Safe With You
The thing is with saving a life, you never know what comes next
Tony stands in Peter’s room as the first shipment comes through with all his stuff… but Peter is terrified of every person that walks in. Hovering by the billionaire’s side, he holds onto his arm and just won’t let go. And with a grip like his, it’s a little painful (it’s actually very painful, but he won’t say otherwise).
Once they’ve all gone, Peter goes from the frightened spider in the corner of the room to a brave beast. He’s in the middle of the room, opening all the boxes with a smile on his face. Showing them off to Tony, it’s like every piece is a prize at the end of the tunnel. It’s not until he gets to the end of the box that he struggles, looking down at it with a frown on his face.
Tony walks up to the young boy, sitting down beside him. Nudging the box away with his hand, he turns his attention onto Peter… who looks exactly like he does whenever everything gets too much. When it’s all a bit too overwhelming. “So, what’s up? How come you’re all upset? I can tell, you know. It’s my superpower. I can read everyone,” he winks at him.
“I just don’t think I can pay you back for all of this stuff, Mr Stark,” Peter sighs. “I don’t have any money… like, at all. I should’ve told you before you ordered it all… but I didn’t know you were doing it-,”
“Kid,” Tony smiles, rolling his eyes affectionately. “I have more money than I’d ever know what to do with. This? It’s my gift, okay? I only wish that I got you more.”
“More? Wow, Mr Stark. I don’t think there’s much more in the world at this point,” Peter chuckles to himself, sighing. Looking around at all his new stuff, he is a little overwhelmed. There are loads. Blankets, toys, clothes, and even some technology… stuff he’s always dreamed of owning. And now? Tony’s got it for him like it’s nothing (which it probably is to him… if he’s being honest). “Thank you,” he smiles.
“You’re welcome, kiddo,” Tony grins, ruffling his hair. “Now, I have some people that I’d like you to meet. If you’re up to it.”
Peter gulps. Biting his lip, he thinks of everything that could go wrong. Ever. He thinks of getting up, walking out of the room into a room of people he’s never seen before. What if they don’t like him? What if Tony realises that he’s not good enough? He doesn’t want to leave the man’s side. He’s his hero… the one person that saved him in a time of need. And if that all crumbles… so will Peter. But the man looks so excited now, so… he’ll have to bite the bullet and let go. What’s the worst that will happen?
“Okay,” he whispers. “When?”
“Now? They’re all in the living room now.”
Peter puts on a brave face. After all, what more could he do? Standing tall, with Tony’s assistance, he puts away a few things before he steps outside of the bedroom that he now calls his own.
There’s a long corridor from the bedroom to the living room. So much so that he has enough time to prepare himself. The floorboards don’t creak like they did in May’s house, and this hallway is longer than it takes to get to the front door to the back. He’d be out in the garden, running around like a free animal, before he knew it- but here… it’s bright, white, and empty. There’s no life here, just a place for Tony to stay when he’s not in the lab doing work. And it makes Peter feel… well, scared is the right word. But when he looks up at Tony, who’s standing only a few inches away from him, it’s like the world changes and spins before his eyes. The hallway doesn’t matter anymore, because his eyes are full of colour and admiration for the man who saved him. And he just hopes it will be this way until it’s safe to be outside again.
Peter walks with his head low. He feels as if the world is telling him to stay like that. He shouldn’t be allowed to be confident, to be the man that everyone smiles at as they cross the street. But it’s not like he’s a circus act anymore- it’s more like he’s a forgotten piece of trash blowing down the road. Nobody wants to see him. Nobody can see him, and maybe he should just fly up to the stars and find a different planet than this one… because it really doesn’t feel like home. Maybe the person in front of him could change his mind.
The door to the living room swings open, and Peter freezes. There, just in front of him, was the rest of the Avengers from the television. Steve was stood tall in the middle, dressed in a sweater and jeans that looked far away from the usual Captain America uniform. By his side was Natasha Romanoff, hair tied into a plait that sits over her collarbones. She was wearing a jacket that was zipped up, a pair of skinny jeans underneath that took her away from the usual look of the Widow. It was nice. Behind the two of them on the sofa sat Clint and Bruce, both engaged into a conversation that Peter can hear. He can hear everything all the time, he just has to tune it out. Clint’s in pyjamas, or so Peter thinks, whereas Bruce is wearing something formal as if he’s just come back from a gala. And on the side- the person he was most excited to meet (once he thought it could be a possibility) was Thor. A fellow alien like himself- someone Earth embraced as their own. He was the only one in their uniform: full cloak and hammer, looking like he just popped in after a mission. Overall, everyone looked good… but very, very, intimidating.
