I am posting this today as I will not be able to on Wednesday- I have a very busy week coming up.
I like this chapter, it made me smile and cry in equal measure whilst I was writing it.
I am attaching a warning as there is mention of very sick children which may trigger or upset some people.
I tried to be sensitive and it is not at all graphic, but still be warned.
Salutations.
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Steve was loading the dishwasher, Harley and Tony were already working on the car, Morgan was napping and Peter was in the same position he had been for the last half an hour.
Steve wiped his hands and sighed, it was actually becoming a problem now as Peter did need to eat; Natasha had been right about that.
''Peter, you need to sit up and eat your lunch,'' he said.
''I don't like it, I don't want it. I want pizza, why can't I have pizza?'' Came the sulky reply. Steve silently berated Natasha, what did she think she was doing, undermining them like that?
''You are not having pizza. You are going to eat what I made for you,'' Steve knew he couldn't give in although it was tempting as it had been far too long since Peter ate.
''No, and you can't make me. I don't want it, I want pizza,'' Peter pushed the full plate further away to emphasise the point.
Steve felt his chest start to tighten - anxiety pressing down on him. He started the deep breathing exercises Felicity had taught him and thankfully it eased.
''Hey, how are you all doing?'' Bruce walked in, cheerful as always.
''Terrible! I'm starving to death!'' Peter said from within his arms.
Bruce glanced at Steve who gave a tense smile.
''Well looks to me like you have a tasty plate of food in front of you. Why don't you eat that?'' Bruce was supportive unlike Natasha.
''I don't want it, it's too green,'' Peter's answer made Bruce chuckle.
''Right, too green. Well I am guessing you aren't getting anything else so you're in a bind,'' Bruce sipped his water.
He gestured to Steve who walked over to one side with him.
''Looking kind of anxious there Cap, Peter is not about to pass out on you. He has been pumped full of nutrients so you can afford to wait his tantrum out. Hang tough,'' Bruce patted his back and left.
Steve relaxed instantly; he could handle acting out just not any more medical emergencies.
''Peter!'' he said sternly but still no response.
Right, that was enough!
''Peter! Sit up! I mean it sit up now!'' Steve raised his voice and Peter picked up his head- he was pouting and very grumpy.
''What?'' He snapped sullenly.
''Eat your lunch; you are not leaving the table until you have eaten. No arguments, no debates, just that.''
''I already told you I don't like it! I want pizza, I want ice-cream. I'm healing so I should be allowed to eat what I want. You are being mean, very mean,'' Peter was not giving in easily.
He quoted Natasha back at his father, who decided that he and Romanoff were going to have a serious conversation about boundaries.
Steve remained calm. He understood why Peter was misbehaving; to him it appeared his brother had been rewarded and he had been punished, it must look that way to young eyes.
Their reasoning was that Harley needed to build his confidence and to spend more time with Tony; he was often with Steve because of football but didn't interact much with Tony on a one to one basis. It was intended to bond them.
Conversely, Peter required more experience of real life, he had lived his whole existence in a pampered, protected bubble and with the acquisition of his powers, he would, one day, be out there interacting with an assortment of people from all walks of life. They were educating him and preparing him for the future.
He didn't understand any of that as he was twelve and a child, his reaction proving that very point!
''Eat your lunch now! You are not having pizza, you are not having ice-cream; you are having what is in front of you. Now eat!'' Steve put a fork in his hand and Peter stared at him seemingly sizing him up. Steve raised his eyebrows and nodded at the plate.
The boy sighed heavily and then began to do just that.
''Thank you and when you are done, how about we go play catch?'' Steve suggested and Peter grinned- starting to eat faster.
Steve didn't believe in bribes but he was an advocate of rewarding the right behaviour.
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Peter stared at the little boy who had his arms around Pops' neck, he glanced at the numerous lines and tubes attached to him, then over at his mother who looked exhausted; she was crying yet smiling too, which was weird. There were a lot of nurses, all hovering- the atmosphere was very tense.
