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“Peter, please come down. “
“But my web. “
When Steve makes his way to Peter’s room, he's not sure what he'll find. He'd heard Tony scolding the kid, but, even with his super-hearing, hadn't been able to make out specifics.
He knows, though, he hadn't expected to see the kid up in the corner of his room, in what Steve could only describe as a nest of webs.
“Kid, you have to come down. “ Tony's voice snaps Steve out of his train of thought.
“But it's so cozy! “
“Peter. “
“You'd want to stay up here all day too if you were up here, “ Peter quips. “It's warm! It's naturally insulated! And- “ Peter moves over to reveal a mass of comics, school work, and even a stuffed animal- “who would protect my web if I wasn't here? “
“I'll get Fri to look after it, or something.“
“Friday can’t sit by it and watch it the whole time we’re out. “
“She watches the entire damn house every day. I think she'll be able to handle one web. “
“Her attention is too divided. She won't be able to protect it properly. “
“Peter. “
“Mr. Stark? “
“Peter Parker I told you aunt we'd be at her house in half an hour and if we’re late she is going to kill me, “ Tony huffs, obviously beginning to have enough of this.
“Just send her a picture! When she sees me up here, she'll understand. “
“I highly doubt that. “
“What's, uh, going on in here? “ Steve finally cuts in, and both sets of eyes are now on him.
“Mr. Steve Captain America sir! “ Peter perks up, and Tony groans, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Perfect timing! “
“Not perfect timing, “ Tony grumbles.
“Me and Mr. Stark were having a… Disagreement about my web. “
“The kid won't come down, “ Tony explains.
“Who will protect it! “ Peter shouts. “There are some very important things in here, Mr. Stark. “
“Then bring them with you. “
“But then they wouldn't be in my web. “
“This kid. Killing me. “ Tony shakes his head. “This is the third time he's pulled something like this. “ He looks up at the nest of webs, the Spiderling housed within once again tucked safely away inside.
“Did some research. Spiders feel most at home in their webs than anywhere else, “ Tony explained. “Some spiders build their nests in their webs. Seems like Pete's been… Doing his own form of nesting. “
Steve studies the web in the corner more closely now. The boy had weaved a small hammock of webs, complete with web pillows, and a web blanket. He had surrounded the entire web-hammock in more layers of webs, effectively turning the corner of his ceiling into a miniature web room. A nest, Tony had called it.
“It would seem so, “ Steve agrees.
“Spiders are also very fiercely protective of their nests. So… “ Tony gestures to the corner again.
“He doesn't want to leave it unguarded. “
“Exactly. “
Tony huffs out another sigh, reaching for his phone in his pocket. “I'll just- call May. Tell her why we'll be late. She will understand- “
“-Told you! “ Peter cuts in.
Tony scowls. “-But she won't like it, “ he raises his voice as he continues.
Peter is noticeably silent at this.
Steve ponders all of this as Tony pulls up May's contact. “The only reason he won't leave is because his nest will be unguarded? “
“And he feels generally safer in there, “ Tony agrees. “All spiders do. “
“Why don't I just watch it while he's gone? “
Tony looks up from his phone, and Peter's head peeks out of the nest so fast Steve thought the boy may hurt himself.
“Really? “ Peter asks, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Steve, we won't be back until late this evening, “ Tony warns. “8 at the earliest, maybe 10 o'clock. It's going to be boring. “
Steve shrugs. “What else am I going to do? “
“Train? Talk about The Hobbit with Barnes? Play connect 4 with Sam? Whatever Captain America does when he's not saving the world? “
“Tonight, Captain America will be babysitting Peter Parker's web. “
Peter finally descends from his web, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr. Steve Captain America sir! “ He squeals as he runs to Tony's side.
“You can just call me Steve, Kid, “ Steve chuckles.
“He's not going to call you Steve, “ Tony says flatly. “He still calls me Mr. Stark. “
“I'm not going to call you Steve, “ Peter echoes. “That would- that would be way too informal for the Captain America. “
“Pete, you live together. You've nearly died together. We're way past formalities, “ Tony sounds tired as he ruffles Peter's hair.
“Just call me Mr. Steve then, “ Steve offers, and Peter still looks a bit sheepish at that. “Mr. Rogers? “ He offers again, and Peter perks up at that. “Mr. Rogers it is, then, “ he decides.
