The big question…
Tony watched the boy examine his suits with delightment.
He loved watching Peter look like an actual child. It was rare for him to see that. Although he’s only known the kid for a few days now, he knew well enough that Peter either looked uncomfortable, scared or anxious. Sometimes all three.
So it was nice to see him look so… excited and even a little bit happy.
Tony moved to sit back down on his stool, half watching the boy and half tinkering away on some random project he started, basically just using up some old scrapes.
If he were smart, no, if he had common sense when it came to children, Tony shouldn’t have left any child Peter’s age alone with suits capable of destruction, especially Peter.
But Tony didn’t know any better.
He looked away from Peter for a second, well, it was more like five minutes, he heard a loud bang and his head immediately snapped to look at Peter, seeing him sitting on top of one of his Iron Man suits, while another lay on the floor beside him. Tony walked over to him, not missing the way the boy violently flinched.
“What happened?”
Peter was visibly shaking as he sat on the suit's shoulder, squatting like a frog. “It… falls. Not me.”
Tony didn’t understand. He wasn’t even strong enough to knock his suits over like that. He walked over to Peter then looked down at his suit, noticing the back of the armor looking tampered with. He narrowed his eyes at the boy. “Come down, would you.”
He watched the boy climb down, looking like he was prepared to be hit. Tony turned to the suit on the floor. “Power up.” The suit stood up, walking over to the connector again at the same time as Peter let out a loud scream and crawled across the floor, trying to seek out a safe place to hide, mumbling something over and over again.
As Tony walked closer, he tried to listen to what Peter was saying to make it out.
“I’m sorry. So sorry. Don’t hurt me. I’m sorry. Don’t hurt me. I’ll do better. I’m sorry. Don’t hurt me. I’m sorry. So sorry.” Peter rushed out all in one breath.
“Kid.” Tony squatted down. “Peter. Hey. You’re okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” Tony reached a hand under the desk but decided not to and brought his hand back. “Hey. Peter, you’re safe. Alright? You’re not at Hydra.”
Peter peeked an eye out at him. “Not at Hydra?”
Tony nodded. “Yeah. You’re safe. You’re in my tower, in my lab.”
Him and Peter stared at each other for a few moments then Peter scooted closer to him.
“Did… Hydra hurt you a lot?” Peter violently flinched at the reminder.
He nodded his head as if it was the most normal thing for him. And to Peter, being abused for simply not saying the right thing was unfortunately normal for him. Tony wondered if Peter expected to be hit by him. He hoped not but he couldn’t be surprised over it.
“I’m sorry that happened to you, kid. You didn’t deserve any of that.” Tony said honestly. Even though he’s only known the child for a short time, he knew that no child deserved to be treated the way Peter was. Tony could see that he was a good kid, he was well behaved, for the most part.
Considering he didn’t really do anything, probably because he was too afraid to was probably why he was so well behaved.
Peter and him stared at each other for a few moments, both lost in their own thoughts.
Tony cleared his throat before this got too emotional for him. The kid wasn’t much of a talker but it looked like he had a lot to say. “So how about we both just take a breath and calm down, yeah? You can come out from under there and we can head back upstairs-”
Peter immediately shook his head at that idea. He needed to find out information on Stark and send it back to Hydra if he wanted to save himself from an awful punishment.
He wiggled his nose, looking behind Tony at his computer and then back down at his feet. “Let’s… stay here?”
“Alright.” Tony wasn’t so sure but if it was what the kid wanted, sure. Hopefully it would calm him down at least. He stood up fully and watched a curly mess of chocolate brown curls make its way out from under the table and look around the lab as if he were expecting someone to come out of the dark shadows to grab him. “You can tinker all you want over there. I’ll just be here.”
Tony pointed to both desks that were facing each other with about fifteen feet between the two. Without saying anything, Peter walked over to the desk and climbed onto the stool, pretending to fiddle with the web shooter on his left wrist so he could pull out the chip and connect it to the computer.
He looked over at Tony, noticing that he looked like he was concentrating on something which Peter was grateful for.
The clicked on the file that opened up, glancing at the ceiling to make sure that FRIDAY girl wasn’t spying on him.
