*Location- Stark towers*

-Third Person P.O.V-

Tony paced impatiently outside the med-bay, he would be in there right now, but he had quickly been thrown out, been told 'they have to work,' he had tried to argue but after a swift glare from Cho he decided it would be best to leave.

He knew the others would be here soon and he couldn't shake the dread that was building up within him. He knew he had to let them in, or Peter would be more than annoyed at Tony. He also knew it was about time he sorted the accords out before it was too late. It didn't mean he had to like them, nor forgive them, but it would allow them to at least all be civil with each other and get Ross off all of their backs.

Tony scrubbed a tired hand over his face as FRIDAY told him the others had just got here. He had thought, for hours upon hours on how he could fix the accords without completely going against what both parties had demanded, but it was quiet hard.

Realistically he knew Ross won't allow for there not to be the accords, they needed to take responsibility for what they did to the city when they were trying to save it. Tony knew as well that if there were no accords signed, there would be outrage from the people who have been affected from there hero acts.

With that in mind, the only thing that he could think of getting around this was making it less strict. So, instead of being under the government's thumb and unable to do anything for themselves, Tony decided he could instead, make it so they can still do what they want (going after certain people. Doing it when they want and so on), but they all need to make sure to try and keep minimal damage to the city and people, and after all of it, help with any damage they caused, it was only fair to the innocent people.

Tony knew it would be difficult to make Steve and the others agree, but he knew it was the only way to appease both sides. I mean it's not like he himself was happy with the outcome of all of this, he didn't want to be dragged under by the government and held at their control all the time; but he knew it was their only choice.

To add to that, there was Peter. The kid seemed to have been able to worm his way into everyone's lives without even meaning to, and now, he seemed to be bringing everyone together in one big bang of well... Peter.

God, he really hoped the kid was okay. It really looked as though he had been thrown through a meat grinder and then run over by many trucks, over and over again.

To add to that, there was the mystery of how Peter somehow came to know all of the Avengers and work his way into all of their hearts. It was obvious straight away Peter was something important to them all, especially Bucky, with the way he was quick to be beside Peter, and for Peter to latch onto Bucky without any form of hesitation or fear.

While Tony really thought there would be no one Bucky would ever let near him, and initiate any form of physical contact, it seemed as though Bucky was more than willing to allow for it to happen. All the time Tony had known Peter as well, he had only ever seen Peter that relaxed while hugging someone when it was him, but now it seemed he was just as comfortable hugging Bucky, in fact, probably more so.

The question is, how did this all happen.

'Boss, the rouge Avengers have arrived,' FRIDAY voiced, snapping Tony from his questioning.

Tony took a shaking breath, willing his beating, erratic heart to slow down. He had to be strong for Peter, he couldn't let his past judgements take over right now, not when Peter needed them all there for him right now.

Heavy footfalls could be heard from down the hall, and when Tony pulled his gaze from the floor, he could see Barnes at the front, leading the group in. One look at Buckys face and Tony knew this was just as serious for Bucky as it were for Tony.

Before Tony could say anything, Bucky spoke up.

"How's Peter?" Bucky asked, casting a look into the room Peter was being treated in, although all you could see were a lot of nurses and doctors running about.

Tony didn't respond for a moment and instead looked around the room, Bucky was still stood at the front, with the others all stood behind him. He could see the obvious worry clear on Steve's face, Natasha's eyes were hard and Tony could spot the worry within them, Wanda was looking down at the floor a sad look over her eyes, Clint was looking just the same as Natasha but with more obvious signs of worry on his face and Sam and Scott looked as though they was ready to hurt someone as well as being worried for Peter.

"I don't know anything right now, they won't let anyone in until he is stable," Tony explained, looking to everyone as he spoke.

Bucky looked as though he was about to erupt, both fists tightened and his metal arm flexed angrily, but before he could say anything, Steve spoke up.

"Tony, I know this probably isn't the best time. But I am really, really sorry for everything that happened," Steve spoke, his voice quiet, yet more than audible in the quiet room.

Anger worked its way though Tony when he heard that. He knew at one point he would need to accept what happened and work through it all, but he also knew right now was not the right time for it. Not when Peter was laying in the other room, in pain and hurt and none of them have any idea as of why.

"Not right now Rogers- we'll- we'll talk about this once we know Peter is okay. Because from the looks of it, the kid isn't about to let me kick you all out, at least not without showing the puppy eyes," Tony mused quietly to himself.

