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Chapter Text

The first time Tony saw Peter Stark was on the TV.

Tony had been aware, to an extent, that the king was bringing over kids from the Isle of the Lost. He'd been aware that a lot of people were against that idea, for reasons beyond Tony's understanding.

He'd been aware that his father's second son was among those who were chosen to come to the mainland.

But Tony hadn't stopped to consider how his father would have truly treated his second son.

Because he knew, deep down, that his second son's treatment was probably worse than his first.

So the first time Tony saw him on TV, he felt like he was slapped.

Because Tony knew that look in the boy's eye. That look of hurt, and mistrust and fear. Tony knew it because he saw it in the mirror every morning, when he woke from nightmares and wasn't sure what was real or not.

Tony watched the boy as he stood by his friend's side. Tony hadn't gone to the coronation (he never liked crowds) and watched, paralyzed as a large monster (The Chitauri, Tony thought distantly) had torn through their carefully wrought defenses and towered over the children.

Tony watched as the dark girl leading them stood, tall and proud, and her friend stood by, loyal and defensive. But Tony wasn't looking at them. His eyes were drawn to the boy in the corner, trembling in fear and clearly trying to fight the urge to run and hide.

The boy who had the same eyes as him.

As their father.

Tony watched as the three of them took down one of the largest threats they had seen since the establishment of the Isle. He watched as the girl and the boys, even his poor, trembling brother, managed to overpower and destroy the Chitauri.

Tony watched as the girl embraced the boy's trembling figure protectively, glaring as all the doctors came closer, daring them to try and take him from her.

So, yes, the first time Tony Stark saw Peter Stark was on TV. It was the most broken he'd felt in a long time.

oOo

The second time Tony saw Peter Stark was when he was visiting Bruce at the school. He knew, to an extent, that Bruce taught in the same school his brother (and wasn't that just weird to say, his brother) went to, and that Peter probably had the Stark intelligence that he was also cursed with.

What he didn't plan on was the boy to be talking to Bruce when he came through. He was fidgeting with the strap on his secondhand bag, and nervously glancing at the door.

Tony stayed out of sight.

"Are you sure, Dr. Banner," the boy asked nervously. "You don't think anyone would have any problems, considering I'm..." Peter looked around, as though waiting for someone to come out and hurt him. "You-know-who's son?"

Bruce looked at Peter sadly. "Peter, I promise you, we are all past that. Everyone just wants you to find the things you're good at, and help you with the things you're not so good at. I think this job will help you branch out."

Bruce handed Peter a flyer that Stark Industries handed out when they were attracting interns, and Tony felt his eyes widen. He tried to picture that, working while Peter was just a few floors below him.

"But isn't this, you know," Peter leaned a little closer. "His company?"

Tony felt a pang when he realized that Peter talked about him the same way he talked about their father. But Peter didn't know any better, did he? He didn't know that Tony wouldn't resent him, that Tony wouldn't be looking for something wrong with him.

He didn't know that Tony would die before sending him back to their father.

Because Tony knew about the treatment those three kids got at first. How the girl constantly had the word freak and traitor painted on her locker. How the other boy was teased for being larger than everyone else.

How people whispered about how Peter was scared of everything. How even Harley had at one point joined the trend of jumping out at Peter, triggering him into panic attacks.

Harley stopped when he realized how much it hurt Peter. Others weren't as understanding.

Tony was broken out of his reverie when he distantly heard Peter try to explain why he couldn't take a Stark Internship, still glancing around warily.

Tony watched, frozen, as Peter glanced at the door again, freezing when he noticed Tony outside the door.

For a moment, it felt as though all time was suspended. All Tony could see was the pure shock on Peter's face. He could see Peter's fingers still from where they were running over his bag's strap, his spine straighten, his body taught as though he was ready to run.

Then, Peter took a deep breath.

And made a run for it.

Tony was frozen as Peter sprinted past him, faster than Tony could even process, hair flying everywhere.

Tony stood still as he watched Bruce sigh and approach him. Bruce gently pulled Tony outside, where they sat on a bench.