“Thank you, Mr. Rogers sir, “ Peter thanks him again.
“Thanks Steve, “ Tony says under his breath, then waves the kid to follow him as he makes his way out of the room. “C'mon, kid. I still have to call your aunt and tell her why we'll be late. “
“Bye Mr. Rogers! “ Peter waves cheerfully as they make their way down the hallway.
“Goodbye, kid, “ Steve waves back.
—
Steve didn't realize just how boring this would be.
It was only- he glanced at the electric clock on Peter's nightstand and groaned- 6pm. They had only been gone for an hour, and he was already going mad. They'd be gone for at least another two hours. Knowing Tony, it would be more like four.
“Captain Spangles, Bucky is looking for you, “ Friday calls over the speaker system in Peter's room. Steve grumbles. He'd told Tony to change that back twice already.
“Should I tell him you're in Peter's room? “
“Yeah, go ahead, Friday. Thank you. “
“Anytime. “
It's only a few more minutes before Bucky knocks on the open doorframe, and leans against it as he observes the room.
“... Kid's not here. “
“Hadn't noticed, Buck. “
Bucky smiles good-naturedly. “What’re you doin’ in the kid's room without him here? “
Steve points above his head. Bucky looks up.
“... Well, goddamn. “ Bucky whistles.
“Language, “ Steve scolds.
“Kid built that? “ Bucky ignores.
“Mhm. “
“What- so he wanted you to watch it, or something? “
“Exactly right. “
“So you've been sitting in here- alone- watching a spiderweb for… How long, exactly? “ Bucky grins as he makes his way into the room.
“About an hour. “
“Why didn't you call any of us? “ Bucky plops down on the ground next to Steve, arms behind his head as he relaxes against the wall.
Steve shrugs. “Didn't want to bother any of you. “
Bucky snorts. “Isn't that just such a Steve Rogers thing to say. ‘I was worried about slightly inconveniencing any of the people I care about, so I sat alone in this room with no entertainment for an hour. ‘ “
“Hey, not no entertainment, “ Steve defends himself. “I was reading this for a while. “ He grabs a short Captain America comic that had been lying to his side.
“One comic? “ Bucky raises a brow. “Took you, what, 15 minutes, tops? “
“I said ‘was.’ “
Bucky rolls his eyes, and Steve chuckles to himself.
“What's goin’ on in here? “
Both men look up to the doorway to see Sam standing there, giving them a puzzled look. “Why're you guys sittin’ in the kid's room alone? “
“Web-sitting, “ Steve explains.
“Web-sitting? “
Both men point above their heads.
“... Well, goddamn. “
“Language, “ Steve says, mildly annoyed.
“That's what I said, “ Bucky snorts.
“Kid ask you two to watch it? “
“Asked me too, “ Steve corrects. “Buck's just along for the ride, as of, what, 5 minutes ago? “ He teases.
“He didn't tell me he was in here. Didn't tell anyone. Said he, ‘didn't want to bother anyone’.” Bucky puts in his best Steve impression.
“I don't sound like that, “ Steve pouts.
“Yeah, you do, “ the other two men say in unison. Steve rolls his eyes, but he's smiling.
“So, how long did he sit in here alone? “ Sam asks, making his way across the room and plopping down next to Bucky.
“An hour. “
“An hour? “
“An hour what? “
The three men turn their attention to the door again. Natasha is standing in the doorframe, now, arms crossed.
“An hour you've left me waiting in the training room? “ She asks, sounding unimpressed. “After you proposed a sparring session? “
“Was that tonight? “ Steve smiles sheepishly.
Natasha nods. “Mhm. Would I be wrong to assume you've blown the last hour off sitting in the kid's room- while he's not here, for some reason- talking to these two? “
“You'd be wrong, “ Steve nods. “... I was in here alone most of that time. “
Natasha rolls her eyes. “Why are you even in here in the first place? “
The three men point upwards. Natasha looks up, staring at the web blankly for a few moments.
“Huh. Kid made that, I assume? “ Natasha asked, to which Steve nodded.
“So you're, what, web-sitting? “ She queried as she walked over to them, sitting down in front of Steve.
“Exactly right, “ he nodded again.
“And you two are here for moral support, or something? “
“I was just lookin’ for him because I was bored, “ Bucky shrugged. “Sam just stumbled upon us. “
“Wanted to bother Bucky, Friday said he was in here, “ Sam added.