Peter began transferring some files over, labeled Palladium Arc Reactor Mark I.
Peter didn’t have time or cared to read them over but he knew this was what Hydra was looking for. Peter saw that the upload time was eleven minutes and he cringed. There was no way Tony wasn’t going to see that if he had to wait eleven minutes.
So Peter looked around, trying to think of something to distract Tony with. He debated on punching him in the face to knock him out but then when he woke up, he would be extremely angry and probably try to send him back to Hydra.
Peter tapped his foot up and down, trying to quickly think on the spot. He chewed on his pointer finger then came up with an idea. It would be difficult but he had to do it.
He did what he had to do.
Peter hid his face from the view of Tony then stuck his finger down his throat, trying to force himself to vomit.
He dry-heaved and Tony looked at him. “You alright, kid?”
Peter gagged again but nothing came out and now Tony was looking at him with a concerned expression on his face. He nodded his head but he probably didn’t look all that convincing as now Tony was standing up and walking towards him.
“Uh,” Peter tried to tell him to stop but he couldn’t make anything obvious. So he shut his eyes tightly and held his breath as he forced himself to pee.
Tony stopped in his tracks once he realized what was happening, thankfully to Peter, out of the view from the computer screen. “Peter. Uh… it’s alright. Hey. It was just an accident. It happens.”
Peter dared to peek an eye open, looking at Tony move around in the tiny kitchen down there, digging around for something. He looked back at the computer screen. 8 minutes to upload.
Damn. Still in need of more time.
The man started making his way towards Peter so Peter slid off the chair, cringing at the uncomfortable feeling now that his new pants were clinging to him. “M’sorry.”
Peter would have been slapped for this back home at Hydra. Even when they electrocuted him so badly that he lost control and wet himself. He still got in trouble then and even laughed at him.
Even though Peter did it on purpose, he was still grateful that Tony was being so kind to him.
He understood he was a smart man, judging from his lab and his creations but what Peter didn’t understand was why Hydra wanted him dead. He had been nothing but kind to Peter.
Peter made eye contact with the larger man.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s just an accident. How about you go into the bathroom and change and I’ll…” Tony hesitated. Did he really wanna clean up pee off the floor? “clean this up.”
Peter took a step towards the bathroom but realized that if he left, Tony was going to see the computer screen and know what he’s up to then his cover would be blown. He made puppy dog eyes up at the man. “Help me. Please.”
Tony’s heart melted a bit.
It also broke for the millionth and one time at the fact that Hydra could possibly have laid their hands on him and hurt this precious boy… even if Tony didn’t realize he was being played by said precious boy.
“Alright. Uh,” Tony ran a hand through his hair. He could do this. The kid needed help. He was a kid after all. God, if Pepper saw him, she wouldn’t stop teasing him about how soft he was.
On second thought, he kinda wanted her to see him so maybe then she would see that he’s actually what’s best for Peter. Woah. He didn’t mean to have that thought, it just came to his mind. Of course he wanted to help Peter but he had it in his mind that he was a temporary solution… maybe he could make it permanent and get the proper help Peter needed.
“FRIDAY, can you ask Pepper to bring down clean underwear and pants for Peter.” Tony asked then ushered Peter into the bathroom, letting the kid make the first move.
Peter shuffled on his feet, tugging weakly on the waistband then looking at Tony. “Help.”
“Alright.” Tony was a bit uncomfortable. He grabbed the waistband, tugging it down and then he felt a tiny hand grab onto his shoulder for balance and suddenly he didn’t feel so uncomfortable anymore. Peter clearly trusted him enough to be vulnerable in front of him so he must be doing a good job.
The kid stepped out of his wet clothes so Tony tossed them onto the floor for now. That was a problem for another time. Maybe he would get his maid to grab those, she doesn’t ever come down to his lab but he’d allow her access just this once.
“Hi.” Pepper knocked on the open door, taking in the scene in front of her. “What happened?”