Bruce gently put a hand on Tony's shoulder. Tony was silent for a long time. Finally he spoke up, his voice hoarse. "Was he..." Tony couldn't finish.

Bruce pursed his lips. "They don't talk to anyone, but, yeah." Bruce glanced at Tony. "You can just tell."

Tony put his face in his hands.

The second time Tony Stark saw his brother was at his school. Tony had already failed him more than he could've imagined.

oOo

The third time Tony Stark saw Peter Stark was when he was picking Harley up from school at the end of the year. After what was possibly one of the most emotionally taxing years of all their lives, Tony finally got to take Harley home to relax during the summer.

Tony smiled when his son came running out to meet him. Tony caught his borderline aggressive hug, smiling and running his fingers through Harley's hair.

(Tony remembered when he was picked up from boarding school, the nervous butterflies that flew through his stomach, the constant clenching of his bag, the pitying look from Jarvis, the only person in the Stark household who ever cared about him)

Tony grabbed Harley's bag as they walked throughout the school's hallways, smiling as Harley greeted everyone. Harley definitely got his social skills from Pepper.

Tony felt his shoulders curl when Harley shouted "Bye, Peter!" over his shoulder. Tony still felt odd when Peter Stark was mentioned. Pepper stopped trying to discuss how Tony felt, but shot him concerned glances whenever the news discussed how the three Isle children were doing.

Tony turned around to see Peter looking startled, glancing up at Harley and waving shyly, before locking eyes with him and bolting. Harley rolled his eyes when he saw Peter flee from them.

Tony suddenly felt the need to know how he was adjusting. "Do you speak with him a lot?"

Harley looked at him strangely. "I mean, Peter doesn't really talk to anyone except Ned and MJ." Tony was confused, before realizing he must be talking about Michelle and Edward. "I worked with him for a chem lab. He's cool."

Tony cleared his throat. "What do you mean by cool?"

"I mean he doesn't like try to attack or tease me. He does his share of work in groups and he's scared of his own shadow half the time."

Tony walked in silence for a bit, trying to forget about the times when he was the same.

Suddenly, Harley stopped and wrinkled his nose. "Peter's your brother, right?"

"Yes," Tony answered, trying to hide his panic at the thought of having someone else acknowledge Peter as his brother.

"Does that make him my uncle?"

Tony couldn't stop his surprised laughter, making his panic vanish. "Yes, he is technically your uncle."

Harley's face wrinkled in disgust. "That's actually so weird. He's like two years younger than me."

And just like that, the panic was back. "And he's in the same classes as you?"

Harley shot him a strange look. "Of course he is. He's a Stark, right?"

Tony could hear the hesitation in Harley's voice. "Of course he's a Stark."

Harley shot Tony a strange look at the intensity of his voice, but quickly changed the subject. Tony mindlessly nodded along to Harley's chatter as they sat in the car.

Tony sat in the driver's seat as Harley went to put his suitcases in the back. "Of course he's a Stark," Tony mumbled quietly to himself.

The third Tony Stark ever saw Peter Stark was when he went to pick up Harley from school. It was the first time he acknowledged him as a Stark.

oOo

The fourth time Tony Stark saw Peter Stark, he was dropping Harley off at school. Yes, it was technically still the summer, but Harley forgot that he had summer soccer sessions until they sent him an email the night before.

Tony didn't see the point of driving back the three hours it took to get there, so he settled in a coffee shop and opened his Stark Pad.

Tony was heavily invested into an article about advancements in nanotechnology when he heard the door give a cheerful jingle as it opened. He looked up and froze as he saw Peter walk in, nervously fingering his sleeves.

Tony realized that Peter didn't notice him yet. He had his arms wrapped around himself. Tony distantly noticed how Peter was still wearing his jacket and jeans, even though it was 90 degrees out. Was he not hot?

Or was he covering bruises?

Tony watched from the back of the shop as Peter nervously approached the counter. His eyes went wide as he scanned the menu, beginning to bounce on his feet anxiously.

