La Vie En Rose
It took Peter a while to calm down.
He hid behind the couch and tried his best to make himself feel as small as possible while Tony, Captain America and Black Widow moved around on the other side of the couch.
Peter could hear them talking but he was too focused on trying to stay calm so it just sounded like muffled sounds. He didn’t care to hear exactly what they were saying anyways.
He knew the outcome.
Hydra warned him of this.
If he told them, or if they found out, the Avengers were going to kill him, and if they didn’t, Hydra would.
Peter knew this already so he didn’t know why he messed up so badly and decided to tell Tony the truth. Maybe he could go back… backtrack on what he said.
No.
Tony was smart.
He was screwed.
He would be dead in the next hour.
So basically Peter had nothing to lose.
It’s just that… Tony had been so kind to him. Showing him nothing but caring, gentle hands and actions, making sure he felt safe. Not harming or hurting him. Even when he forced himself to pee his pants, Tony wasn’t angry and part of the reason why Peter decided to do that was because deep down, he knew Tony wasn’t going to be angry with him.
Right from the start, Peter felt safe around Tony.
His spider sense wasn’t screaming at him to run and hide for the first time in his life it felt like.
So Peter crawled to the other side of the couch and continued to sit on the floor. He didn’t like all the eyes on him so he wrapped his arms around his knees to try and make himself appear almost invisible if that was possible.
He peeked his eyes at Tony. “I’m sorry. Please…” He didn’t have the right to beg for his life at this point but he didn’t want to die. He was scared of dying. “I’m super sorry.”
Tony sat down on the coffee table in front of Peter. He was having a hard time digesting this information.
He didn’t even know if it was true but why wouldn’t it be? Would Hydra stoop so low as to send a thirteen year old boy to come and kill him? Was Peter only trained to kill him? Was that his whole purpose?
“Peter. I need you to tell me everything. Did Hydra send you here?”
Peter nodded and looked down at his feet then he flinched when Steve moved closer to him.
“Did Hydra set us up that day we took you?” Asked Steve, going into his command soldier self.
Peter nodded. “Yes. They had it… planned. For long time.”
Tony shared a look with Steve then Natasha was speaking up. “So they sent you here to kill Stark? What else are you here for?” She knew there was more to it. Why didn’t the boy do it already if there wasn’t more to it?
That got Tony thinking. “Wait. Kid, you put something in your web shooters earlier… what was it?”
Peter side-eyed Tony.
He still wasn’t 100% convinced this wasn’t a test and that he could fully trust Tony… and the other Avengers here. But he also had to think realistically, which was hard for him, Tony couldn’t have planned his own murder, well, the plan for it. So that meant that he couldn’t know.
Meaning he wouldn’t report back to Hydra that he failed.
That he told Tony the truth.
That he messed up so badly.
Peter felt a water droplet fall on his thigh so he wiped at his cheeks and realized that he had been crying.
Tony must have noticed because his face softened to something a bit more… gentle, yet concerning.
“Peter,” Tony’s voice was caring and soft. “you have to tell me what’s going on. I want to help you. I want to. But I can’t do that until you tell me everything.”
Peter squeezed his wrists, face set firm. With a sigh, he told them everything.
“I’m here to terminate Tony Stark. They knew you’d come, and that you’d find me. They-they told me what to say. And-and-and that I’m not allowed to… speak. That-that I have to pretend I don’t know how.” He explained. “The less I can say, the less you will know.” He repeated what Hydra told him.
Tony continued to listen, feeling more angrier by the second.
“I’m supposed to gather information on you. Like… Iron Man. Arc Reactor. Avenger stuff.” He looked down at his feet in shame. “I… I’m sorry. I… I copied stuff from your computer in your lab. I have… a microchip. In my web shooters.”
Tony let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding.
He didn’t know what kind of information the kid got on him or if he managed to send it back to Hydra but all he knew was that he messed up. Why did he trust Peter so easily like that? How could he be so fucking stupid?
“I’m sorry. Tony.”
Tony looked at Peter. He was crying but wasn’t even making a sound and it made Tony doubt that Peter even realized he was crying. He was probably too afraid to cry and show emotion and it just went to show how much help he truly needs and deserves.
And all of Tony’s regrets about taking the boy disappeared just like that.
Peter was so innocent and young and he deserved a second chance at life.
