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Clint Barton was not a religious man, but holy fuck was he praying to every god willing to listen right now.
”You’re telling me Peter has been in our medbay for 3 days, and none of you thought to contact his family!?” The archer shouted eith wide eyes, mouth agape as Tony shrugged. “His aunt’s gone on a business trip anyways, what does it matter?” The billionaire asked nonchalantly, clearly not interested in the conversation.
“I’m not talking about his aunt, I’m talking about his dad—scratch that, the entire fucking vigilante population!” Clint shrieked, already fumbling to unlock his phone as Tony made a confused noise. “What do those psychos have to do with my kid?” The man asked, a little condescendingly as Clint stared at him, phone momentarily forgotten. “Your kid? Are you insane!? That boy is the child of every damn vigilante that has ever existed—that includes the damn X-men!”
Tony looked at him like he was crazy, arms crossed as Clint remembered his original goal of stopping an all out civil war. “Nevermind- just, just let me make a phone call.” He mumbled, mostly exasperated now as he scrolled through his contacts. Calling Matt, Clint could only pray that the man hadn’t figured out that Peter was at avengers tower yet.
”Who the fuck are you, and what do you want.” A voice growled through the phone, which Clint recognised as the punisher. “Frank? It’s me, Clint-“ he began, a little relieved that he didn’t have to face the devil just yet. “Barton? We’ve been trynna reach your ass for days, somethin’s happened to the kid-“ Frank cut him off, sounding a little—okay, very—panicked. Clint glared at a now mildly confused Tony as he took a deep breath.
”Peter’s fine. I’ve been on a mission for the past 2 weeks, I just got back, but I swear to you Castle, the kid is safe.” He reassured hurriedly, clutching the phone as there was a pause of silence, before Frank hissed into the phone. “Clint, where the fuck is Peter.”
“He’s in avengers tower medbay- shit frank, I swear I didn’t know-“ Clint cursed, ignoring Tony’s protests as he jammed on the elevator buttons. “I’ll let you guys in, all of you—just don’t do anything to my apartment. Or me, for that matter.” He added the last part as the elevator doors opened, rushing inside, swearing as Tony followed him.
“…Me, Wade, and Matt are on our way. You should call the rest of the Defenders and Marc.” Frank grumbled, audibly running down the stairs before hanging up. Clint slumped against the wall of the elevator. He could only hope that he wasn’t going to be sued into oblivion, after all the secrets he has ever had have been spilled by Jess.
”You fucked up, Stark.”
~
Matt ran through the halls of the stupid medical wing, mentally cursing the confusing lay-out as Frank tugged on his arm. “Red, if we get lost it ain’t gonna help anything.” The man huffed, trying to keep up his nonchalant composure, but Matt could hear the way his heart was beating with panic. “Frank, my boy is hurt.“ he hissed, but let Wade catch up with them, the man knowing the way easily—he said it was because of ‘plot convenience’. Matt didn’t care, as long as he led them to his son.
They ended up in yet another hallway, but Matt could tell this was the right one, because the crescendo of busy heartbeats got louder. Peter’s heartbeat got louder. “Mat-n man, am I glad to see you guys-“ Clint jogged up to them, cringing as the man realised his awful wording. “Where’s Peter.” Frank asked coldly, hand on his gun as Wade stopped joking around for once.
”Yeah Barton, you better tell us where the spider-baby is, or I’m gonna recreate my 2011 comic run #1!” The man was grinning, but even Matt knew it didn’t reach his eyes. Clint threw his hand up in a surrendering gesture, pointing his head to the door—not that Matt didn’t know that already, Peter’s heartbeat was one he’d never forget. “Chill- he’s in there. I called you guys as soon as I realised what Stark had done.” The archer explained, already opening the door as Frank took a threatening step forward.