Thor steps forward, but Tony gives him a look that tells him to stay where he is. He does. Peter feels like a temperamental animal- where people are told to ‘let them come to you’. He looks to feet, ashamed, yet- they all seem so excited to see him that it warms his heart. Just a little. But it’s not enough to kick him forward- to make him say hello.
Looking up at Tony, Peter inches over to him. He takes his hand. He sees everyone look over, obviously surprised that Tony’s allowed it, and he goes to let go. But Tony just squeezes his hand and keeps it in his own. He’s telling him it’s all going to be okay, and Peter can’t tell him just how badly he appreciates it.
“This is Peter,” Tony announces. “He’s going to be staying with us for the indefinite future. Until he wants to leave, really.”
“Well, Peter, it’s an honour to meet you, son,” Steve smiles, staying just where he is.
The team must struggle themselves with their own problems, familiar feelings of worry and panic as Peter has. They might know to stay back because of this (or maybe they don’t want to meet him). But, anyway, it makes him feel more comfortable at they do.
“Uh,” Peter mumbles, eyes still on Tony. Tony nods back at him, telling him it’s okay to talk. It’s okay. They’re not going to hurt him… they won’t. “It’s… it’s nice to meet you too, sir.”
“Peter!” Thor grins, walking over. He must see that Peter’s just a little more comfortable now, so he ignores the way Tony looks over at him to bound over. His free hand is in front of Peter’s face in an instant, his eyes begging the young boy to greet him. He’s… a puppy, and a lot different to the stories of the ‘fierce warrior’ of Asgard that he’s heard of from his mama back in the day. Thor’s famous all over, after all, and Peter would be lying if he’s not a little excited to meet the alien who conquered Earth’s fears. “It’s amazing to meet another like me. I must admit, I’ve been looking forward to your arrival. I was told to be patient by the man of iron, and that I did.”
“Wow- uh- it’s really cool to meet you,” Peter says. Letting go of Tony’s hand, he takes Thor’s and chuckles a little underneath his breath at the power in the God’s swing. “Asgard has always been a story of honour. All the children on my planet knew of you… we all wanted to be just like you.”
“Oh no, little one, you are all so much more!” Thor smiles. Letting go of Peter’s hand, it lands on top of his shoulder. With a squeeze, Peter relaxes in his grip as if he’s hanging out with Ned’s cool uncle that they saw every now and then. So, weirdly enough, he feels as if Thor is his cool uncle from a long, long, way away. “Look at you! You came here all by yourself- and you sat there as these evil warriors took you. But you got out of it, and you still smile. And what a smile it is, young Peter. I’d be honoured to be like you.”
Peter must look teary eyed, as most adults in the room become mush. They make sure he’s okay, covering him with all this love that it’s overwhelming. When Peter looks at Tony, he looks… jealous. He’s brought into a hug from the billionaire, his head resting against the faint blue glow of the arc reactor. He can’t see any of the team… but maybe that’s the man’s intention behind the sudden embrace. It’s weird how well he knows him after only a day or so.
“Thank you all,” Peter whispers. “I never thought I’d feel this safe ever again.”
Tony pulls back, covering his face with his hand. He gently caresses his cheekbone with his thumb, looking down at Peter like a father… and he wonders how he cares this much in a matter of an evening. It baffles Peter. How can humanity be such a back and forth. It’s either up or down. They’re either evil to the point of destruction, or so kind that it hurts… And Peter’s just lucky he’s surrounded by some of the good ones… after too much time with the bad.
Clint walks over, “We’re gonna take of you, kiddo. I know just how much energy you scamps have. I have a few of my own. And can I just say- you speak impeccable English.”
“Been here for two years, Mr Barton. I’ve picked it up a little,” he smiles. “But I have a universal translator. Well, I did. May’s got it in a safe somewhere. I could understand or speak any language I’d like. It was a life saver… but I had to fit in- so I had to leave it behind.”
Tony’s eyes go wide, like he’s just heard of a beauty too hard to take in. “A universal translator? Woah, that’s incredible.”
With such a lust for technology, Peter thought he was the only one around who cared that much for an old piece of tech. Well, old for his planet. For Earth, it was unheard of. “I could show you how to make it, Mr Stark. The one I had was something my mama made me- but she taught me the steps. Just in case I ever lost mine. Would you like that?”
“Would I ever? Kid. You’ve just made my year.”
Peter feels proud of himself, but it’s a little bittersweet. Because he now realises it’s the only reason Tony’s kept him on board. He doesn’t want to keep him safe… he just wants what everyone else wants. Surely? Answers to questions he could never answer. Technology he couldn’t dream of. And Peter? Peter can give him all of that. And it’s like he’s right back into captivity again.
“G-Good,” Peter stutters, eyes darting anyone from anybody who looks at him.