He watched as the barista kindly directed Peter's attention to her, quietly suggesting him a tea flavor. Peter nodded, relieved, and the barista started making it, quietly discussing some book they both read.

Tony squinted as he saw Peter's sleeve ride up as he reached for his tea. Tony felt his eyes widen as he saw familiar faded scars around Peter's wrists.

He remembered how his father would grab his wrist, how he'd squeeze until Tony was biting his lip to keep from screaming, tears pouring down his face...

Somehow, the thought of such a thing happening to Peter was more than he wanted to think about.

The thought of him leaving someone else to suffer under Howard Stark was more than he wanted to think about.

So, the fourth time Tony Stark saw Peter Stark was in a coffee shop during a 90 degree summer's day.

It was the first time he noticed how scarred Peter was.

(It was the second time he realized how badly he'd failed Peter).

oOo

The fifth time Tony Stark saw Peter Stark, he was walking through the streets. Pepper had some boring administrative stuff to do, so Tony wandered off while she pretended not to notice.

He could see Rhodey trailing him, anyways.

He heard sniffling, and frowned and went to check it out.

He saw Peter, curled up in an alleyway, sniffling, his head tucked into his knees and his eyes drifting, showing he wasn't seeing the dirty streets, but something else.

Someone else.

Tony couldn't leave him there. He looked up when Rhodey caught up to them, frowning at the sight of the young boy, catatonic on the ground.

Rhodey bent down next to Tony. "Peter, can you hear me?"

Peter flinched. "No, please, I'll be good, please don't!" He cried out.

"Peter, listen to me. You are safe. No one is going to try to hurt you. Can you breath for me."

"I don't want to get hurt. Please!"

Rhodey cautiously laid a hand on Peter's shoulder. Peter reared back like he'd been burnt, choking out apologies and backing away from them.

Distantly, Tony heard the sounds of someone running to them.

Tony and Rhodey were unceremoniously shoved out of the way. Ned came closer, squatting next to Peter. He made to wrap his arms around Peter. "Don't," Rhodey tried to warn. "It scares him."

Ned scowled. "I know. That's why I have to do it." Ned wrapped his large arms around Peter, ignoring his increasingly distressed whimpering and gently pressed Peter's head to his chest.

It suddenly occurred to Tony that Ned could very easily accidentally kill Peter.

"Breath, buddy," Ned coached.

"Can't," Peter sobbed. "He'll hear."

Tony immediately knew who Peter was talking about. Judging by the grim look on Ned's face, he did too.

"He's not here, Pete, remember?" Ned soothed. "He's back on the Isle, he'll never hurt you again." Tony and Rhodey heard the Not if I can help it loud and clear.

Slowly, Peter's breathing went down to normal. They must've been in that alleyway for at least an hour.

Peter blinked, shifting so he could press his face to Ned's shoulder. Tony watched as his eyes widened when he saw him. Tony threw his hands up before Peter could work himself up again. "Kid, you're fine!"

"But," Peter gasped, confused. "You're... Anthony. Right?"

Tony felt his heart plummet. "Just Tony, kid."

"Tony," Peter tried, frowning. "You're..." so many words went unsaid.

Slowly, Ned got up, careful not to jostle Peter. Peter grumbled at Ned to put him down, hiding a smile when Ned cheekily refused.

Tony watched as Peter cautiously stared at him from Ned's shoulder. Tony smiled at him. 

Tony stopped them when they got to the office he was at. "Hey, kid, can you drop Peter here?" Tony shot Peter a significant look. "I think we need to talk."

Peter gulped, but nodded at Ned's inquisitive stare. Ned put Peter on a bench, then whirled on Tony. "You better not hurt him!"

Tony put his hands up. "I won't. Not on purpose, anyways."

"Come here, Ned," Rhodey said, gently pulling Ned away. "I'll buy you ice cream."

Ned reluctantly let Rhodey pull him away. Without Ned, Peter seemed hyperaware of Tony and their surroundings. He wrapped his arms around himself tightly, stiffening his back and warily glancing around.

