Chapter Text
Hiding Peter was not intentional; in fact the decision was never vocalized. However, it became a necessary after Tony finally got Peter’s medical records and found some oddities.
Peter was born three months before his due date. He was less than a pound and five inches. And blind with possible deafness. The records end there until a year later where Peter is noted as a healthy, normal baby with near sightedness and asthma. The rest are marked classified, until Peter is under Ben Parker’s care.
Tony knows this is something SHIELD or whatever they call themselves would want to know (probably already have a file) and he shows it to Steve.
Nothing is said, but after the first few months, they do not mention Peter to anyone, which is hard when that includes spies, a Norse God, a guy with wings, a Hulk who lives with them, and Agent Coulson’s pitiful look when he sees them.
Their friends do notice they are happier. Tony thinks it is because they believe he and Steve have gotten over their “mourning period.”
But as secrets go, and children, to Steve and Tony’s surprise and horror, do not stay in one place.
Bruce awaits his ascent to the penthouse. Tony said he was watching movies with Steve, so Bruce has spent more time in the lab alone more than usual. In his leisure time, he has found a way to make some new synthetic material, such as spandex, durable and slightly bullet-proof. He needs to poke the idea with Tony and the man’s ever growing tech skills.
The elevator stops and Bruce huffs. It was Natasha’s insistence that the married couple add a doorbell of some kind to their home; of course, Bruce is one of the few who has not seen them making whoopee.
Before he presses the button to alert the residence, Bruce swears he hears a different voice from JARVIS.
Young master, please, do wai—
The doors slide open and Bruce’s brow furrows until he sees a holographic stuffed bear and a boy looking up at him.
The man stands frozen.
The boy smiles and holds up a place sign.
MY DADS ARE STILL SLEEPY. WE WACH WATCHED MOVIES AND SLEPT ON THE COUCH.
He holds up another one.
MY NAME IS PETER PARKER-STARK-ROGERS. NICE TO MEET YOU.
“I-I’m Bruce. Banner. Bruce Banner,” Bruce stammers. The boy nods and holds out his hand.
Bruce takes the hand, so miniscule to his own, and lets the child lead him.
The hologram follows for a bit. It has a bothered look on its face.
Tony and Steve are laid up on the couch, a fuzzy blanket covering them. Steve’s hair is disheveled and there’s drool on his face. Tony is cocooned in Steve’s mass and snores quietly. The TV screen is paused on what looks like Bill Nye screaming. Bruce just nods at the scene and glances at the little boy, in Hulk jammies no less, returning to the TV. The screen comes back and the volume is low so the two on the couch are still sound asleep.
Bruce’s astonishment wears off; he gently nudges Steve’s shoulder and waits for the soldier to wake. Steve snorts and mutters, “’ust fovemore minits, son.”
Bruce gasps and stares at the little boy. He knows his friends wanted a child, but something is wrong here and Bruce would rather ask questions later.
Steve wakes and stares open mouthed at Bruce.
The man feels Hulk’s ire build but quells it. He cannot scare the boy if he’s to carry him out of here.
“Wait, Bruce,” Steve scrambles out of the couch, waking Tony who yelps at Bruce’s presence. “We can explain.”
Tony gets up and runs to Peter. He stops as the boy looks up worried. Tony bends down and picks him up, taking him away and whispering insistently. It sounds, “remember, don’t open the door without me or your pops.”
“Start spilling,” Bruce says, glaring at Steve.
A few hours later, with coffee in hand, Steve has finished a story worthy for Hallmark. Bruce is skeptical, but Tony squashes it with the digitized documents of Peter’s adoption and obituaries.
“There’s some sketchy stuff you and I need to tinker in,” Tony says and he reveals the medical documents. There is also a detailed but shady of one Arthur Parker.
“So, the kid has some hidden secrets,” Bruce says.
“Yeah, and by rights he shouldn’t be alive. I know the father was working at OSCORP for years in pharmaceuticals; he also had a hand or two in other products, like the animal testing. Specifically with arachnids.”
“I see that,” Bruce says, shifting through the file.
He looks at the two and the hidden tension is like a highway sign. Bruce sighs and rubs his temples. The Other Guy is under control and will not be popping out, but that does not make this situation less stressful.
“Guys, what do you want me to do?”
“Not lie,” Tony blurts out.
“Don’t tell.”
“Wonderful,” Bruce exclaims. “How do I keep this? I can’t lie.” He gestures to his FitBit, which is staying a steady beat so far. “And Barton keeps bugging me. The man literally comes out of the vent just to see me.”
“We’ve been able to keep it quiet,” Steve says.
Bruce sees the jibe because if anyone is worse at lying on the team, it’s Steve.
“Because everyone thought you moved on,” Bruce says.
He regrets it a little, seeing the two wilt.
“I know too far,” Bruce says.
“No. You have a reason to be suspicious. I…I wasn’t well before,” Steve says.
“You missed one hell of a party with me,” Tony says deadpan.
Bruce was informed on all pertinent details and cringes at what he recalls. The silence lapses when JARVIS, in Pooh’s voice yells, Master Peter, get down from there!
