long overdue

[watchesthewatchers]

It's Ricki's little ramshackle apartment, but there Peter is one morning, perched on the loveseat, reading a file, waiting for Bruce Wayne to arrive.

He has a gun, but tucked out of sight, not on his person. Just in case.

Comments

[watchesthewatchers]

He shushes him, making it to his feet on his own.

"Think he's angry?"

[profiteering]

He takes a slow breath and shakes his head.

"No way he could be yet. I haven't told him anything."

He doesn't like not being there when Bruce is angry.

[watchesthewatchers]

"Are you going to?"

Asking, carefully.

[profiteering]

"Yes."

He kisses his temple and gets them into the elevator.

"It'll be okay, Peter."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Thank you, sir."

Relaxing into him.

"It's done, either way."

[profiteering]

"Yeah but there's always something that has to be done after."

For Tony it's going to be dealing with some anger once Peter is safe and tucked away. He steps them off the elevator into his floor.

"Bruce?"

[zen_en_vert]

"Hi." Says Bruce, in a dressing gown and slippers, looking anxious. "Why is Bruce Wayne asking to hear when Peter comes home?"

[profiteering]

"Good question. No word from Ricki?"

He sets Peter on the sofa and goes to get him water.

"He got in a fight with Peter. Wayne did."

[zen_en_vert]

"Oh, sweetheart. I'll get ice."

Tutting, swishing away in a vision of terrycloth.

Peter curls his knees to his chest and looks up at Tony.

[profiteering]

"How's the pain?"

He asks, forcing himself not to pace.

[watchesthewatchers]

"It's painy. I hate him, Tony."

Breathing out.

"I can't kill him. Normally when people are objectionable I can at least comfort myself with knowing I could make them die."

[profiteering]

"There's always petty revenge."

When he smiles it's too thin.

[watchesthewatchers]

"I want a sniper rifle for Christmas."

Unrelated note.

[profiteering]

"So you can pretend to shoot him from here?"

He smirks, and has Jarvis bring up a catalogue of rifles for him to peruse. Just for fun. Just so Tony can step away for a moment and try to breathe.

[watchesthewatchers]

"He didn't break my wrist. I'm not lying about that."

Peter tells him, distantly.

[profiteering]

"You didn't trip and fall, Peter. We're not lying about that either. Bruce breaks bones, yours aren't the first."

[watchesthewatchers]

"I didn't trip, but he didn't do it, all right? I can't say more than that, but I need you to believe me. It's the truth. I'm not some twittering I walked into a door, I swear bit of fluff, Tony."

Looking him right in the eye.

"Trust me."

[profiteering]

Tony sits down beside him, and massages tension out of the back of Peter's neck. He needs something to do with his hands.

"Then you need to tell Bruce what did happen. Wayne is my friend, but he's more than that for Bruce."

[watchesthewatchers]

"He'll understand."

Peter predicts, quietly, leaning back into his hands.

[profiteering]

"He will."

Bruce always understands. It's why he has become the one that Tony goes to.

"But you have to tell him."

[watchesthewatchers]

"I'll talk to him."

Is all he'll agree to.

It's a step.

[profiteering]

"Good boy."

He kisses him lightly.

"I need a drink. Want one? Wait--did they give you pills already?"

[watchesthewatchers]

"I hate medication and I don't take pills from strangers."

Sneering.

[profiteering]

"Good. A drink isn't medication, and I think after you see someone naked three times you can't call them a stranger anymore."

Tony winks at him and pours himself a glass. Then he pours Peter one, too; if he doesn't want it he can just let the ice melt in it.

[watchesthewatchers]

"Everyone's seen you naked three times."

Protests Peter, mutinously.