Big Brothers
It was Friday night that found Steve and Bucky up for a snack; their super solider metabolism seems to have them constantly eating more often than the other team members, not that they minded as Tony always had the kitchen stocked with something they could quickly to put together without burning down the kitchen. As they entered the kitchen to begin their raid of the refrigerator when they caught a slight movement in the darkness of the common room, scanning it quickly for threats they were surprised to find only Peter sitting on the couch in the dark with only the city lights barely illuminating the room, knees pulled up to his chest and his arms wrapped around them staring off into space, tears running down his cheeks. Both men stared in confusion and concern as to why Peter was here at the tower and not out patrolling and who they needed to make disappear that would cause him to be so upset when Peter is usually so overly happy like an energetic puppy.
"What do we do?" Bucky asks Steve while looking at Peter with concern.
"Do you still remember those big brother skills you used on me back in the day?"
Bucky rolls his eyes at Steve and shoulder bumps him, as they make their way over to Peter. "How could I forget them always having to take care of your punk ass?" Steve grins.
"Jarvis, turn lights up to Spiderman level please."
"Certainly Captain." Jarvis replies turning the lights up so a soft glow.
When the lights slowly lift the boys were able to get a better look at Peter, hoping not see any injuries that they need to address from his time being the friendly neighborhood Spiderman. At first glance, Steve did not see any blood or bruises but did notice that Peter was in his street clothes, most likely from school earlier in the day. Steve found that very odd as Peter would normally still be out on patrol this time of night.
Both men slowly approached the couch not wanting to startle Peter and unsure on how he would respond to their sudden presence. Steve sat down on the couch gently right next to Peter and Bucky sat on the coffee table in front of them so he was look directly at Peter.
"Peter." Steve says softly.
When Steve received no response Bucky tried a little more firmly.
"Peter buddy are you alright?"
Peter continued to stare off into space, not seeing either of them sitting there with him and tears rolling down his face unchecked. Bucky quickly glanced over to Steve with growing concern, Steve reached out and lays his hand on Peter's back hoping this would bring him back to the present and called his name again.
"Peter."
This time they received a reaction from Peter but not one they were expecting. Peter gave a startled gasp and threw his hands over his head, attempting to protect himself, releasing a painful cry and sob. Steve starts rubbing Peters back trying to get him to calm down.
"Peter buddy it's alright, it's just Steve and Bucky, your safe here in Tony's tower, it's alright just calm down and take deep breaths, your safe here."
Bucky scoots forward to the edge of the coffee table and reaches for Peter's hands, trying to pull them down and away from his head, momentarily forgetting how strong Peter is.
"Peter you need to calm down and slow your breathing. Come on buddy, deep breaths." Bucky said bring back memories of doing this for Steve when he would have an asthma attack when he was younger.
When Steve notices Peter is not calming down he asks if he wants Jarvis to call Tony. Peter shakes his head no, causing Steve to look at Bucky again with a raised eye brow of confusion as they both know that Peter and Tony are close.
Peter whispers, "Don't want to be a burden." If not for their super solider hearing his words would have been missed. Bucky takes both of Peter's hands and holds them in his metal one and reaches up with is warm flesh hand to lift Peter's chin so he can look Peter in the eyes that are still clouded with tears.
"Peter you are not a burden at all buddy. Look at me. Are you injured anywhere?" Bucky firmly asked.
Again Peter shakes his head no; both men release a mental sigh of relief.
Steve was still rubbing circles on Peter's back trying to help calm Peter and keep himself calm as well.
"Can you tell us what is going on, we want to help you with whatever it is, we're a team remember, we have to work together to figure things out."
Peter just shook his head and tried to pull his hands from Bucky's grip wanting hide again, but Bucky wasn't having it and held firm causing Peter to whimper. Hearing that sound from this obviously very vulnerable and traumatized teenage boy broke Steve heart, especially knowing Peter is usually so full of joy and sometimes too much energy. Bucky noticed that Steve was barely holding on to his emotions and would be of no help, so he decided to do what he always did with Steve, poke and prod till he gets an answer. Bucky knew it was not going to be pretty but they need to get Peter talking.
