. She decided to give him some space for now, but resolved to keep an eye on him over the next few days.
The following evening, Natasha wandered into the kitchen to find Peter slumped at the table, nodding off over a bowl of cereal. She cleared her throat and he jolted awake, blinking owlishly.
"Peter, sweetie, are you sure you're okay? You seem exhausted," Natasha said, brushing a gentle hand through his curls.
"Yeah, m'fine," Peter mumbled through a yawn. "Just been having trouble sleeping I guess."
Natasha hummed, unconvinced. "Why don't you go lay down and I'll bring you some tea to help you relax?"
"You don't have to do that," Peter protested weakly, even as his eyes drifted shut again.
"It's no trouble," Natasha insisted. "Go get comfy and I'll be there in a few."
Peter acquiesced, too tired to argue further. Natasha watched him shuffle off before putting the kettle on. She had a feeling there was more troubling the kid than just lack of sleep.
When she entered Peter's room a short while later, tea in hand, she found him curled under the covers. His face was pinched and eyes red-rimmed. Natasha perched on the edge of the bed and ran a soothing hand through his curls.
"What's going on, little spider? And don't try to tell me it's nothing. I can tell something's been bothering you," she said gently but firmly.
Peter chewed his lip, eyes downcast. Natasha waited patiently, continuing her ministrations.
Finally Peter choked out, "I just...it's been a lot lately. School and Spider-Man and the internship. I feel like I'm drowning but I didn't want to complain and be a burden on anyone."
Natasha's heart squeezed. She tilted Peter's chin up to meet her gaze. "Listen to me. You could never be a burden. We all care about you and want to help if you're struggling. Bottling it up isn't the answer."
Peter's lower lip wobbled. "I'm supposed to be a hero though. Heroes don't fall apart over some lost sleep and homework."
"Even heroes need help sometimes, little spider," Natasha said. "No one expects you to handle everything on your own. Let us take some of the weight."
Peter blinked rapidly against the sting of tears. Before he could stop himself, the whole story came pouring out...the avalanche of school assignments he was behind on, the principal scolding him for falling asleep in class, the bruises and injuries from particularly nasty fights on patrol that he'd hidden from Mr. Stark.
Through it all, Natasha listened attentively, keeping up the soothing motion of her hand in his hair. As Peter finally wound down, shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs, she gathered him into her arms.
"Shh, it's alright, solnishko moyo," she murmured. "We'll figure this out together."
The gentle tone and Russian term of endearment undid Peter completely. Great heaving sobs tore from his chest as he clung to Natasha, face buried against her shoulder.
"I'm s-sorry," he cried. "I don't know why I'm f-falling apart."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Natasha assured, rubbing his back. "Let it out, malenkiy pauk. I've got you."
They stayed like that for a long time, Natasha rocking Peter gently as he wept into her shirt. She brushed the tears from his cheeks with her thumbs, carding her fingers through his hair and humming an old Russian lullaby.
Finally the tears slowed to hiccups and Peter pulled back, scrubbing at his face. "Sorry, I got your shirt all gross."
Natasha tutted, grabbing a tissue to help clean him up. "None of that now. I'm always here for spider-cuddles, snot and tears included."
That startled a wet chuckle out of Peter. Natasha's expression softened.
"Feel a bit better after getting all that out?" she asked.
"Yeah," Peter admitted hoarsely. "I'm really sorry for dumping all this on you."
"Sweet boy, the only thing I want is for you to come to me when you're struggling," Natasha said seriously. "Don't ever feel like you're burdening me. Being there for you will never be an inconvenience."
Peter ducked his head. "I'll try to remember that."
"See that you do." Natasha tapped his nose playfully, eliciting a small smile. "Now, why don't you take a nap while I make us some dinner? You must be hungry after all that crying."
Peter wanted to protest but his traitorous eyes were already slipping closed again. The emotional release left him utterly drained.
Natasha brushed his hair back and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Rest, little spider. I'll come get you when it's ready."
"'Kay, Mom," Peter mumbled, snuggling down into his pillow.
