Sticks and Stones

3

Happy watched Peter while Steve and Tony got him some clothes.

Peter was asleep in the passengers seat, his brown curls a mess on top of his head. He could see bruises on his neck and arms, and there were faded scars on his face.

He was angry that someone would hurt a little kid, a baby. He was wrapped in Steve's jacket, and his face was smushed against the window.

—

That night, after Happy had gone home, Steve and Tony watched Peter alternate from playing with the new toys he'd gotten and watching the Star Wars movie on tv.

When Tony gave him a small bowl of cereal (no milk), he out the toys down and crawled up on the couch to eat it and stared as Han Solo was lowered to he 'frozen'.

He shivered suddenly. "You cold, buddy?" Tony asked.

Peter shook his head and popped a few Cheerios in his mouth. "Happen to me." He pointed to the tv. "Cold."

"You were frozen?"

"Scary big ta'k. Cyo feeze."

"Cryo freeze?" Steve asked, and Peter nodded, shoveling a couple more Cheerios in his mouth. His fingers were sticky and he had food on his face.

Tony picked him up. "Alright, I think it's bath time, kiddo."

As reluctant as Peter looked, he didn't protest. Tony turned on the water, and Peter started crying when it was too cold. "I sorry! I sorry! I be good!" He wailed.

"Hey, hey, you're not in trouble." He picked Peter back up and held him close. "Don't be sorry, you're not in trouble."

"When I bad, they put me in cold wa'er."

"What if I warm it up?"

Peter nodded, but still clung onto Tony while he warmed the water up. "Feel it now, is it warm enough?"

He felt it now, and nodded. He sat still while Tony washed him up, then got hm dressed in pajamas. "You tired?"

"Mhm..."

"Alrighty, c'mere." He picked him up and carried him to the crib, but Peter started to panic.

"No! No!" He sobbed, clinging desperately to Tony. With his powers, it wasn't too hard. He sighed heavily.

"Alright, guess you're staying in the bed with me. Just for tonight though, okay?"

Peter nodded, and Tony laid him down. "I have a kiss?" He asked, hoping he wouldn't be refused.

Tony smiled softly and pressed a kiss to Peters forehead. "Do you want me to stay with you or can I go?"

"No go." He pleaded, grabbing Tony's hand.

"I'm not going." He laid down by Peter, who curled up next to him. They were both out in minutes.

—

The next morning, Peter did his best to feed himself without accidentally getting it everywhere, but he didn't have enough coordination yet.

Steve stepped in and helped.

"Full." He protested.

"Peter, I know you're not."

"Not need it."

"You wanna grow up and be a big boy? You gotta eat."

That convinced him. He ate every last bit that Steve fed him. "Peter, look at me for a second, okay?"

Peter looked up at him with wide brown eyes. "M'kay."

"If you're ever hungry or anything like that, tell us, okay? We can't read your mind. Just tell us."

"M'kay."

"You promise you will?"

"Promise. I a good boy."

"Yes, you're a very good boy."

Peter beamed, and Steve set him down. "Can you walk yet, buddy?"

"I walk! Look! I walk!" He took a few wobbly steps, and used the wall to steady himself. But then, he stuck to the wall. It didn't phase him much- he just carefully climbed up the wall.

Steve watched in awe, and Tony finally realized what was happening.

"Peter Parker, you get your ass down here right now!" Tony snapped.

Peter giggled and crawled down the wall. Steve picked him up. "Tony, don't yell at him- he doesn't know any better. Isn't that right, Pete?"

"I know lots of betters," he protested.

Tony smiled. "Oh, c'mere, buddy. I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"S'okay."

"You're adorable."

"No! No, I not! I not adorble."

The two adults smiled at the speech impediment. If they weren't so sure he'd grow out of it, they'd have enrolled him in speech classes. "Okay, you got me. You're not adorable."

Peter nodded, and wrapped his arms around Steve's neck. "Okay, kid, what do you wanna do today?"

"S'aw Wahs?"

"You wanna watch Star Wars again?" Tony sighed.

"Pretty please?"

"Look cuter!" Steve whispered, and Peter beamed at Tony.

"Pleeeeease?"

"JARVIS, play Star Wars." Tony called with a sigh.