''Can I hold your shield?'' The boy asked.
''Sure, here you hold it like this,'' Pops showed him.
''You fight bad guys and are a hero, you're awesome Captain America,'' The boy said, his eyes shining and then Peter got it; why his mom was crying and smiling, why there were so many nurses, why all the adults were on edge. This kid was not just sick, it was much worse than that.
Pops had explained that the kids here were very ill but seeing it first hand was different.
Suddenly, he felt like he was intruding, he shouldn't be here so he left.
Peter was hesitant as he walked slowly along the hallway- he stopped at an open doorway. It was a bright, cheerful room and there was kids playing, all in a variety of dress-up. He saw a boy around his age sitting alone; he had an IV next to him and a bandanna wrapped around his head- he was playing with Lego.
Peter approached him.
''Can I help?'' he asked and the boy nodded.
''What are you building?'' he asked as he sat.
''An X-Wing.''
''Right, shall I do the Tie-Fighter, then we can battle?'' Peter recognised the Lego they had brought with them.
''Yeah, that would be sweet,'' the boy smiled.
They worked together in silence for a while.
''I'm sick,'' the boy said abruptly; his eyes uneasy as if he was expecting a certain reaction.
''I'm Peter,'' Peter grinned and the boy laughed.
''I'm Mason,'' he held out his fist and Peter pumped it.
''You're here with Captain America, he's your Dad?'' Mason asked casually. Peter wasn't sure what he should say so he just nodded; Pops hadn't said it was a secret.
''What is that like?''
''He's just my Dad, he doesn't dress that way all the time and I have never been allowed to hold his shield. Guess I need to be sick,'' Peter smirked and Mason sniggered.
''He a hard ass? He fights aliens so I figure he's a hard ass,'' Mason asked.
''Sometimes but not much, he's..well like I said he's my Dad,'' Peter struggled to explain.
''Does he make you clean your room or do you have people to do that?'' Mason made Peter smile, why did everyone think he didn't have to clean his room? He did.
''No we do not have people to do that, I have to clean my room and I get yelled at if I don't.''
''So he's normal then?'' Mason was amazed as everyone always was.
''Yes, he's normal, he's very normal. Makes me do my homework and I have chores, it's so normal, kind of boring!''
It wasn't true. Peter was aware enough to know his life was far from normal- he was privileged as Pops told him all the time but he was embarrassed to admit that to this boy. It felt wrong somehow, as if he was boasting.
''What about your other Dad? The mad, genius one?'' Mason asked.
''He's real normal too although he can be nuts sometimes. They are just my parents dude, they are like all parents. They make me eat green food and ground me if I do something wrong,'' Peter snapped in the last piece of Lego.
''You have destroyed my dreams Bro. Here I was thinking you have some dope life but it's just like mine,'' Mason held up his completed model.
That wasn't true either.
''Let battle commence!'' Peter stood.
They had a good time, swooping around the room, jumping off the couches and filling the room with loud explosions.
A tiny figure dressed in red and gold held his hand up at Peter stopping him in his tracks.
''I am Iron Man and I order you to stop,'' he said in a gruff voice.
''Dude, a Tie Fighter would easily take out Iron Man!'' Peter protested.
''You're not supposed to say that! He's your daddy,'' A mini Elsa scolded him fiercely.
Somehow, they all knew which freaked Peter out slightly; this was the first time outside of school he was able to be open about his family.
''She's right bro, you're not!'' Mason was sitting down- breathing heavily.
''Jeez, okay! I surrender,'' Peter held his hands up and fell to the ground when the boy fired at him- writhing around in fake death throes.
The small boy fell into a fit of giggles which made Peter feel happy because he had made him laugh.
''You are not supposed to annihilate the bad guy if he surrenders. There are rules of engagement you know,'' Peter climbed to his feet. Mini Iron Man had already run off to challenge a nearby Thor.
''I'm Sarah. Will you make this for me? You're real good at Lego,'' Elsa thrust a Princess set at him; he pulled a face- it was so pink!
