Chapter 28
PETER
He was really enjoying waking up in his husband’s arms again. Fostering Leo meant Wade was home full time, which meant getting spooned nightly by his love. It was much needed after their time apart.
He didn’t say it of course - cause he’s a superhero, right? He should be able to handle anything?
Except he was losing his freaking mind without his husband. And having him back? Fucking amazing. Gave him the confidence to parent these three great kids.
Maybe he could do this.
He thought that, anyway, until shortly after breakfast.
After the five of them ate, they all settled in the living room and watched cartoons together. Lilli was still sleepy and so she was extra cuddly, climbing on Peter’s lap as she stuck her thumb in her mouth. Pete curled his arms around his girl, watching Wade sit on the floor next to the boys. Isaac brought out his set of lego blocks and dumped them out next to Leo, whose expression turned to pure glee as they silently played while watching tv.
It was after a few episodes of whatever cartoon they were watching that the arachnid started to nod off. It was also at that time that the fighting started. Though Isaac had brought the toys to share, it was increasingly clear that he needed certain blocks. Leo was being a good sport about it up until he lost his patience.
And then yelled “stop” before he backhanded the toddler.
Who fell face first into the pile of plastic blocks.
Everything froze for a moment, the arachnid cursing his so called ‘spidey-senses’ for not working the older and sleepier he was. That was until the screams echoed the room. Peter put Lilli next to him on the couch as Wade moved to bring the crying toddler into his arms. Leo stood frozen in fear for another moment as his mouth gaped open, before taking a few steps back and bolting to his room.
“Shh, it’s okay Izzy-bee,” Wade murmured to the crying toddler as Peter walked over and rubbed the boy’s back.
“Let me see your face, baby,” Pete said as he gently brought their son out of Wade’s neck. He had a cut on his cheek that was dripping blood, and there was already a bruise forming. “Do you want me to take him so y-”
“No! Wan’ Daddy!” Isaac screeched before burying his face back in Wade’s neck and wrapping his tiny arms around him. His husband frowned as he kissed the boy’s temple and glanced back at Pete.
“I’ll talk to Leo after I fix this one’s boo boos,” his love said before he kissed Pete’s cheek and began walking to the kitchen for the closest first aid kit. Pete stole a glance at his other toddler, who was somehow asleep, before following his husband trying to soothe the still sobbing toddler.
“Maybe I should talk to Leo?” the arachnid asked quietly after another moment, not entirely enjoying his husband’s reaction of shock. “What?”
“You think that’s a good idea, buttercup?” the man asked as the shorter brunette glared back at his husband.
“For your information...I do,” he said before crossing his arms in a stubborn pout. His husband just scoffed and focused on patching up their calming toddler. Fine, he thought to himself as he promptly turned on his heel and walked to Leo’s room, determined to prove that bastard wrong.
He wasn’t mad at the boy. In fact, he understood. The twins often drove the man onto the brink of insanity, he just had the thirty years of practice to have the patience to not respond like that.
You know, with violence.
Before he knocks on the door, he remembers the look on the boy’s face; the sheer horror at the realization of what he’d done. It was obvious Leo had felt bad about it. The arachnid takes a breath before knocking, opening the door without waiting for a response.
And saw nothing. Leo’s room was empty. He was about to let himself panic when he heard a whimper coming from the closet. His heart lurched further in sympathy for this boy, quietly walking over and sitting on the floor next to him.
“Leo?” he asked quietly before gently tapping on the wood. He heard a choked cry from behind the door, which did not help his already aching heart. It did, however, give him the confidence to open the door and look in.
Leo was hidden behind some coats, curled up in a ball around himself.
“Leo?” he asked again, frowning at the flinch he threw at that. “Buddy, will you please talk to me?”
“Why?” the boy whispered after a long pause; Peter took that opportunity to scoot a little closer to him.
“I was falling asleep and didn’t see what happened. I want to hear your side,” he partially lied, though truly wanting to hear his side.
“No you don’t,” the boy whimpered before falling into more sobs.
“Sweetheart I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t mean it. And I’m not mad, I promise,” he said sincerely, scooting just an inch closer.
“You’ll throw me out,” the boy choked on a cough before continuing, “I don’t wanna go,” he finished more quietly. Peter ran a hand through his hair, starting to wonder if this was actually a good idea.
“Leo, honey. Leonardo, please look at me.” He waited for the eventual eye to poke out between the tiny fingers to continue. “No one is throwing you out, okay? I just want to understand what happened.”
After another thirty or so seconds of a skeptical look towards the man, the boy finally sat up enough to answer him. While still remaining as far back in his closet as possible.
“I…” he hiccuped before continuing, “I got mad. I...I didn’t mean to,” Leo said before covering his face with his hands. “I’d never wanna hurt the twins, I just...snapped, you know?”