Natasha froze, heart clenching. Peter seemed to realize what he said and cracked an eye open, looking mortified.
"I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—"
"Hush," Natasha interrupted, voice thick with emotion. She cupped his cheek tenderly. "I'm honored you think of me that way, Peter. I...I think of you as my son too. Now close your eyes and get some sleep, baby."
Peter's face lit up joyfully before he let his eyes fall shut, features smoothing out as exhaustion claimed him. Natasha sat watching him for a moment, overwhelmed by love and fierce protectiveness for this kind, selfless kid.
She pressed one last kiss to his forehead. "Sleep well, my little spider. Mom's here."
With that she slipped soundlessly from the room, heart fuller than she could ever remember it being.
A few weeks had passed since Peter's emotional breakdown in Natasha's arms. True to her word, she had been there for him every step of the way as he caught up on schoolwork and took a much needed break from Spiderman duties. Their relationship had evolved into something akin to mother and son, with Natasha taking on a fiercely protective and nurturing role towards Peter.
The change didn't go unnoticed by the other Avengers.
It was most evident one afternoon when the team had gathered for a briefing. Peter sat tucked against Natasha's side as she ran her fingers soothingly through his curls, nodding along to whatever Tony was explaining about their next mission.
Natasha pressed a gentle kiss to Peter's hair, surreptitiously sliding a protein bar onto the table in front of him.
"Make sure you eat something, malysh," she murmured. "Can't have you getting hungry halfway through the meeting."
"Thanks, Mom," Peter whispered back, tearing open the wrapper.
Natasha's face softened at the endearment as she pulled Peter closer and continued playing with his hair.
Across the table, Steve and Bruce exchanged surprised looks at the open affection between the normally reserved assassin and spider kid. Clint in particular watched the interaction closely, a small smile teasing his lips.
When the briefing finished, Natasha nudged Peter off her lap. "Go on and help Tony. I'll come get you for dinner in a bit."
"Okay," Peter chirped, pausing to wrap her in a quick hug before scampering off.
Natasha's eyes tracked him fondly until he was out of sight. When she turned back, it was to find the other Avengers gaping at her.
"What?" she asked defensively.
"Did he just call you Mom?" Steve asked.
"And did you just willingly cuddle him for a solid hour?" Clint added, grinning.
Natasha leveled a flat stare at them. "The kid got attached. I didn't have the heart to correct him."
The others clearly weren't buying it.
Bruce spoke up gently. "It seems like more than just Peter getting attached. You really care about him, don't you?"
Natasha glanced away, lips pursed. "He's a good kid. Someone needs to look out for him."
"Mhm, sure. Admit it, you've gone full mama spider," Clint teased.
Natasha tossed a pillow at his head, though there was no real heat behind it. A tiny, pleased smile tugged at her mouth.
Thankfully, Friday interrupted before the interrogation could continue. "Boss is requesting all available hands down in the workshop."
With no small amount of grumbling, the Avengers headed down to see what Tony wanted. To their surprise, Peter was already there, babbling a mile a minute about suit upgrades while perched atop one of Tony's worktables.
Tony looked mildly overwhelmed. "Alright kid, that's enough. Time for you to clear out so we can get some real work done."
Peter pouted. "But I want to help!"
"Sorry Underoos, maybe next time."
Peter crossed his arms, gearing up to argue. Before he could get a word out, Natasha swept in and scooped him off the table.
"Come on malysh, let's leave the boys to it. We can make cookies for when they're done," she placated.
Instantly mollified, Peter beamed and clung to her in an octopus hug. "Okay! Can we make snickerdoodles? Those are my favorite."
Nat chucked him under the chin. "Anything for you, little spider."
She headed for the door, Peter still wrapped securely in her arms. The others stared after them, shaking their heads in bemusement.
"Did Natasha Romanoff just voluntarily offer to bake cookies?" Steve wondered aloud.
"Motherhood has changed her," Clint said solemnly.
Tony cleared his throat. "Right, back to business. The kid's not usually underfoot this much, I swear..."