Tony sat on the opposite side of the bench.

A beat passed. "How's the city?" Tony finally asked.

Peter jumped and stared at him. "Good," he replied, his voice only trembling a little.

Tony smiled at him. "Glad to hear it."

They sat in silence for a few moments. "I used to love visiting the city," Tony said softly, trying not to startle Peter. "I would just get to wander the streets, and take in all the different shops, and people. It was always fun."

Peter hesitated. "He wasn't there, was he?"

Tony shook his head. "No. Our father was not there. That's why it was so fun."

Peter faced Tony. "I used to hide in a treehouse. It was just a plank of wood in a tree at first, but when Ned and MJ found me hiding in it, we built it to be somewhat steady."

"Was that your hiding place?" Tony asked quietly. Peter nodded.

"It was different for us," Peter said quickly, before Tony could attempt to say anything. "You had people around you who would notice if you were hurt, you had doctors, and butlers and you got to get away from him for almost the entire year." Peter huffed out a sad laugh that came out sounding more like a sob. "I was stuck in our little shack while he did nothing but drink and rage at everything he claimed ruined him. The police, CPS, Jarvis," Peter looked at him. "You."

"I bet he had nothing but glowing reviews of me," Tony joked, smiling as Peter smiled a little.

"No, the direct words he used were 'scourge of the Earth', I believe."

Tony smiled at him. Then, the mood turned somber. "I'm so sorry."

Peter didn't say anything. "Why?"

"For," Tony hesitated. How did he communicate to this boy the level of sorrow he felt whenever he looked at him. "For leaving you with him. For knowing about you and not having the courage to do anything about it. For..." Tony tried to hold back the sob building in his chest. "For turning you into the next me."

Peter sighed. "I was so scared that you would react badly. That you would be like everyone else who wants to send us away."

"Peter," Tony said, turning to him. "Nothing you do could make me want to send you back to him."

Tears built in Peter's eyes. "Really?"

Tony nodded firmly. "Yes. I will fight everyone who tries to send any of you back." Tony moved closer to the boy and tried to touch Peter's shoulder, and smiled when he didn't flinch. "You are safe. I promise I will keep you safe, no matter what."

Tony was shocked when Peter wrapped his arms around his waist, sobbing into his shoulder. But, as Tony wrapped his arms around Peter's shoulders and stroked his hair soothingly, he knew these weren't tears of sorrow, or pain.

They were tears of relief.

The fifth time Tony Stark saw Peter Stark, he finally did it right.

Chapter Text

Peter woke up before everyone. While he didn't wake up screaming, with Ned wrapping him in his arms tightly half screaming "Peter, calm down, you're not there, he's not here, PETER...!" anymore, he still woke up with the sun. Some habits were too ingrained to get rid of.

Peter took a moment to laze around in the too comfortable bed, drowsily gazing out the window at the sun's rays that were just falling on his face. His brother had invited Peter to stay at his lake house over spring break. Peter knew that his brother was just as scared of what their father might do if Peter went back.

Ned was staying at Dr. Banner's, and MJ had opted to go to the Isle to see her father. Peter tried to offer his company, but MJ had vehemently refused. Peter always liked Isiah, even though MJ tended to groan about his reclusive nature. He always treated Peter's wounds and gave him homemade burnt bread whenever he was there to hide from Father.

It was the kindest thing anyone other than Ned and MJ had done for Peter.

Peter turned slowly on his back, reading the analogue clock on the table next to his bed. 5:24 AM. Peter sighed and burrowed back in his bed. While he wouldn't sleep, Peter could afford to laze around for a little more time.

Mornings in Auradon were so different from mornings in the Isle. Mornings in the Isle were Peter quietly moving around the house, silently praying to whoever was listening that Father was still asleep, and he wouldn't come charging when Peter slipped out the window. Mornings were empty stomachs, of roaming the streets with his head down, hoping no one would notice him. Mornings were fear, hunger, and pain.

