DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters! They belong to the MCU! I only own the plot!
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On to the chapter!
Harley wakes up to two angry faces staring back at him.
"Judging by the look on your guy's faces I did something stupid?" Harley asks, wincing.
"That's an understatement." Peter says, raising an eyebrow.
"Yikes. I don't even have to get mad. Pete's got it covered." Tony jokes. Peter sends him a death glare and Tony shuts up.
"What is going on!? Bruce comes up and tells me Harley passed out and had to get stitched up!?" Pepper says, walking briskly into the room.
"Yup. Still not sure what exactly happened cus these two are too busy glaring at me." Harley explains. Pepper sighs and comes over taking his head in her hands.
"What did you do honey?" Pepper asks, running a hand through Harley's hair and looking at Tony.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. How the hell did you rip through half your stitches Harls?" Tony asks.
"By not letting me get Bruce that's how." Peter says eyeing Harley.
Oop. Everything came flooding back to Harley.
"In my defense!" Harley starts. "Uh I was tired and didn't notice?" he tries.
"Right. Well I'll be in the lab. Pete tell me when you're done yelling at him." Tony says walking out the door.
"Will do!" Peter calls after him.
"Try not to break his eardrums sweetie." Pepper says kissing both they're forehead and smirking at Harley's pleading face.
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She walks out and Peter's finally looks back at Harley. To Harley's surprise, he just lets out an exhausted sigh and slumps on the bed.
Peter was just so tired. He wanted to yell and scream at Harley for scaring him so bad but honestly that can wait.
"What are you doing?" Harley asks incredulously, as Peter scoots closer to him. Peter doesn't answer and cuddles up next to his brother, bringing his arms close to his chest.
Harley's gaze softens and he puts a gentle hand into Peter's hair.
"So I'm not gonna get yelled at for being an idiot?" Harley asks softly.
"Don't worry you will. Just not today." Peter says sleepily. He presses his face against Harley's chest and Harley's smile grows wider.
"Well I'm looking forward to it." Harley whispers as Peter falls asleep.
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"Are we going to talk about it?" Harley asks.
"Talk about what?" Peter asks from Harley's lap.
Harley lets out a little smirk. "Oh nothing."
Peter scoffs. "It doesn't matter if we talk about that. You'll always be an idiot."
Harley gives him a mock offended look. "Love you too bro."
Peter snorts. "Yeah yeah."
"After Tony lets me get out of the house, we gotta get some of that ice cream from that one place. See, I have a rare condition called ice cream deficiency. It's imperative that I consume ice cream on a daily basis." Harley says seriously.
"I've heard one out of nine people are at risk." Peter says, smiling.
"Yeah it's tragic." Harley smirks. They both crack up.
"What did everyone say when you told them?" Harley asks.
"They said they wanted to know as soon as you're better." Peter tells him.
Harley nods and smiles. He and Peter had the Earth's mightiest heroes wrapped around their adolescent fingers.
"I'm gonna go get us some ice cream so you don't have a heart attack. What flavor do you want?" Peter asks, getting up.
"See? This is why I love you. Get me some brownie batter." Harley says looking up. Peter's eyes were wide and clearly somewhere else. His face was stuck in a deer-in-headlights look. "Peter!" Harley says getting up and shaking his shoulders. A stab of pain travels across his stomach and Harley ignores it. "Pete!"
"Y-you shouldn't be up." Peter gasps out.
"Peter! Hey, you gotta breathe bro. Come on. With me." Harley says, lowering them both on the floor.
"I-oh God Harls I'm sorry." Peter heaves, still struggling to catch his breath.
"Don't apologize." Harley soothes. He steadies Peter's shoulders and looks on as Peter regained a little control. "You wanna tell me what that was?" Harley asks softly.
"Y-you don't remember." Peter whispers, leaning foreward to rest his forehead on Harley's shoulder, still struggling to get his breathing under control.
"Hey. Slow down. Take a second. I'm not going anywhere." Harley tells him. He runs a hand through his own hair, frowning to himself. What doesn't he remember?
It was a while before Peter started talking.
"That night...I-I was trying to call Tony and you kept calling my name. I asked you to hang on a-and-" Peter stops, the lump in his throat to big to get words out.
"And what Petey?" Harley asks softly. He reaches up to wipe the younger boy's tears away and Peter leans into the touch.
"You-you told me you loved me." Peter says, trembling and unable to get the next sentence out.
"Because I thought I was gonna die." Harley finishes quietly.
Peter nods, swallowing thickly.
Harley blows through his nose and rubs his forehead. It sounds exactly what Harley would do. He was too scared to say it when he wasn't on the brink of death. Why? Because he's a coward.
