Sticks and Stones

6

Tony hadn't yet apologized to Peter- he hadn't seen him. Early the next morning, Pepper picked him up to babysit for a while.

"I'm a horrible person." Tony stressed. "I yelled at him for crying but he was probably in a lot of pain."

"Tony, you didn't know. He's fine, now." Steve assured him.

"I didn't even say bye to the poor kid,"

"I'm sure he doesn't mind."

—

"What do you mean my kid is missing, Pepper?" Tony demanded. "Look, I love you dearly, but if my son is hurt, I will not hesitate to hurt you."

"Tony, you're not hurting Pepper." Steve warned. "We'll find him."

"We had fucking better."

—

Peter sat in the cell, watching Ultron closely.

"C-3PO?" He asked.

He wasn't too sure, but he knew C-3PO wouldn't kidnap him. Well, he hoped so. Besides, this robot wasn't gold.

"No. Nothing like him. Polar opposites, in fact."

"Where we at?"

"Say it right."

Peter looked at him in confusion.

"You're just a stupid kid. No one loves you."

"Daddies love me."

"No, they don't. They only have you because they feel bad for you."

Peter thought back to Tony yelling at him two nights ago, and sank back a bit, falling onto his butt. His stomach growled loudly.

"Aw, is the poor baby hungry?" Ultron growled, getting closer to him.

He nodded, eyes shining with tears.

"Then starve."

—

Hours passed. Peter had resorted to gnawing on the bars of the cell, hoping for food of some kind, any kind.

Ultron returned and threw a woman into the cell with him. "Na'asha!" He exclaimed, hugging her tightly.

She stirred slightly and woke up. "Peter? Are you okay?"

He didn't respond, and as she situated into a sitting position, he sat in her lap, wrapping his arms around her neck. She felt his forehead, checking for a fever. "I bet you're hungry, huh, sweetheart?"

He nodded hesitantly.

"As soon as we're out of here, we'll get you some food, okay? Your dads are worried."

"Daddies love me?"

"Of course they do, Peter. Who said they didn't?"

Peter cast a look over his shoulder at Ultron, and Natasha scowled, and set him down. She stalked over to the bars of the cell. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"More like what isn't."

"He's just a baby. He needs to eat."

"Let him starve. I'm solving your overpopulation problem."

"By killing little kids?"

"You've killed, too, Natasha."

"Not babies!"

Ultron glances behind Natasha and saw Peter sticking to the wall. He looked to Natasha, and blasted her, then grabbed Peter and flew off.

—

Ultron shoved Peter into Wanda's arms. "Take care of it."

She and Pietro pretended not to know him. "It?"

"The kid! Feed it, change it! He's... different. He could be useful."

With that, Ultron flew off once more. "Wan'a!" He squealed, hugging her tightly.

"Hello, Peter." She smiled softly, brushing his curls out of his face.

"What about me?" Pietro teased.

"Pie'ro!"

"Hello, my little friend. Come on, let's get you fed and change your diaper."

—

They went to the local supermarket and bought lots of food, which Peter ate quickly. After that, Pietro changed his diaper and his clothes (but they didn't have baby clothes, so they dressed him in t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts).

"Oh, is this your son?" The lady at the cash register asked Wanda.

"No, just a... cousin."

"Aw, that's nice of you to take care of him."

"Yes."

—

"I go' 'oo daddies, now!" He exclaimed. "S'eve and 'ony!"

"That's great!" Wanda said. "Are they nice to you?"

"Yeah!"

"Do you want us to take you to them?" Pietro asked, and his eyes widened.

"Yes! Please," he added sheepishly.

The twins laughed. Pietro sped to Stark Tower with Peter, first. "I have your son." He announced, handing him to Tony.

"Oh, thank god, you're okay." He hugged him tightly, and Peter kissed his cheek. Tony chuckled. "I missed you, buddy."

"Mist you, 'oo." He said. "He has Na'asha!"

"Who does?" Clint asked.

"Mean C-3PO."

"Ultron?" Bruce asked.

"No! Mean C-3PO!" Peter protested.

"His name is Ultron, my small friend." Pietro explained.

"Mean C-3PO." He grumbled.

"Okay, fine- mean C-3PO. Do you know where he is?" Bruce asked. He shrugged, and grabbed a pen off the table to chew on.

Steve took Peter from Tony and took the pen away from him. He pouted, but didn't try to take it back. "Okay. Peter, Happy is gonna babysit while we go do a... thing."

"Happy!" Peter cheered.