''You have to say yes; if you don't everyone will think you hate sick little girls,'' Mason said gleefully, well aware of his discomfort.
''Yeah okay, come on,'' Peter took the set and was taken back when the little girl slipped her hand into his and skipped over to the table beside him.
''I'm gonna tell you a secret but you have to promise not to tell anyone,'' he said to her as he opened the box and she nodded, her eyes growing wide.
''Thor likes Princesses, he watches all the Princess movies. Elsa is his favourite,'' Peter said and Sarah put her hand over her mouth, giggling away in delight at this disclosure.
''He doesn't!'' she exclaimed and Peter nodded.
''He does, I swear.''
''Is that true?'' Mason asked over Sarah's head.
''What can I say? He is very in touch with his feminine side,'' Peter quoted his dad.
''You need to stop talking. Thor is my favourite Avenger,'' Mason shook his head in disgust.
''Sorry,'' Peter stared at the instructions. Yep, very pink!
Steve was exhausted, he enjoyed this side of his job but it took a toll. There was nothing more fulfilling than making these kids happy, putting smiles on their faces but always present in the back of his mind was that this was the Oncology Ward and all that entailed.
''Your son is in the playroom,'' a nurse told him and he nodded. He saw Peter leave but felt it better to let him be- allow him to acclimatise at his own pace.
He removed his cowl- he didn't usually wear it around kids as it frightened some of the little ones but one boy had asked why he looked weird so he put it on for him.
''Thank you Nurse Bailey, these are for you and your colleagues in recognition of the outstanding work you do here,'' Steve handed over a bag; it was full of expensive gifts all carefully selected by Pepper.
''Thank you Captain Rogers,'' she smiled gratefully, her gratitude humbling. They were called heroes but these people were the real heroes; the doctors and nurses who performed such crucial roles- they were indispensable.
''You're welcome,'' he tipped his head and went in search of the playroom, he followed the noise. It was a joyful sound, children playing- carefree and happy. Steve had been surprised when he first visited to find that this ward was in fact cheerful, warm and full of hope, not what he expected at all. That said, it could not be denied that the kids here were seriously ill.
'' Darth Vader and Elsa would never meet, how could they fight?'' Peter was talking to a sweet little girl sat next to him as he built what appeared to be pink Lego.
''Elsa would still win, she would, she could even defeat the Hulk,'' the girl insisted.
Peter laughed good-naturedly and nodded- concentrating on the model.
Steve stepped into the room, and was immediately surrounded by munchkins all dressed in Super Hero outfits- it was even between him and Tony, with a couple of Thors, a few Wonder Women and one Black Widow.
''What's going on here?'' He laughed as he crouched down.
''We're having a battle, who's stronger, you or Iron Man?'' A Thor asked.
''Well, we work together, we're a team so we all have our strengths,'' Steve said.
''But who's stronger?'' Thor was persistent.
''How about I sign these for you?'' Steve pulled out glossy Avengers photos as a distraction.
Steve had finished signing the last one when he found himself staring at a determined little girl with her hands on her hips; she looked like she had a bone to pick with him and was extremely cute in her Elsa outfit.
''He said that a Tie Fighter would beat Iron Man is that true?'' she pointed at Peter.
''Well that's a big question. I am not sure I can answer that,'' Steve took it in his stride.
''Do you watch Star Wars movies?'' A mini Iron Man asked and all the kids gazed at him in wonder.
''Oh yeah I watch Star Wars movies; I have seen all of them lots and lots of times,'' Steve cast an ironic look at Peter who smiled shyly.
''I have to ask you something and it's real important, but you have to come over here,'' the little girl pulled Steve over to the Lego table.
''Peter said that Thor likes Princesses and he likes Elsa best. Is that true?''
''Now that I really can't say, you know he is the God of Thunder and definitely stronger than me,'' Steve replied very seriously and she nodded.
''Yes, that is true.''
''I finished your Lego Sarah,'' Peter held it out.
