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“Hey, Mr Roger, can I ask you a question?"
“It’s Steve, and of course you can kid.”
“Okay sooo there’s this guy I bumped into him a couple of times, and we even worked along side each like twice and I really want to ask him out, but I don’t know how, and I was like wondering if you could help me figure out how.” Steve’s heart dropped. He didn’t just say that, did he? No, he couldn’t have not where everyone can hear. No, he must be misinterpreting it.
“Wh-what do you mean, ask him out?” Steve’s demeanour noticeably changed; his face was now stripped of the calm and friendliness, replaced with a stern, cold look.
"Umm, like ask him out on a date.” Peter’s hand rested on the back of his neck; he was now looking at the ground, feeling a storm of awkwardness wash over him.
“And why would you ask me about that kinda stuff?" Steve’s words came out harsh, almost as if he were spitting them out.
“Ugh well Dr. Banner and da-Tony are working Clint and nat wouldn’t understand Bucky we’ll Bucky’s Bucky so thats that and Wand yeah haves experience with guys but she doesn’t understand liking a guy as another guy.”
Steve now had an eyebrow arched. 'How did the kid find out about him and Buck? They were always so careful to not get caught. They knew the punishments that followed; they witnessed it firsthand. And why would he say it so bluntly and casually? “And you think I would understand because.”
“Well, yeah, kind of. I mean, you and Bucky ar—“ Peter couldn’t finish taking before getting cut off.
“Who told you that?" Steve said, his voice noticeably raised before looking around to make sure no one else was around to hear.
"Umm, I just assume I mean y’all are always together, and I swear I saw you two kiss like just last week.”
“Look, kid, keep your voice down; anyone could be listening, plus Stark has cameras everywhere.” Steve was now whispering, scared that someone would hear. Peter was confused; he just wanted some advice about a guy, and now Steve was acting as if he just asked for nuclear weapons.
“Here, kid, why don’t we continue this conversation somewhere a little more private?" Steve stated that walking to the elevator, the roof should have fewer cameras, and there would be no one else up there that could hear their conversation.He prayed that no one heard if they did he Pete and buck would all get kick out probably worse who knew how the avengers would react him, and buck might be able to handle the consequences, but Peter is just a kid superhero human kid are not he’s still only a child and he could’ve have anything happen to Peter he cares to much about him. He heard a ding, braking his train of thought. They were at their stop. Steve led the way to the edge of the roof where he took a seat; he then signed for Peter to come set next to him.
“Ok, kiddo, now what, where you asking?"
“There’s this boy named Jonny, and I want to ask him out, but I don’t know how to ask.”
“Well, I'm going to be honest with you, Peter. Some people see being gay as a sin, something to fear, something to hate.”Steve let out a low chuckle; it’s sad. It's sad how people fear others who are simply loving the same gender. Steve remembers being young, Peter’s age, hating himself, thinking something was wrong, and thinking that he was going to hell. He remembers, asking God to take it away, begging to be someone different. “And sometimes you just believe them; I know I did.” Peter’s brain stopped; he stopped listening. All he heard was that someone he looked up to, someone who he thought cared for him, hated him. Now it made sense why Steve was so jittery when he mentioned liking a guy. Why he wanted to go to the roof, he didn’t want to be seen with him; he was disgusted. If Peter kept listening he would have heard Steve say that thats how he use to feel he would have heard Steve say that you can’t listen to people like that he would have heard Steve say that when you find someone you love someone who gets you you have to hold on tight and never let go regardless of what others say he would have heard the worry in Steve’s voice he would have heard Steve giving him tips on how to hide his relationship he would have heard Steve say how much he loves him and how he just hopes he stays safe and no one sees. But he didn’t hear that; instead, he heard the hatred behind Steve’s words. The discussion was, and of course he thought it was, towards him, not realising Steve’s hatred was aimed towards himself as it always was.
"I-I'm s-sorry.” Peter rushed off, going towards the elevator before the older man could see the tears streaming down his face.
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Peter was finally made his way to his room; he immediately slammed his door and fell to the ground. He felt his chest start to tighten agh wants happening he can’t breathe god he can’t breathe his heart was now racing he could hear it going faster his hands where now clenching his chest he felt like he was dying he can’t breathe he feels likes he’s suffocating he can’t breathe why can’t he breathe wants going on his hands start to trembling as his chest tightens. Breathe tears where still falling down his face, breathe, breathe how how do I breathe? “I can’t I-I can’t-“
The door opens. “Hey Pete, we are going to watch a movie. Want to jo—oh my god, kid, what's—" Tony realises what’s happening, god, the kid his kid was having a panic attack on his bedroom floor alone. “Hey hey, kid, look at me look.” Tony moved Peter’s head to face him; he then started breathing in and out, gesturing for Peter to copy him. Just breathe thats all I need to do copy dad and breathe in and out in and out. He can breathe; he’s not suffocating anymore. He can breathe. It's okay, Dad. Dad, he’s here to save you.
