Chapter Text
Bedtime
“So let me get this straight.” Sam said.
“Uh huh.” Cassie nodded arms crossed. She looked exasperated. Lila and Copper did too, they’ve been over this like ten times. They just wanted to know if Peter was okay.
“Peter Parker, your babysitter who is a total nerd, science genius and the nicest sweetest most polite kid on this planet, is the snarky, sarcastic, pain in the a- butt Spiderman ?” Sam said.
“Yep.”
“Peter Parker is Spiderman!” Sam groaned out.
“The answer’s not gonna change Sam.” Steve said in a mixture of annoyance and concern. A 15 year old kid should not have been as close to dying as he was today.
“No, You don’t get it! I actually liked the kid!” Sam groaned.
“And he kicked your ass in Germany we get it.” Natasha said.
“I knew there was a reason I liked that kid.” Bucky said, and Sam glared.
“He kicked your ass too.” Sam said back and Bucky grunted.
“Other then the fact a 15 year old kicked two war asset’s asses. Let’s get back to the fact that’ you’ve known for… how long?” Tony said looking at the kids.
“Since we met him.” They all said simultaneously.
“Great. Just so we know the kid that we’ve all grown to love spotlights as our friendly neighborhood menace, we’ve been outsmarted by a 15 year old, a preteen and two 7 year olds. My ego is in the trash, how ’bout you guys?” Tony said.
“If only.” Bruce rolled his eyes.
“Mine’s had been in the trash since I got whooped by a guy in spandex, and only gotten deeper when I found out he was 15.” Sam sighed
“Well technically speaking he must’ve been 14 when we were in Germany.” Tony pointed out. Sam groaned again.
“Why are we even recruiting 14 year olds Tony?” Steve stood up angrily.
“Steve, chill. If he was 14 do you think I would’ve recruited him if I knew?”
“Yes.” everyone said at the same time. Tony put his hands up.
“Fair enough. But come on, the kid was mature enough… and he won’t stop, we all know how stubborn Spiderman is, and that Peter Parker is a badass when it comes to protecting people. We can’t stop him-”
“So join him? Tony I think-”
“No Cap, listen for once. I know Spiderman better then you, or at least what he’s like. He took down my moving plane last time I said no to him. When I tell him to stop helping, he just keeps going as if I didn’t say anything. Now I can chalk it up as teenage angst and it’ll be okay-”
“Is this a joke to you? That’s someone’s kid.”Clint growled.
“You think that someone would’ve cared to put a foot down by now? It’s been going on for what almost 2 years now and no one has really stopped him. And I know for a fact he goes home with injuries. You can only use ‘I got mugged’ so many times before you get questioned.” Tony said blandly. “Let’s face it the kid is a genius, I mean the only reason we know is because he was drowning trying to save your kids, and that wouldn’t even have happened if I hadn’t yelled at him for that stupid formula.” Tony sighed.
“We all screwed up-”
“Nope this one’s on me. I recruited him. I told him no. I hired him. I fired him. I yelled at him. You didn’t do a thing.”
“Exactly. We’re a team, we shouldn’t let one person make all the decisions and take the blame because all we’re doing is following and not helping .” Steve said.
“Not time for-”
“Sir Mr.Parker has awaken.” Everyone got up.
“Nope. None of you are coming in, we don’t need him freaking out. We all know he can flip any of us.” Bruce said and everyone sat down. “Your probably gonna look into the room through surveillance anyway.” He grumbled
He opened the door.
“Hey Peter.” He said and Peter snapped his head up at his voice and looked at him with wide eyes. Then he groaned and fell back against his pillows. Bruce smiled a little.
“Are the kids okay?” He asked cracking open one eye. Bruce went to the monitors and tapped.
“Their fine. You have accelerated healing?” Bruce asked, cause his vitals looked nearly healed. It should’ve taken weeks.
“Yeah,” Peter answered shortly. There was a pause.
“You know we could’ve helped you?” Bruce said, it wasn’t a question and Peter smiled.
“Yeah, I- I guess I was a little pissed. I really shouldn’t have been though. You and Tony were trying to help me I acted like a brat.” Peter said with a sad smile, Bruce looked at him.
“You still saved our kids.” He pointed out and Peter turned to him with a big grin.
“I am their babysitter. I’m not gonna let anything happen to them no matter who I’m mad at.” Peter said cockily. Bruce looked wary. “Their that mad huh?”
“Not mad, more concerned. Although Tony brought up something interesting.” Peter groaned.
“Doesn’t he always.” He said sarcastically, Bruce stared at him “what?” He asked, a little offended. Why did everyone keep giving him that look.
“Nothing. it’s just sarcasm doesn’t look good on you.” Bruce smiled generally and Peter mocked offense and they both laugh.
“Can’t blame you there.” He mumbled with a smile.