She squealed in delight and took it.
''Thank you Peter,'' she hugged him quickly and sat down nearby to play.
Peter blushed, embarrassed by her reaction.
''You ready to go kiddo?'' Steve asked and he nodded.
''This is Mason, we've been hanging out,'' Peter introduced his new friend.
''Hey Mason, how are you doing today?''
Mason nodded, overcome with some serious hero-worship.
''Bye, I'll text you,'' Peter held out his fist and Mason blew it up.
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Peter was silent as they left the hospital through a private entrance- Steve taking a moment to change back into civilian clothes.
''You okay Bubba?'' Steve asked, slightly concerned by this withdrawn version of his normally vibrant son, had this been a mistake?
''Mason is very ill, he has Leukaemia, its cancer of the blood,'' Peter looked up- Steve nodded waiting for what he said next.
''He could die, people die from that,'' Peter was upset but that was inevitable and an unfortunate side effect of exposing him to a dose of real life.
''Yes he might, but he probably won't. He is in the best place, the hospital is amazing,'' Steve was comforting but did not issue false platitudes.
''I know. I think Sarah has it too,'' Peter was now becoming tearful and Steve was unsure how to react, his natural instinct was to tell his boy that everything would be okay but that wasn't true.
''Bubba, you handled yourself real well. I know it is tough understanding why people get sick, especially kids but they do. You had a good time with them and that makes a difference. You won't understand what a difference that makes, but believe me when I say it does. I feel just as confused and upset about it as you do, sometimes not everything in life has an explanation and you have to make the best of it. I am proud of you Bubba,'' Steve hugged his little boy; then wiped away some tears from his round cheek with a gentle thumb.
''Okay?'' he smiled and Peter nodded. He took a deep breath and pulled back his shoulders- trying to be brave; it was about the most precious thing Steve had ever seen.
''Sarah liked her Lego, never thought I'd see the day you played with girl's Lego,'' Steve lightened the moment as he gave his son a squeeze around the shoulders.
''You have to be gender neutral these days Pops,'' Peter scolded him and Steve nodded.
''Sorry, old habits. You hungry? I could use a cheeseburger right now. How about you?''
''Yeah Pops, that sounds good,'' the boy nodded.
Peter was still being reserved so Steve and Happy chatted away about their forthcoming football outing.
''Pops?'' Peter asked suddenly.
''Kiddo, can you eat something?'' Steve was now getting worried- had this been too much, too quickly?
''Can we make a deal?''
''Oh careful Steve, you could be in some trouble here,'' Happy chuckled.
''If you eat something, we can talk,'' Steve took the opportunity to gain some leverage.
Peter cleared his plate then looked speculatively at his father.
''Okay, let's hear it,'' Steve sipped his coffee, amused by Peter's negotiating demeanour.
'' If I keep my room clean, eat my dinner without complaining and do my homework as soon as I get back from school; can I play my Switch for an hour every night?'' Peter took a breath.
''Pete, you are being punished which is why you can't play your video games and you should do all those things anyway shouldn't you?'' Steve pushed back his bangs as he was hiding under them.
''It's for a good reason, not just cos I want to play though I do like my Switch,'' Peter blushed and Steve sat up- there was more to this than mere video games.
''What's the reason?''
''I want to play with Mason, he said the only time he gets to be a normal kid again is when he's on his Switch cos no-one know he's sick so they don't treat him like a freak. I want to play with him, he asked me. So can I?'' Peter pleaded.
''Oh,'' Steve looked at Happy who mouthed 'ouch' at him.
''Yes kiddo you can but you have to keep to your side of the deal,'' It was a no-brainer and Steve agreed quickly.
''What about Dad?'' Peter looked worried.
''You leave Dad to me,'' Steve raised his hand for the check.
''So Captain America is stronger than Iron Man then?'' Peter giggled.
''I did not say that, you did,'' Steve smiled as he pulled out his wallet.
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Sorry, it was a long one. No way to naturally to break it up.
Have a good week.
