Yours
Peter lost track of time as he swung around the training room. All three men below turned into nothing but a blur. Even as Peter’s arms started to hurt from the strain of holding himself up he still didn’t stop. He swung until he heard Mr. Stark clear his throat. He started slowing down as he heard, “Hey Pete? I don’t want to spoil the fun, but it’s been almost two hours and you need to eat lunch.” Two hours? Peter did not think it had been that long.
After coming to a slow stop he lowered himself down on one of his webs. When his feet hit the floor he stumbled prompting all three adults to almost dive forward, but luckily before they could Peter righted himself. “You alright son?” Steve asked with a crease in his brow, looking ready to catch the kid if need be.
“Yeah,” Peter said a little breathlessly, “since I don’t use my legs much for swinging they kinda started to fall asleep. All good,” he assured them with a smile, although it seemed a bit forced.
Tony nodded, but still walked over to the boy and put his arm around Peter’s shoulder. It was something he normally did, but it also was a way of stabilizing the kid in case his legs were still waking up. “What were you thinking for lunch?” Tony asked.
Peter still looked a bit frazzled at being asked a question, but as he looked at the three men’s faces he knew no answer would make them mad. No answer would get him in trouble. Right? “C-Can we have grilled cheese and tomato soup?” Peter looked up at Tony.
Tony looked down in fondness, “Of course,” he said, hugging the kid into his side just a little tighter.
Peter remembers the first time he had grilled cheese and tomato soup. Mr. Stark had taught him to dip the sandwich in the soup. He remembers the flavors felt safe and cozy. Although he already feels safe with Mr. Stark, Bucky, and Steve, he’s still a bit anxious.
While he was swinging the world melted away and everything was a blur of freedom. When he stopped swinging he remembered what room he was in, the room he was taken from. Hydra always found a way to rip Peter’s sense of safety away, maybe not fully, but it was always there in his mind, lingering in the shadows. The meal was a small thing, but maybe, just maybe, it would make him feel safer. It’s a lot to ask from food, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
“I’ll order the food while you change into something comfier.” The four made their way to the elevator and took it to the Penthouse. From there Steve and Bucky went to their room, Peter went to his, and Tony had FRIDAY order the food.
Steve and Bucky came out first, both in pajamas. It made Tony laugh to himself a bit as they were matching, both wearing red flannel bottoms and white t-shirts that were a little too tight.
Peter came out next, he was also wearing PJ’s but these were Star Wars themed. The pants were blue and had cartoon Chewbaccas patterning them while the shirt was black with spots that resembled stars and had the Millennium Falcon in the middle. It was not late in the day, but all four knew they would be staying in for the remainder of it. Peter and Bucky were still healing and emotionally exhausted.
As Peter made his way down the hall Tony noticed something in his hands. He was carrying the Spider suit which was now in full form again after the Nanobots had released Peter from it. Tony was confused as he watched him with it.
“Here Mr. Stark.” Peter tried to hand it over to the man but Tony didn’t take it. Steve and Bucky looked on from the couch with the same confusion as reflected on Tony’s face.
“Peter, the suit is yours. It’s for you to keep.” Many emotions crossed over the boy’s face, confusion, gratitude, worry, fear, happiness, etc. As Peter said nothing Tony had to ask, “Why did you think you had to give it back to me bud?”
“I-I always h-had to or I w-would get in trouble,” Peter said as he stuttered, his voice shaking a bit from the memories. His eyes were cast down.
Bucky thought it through and realized Peter never came into their cell at Hydra with Hydra gear on. He was never suited up. Bucky had hoped and prayed it was because Peter had not been forced to go on missions. Now that illusion was shattered. And if Peter remembers Bucky talking to him in his brainwashed state, chances are high that he also remembers the missions. From the horrified looks on Tony and Steve’s faces, they had made the same conclusion. Peter had been on Hydra missions… again.
Peter took their horrified faces for them being mad at him. Why else would they look like that? “I’m sorry,” Peter said in a small voice, averting his eyes from the three other pairs and leaning back like he was readying himself for a hit.