So he panicked. Panicked when he got shot and knew that these were most likely his last minutes. He panicked when he realized that he had never told Peter he loved him. So when Peter was stuttering out some bullshit like "You're going to be ok", of course that was the first thing to come out of Harley's mouth.
Harley's eyes widen when he realizes that why Peter froze. He had told Peter he loved him and Peter re-lived that moment.
"I'm so sorry Pete." Harley says, pulling him close.
"It's not your fault. I'm being a baby." Peter chokes. Harley frowns into Peter's hair and holds him at shoulder length.
"You are not a baby. And I'm sorry I put you through that." Harley tells him.
"You scared me so bad Harls. I-I thought I would never see you again." Peter says looking down.
"I just-if I did die, I wanted you to know that I loved you. Because I do. I'm just too afraid to say it most times." Harley says with a sad smile.
"I love you." Peter sobs. "I do."
"I know. I do too Petey."
Peter sighs and tries to pull himself together to no avail.
"Hey it's ok. I gotcha." Harley whispers, holding him tight.
"I know." Peter smiles as he curls into him. Harley grins above Peter's head, he looks up just in time to see Tony come in and stop in his tracks at the door. Tony gives him a small smile and Harley returns it. Harley kisses the top of Peter's head and sighs softly.
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Tony quietly steps out of the room and walks down the hall with a shit-eating grin on his face. He loved his boys.
"Fri? Send that pic to Pepp for me? And save it to my personal file."
"Sure boss." Friday replies.
Tony snorts. He can basically hear the smirk in the AI's voice.
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"Pete?" Tony calls, walking into Harley's room.
Peter looks up. Harley was getting some rest and he was catching up on some reading. Thank God it was summer. He would be failing all his classes cus he would probably refuse to go to school until Harley was better.
Tony sits next to him on a plastic chair and takes a deep breath. "You gotta a minute?" He asks softly.
Peter gives him a questioning look. "Yeah sure."
Tony and Peter both walk into the hallway and Tony faces the younger boy.
"Ok. The team has been searching for those fuckers since yesterday. Nat and Steve found them and brought them in." Tony says softly.
Peter's eyes go wide. "They're-They're here!?" "Peter." Tony says, putting his hands on his kid's shoulders.
"No-No I can't let them get near h-him. Tony I can't." Peter says frantically.
"Pete. Slow down. Breathe." Tony commands gently.
Peter stops and tries to listen to his mentor's words. There's no way his family would let them anywhere near him and Harley right?
"I'm sorry. Ok ok, where are they?" Peter asks.
"You good bud?" Tony asks, concerned. Peter waves it off. "They're on floor -15. Underground bunker." Tony informs.
"Let's go. I'm gonna fucking kill him." Peter growls. All the fear drains out of him and he's left with only anger. He wants to kill this guy. He wants to see the light leave the eyes of the man that almost killed his brother.
"Peter." Tony says. Peter looks back at Tony with his murderous expression and Tony stumbles back. He has never seen Peter like this. "Pete. You gotta calm down for a second bud. You're not thinking straight." Tony says, holding him back.
"I'm not thinking straight for wanting to get revenge on the guy that stabbed a knife into Harley's stomach? My brother almost died in my arms Tony! Give me one reason to not kill this guy." Peter seethes.
"Are you even listening to yourself right now? This is not Peter. This isn't SpiderMan." Tony says sharply. This was the boy who trapped house flies instead of killing them and let them go outside, claiming they had families. If he killed this guy, he would be haunted with it for the rest of his life.
Peter snaps out of it, and looks at Tony with glazed eyes. There's still anger, but it's not that horrible look of hate and revenge from before.
"Hey it's ok." Tony says as Peter slumps against him.
"I'm sorry. I don't know w-"
"I know what that was. And it's ok Pete." Tony soothes.
Peter blows out through his mouth. "So now what?"
"Pete this is up to you bud. I can have you never see them again. Or you can beat the crap out of them, within reason." Tony offers.
"I wanna see them." Peter says quietly.
"You wanna get Harls?" Tony asks. Peter shakes his head.
"He needs rest. And I'm not letting him near them." Peter tells him. Tony nods.
"Nat's down there with them. She's trying to figure out how they found out you two are mine." Tony sighs.
Peter smiles. They weren't Tony's biological kids but Tony always treated them as if they were. Tony smirks at Peter's grin and ruffles his hair.
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Steve stands intimidatingly behind Natasha, glaring at the smirking man in the capsule.
"Where's Harley? That's his name right? You guys already lowered him into his grave?" the man asks Natasha.
Natasha ignores him. "This capsule is connected to an energy generator. With a flick of a switch we can send enough electricity to fry you alive." Natasha pauses at the man's unbothered expression. At this point, his buddies in the other capsules were beyond terrified. They were reduced into begging, blubbering messes in a total of two seconds. This guy was smarter than that. "But, we won't."