“Anyways, Tony said somethings. One of those things that stuck out more than the rest was that if someone cared enough to stop you-“ Bruce was surprised to be cut off.
“They would’ve stopped me? Are you implying I live alone?” Peter raised an eyebrow. Bruce suddenly felt nervous, Peter noticed “Hey Hey, not blaming you for that, it’s completely reasonable. And I guess I never talk about home.” Peter placated and Bruce visibly relaxed “I live with my uncle.”
“So why don’t you talk about home?” Bruce asked.
“Nothin’ to talk about. We have trouble making ends meet and I gotta get a job to help with that.” Peter said monotony. He was lying, Bruce didn’t need to know that though.
“So you pretend you’re going to your job?” Bruce asked.
“I technically am. I mean I work at the Bugle in the photography department.” Peter smiled.
“Oh that’s nice, what do you take pictures of?” Bruce smiled.
“Spiderman.” Bruce nearly choked on his laughter. “Hey! It’s not funny!”
“It sort of is… but anyway he doesn’t know.”
“He’s never home. He’s always out.” That wasn’t a complete lie either. Peter smiled a little. Bruce looked worried.
“You are-“
“I get enough. We need to make ends meet and well I’m still here so we do.” Peter said with a reassuring grin. Bruce looked at him for a minute.
“Okay.” He said. “Okay, So Tony needs to come in here and-“ Peter stiffened.
“No, no he doesn’t. No one needs to come in here an-“ that’s when the door opened and Tony walked in.
“Sorry kid, you don’t have much of a choice.” Tony said and walked over Bruce went back to tapping monitors.
“This healing is amazing.” Peter stiffened more and Tony lent over Bruce and tapped a few things.
“Well you’re not wrong Banner… wow kid, 10 hours and you’re already-“
“School.” Peter shot up. “God I have School in two freaking hours.” He cursed.
“You just near drowned. You aren’t going to school.” Tony said exasperatedly. Peter shot him a glare.
“I can’t just drop out of school.” He said with a whimper.
“Should’ve thought of that before you put on that onesie.” Tony said back blandly. “So turns out you were more of a rule breaker then we thought.” Peter looked at him as he sat down next to him.
“I told you I was weird.” He said.
“This isn’t weird, this-“ he gestured to Peter -“ is dangerous. It’s not a game.”
“ and in the year you’ve known Spiderman have I ever treated it like one?” Peter cut him off and looked at him seriously.
“People with pumpkin bombs and Octo legs are after you.” Tony pointed out.
“And mercenaries and assassins after you. People don’t really take Spiderman seriously. I’m a joke, that’s the point.” Peter said back and Tony got up and went to the big monitor.
“Until you save someone, of course. Then you’re a hero.” Tony said pushing a few buttons with one hand and videos of him stopping cars and swinging people away from messes showed up.
“I’m not a-“ Peter ducked.
“You are kid. And you are a kid . You shouldn’t be doing this and you know it.” Tony said and looked at Peter who was looking blankly at the videos.
“Remember when I told you that you’d lose if you fought me, Mr.Stark.” Peter asked quietly.
“Yeah. You kinda sat me down, except now I actually believe it.” Tony said running a hand through his hair.
“Don’t. I’m stupid.” Peter said blandly and Tony looked at him.
“You taken it back?” Tony asked with a raised brow and Peter shrunk in on himself.
“I-I don’t think I can. But I- I was mad and I can’t… I would give up if I had to fight you… any of you.” Peter said and fiddled with the blankets “you’re adults and-“
“Suddenly you’re gonna listen to us? Because we find out you’re a kid? That’s not the Spiderman I know.” Tony crossed his arms disappointed.
“But that is the Peter Parker you know.” Peter said and leaned forward in his bed, looking desperate for something, anything. Tony saw question in his eyes, and he didn’t have an answer. But Peter seemed to give up looking for an answer as he grabbed his head and fell back against the covers “This is so messed up.” He laughed humorlessly “I was never supposed to meet you. You were never supposed to know. I just had to freaking help those kids, cause I could . I could help them as Peter Parker . I didn’t have to be Spiderman. It was so nice. ” They liked me for me. They like Peter Parker without Spiderman.
“Okay kid. Are you gonna give up?” Tony asked confused.
“I don’t think I can” He said.
“Okay, then no need to make this a emotional fest.” Tony said with a sigh “just yes or no, that’s all I need. I can’t stop you either way.” He said and Peter looked at him as he got up and left him in the room alone. He sighed and sank back into the pillows and closed his eyes...then he felt a dog pile on him.
“Peter! You’re awake!” Lila’s voice rang out and he smiled a little. He opened his eyes and saw his kids.
“Yeah..” He said with a smile.
“We thought you were-“ Cassie said and Peter cut her off.