Bucky grabbed Peter by the chin again and got within an inch of his face.
"Tell us what's going on. Was it something at school; was the kid what's his name Flash bothering you again or a bad guy from your nightly patrol? Your Aunt May?"
When Bucky mentioned Aunt May, Peter's face crumbles with emotion and lets out a painful sob. Peter rushes unexpectedly into to Bucky's lap wrapping his arms tightly around his neck and cries uncontrollably barely able to catch his breath. Bucky wraps his strong arms, one flesh one metal, around Peter holding him tight and begins to rock back and forth. Bucky looked at Steve who seemed to be in a state of shock and whispered to him, "Have Jarvis look for anything on his aunt and then call Tony." Steve nodded his head and stood up to walk away from the couch and back into the kitchen asking Jarvis to scan for anything in the news or any reports on May Parker and to call Tony and let him know what's going on here. Jarvis quickly replied that he is searching now and Boss has been informed and has replied that he will be back by morning and to keep the kid there and safe.
Bucky was still rocking Peter and whispering comforting words to him.
"It's ok Peter, whatever it is we will figure it out ok. You are not alone buddy."
Peter suddenly rears back from Bucky, face and eyes red from crying and his chin quivering trying to hold everything in.
"But I am alone, May died, Bucky. She died and I'm all alone and the child services people are going to take me away somewhere awful when they find out and I won't ever see Mr. Stark or you guys ever again and I won't be able to be Spiderman anymore and bills keep coming in and I don't have a job and the rent is due for the apartment and I have a chemistry exam next week and debate practice tomorrow and… and …" Peter is panting from his outburst staring up at Bucky with wide eyes realizing how much word vomit just came out and slams his hand over his mouth in panic. Peter tries to get up from Bucky's lap, but instead Bucky just wraps his arms around Peter again and brings his head down to his neck and holds him as tight as he could without hurting him and starts rocking back and forth again. His heart going out to Peter as his life has just taking a turn for the painfully unexpected.
At this point Jarvis chimes in. "Captain I have located an obituary for one May Parker, survived by her nephew Peter Parker dated one month ago, sending it to your phone and bosses phone."
"Thank you Jarvis."
Steve quickly reads the article, not please that Peter has keep this secret for a month, "Peter this happened a month ago?" Steve asked.
Peters breathing picks up again, his whole body shaking while he fights to get off of Bucky's lap again.
"No Peter you stay right here." Bucky keeping his arms wrapped tight around Peter.
"I need to call Sara; I need to call her, please Bucky please."
Both Bucky and Steve were confused. "Who Peter? Now is not really a good time buddy to be calling your little girlfriend." Steve stated sounding a little righteous. Peter huffs.
"She's my neighbor, I've been staying with her since…since May…please can you just call her."
"Sure buddy, give me your phone."
Peter pulls out his phone and pulls up her number for Steve then hands it to him. Feeling embarrassed about the situation Peter tries again to move off of Bucky's lap but this time lets him go. Moving them both to the couch were Bucky can tuck Peter into his side, the weight of his flesh arm around his shoulders to keep him grounded and in the present Bucky grabs the throw blanket from the back of the couch and lays it over Peter to keep him warm.
"Thank you Mr. Barnes, I know I'm a mess."
Bucky chuckles, "Please, I've seen worse, you have to remember I've been looking after that punk in the kitchen for longer than I can remember, we're good, just relax, we got you buddy."
While Bucky and Peter talked on the couch, Steve presses the call button to this Sara person.
"Hey Peter what's up?" Sara answers.
"My apologies ma'am, my name is Steve Rogers and I'm here with Peter and he asked me to give you a call."
"Steve Rogers….Steve oh my god Captain Rogers… where is Peter is he ok?" Sara asked panicky.
"Well no…"
"What do you me well no what kind of answer it that Captain, is he injured, what is going on!"
