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disclaimer: do not own mcu or their characters
restart my heart
the babysitter
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Calling Peter Parker her "babysitter" is a stretch of the word. A simple…placeholder because there was a lack of a better word to call him. Definitely not best friend or even friend but more than an acquaintance but also not family. Someone who occasionally stopped by. A slightly older person who on the rare occasion watched her for a few hours when no one could. Too old to be called a "playmate."
He was originally nicknamed "babysitter" as a cover for nosey paparazzi that managed to grab the occasional photo of the two on the rare times he was seen out in public with her and her dad. Babies leading babies, as mom would say with a disapproving nod at dad's poor attempt to humor the public with a teenage nanny. Happy would fit the babysitter role more than Peter.
Sophia Maria Stark can count on one hand how many times she has actually met Peter Parker in person. Not through the very brief calls her dad had with him in his spare time. And not including the stories she's heard from Rodgers or Sam or even Bucky. Just as insufferable as Wilson, Natasha once jokingly said to her in her brief wondering on how the web slinger handled himself in the fight in Berlin. Her nine year old self was so excited to hear about how her babysitter fought alongside her dad.
Blissfully unaware of the weight that hung on her shoulders and the pain her dad carried fighting against a man he, begrudgingly from time to time, will call a friend. And even in more rare moments, family.
Always blissfully unaware. Unknowing. Little, silly, and ignorant Sophia Stark. Sophia Stark who foolishly pushed her own dad to his death.
All for Peter Parker. A child, a nerd, a sorta babysitter.
He came to her thoughts every once in a while after the snaps. Mainly when she caught her dad late at night looking at photos he's hidden away. Unaware she knew about them the day he stashed the photos of the teen in the kitchen cabinets. She could see the regret shine in her dad's eyes so brightly it stung at her own heart.
For Peter Parker. Who was only in their lives for such a short day period of time. Only a few instances of actual face to face conversations about Star Wars and unicorns. So few she could count on one hand yet made such a footprint on the Starks lives it feels like it should be more.
Sure she has to use all her fingers on said hand but it still counts as one hand. It's not as if she grew up with him. She's only known him for a year and a half. Maybe two. After the blimp, time begins to muddle. She's been alive without him more than she's known him and vice versa for him.
Yet each memory is just as impactful as the last.
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midtown school of science
As each minute ticked by, Sophia resisted the urge to slam a palm against her face. Not even bothering to listen to their teacher drone on about the syllabus or group assignments. She's not entirely sure anymore.
What she does know is that Peter is impressively still hovering over her every movement despite class being in session. If she wasn't so annoyed she would be honestly impressed how he could keep his attention on her and the class at once. He answered every question and filled out all the papers handed out by the teacher in a blink of an eye while evading the eyes of their classmates.
A quick whistle, jab to her stool, or a crumpled up note landing on her desk. Anything to get her attention. Ask her how her headache is. If she needs anything to just tell him. Where her next class is to better escort her. Jumping down to grab the highlighter rolling off the table before she could even begin to think about reaching out to grab it.
A constant hovering "parent" worried over her well-being. Fueled completely and only by survivors' guilt. And unfortunately for Peter, she has too much of her own to help shoulder his.
Once the physics teacher released the class to work amongst themselves, Sophia immediately whipped around to grab Peter by the hand and give a firm tug.
"Soph, are you okay? What is it?" Peter jumps up, eyes darting around the room in confusion. "Do I need to call Happy?"
Sophie rolls her eyes and tugs even harder until he begins to follow her to the front of the class. "Stop freaking out. It's nothing crazy. Your Peter-Tingle would let you know if it was."
"Sophia! You know you can't, you shouldn't just-" Peter nervously hisses, making sure to avoid Harley's questioning look.
Sophia shrugs him off and continues to pull him to a stop in front of the teachers desk." , I'm having a hard time dealing with everything. It's just so overwhelming being in here with my dad's face on the wall. Do you mind if I step out with Peter?"
She tried her hardest to ignore Peter's shocked and disapproving face.
"Of course, Sophia." Mr. Harrington smiles. "Take all the time you need. Thanks for watching out for her Peter." He begins to wave them off and without hesitation Sophia grips Peter's hand harder in hers and moves to walk out the classroom.