He launched into an explanation of the suit upgrades, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. The others couldn't focus either, thoughts centered on Natasha and Peter's peculiar relationship shift.
Later, they congregated in the kitchen for dinner. Peter was practically glued to Natasha's side, chattering about his day between enthusiastic bites of pasta. Natasha listened attentively, keeping his plate full and brushing back his unruly curls.
"Seriously, what's the deal with them lately?" Tony muttered to Bruce under his breath.
Bruce hid a smile. "I think it's sweet. She's really taken him under her wing."
"Yeah, but why?"
Before Bruce could speculate further, Peter popped up from the table. "Be right back, just gonna wash my hands."
He scurried off to the bathroom down the hall. The remaining heroes looked at each other, then as one turned expectant gazes on Natasha.
She held up a hand. "Don't start."
"Oh come on," Clint wheedled. "You gotta explain this new super clingy dynamic."
Natasha pursed her lips, debating how much to share. Before she could respond, Peter returned and immediately curled into her side. She softened, arm coming up automatically to comb through his hair.
Peter sighed contentedly at the contact. The others watched this blatant display of affection with rapt fascination.
Finally, Natasha took pity on them. "Alright fine. A few weeks ago, Peter confessed that he'd been overwhelmed and hiding it from everyone. Things...escalated into a rather emotional conversation. We've grown closer since."
The simplified explanation didn't seem to satisfy their curiosity. Peter fidgeted under their searching looks.
"It's really not a big deal," he mumbled. "I just maybe had a tiny breakdown and Nat - I mean, Ms. Romanoff - helped me through it. And now we hang out more. That's all."
Natasha gave him a knowing look. "You don't have to downplay it, malysh. I know opening up that night was difficult for you."
She rubbed his back reassuringly. Peter leaned into the touch, the tension bleeding from his frame.
"So he does call you mom now?" Clint questioned.
Peter blushed. "Um, well...sometimes it just slips out? But she doesn't seem to mind so-"
"So he's my kid now, end of story," Natasha interrupted firmly, leveling the others with a challenging stare.
Peter practically glowed at the declaration, darting forward to wrap Natasha in a fierce hug. "Love you," he mumbled into her shoulder.
"Love you too, little spider," she murmured back, ignoring the flabbergasted looks from around the table.
Clint was the first to recover. He came over to sling an arm around Nat's shoulders. "Gotta say, I never saw you going domestic, but it suits you." He ruffled Peter's hair affectionately. "Welcome to the family, kid."
"Yes, congratulations to you both," Steve added sincerely.
Bruce smiled. "We're happy for you two, truly." He leaned in conspiratorially. "Between you and me Peter, I think she's had a soft spot for you from the beginning."
Natasha glared half-heartedly at the perceived betrayal, but couldn't keep a pleased little grin off her face.
Tony shook his head in amusement. "Spider mom and spider son. Unbelievable." He fixed Peter with a mock stern look. "Don't think this gets you out of your internship responsibilities."
Peter just laughed and burrowed further into Natasha's embrace. The Avengers exchanged fond smiles at the heartwarming scene.
However unexpected, it was clear a mother's love had weaved its way into their little found family.
The mission had gone poorly, to put it mildly.
A simple reconnaissance job had quickly spiraled out of control when the arms dealers they were tracking turned out to be enhanced. Peter had frozen up during the fight, flashbacks from past battles overwhelming him, and his mistakes had almost cost the team dearly.
Fortunately, they all made it back to the compound in one piece, if a bit battered. Peter immediately sequestered himself in his room, radiating shame.
Natasha gave him some time to cool down before seeking him out. She found him curled on his bed, face blotchy and eyes rimmed red. Her heart ached at the sight.
"Oh malysh," she murmured, sitting beside him and gathering his lanky frame into her arms. "Talk to me."
Peter shuddered, pressing closer. "I'm so sorry, Nat. I screwed up bad today."
"You made a mistake," Natasha corrected gently. "That doesn't make you a failure. What happened wasn't your fault."
