Mending the Broken

The Truth Breaks Free, Something Sparks, and Actions are Taken

Tony latched onto the only thing, or person in this case, he knew he could trust wholeheartedly. Tony knew he was probably screwing himself over by trusting anyone. But, he couldn't help but trust Steve. The four sat at the kitchen table. "Do you want to tell us what's going on Tony?" Sarah asked kindly. Her tone was open, signaling that if the teen didn't want to talk, he didn't need to. Tony didn't say anything for a while, but, when he did...it took them by surprise.

"My dad's gonna be really mad that I'm telling anyone this..." The teen said. For once there was no stutter, no pause in his voice.

Sarah nodded softly, though unsurely.

Tony took that as an opening to talk. "So...I should start with the beginning, right?" It was a rhetorical question. "So...most of everything started about six months ago when my mom passed away..." Tony looked down at his hands which were resting on the table. "My dad...well...you see...he...um...kinda...uh...blamed...me for it..."

There was that unsure, not-at-all-confident voice again. "A-and...and...so...so uh...he...um..."

Tony cut off again.

"I'm going to be straight. You aren't going to like this next question, but we need to know," Joseph said. Tony nodded. "Is your father abusing you?" 

Tony's eyes filled with tears. He looked down at his hands again, wringing them in anxiousness, before he finally nodded softly. Tony, thankful that he was so small, put his feet on the chair and curled in on himself. His head between his knees, his face burning with shame. He didn't want to see their reactions. Surely if his father hated him enough to beat him, they wouldn't want him around anymore.

He felt a hand under his chin. Lifting it up. It wasn't like his father's harsh movements. It was so much more gentle and kind. He found himself looking into Steve's blue eyes once again. "That's not true."

'Shit, I said that outloud...?' Tony thought to himself.

There was silence for a minute. "We'll figure something out. Why don't you just stay here while we sort this out?" Sarah asked softly.

"I don't know..."

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Everyone was worried about Tony. It was only natural to be worried, he had literally thought about offing himself a few hours ago. Natasha, Clint, Bruce, and Sam, who stayed friday night, went home.

While Steve's parents talked about their next move, Tony and Steve went to Steve's room. "You wanna watch a movie...?" Steve asked.

"S-sure..." Tony replied. They ended up turning on The Lion King. Steve sat against the corner of the wall by his bed. Tony sat on the other side of Steve. About ten minutes into the movie, Tony laid against Steve's shoulder. "Steve...?"

"Yeah Tones?"

"You really think...you really think they'll help?"

"My parents? Of course they will," Steve said. "I haven't got a doubt about it,"

"Oh god...what am I going to do?" Tony asked sitting up. He turned to look at Steve.

Steve looked into the soft cinnamon brown eyes that were so full of fear. "He's going to be furious...what if something happens? What if he tries to deny it? What if-"

"Tony," Steve's tone was quiet but firm. "Nothing is going to happen to you."

"You can't promise that, Steve!" Tony yelled. "You can't promise that."

"I know Tony. I know I can't promise that," Steve said. He almost sounded disappointed. "But I can promise that I won't let anything happen to you."