He meets Natasha and Bruce at the same time. They seem a little more… calm (if that’s the word) than the others. Tony told him Natasha was scary, but it’s like she’s the warmest to him. She stays at a distance, simply smiling at him and telling him she’d be right here if he needed anything. It warms Peter’s heart. Bruce’s a little scared, it looks like. He’s shaking just as much as Peter is. Maybe it’s the anxiety, or perhaps it’s the fear he’ll hulk out and hurt the already traumatised kid. Peter likes to think he’d keep up with him.
After a while of forced conversations, Peter feels as if he’s had enough.
“I’d… I’d like to go now,” he whispers into Tony’s ear, unaware that Steve (and most of the team, considering how close they were all stood near him) could hear. “If that’s okay.”
“Yeah? Kid, that’s fine. You can do whatever you want here. You’re free. If you want to walk out that front door, be my guest. You’re in charge here,” Tony smiles, moving his arm around the young boy as he directs him out of the living room with nothing but a wave.
Once they’re around the corner, Tony tells him he’s just popping back to grab his jacket he left behind… but Peter knows the truth. He’s going to talk to them about their best course of action to keep him here- or… or he’ll tell them to make sure Peter’s ‘safe’ enough to trust them before- or maybe he’s being a little dramatic. But all he hears as he listens into their conversation is a faint “He’ll warm up to you.” He wonders who it’s directed to.
“What do you want to do, bud?”
“Uh, I-I don’t know. How about… I go make that thing for you? I can get it done in like two hours… I just need the equipment for it. Trust me, Mr Stark, I’ll make sure it works.”
Tony tilts his head to the side. He’s confused. “No, no- kid,” he sighs, “I can see it all in your face. That piece of equipment is not the reason you’re here. You’re here because I really want to make sure you’re doing okay. You’ve been through a lot. More than anyone could think- and you’re in this foreign planet- yet you’re doing amazing. And I (and the people you love)- am so proud of you. So, if that’s what you think you’re doing here, then I don’t want it. I’d rather we go down and make a tiny piece of crap that doesn’t even more if that’s what you think is going on here.”
“Really? You’re being serious, Mr Stark?”
“Yep.”
Peter fiddles with the end of his sleeve. A nervous quirk he’s picked up from Ben throughout the last two years, it’s clear to Tony that he’s still not comfortable here. Standing quite still, Tony sees the rigid lines of worry seeping into his skin- the way he’s trying so hard to make himself look tall- look brave- but it’s so transparent. Tony could see it all from a mile away.
“Right, okay,” Tony interrupts, putting a hand on his shoulder. “We’re scrapping all of that. Me and you are going to leave the lab alone for tonight. We’re going to sit on my floor, in my movie room, just the two of us, and we’re going to watch some film. I’ll introduce you to some classics- trust me, kid, I know my stuff. You’re going to be the biggest film buff of your generation once we’re done.”
“I like Star Wars…”
“Well then… you’re going to love everything else I have in line for you.”
Tony takes Peter up to the movie room. It’s big, covered in comfy red velvet seats that recline so far back they almost turn into a straight line. They each are covered in different cushions, ones that are fluffy and nice. Peter’s almost scared to ruin them. When the teenager looks up, he winces as he makes eye contact with the light. But it’s not a bright white like he’d expect. Instead, it’s a soft red glow which matches the colour of the seats. Once he makes his way to the front of the room, he’s shocked. The screen is huge.
“Cool, isn’t it?” Tony laughs, choosing a seat in the second row. “It’s a better view here. The first one makes you crane your neck up a little.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, it’s not good.”
“This is awesome, Mr Stark,”
“Yeah, isn’t it? I love it,” Tony smiles, gently manoeuvring Peter so he sits down too. “If this blows your socks off, just you wait for the actual film.”
The film is Star Trek. Peter wasn’t sure if he’d like it. He hears the ‘star’ and assumes it’s just a rip from Star Wars (and he really loves those films, so he wasn’t sure if anything could come close to it). But it’s filled with such character, and the footage of the stars remind him of home. The bright glow, lighting up the darkness…
“You’re a bit like a star to me,” Peter says to Tony as the credits start to roll.
They both enjoy the film. Peter’s sitting up in his seat with his feet dangling by the billionaire’s chair. It’s clear he’s more comfortable, and that makes Tony ecstatic. It was his only goal, responsibilities he has for Stark Industries and the Avengers sitting on the back burner. If anyone wanted to argue it, they’d have to speak to him first. And he might not like sitting in boring meetings with presidents of boards, or people who feel the need to constantly nag, but when it came to Peter- he’d sit in thousands of them to make sure they don’t lay a hand on him. He isn’t something to just observe- he’s more than that.
“I am?”