Peter didn't seem convinced, face screwed up against another sob. Natasha sighed and resumed carding her fingers through his hair. They stayed like that until Peter had cried himself out and slumped exhaustedly against her.
Natasha nudged him towards the bathroom. "Go get cleaned up, little spider. I'll bring you something to eat."
Peter nodded mutely and did as instructed. By the time he emerged in comfy pajamas, Natasha was waiting with a sandwich and glass of milk. She sat with him while he picked at it listlessly.
"Try to get some rest," Natasha urged once he'd eaten what he could. She pressed a kiss to his forehead and got him settled in bed. "Things will look better in the morning."
But the next morning brought little relief. If anything, Peter seemed more depressed. He trailed after Natasha to the kitchen with hunched shoulders and downcast eyes.
The rest of the team was already up and about. Steve kept shooting Peter strange looks across the table, which Natasha didn't fail to notice. Her eyes narrowed.
Sure enough, once Peter had departed for school, Steve turned on Natasha with a disapproving frown. "We need to talk about the kid."
Natasha crossed her arms. "What about him?"
"He nearly got us killed yesterday with that rookie mistake," Steve said bluntly. "Freezing up in the field like that? Unacceptable."
Natasha's hackles rose. "You know Peter struggles with sensory overload in combat. Singling him out as the sole cause of a mission gone wrong is unfair."
"Maybe so, but he's clearly not ready for Avengers level threats if he can't handle the pressure," Steve argued. "We can't coddle him forever."
"No one's coddling anyone. Did you consider that perhaps constantly comparing a sixteen year old to Earth's mightiest heroes is too high an expectation?" Natasha shot back.
She respected Steve, she really did, but something about his attitude towards Peter rubbed her the wrong way. The boy was trying his best; tearing him down for a few errors wouldn't help matters.
Steve looked taken aback by her vehemence. "I just want what's best for the team. If Peter's not able to step up—"
"I swear to god Rogers, if the next words out of your mouth are about benching my kid..." Natasha growled.
Steve held up his hands placatingly. "No one's saying he has to hang up the suit. But he can't afford mistakes like yesterday either. Surely you see that?"
Natasha pinched the bridge of her nose. As a mentor, she knew Steve had a point. Rationally, Peter did need to work on overcoming sensory triggers during battle. But her maternal instincts railed against anything that could hurt her boy's self-esteem.
"I know he struggles, but Peter has more heart than anyone and wants to improve," she said finally. "Give him time. I'll work with him on managing his senses better."
Steve still looked uncertain but nodded. "That's all I ask. The team just wants him to reach his full potential."
Privately, Natasha thought Peter was already exceptional, superhuman slip-ups or not. But she held her tongue, hoping the matter was settled.
Unfortunately, the tension lingered over the next few days. Peter remained subdued, barely speaking during team dinners. Steve kept up the disappointed looks and backhanded comments about the need to "get his head in the game."
Natasha did her best to buffer and cheer Peter up, but the criticism was clearly wearing on him. Her worry mounted.
Things came to a head during movie night. Peter had fallen into a light doze against Natasha's shoulder. When Steve came in and saw, his frown returned full force.
"Seriously, sleeping? That's his priority after nearly botching an entire mission?"
Peter jolted awake, blinking groggily. Before Natasha could intervene, Steve plowed on.
"No offense kid, but you gotta get your act together. One mistake may not seem like much, but it could get someone killed next time. You're an Avenger now, time to live up to that."
Peter paled, wrapping his arms around himself. Natasha's eyes blazed. Enough was enough.
"Outside. Now," she gritted out to Steve.
Clint winced in sympathy as Natasha forcibly dragged the super soldier from the room. The remaining team studiously avoided eye contact, not wanting to get in the middle of that impending argument.
In the hall, Natasha rounded furiously on Steve. "What the hell was that?"
Steve held his ground. "I'm just being honest for his own good. He needs to take this more seriously."
"He's a child!" Natasha exploded. "You have no idea the toll this hero work takes on him, how much he struggles with self-doubt. Your so-called motivation is only making it worse."
"Peter shouldn't get special treatment for youth or insecurities. We accepted him as an Avenger and that comes with responsibilities."
