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]

It's splinted up. Peter starts trembling under his touch, just giving in now that he's here.

"He's with Wayne, I think. We said goodbye."

[profiteering]

"Look...believe it or not this is not the worst fight that's happened in my inner sanctum."

He sighs and kisses Peter's temple.

"We'll work it out. But either you let me take you to a hospital for this, or...I kick and scream and drug you and take you to a doctor anyway. Bruce could probably fix it, too, but he'll probably just say 'go to the ER'. You can do it for me--I like your wrist being flexible."

Miming a handjob for a second, trying desperately to make Peter smile.

[watchesthewatchers]

"Is there someone we can see in New York?"

Peter asks, hopefully, sinking down onto the foot of the bed. The joke doesn't even get a flicker of a smile, unfortunately.

[profiteering]

"Of course. Want to go now?"

First he'll care for Peter. Then, he'll probably rant to Banner. And then he'll try to talk to Ricki without picking a fight with Wayne.

[watchesthewatchers]

"Please."

He leans heavily into him, breath going out of him in a rush.

"Get me out of here."

[profiteering]

"Okay. Come on, your chariot's downstairs."

He hovers with Peter as if afraid he might collapse.

[watchesthewatchers]

He pulls himself upright, and squares his shoulders off before they leave the room, moving cool and casual and perfect.

Anyone watching would never know he'd batted an eyelash, just in case.

[profiteering]

He takes him to a SHIELD doctor, someone who doesn't ask questions. No one asks Tony anything anymore.

Then he takes him home.

[watchesthewatchers]

Peter lets Tony drive, and passes out against the car window, cheek coming in beautiful shades of violet, pressed against the cool glass to hide it, to soothe it a little.

[profiteering]

"Jarvis, tell Bruce to get us some ice."

Tony says when they pull into the garage. He brushes his fingers against Peter's good cheek to wake him.

[watchesthewatchers]

Peter looks up at him, muzzily.

"Tony?"

Pleased to see him, at least.

"We're out of the city?"

[profiteering]

"In a different city. We're home."

He kisses his cheek.

"Let's go get you some ice and a drink. You can sleep in my bed tonight."

[watchesthewatchers]

"Bring Bruce?"

He asks, quietly.

"I'd like very much to feel the both of you on either side of me, just now."

[profiteering]

"I will. Come upstairs with me, let's talk to him."

He climbs out, and moves around to be able to help him up.

[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."