The Pack
"Daddy!" Peter squealed in joy and jumped into his father's arms, sending them both backwards onto the ground. "Where have you been, daddy? And why do you smell like Tony?"
"I told you, kiddo, I went to go see Tony." He ruffled the kids hair, play tackling him into a headlock.
Peter laughed and nipped at the man's arm, trying to break free. "What did you do? Did you had a playdate?"
"Something like that, yeah." He picked the kid up and held him up above him. "And guess what? He wants us to all hang out next week! Would ya like that?"
Peter screamed in happiness and excitement as he jumped down, running circles around his father.
Steve laughed. "Alright, kiddo, calm down or you'll have no energy for practice tonight!"
"Noooo." Peter whined after he was finished, laying on the ground "Do I HAVE to?"
Steve smiled. "All of us do Pete... But it'll just be us tonight! The others are going on a separate hunt. I thought I'd do a more private practice; just you and me."
Peter pouted, but he nodded nevertheless. "Okay... Whad are we doing tonight? It's muddy in the forest."
"Just tracking and chasing tonight, buddy." Steve ruffled his mess of hair again and picked him up, taking him over to the group. "I assume he was no trouble?" He asked.
"He didn't do everything we tried to teach him, but not too many problems." The Alpha spoke in his ever sombre tone.
Steve nodded, protectively holding Peter close. "What did you try to teach him? Peter usually likes what you guys do."
The Alpha and the others looked at each other before nodding, turning to Steve. "We wanted him to have his first kill. And he told us no."
Steve sighed. It was the way to train the kids to kill young, in case something happened or they needed to defend themselves, but Peter had always been opposed to killing animals. He would eat them sure, and would help cook and hunt when possible, but not kill. "I see... Well, he will in his own time."
The Alpha lifted an eyebrow. "The other pups already have prizes of their wins at home. I think he's old enough." The old werewolf sighed, massaging his temples. "I know you have this anti-mortal killing agenda of yours, but the boy-"
"What did you say?" Steve asked, suddenly terrified. Mortals?! The alpha again raised his eyebrows
"Yes? Humans who aren't supposed to be on our territory. They came, we got rid of them, and your pup wanted no part in it."
Steve stared at him. "What did they look like?" He held his boy close to him. "We do NOT. kill mortals. We all know that. It is not part of our ways, how many times must I remind you all?! Killing them makes us no better than them calling us monsters."
"It's part of the modern ways." The Alpha argued with nonchalance - trapped in the past, insanely so that he often ignored the rules or made up his own, often claiming something wasn't a rule when it was for the sake of saving his own skin, or making up new ones for the same reasons. "Never a part of our history, or laws. The old ones, that is. We always used to hunt mortals when they came to our territory, Steven, including your father. So formidable at it too... Only if you'd be like him." The Alpha sighed. "Anyway. The point is, all pups today chased and got their prey, except for yours. We have to change that."
"Who were they? There must have been clothes, wallets, something?" Steve demanded.
"Steve." the Alpha pointed him with a disappointed look. "What they were before doesn't matter. They're gone. We burned everything after the pups were done. The deal is over, and you're avoiding the subject."
"No, Uncle." He would still stick to the hierarchy for now, including the terms of address. But this was going too far... "You're avoiding the subject. If we intruded on humans ground and got killed and burnt without question there would be an uproar." Steve countered.
One member snorted, shaking his head. "Please. Mortals kill one another every day. It's like a competition for them. They do it for no reason, and so often, that three high school turds won't be noticed, trust me." They smirked. "and I'd doubt the humans would notice we got on their territory. We've been doing it for centuries and we never got caught."
Steve growled slightly. If he was in wolf form his heckles would have gone up. "We are equal to them. Why can't we rise above this meaningless prey mentality. That's why we created the new rules, and if the council hears about all of this hunting you're doing then we will all get it in the neck. Including the children." he glared at the lesser wolf, knowing he was above him in rank.
"It's the nature of things." the Alpha interjected, surprisingly gentle. "We're the predators, they're the prey. We were never meant to get along or live together, Steven. It's how it's always been. 'Listovh Alvtha'. The stronger eats the weak." Tone turning cold, the alpha's eyes drowned in red as he said; ''You can put clothes on a wolf, but it's still a wolf. Even with a name, the beast stays. We might live in their world, walk among them... But we're not one of them."
"We are Uncle... We are half human and though we stick to the ways of the wolf there is nothing to stop us living in society. The only times we HAVE to be wolves is with the full moon. We need to evolve; otherwise humans will end our ways themselves." he took Peter to their own little nook.
"That boy isn't right." The Alpha grumbled and left with the others.
"Daddy?" Peter whimpered, looking up at Steve "Will... Will I have to k-kill a mortal...?"
Steve set Peter down on his bed roll. "No, peter you won't. Trust me, bud. We'll never have to kill mortals, it isn't right. And I want you to remember that."
"Today, daddy, the others kids, they-they chased the mortals, daddy..." Peter sniffled. "And-and they cried really bad, I could hear them all the way from the house, t-they called for their mommy and daddy, and I wanted to help them b-but Alpha won't let me and called me a bad pup.'' The child's tears ran down his face as he told his father what happened.
Steve hugged the boy to his chest, stroking his hair and making a calming 'shhh' sounds. "It's OK now Peter... Trust me, they can't make you do something you don't want to do, that's why they try to trick you into doing it... But whatever happens, you stick to what I've taught you, kid. Soon enough we'll be able to leave the pack... And we'll either join another or try to forget about all of this. But I know I don't wanna be a part of this pack and their twisted ways any more..."