Natasha stabbed an accusing finger at Steve's chest. "You don't know him at all, so don't act like some authority on what he needs or deserves."
"And you're too close to give an unbiased assessment!" Steve shot back. "I know you see him as a son, but we can't lower our standards because of it."
Natasha's expression was pure ice. "Get this through your thick skull, Rogers: You. Do. Not. Get. To judge my child. Back the hell off before I make you."
Steve took a step back at the feral gleam in her eyes. For all his strength, Black Widow was downright terrifying when her maternal fury was roused.
"Alright," he placated, raising his hands. "You made your point. I'll ease up on the tough love approach."
Natasha was still seething but gave a sharp nod and whirled back towards the lounge. She needed to check on her spider baby.
Sure enough, Peter was curled miserably on the couch, staring at the floor. At Natasha's entrance, he peeked up guiltily.
"I'm really sorry about all this," he mumbled. "I'll do better, I promise."
Natasha's heart cracked. She sat and gathered him into her arms. "You have nothing to apologize for, solnishko. I'm so proud of you for trying your best; no one should ever make you feel otherwise."
Peter clutched her tightly, the affirmation easing some of his inner turmoil. Natasha held him close, vowing that nothing and no one would ever make her boy doubt his worth again.
Steve knew he'd messed up.
After Natasha reamed him out, he'd done some soul-searching and come to the realization that he'd been too hard on Peter. The kid was already beating himself up; piling on criticism wasn't helpful. But Steve had let his focus on the mission overshadow empathy.
He decided to get an outside perspective and went to Clint. As Natasha's best friend, he'd have insight.
Clint shook his head when Steve explained the situation. "Yeah, going drill sergeant on the kid was definitely the wrong move. You know Peter's just a ball of anxiety on the best days. He takes any perceived failure really hard."
Steve sighed. "You're right. I was too focused on flaws and not giving him credit for what he does well. How do I fix this?"
"Apologize, make it sincere, and ease up moving forward. Peter wants to make you proud; he just needs more patience and support, not tough love."
That lined up with Natasha's arguments too. Steve resolved to make amends, starting by talking to Tony. As Peter's mentor, he deserved a heads up.
Unsurprisingly, Tony was pissed when he learned how Steve had treated his protege. "Let me get this straight, you chewed out my kid for something that wasn't his fault? Not cool, Cap."
Steve held up a hand. "You're right, and I was wrong. I came to make it right." He explained his plan to apologize.
Tony considered him appraisingly. "Groveling might get you back in Nat's good graces eventually, but it better be a damn good apology to Peter."
"It will be, you have my word," Steve promised.
Tony clapped his shoulder. "Then go get the kid and set things straight."
Easier said than done. Steve agonized for days over how to approach Peter, who seemed to be avoiding him. It left an uneasy knot in his stomach to think he'd lost the boy's trust.
Finally, he decided to just take the plunge instead of dancing around the issue further. He found Peter in the lounge one evening, tucked against Natasha's side as they watched a movie.
Steve cleared his throat awkwardly. "Hey Peter, can we talk for a minute?"
Peter's head shot up, eyes widening. Before Steve could say anything else, Natasha had angled herself between them, expression thunderous.
"You've got some real nerve," she bit out harshly. "If you think I'm letting you anywhere near my kid after the way you treated him..."
She trailed off threateningly. Peter peeked around her, confusion mixing with apprehension on his face.
Steve held up his hands. "I know, and I'm sorry. I just want to apologize to Peter, that's all."
Natasha clearly wasn't mollified. Peter laid a hand on her arm. "It's okay, Nat. I should hear him out."
She searched his face for reluctance before reluctantly moving aside. Peter shifted nervously as Steve took a seat across from him.
"Peter, I need to apologize for how I acted after the mission. I was too hard on you and that wasn't fair," Steve began solemnly. "The truth is, you're an amazing hero already. I let my focus on flaws overshadow all the good you bring to the team. I'm sorry I made you doubt yourself."