"Ma'am calm down, my friend Bucky and I found Peter here at the tower and he seemed very upset and he said something about his Aunt May and then asked for us to call you, do you know what is going on."
"Ah, this was bound to happen."
"What was bound to happen?" Steve glances over to the couch were Bucky and Peter are still talking quietly.
"Secrets Captain they always have a way to creeping out no matter how hard we try to lock them down. Is he calm now or is he still upset?"
"He seems to have calmed down, he's talking with Bucky right now but there are a lot of unanswered questions and Tony, ah Mr. Stark will be here in the morning and will be demanding answers, they are pretty close you know."
"Yeah I know." Sara sighed sounding sad.
"Captain, I know it's late but may I have permission to come to the tower tonight and talk with Peter, it may help things if I'm there when Mr. Stark makes his grand entrance in the morning."
"Sure I'll let Jarvis know to expect you in a bit and bring you to the common room floor when you get here."
"Thank you; it will be about thirty minutes. Oh, Captain please ask Peter if he wants me to bring Bear with me."
"Ok, hold on." Steve walks over to the couch where Peter looks to be staring into space again.
"Peter buddy, Sara is coming over to the tower in a bit and wants to know if she should bring Bear?" Steve lifts an eye brow in question.
Peter looks down at his hands and turns bright red with embarrassment, "Yes please."
"Ma'am did you hear that?"
Sara giggles. "Sure did, thirty minutes keep him safe that's an order Captain, bye."
Steve grins at this unknown woman giving him, Captain America orders. "Yes ma'am. Bye." Steve hung up the phone and laid it on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"Well don't you two look comfortable, how about we put in a movie till your friend gets here, any suggestions." Steve asks.
Peter shrugged, "Empire Strikes Back ok?"
"Sure Peter, Jarvis can you put on Empires Strikes Back, thank you."
"Of course Captain playing now." Jarvis quickly replies.
All three of them sit back and relax watching the movie that they have all seen several times over, but both Steve and Bucky know its Peter's favorite and if it gives him any measure of comfort they are happy to do it. They had just gotten to the part were Darth Vader was entering the frozen base looking for the rebels when they hear the elevator ding and then sound of high heels on the tile floor making their way to the kitchen. All three sit up a bit and on alert at the noise, Steve gets up to great the person, presuming it to be this Sara person and not a deadly threat. Steve is greeted by a very pretty woman, long curly chestnut hair, hazel eyes, heart shape face, tall with womanly curves, dressed in a smart burgundy suit and skirt with some kind of strappy heel. Steve was speechless and had to check himself to make sure he wasn't drooling.
"Peter's mystery friend I presume?"
Sara smiles, "Well consider the great mystery solved then, it's very nice to meet you Captain, please call me Sara." Sara holds out her hand to shake.
Steve takes it to shake.
"Like wise ma'am, I mean Sara. Please call me Steve." Steve grins "Peter is in here." As he leads Sara through the kitchen and into the common room to find Peter all tucked up next to another hansom man, this must be Bucky or Sargent Barnes.
Sara leans over to Steve and does the dramatic stage whisper, "Think I'll get yelled at if I snap a picture of that, it has got to be worth some major points you know right up there with naked baby pictures in the bath tub or the team Christmas card."
Peter finally looks up upon hearing Sara's voice, scrambles out of the blanket and runs towards her and wraps her in a big hug, tears starting to pool over again, he just can't seem to get them under control.
"Hey love bug." Sara wraps her arms around him and begins to sway back and forth.
Over Peter's shoulder she sees Sargent Barnes get up off the couch and come towards them, charming smile firmly in place.
"Ma'am, I'm James Barnes, aka Bucky, it's nice to meet you."
Sara holds out her hand from around Peter's shoulders to shake Bucky's hand. Bucky takes it and brings it to his lips to kiss the back hand.
"Oh so you're the charmer, good to know, please call me Sara." Smiling at both Steve and Bucky.