Chapter Text
They’d moved at some point, Tony didn’t know when, it was all a blur to him. Rhodey was a guiding hand through all of this, a steady hand on his shoulder, grounding him with every step.
“Tony, you with me?” Bruce was looking at him sadly and Tony nodded, “The list is… extensive to say the least. The main injuries were his punctured lung and a stab wound in his stomach. He also had multiple broken bones, a small concussion and multiple bruises.”
Tony breathed out a sob, but he knew bruce wasn’t done, “There seemed to be… drugs in his system too, most likely to keep him weak. We- we know he went through a lot of psychological trauma and if we want to treat him properly we’re going to have to watch the footage-”
“No, you- you can’t- he wouldn’t want you to- to see him like that-”
“Okay, that’s okay, not me, what about a therapist? I know you’ve been seeing one and if not them then I’m sure shield can recommend one…” Bruce trailed off, looking desperately to rhodey for help.
“We’ll think about it, thanks, bruce,” Rhodey said, giving him a strained smile. Bruce nodded sadly before standing up and leaving the small room, closing the door softly behind him.
“Can i see him now?” Tony asked without looking up, rhodey sighed but nodded, helping his friend stand.
They arrived at the hospital room fairly quickly, there were only a few in the small medbay. Tony hesitated slightly before opening the door and stepping inside. Rhodey flinched as he heard a gasp, barely daring to look up himself.
Peter- be it cruel or comforting- looked peaceful in the hospital bed, almost as if he was asleep, but the two men knew better. Tony walked to the side of the small bed, holding his breath as he reached out a hand, slowly taking the teenager’s. Not even a moment later, tears were falling down his face, small sobs escaping his throat.
Rhodey didn’t hesitate before moving forward to comfort his friend, wrapping one arm around his shoulders and pulling Tony’s head to rest on his shoulder.
Tony turned his head slightly, letting his sobs get muffled by Rhodey’s neck, still not letting the teenager’s hand go.
“It’s okay, it’ll be okay,” Tony shook his head slightly, overcome with emotions.
Rhodey didn’t know how he could comfort him.
______
Tony refused to move
Of course he did- his kid’s in a fucking hospital bed.
The problem was when he asked to see more of the footage.
“I need to see what that- that sicko did to my kid, ”
“Tones, I’m not arguing against that, I’m saying you can’t- you won't be able to see him like that,”
Tony paused, eyes widening, mouth turning into a frown, “Have you watched it?”
Rhodey froze, before nodding, looking to the floor. He looked back up when he heard a scoff, “You don’t think i should’ve seen it?”
“Fuck no- I just think you’re a hypocrite,”
“What, cause I’m not letting you see it?”
“We all know you- and the team- see Peter as family, it affects you as much as me,”
Rhodey sat down on the opposite side of the bed to his friend, linking eyes with him for a ew moments before relenting and nodding, “I’ll get a tablet for you in a minute, but don’t say i didn’t warn you,”
_______
The footage started in the living room, a kitchen chair in the middle of the room and Peter- god, Peter- sat on it, wrists tied behind the back of it and ankles left loose.
Tony already regretted his decision.
But still, he pressed play.
The man- they didn’t even know his name, why he was doing this- stalked around the chair Peter was tied to, a devilish smile on his face even though peter wasn’t even awake to take notice of it.
Slowly, so, so slowly, Peter’s head rose, squinting in the light as he groaned. He tugged on the restraints slightly, frowning when he realised he couldn’t get out of them.
“Ahhh, my little spider, you’re finally awake,” Peter flinched as the man spoke, leaning slightly to the side.
“Don’t worry about those pesky little ropes, you won’t be able to get through them anyway,” He chuckled slightly before continuing, “I heard- from a little bird- that you have quite the metabolism, young man,”
Peter’s eyes stayed on the floor as he tried to clear his vision, his thoughts, get those damn drugs out of his system, “No fear… I’ve made quite the concoction in my spare time, just enough so you feel drowsy and those brittle powers stay subdued, without you feeling too drowsy that you can’t pay attention,” He explained, walking around the chair as he did.
The man walked out of frame, before returning, holding-
Peter flinched, shaking where he sat, speaking up for the first time, “P-please, please don’t,”
The man chuckled, “I haven’t even introduced myself yet,” He paused, swinging the bat in his hand before bringing it up to rest under Peter’s chin.
“I’m Damian, but for you, sweet cheeks,” He paused, “You can call me sir”
___________
Tony had to turn off the tape, he couldn’t- he couldn’t watch it.
Peter had to go through that, for hours- god-
At least now, they had a name. Even if it wasn’t his real name, it was a start.
“You good, man?” Tony looked up, locking eyes with rhodey again, he nodded, before turning his attention back to the kid.
Still, since entering the room, he hadn’t let go of the teen’s hand.
“He’s gunna be okay, he’ll recover and- we’ll find his a good therapist, the best therapist in new york, i don’t doubt that,” Tony breathed out a laugh, they both knew he’d spend hours looking for a good therapist if necessary.
“Bruce said the recovery time for him would be around two weeks, he can be cleared to go back up in- probably a day or two,” Rhodey continued, but it didn’t do much to sooth Tony’s worries.
What if he gets back in- what if he hurts him again and Tony can’t do anything to stop him-
Tony gasped as he felt his hand being squeezed slightly, eyes darting to the- seemingly unconscious- teenager.
Peter’s eyes were opened into slits, watching Tony through them.
‘Hey, kiddo, how’re you feeling,” Peter huffed out a laugh, giving Tony a small smile.
“‘Can feel ya worryin’ from here,” Tony chuckled, leaning forward and resting both elbows on the side of the bed, “I’s okay,”
“Shouldn’t i be the one telling you that?” Tony asked, looking at Peter playfully.
For a moment, it felt like everything was okay.