Peter ducked his head, cheeks pinking. "S'okay, you were just being honest."
Steve shook his head. "I was callous when you needed support. You must be under so much pressure, but you handle it with grace. I let my expectations overshadow that. I hope in time you can forgive me."
He extended a hand tentatively. Peter glanced at Natasha, who gave a subtle nod, before reaching out to shake it.
"Thank you," Peter said softly. "I really want to live up to being an Avenger; I know I have stuff to work on."
"You already are one of us, mistakes and all," Steve assured. "And we'll help you improve without putting unfair pressure on you. All I ask is that you keep being your amazing self."
Peter finally cracked a small smile. "I can do that."
Steve ruffled his hair. "Atta boy." He stood to take his leave before pausing. "Oh, and Peter? My door is always open if you need advice or just want to talk. Anytime."
"I'd like that, sir," Peter said, grin widening.
Steve's heart lifted as he read the forgiveness in those bright eyes. He'd regained Peter's trust, and this time he wouldn't squander it.
He bid Peter goodnight and left him to finish the movie, Natasha's arm winding back around his shoulders. On his way out, Steve caught her eye and mouthed "thank you" for giving him a second chance.
The set of her shoulders relaxed minutely as she nodded in return. They had an understanding now. When it came to Peter's wellbeing, they were firmly on the same side.
Steve walked away with a lighter step, secure in the knowledge that whatever struggles lay ahead, Peter would have endless support in his corner. He was truly where he belonged - with a family that loved him unconditionally, mistakes and all.
It was movie night at the Avengers compound, and Peter was snuggled up to Natasha on the couch as usual. He'd had a long day of school and Spidermanning, and struggled to keep his eyes open as the film played.
Natasha ran her fingers gently through his hair. "Getting sleepy, little spider?"
"Mm no, m'awake," Peter mumbled, even as he slumped further into her side.
Natasha chuckled. "Sure you are, baby."
She tucked the throw blanket more securely around Peter's shoulders and let him drift off, head pillowed on her chest. He was soon sleeping soundly, temple pressed to the steady beat of her heart.
Natasha gazed down at him fondly. Her strong, brave boy looked so small and innocent like this. She smoothed a hand over his hair and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Sweet dreams, solnishko moyo," she murmured.
Across the room, Steve watched the tender scene with a small smile. It did his heart good to see Natasha's fierce maternal side come out. Peter brought that protectiveness to the surface in a way nothing else could.
As the movie ended, the others started dispersing for bed. Peter remained dead to the world in Natasha's arms.
"I can take him to bed if you want," Steve offered. "Save you from having to move him."
Natasha considered it for a moment before nodding. It would be a gesture of trust on her part, letting Steve care for Peter after their earlier arguments about his training. But she knew the man only wanted what was best for her boy in the end.
"Alright, but be gentle," Natasha cautioned. "He's had a long day."
Steve smiled. "Scout's honor."
He came over and crouched by the couch. "Hey Queens, time for bed," he said, giving Peter's shoulder a little shake.
Peter whined sleepily, smacking his lips and burying his face against Natasha's shirt. His arms tightened around her. "'S too early, Mama. Wanna stay with you."
Steve had to smother a laugh at the absolutely besotted look that crossed Natasha's face.
"I know malysh, but it's late. Steve's gonna carry you to bed," she coaxed softly.
Peter finally cracked his eyes open to peer blearily at Steve. "Carry me?" he echoed in a small, hopeful voice.
Steve melted. "That's right buddy, I've got you."
He scooped Peter into his arms, cradling him close. The boy immediately tucked his head under Steve's chin, legs winding around his waist koala-style. Steve's breath hitched at the innocent show of trust as he adjusted his grip.
"Comfy?" he checked.
"Mhm," Peter sighed, already drifting again.
Steve exchanged an amused, affectionate look with Natasha. "I'll take good care of him," he promised solemnly.
Natasha brushed the curls back from Peter's forehead. "I know you will." Her tone held no doubts.
With her blessing, Steve headed off towards Peter's room. The boy was out cold again by the time he tucked him under the covers.