“Oh. The kid peed. No biggie.” Tony shrugged it off, gladly taking the clothes from Pepper then handing it to Peter but the kid didn’t take it. “Here. Can you do it-”
Peter cut him off. “No. Stop.” He saw Pepper turning and walking into the lab and heading straight for the computer so Peter ran to the bathroom door, holding his hand out for Pepper. “Wait… there.” He pointed to the wall beside the bathroom, hoping she listened to him.
He was told his voice didn’t matter but he hoped just this one time someone would listen to him.
To his surprise, Pepper actually did listen.
“Oh. Alright, honey.” Pepper walked over to the wall shared with the bathroom so she couldn’t see Peter. She just assumed the boy was shy and didn’t want a woman looking at him since he seemed comfortable with Tony standing there.
The two adults shared a look with each other, having a silent conversation with just their facial expressions.
Tony turned back to give Peter his full attention. “Peter, can you put this on by yourself now?” He handed the underwear and pants over to him, watching Peter carefully think about it before taking it and getting dressed into the offered clothes, underwear on backwards but Tony didn’t have the heart to tell him that.
He could only assume this was the first time the child was wearing underwear. When Tony got him, he came dressed in old, dirty clothes, no underwear. He highly doubted they even bought that necessity for the boy, amongst other things.
Once the two of them were done in the bathroom, they walked out and Peter made a beeline for the computer again, checking to see that it was 100% complete first before pulling out the chip but he saw that it was stuck on 99%. He made a sound of protest that got the attention of both adults in the room.
“What’s wrong, Pete?” Tony asked, speaking louder than with his whispered conversation he was just having with Pepper.
Peter looked at him.
“How about we go upstairs now? Yeah? I don’t know about you but I'm hungry and ready for some lunch. Or is it dinner now…” Tony honestly didn’t know and didn’t care. He was craving chicken fried rice. “Come along, kid.”
Peter shook his head.
He was panicking now.
Tony couldn’t know and he needed this to finish uploading or else Hydra was going to literally kill him. And he didn’t want to die. It looked really scary and painful and he didn’t want to experience that.
He’s seen grown men beg for their lives right before they were murdered in front of him, well, Peter always looked away at the last second. He was scared to watch it happen. It gave him nightmares.
He watched Pepper kiss Tony on the cheek and Peter tilted his head curiously at the action. He wondered what it felt like to have someone kiss him like that, to have someone love him like that.
“I'm going to head upstairs. I’ll see you boys later tonight then, I have to get to a meeting.” With that, Pepper left.
Tony still stood there, trying to get Peter to come with him. “I’m hungry, kid. I can assume you probably are too. So let’s go up.” He began walking towards Peter so Peter’s hands started sweating. 99%. C’mon. C’mon. C’mon. 100%. Finally.
Peter quickly pulled the chip out and placed it back in his web shooters but Tony was watching him and saw. “Wait. What was that?”
Peter quickly jumped off the stool, looking down at Tony’s shoes. “Don’t know.”
“Peter. You just pulled something out of the computer and placed it in that thing on your wrist. What, your web shooters.” Tony walked in front of him. He could see the kid visually shaking but trying to remain still.
He didn’t have time to feel bad because he had to know what the hell the kid just did. “Peter. Let me see your web shooter.”
Peter shook his head, daring to take a step back. His breathing was picking up pace and he was freaking out at the possibility of messing up his mission.
His first mission that was supposed to go well so Hydra maybe wouldn’t see him as a useless nothing anymore.
Peter hadn’t realized he was crying until he watched two tears fall off his face and land onto the floor of the lab.
He quickly wiped his cheeks and when Tony reached out to grab his wrist, Peter grabbed his arm, using his super strength to try and break Tony’s arm but he was scared. He was so scared.
Tony was surprised by this sudden behaviour. He held his arm out for his suit to give him armor on his arm then pulled Peter’s hand off of him, squeezing his wrist.
He didn’t want to hurt the kid but Peter had to know that using the powers Hydra gave to him on Tony or anyone in his tower was unacceptable.
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, Peter, but I can assure you, you don’t want to do it. Do not use your Spidey powers on me, do you understand, Peter?”
Peter tugged his arm out of Tony’s grasp and used his full strength to try and rip the armor off and Tony noticed how strong he was but Tony was stronger with the Iron Man suit, barely it felt like, but he had more experience so he grabbed Peter’s arms, forcing them against his chest and lifting him up to pin his back against the desk.
