Peter Parker
“I’m not the Spider, I am Peter Parker!!” Peter screamed. And Tony stood straight up wide eyed.
Peter realized after a second that he did in fact scream it. He screamed it out loud. He lifted his shaky hands and again realized that, yes, it was him, Peter, that was moving them. At these realizations he broke. Tears flowed from his eyes for the first time in almost ten months, excluding those few lone tears. They were tears for everything that had happened, and tears of relief and joy. He crumbled, falling onto the bed. He, well the Spider, had been sitting up straight for almost over a day and his body was beyond exhausted. He couldn’t keep himself upright even if he wanted to.
“Open the door!” Tony shouted at Steve, not angrily, but with the force of a concerned overwhelmed father. Steve obliged after seeing Peter’s, the Spiders, emotionless facade break. He pressed a few buttons on the panel next to the cell and the door opened. Tony immediately ran into the cell. He collapsed kneeling by the bed near Peter’s head. “Peter?” He was met with sobs. “Peter, can I touch you?” He wanted to make sure it was okay before he hugged him, even though it was taking every ounce of strength to not just engulf Peter in the tightest most comforting hug he has or will ever give. Peter had no strength to hold himself up or talk so he just nodded into the mattress, tears soaking the sheets. Tony immediately got on the bed and lifted Peter into his lap, hugging him closer to his chest. He didn't care that the rest of the team was still there looking on. It had been ten months since he had truly seen or hugged Peter, the Spider didn’t count. He just held Peter as he sobbed, his body limp in Tony’s arms. “I gotcha. I’m so sorry. You’re ok, you’re safe.” He just kept whispering Peter to make him feel safe, never letting his grip waver.
“I- I” Peter couldn’t catch his breath from sobbing.
“Take it slow kiddo, I’m not going anywhere.” Tony said.
Peter’s head was buried in Tony’s chest, his shirt wet from Peter’s tears. When he got his breaths more under control he moved his head to look up at Tony. “I- I’m s-sorry.” He said in a choked up whisper.
Tony looked down at Peter, his own eyes were red rimmed. The look on his face was one of shock and confusion, “No, no Peter, you have nothing to apologize for.”
Peter whispered so quietly that Tony only heard because he was holding him close.“I tried to hurt you. I knocked Mr. Rogers down.”
Tony was about to refute again, but another voice spoke up, “That wasn’t you.” Steve said. Because of his enhanced hearing he heard Peter's whisper and so did Bucky.
Peter looked over at the team staring at him and blushed, “It was still my body that fought you.”
This time before Steve could speak Tony did, “Peter look at me.” Peter, with more effort than it should take, turned his head towards Tony, “Did you want to hurt us?”
“No!” he said it louder than he meant to. He just could not understand why Mr. Stark would ask such a thing.
“Ok, did you have control of your movements when “you”” He used his free hand that was not supporting Peter's too light weight to gesture in quotations around the word ‘you’ “were fighting us?”
“No Hydra ha-” Peter was cut off.
“Exactly, Hydra. Everything the Spider did was Hydra, not you.” Tony said it firmly, but not meanly, to really get his point across. Peter knew he was right, logically, but he still felt guilty for everything ‘The Spider’ had done. He didn't fight against what they were saying even if he still did not fully believe it, instead he just relaxed into Tony’s arms.
It’s funny, Peter always wanted a hug from Tony, one that wasn’t a mistake for opening a car door, always wanted him to be more of a father figure then mentor, and now here he is, face buried in his chest. It should be a joyous thing, and it is on some level, but what got him into this position was a string of horrific circumstances. Ten months of captivity not only in Hydra but in his mind, having to watch the horrors of what the Spider did behind his own eyes, being ripped away from his family, was it worth it? Peter wasn’t sure.
The team was still just standing awkwardly around. Tony tried to alleviate the awkwardness by introducing the team. “Peter, I would like to officially introduce you to the team. This is, as you already know, Steve Rogers. Next to him is Bucky Barnes, then Natash Romanoff, Rhod-“
“I know who they are, Mr. Stark, I’ve looked up to them my whole life” He said it without thinking, his exhausted mind having no filter. Since he was trapped in his mind his brain became his only distraction, his only way to keep sane. Playing through book and movie plots, retreating into memories, etc. Now that he is in control again, that is if his muscles weren’t exhausted, his brain can finally stop. It can finally relax and take a break. Peter is only speaking the honest truth, he is too exhausted to hold in his thoughts or lie.
Once he realized what he had blurted out he blushed. The shade of red in his cheeks turned darker as he saw the amused looks on the team's faces. “Fine,” Tony said with a laugh, still holding and gripping Peter for dear life. He did not want Peter to disappear again, it was irrational, but Tony couldn’t help it. “you introduce yourself then.”
Peter used every ounce of strength he had left to keep his head up looking at the Avengers. He gave an embarrassed tired smile, “Hi everyone, I’m Peter… uh Peter Parker.” It seemed like he was finished, but then something occurred to him, “Uh, if we’re using our made up names then I’m Spiderman” He tried to wave, but he was too drained, no one seemed to notice though. He felt like he should say more after what they went through to find and free him. “It’s an absolute pleasure to meet all of you! Sorry for knocking you down Mr. Rogers.” He knew they just said it wasn’t his fault, but he still felt like he needed to apologize again. Before Tony or Steve could correct him, Peter was talking again, “oh, and taking your shield… again.” Tony chuckled. He was so focused on getting Peter free that he did not even notice that Peter had caught Steve’s shield and threw it back at him. Peter had taken/caught Captain America’s shield twice now. “And thank all of you guys, Mr. Barnes, Ms. Romanoff, Dr. Banner, Colonel Rhodes, and Mr. Barton.”
“Why am I last?” Clint asked, pouting a bit. “Also, call me Clint, no need to make me feel older than I am.”
Peter nodded a little, but even that was tiresome. He drooped even more into Tony’s arms and his eyes became heavy. Tony saw this. “It’s okay Peter, you can sleep now. Turn that big genius brain off for a bit and get some rest.”
Peter couldn’t fight the sleep tugging at him even if he wanted to. As soon as Tony said those words he was almost out. With his last ounce of wakefulness he whispered, “Thank you.” and he was out.
The team went silent, giving Peter the peace he deserves as Tony lifted him in his arm and started carrying him out of the cell. He hoped and prayed they would never have to lock up Peter again. He walked to the elevator and gave the team thankful looks as the doors closed. They all nodded their understanding even though some, if not most, still looked on with concern. Once FRIDAY took them up to Peter’s room Tony nugged the door open with his foot as both of his hands were occupied holding a sleeping Peter.
Tony felt happy and content walking into Peter’s room. In the ten months Peter was gone he went in there and cried quite a bit, even though he would never admit it. When he went in he would think about all the hurtful things he said to Peter and all the good things he kept to himself and how much he regretted both. He felt like something was missing every time he went into the room. Not just Peter, because of course he was missing, but a piece of Tony. I piece that you don't even notice really until it’s gone. Then you can do nothing but notice. But now walking in with Peter he felt whole.
He layed Peter gently on the bed, got him out of the horrible Hydra suit and dressed him in sweats and his favorite MIT sweatshirt, that he stole from Tony. But in reality Tony gave it to him. He tucked Peter in and leaned down to drop a fatherly kiss on the forehead. “Goodnight kiddo, love you.” With one look back he left, but kept the door ajar just a bit, so he could easily make sure Peter was still there and safe.