Bucky's eyes perked up a little and tentatively, he looked at Tony. "He does the puppy eye look at you too?"

Tony looked at Bucky shocked but nodded none the less, a small smile making its way onto his face. "Yeah, whenever he wants something, or has done something, he always does it, it's my weakest link when it comes to him."

Bucky chuckled quietly and nodded, making Tony look at him in shock. Tony never expected to be actually having a normal conversation for Bucky Barnes after everything that had happened.

"Peter always does it with me, but honestly, he doesn't even need to even use them half the time though because he knows I'll always say yes either way," Bucky replied, a fond look on his face as he said it.

Tony didn't have the time to respond before the door to Peters room was being opened, drawing all their attention to Dr Cho.

"How is he?" Tony asked right away, every other thought dissipating as soon as he saw the doctor.

Dr Cho sighed and shook her head slightly, setting everyone on edge straight away. "He'll heal, but it's not good. Nearly all of his ribs are either broken, fractured or bruised, it's obvious his ribs take a beating on the daily, old breaks and fractures can be seen from a long time ago that healed slightly wrong," Doctor Cho started, allowing a moment for that to sink in.

Bucky looked at the floor with a sad look, he knew the kid was always taking a beating, but hearing it made it even worse, knowing well before Bucky had met and been able to help Peter that he was suffering all alone.

Tony was angry, more than angry. He couldn't stand the thought at knowing his kid had been through Hell and he wasn't there to help him. God knows how long Peter has been dealing with this all alone and having no one to turn to, how long had he been alone and in pain. And where it all came from was another whole thing within itself.

"He has an obvious head wound, the whole right side of his face is covered in bruises and cuts. The most concerning being the one across his hair line. He also has quiet the bump to the back of his head, leaving him with a grade three concussion which we are having to monitor. Even with his fast rate healing, it will take a while for it all to clear up," Doctor Cho continued, knowing every bit of information she gives to them is another blow for them all.

"He is clearly malnourished; with his fast metabolism and limited food he is clearly underweight. Because of this, his healing is slowed remarkably and that's why his injuries have yet to clear. From what we can work out, these injuries were received Thursday or Friday."

Everyone felt their stomachs drop when they heard this. Both Tony and Bucky had known something was wrong. And yet they had been unable to do anything. And knowing that what had happened ended with Peter having the shit beaten out of him was not something they were very happy about.

"There are many bruises across the whole of his body, his right wrist has a hairline fracture and some old fractures that healed wrong," Doctor Cho explains, looking at them all as she ends her explanation of the injuries Peter had received.

Bucky felt as though he was seconds away from throwing up. This was- this was bad, and it was obvious this had been going on for a while. He had known Peter was getting bullied, and he knew it was bad. But surely it couldn't have been this bad, Bucky had tried so hard to make sure Peter was okay, but it was more than obvious now how much he had failed to be a big brother and protect Peter.

Tony wanted to kill someone to put it lightly. How dare someone think they have any right hurting Peter. Much like Bucky, he knew Peter was getting bullied, but he had never expected it to be this bad. Sure, he could see the bruises when Peter came to the tower, and sometimes he would have his questions, but he never wanted to push too much, knowing how much Peter hated when Tony brought it up.

"Do you know how all this happened?" Sam was the one to ask the question they all had.

Doctor Cho sighed sadly before responding, "he said it had been from bullies and patrol. But I really don't know, sure it explains some of it but not everything. Such as his old unhealed wounds and the malnourishment."

"Well he only has his aunt, and from the sounds of it they've always struggled with money, so that might explain the malnourishment," Bucky spoke up, hating that he was having to say this about his brother. He always tried to make sure Peter had something to eat when he was with Bucky.

Tony looked at Bucky shocked for a moment before voicing something himself, "same thing when he was here. And he never really spoke about his aunt, spoke more about his uncle and such. May, his aunt sounds nice from what I hear, but it's very limited knowledge."

Bucky nods in agreement, "Peter really liked his Uncle. I never head much about his Aunt, he kept quiet when it came to her, but some things I got from him didn't make her sound like the best, but then again it was right around the time his uncle had just passed."

Wanda was the one to say what everyone didn't want to say, "you all aren't seriously suggesting it was his aunt. Are you?"

Bucky and Tony looked at one and another. This was the first time the pair had ever looked each other in the eye once Tony had known what Bucky had done to his parents.