"You're dad was a true hero, Sophia! I'm sorry for your loss." Mr. Harrington gently says, smiling wide. Sophia stumbled over her feet. Peter instantly saved her from slamming her teeth into the tile floor with quick reflexes, grabbing the back of her shirt.
"Oh, um, thanks."
She felt the familiar sting of tears prickle eyes but continued on. Peter grasped her a little more tightly and just this once, Sophia gripped back and led them out the classroom. Down the hallways, through the double doors, away from prying eyes and into the courtyard. She didn't stop until she rounded the building's corner in an attempt to better conceal themselves.
Peter's hands nervously hovered over here. Not sure if to go for a hug or a simple shoulder tap. Not entirely comfortable with it either. "Sophia, if something is wrong I can-"
"Stop. Nope. No, I don't need you." Sophia snapped, manicured hands pushing against his hovering ones. "Peter, I just…I don't need a babysitter."
Peter's eyebrows furrow and mouth twists into a deep frown. "Sophia, I'm not babysitting you. I'm watching over you."
The brown eyed girl huffs and throws her hands up in the air. "I know that! Okay? I know that. Ok, but this whole thing you're doing with the snacks and pain pills? I'm going to need you to stop."
"I…I just want to make sure you're safe Sophia. I thought that we could be, I don't know, friends. And I could protect you."
Sophia crossed her arms and took a step closer to Peter. He began fidgeting with the end of his sleeves trying to avoid her glare. "Why?"
"Why? Because I'm trying to do what I think Tony would-"
"Ah! See! What Tony, my father, would want. Not me. Not you. My dad. I don't need an overprotective parent at school following my every move, Peter."
Peter drags his hands down his face. "That's not what I meant Soph." Peter gently puts his hands onto her shoulders. "Do you remember when you were seven and I took you to Delmar's Deli?"
She wrinkled her nose. "I try to not think about my childhood with you."
Peter jerked back, hands fast to let her go. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Sophia looked at him as if he grew two heads and gave a small hysterical laugh. Is he serious?
"What do you mean? Peter, come on! I was 10 years old and you were 15! For me years have gone by but now we're both 15! To you it happened in a literal snap. If anything this should be more weird for you! How is that not weird to you?" Sophia hisses. "We shouldn't be going to the same school let alone be the same age. Excuse me for being weirded out by this whole… this whole kerfuffle!"
Peter lets out a snort. Putting Sophia more on edge. "Kerfuffle?"
"What would you call this? Huh? Should I have said bullshit?"
"Language!"
The two stared at each other in a moment of silence before laughing to themselves. Peter having the bright smile that made her remember she has a wounded heart. Peter being the root cause. A big part of the reason her father is buried six feet under. At least he's emotionally responsible. Logically she knows it wasn't his decision for her dad to risk his life. Peter wasn't around to encourage him. She was.
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"I hate that I don't hate you." Sophia felt tears begin to slide down her cheeks. Peter slowly becomes a brown and blue blur. "I want to hate you. Every time I begin to resent you, I remember it's not your fault. I was the one to put the final nail in the coffin. But, jeezus, I want to hate you so much. It would be easier." She lets out a small pity laugh and looks off to the side. "It's easier to ignore and hate you when you're not standing in front of me."
Sophia brings her hands to her face to furiously wipe away her tears. "You have the same interests as dad. Hell, you talk and even act like him and I don't even understand how that's possible! It makes absolutely no sense but you do!"
"Sophia, I-" Peter begins to step forward, arms outstretched as if to embrace her.
"No!" Sophia holds her hands out as if to shove him. "I'm not done."
She takes a deep breath before looking him in his eyes. "You hover and even sometimes parent like my dad. You're around out of survivors guilt and weird circumstances involving a psychopath purple alien. Otherwise, in another world, we would not be standing here together. You'd be either in college or working for dad and married and I'd be some kid you randomly know out of happenstance. And you need to know, I have enough guilt for the both of us. I don't need you reminding me who's not here anymore."