"Are you ok, bambino?"
"Yea—yeah, I can breathe than-thanks Dad." He didn’t mean to call Tony 'Dad'. He never called him Dad out, right, but it felt nice; it felt warm.
“God, kid, what happened?"
"I-I, it’s nothing.”
“Are you sure it’s nothing? You just had a panic attack for no reason.” Tony raised an eyebrow. 'Yeah, panic attacks can happen for no reason, but something told him this wasn’t for no reason.
“Umm, well, I mean.” Peter didn’t finish his sentence; his mind started to trail off, wondering about if he should tell Tony about him and Steve’s conversation. Tony moved his hand on Peter’s shoulder, trying to offer him some comfort.
“Look, kid, you can tell me anything if the panic attack happened for no reason; then that's ok, but I need to know the truth to make sure you're okay.”
Peter let out a sigh to steady his breathing before he began speaking; his voice came out shaky. “So I, umm, you know, the boy Jonny I was telling you about.”
“Did he hurt you? If so, we all know that the forest fire was not an accident. I could make a solid case against him. Are I could march to that tower and have a little ‘chat’ with Sue and Reed about keeping him in check?"
“No, no, not at all. Just please let me explain without cutting me off. We're doing something stupid.” Tony just nodded in response. He could tell something bad had happened, and although he really wanted to comment on the fact Peter said he would ‘do something stupid', he knew he had to just let the kid speak.
“Ok I wanted to ask Jonny out, but I didn’t know how, so I thought I would ask someone for help, and I know I would normally ask you, Bruce, but you two were working, so I thought the next best option was.” He stops trying to put his thoughts in words. “I thought Mr Roger’s was the next best option, but-but I guess I was wrong.” Peter was now looking at the ground, too ashamed to look at Tony. He felt embarrassed – embarrassed that he was so stupid he so carelessly trusted Roger.
“Mind telling me more under Roos. Sadly I’m not a mind reader.”
"Well, he—he just said something. It's nothing, really; you don’t need to worry about it."
“I need you to be specific, Pete.”
“He he said that iwassomethingtobefearedandhated” Peter was mumbling. He didn’t want to tell Tony; he knew Tony would be a right-fully freak.
"Peter, speak up; not everyone has enhanced hearing.”
“I said he said I was something to be feared and hated.”
“Because you’re gay.” Tony’s eyebrow was now far extended from his eye; he had to make sure he understood what Peter was saying. Peter mumbled 'yeah', barely audible. Tony just barely heard him.
“Oh hell no I don’t know what got into him to where he thinks it’s ok to be homobic especially when half the people he lives with are gay i mean the guy paying for everything is literally the embodiment of bi and he thinks it’s ok to be a homophobe let alone be homobic to my kid My kid! "No, I’m going to go give him a piece of my mind.” Tony rushed out from where he was sitting, trying to go to the common area where Steve was.
“No dad stop please it’s not that big of a deal.” Peter said, pleading with Tony while he latched on to his arm to stop him from leaving.
“Not that big of a deal, my ass; someone like that will not live under my roof.” Tony broke free from Peter’s grasp and was now practically running to the living room to go scream at Steve. Peter quickly followed Tony in a desperate attempt to stop him.
“STEVE!” Tony yelled out to Steve who was on the couch suspiciously close to Bucky every one was in the living room Tony completely forgot about the fact they where supposed to be watching a movie together, but he didn’t care right now all he could think about was protecting his kid.
“Peter told me that you were being homophobic towards him.” Everyone’s ears perked up now all of a sudden, veryinterested in the conversation.
“What the fuck.” Nat was now sitting up, looking ready to bounce. Clit soon chimed in, “Eww what the hell is wrong with you?" Bruce and Wanda just looked over at Steve with a disgusted look on their faces.
“Get your shit in; leave. No homophobe will be living in a place I pay for.”
"What, why are y’all so mad? What's a homophobe.” Obviously he didn’t know what a homophobe was. It didn’t exist back then. Why make a word describing that you don’t like gay people when everyone hates gays. Tony just started rubbing his head in frustration; he didn’t want to deal with this. He just wanted Steve out and away from his kid.