"Don't wanna stay here!" Peter sobbed, hiding in Steve's neck, "Daddy! don't want to stay here anymore, the wolfies are mean here! I want Tony!'' The kid cried quietly. "Wanna see Tony..."
Steve sighed and rubbed the kids back until he fell asleep, when he picked him up and headed back into town, not really caring about the rain too much and heading over to Tony's, not really thinking about it; but soaked by the rain, he knocked on the door, hoping the other man was still awake and he wasn't waking him up.
Tony yawned, as he was awakened by the quick but loud few knocks on the door, and groaned as he sat up, grabbing a bathrobe to wrap around himself, grumpily pouting as he opened the door, "I'm sorry, but do you have any idea how late it- Steve?!" Tony gasped at sight of a soaked Steve, holding his son in his arms and looking deeply upset, though his face looked closed off there was a multitude of emotions that Tony could see. "Honey, what happened? Oh my god, are you okay?" He asked with worry.
"Can we stay here tonight...?" Steve softly mumbled, cuddling Peter to his chest, he sounded so afraid, small despite his larger frame.
"Yes, yes, sweetheart, of course you can!" Tony responded immediately, taking them inside with a hand on Steve's back. He lead them to his bedroom, where he took out some spare clothes of Rhodey's for Steve, accompanied by the fluffiest blanket he knitted that month, which he took no time to waste as he wrapped it around the duo. "Are you okay? Did something happen?" He asked softly, kneeling by the edge of the bed, stroking Steve's knee.
Steve sighed, beginning to change Peter's wet clothes. "Long story... I'm sorry if we woke you..."
"It's okay..." Tony replied softly, not moving from his spot. "Do you want something? Are you hungry, or thirsty, or?"
Steve smiled, laying the still sleeping kid down on the bed for now. "That would be lovely..."
"Alright, I'll make something. Change, okay?" Tony asked gently. Getting a nod from Steve as confirmation, Tony got to work, relieved that the boys were safe and warm now.
Steve got changed and used a towel to dry Peters hair and his own, before heading down to the kitchen where Tony was. "I'm sorry about this..."
"Nothing to be sorry about." Tony whispered softly, giving Steve a smile "Honestly, I meant what I said. That if you need me, I'll be there."
Steve returned the smile though there was something behind it, some sadness that made the smile not reach his eyes.
"And if you need to talk," Tony continued gently. "I'm here too. Do you want to tell me what happened?"
"It's just... My group. They're stuck in the old ways and it's... Infuriatingly ridiculous..." He sighed, knowing he couldn't explain it fully.
"Oh, sweetheart,"Tony winced, tenderly linking his and Steve's fingers together. "That sounds awful. And Peter grows up around these people?"
Steve nodded "It's all we know. All he knows... They're really harsh on him... I should have bought him with me earlier..."
"On Peter?" Tony gasped, as if Steve had told him a horrendous crime. "Who'd do that to Peter? I mean, he's PETER!" Tony shook his head, realising he was getting off track "Anyway, please, tell me you're not going back there. Steve. Please?"
"They're my family, Tony... Our family. They're just ignorant and... Idiots... Maybe I should talk to the council..."
Tony frowned, obviously confused. "Council? What council?"
Steve paused "In our... groups we have a council that dictates a lot of stuff and makes the rules. If they heard about how the others have broken the rules and treated Peter like that then..."
Tony stared at him for several minutes before making a sound of understanding, leaving his work and turning to Steve seriously. "Steve, I want you to be honest with me..." He stated. Steve raised a brow, confused but listening. "Steve, are you in a cult?"
Steve actually laughed at that "No!"
"I won't judge you if you are!" Tony said, but then his lips thinned. "Okay, I lied, I'll judge you, but like, just a little bit and won't say it to your face!"
"No seriously, I'm not in a cult." Steve laughed. "Let's just say we're part of a different culture."
"Alright, Mr. Totally-Not-In-a-Cult." Tony snorted, eyes turning soft as he kissed the back of Steve's hand. "But really. You can stay here for as long as you like. You Don't have to worry about a thing when you're with me. I promise.''
Steve blushed sightly but nodded. "Thank you, Tony... From me and Peter."
"Don't worry about it. I'm happy to help a friend!''
Steve smiled. "Um, I'll let you get back to sleep... It's been a long day."
"Aww, but I was making you and Peter food, Steve!" Tony whined. "Do I really have to sleep? Sleep is for the weak!"
Steve smiled "Ok but once you're finished with that you should probably get some sleep."
"No promises." Tony smiled, kissing Steve's cheek. "Go. Get some sleep and rest, cuddle your baby, and forget about this for a while."
Steve nodded and thanked him again before going back to Peter, curling round him protectively and falling asleep.
Tony sent a worried look Steve's way. The man was so stressed, so tired, it tore his heart out to see him like that, but he looked quite scared of sleeping. He kept trying to keep his eyes open, until inevitably, they closed. Perhaps Steve had nightmares? It wasn't really his business.
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The meal was ready, and Tony made sure to cook extra just in case. Right now he was struggling to find clothes in which Steve could change into. The only clothing he had was the ones left behind by Rhodey, some hoodies, and sweatpants. Tony sniffed at the dark hoodie, smiling at the comforting smell of his best friend. "Hey, wake up sleepy head." He gently patted Steve's cheek with one hand, holding Peter's hand with the other. He smiled softly down at Steve, desire to kiss him suddenly stirring in his chest. "Hey, sleepy head! It's time to wake and eat."