194. Ransom
An-Peter is Tony's eight-year-old son who's just been kidnapped. Sure, the now free rogues and tony are on okay terms, but Steve didn't expect to get a call from Tony begging for his help
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Steve woke with a start when his phone started buzzing on the bedside, groaning and sitting up, forcing Bucky to sit up as well.
"What time is it?" He slurred tiredly. Steve rubbed his eyes, glancing at the clock that read 3:00 am.
"Three in the morning." He sighed, picking up his phone and wincing at the light, Bucky practically hissing and hiding his face in Steve's arm.
"Who the hell is calling at the in the damn morning?" Bucky asked in frustration. Steve froze when he saw the contact.
"It's Tony." He said quietly, hurriedly clicking accept call and pressing speaker phone. He was immediately met with sounds of crying and sniffling.
"You there Tony?" Steve asked quietly. They both heard shuffling sounds.
"Yeah sorry, I just thought you wouldn't pick up," Tony said, Steve narrowed his eyes when he realised Tony must have been trying for a very long time. Steve sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"So am I honestly. What do you need Tony?" Steve asked, glancing down at Bucky who was snuggling into Steve's side. He heard more shuffling noises.
"I can't explain why over the phone but uh, something happened," Tony paused and Steve could just tell he was refraining from sobbing, "And um, I need help but I didn't know who else to call." Steve was shocked of course, shaking Bucky awake again and standing up, snatching a pair of jeans off of the floor and throwing them at Bucky and picking up his own pair.
"What do you need?" Steve asked, grabbing his things and pulling on clothes.
"Just someone to be here. Uh, I don't really trust myself right now." Tony said, voice wobbling. Steve nodded to himself.
"You want me to call the team? Or you want me to call anyone else?" Steve asked, hurriedly packing his and Bucky's backpacks.
"Uhm. Rhodey's already on his way and you heard about Pepper and me. But if you could just tell the team I'll um, I'll make sure there's someone to pick them up." Tony said. Steve nodded to himself and pulled Bucky behind him.
"Okay. Just hang tight Tony."
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"So what did Tony say?" Clint asked tiredly, having been picked up from his farm in the middle of the night and now in the elevator with the team for the first time in at least three years.
"He said he couldn't talk about it over the phone and just that he needs someone here because he didn't trust himself," Steve said in explanation. Clint nodded as the door to the penthouse slid open. They all looked around in confusion when they realised the penthouse was deathly silent and dark. They all followed each other through the penthouse until they reached the kitchen where Tony was leaning over the counter and drinking from a glass while staring a hole in the counter.
"Since when did you drink beer?" Bruce asked quietly. Tony didn't even turn to look at him, taking another sip from the glass.
"It's not beer." He said quietly. His voice matched his appearance, shit. The team weren't sure how long since he'd had a decent nights sleep, eaten or drank water but they weren't going to ask either.
"Then what is it?" Clint asked. Tony narrowed his eyes down at the glass and swirled the liquid.
"Apple juice." He said quietly. Everyone rose a confused eyebrow at Tony, suddenly noticing the stack of police reports and piles of photographs on the counter. Bucky decided he'd pick up one of them and start reading through it.
"Why are you drinking apple juice?" Steve asked hesitantly. Tony's shoulders hunched and he broke into a fit of violent sobs, covering his face with one hand, the other coming up to tangle in his hair. Bucky wordlessly slid over the open file, a gaunt look on his face. There was a picture of a young boy with the biggest smile on his face and he looked almost identical to Tony.
Peter Stark, age eight, missing person report. Kidnapped and held for ransom.
Natasha rushed forward wordlessly and engulfed Tony in a tight hug, forcing him to straighten his back. He didn't say anything as he wrapped his own arms around Natasha, sobbing into her shoulder loudly, so hard Natashas body started shaking in him with him.
"Jesus Christ." Clint breathed, continuing to read through the file, the rest of the team reading over his shoulders and head.
"Taken at approximately eleven pm, traces of blood and other bodily fluids suggest a struggle," Bruce said quietly. Thor reached out wordlessly for Tony, wrapping his own arms around Natasha and Tony.
"E-Everything was fine! It was normal! We played with his legos l-like we always do until he was tired and I tucked him in!" Tony cried uselessly. Clint dropped the file and joined the hug, adding to the pressure.
"This wasn't your fault. You have done everything to make sure that this tower was safe." Clint said firmly. Tony made a quiet whimpering noise in response.
