Chapter 3
When the team arrived at the tower, they decided to let Peter sleep in Steve’s room, as it was the most ‘kid friendly’ room in the building. Once they got him all settled in and made sure J.A.R.V.I.S. would notify them when he wakes up, they all gathered in the living room.
“So, I ordered some things for Peter and they should be here any minute now. J.A.R.V.I.S. will send it up as soon as it gets here. I’ll be upstairs taking care of repairs for the tower,” Tony sighed, already annoyed at the thought of the paperwork that would be coming out of this, “and probably the rest of the city. Call me if you need me.” Tony offered, as he walked towards the elevator. Hopefully they won’t need me.
While Tony went up to his personal floors, Clint collapsed onto the couch, happy to finally be able to rest after such a long day. He’s been through his fair share as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, but he had never been mind-controlled before. He'd rather not go through it again. It wasn’t as much a painful experience as an uncomfortable one. It was as if he’d felt a constant probing in the back of his head, invading his personal thoughts. Yeah, he definitely wasn’t risking that again.
Bruce, rather than lingering in the living room with the rest of his teammates, goes to his own room. Though he was feeling much calmer than when he had initially transformed back to himself, he still wanted to carry out his post-hulking meditation routine. He just needed the familiarity of a routine.
Natasha, like Bruce, went to her room. Not to de-stress, no, but to mentally review the battle they just fought. Of course, she’d love to rest, but if she didn’t do it immediately after a fight, she’d never be able to remember the strategies and techniques she used in combat, and not remembering would be useful when training to improve.
When the items Tony ordered were finally on the team's floor, Steve was the first to grab a box. He wanted Peter to be as comfortable as possible during his temporary stay at the tower and got straight to unboxing and setting up in the guest room.
Thankfully there was already a bed in the room, along with a dresser and night stand, but aside from that, the room was completely bare.
With Clint and Thor’s help, Steve got all the boxes into the room and began unboxing. Tony was nothing if not excessive when it came to ordering things and this time was no different. Most of the items were Star Wars themed, like the bed sheets and some of the clothes and toys.
Along with the superfluous number of items, there was an over abundant variety in little items. Though Peter mentioned the fact that he was a little, he did not specify his age range and Tony would rather be safe than sorry when it came to getting what the kid needed. There were pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups, pull-ups, diapers, even teething rings. Yep, better safe than sorry.
Clint started assembling the furniture, without the instructions of course, because Hawkeye did not listen to what anyone told him, let alone a piece of paper. He was way better than a piece of paper with pictures and numbers.
While Clint did all the building, Steve did all the heavy lifting, and Thor, while he did not understand Midgardian assembling instructions, was able to put all the crockery away while also raiding the kitchen for anything edible because for an Asgardian, that shawarma wasn’t nearly enough for him
Wow! was Peter’s first thought when he woke up, I feel like I’m lying on a cloud!
Peter sighed in bliss at the feeling and relished in it for a moment before he realized that he wasn’t in his own bed. No matter how many times he’s dreamt about it, his bed has never felt like a cloud. So, who’s bed was he in?
As he sat up against the headboard and took in his surroundings, his memory of the day's events came rushing back to him and he nearly started bouncing in place.
“I ate with the avengers!” he whisper-shouts, awestruck. And, as if those words were magic, Iron man opened the door.
“Good morning kid. Or should I say good night? Even though you just woke up,” Tony rambled, externalizing what should have been an internal monologue, “hope you had a nice siesta...” he trailed off, losing his nerve. He was the one who had oh-so-happily been appointed to be bearer of the bad news. He was the kid's favorite superhero, after all. Tony would hate to keep it from the kid any longer, but seeing the look of awe on Peter’s face, he decided he could wait a little longer.
“So, Petey, you hungry?”
Peter clutches his stomach, as if silently communicating with it, “Maybe a little...but didn’t we just eat shawarma?” he questioned, confused as to why he was still hungry after being so full.
“Just? Kid, that was a few hours ago,” Tony chuckles, looking at his watch, “it’s nearly dinner time.”
“Oh. Then I guess I am hungry. What are we eating now? Can I eat with all of the avengers again?” Peter asks, regaining his excitement, “Also, who’s room is this? The bed is really comfy.”
