It Wasn't Your Fault

Chapter 3

Steve was jolted out of his head by a deep sigh and the shifting of the sheets. Peter's eyes opened and immediately landed on him. With a smile, he moved to sit on the edge of the bed, laying his right hand on Peter's back and rubbing in large, slow circles.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. Peter shrugged and moved closer to lay his head on Steve's leg, closing his eyes as his forehead pressed against the lower right side of the man's stomach. Hiding. He knew how to try and be cute to avoid a conversation. The hand in his hair told him he'd gotten away with it. Or so he thought. "That might work on Tony, but not me, kiddo. We gotta talk about this."

"About what?" Peter said after he pulled back a bit, his head resting on Steve's knee while he played with a loose thread on the man's shirt. Steve stilled his left hand, holding it gently.

"You know what. Why did you get upset when Bucky was helping you change?" Peter froze, trying to come up with an excuse. He couldn't think of anything. "Peter, tell me what happened, please."

"I...I can't," Peter whispered. Steve tugged him into a sitting position, the dim outdoor lights from the Compound shining through the window to show the understanding on his face. He placed his right hand on Peter's cheek.

"Peter, did someone hurt you?"

Please, God, let him say no. Not Peter.

The warmth and love pouring out of Steve's eyes broke Peter. He nodded as his face collapsed in anguish. Steve opened his arms, remembering how he'd reacted when Bucky first tried to comfort him. Peter leaned forward and pressed his face into his t-shirt as he wept. Steve rested his chin on top of Peter's head and rubbed his back.

"I-I didn't...I couldn't-." Peter wasn't able to finish, but Steve knew. Smart, sweet, heart-of-gold Peter had been raped. But he needed him to say it, to hear it for himself. Steve hesitated, steeling himself.

"Were you raped, Peter?" Peter's breath caught in his throat before he nodded again, scrabbling at the back of Steve's shirt like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Steve squeezed as hard as Peter did, rocking him back and forth. "I've got you. I've got you, Pete. It's gonna be okay. Easy, it's all right."

"I didn't w-."

"I know, buddy. It wasn't your fault." Peter pulled back to object and Steve placed a finger over his lips. "No, Peter. There's nothing about this that could have possibly been your fault. You didn't ask for this. Understand?"

Peter nodded, but was still hesitant to believe him. Steve sighed and settled his hands in his lap, looking out the window.

"I know what you're going through, Peter. It...it happened to me, too. Twice." Peter stared at him in shock and sympathy. "I'm okay now. It was a long time ago. But I remember how scared I was. It was a different time and the only people that were believed to be capable of rape were men. That just...wasn't the case the first time."

"A...woman?" Peter asked, relief in his eyes. Steve nodded.

"My teacher."

"I'm sorry you went through that."

"Me too." Steve looked him in the eye and Peter teared up again. He pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, laying his cheek on them.

"It was last week...a guy from school. And his girlfriend. They...figured out who I was and cornered me. Said it was my fault their parents were gone after Thanos. That I wasn't strong enough. I took something from them, so they took something from me," he said in a wrecked voice, burying his face in his arms. Steve laid a hand on the back of his head, scooting closer so he could rest his head next to Peter's and kiss his temple.