Matt pushed past the part-time avenger, solely focused on holding his kid again. There was another heartbeat inside the room—Stark’s, he assumed, based off the electrical wiring mixed with the normal sound. “Peter.?” Matt asked, tone immediately switching from ‘Devil of Hell’s Kitchen’, to the one that was only reserved for his family. Whatever protest Stark was about to make was cut off by Frank blocking the man with his body, and Wade’s, no doubt, incredibly devious expression.
”Mhhhm. Dad..?” Peter slurred, eyes closed shut as the boy nuzzled his head against the pillow. “Yeah baby, I’m here. What happened? We’ve been looking for you for days.” He replied softly, hand resting on the kid’s forehead as the other 2 vigilantes formed a protective barrier around the 2 of them. “Huhhh? Wus ‘sleep. Fought robots-…” the kid mumbled drowsily, looking peaceful as he leaned into Matt’s hand. His anger flared up at the words, moving to ‘glare’ at Stark.
”You let my kid fight avengers level robots.?” He growled, voice dripping with the reason why he was called the Devil. Stark sounded perplexed, and a little defensive as he huffed. “The kids an Avenger, he chose to help.” The billionaire spoke, emphasising ‘the’, as to discredit Matt’s claim of being Peter’s parent. Frank stepped up, shoving Stark on the chest as his heartbeat sounded loud and angry—not not similar to like when the man got ready to take out a target.
“You’re an adult, Stark. You should act responsible.” Frank practically yelled, venom filling the man’s voice as the tension in the room rose. “Besides, Peter’s not an Avenger. He’s a vigilante.” Wade added with obvious disdain, despite the way the man was still acting in a joking manner. Speaking of Peter, the kid was beginning to actually come too, gaining back some of his usual state of mind.
Stark scoffed condescendingly, a noise that was already incredibly irritating. “Peter isn’t one of you lunatics. He’s a good kid.” The man huffed, making matt’s protective hold on his boy tighten—was the avenger seriously trying to take his kid away from him? “Clearly you don’t know our babyboy that well then, tin man. Petey pie is one of us, through and through—even Jonesy likes him!” Wade chimed in, a threatening aura radiating from the mutant.
Stark was about to argue, when Peter made an offended noise, still buried in Matt’s arms. “What- Mr stark, what are you talking about…?” The boy asked, his facial features scrunching up, in what Matt could only assume to be what Frank had dubbed the ‘kicked dog’ look. “He’s saying you ain’t one of us, kid.” Frank grumbled, but clearly softened a little. Sometimes Matt was glad his kid’s puppy eyes had no effect on him whatsoever.
Peter pouted at that, clinging to Matt in an almost possessive manner. “Mr stark, I told you! ‘M I vigilante- why do you never listen!” The kid mumbled frustratedly, sounding like he’d had this conversation before. “I wanna go home dad.” He added whiningly, crossing his arms. “Me too.” Frank muttered, no doubt sending a threatening glare to Stark. “But-“ the avenger began, cut off by Wade planting a hand over the man’s mouth. “Nuh uh, I’m the only one allowed to be annoying and talk. Sorry Sherlock, go to a different fic if you have a complaint.”
For once, Matt was grateful for Wade’s incessant talking, because it allowed him and Frank to help Peter out of the hospital bed whilst Stark argued with Wade. Clint was still waiting outside the door, which was very convenient—as their other option was breaking a window and jumping. The archer seemed a little uncomfortable as he led them to the elevator, ruffling Peter’s hair. “Sorry bud, I would’ve broken you out sooner if I had known.” The man sighed, earning a thoughtful hum from the kid.
”You’re not forgiven. Unless I can petsit Lucky for a few days.” Peter stated seriously, earning an annoyed but fond sigh from Clint. “…fine. You raised a little shit, Murdock.” He mumbled, saluting them dramatically as the elevator door closed. “Wait- what about Wade-?” Peter began, being cut off by the ding of the elevator as they arrived on a different floor. Wade was standing in front of the door proudly, smirking as he walked inside and jammed on all the buttons. “Plot convenience baby boy. Plot convenience.” Matt sighed, still holding Peter close to him. “You’re grounded, by the way.”
”Awhh, dad, really-!?”