Tony wanted to be the one to give it to him and be there for him every step of the way.
He held his hands out for Peter but instead of using them to stand up, Peter leaned over and ever so carefully placed his head in his hands, leaning against Tony’s palms.
Tony looked at both Natasha and Steve.
He didn’t even know how to react.
So he cleared his throat. “Kid. Did you, Uh, did you send any of my files off to Hydra?”
He felt Peter tense.
So that was a yes. Tony sighed.
Peter moved away from him as if he’s been burnt. “I-I-I’m sorry. I-they said they’d kill me if I didn’t! I’m sorry. So sorry. Tony.” He sat up on his knees and grabbed onto Tony’s hands, squeezing them tightly and begging. “Are you going to kill me now?”
That question broke Tony’s heart.
He felt like he wanted to cry now and he wasn’t easily brought to tears.
But this kid, this child…
He was so young. So young. And he’s been abused and tortured and mistreated his whole life and it was so unfair it made Tony’s blood boil inside.
How could anyone do this to a child? He’d never know the answer to that.
There were crazy, sick people in this world.
Tony couldn’t even imagine what they would have turned Peter into if they were successful.
But even after everything he’s been through, Peter still has good in his heart.
“Peter. Look at me.” He waited until brown eyes met his. “I’d never kill you. I’m not like Hydra. You can trust me.”
Peter nodded. He wanted to believe it… he did. But it was just… he stopped himself from fully believing it because he didn’t trust anyone.
Maybe Tony could be an exception.
Peter then stood up, standing in front of Tony. He took a breath. “Ross… he’s from Hydra. He’s the-the boss there.”
Tony stared at Peter as he tried to process that.
Ross was behind all of this.
Ross knew.
He knew.
That made so much sense. And that was why Peter was always so scared around him, Tony felt like an idiot now. He willingly took Peter to see Ross.
He looked at Natasha who was already standing up. “On it.” With that, she left.
“Where is she going?” Peter asked Tony in a small voice.
“To make sure Ross doesn’t get away with this.”
Peter started freaking out. He ran after Natasha before she could reach the elevator and grabbed onto her arm. “No! No! You can’t.” He begged her. “Please. Please, don’t! He’ll come for me and kill me! Or someone will come to kill me! Please. I don’t wanna die!”
Tony was the first one at Peter’s side and pulled the boy off of Natasha. “Calm down, Peter. You’re safe here. Okay? I promise I’ll keep you safe but you have to trust me.”
Peter settled down a bit. “But… Ross.”
“Natasha will deal with him. Don’t worry.” He looked at Natasha, nodding at her to leave and then he looked at Steve then towards the hallway. “How about you go lie down for a bit? Huh? I think you’ll feel a lot better when you wake up.”
Peter refused at first but then he relented and let Tony pull him down the hallway and into the dark but cozy bedroom. He crawled onto the bed without any ushering and let out a yawn.
He hadn’t realized just how tired he actually was.
“You try to sleep. I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”
When he went to leave, Peter reached out and caught his hand. “Wait! Stay. Until I fall asleep.” He looked down. “I don’t wanna be alone.” He said, barely audible.
Tony couldn’t say no to him. Not when he knew how scared Peter must be. He was still a stranger to him after all.
So Tony sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard and sitting there. After a few minutes, a tiny hand slipped into his.
If only he knew at that moment just how many nights he was going to be found in the exact same position, helping Peter fall asleep. Although he wouldn’t mind it one bit.
.
.
.
Tony sat on the stool in the kitchen, staring at his phone.
He just told Pepper everything.
She had to know.
She had a right to know.
After he slipped away from Peter once he had fallen asleep, he called Pepper and told her everything.
He couldn’t make out if she was upset with him or not though. She remained silent on the other end as he explained everything. Then after she said she was coming upstairs to talk.
That was twenty minutes ago.
His phone buzzed so he quickly picked it up to read the text.
Natasha: I got Ross. He’s on level 18 in custody.
Tony was relieved to hear that. It was a start.
Tony: Thank you. Peter’s sleeping. I won’t be able to come down yet.
He placed his phone on the counter then the elevator dinged and his head snapped to look at it as Pepper walked out, a blank expression on her face.
He stood up and opened his mouth to speak but she beat him to it.
“Where is he?”
“In custody.”
Her face contorted. “No. Peter.” She corrected.