“Yeah,” Pete said with a smile. “I get mad sometimes too. But it’s never okay to hit like that when you’re mad. Especially to those smaller and weaker than you…”
“I know, I know I’m sorry I reallydidn’t mean to…”
“Leo, bud, you have to breathe for me,” Peter said in panic as Leo’s chest started rising and falling too quickly. He tentatively reached a hand out, deciding to gently rest it on his shoulder. The boy flinched, but didn’t try to remove the act of comfort.
They stayed like that, sitting in each other’s silent company as Leo’s crying and heavy breathing slowly died out. Then the boy looked up with big, watery eyes and Pete had to physically resist the urge to bring him into his embrace.
“You’re really not kicking me out?” the boy asked again, bottom lip wobbling.
“No, honey, I’m not. You’re not going anywhere, okay? When you...make a mistake like that,” he said, choosing his words carefully, “we talk about it and you apologize for your actions. Wade and I will never ever hit you. You willstay in your room for a few more minutes in time-out, and then I do expect you to apologize to Isaac. But, Leo sweetheart look at me,” he paused when the boy had looked away and rubbed his face with his sleeve, waiting for the kid to meet his gaze again. “You’re safe here. That doesn’t mean I’m okay with what happened and you understand it was wrong, right?” he paused, waiting for the boy to nod before continuing.
“So you’ll stay in time-out for a few more minutes then you’ll apologize to Isaac. And try and do better in the future, right?” he asked as Leo nodded his head vigorously.
“I will, I promise,” he said before hiccuping.
“I know you will, bud,” Pete said with a smile as he finally pulled his arm back and started getting out of the closet. “Now, you’re restricted to your room, which includes your closet, but you can come out if you want. Take a few more minutes and then come find Izzy, okay?”
He was embarrassed at hearing the ‘pop’ sounds coming from his bones, but was immediately distracted at the small cough coming from the closet.
“Thanks...Pete,” the boy said quietly. The arachnid felt a pang in his chest, but smiled back at his foster son before nodding and exiting the room.
He walked down the hall back to the living room, smiling at the image of his husband and the twins cuddling on the couch. Wade looked up at him with a hopeful smile.
“How’d it go?” his love asked, Peter thankful the man knew when to be serious and not make some kind of joke right now.
“It went well. I think,” Peter said with a smile as he picked up his daughter in order to sit next to his husband, deliberately leaving the spot by Isaac for Leo. “He promised not to do it again. He’s in timeout for a few minutes and then will come apologize to Izzy.”
He loved Wade that much more with the look of awe and pride on his handsome face.
“I knew you could do it,” his husband said with his dopey grin, leaning over to kiss which Peter happily obliged. He leaned against Wade and got more comfy on the couch as the four cuddled and continued watching cartoons.
A few minutes later they heard the sounds of footsteps approaching them, the two adults turning to watch Leo sheepily walk over. Isaac sat up when Leo approached, leaning further into Wade and looking cautiously at the boy.
“I’m sorry, Isaac. I’m really, really sorry,” Leo said remorsefully, wringing his hands anxiously as he waited for the toddler’s response.
Izzy turned to Wade and buried his face in his shirt, whimpering as Leo looked at the two men in panic.
“Izzy I promise it won’t happen again,” Leo tried again, collapsing against the couch. “And I never break a promise.” Peter almost wished he’d taken his dad’s offer for an AI, because he really wished this was being recorded.
“Bubba’s sorry,” Lillian piped in, surprising everyone who turned to look at her. Did she just call Leo...bubba?
“Yeah Izzy-bee, your bubba is very sorry. And it won’t happen again. How about you tell him ‘it’s okay’?” Wade asked gently, turning the toddler around to face Leo while on the man’s lap. He looked back at Peter with his ‘what the actual fuck is happening right now’ face. Peter had to hold in a laugh, shrugging his shoulders and waited for Isaac to respond.
“‘Skay, Leo,” Izzy mumbled, still a little shy. The men praised both their boys for using their words before an idea came to Peter’s mind.
“Leo, wanna come join us on the couch?” Peter asked, patting the empty spot next to him. He was fully expecting the boy to decline and sit on the floor, but was pleasantly surprised when Leo silently walked around to join him.
He didn’t cuddle, and still made sure there was plenty of space between the two, but Peter counted it as a win.
“Darling mine, you know what the backyard needs?” he turned and asked his husband. Wade’s eyes bulged from their sockets before the dumbass mouthed ‘SEX POOL?’ at him.
Peter just blinked at him straight faced for a few moments before saying, “I was thinking more of a jungle gym,” he finished with a glare. It was belittled by the smile that broke across his face. Which made Wade laugh, which made Peter smile brighter. ‘WHAT’S A SEX POOL?’ he mouthed back at Wade.
Which was a horrible idea, as the man started wiggling his eyebrows in response, which got a full on bellowing laughter from Peter.
Which...he guesses wasn’t so bad. Since it made the kids laugh along with them, even if they had no idea what was so funny.