Tony ripped the web shooters off Peter’s wrist.
“Nooo!”
The boy screamed and Tony felt him deflate in his arms so he reluctantly let him go and watched Peter fall onto the floor in a sobbing mess.
He crawled his way to safety under the closest piece of furniture he could fit under and stayed there.
Tony didn’t know whether to feel bad for the child or be scared of him.
The kid was strong.
And he was clearly unstable.
Well, Tony had to expect he was, coming from the life he did and all, but he didn’t expect the boy to lash out on him like this. And for what? Tony was starting to have second doubts.
Maybe… maybe everyone was right. Maybe the boy was dangerous and Fury should take him away.
Tony sighed.
He looked back at Peter, only able to see his tiny little feet and hands from under the desk. He walked over to him and the boy visually jerked, smacking a body part, probably his head, on the metal behind him. “Peter. Come out and let’s talk.”
Peter tried to stop crying and shaking, Tony guessed he was trying to convince Tony he wasn’t there so he sighed and decided to leave the boy. “FRIDAY, tell me if Peter as so much moves from this spot.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Tony took the web shooters and left his lab, reluctantly leaving a thirteen year old boy from Hydra down there. All the worst combinations. He didn’t have any other choice though.
He walked up to his floor and made himself a coffee before he did anything else.
He needed to get his thoughts together.
If he told Pepper about this, she would want the boy gone for their own safety but Tony just… he couldn’t send Peter away like that. Not without knowing he was going somewhere safe and to a place that could really help him.
But he would still never have a normal life then… Tony thought.
Peter would never know what it’s like to be loved by a mom and a dad or grow up in a home with pizza and movie night Fridays and pancakes on Sunday mornings or walking into his parents bedroom late at night from a bad dream and just wanting cuddles and to feel safe so he crawls between the two… Peter would never get to experience that…
Tony ran a shaky hand through his hair.
“FRIDAY, what’s Peter doing now?”
“Peter is currently under the desk, crying, sir.”
Tony nodded. So he hasn’t moved. Well, it’s only been three minutes. He sighed and chugged his burning hot coffee
So he then walked into the elevator and went on a mission to find Natasha. She would be on his side either way and she was the only one he trusted to tell her about this.
She was training in the gym, alone.
“Hey.”
Natasha looked behind him, looking for a smaller human. “Where’s Peter?”
“About that,” Tony walked over to the bench, taking a seat on it. “I sort of had a situation with him just now.”
Natasha could see that this was serious so he stood in front of Tony, stopping her workout. “What happened?”
“I don’t know exactly… we were having a good time in my lab then out of nowhere he peed his pants, so I helped him change and then he put something in his web shooters from my computer. But when I asked him about it, he freaked out and I had to use my armour to hold him down.”
“Where is he now?”
“In my lab still, crying under my desk.”
Natasha looked down. “He’s a scared child, Tony. Put yourself in his shoes. You’re a strange man to him. He’s in a strange place, he’s created by Hydra… so he’s bound to act out.”
Tony supposed so. “I mean, I can’t even put myself in his shoes. I have no idea what that poor boy went through.”
Natasha didn’t say anything.
“I don’t know what to do.” He admitted out loud.
“So you’re thinking of giving him to Fury after all.”
Tony thought he would immediately shoot down that idea but now he didn’t know. “Maybe… I don’t know. I’m scared-”
“Of being wrong.” Natasha supplied for him.
Tony chuckled dryly. That was true.
“So what does Pepper say about it?”
“I didn’t tell her. I know she’ll decide it’s best for Peter to be taken if she knew he’s potentially dangerous.”
“So it’s a matter of safety.” She supplied. “Talk to her. Maybe even talk to Fury.”
Tony laughed. “Absolutely not. Fury doesn’t need to know everything.” He rubbed his eyes. “Just… don’t tell anyone… I need to eat something then think about this.”
With that, he left.
He returned to his floor, asking FRIDAY to check on Peter but he was in the same position as he last left him.
Tony didn’t know what to do now.