“Hey, “ Bucky huffed.
“Why does the kid want you to watch his web anyway? “ Nat raised a brow as she leaned back on her hands.
“It's a nest, actually, “ Steve explained. “Tony told me it's really important to him. He feels safest in there, apparently, and he's worried someone will break it while he's gone. “
“Like a real spider. “
“Like a real spider, “ Steve agreed.
“... Hold up. I’m no expert, but I thought only female spiders made nests? “ Sam asked, sounding genuinely confused.
The three others looked up to their standing companion like he was an idiot.
“Sam, “ Natasha sighs. That was all she had to say before it clicked.
“Ohhhh. Right, I forgot. My bad. “
“I think a lot of people do, “ Bucky snorted. “Clint asked him a few days ago if ‘boys are still having sword fights in the locker rooms’. When the kid said he didn't know, because he doesn't use the boy's locker room, Clint was super confused. “ Bucky snorted.
“I was super confused about what? “
The four turn around to see Clint now standing in the doorway.
“About the kid n’ the boy's locker room, “ Bucky reminds as Clint walks in the room.
“Oh. That. “ Clint flushs in embarrassment. “In my defense, it's not something I think about a whole lot. “
“I don’t think it’s something anyone thinks about a lot, “ Sam shrugs.
“It's something I think about a lot, “ Steve admits as Clint sits next to Nat. “I still don't think I fully understand. “
“What don't you understand? “
“I understand that Peter was born a girl… And he's a boy now, “ Cap started. “I understand he's a boy because he wants to be, and it makes him happier. I don't understand why he wants to be, though. “
“He's got somethin’ called ‘gender dysphoria’, “ Bucky tries to explain. “‘Way Nat explained it to me, his brain was born a boy, n’ his body was born a girl. “
“That can happen? “ Steve looked to Nat for the answer.
Nat nodded. “Tony told me there's a real biological difference. His brain is physically male. “
That made sense to Steve. “Why didn't anyone tell me that in the first place? “
“I think Peter tried too, but he's not real good at explaining, “ Sam said. “Think the kid's still anxious talkin’ about it. Makes him a bit rambly and hard to follow. “
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group as their conversation dies down. A beat of silence passes over them all.
“... So why are we in here anyway? “ Clint asks after a moment. The four others pointed up.
“... Well, goddamn. “
“Language, “ Cap scolds more harshly.
“You’re the third person who's said that, “ Bucky snorts.
“Who else? “
“Me n’ Sam. “
“Sounds about right. “
“What sounds about right? “
The group turns to see Bruce now standing in the hall.
“We should just tell Friday to invite the rest of the compound, at this point, “ Steve chuckles.
“Sam, Bucky, and Clint swearing, “ Natasha answers.
“Does sound about right, “ Bruce agrees, as he joins the group, standing next to Sam. “Where's the kid? “
“Out with Tony, “ Steve answers. “They had some sort of outing with May. “
“Why are we all in here, then? “
The five others point up.
“Oh. “ Bruce squints as he studies it. “ ...Did the kid ask you to watch or something? “
Steve nods.
“Why? “
“It's a nest. He was anxious someone would break it. “
“Who would break it? “
“Just some instinctual anxiety is what Tony told me, “ Steve shrugged. “Spider instinct. “
“Ah. So he asked you guys to watch it while he was gone? “
“Actually, just me. And I volunteered. “
“You didn't say that before. “ Bucky raises a brow.
“Didn't seem relevant, “ Steve shrugs.
“I mean, it was nicer of you, at least, as opposed to just agreeing to be polite, or something. Shows the kid you care. “ Clint hums. “Speaking of the kid, when do he and Tony get home? “
Steve glances at the clock. 7pm. “Sometime in the next hour, or three. “
“That's a rather large time span, “ Nat points out.
“Tony said they'd be home any time between 8 and 10. “
“And knowing Tony, it'll be closer to 10. “
“Exactly my thoughts. “
“Guess we have time to kill. “
“You guys don't have to stay, “ Steve assures. ”I volunteered. You guys didn't. “
“You kidding? Not leaving you here all to your lonesome for another hour, Steve, “ Bucky snorts.
“Or three, “ Bruce adds.
