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"We need to find Peter?"
Tony nodded as he tried to fight off the panic that was slowly gripping his heart. Peter was alone, wandering God knows where and he knew the city at this hour was dangerous at it's peak. His hands shook when they went to grab Steve's arm "Where could he go?"
Steve placed his hand over Tony's and squeezed sensing the panic look on him "Hey I'm going to find him okay. I won't let anything happen to Peter"
"It's so dark out there.. he could be in trouble... what if something might have already happened to him. What if he's looking for help...What if..."
Steve hushed his husband "Don't go there Tony. I'll find him. I promise"
Tony so badly wanted to believe Steve but he would only find peace when he sees his kid is safe "Do you know where he could be? I mean this city is quite big and... Oh my God... Russell! Steve the man..."
Steve again interrupted "...the man is taken care of"
"What?"
"I arrested Russell the next morning when I brought Peter to our home" Steve confessed with a small smile
"You did?" Tony was slightly taken back "But you kept telling Peter he's still looking for him"
Steve shrugged "A false threat...just to keep the kid in line"
Tony huffed out a small laugh "You're a genius"
Steve's expression turned serious "Thanks but now this genius needs to find Peter"
"You're right. Let's go"
"Tony I would prefer if you stayed at home. The places Peter's been through are dangerous and I don't want you getting hurt. I'll call you..."
Tony started shaking his head in denial even before Steve could finish his sentence "Don't ask me to sit down on this one Steve. Our kid is out there...alone and maybe in trouble. I can't go back home and do nothing"
"Peter is not our kid yet" Steve's voice cracked but he needed his husband to see the truth
"I don't care" Tony shook his head "Right now Peter's safety is more important"
"You're right. Just promise me you'll be careful if we see any kind of danger"
"I promise"
"I'll call at the station for a back up team"
Tony's eyes shone with hope "Do you know where Peter could be?"
"Maybe... I did some research on him. There are few places where he use to visit a lot but Tony, I'm warning you...these places are the darkest side of our city"
Tony's worry for Peter only doubled and he straightened himself "Let's not waste any more time"
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Peter kicked the empty plastic bottle on the road as he slowly walked towards unknown destination. His face was covered with dry tears making his skin red and blotchy. The boy was exhausted and wanted to head back home but he still wasn't ready to face June or her decision of placing him in Stark family. Yes a part of him wanted to explore the idea of him getting adopted by Stark family. They surely cared about him but it was too good to be true. He was scared this happiness was also going to snatched away just like it happened usually. It seemed fate was holding some kind of grudge on him. Remembering of grudges Peter wondered why Russell hadn't shown up yet to collect his money. Surely the man must have known that he was back then what was stopping him. The boy sighed and decided to head back when he heard noises
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Tony had been in the streets with Steve for one hour now, searching for Peter and his heart broke at the scenes he witnessed. As Steve warned, the streets and dirty corners of New York were filled with poor and homless people. Many sleeping on the cold ground, some huddled behind the garbage cans and few still awake due to thirst and hunger. He shuddered thinking Peter being one of them and sleeping on the ground.
When they couldn't find Peter in that particular street, Steve drove them to another one where Tony saw another ugly yet true picture of life. The street was known for prostitution and he had to force a bile down his throat when a girl younger than twelve asked for her services. Steve noticed the awful pale look on Tony's face and requested him to sit in the car while he investigated
Steve came back empty handed which only worried Tony more "Where could he be? Every second I don't see him, it's like... I know something bad is happening. I can feel it Steve"
"Don't loose hope. Be positive" said Steve trying to comfort Tony who was on the verge of crying "I don't want him to get hurt"
Steve started the engine "I'm not done yet. New York is a big place. I'll not stop until I find him"
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Peter rounded near a dark alley that was littered with garbage cans and a big pickup truck blocking the exit. He neared and squinted his eyes to see through darkness. There were two men, holding a girl who was wailing and screaming for help. Peter fisted his hands and shouted at the men "Hey! Let her go!"