Tony could see the worry, sorrow, love and guilt all within his eyes. He could see just how much Peter meant to Bucky, and from the looks of it, how worried he was for the kid. He could also see the guilt that was pointed at Tony, showing just how sorry he really was for everything that had happened to Tony, and from the looks of it, the guilt he held for allowing this to happen to Peter.

Bucky could see near the same looks within Tony. Knowing the man loved Peter as though he was his own son, and the guilt he had for blaming Bucky for everything that had happened with no thought of the control Bucky really had through the whole ordeal.

Both men could see just how much Peter meant to them both, and they knew this would be something that would bring both of them together and allow for them to move on with their life.

Hopefully.

Bucky was the first to speak, "I don't think so. I just- I really hope not. But I feel like we should ask him. Too many times he came to me hurt and in pain, and I can't stand the thought of allowing him back somewhere that will get him hurt."

Tony was quick to nod in agreement, "I agree. We need to ask him, and trust that he will tell us."

"Peter has always been scared of people, making eye contact or doing anything wrong would make him on edge and flinch away whenever someone even moved closed to him. It's better now that he knows us, but something just doesn't sit right with me," Bucky explained, thinking back to all the times Peter had flinched, not been able to look Bucky in the eyes or seemed as though he was readying for Bucky to lash out.

Tony and everyone else nodded their agreement, all thinking back to their own times with Peter when the kid had given off signs of the abuse they hoped was not happening. They all knew however, that without Peter telling them, there was nothing that they could do about it.

Doctor Cho looked at them all with dark eyes, "what ever it is that's happening to Peter. It needs to stop sooner rather than later. Because it's killing him, and I really don't know how much more his body can take."

"Are we okay to see him now?" Bucky asked, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over them all after hearing the news.

Cho nodded before quickly speaking, "normally I would say you can't all be in there. But I don't see the point in saying that. Just make sure not to crowd him, and if he gets tired, then you have to leave."

They all nodded in agreement before they trailed behind Cho and into the room. Bucky and Tony were at the front, making sure they would be the first to be beside Peter than the others.

Peter was awake, laying in the bed. Fear was obviously present in his eyes as he kept them down cast, afraid that everything was about to blow up in his face. He remembered Bucky telling him none of them were angry at him, but he was unable to quill the anxious fear coursing through his body.

The thoughts that were surrounding him were making it hard for him to swallow down the fear that was coiling in his stomach. For all he knew, this could be the last time he could see them all, after this they could throw him away and leave him all alone. It's not like he didn't even deserve it, after all, he had lied to them all and didn't say anything about knowing any of them. To add to it, he had allowed for them to trust him with their secrets of everything that had happened, and now it was as though he was throwing it all back in their face.

Oh my God, he had fucked up. He had really, really fucked up this time.

"Pete," Bucky whispered as he sat down beside the head of Peters bed, Tony was quick to take the other side.

Peter swallowed down the fear in order to utter the only words he felt he could say right now, "I'm- I'm so sorry."

Everyone in the room frowned at that, unable to understand why Peter would be sorry.

Tony was the one to voice these thoughts, "why are you sorry kiddo?"

Peter swallowed thickly, forcing himself to look at his brother and not dad, dad one last time before it was all blown up in his face. As much as he didn't want to admit it, these people had become his family, the only people in his life he could really trust (aside from Ned now) and he didn't want to lose it. But now, thinking about it, he didn't think he really deserved to have a family, not after the lies and deceit he had done.

"I- I lied to you all," Peter whispered, his voice cracking in misery.

Everyone in the room looked at one and another at that, wondering what it was Peter had lied about.

"What do you mean Pete?" Bucky asked, his voice soft and forgiving. Though is shocked Tony slightly hearing this side of Bucky, from the looks of the others it seemed as though it was something that happened a lot when Peter was around.

Tears filled his eyes and a single tear rolled down his eyes before he whipped angrily at his eyes, not allowing himself to show any weakness.

"I never- I never told you I knew you all. You all- you all told me so, so much about what had happened. And I- I lied to you all. But I didn't mean to I- I swear. It just- it just happened, and I was- I was going to tell you, but I was- I was so scared that I would lose you all. You became- you became my family, and I swear- I didn't meant to lie- I swear. But I just, I'm sorry. Please- please don't leave me, I didn't- please."

Bucky was quick to grab hold of his hand, while Peter flinched at the contact, he was quick to settle when he felt how softly Bucky was holding his hand. "Peter, I don't know about the others, but I don't care. And I highly doubt the other do as well, Peter you're my little brother, I trust you with all my secrets and my life. This hasn't changed anything for me," Bucky spoke, his voice soft and caring.