"Sophia, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I made you feel this way." He pulled her towards him in a hug. Secretly thankful she didn't pull away even though she didn't reciprocate it. Just standing there stiffly. "It was survivors' guilt that influenced everything I did. I only did what I thought Tony would want. And I guess I lost sight of what you would need or how you'd feel."
"I'll try better as your friend."
"No."
Peter took a step back, hands on either side of her arms. Sophia refused to look him in the eye.
"No? No, what?"
"No, I don't want to be friends."
"Come on, Soph. We were friends before all this. Just a small road block and hey! We got through it through communication."
Sophia shakes her head. "No. Peter. You're not listening to me. This is not normal. It's weird. You were supposed to be like a babysitter and now we're classmates and friends? You don't see how wrong that is? I have friends. I have a parent. I don't need more of those. My capacity for socializing is at its max."
"Who, Harley? He's constantly getting in trouble. Happy told me he's the reason you broke your arm. Twice.A real good influence." Peter said flatly. "Besides, I was never a babysitter. You and I both know Tony would never let me actually watch over you."
"There you go again! You're parenting! We're going in circles. When is it going to stop? Don't you see? This is why we can't do whatever this is." Sophia waves one hand in the air and the other tugs at her pony tail out of stress.
"Sophia, I just…In this mess and in these circumstances it's a lot. We could both use someone to lean on. Someone who knows the whole truth. Yes, I approached you out of guilt. Thinking I can make up for what's been done but I know I can't. I know bringing him back isn't going to happen and I can't fill his shoes. But I also think we can help each other heal. Help each other with the trauma and everything we have been through."
Peter slowly put his hand out, palm up. "What do you say? Give, whatever this is, a chance?"
After a moment of hesitation, Sophia put her hand in his.
"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I've never met that stupid Wayne." Sophia exited out of the news article and placed her phone down. Screen black.
"How could you possibly ship two people who have never even been in the same room?" Sophia huffs with arms crossed from her position in her moms office chair.
Harley, busy tinkering with the helmet of the suit her dad had made for mom: Rescue, sat on the floor. The armor had gotten damaged during the final battle. Barely turning on. With each wire he tugged on the eyes would briefly light up before fading.
Sophia began to feel queasy looking at the helmet fade from life. Flashes of bloodied red suits came to mind. A burnt limp hand resting on the ground. Reality and the past started blurring together.
She quickly spun away to look out the windows behind her moms desk. So high up, that the taxi cabs are almost like faded yellow dots. Eyes focusing on the cars passing by. Counting each one to calm her racing heart. Squeezing her eyes in hope that the lights fading in and out would disappear.
tap
tap
Blinking through her haze, a black object came into her vision. Flying in the air waiting for her acknowledgment. The red light blinking on top of the robot spider letting her know she's being watched.
Droney.
Sophia wasn't sure if she should be upset or amused. Maybe a bit of both. She motions the time drone with her head to go away. Instead Peter controls it to come closer. Her eyes shift to the side to look at Harley's reflection to make sure he hasn't noticed. His body still hunched over the helmet and eyes glued to the blueprints dad left behind.
Turning her attention back to Droney, she gives an exasperated eye roll and a small wave. The tiny drone lifts its leg in return as if to say goodbye before flying off. Harley never even noticed.
Sophia could feel a smile trying to fight it's way through to the surface.
"This is so weird…isn't it?" She whispered to herself. Looking at her own reflection in the tall windows. Whoever let her name life saving stealth tech at nine years old should be fired. "Droney" not in any way being creative or original.
"I have a better question. Are you and Peter dating?"
Sophia nearly toppled out of the chair from shock. Not having expected Harley to hear her or even respond. "What!" She screeched looking at her friend who looked completely unfazed and uncaring. Screwdrivering sticking out of his mouth. He never looked up once. "Why would you even think to ask that? You know these gossip sites are trash!"
Harley shrugged. "What else would Peter-Tingle be code for? Odd name for a boner by the way." Speaking around the red screwdriver, barely intelligible. His focus was completely on the helmet.
Sophia dragged her hands down her face. "Oh my god. That is not, you know what? I'm not having this conversation."
He shrugged once again. Completely uninterested and Sophia couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
End of
the babysitter