“Yeah,” Peter nods. “When Ben died, and when they got me- oh, Mr Stark, I thought it was the end. I couldn’t move- I couldn’t breathe once they opened the door. I was terrified of everything they did to me. And it was so dark. All I could see at the end of the road was a complete pit. I didn’t think I’d ever get out and then you burst through the door. You were that bright glow that lit up everything for me. And I know I don’t trust you yet, and that I think you’re working for them every other minute, but- I will get better at that. I promise.”
Tony leans over to the kid, ruffling his hair. It’s a nice thing to do. Tony had imagined sitting like this with a kid of his own one day. He’d never be ready for it- parenting reminding him too much of his absent father- but he’d love them more than life itself. Tony knows Peter isn’t his, he knows they’ve known each other for a few days, and he could be a lot more trouble than he’s putting on- but he’s an innocent kid. And Tony can’t help but think the universe sent him to Earth for a reason. Maybe. He could, however, be wrong. Even if he is, he’s decided that he loves this kid and that means (even if it’s not biological) he’s his kid already.
“You know that you did the same for me?” Tony asks, pulling him over so that they can snuggle in together on the seat. “I constantly feel as if I’m doing things wrong. As if I’ll never be good enough in this line of work. It was dark for me too- so, if we’re continuing with this analogy, we’re both each other’s stars. It doesn’t work logistically, but we’re not talking in literal terms, or I’d be up in the sky in a big ball of gas.”
Peter leans his head on Tony’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around the man. He finds himself gravitating towards the bright light on his chest once more. “I’m glad that we found each other then, Mr Stark,” he whispers, “Or, uh- that you found me.”
“Me too, kiddo. Me too.”
They put on another film in the background, but it only takes twenty minutes for the two of them to drift away into a deep sleep. The movie’s still playing, blaring out loud noises that it’s almost impressive for Peter to keep the sounds out. But he does. However, it does attract another super soldier that’s in the building. Steve.
Steve walks in, “Hi, Tony. Is the kid-,” he stops, seeing the sight before him. A warm smile spreads on his face. Getting out his phone to sneak a photo, he jumps out of his skin when it’s knocked out of his hand. A very frightened, shaking, kid is staring up at him with a fear in his eyes that it worries the captain. “Peter? It’s okay. I won’t hurt you- I was just taking a photo because you both looked so nice together. I’m sorry for scaring you.”
Peter’s eyes grow as wide as saucers as he bends down to get the phone of the floor. He puts it in Steve’s hands, glancing back at Tony who’s still out like a light. “I’m so sorry, sir. I thought you were someone else. I thought… I thought they were coming back for me. I’m sorry,” he rants, avoiding all eye contact by looking at a stain on the carpet floor (he was told it was Clint who threw some salsa at Tony after a long movie marathon a month or two ago. It gets heated during those nights… or so he’s been told).
“There’s no need to apologise, buddy. We’ve all been there,” Steve tries to reassure him. He steps forward to put a hand on his shoulder, but Peter falls back and lands on the floor. He’s staring up at Steve, shaking his head. “I’m going to wake up Tony, okay?”
“No,” Peter interjects, “No, please. I don’t want to annoy him. Please don’t. I’ll do anything- just, don’t. Please.”
“Okay. But you must listen to me here, Peter. You have to breathe,” Steve tells him. “You’re going to hurt yourself if you don’t. Just take a deep breath in for me, okay? Then out. And then all you have to do is repeat that repeatedly.”
Peter does what he’s told to do. He breaths in and out, and then does it again. As he gets more and more comfortable, he looks up at Steve and sees another person who’s here just to make sure he’s okay. But all he wants is Tony to grab him and tell him it’s all going to be just fine. It’s not that he can’t trust Steve- he just needs the reassurance from Tony. He can’t understand himself- he doesn’t know why- but he just knows it’s what he needs.
“It’s going to be just fine, son.”
Peter might start to believe him.
With all the commotion, Tony fidgets in his sleep and eventually finds himself wide awake. He sees Peter cowering on the floor, and Steve standing there with a helpless look of worry on his face, and he knows just what to do (somehow).
Getting off the chair he was just asleep in, he kneels beside Peter and tugs him over until he’s resting against the arc reactor. “You’re going to be okay. In fact, I think you’ll be great.”
Steve watches, and he slowly moves out of the room. Once he closes the door, he leans against the wall and takes a deep breath. How Tony knows what to do, he’ll never know. All he does know is that he’s doing a good job. Having Peter here is amazing for Tony, just as having Tony is perfect for Pete. And as he looks down at his phone that now has a little scratch, he smiles. He’s incredibly proud of his friend for stepping up, and he’s happy that the amazing kid is going to get the happiness he so deserves. He’s very much looking forward to the future.