you are my strange addiction

ch. 5 - tainted but tough

        Tony and Steve Stark-Rogers were facing a dilemma with their son, Peter. They had figured they'd have to deal with this situation with all of their children at some point, but then again this was their family. They weren't exactly, conventional. This wasn't a normal breakup that Peter had went through. This wasn't a normal family talk to be given by his parents. Then again, they weren't a normal family.

They both knew that they didn't have it normal, or easy, when it came to comparing themselves to other families. How could they? Even if they quit their jobs, moved far away, and went off the radar, people still knew who they were. Everyone knew who their children were. That was part of the problem that they're in now.

Steve rested his feet on the end corner of Peter's hospital bed, with his legs crossed. His head was laid back, in the direction of the ceiling, breathing contently. Sitting beside him, was his husband in the other uncomfortable hospital chair. Tony glanced at Steve, wondering how he could sleep so easily. Steve looked so peaceful, which made him jealous. Tony sat in the chair with his arms crossed, staring at his son, while the worst thoughts went through his mind.

Peter had a breathing mask over his mouth, as they were performing a sleep study. He had been waking up and falling back asleep since he'd been admitted, which is normal, due to the sedation, but every time he woke in a panic, unable to breathe. By tomorrow night, they would have a diagnosis, mostly likely being a sleep disorder related to anxiety. That's what Steve and Tony were told by the hospital staff, anyway.

Just yesterday, Peter was leaving Stark Tower telling his dads he loved them. They didn't know where he was actually going. Anger filled Tony. He couldn't be mad at Peter, though. Not now at least. That monster manipulated his son. Tony, as well as Steve, couldn't help but to feel so responsible for all of the events that happened. If they had known who their son was really seeing, they could've prevented this from happening. Peter wouldn't be breathing through a mask right now. He wouldn't be sticked with IVs and have a heart monitor. He wouldn't be tied down so he wouldn't hurt himself. Tony swore that it wasn't all that long ago, that Peter was just as helpless as he was in this moment. Only then, he was innocent and not tainted by the world. Was Peter tainted by having two superhero parents? Or was he tainted by having Tony Stark as a parent?

That day seemed like a blur, but at the same time he remembered everything.

Tony remembered Nick Fury's words so clearly.

•

"The kid is an orphan." Nick Fury shook his head, frowning.

"Oh, God" Steve rubbed his eyes, as everyone gasped and shook their heads. "I figured this would be the case, but I wish it wasn't."

The SHIELD team stood in the hospital waiting room, some of them now pacing. The hardest part of being an avenger wasn't saving people. The hardest part was dealing with the fact, that they couldn't save some people. It's not like they didn't try.

The building collapsed, nearly on Captain America, as he ran out with a two week old infant in his arms. No, the avengers didn't have any business putting out fires or rescuing people from them. That wasn't part of their job description, but then again, a lot of the things that they did wasn't part of their job description. They were superheroes, emphasizing super. The police department and fire department took care of the regular crimes and tragedies.

When Steve happened to hear about the burning house, he hear someone say that it wasn't possible for the firefighters to get in the building. Steve shook his head, still considering why the hell he and the avengers didn't help with stuff like this. Then they mentioned that there was a kid inside. In minutes, Captain America was telling the fire department to politely fuck off (in his own words, of course) when they told him not to go in. Of course, Cap found a way in.