“Someone who is homophobic is someone who hates gay people.” Bruce said in frustration he didn’t want to be talking to Steve, but he knew that someone needed to explain it.
"Why, why would I hate Peter for being happy?" Steve was just more confused; he loved the kid, he would never want him to be sad.
“Oh my god, Steve, no, 'gay' means 'homosexual' now. It's not the same word, as it was in the 40s homophobia bic means to hate homosexual people. Bruce said very harshly he didn’t want to be having this conversation with Steve.
Oh, they must know about their talk on the roof, but if they knew why, do they think he hates gays? If they knew about their talk on the roof, shouldn’t they be kicking him, Buck and Pete, out for being gay? What the hell is going on?
Bucky was now standing up with a panicked look on his face. 'God, they knew him, and Steve are gay. What's going to happen to them? Will they be thrown into jail? It's worse. Wait whywhy would they think Steve hates gays? They must know that him and Steve were gay themselves, right Steve told him about the talk on the roof and if they knew about that they most definitely should know that he’s a gay, but that’s not important right now his boyfriend was now getting yelled at and about to be kick out with no where to stay he need to say something.
“Wait, Steve can't be homophobic."
“I know you don’t want to believe your best friends like that, but it’s true unfortunately, and if you want to defend him, then you can get out too."
It was now are never he needs to clear his boyfriend's name, and hey, I mean, the Avengers looked prepared to beat Steve’s ass when they thought he hated gays, so they must be supportive, right?
"No, he can’t be, I mean." He looked around the room before continuing to speak. “I mean me and Steve where-where dating. There's no way he’s homophobic because he’s gay.” Silence – you could hear a pin drop. Everyone had always had their suspicions about Steve and Bucky, but I mean, as soon as they heard Steve was homophobic, they immediately threw that idea out of the window, and now there's getting confirmation from the winter soldier himself.
“You-you two are dating," Bruce said, now looking between the two super soldiers; his eyes look as if they were going to pop out of his head.
"Yeah, I-I’m sorry, please don’t tell anyone else me and Buck will leave an-and you’ll never hear from us again. "We're sorry for bringing this in to you-your home." Nat immediately softened when she realised what was going on. Steve’s arm was now blocking Buck, and Steve was now highly on guard, prepared to defend Bucky with all needs necessary.
“What the hell is going on? You don’t have to leave unless you're homophobic. I-I, why would we kick you out for that?” Tony was now extremely puzzled. Why would they be mad at him for being gay? Why would the kid say Steve was homophobic? What the hel-oh it all clicked together. Steve still thought being a homosexual was illegal.
“Wait, Steve, why did you think we would kick you out if you were gay?" Bruce said with curiosity, though he already knew the answer.
“Because where fags I thought you would kick us out are report us to the police are trying to hurt us," Steve responded, looking full of shame.
“One we would never hurt you for being gay and two not to out anyone are anything but me Bruce nat and Pete are all gay in some way and three it’s legal now you don’t have to hide where sorry for not telling you we we just didn’t think about it I guess we all assumed you would know.”
“Wha-what do you mean w-we can date without getting arrested? Are you sure?" He was hopeful they always dreamed of this day, and this might be the day.
Bruce immediately chimed in, "Yes, of course you can. You don’t have to hide away anymore; gay rights have really changed since the 40s. Here I can give you some articles to read about it.”
He fell back down in his seat, overwhelmed by the revaluation. He couldn’t imagine it; Buck sat right next to him and rested his hand on Steve’s thigh openly without being scared.
"So-so, we are allowed to be together; you’re a hundred percent sure.”
“Yes, I'm a hundred percent sure.”
“What, why, why did Parker think Steve was homophobic?" Clint finally says something. Everyone’s eyes were now glued on Peter, waiting for an answer.
“I-he said that some people think it’s sinful to be gay and that some people hate and fear gay people, and then he said he agreed.”
Steve’s heart broke in two; the kid thought he hated him. "No, kid, did you not listen? I said I used to when I was your age. I thought that I was sinful; I hated myself.” Steve left Bucky's side to go hug Peter. Gosh, how could he be so stupid he let Peter believe that he hated him? “I could never hate you.”
“Aww yes, so very cute, but we need to get a couple of things straight: you’re not homobic, and you and Barns are dating.”
“Yes and yes.”
“Okay, good. Now how about that movie?"