"Right. Because you're the Avengers. You don't hurt people unless it's necessary." He mocks.
"You're right. But you're wrong. We won't kill you. We will put you in enough pain that you'll feel it for the rest of your life. But we won't let you die. Death is mercy. You don't deserve that." Natasha says, her voice emotionless.
A flicker of fear passes through the man's eyes. No one wanted to suffer for the rest of their life. Even a psychopath.
"Right. You're going to tell us everything we need to know, and we might not do that. You have a fighting chance." Steve says stepping in.
The man sits back in his chair and crosses his legs. He refuses to let his fear show any more than it has.
"We could find every single piece of your life, you know? But we won't. I want you to tell us. You're going to seal your own fate." Natasha says calmly.
"I'm sure you can. Ask away Ms. Widow." he says.
"What's your name." Steve asks.
"Joseph Landon." He answers. Natasha scowls.
"Fri? Give him some motivation."
The heat in the capsule skyrockets, and the criminal screams in pain. His eyes water from the intensity of the heat and the hair on his arms steam.
"Agh! Ok shit! Theo Randall!" He shouts.
Natasha nods and looks to the ceiling. "Friday, turn it off please." She looks at the man. "Cooperate and that won't happen again."
Theo glares at her with a red face, still panting.
"How did you know they were associated with Tony?" Steve growls. Man he hated his guy. He wanted to punch his lights out.
"One if the boys saw them getting into a pretty fancy car and decided to follow 'em. It went to Stark Tower. We put it together." Theo says.
Steve looks at Natasha and she nods.
"Have you killed anyone?" Steve asks.
"No."
"Have you hurt anyone? In any way?"
Theo hesitates. "Yes."
"We've mugged a few people." Theo's eyes dart to the floor. Natasha steps up to the glass and peers at him.
"Tell him everything. I can see through your bullshit." Natasha says calmly.
Theo stays quiet.
"Fri-" Natasha starts.
"No! Shit. Fine. I raped a girl." Theo says. Fuck. His life is over.
Anger flashes in Steve's eyes. "How many." He growls, his voice quiet.
"Four." Theo answers. Steve starts to feel sick. Four people. God. If he doesn't get out of this room he's going to throw up.
"Nat?" Steve asks. Natasha's eyes soften and she nods. Steve sends a glare Theo's way and steps out of the door.
"That's all the information we need from you." She says, her voice steady.
"Glad I could be of assistance." Theo says.
"Enjoy your stay here. It's luxury compared to where you're going to be for the rest of your life." Natasha says, her voice devoid of sympathy.
Theo stays quiet as she exits the room.
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"You ok Steve?" Tony asks as they walk out of the elevator. His friend looked pale and on the verge of being sick.
"Pete? Got meet Nat in the other room. We'll be right behind ya." Tony says. Peter nods, sending a concerned look Steve's way.
As soon as the teen leaves, Steve shudders.
"Yeah I'm fine. Tony I don't think it's a good idea to let Peter do this." Steve whispers pulling him aside.
Tony sighs. "He says he has to Steve. I-"
"The guy has raped four people Tony." Steve gulps.
"Fuck." Tony swears, putting a hand to his forehead.
"And he's a psychopath Tony. He's doesn't care about dying...he just wants to kill your kids." Steve breaths.
"Sokovia?" Tony asks.
"No. This is something else. But he won't say. He says he wants to talk to you." Steve tells him.
Tony nods. "Pete won't change his mind. You know that."
"Yeah. I do." Steve says as they walk to the room.
They walk into the room and smile at Natasha and Peter. Natasha is holding Peter close, her chin in his hair.
"You don't have to do this you know." Natasha tells him softly.
"I do." Peter answers looking at the door.
"You can come back any time." Steve tells him. Peter gives him a small smile.
"I'll come with you." Natasha says, putting a hand on his shoulder.
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"Peter Parker. Come to visit me?" Theo asks mockingly.
"What's up douche face?" Peter says, his tone steady.
"So. Did he die?" Theo asks.
"If he was, you wouldn't be alive to talk to me. My brother is currently in my room watching T.V." Peter sneers. Of course he wasn't going to tell the guy who stabbed him that Harley was recovering in the MedBay.
"Fuck." Theo mutters under his breath.
"But...Fri open this capsule." Peter commands.
"Peter you are not authorized-" Friday answers.
"Override." Peter interrupts. Natasha gets into ready position in case Theo tries anything.
Theo stays right where he is. He knows better than to try to escape.
Peter steps into the capsule and looks at Theo with anger glazed eyes. Then without warning he reers his fist back and socks him across the face. Theo's neck snaps to the side, his jaw painfully dislocated.
"What the fuck?! " Theo screams.