"What if they don't get him back? What if he's just lost forever?" Tony cried. Bruce, Steve and Bucky joined the hug, surrounding Tony.
"They will find him," Steve said firmly, tears of his own leaking from his eyes.
"I just miss him s-so much," Tony whispered, his hands fisting the fabric of Natasha's shirt, rubbing his back and running her other hand through his hair.
"We know. We know." Bruce soothed, rubbing Tony's arm. Tony just cried harder.
"I just want him back." He cried weakly.
"We will get him back Starkson."
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"Sir, the FBI delegate is currently in the elevator and headed your way," FRIDAY said. Tony jumped up from the couch, almost dislodging Natasha. The team had spent weeks cleaning up the penthouse and making sure Tony wasn't a risk to himself long before they even thought about helping with the search for Peter. The elevator doors slid open to show Peter rocking on his heels and holding hands with the delegate. The second he caught sight of Tony he tore out of the elevator and ran at him full speed.
"Daddy!" Peter shouted, jumping into Tony's waiting arms being hoisted into the air. He had a large gauze pad covering the majority of his neck and the right side of his face.
"Peter! Oh, my baby boy. My Bambino." Tony cried, holding Peter tightly to his body; Peter's arms around his neck, legs tight around his waist and face pressed into the crook of Tony's neck. Peter was crying heavily as was Tony.
"You're okay. You're, you're with me and you're safe. You're safe." Tony reassured, bouncing Peter slightly, swaying them and shushing Peter quietly.
"Scary." Peter cried. Tony nodded his head.
"I know bud. But you were so so so brave. You did nothing wrong. You're such a good boy Peter." Tony soothed gently. Peter sniffled several times before his breathing started to even out and his tears slowly stopped. Tony smiled weakly at the delegate as he weaved around the couches and slowly sat with Peter still sniffling into his shoulder.
"You wanna talk about it Bambi?" Tony asked gently, slowly prying Peter's away from his chest and settling him in his lap so Peter's side was facing him. Peter shrugged weakly, playing with Tony's fingers.
"I did everything you taught me if bad guys took me but I got caught and they hurt me cause they were really mad and stuff. I even got out of my handcuffs. Felt really cool." Peter said quietly. Tony pressed a firm but gentle kiss into Peter's hair.
"You did everything you could Pete. You did nothing wrong. None of what happened was your fault. Not one bit of it." Tony said firmly, holding Peter's face in his hands. Peter nodded slowly, hugging Tony around his middle.
"I love you daddy." He said, muffled by Tony's shirt. Tony sighed softly, running a hand through Peter's hair and the other holding him tightly.
"I love you too kiddo. Forever and always." Tony said. After several more minutes of hugs Peter pulled back and noticed the team, shying away from them and hiding in Tony's side.
"Hello." He said with a small wave. Natasha smiled warmly and waved back to him.
"Hello Peter. Your dads told us all about you." She said. Peter's eyes widened, a small smile growing on his face.
"He has?" He exclaimed.
"Yeah! All about you! He says you're the smartest little man he's ever known!" Clint exclaimed. Peter smiled wide and nodded his head.
"Yeah! I know all my time's tables! I don't even have to count of my fingers anymore!" Peter said excitedly.
"Wow! Not even I can do that! You must be the coolest guy at school!" Bucky said in fake awe making Peter bounce in his seat.
"Schools the best! My best friends name is Ned and he's really cool!" Peter said, sliding off of the couch at Tony's approval and bounding over to the team and switching between sitting with them, talking excitedly about school. Steve slowly stood up and sat next to Tony, watching Peter tug on Bucky's hair making Bucky smile fondly.
"He's never seen anyone with long hair," Tony said in explanation. Steve chuckled as Bucky and Natasha taught Peter how to braid long hair. Peter was listening intently with a concerned look on his face.
"Adorable little kid. I can see everyone loving him." Steve said, allowing tony to lean into his side.
"So can I. All his teachers love him to bits," Tony said quietly, silently wiping his face.
"What um, what caused the gauze?" He asked quietly. Tony sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"In the struggle when they took him. His whole face and neck were cut up." Tony said softly, smiling slightly when Peter succeeded in making a braid in Natasha's hair, although it was wonky and uneven it was still a braid.
"It's gonna scar you know," Steve said quietly. Tony chuckled quietly.
"He won't mind. He'll say he's like Anakin from Star Wars." Tony said. Steve chuckled quietly, patting Tony's shoulders.
"Bright kid."
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