Here, in the serenity of the Stark household, mornings consisted of Morgan's boisterous laughter echoing in the halls, making Peter smile just by being in her proximity. Mornings consisted of sitting by Pepper while she started her work early, the silence comforting rather than oppressive. Mornings were Harley's gentle teasing, of his excited rambling of what he and Peter would get up to.

Mornings were cups of coffee and quiet conversations with Tony in the lab, of quietly talking about their families (not their father, their real families). Tony talked about his mother Maria, who had been the only saving grace, of Jarvis, who's quiet protection had kept Tony from falling apart, of Rhodey, who'd shown Tony he'd deserved better.

Peter in turn talked about MJ protecting snarling threats at other villains when they got too close to him for comfort, of Ned's constant reassurance and joy kept Peter from going insane, of Isiah's burnt bread and bandages and his quiet stories of the cruelty that came from feeling superior.

Peter glanced at the clock again, noticing that it was finally six. Peter got up, making sure he didn't touch any of the panels in the ground that groaned when he stepped on them. He looked in the mirror, attempting to push his hair down.

Giving up on looking presentable, Peter pushed the door open and slipped through, reveling in the rare moments of peace before the Starks were up.

Peter really should stop referring to Tony's family as the Starks. He was a Stark too, though he privately felt that he was a Stark in name only.

Peter turned on the coffee machine, putting in the blend that he and Pepper liked. Tony pretended to like dark coffee, but Peter noticed him slip sugar in it when he thought no one was looking. Pepper shot him a wink when she saw that he noticed.

When Peter noticed the coffee was done, he poured himself a cup before heading outside. He walked on the boardwalk and sat so that his toes skimmed the top of the water. Peter thought he noticed colorful fish curiously swimming around his feet, but realized they were imagined when he looked down and saw only rocks and dirt in the water.

Peter gazed at the sea while he sipped his coffee, contemplating. He thought of MJ and Isiah sitting at the table together, him reading the paper and her doing origami with the pages he was done with. He thought of Ned, probably still snoring loudly in Dr. Banner's house, probably worn out after a long night of science experiments and discussions. He thought of Tony and Pepper, waking up wrapped in each others' arms, of Harley waking up to his phone dinging, of Morgan's brown eyes popping open, fill of life and love.

He thought of Howard Stark, stuck in his shack on the Isle, so consumed with bitterness that he woke up likely cursing everyone who'd ever crossed paths with him.

He thought of himself, sitting at the sea, gazing at the world in front of him.

For the first time, the world didn't scare him.

Peter perked up when he heard footsteps behind him. He recognized Tony's gazed, and relaxed as he sat next to Peter, half asleep.

"You forgot your shoes," Tony grumped next to him, throwing a pair of blue flip flops at him. Peter caught them before they could fall into the sea.

"Sorry," he said, going back to staring at the water.

"What are you doing up so early?"

"I'm always up this early."

Tony shot him a dirty look. "You know what I mean."

Peter shrugged. "Just thinking."

"About what?" Tony cocked an eyebrow nonchalantly, but Peter could see the concern behind his facade.

The thought of Tony being concerned for him sent warmth coursing through his body.

"Nothing bad. I just realized that the future doesn't scare me anymore."

Tony tilted his head, closing his eyes and letting the sounds of the waves and the birds wash over him.

He finally got up and held an arm out for Peter to take. "Pepper's making waffles, and Harley wants to take you to a party."

Peter sighed. "Who else was invited?"

Tony's eyes sparkled. "Oh, just the entire student body of your school." Tony laughed at Peter's groan. "I think your friend Ned will be there."

Peter grinned at the thought of seeing his best friend again.

Tony smiled back. "There's the smile." He held an hand out. "You coming?"

Peter looked back at the sea. He could almost see his old home, miles away from where he was. He could see the rotting streets, feel the leering that followed him, hear the whispers of who he was.

He looked at Tony, and saw his future. He saw sorrow and anger, of course, but he also saw the profound and complete joy that was in store for him.

Peter smiled and took Tony's hand. "Yeah, I'm coming."