"Seriously?" Peter asks calmly. He was seething. This dude deserved more than that but Harley wouldn't want him to hurt anyone in his name.
Theo glares at Peter but stays quiet.
"Why do you hate Tony?" Peter demands.
"I don't remember saying I hated him." Theo drawls.
"Cut the bull crap. You ambushed us because we were Tony's." Peter says, not missing a beat.
Theo peers at him. "Why should I tell you?"
Peter flares. "Because I'll beat the shit out of you if you don't."
Theo shrugs. "Get Stark in here. Then I'll tell him."
Natasha closes the capsule door and seals it. She knows this psychopath will probably attack Tony as soon as he comes in.
Peter thinks about it for a moment. He didn't need more guilt on Tony's shoulders, but he knew Tony would be in here in a second anyway because he was listening to their conversation through Friday.
Just as Peter predicated, his father-figure comes strolling in. To everyone else they would think he was calm and collected. Peter knew differently. He could see Tony's slight jaw clench. He could see Tony's hands rubbing against each other behind his back. Peter gives him a small smile and stands behind him, offering silent support.
"You got something to tell me?" Tony growls.
"Stark." Theo sneers. "You killed my wife."
Tony frowns. He knows it's probably true...why else would Theo hold such a grudge? But how?
"How?" Tony asks, his voice low.
"The battle of New York. My pregnant wife was stuck under her car door. She was screaming for help. I was down the street looking for her. You flew right fucking past her Stark. Wasn't even doing a fucking thing! The car exploded before I got to her. You burned my wife and unborn baby alive!" Theo screams.
Tony bends his head and looks to the ground.
It's Peter who steps forward.
"I'm sorry for your loss. But Tony couldn't save everyone! He was trying to shut it down before more people got killed! If Tony has stopped even once, hundreds more would be suffering like you are. Do you want that?" Peter asks.
"Fuck you! This monster is as much of a hero as I am." Theo sneers. Peter steps forward but Tony holds him back.
"Don't speak to my kid like that." Tony glowers. "Pete. Out of the room."
"Tony-"
"Pete." Tony says in a quiet voice. Peter let's out a breath and walks with Natasha walks him to the door.
"Nat. Stay with him. Please?" Peter asks. Natasha's eyes soften and she nods.
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Peter goes in to slump across Steve.
"You ok son?" Steve asks. Peter shakes his head into Steve's chest. Steve nods and pats his shoulders. "It's ok."
"Look. It's my fault. I flew past without doing anything about it. I could have saved her. I don't remember whether I saw her or not, but I should have been paying more attention." Tony says quietly.
"I don't need your shitting self-pity Stark. I'll get justice when you rot in hell." Theo seethes.
"And my time will come. But attacking and hurting my kids, who have nothing to do with me or my faults is crossing the line." Tony glares.
"I don't give a fuck about what's right or wrong anymore Stark. Tell me. If I did kill that one, or both of them, how would you feel? I'm going to be rotting in a cell for the rest of my life anyway. Might as well tell me." Theo reasons.
Tony hesitates. Even after what Tony did to him, after this man hurt his kids...Tony didn't owe him anything. But he still felt a terrible guilt that pushed him to answer.
"I would be broken." Tony whispers.
"Beyond repair. Like how you broke me. That's what I wanted." Theo adds.
"Is this what your wife would have wanted? You killing kids to avenge her? Would this have made her happy?" Tony asks, looking directly into his enemy's eyes.
"I don't give a fuck what she would have thought anymore Stark. That's what you don't understand. My life was over when you let her die. Your fucking superiority complex killed me." Theo says, leaning back into his chair. He was enjoying the pain and guilt on Stark's face.
"I would have saved her if I could have. You can choose to believe that or not." Tony tells him.
"Damn it. I could have killed those little dip-shits." Theo mutters just loud enough so Tony could hear him.
"Your wife is ashamed of you. That's something I'm sure of. You will never see me, my kids or the light of day again." Tony seethes. Even through the guilt, he will protect his family.
Tony marches toward the exit, ignoring Theos screams calling him a murderer and a coward.
Just as Tony reaches the door, he turns.
"I'm sorry about your wife and your baby." Tony says quietly. He then exits, Natasha close behind him.
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"Pete." Tony whispers as Peter comes running toward him. "I'm so sorry bud. That was on me."
Peter glares at him. "Stop it Tony. You should listen to your own advice sometimes."
Tony smirks softly, and leans down to place a kiss on the top of Peter's head.
"Boss. Harley is showing signs of waking up." Friday informs them.
Peter nods to Tony. "He's going to be like, 'Seriously! You sent Peter down there without me!?'"
"Gotta give it to ya kid. You can do a killer Keener impression."
"You say that like you don't know I'm a genius."
"Who? You?"
"Shut up."
Awww :3
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