One of the men, turned and growled at Peter "Stay out of it kid"
Peter pressed his lips. There was no way he was going to let them hurt the girl. He knew his chances of winning were dull since both were grown ups and well muscled but still he charged towards them. The boy grabbed the man who was on top of the girl by his back collar and pulled him off her and pushed the other with his both hands, sending him crashing to the wall behind. He helped the girl off the ground and yelled "C'mon Let's go!"
The girl ran towards her freedom and Peter tried to follow her but his leg was grabbed by first man and he fell face first on the ground, knocking the wind out of him. The girl stopped to look back but Peter screamed "Get out of here!"
The gril cried as she quickened her steps and was soon out of sight. Peter gasped when a foot landed on his back and added pressure "You made me loose a good fuck for tonight. I'm going to kill you!"
Peter squirmed under the pressure as he tried to get the pressure off him. The boy froze when he heard another man's words "So what Ryan. We got ourselves a better treat" he placed his leg between Peter's ass who started thrashing "NO!"
Tears streamed in Peter's eyes when he was forcefully flipped on his back and his hands were held by the second man above his head. Fear grabbed him with his cruel hands at all too familiar feeling. He couldn't go through this pain. Not again "Please... No! Stop... please.. let me go"
"We'll let you go once we're done with you boy" snarled the first man who leaned dangerously close and Peter screamed again "NO!"
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"It was June. She's also worried" said Steve ending the call, as he drove around New York streets. Tony scoffed shaking his head "She should be. This is all her fault"
"Tony.. "
"Don't Tony me. She definitely doesn't know how to handle kids...or alteast Peter. She should have been more careful" Tony gritted his teeth "If anything happens to the kid, I swear I'll..."
Suddenly a girl came out if no where and stopped infront of them "Help! Please Help!" Steve slammed on the brakes and the car screeched to a stop "What the hell?"
The girl ran towards Steve's window and cried "Please help! They will kill him! You've to help him! Please!"
Steve got out of the car and so did Tony "Hey hey calm down. I'm a cop so just take a breath and tell me what's going on. Who needs help?"
The girl hicuuped "I was... coming back from work... these two men dragged me... they were going to rape me... this young boy.. ..he saved me but he got caught... please help him.. you've to help him"
Steve looked at Tony who nodded "Go"
Steve ran towards the alley and Tony felt the need to follow him and he did
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In his desperate attempt to free himself, Peter gave a hard head butt to the man who was going to kiss him. The man grunted holding his now bloody nose. Peter then turned his head and bit hard on the second man's wrist who finally lifted his hands with a loud hiss "Son of a bitch!"
Peter scrambled up and ran. He blindly ran where he first had entered and abruptly crashed into another solid body
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Steve jogged his way into the alley and was about to access the situation when suddenly he saw a young boy running towards him.. wait was he ..."Oh my God... Peter!" he quickly blocked the boy's way and took him into his arms
Peter started thrashing and screaming as he thought the man had again caught up on him "No! Let me go! Please don't hurt me! Let go!"
Steve was having hard time holding the boy "Peter it's me... it's Steve... calm down... it's me..Steve!"
Peter heard the name and froze. He was breathing too fast and tears never stopped falling as he looked up to confirm with his eyes and relief flooded in every core of his body. He sobbed crushing himself against Steve's chest
"Steve what..." Tony paused, his eyes widening, both with fear and relief when he saw who his husband was holding "Peter... Jesus...Peter!"
Steve saw Tony and nodded "He's okay. Peter... hey kid, Tony is here too. I want you to stay with him. You hear me?" he didn't get a reply feom the boy but also didn't hear a protest so he slowly passed him into Tony's arms and ordered his husband "Ten steps back"
Tony held Peter close to him and moved few steps back. He knew Steve was going to make the person pay for hurting their kid and he had no intention of stopping him. Peter was still crying, his body shaking so badly that Tony thought he was going to melt any seconds. He tightened his arms and kept murmuring soft words "You're safe now kid. Nobody's going to hurt you. You're safe"
Minutes later Steve came back with bloody knuckles and satisfied looking face "I've called my team. They will be here soon"
"Good. Let's get Peter home"
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