“Besides, think the kid would appreciate it if we all pitched in, “ Clint added. “Show him we all care, n’ stuff. Not just you. “
A murmur of agreement waves over the group, followed by a wave of silence once more.
“... Anyone up for a game of connect 4? “
“I'll get it, “ Nat stands and stretches. “Sam, Bruce, you two grab the DVD player and copies of The Hobbit? Kid's got a TV in here, “ she points out.
“On it, “ Sam nods, waving for Bruce to follow him.
“Clint, you get snacks, “ Nat delegates.
“‘Course. “
“Me n’ Steve’ll stay n’ watch the nest, “ Bucky hums.
“Alright. We'll meet back in 20? “ Nat asks, to which the group nods. “Good. Avengers, assemble. “ She throws a teasing look at Steve, who just groans and hides his face in his hands as the others snicker at his expense.
—
“We're back! “ Peter calls out as he and Tony approach his room. He runs in, looking excited, but stops when he sees all the Avengers gathered in his room.
The TV has been moved to the floor, so they could all watch it while still sitting under the nest. The DVD player from the living room has been hooked up to it, and is currently playing the second Hobbit movie. Steve, Clint, and Bruce all seem to be watching.
Sam and Bucky are to their right, enraptured in a serious connect 4 battle, as Nat watches and makes comments from the sidelines.
When they hear the boy's voice, they all look up.
“Oh, hey, kid, “ Sam greets, before returning to his game. Bucky and Nat both shoot him a ‘hey’ before turning their attention back as well.
“Welcome home, Peter. “ Steve stands and walks towards him. “I hope you don't mind- the others wanted to join in web-sitting, “ he says sheepishly.
Peter's eyes very quickly well with tears, and Steve momentarily begins to panic. Tony sees the look on Steve's face and leans over to check on Peter.
“Oh, Lord. Here we go, “ Tony sighs.
Steve looks mortified, stumbling over his words. “Peter, I'm- I'm sorry if- “
“They wanted to watch it with you? “ Peter asks as a few tears roll down his cheeks.
“Yes- yes, they did, “ Steve nods. “I'm sorry if- “
Steve is once again cut off, this time by Peter hugging him. He momentarily short-circuts. The kid has never hugged him before. This is the first time.
Steve recovers from his shock quickly, hugging Peter back. The boy's body is wracked by small sobs, and Steve is now incredibly confused by the mixed signals the boy is sending. He looks to Tony for help.
“He’s happy you all cared enough to watch it, “ Tony supplies.
Peter pulls back and scrubs his eyes. “Honored, “ he corrects from behind his arm.
“Honored, “ Tony echoes, unimpressed.
“Of course we care enough, kiddo, “ Clint says from behind the TV, the movie now paused as all of their focus has shifted to Peter.
“We all care about you, “ Nat agrees.
“From his reaction, we probably don't say it enough, “ Bruce thinks aloud.
“M’ not good with that kind of stuff, “ Bucky mumbles in his own defense.
“But the rest of us still could say it more, “ Sam retorts.
Peter looks absolutely elated, grinning ear to ear. Another wave of tears overcomes him, and he scrubs his eyes again.
“Th- thank you, “ he forces out through his sniffles. “Thank you guys, all of you. So much. “
Steve smiles fondly at the younger boy. “Of course, kid. “ He's met with the beaming eyes of Peter Parker, and he swears his heart melts at the sight. “If you ever need someone to web-sit again, you know who to ask. “
“All of us, “ Sam pipes up. “This was fun. “ A wave of agreement and nods overtakes the group once more.
“O-kay, roos, “ Tony steps up and places his hand on Peter's shoulder. “This has all been really heartwarming, but someone has school in the morning, and it's already 10:30, “ he reminds.
“Right, “ Peter nods at him. “I'll go take my shower and brush my teeth. “ He looks over to the group for permission, but Tony just shoves him lightly towards the bathroom.
“Well, don't just stand there, kid. Teeth won't get anymore brushed out here, “ he teases. Peter nods again and jogs into his bathroom.
“Alright, folks. “ Tony claps. “Time to put everything back where you found it. “
The Avengers make quick work of putting everything back and gathering the items they'd brought in from the outside, making small talk amongst one another as they leave.
“Oh, and one last thing- “ Tony stops them. “... Thanks. Really. Means more than you guys know to the kid. “
“Anytime, “ Steve assures.