“Oh, he’s asleep. Down the hallway.” Pepper marched towards it and Tony was following right behind her. “Wait. Pepper.”
She opened the bedroom door and walked into the room, walking to the edge of the bed and leaning over the boy. Tony was honestly afraid for a second that Pepper was going to hurt him, but then Pepper’s face was softening and she caressed his baby curls.
“How could anyone hurt him like this.” She wasn’t asking him. It was the same question Tony had that they sadly would never find the answer to.
Tony walked next to her, sitting on the bed. Peter didn’t even move. His thumb was lodged in his mouth and even in his sleep, he would suck on it occasionally.
“I just…” Pepper continued. “He deserves the world. He deserves the help he needs to recover.” Pepper looked into Tony’s eyes. “But I’m afraid that we can’t give it to him.”
Tony wasn’t sure if they could but he wanted to try and he knew, eventually, with extra help, they could help heal Peter from his traumas. “He deserves a family, Pepper. He deserves a dad. And a mom, who will love him and care for him.”
“Tony-”
“If we send him away, he’ll get the help he needs, sure, but he’ll never fully feel what it’s like to be loved by someone. He’ll never have anyone to hold him when he cries or anyone’s bed to crawl into when the nightmares are too much to bear.”
Pepper looked back down at Peter.
“We always wanted to have kids.” Tony pointed out.
“A baby, Tony.”
Tony gestured towards Peter. “Close enough. At least we skip the diaper phase. Probably not the sleepless nights though. I foresee a lot of those in the future.”
Pepper chuckled at Tony making light of the situation.
“Tony. I’m scared.”
“I am too. So is Peter. Let’s all be scared together and figure this out. As a family.” Tony grabbed Pepper’s hands. “I want him. But… I do understand if you can’t step into the role of his mom. I understand, Pepper. I don’t want to force you into anything.”
“You’re not forcing me into anything, Tony.”
Tony wasn’t expecting this. “So what are you saying?”
She looked down at Peter. She couldn’t imagine him being anywhere else. Tony was right, he did deserve to have a mom and a dad to love him endlessly. “I’m saying… I’m in this with you. I want to be in this with you.”
Tony grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, causing Pepper to squeal and almost wake Peter up.
All Tony had to do was run Peter’s tummy then he was turning onto his back and getting comfortable again.
Tony felt so right.
He felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be in life.
Taking on this new responsibility was going to be challenging but Tony was ready for it.
.
.
.
Tony waited by the phone.
He was waiting for Natasha to call him and let him know when he could go downstairs.
Peter was still sleeping and the last time Tony checked up on him, he looked like he wasn’t going to be awake for a while. That made Tony feel a bit better about having to leave Peter to go talk to Ross.
Although when the time came, he got off the phone with Steve and headed upstairs to ask Pepper if she could keep an eye out on Peter once he woke up. Tony knew it wasn’t her responsibility, he was the one who wanted to take this on, it was his idea, not Pepper’s.
But still, Tony didn’t have anyone else to ask.
So he walked upstairs, expecting to find Pepper in their bedroom but instead, he found her in the empty spare room next to theirs.
“Uh, what are you doing in here?”
She was sitting on the carpet, looking through some boxes.
“Oh. Nothing. Well, actually… I just thought that this could possibly be Peter’s bedroom.” Pepper looked at Tony to see his reaction. “Since he’s going to be staying with us, I want him to have his own safe place he can go to anytime he needs. Because he’s going to need that.”
Tony couldn’t believe that. He fell in love with Pepper even more. “That’s… amazing. You’re amazing.”
She gave him a smile. “I think once he wakes up you should talk to him about him staying with us.”
“I kinda already told him. Well, we had a conversation about it.”
“And…”
Tony shrugged, a small smile spreading across his lips. He didn’t know why this felt so… right. He felt like he was supposed to be doing this, like he was always destined to do this. To have Peter as his… son? Would Peter be his son? Tony knew by law, realistically he would be.
Oh god, Tony was going to have a thirteen year old son.
He ran a hand through his hair. “He um, he was really tired when I asked him. I’ll… I’ll have to talk to him about it later. But, I need to go now. I need you to watch him for me if he wakes up while I’m gone.”
“I’ve got him, Tony. You take care of it.”
