Chapter 9
Tony wasn't quite sure what had happened. One minute the fight had been in full swing; Captain America was getting his arse beat, blood was flying. Then it stopped. Rodgers seemed to go still as something was communicated to him through the com. When Tony had raised his arm, ready to restrain him; the man had started running and a quick glance around had told him the others on his team were to.
Rhodey and the King looked just as confused as he felt. That confusion morphed into worry when he realised they were going to where Peter was in the middle of fighting Barnes and the Falcon guy. He knew it was a stupid idea to bring the kid, but he was desperate. If Peter was harmed, he didn't think he could get over it. It was with this thought that he signaled the others to follow and took chase. However, he slowed when he got there.
The rogues seemed to be surrounding Barnes and Peter though they didn't look hostile but that wasn't what had his attention. At the center of their focus, Barnes was laying on the ground, staring at Peter who for some reason had removed his mask and was laying in the other man's arms. He looked more secure than he’d ever seen him. That admittedly wasn't that long but he hadn't even looked this relaxed on the jet.
Maybe he should have had more self control but he couldn't help but blurt out, “What is going on here? Why are you cuddling with the enemy?” and instantly cringed at the bluntness. It was apparent they knew each other and it probably wouldn't be taken well by Peter. He didn't seem like a bad person but little hints of darkness had definitely shown through into his personality at points. Tony was honestly slightly startled when Peter used such a harsh and threatening tone on him.
He was proven right when Peter responded with complete objection, his tone severe with possessive protectiveness. The snarl just complimented this. Gradually he took a step back and contemplated the situation. Everyone else seemed to be silent, so he figured they’d be little help at the moment. Honestly, Barnes looked like he’d be the easier of the two to communicate with but he still knew that he’d be dead or at least injured in a second if he wasn't careful with his questions.
“Barnes and I’m afraid to ask, why do you know a twelve-year-old kid from Queens?” Images came to his mind and he really hoped they were inaccurate. Luckily he was quickly proven wrong. Too caught up in the relief of that, he didn't even process the actual sentence until Rodgers piped up.
“- but Bucky, you don't have a brother, at least not one other than me.” Tony winced at that, you’d think he couldn't miss the obviously intimate relationship Peter and Barnes seemed to share. Rodgers never had been good at reading emotions, though. That train of thought promptly flew out his mind at Peter’s response.
Keeping each other sanity? From what he knew Bucky hadn't been out of Hydra long enough to make such a close relationship, especially a kid. He didn't really think HYDRA was the type to foster such relationships, and he was also struggling to understand what the kid meant by seventy years. His head started to get dizzy as hesitant strings knotted certain thoughts together.
Peter’s controlled but easily volatile personality, his approach to Romanov, it all painted a pretty ugly picture. He had been too desperate to look too deeply into the kids life, but he knew that he only had a real public record for about a year back. Then, it hadn’t raised any red flags when he read that Peter had been hidden away by his now dead parents until recently but now he couldn't help but disentangle that lie.
Undoubtedly Peter was part of HYDRA along with Barnes. Imagining the boy in front of him working for those monsters made him hate them even more. Something must have been suppressing his aging like Barnes as well, he hoped it would wear off and they'd age now. He couldn't imagine what the world would be like for someone stuck looking like a twelve year old.
That wasn't a paramount concern, though, and he wouldn't let himself worry too much about it until he had proof. Before that he would try remaining blissfully ignorant, he was surprised when confirmed what Peter had said, that they were brothers. Obviously not biological but probably like him and Rhodey with more murder.
The surprise wasn't that though, he had already believed Peter. What did it was when the man surrendered himself to King T’Challa. To be honest he'd been expecting them to run, he didn't think many of them actually had the will to really stop them quick enough.
Technically Barnes also gave himself up to Tony, yet he knew that it was pointless. There was no way the government would be able to take Barnes away from the King. That was okay, he figured the Wakandans would at least try to give Barnes a fair trial, at least a better one than Ross would surely give.
He continued to observe and let T’Challa take the lead. The way Peter defended Barnes’ choice gave him a better understanding of their relationship. It was obvious they were used to making sacrifices and evaluating if it was worth it. Peter’s willingness to support his choice even if it affected him greatly proved this.
When Peter stared directly in T’Challa’s eyes and gave him some solid advice for the trial Tony wasn't even surprised, he figured the protectiveness was a long-time thing and not just an in the moment thing. He also wasn't shocked when T’Challa promised to take the advice because Peter probably presented to T’Challa the same way he did with Tony. Competent and confident in what he was saying.
As they said their goodbyes, he had Friday translate the Russian part, “Хорошо, я люблю тебя, брат.” The softness of their tone was explained by the words themselves. He was impressed by Peter’s ability to build himself up again, almost as soon as Barnes and the King took their leave, especially when the rest of the rogues continued staring after them.
Peter’s hard eyes told him that a conversation was coming so Tony was quick to construct his questions, making sure to keep them calm and light. Knowing what he did now made him somewhat scared of the adult looking child but he forced it back. He’d faced worse.