If anything the three men looked more horrified. Well, Tony and Steve did. Bucky on the other had a look of rage on his face, for Hydra. For what they had done to the kid. How they had taken his progress of recovery and ripped it away. Bucky turned so Peter wouldn’t be able to see his face, if the kid ever looked up. He knew that if Peter had taken Tony and Steve’s look of horror and sadness as anger then Peter would lose it if he saw Bucky’s look of rage and he would think it was directed at him. It was not.
Peter had his eye now clenched shut but hadn’t moved. It’s like he knew he would be hurt but just stood there ready for it. Knowing if he moved things would be worse.
It took Tony a minute to find his voice as he watched his kid, his son, stand there ready to take a punishment he didn’t deserve. He would never deserve it. “Pete” Peter flinched at the noise but squinted his eyes open, “you didn’t do anything wrong.” Tony held up his hands in front of him in a placating gesture so they would be the boy's sightline at all times. Peter’s eyes opened a bit wider, but they had a look of mistrust. At Hydra he was just used to being told he did everything wrong. Even when he was brainwashed and had to chioce but to do what he was told to. “The suit is yours, you don’t have to give it back.”
Tony and Steve did their best to morph their horrified saddened expressions into soft understanding ones. Bucky saw this from the corner of his eye and tried to do the same. After all three men had changed their expressions Tony continued, “No one is mad at you kiddo,” he gestured to the two men on the couch who now had looks of compassion and love, “you didn’t do anything wrong.” He reiterates this because he knows Peter needs to hear it. This is just proven by Peter’s next word.
“Really?” His eyes were now normal-sized or actually wider looking up at Tony with an innocent a bit confused expression, it shattered the man's heart.
“Yes Peter, you did nothing wrong.” Peter smiled just a tiny bit. “And Peter-“ it hurts Tony physically that he had to say the next part, “No one in this tower, or anyone if I can help it, will hurt you. No one will lay a hand on you in a malicious way. Even if one day you do something wrong, you still won’t be hurt…” By the look of confusion and disbelief on the kid's face from what he said Tony knew he had to give Peter a reason to believe him, “I promise.”
Those two words were getting easier for Tony to say again, but he was still a bit wary of them.The last thing he wanted to do was lie and lose Peter’s trust...again He would never forgive himself. Those two words carried an unbelievable weight to them. But for Peter he would carry that weight on his back for the rest of his life with no complaints.
After he uttered those two words Peter seemed to relax his stance and actually believe him. There was almost a collective sigh of relief the minute Peter relaxed. The minute Peter finally looked like he didn’t think he would be hurt. The minute Peter looked like he felt safe again. They stood in silence for a moment unsure what to do. Would Peter flinch away from physical contact right now? Did he want physical contact? Luckily the silence was broken by FRIDAY letting them know the food had arrived and was coming up in the elevator now. Steve stood up and went down the hall to grab it, but did so slowly still to not spook Peter. After a memory from Hydra, he knows to be careful around Peter just as he has to be careful around his boyfriend.
“How about you put your suit back in your room and then we can watch something and eat.” He emphasized both ‘yours’ to reiterate that both were his. Peter gave a small nod and then started walking back to his room, still a little hesitantly.
Steve came in with the food and went to the kitchen to grab plates, bowls, spoons, and cups of water. Bucky helped him bring them to the living room and set them on the coffee table. Once Peter came back in they all sat around the living room. Peter sat next to Tony and Bucky sat next to Steve. “What are we watching?” Bucky asked.
Tony looked to Peter who again looked slightly nervous. They would have to work on choices again. Tony decided to ask a more specific question to help, “is there any movie that you have wanted to watch that you didn’t get to or rewatch since it has been a while?”
Peter thought for a minute and then whispered, “Tangled?”
Tony smiled, “Sure kiddo. FRI, play Tangled.” As soon as the words left his mouth the TV turned on. They ate and watched all of them, actually enjoying the movie. Once Peter was done eating he hesitantly leaned into Tony’s side. The man put down his plate and wrapped an arm around the boy. This definitely alleviated the boy’s worry as he let his full weight be supported by the mechanic.
Peter was asleep by the end of the movie. Honestly, they could all use a nap, so that’s exactly what they did. Tony slept propped up on the couch gently moving Peter’s head from his shoulder to his chest so they could both be more comfortable. Steve slept the same way, but with Bucky’s head on his chest. Both Tony and Steve carded their fingers through each boy's hair as they slept and soon fell asleep themselves.