Tony pressed a kiss to her cheek and then left. His hands were shaking as he made his way downstairs, sparing a glance at the hallway towards Peter’s room.
Before he left, he decided to go check up on him. Just to make sure he was still sleeping.
As he walked into the room, he felt so much protectiveness wash over him at seeing Peter asleep on the bed, thumb lodged in his mouth and a hand fisting the bedsheets.
He reached out to run his fingers through his messy curls but decided not to. That was weird. What would Peter think if he found out Tony was touching his hair while he was sleeping.
With one last glance at him, Tony left.
He wanted to send Ross to prison for what he did to Peter. For destroying his life, for not giving him a choice and turning him into a killing machine. Peter deserved to live a normal life where he’s cared for and loved.
Tony could only hope that he could give him that.
He could only hope that he could one day be the person Peter turns to for comfort.
He straightened himself out, taking a calming breath and walking out of the elevator, down the long, cement hallway leading to the cell they were holding Ross for now.
He opened the door, greeting Natasha and Steve and the two guards in the room. He could see Ross sitting on the other side of the one way mirror, handcuffed to a chair and looking calm as ever.
That pissed Tony off.
“I want him sent to The Raft.” Tony said. He would personally see through with that. “Everyone else involved with Peter’s abuse, I want them taken in and sent there as well.”
“Mr. Stark, I’m afraid there’s more to this than Peter Parker’s case. Hydra was making weapons, bombs, they were trying to get their hands on your arc reactors for creating something bigger, something more powerful.”
Tony already knew that from the kid but it made his stomach turn upon hearing it to be in fact true.
“I’ll send my own team to help bring them down then. They’re going to pay for what they did to Peter. And I’m gonna see through to that.”
The guard hesitated so Steve was the one to speak. “You seem rather… overprotective of the boy, Tony.”
Tony narrowed his eyes on Steve. What the hell was he implying? “I oughta be. I’m going to adopt him.”
Everyone froze. Including Natasha.
Tony didn’t know whether to be proud of their reaction or upset that they’re surprised he’s capable of such a thing.
To his surprise, Steve stood up and clapped Tony on the back. “Congratulations, Tony. I think that’s an incredible thing you’re doing. He seems like a good kid… despite everything.”
Tony nodded a thank you at him then looked at Natasha. She was smiling at him like she already knew. So he looked back at Ross. He wanted to get this over with.
Tony pushed open the door and stuck his hands in his pockets, walking towards the table.
By this point, Ross had sat up straighter, clearly having been expecting Tony to stop by. Tony stepped in front of the table, refusing to sit down. He wasn’t going to stay. “Glad to see you’re going where you belong.” Tony took his hands out of his pocket to lean against the table, almost face to face with the monster in the room. “What made you think you could send a child to come and kill me. You’re pathetic.”
“It’s not me who’s pathetic. That kid had one mission. And he failed at that. You can keep him, we don’t want him back at Hydra.”
Tony stood up straighter. “There’s going to be no one left at Hydra after I’m done with it. You guys are monsters. How the hell can you turn an innocent boy into a killing machine.”
Ross smiled, showing his stained yellow teeth and it made Tony want to punch him. “How about you raise your hand at him and see how he reacts. It takes control, fear and pain to get someone so obedient like him.” Ross sighed. “It’s such a shame it was all for nothing.”
Tony felt sick.
But he wanted Ross to know that Peter wasn’t going to be thrown out onto the streets. He wanted Ross to know Peter was going to be loved and overcome what Ross’ plans were for him.
“Despite what you did to him there, the kid has a kind heart. That’s something you were never able to take away from him, and with my protection, you never will.”
Tony enjoyed the brief shocked expression Ross had. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m going to be adopting him. Such a shame for you, really,” Tony smiled and walked towards the door to leave. “you think you were going to use him to get your hands on my tech. Little did you know that you’d be giving me the next heir to Stark Industries.”
With that, Tony opened the door and left but he could still hear Ross yelling at him on the other side of the glass.
“You fucking bastard! Your father raised a coward, he’d be ashamed of who you turned out to be!” Ross fought against the handcuffs but there was no way he was getting out, not for a long time.
“Take him to The Raft.” Tony ordered the guards. “Continue the investigation for everyone involved in Peter Parker’s case and make sure they join their friend there.”
Tony nodded to Steve and Natasha then he left.
He had someone he had to go check on.