“Woah woah. Nope you are too young to even think about that sort of thing. I’m fine. I think I’m gonna sneak out of here. I got a Spanish quiz today, but don’t tell Bruce.” He whispered and Cooper groaned.
“More secrets?” He asked. And Peter smiled.
“My whole life is based on secrets. Some you guys don’t even know.” He said jokingly.
“Are you Deadpool too?” Cassie asked and Peter rolled his eyes.
“You know I hate that guy. No. Just no.” Peter scrunched his nose. Cassie giggled.
“Nope, Peter has a lot of secrets. Well keep em’” Lila said. “We kept Spiderman a secret.”
“Yeah I ousted myself on that one. But all my other secrets are boring. Like where I keep my extra gym clothes.” Peter laughed and the girls giggled. “Okay you guys gotta get to bed.” The made a noise of protest but said good night anyway. cooper stayed behind. “Hey Cooper?” He asked.
“You said you’d be fine.” Cooper said and Peter looked at him.
“I am though.” He said shifting up and looking confused.
“But you weren’t.” Cooper said and looked close to tears. “I saw that thing collapse… you couldn’t have been-“
“Hey, Hey. Cooper, come here,” he did so and Peter hugged him, like how Ben used to hug him. He never thought he’d be in his shoes this soon. Or ever. “Nothing happened. I am okay.” He rubbed his back.
“You said you couldn’t lose anyone else… were we… were we gonna die? Did you know you were gonna die?” Cooper sobbed.
“I- Cooper Hey, I was okay so long as you were. If you had died, or Lila or Cassie… I don’t fight for myself you know.” He looked up and found Scott and Clint in the doorway.
“What do you fight for?” Cooper asked quietly.
“I fight for….” He looked Clint dead in the eye. “I fight so people can go home. So they can get to their families safely.” He said, that is why he started. “I don’t need to save a million people before I save one person.”
“But..what about your family.” Cooper asked and Peter looked down with wide eyes. “What happens when you don’t come home at the end of the day?” Nothing.
You forgot to pay rent.
You little retarded shit!
Always screwing everything up.
“I… don’t know.” He didn’t think Ben would really care. He’d be more pissed about the rent not being paid. Cooper leaned back. “Just don’t… don’t die . It doesn’t matter if I go home.” Peter shook his head. Cooper looked confused.
Rent. He had to pay rent.
It was getting hard to breathe.
“Coop… I think Peter needs rest.”
Just rest everything will be okay.
No no. He didn’t want to go to sleep.
“But dad..”
He heard Cooper leave and he couldn’t breathe. Where was he going? He couldn’t lose anyone else. Nononono.
“Peter calm down.” He heard a familiar voice.
He had to pay rent. He was gonna get in trouble.
“I need to…” Peter mumbled. “ I gotta go.” Someone caught his shoulders. He saw Scott’s worried face. Scott could help him get home. “Scott… I need to go home ... I need to- need to pay rent... I got all the money for it. Ben will be so - he’ll be so mad.” He choked and gripped on to Scott’s biceps.
“Hey. Hey kid, why would you need to… you help pay the rent…” Scott said and was connecting the dots. “Peter you just help right? You don’t pay the whole thing.” Scott tried to look Peter in the eye, he kept looking down. “You just help, right? Oh please tell me I’m right… if I only have to be right about this one thing please let it be this.” Scott knew how hard it was to pay rent. A kid shouldn’t have to worry about that. Peter didn’t answer.
“He provides for so long . It’s.. it’s my turn.” Peter mumbled. “I’m not even his kid...he never wanted kids… he and May didn’t want kids… they don’t… they didn’t want me… I was just some retarded kid they got stuck with..” Peter said quietly and was releasing his grip on Scott. Scott held on tighter.
“Oh god. Oh god. Parker… you’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna be-“
“I’m so messed up. I always screw up so bad . I can’t- I can’t do anything right. “ Peter mumbled to himself looking down.
“No, no Parker. Peter! Calm down you don’t need to do anything!” Scott said. How could this kid be this determined to do something he hated? He didn’t even need to do it!
“No, I-I-“
“Parker!” Tony’s voice cut through and Scott let go and moved back as Peter whimpered. Gripping something. He needed to hold on . Hold on and not let go.
A hand grabbed his arm sharply and he wanted to lash out. It was too tight. It restricted his movements. But he didn’t cause it grounded him, it was the only thing that he had right now. He just wanted to be held, like he held Cooper, like uncle Ben used to. But that was never gonna happen again… tears burned in the back of his eyes. He twisted his arm and gripped the hand right back.
This is as good as your ever gonna get.
But at least the kids were okay.
Peter screwed up a lot of things, but that was the one thing he’d never dare to mess up. That part he didn’t screw up.
As long as they get better. As long as they don’t end up like this.