Be There For You {Book Two}

Divides

*Ok this time its literally just my fault that its been so long- I admit I forgot about this only because I've been so absorbed in a first draft of a mini fanfic I've been writing that I want to publish on AO3 bcs tbh I don't think it would have much of a audience on here. I got to go down to Brighton for a night but we broke down for a couple hours on the way back. BTW im so sorry this is so short fot such a long wait!! Love you all and would love to hear from you!*

No One's POV

After the arguments on Harley's birthday and the following morning on which Tony found his son curled up with his best friend and the family he always thought of as his own. In the following days things started to change, but no one commented on it which left the team members who were not involved in said argument to be feel worried and confused. Not feeling happy or wanted in the penthouse anymore, Natasha suggested for her and Wade to turn her dance studio into an apartment for the two of them which started a small domino affect on the little group. Within two days there were four mattresses in the dance studio with bedside tables (the trays they had bought with the legs underneath). As a bathroom and shower were already attached the only other things, they had to set out to do was find a mini fridge, microwave and beanbags- all of which Wade said he'd cover because he promised them that he had 'connections' and not to worry. Soon enough the previous dance studio looked like a makeshift apartment. Only a couple sly comments were made about the sleeping arrangements given Sofia had her own mattress for her to decide where to sleep, Wade to sleep on his own, the oldest couple in New York sharing a bed, and the pair who swore they were "just friends". Though it didn't look like much it felt quite like home within hours of the family staying in it. They didn't even have to worry about security as when Tony built it for Natasha, he had removed his own access to it along with everyone else apart from her unless she asked FRIDAY to give access to someone's card- which he did as soon as they said they wanted to stay with her and Wade in the studio.

It wasn't commented on when they only time you would catch sight of Black Widow, Hawkeye, Captain America, and the WhiteWolf in Stark Tower's penthouse is if they had a family movie or games and certainly no one mentioned that the only way they came is if Sofia invited them. No comments were made that they barely spoke once in presence up there, or that in meetings they were as silent as mice. Even Fury pulled Sam aside after a meeting to ask why Clint was so quite in the meetings to which Sam had to respond to his superior: "Its private family stuff."

The tower was split in two. Everyone had taken sides and it was starting to affect relationship between the team. Steve, Clint, Scott, Wanda, Sam and Alice were all standing firmly with Bucky, Natasha and Wade whereas Rhodey, Pepper, Vision and Bruce were standing with Tony and Stephan- Sofia did not take sides as she claimed to Wade and Harley that she would always side with both her uncle and papa. Alice and Pepper felt the tension rise whenever that topic was brought up as neither would budge or even pretend to care about the other would say, as well as Wanda and Vision; the topic became quickly band. However, it wasn't just relationships being affected by the family break up, friendships felt different- betrayal was a strong feeling amongst all.

Surprisingly, the one who felt most broken by it was Anthony Edward Stark. He felt hurt that not more agreed and stood by him after all these years and after everything he had done for them but most of all he felt hurt that it was Natasha's idea to leave. It was no secret amongst everyone at the Tower (including employee's) that the two were like each other's siblings, but it was just another thing no one commented on. No one mentioned it, including the two of them, however it was an understanding. Tony and Natasha had known each other longer than they had none the team (apart from Clint) and they had stood by each other through it all. The two quickly became close and their shared mistrust of everyone around them somehow let them break that rule for each other. Apart from Clint, Tony was the one who knew most about Natasha and her life from before the Avengers, he knew bits about her sister, Yelena, about her parents, about her missions, about her time in the Red Room. Natasha was the first one to understand the full length of Tony's troubles; the abuse and neglection he received from his father, the guilt from what his company did before Iron Man, his anxiety, the panic attacks, and the painful realisation that he did not in fact love Pepper like he was "supposed" too. The bond they had shared was one that neither understood but fell so deeply into their cores that the knowledge that one had chosen to leave the other felt undeniably heart wrenching.

However, despite what Tony thought, Natasha was feeling every bit as destroyed as he did. Family had always come hard for her, but never did she think that the one that had gone through so much together and still loved and never left each other would fall apart like this. They were torn in two.

It seemed that the only two people from opposing standpoints still talked were Wade and Harley. Not to say that the divide in the team did not affect them or cause arguments but they saw the others stand points and respected them. Without Peter they had come together in a way to keep the other from falling, disappearing, crumbling. The only sunlight that crept into their dark and gloomy days was the little girl who was still able to sing and laugh. There was no doubt in the two boys' minds that Sofia knew exactly what happened with Peter and with the team but had the same mind set as her father in making sure that everyone else around her was okay before looking after herself- a mind set of which they admired and resented at the same time. She was five. Five.

The Parker family seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.

"Uncle Wade, why do you keep fidgeting with that?" Sofia asked Wade from her place on the floor in the make-shift apartment while in the middle of a game of Uno with Harley (who was sorely losing).

Wade quickly shoved the abandonment note from Peter into his pocket. "Nothing, princess. Anyone want a Fanta?" He offered, walking to the mini fridge. Re-reading the note was becoming a habit of his, running the [now] worn paper through his fingers became his stress reliever or something for his hands to do while thinking too hard.

"Yes please."

Harley shook his head, "No thanks, but can you grab me one of Nat's monsters?"

"Your funeral." Wade responded but grabbed the can, nevertheless.

So far, it was all okay.

---

Screams echoed down the damp, dirty, dangerous halls. However, Perter could detect no life. Where did the screams come from? Were they his? Would he know if they were?

Hydra was not home. Red Room was not home.

Peter was not home.

But maybe he was. He was born here, he was developed here, didn't it fit for him to die here?

Even if there were a mirror in his dim cell Peter didn't think he would recognise himself as Peter Parker. In here he was only WinterSpider. Is that all he was from the beginning?