Steve smoothed the blankets and impulsively dropped a kiss on his hair. "Sleep tight, son," he murmured.
Peter nestled into his pillow with a content little sigh. Steve clicked off the light and slipped out, leaving the door cracked. His heart felt full to bursting.
He returned to find Natasha waiting expectantly. "Out like a light," Steve reported fondly. "He's an amazing kid, Nat. You should be very proud."
Her lips quirked. "Oh trust me, I am." Her expression grew serious. "Thank you for this. It...means a lot that I can trust you with him."
Steve met her gaze solemnly. "I know, and I intend to earn more of that trust. Peter's happiness and safety are my priority now too."
Natasha searched his face before nodding slowly. "Then we understand each other."
She bid him goodnight with a gentle clasp of his arm, signaling full forgiveness had been earned. Steve watched her go, hope and determination rising within him.
He would move heaven and earth to protect that innocent boy who so easily wormed his way into all their hearts. And he knew without a doubt Natasha and the others felt the same.
Come what may, Peter would never stand alone again. He had a family now, and they would be his soft place to fall no matter how many mistakes were made along the way.
Of that, Steve would make absolutely sure.
It was late, and most of the compound's residents were already asleep. But Natasha found herself restless and headed to the kitchen for a cup of tea. To her surprise, Steve was there nursing a glass of water.
He offered a tired smile in greeting. "Couldn't sleep either?"
Natasha hummed, moving to fill the kettle. "Just one of those nights I guess."
She joined Steve at the counter, studying his pensive face. "Penny for your thoughts?"
Steve huffed a laugh. "That obvious?" He traced a finger through condensation on his glass. "I was thinking about Peter, actually. And how lucky we are to have him around."
Natasha's expression softened. "Getting attached, Rogers?" she teased gently.
"How could I not?" Steve said ruefully. "He's just so..."
"Good?" Natasha supplied when he trailed off. "Selfless, brave, kind-hearted?"
Steve nodded. "All of that. I'll admit, when Tony first brought this hyper teen into the mix, I had my doubts that he was ready. But Peter has more than proven himself as a hero and Avenger."
He shook his head with a fond smile. "That mission mishap was a wake-up call on how hard I'd been on him. The kid gives 110% every day; he deserves more credit."
Natasha sipped her tea, lips quirked knowingly. "Took you long enough to realize what I already knew - Peter is exceptional. Superhuman abilities aside, his spirit outshines anyone I've ever met."
She inclined her head at Steve. "But I'm glad you see it now too. Peter needs all the support he can get to stay grounded."
"And he has it. I'll be reminding him of how amazing he is from now on instead of focusing on flaws." Steve promised. He hesitated, then added softly, "You're really good for him, Nat. The way you fiercely protect that gentle heart of his...you were meant to be his mother."
Natasha ducked her head at the earnest praise, touched. "I never saw myself as the maternal type either," she admitted. "But Peter brings that out in me. I'd tear the world apart for him."
"I know you would. And so would I, and the rest of us," Steve said seriously. "That boy is the heart of this team."
Natasha's lips curved. "Couldn't have said it better myself."
They shared a look of perfect understanding. Come hell or high water, nothing was getting past their combined force where Peter's wellbeing was concerned.
A soft scuffing sound had them glancing over to see Peter shuffling into the kitchen, bundled in his comforter like a human burrito. His eyes were bleary and hair stuck up every which way. Natasha was on her feet in an instant.
"Peter? What's wrong, baby?" she asked worriedly, guiding him to sit and brushing the curls back from his face.
"Bad dream," Peter mumbled, leaning into her touch. "Felt too real."
Steve came around to crouch down too. "What happened, son? Talk us through it."
Peter's lower lip wobbled. "Y-you guys were in danger, and I tried to save you but I wasn't strong enough. You died because of me." His breath hitched on a sob.
"Oh sweetheart, it was just a dream. We're right here, safe and sound," Natasha soothed, drawing him in for a hug.
Steve gripped his shoulder. "And nothing is taking us from you, not even in nightmares," he said fiercely. "We're staying right by your side."