Peter forced himself to look up and at Bucky, he could see how genuine Bucky was and knew he was being serious. Before he could process it though, Tony was carefully grabbing his other hand and speaking.

"I, for the first time, agree with Barnes on this one. You're like a son to me Peter, you were the one I wanted to talk to about what happened because I trusted you, and I still do. I don't regret telling you anything about that, and I never will. You didn't lie Peter, I know how scared it must have been for you, and I could never be annoyed at you for that."

Peter looked at Tony then, his hands shaking slightly at the prospect of everything about to fall apart. Peter didn't think he could last the loss of the people he know saw as family, he had lost too much and gone through too much to be able to deal with this now.

"Really? You- You really mean that?" Peter whispered, unable to form any sentence without his stutter coming out.

Peter really, truly thought that this was the end for him, that there was no way in Hell that he was going to be able to carry on like this. After all, he had lied to them all, sure, it wasn't really lying, but he should have said something. He shouldn't have allowed for them to say so much when he knew them all personally and could tell anyone about it.

But looking at everyone in the room now, he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he was actually wrong, and that maybe, somehow, everyone wasn't really angry at him. The only emotion he could gain from them all was worry.

Peter also didn't want to think about what caused him to be here, he knew they would be more than annoyed if he told them the truth. Not only that, he knew he couldn't tell them the truth, no matter how much he might want to, he knew he couldn't.

'Tell anyone Peter, and I will kill you,' The words of May's threat lay heavy in his mind as he looked around the room.

He also knew that if he told anyone, they themselves would end up dead. The image of his dead Uncle, bleeding out in front of him flashed through his mind and he couldn't stop the shiver that ran down his spine at that.

"Peter, you didn't lie to us. You've helped all of us. Hell, look at us, we're all in the same room and not trying to kill each other. And that's because we all have something in common again. You. We all care about you. Something like that wouldn't change how much you mean to all of us. We aren't angry at you Peter, we're a Hell of a lot more worried about what happened kid," Tony responded, gaining nods from everyone around the room.

Peter didn't have time to respond before Bucky was speaking up as well, "he's right Pete. And we want to know how this happened, we're worried about you Pete. You always seem to get hurt, and this- this is really serious Peter, we want to protect you, but we can't do that if we don't know what's going on."

While everyone else was close with Peter, they all knew to leave this to Bucky and Tony, they were the closest to Peter and they knew it probably wouldn't help if they said anything right now.

Peter kept his eyes down cast, unwilling to allow himself to look at anyone as he thought about what he could say. Part of him was screaming that this was the time, he could finally be free and happy, he could wake up and not fear for his life after every beat of his heart.

Yet the other part shouted and screamed that if he said anything, it would be the end of his and everyone else's lives in the room. And he couldn't- no matter what- risk that if it were the case. He could deal with himself, he could deal with the pain, the fear and anything else thrown at him if it meant his family was safe. There was no way he was going to allow the safety of his family to be put at risk for his own, there was no way he would allow that to happen.

So, with a deep, steadying breath, he steeled himself for one more lie, knowing this would be the hardest one yet. He opened his mouth to respond-

"Peter, is it- is it your aunt? Has she- has she been hurting you?" Tony asked, his voice strained and on edge.

Now, now is his time. Now it can be all over. It can finally be over and he can finally be free. He can be safe, surrounded by his family, he can finally, finally, be free.

Peter steadied his heart and slowed his breathing, forcing himself to look at everyone in the room.

"It was just a really, really bad patrol after a pretty bad beating from a bully at school."

And God, why did it sound so, so believing in his ears. There was no shake to his voice, no hesitation, and he knew he had done it. Peter can tell straight away that they believe him, and a part of him wishes that they didn't. He wishes that someone would see through the thinly veiled lies, see the pain Peter is in and tell him it will all be okay now. But they don't, instead they look at him sadly before telling him how they'll be sure to talk to the school and sort the issue out.

God, why couldn't he just tell them the truth. He could be free from all the pain, but instead he swallows down the truth in favour of more lies.

The problem is, his body is breaking quicker than he is allowing for his mind to keep up. And soon, it'll be too late to save himself before his body gives up entirely.

Maybe one day he will be able to tell them the truth behind the cuts and bruises.

But will it be too late to save him. 

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A/N- I love leaving you guys on cliff hangers. It gives me life. 

4.2k words

- Bear xx