The three rush to Peter’s room. Bruce notes it’s the one right across from Tony and Steve’s room.
The door is ajar and they fall in; Peter is standing on his rocking chair, which teeters dangerously, until Steve gets up and grabs him.
“Peter! You frightened us,” Steve says. “Spider monkey, you’re not supposed to climb on that chair.”
Peter eyes are cast down and he nods. He leans up to Steve’s ear and Bruce knows he says “sorry” by the way the blond nods. Tony is next and he takes Peter to the bathroom.
“You stink in more ways than one, kid,” he mutters.
Bruce just relaxes, recumbent on the floor.
The next person to meet Peter is none other than Heimdall.
When the portal to different worlds was opened, Jane Foster and Dr. Selvig found a way to neutralize the power and make it open exclusively to Asgard, by Thor’s request, and many diplomatic compromises with his father. It was then decided to hide in Avengers Tower, since the tower has no true affiliation with SHIELD.
Tony is down there with Bruce and Peter, playing with the bullet-proof spandex.
They are arguing colors when Peter, being the precocious boy he is, goes to the shining circle and walks in; the door is left open on most occasions because only Thor ventures through it and back.
Except for today.
Heimdall in all his millennia is dumbstruck when a Midgardian child appears. The god stares at the boy, losing some concentration of other worlds. He finds his voice eventually, but that is after the boy comes up to him and says in a Wisp’s voice, “Hurt?”
“No, child,” he squeaks. Heimdall coughs and continues, “How is it that you come here?”
The boy points to a place off to the side. Heimdall sets his everseeing gaze to it and watches as the man of iron argues with another on coordination in color scheme. Heimdall smirks and shakes his head. Truly the Midgard of old has changed. He glances at the boy who still looks at him. Heimdall is about to speak until he feels his power stretching out. Heimdall gathers himself to transport some delegates for a conference the AllFather will hold. When all are there and heading out, it takes Heimdall longer than he wants to see the young boy has vanished with the crowd.
“Oh, Odin save me,” he says.
Volstagg as he goes to market with his brood sees the oddest thing. A child, obviously not of here, stands on the fountain in the city and looks around the crowd. He seems to search for someone, but his face is red and his features hard. Volstagg hums and his youngest son nudges him to continue for the things they need.
“One moment,” he says.
Volstagg looks around like the boy, but he sees no one searching for a lost child.
“Alaric, take Rolfe with you to market. I have some unintended business,” he says and gestures to the boy. Alaric follows and agrees, taking Rolfe by the hand.
Volstagg walks to the boy and smiles upon seeing the red face with dried tears.
“Do not fear, young one. Am I Volstagg, the Bear of Asgard, and one of the Warriors Three, protégé of the Mighty Thor. And you, young child?”
The boy stares. He tweeds his thumbs and Volstagg takes a closer look at the clothing. It is of Midgard, he realizes. The boy looks up at him.
“Peter,” he says.
Volstagg nods and awaits more; nothing comes.
“I am afraid ye must speak for me to be of assistance.”
Peter sniffs and gets down. He holds his right hand out and makes a sign with it. It takes Volstagg a minute to understand. Peter is writing in the air.
“But, ye can speak. Have spoke. Surely…”Volstagg trails off looking at the anguished face of the boy. Peter shakes his head.
“It shall be done,” he says.
Later, as Rolfe draws with Peter, Volstagg wonders why he agreed to buy parchment and ink when he does not understand the Midgardian word. Peter wrote some signs, but neither Volstagg nor his wife can read it. So, Rolfe and Hildy, his youngest daughter are attempting to communicate through pictures.
There has been nothing to yield so far. The drawings are of two men and one elderly woman; there are houses and rooms, but Volstagg cannot decipher the meaning.
And then, when all hopes of language seem lost, Peter draws a symbol. It is the Midgardian call for their warriors: the Avengers.
“Oh, by Odin, you are the child of Midgard’s heroes. Which ones?”
Peter points to a parchment and then the picture of two men. Volstagg tries to remember the tales of Thor and his adventures. Names are tricky and the pictures are simple.
Peter understands because he draws above the two men symbols. The tall one has a star in a circular design and the next is a mask of some craft with rectangular features.
Volstagg and his wife hum.
Hildy is the one to recognize the symbols.
“The Man of Iron and the Good Captain America, papa,” she says.
“By Odin, Hildy, you’re right.”
“What shall we do, my Bear?” asks Volstagg’s wife.
“Simple, I will bring the young Peter to Thor, where he shall return him home,” Volstagg says proudly.
“But papa,” Alaric says. “Are not the royal family entertaining?”
“Aye. However, Thor will not be pleased to know one of his Midgardian brethren have lost a child. Thus, I will tonight, ask for an audience after the festivities. And you.” He points to Peter. “Young Peter, must be our guests till then.”
Peter smiles nervously. Volstagg understands, the boy wishes to return, but only Thor is allowed through the portal unless given permission by one Leader Fury.
“Ye will return,” Volstagg promises and Peter’s smile becomes relaxed.