Peter clutched them both tightly, drawing comfort from their solid presence chasing away the phantom images of loss. They held him until the tremors eased, whispering reassurances.
Finally Peter pulled back, scrubbing at his eyes. "S-sorry, I'm being a baby."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Steve said firmly. "Everyone needs help after a bad dream, even superheroes. We're always here when you need us."
Natasha cupped Peter's cheek. "Why don't we move to the couch and put on a nice calming movie?" she suggested. "We'll stay with you til you fall back asleep."
Peter nodded, appeased. Steve scooped him up, blankets and all, making him giggle sleepily. The sound warmed them to their cores.
Soon they were situated on the couch, Peter securely tucked between them. He was out again within minutes, lulled by their steady presence and rhythmic carding of fingers through his hair.
Steve glanced down at the sleeping boy with a helpless smile. "We've got it bad for this kid, Romanoff."
"That we do," Natasha agreed, eyes brimming with fondness. "But I wouldn't change it for the world."
Peter stirred slightly, nuzzling closer with a content sigh. "Love you, Dad. And you too, Mom."
Steve froze, heart clenching. He met Natasha's gaze, eyes wide and hopeful. "Did he just...?"
Natasha smirked, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction. "Congratulations Rogers, you've been adopted," she teased.
Then her expression softened. "He's claimed two Avengers as honorary parents now. Our boy's got a big heart full of love to give."
Steve carefully brushed a stray curl off Peter's forehead, still reeling. "I'm honored to be considered worthy of it," he said thickly.
They lapsed into thoughtful silence, keeping up the soothing touches as Peter slept trustingly in their sheltering embrace.
When the first rays of sunlight crept across the floor, Steve met Natasha's eyes again. An unspoken promise passed between them, as powerful as any vow.
This innocent, loving child had been placed in their care, and they would prove themselves deserving guardians or die trying. The world had hurt him enough; now it was their turn to provide the balm.
Peter would never have cause to doubt he was cherished again. Not while his two self-appointed parents still drew breath.
The next morning, soft sunlight filtering through the blinds roused Peter awake. He was confused for a moment about why he was curled up on Natasha and not in his bed. Then the memory filtered back and he flushed, embarrassed about his clingy behavior the night before.
Natasha just looked amused, running a hand through his disastrous bedhead. "Morning, malenkiy. Sleep okay?"
"Yeah," Peter mumbled, untangling himself from her. He sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry about, uh, basically attaching myself to you like a leech all night."
"Oh hush, you know I don't mind cuddles from my spider-baby." She poked his side playfully.
Peter yelped and batted her hand away, laughing despite his chagrin. He really was lucky to have her.
Just then, Steve wandered in, hair damp from a post-workout shower. "Morning you two. Pete, think you can unstick from your mom long enough for breakfast?"
Peter stuck his tongue out cheekily. "I'll have you know, I survived a whole"—he checked his watch—"seven minutes without clinging to her this morning."
"Wow, look at you, so independent," Steve teased.
"Oh yes, my little spider is growing up so fast," Natasha added wistfully, ruffling Peter's hair.
He whined and tried smoothing it back down, which of course just made it stick up worse. Natasha hid a grin. Messy hair and oversized pajamas just enhanced his sweet boyish charm.
Steve watched their antics, eyes crinkling at the corners. "In all seriousness Pete, it's great to see you so comfortable here. We're lucky to have you."
Peter ducked his head at the earnest praise but looked pleased. "Thanks, Cap. I'm lucky to have you guys too."
Natasha wrapped an arm around his shoulders and steered him towards the kitchen. "Alright, enough mushy talk. Time for some food before you waste away, malenkiy."
"Yes! I'm starving," Peter said eagerly.
Steve followed them, heart light as Peter chattered away about plans for the day. The easy affection between him and Natasha warmed Steve's soul.
This right here, their little family laughing around the breakfast table, was everything. No matter what missions came their way, they'd tackle it together, united in their love for the bright-eyed, kind-hearted kid who'd wormed his way into all their hearts.