“You can eat whatever you want kid, we have just about everything here. And if you want to, then sure, you can eat with all of us again,” Tony replies with a kind smile, “Oh, and this is Cap’s room.”
“I slept on Captain America’s BED?” Peter squeals, finally going complete fanboy. What are the odds that he, Peter Benjamin Parker, would meet the six coolest people in the world, let alone sleep on one of their bed's?
“You sure did. Now let me show you around before you eat.” Tony walks away, expecting Peter to follow behind him.
After a little lag in the brain, Peter practically sprints to catch up with Tony. As Tony points to every door and informs Peter of who or what was behind, Peter absorbs every word spoken, his amazement growing by the second.
When they reached the living room, Peter stopped and stood in place. There, right in front of him, was the Black Widow, beating Hawkeye at Mario Kart. One of his absolute favorites!
“I love this game! Can I play?” he asks, hoping they had another remote.
“It’s okay if you don’t want me to, though.” he added hurriedly, realizing that they probably didn’t want play with a little kid like him.
“Of course you can play kid, come right on over," Clint beckons Peter over, “Maybe you can beat Natasha over here, who is obviously cheating.” He accuses, glaring in her direction.
“You can’t cheat in this game Clint,” she counters, “isn’t that right Peter?”
“Um, sorry Mr. Barton, Ms. Romanoff is right. You can’t cheat in Mario Kart.” Peter agrees, settling on the couch cushion between the two adults. Bruce and Thor sit in the love seat, watching how easily Peter is able to respond to Clint and Natasha’s perfunctory gaming banter.
“Hey Peter,” Steve calls from the kitchen, “what do you want for dinner?”
“Whatever everyone else is having Mr. Rogers. As long as there isn’t any Brussels sprouts in it.” Peter replies distractedly, finally rushing past Natasha, who is now in second place.
“This young one must be good at this sport if he can beat friend Natasha!” Thor exclaims, glad to finally see Natasha get beat for the first time.
After Peter and the team finished their dinner and got to know each other a little more, Tony decided it was finally time to break the news.
Leading Peter towards the couch, Tony sat them both down.
“So, Pete. I have news on your aunt,” Tony started, rushing so as to not be interrupted, “and, well, one of the aliens got to her, kid. She died during the attack.”
The whole team was listening to the conversation, but their heads snapped to the living room when they heard the most heart-wrenching noise, followed by a gasp.
"Wha-What do you mean the aliens got her?" Peter questioned, choking out a sob,
"Are you sure? My aunt May? May-May? Maybe...Maybe you have the wrong person..." he trails off, uncertain of what he heard and of what he's saying.
"I'm sorry kid."
"B-But, it can't be May!" Peter cries out, "She can't be gone... 'cause May was the only one I had left. She was supposed to stay!" he shrieked to no one in particular
The only thing the team could do was watch as Tony tried to console the kid, rubbing his shoulder as the waterworks continued,
"May was supposed to stay and help me find a caregiver! She can't just leave" suddenly angry, Peter grabs a pillow and throws it across the room, "She can't do that. She said she wouldn't. She even promised me. Pinky promised."
At this point, Peter was nearly hysterical, and Tony knew it wouldn't bode well for him to keep on crying like this. It was heartbreaking.
"Petey, I need you to calm down for me bud," Tony says, rubbing circles on Peter's back, "you're gonna get sick if you don't calm down a little."
Peter seemed to not hear a word, wailing with renewed vigor. Tony tried pulling the kid in for a hug, but Peter wasn't having it. Rather than letting himself be held, Peter wanted to get as far away as possible. He just wanted to be alone.
With that in mind Peter took off down the hallway, running into the nearest room with an open door.
Tony stared where Peter was sitting a few seconds ago, dumbfounded. He thought a kid like Peter would long for comfort after news like that. Tony knew he did when he found out his parents died, and he was 17 years old, and a caregiver at that. He couldn't imagine what a little would be feeling to make them reject a nice embrace.
Bruce and Steve looked at Tony empathically, feeling the same amount of heartbreak after seeing Peter run off the way he did.
Thor tossed mjolnir up and down forcefully, once again angered by the actions of his own brother.
Deciding it was finally time to deal with him, Thor strode to the elevator to go down to where Loki was being held.
