When Papa announced that he was going to do some training with Peter after breakfast, Peter was sure that Nat had told them about the conversation they had had the night before.

Papa trained differently than Nat, but Peter preferred training with his Papa. Even though he'd been avoiding his dads the last few days, he loved them. And he had missed his time with his parents.

He wasn't surprised when, after three hours of training, Papa brought up the fight at school.

"Nat said that Flash said something about Dad." Papa didn't beat around the bush, startling Peter. Papa didn't typically go straight to the point to get information.

Peter shrugged, but didn't respond, not meeting Papa's eyes.

"Pete." Papa's voice broke on Peter's name, causing him to look up at him. Peter saw the pain and concern that his Papa was feeling.

"I don't want to repeat it." Peter said, his own voice breaking. "Flash said something really really awful. And it never needs to be repeated."

Papa wouldn't allow Peter to break eye contact. "Peter, I can see this weighing down on you." He said quietly. "You need to tell me what was said."

"You can't tell Dad." Peter begged. "Please don't tell Dad."

Papa hesitated. "I can't promise that, Pete. I don't keep secrets from your Dad. But why don't you tell me, and I can determine if its something your Dad can handle hearing."

Peter didn't speak for a while, but Papa didn't push. Peter didn't really want to tell him what was said, he didn't want Dad to know that Peter knew about his past.

Peter opened his mouth, intending to tell his Papa that he still wasn't going to talk about it, but instead started crying.

Papa looked alarmed, but pulled Peter into a hug, holding him tight. "Peter, it's okay, baby." He whispered.

"I don't want to hurt Dad." Peter's voice broke.

"I know baby. But Dad is stronger than you think. He can handle a lot."

"Flash had printed out a bunch or articles." Peter finally admitted, hating himself for talking, but unable to keep this to himself anymore. "About what Howard did to Dad." He felt his Papa freeze around him. "I already knew about those articles." Peter admitted. "I found them by accident at the library once. I was looking for articles about my disappearance and I found those too." Peter wouldn't meet Papa's eyes as he spoke.

"And Flash was… what? Making fun of Dad? Making it into a joke?" Papa's voice was gentle but serious.

"No." Peter shook his head. "Well, yes, but that's not why I punched him."

"Why did you punch him?"

Peter closed his eyes, not wanting to repeat it. But he was in this far, he couldn't stop now. "Flash… basically, he theorized that the reason I ran away - He said that the reason I ran away is because Dad must have 'fetishes' and I was leaving to not be subjected to them anymore."

"Huh?" Papa hadn't followed what Peter was trying to say. Peter groaned internally. He didn't want to be so straightforward, but he felt like he didn't have a choice anymore.

"He was accusing Dad of molesting me." Peter mumbled. "So I punched him."

Papa froze and then turned Peter so that he was looking him in the face. He looked furious, and Peter flinched back.

Papa's face relaxed a bit at Peter's reaction. "I'm not mad at you, baby. Actually, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm pretty proud of you."

Peter looked away, but Papa made him look back. "Fighting is never the right course of action." He said gently. "But - I think you made your point. And you were much more controlled then I would have been if someone said something like that to me about your dad."

"Really?" Peter asked him.

"I can't fault you for wanting to protect your Dad. Both in your actions in the moment, and since - not wanting to tell anyone what was said. And your dad will appreciate it too. But he does need to know what actually happened."

Peter swallowed. "I don't want to tell him." He whimpered.

"You don't have to." Papa said immediately. "Pete, you don't have to. You told me, you don't ever have to repeat it again if you don't want to."

Peter felt his heart rate ease a little bit. He felt better - he wasn't shouldering the burden on his own anymore - his Papa knew now. And he could make any necessary decisions.

"Okay." Peter whispered. "Okay. Thank you."

Papa pulled Peter into a hug and kissed the top of Peter's head. "Why don't you go get something to eat? I'm sure you're hungry after that workout."

"And you're going to talk to Dad?"

"I'm going to talk to Dad."

Steve stayed in the gym for a little while after Peter left, needing to work his own frustration out before he went to find his husband.

After decimating 12 punching bags, Steve felt marginally better, and went and sought out his husband, who had agreed to stay in the lab until Steve returned.

Steve felt sick, not only because he was going to have to relay this information to his husband, but because he hated that their son had been carrying this information on his own.

The music wasn't on when Steve entered the lab, but Tony wasn't working. He was waiting.

"He talked?" Tony asked. Steve stood in the doorway for a moment before nodding, taking his husband by the arm and seating them on the couch holding his hands. "That bad?" Tony joked, though his voice was flat.

"Babe -" Steve's voice caught in his throat. He cleared it, knowing he had to continue. He knew he had to share with his husband - at least somewhat - but that doesn't mean he has to like it.

Tony was nodding. "Just tell me, Steve. I can handle it."

"I know, but you shouldn't have to." He whispered. "Flash found all of those articles - the ones about what Howard… did." Tony's face flashed with pain and embarrassment, and Steve gripped his hands tighter.

"Peter knows about the articles now? That's why he angry with me?"

"He's not angry with you." Steve said immediately. Though their son hadn't straight out said that, it was clear in his actions that anger towards Tony wasn't even on his radar.

"But he knows?"

"Apparently, he's known about those articles for years. Came across them when he ran away. He just didn't say anything. The articles aren't why he's been so upset."

Steve was quiet for a moment, allowing his husband to process this information. Tony had worried for years about Peter finding those articles, and had done a lot to make them as obsolete as possible - but it was common knowledge that once something was on the internet, it was impossible to completely erase.

"Did Flash say something? Is that why Peter was upset?"

"Yes." Steve's voice caught in his throat. He didn't want to have this conversation, but he couldn't make his son have it either.

"Flash was making fun of him? Steve, I need to understand. Whatever it is, please, just tell me." Tony was starting to sound frustrated.

"Not… exactly. Flash suggested - Flash basically said that he thinks that the reason Peter ran away is -" Steve swallowed, but blurted it out. "He accused you of molesting Peter. That's why Peter punched him."

Tony looked at him, processing the information, before startling Steve by laughing.

"What?" Steve asked, confused. "Tony-"

"I'm sorry-" Tony wheezed, waving him off. "I'm sorry." Tony got control of himself. "You two can't think that's the first time I've heard that thrown at me?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "I don't share every time, and it's not really been an issue, and you and Peter and I obviously know the truth, so I don't dwell on it."

"Tony-" Steve started, but his husband was shaking his head.

"I've dealt with the reality of what happened to me for decades." Tony reminded his husband, causing Steve to flinch. He didn't like to think about everything his husband had gone through, when he was just Peter's age. "I know that it's a horrible accusation, and Peter should never have had to deal with it. But it's not going to destroy my world. I'm not going to breakdown." Tony promised, leaning forward and kissing his husband.

"I'm so sorry." Steve whispered.

"You don't have to be." Tony promised him, moving to stand up.

"Where are you going?" Steve asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"I think it's time I talk to our kid." Tony said with a raised eyebrow. "You think he's going to stop dwelling on this just because he told you?" Tony shook his head. "He needs to hear from me."

"Yeah, you're right." Steve nodded as Tony headed out the door. "Wait, Tony." His husband stopped and turned around. "We're done with the grounding, right?"

Tony laughed. "Hell yeah, we are."

AN: One more chapter left after this one! I hope you are all enjoying this story so far! I have one more story left in this verse that I've written - about Steve and Tony during Peter's time while he was on the run. I'm still open to suggestions for other stories you would like to see!