Clint made a move to follow after Peter, not accepting the idea of Peter alone and hurting, but Natasha waved him away, signaling to him that she would deal with it.
Silently sauntering down the hallway, Natasha looked around for where Peter could be and she heard sniffling. As she continued on her path, the quiet sniffles began to get louder. She finally reached the room she heard it coming from, the room happening to be hers. She slowly walked through the doorway, stopping at the sight in front of her.
There, in the small space between her bed and night stand was Peter, tucked into a small ball. He seemed to be attempting to self-soothe by sucking on his thumb and slowly rocking back and forth, and not only from the crying. Looking at the floor below her, Natasha saw a small puddle and put two and two together. She quiet asked J.A.R.V.I.S if he could get someone to clean it up for her.
After a couple more seconds, some maternal switch flipped in her head and she formed a small plan in her head. She slowly sauntered towards Peter, giving him a chance to notice her presence.
She crouched down in front of him and began to coo, "Petya, you're okay. Everything is going to be okay. You're going to be alright."
Hearing a female voice shook Peter out of his distressed stupor. Looking up to the source, Peter couldn't help the whimper that escaped his mouth. The kind smile on Natasha's face reminded him so much of how aunt May smiled at him and he began sobbing again. Natasha moved towards Peter, leaning in slowly to gauge his reaction, and after he didn't back away Natasha pulled him into a warm embrace.
Peter clung to her tightly, accepting the comfort. Natasha rubbed his back, rocking back and forth with him and after what seemed like forever to Peter, she finally guided him up and off of the floor.
"C'mon malen'kiy, lets get you all cleaned up. You can't be too comfortable like this" Natasha said, holding Peter's hand and guiding to his room for the first time. On the way there, Peter still had tears rolling down his cheeks and a newfound blush on his cheeks. In the midst of his little episode, he didn't realize he wet himself and he was embarrassed at having it pointed out to him.
Walking in to his room, Natasha was immediately thankful to Clint and Steve for getting it ready so quick. She led Peter to the changing table.
"Are you okay with me helping you into a pull-up Peter? I can get one of the guys in-" she was promptly interrupted by Peter,
"No, no guys p'ease. Just you" he replies shyly, already embarrassed at the fact that an avenger had to help clean him up after an accident. He also found Natasha's presence comforting and he didn't want that comfort to go away yet.
"Alright, that's fine then. Do you think you can hop on the changing table and lay down while I get something for you?" she asks gently. When Peter nods, she makes a move towards nearby drawers, searching through them until she found the pacifiers. Picking out an adorable avengers themed one, she goes back to the changing table to see Peter dosing off.
Peter's eyes widen a bit when something obtrudes his lips, but they droop and he sighs contentedly when he realize that it was just a pacifier. Seeing Peter's lazily sucking on it, Natasha quickly went to work. She wanted him stay awake a little longer so she could get him into some pajamas and into bed.
Thinking of ways to keep Peter awake, Natasha racks her brain for old Russian fairy tales she's heard growing up and decides on a pleasant one, Snegurochka. As she told the story of the little snow girl, she stripped Peter down to only his shirt and used baby wipes to clean the drying urine off his groin and thighs. Along with that, she applied a rash ointment to prevent any possible chaffing. After that, she grabbed an overnight pull-up and slid his legs through the holes and up to his hips.
"Hey Petya, we're almost done," Natasha whispers, so as to not startle him, "Can you stay awake so you can get into some nice and comfy pj's? They’re Star Wars themed.”
Even in his sleepy haze, Peter perks up the slightest bit at the mention of Star Wars and nods, sitting up and hopping off the changing table.
Natasha led Peter to his dresser and grabbed the first pair of Star Wars nightwear she saw and helped Peter quickly slide into them. Walking over to his bed, Natasha had to let down the rails on one side, and when she helped Peter on, she couldn't help her smile. Peter looked so small and adorable, now curled up on his bed, face slack with no worry. Bringing his blanket up to his chin, Natasha tucked Peter in and chuckled as he let out a small snore.
After lifting the railing back up and plugging in the nightlight, Natasha left a final kiss to Peter’s forehead, slowly exiting the room, but not before saying,
"Spokoynoy nochi malyshka, sladkikh snov"