Dark Paradise

I'll be good, I promise.

"Pete, don't be silly, you'll fall there," Anthony shook his head. "True, we're not that far from home, but I really don't want you to take a bath in this cold brook."

"Don't worry," the boy smiled, continuing jumping over the rocks in the middle of the creek. "Calm down. I have it under control."

I can see that, Anthony thought and chuckled. He turned and walked among the trees toward the house. "Come on, it's late and I'm starting to freeze."

Immediately after, there was a sound behind him resembling rolling stones and a shout. 

"Cold!" The young man shouted with an unnaturally high voice as he sat in the brook, spit out ice water, and gasped. He didn't get a chance to react in any way after suddenly disappearing firmly ground under his feet. Then all he could feel was only ice water.

"When it's time for "I told you" let me know," Tony couldn't help but smirk a little, just trying to mask his fear. It took him a while to get to his companion and help him out of the water, as the boy was unable to move. Peter fell to the ground, chattering his teeth. He rolled onto his side and curled up in a ball, shaking.

"Peter," the man poked him. "Get up, we have to get you home and warm you up."

"Hmm ..." was Peter's only reaction.

"Do you understand what I'm telling you?!"

"Y-Yes."

"Then get up!" The young man shook his head.

"Will, will yo-u car-rry me?"

"No."

"Okay ... I just ha-have to rest for a while and... gain some strength."

"No way! You will rest at home," the man began to lose patience. "But now stand up, you have to move!" The boy muttered something, but finally let himself be persuaded and, with Stark's help, scrambled to his feet. Tony supported him and they headed for the house together.

"Take off you clothes, I'll bring you a blanket and something dry." Tony let Peter stand in the doorway. He dropped the keys and disappeared upstairs. The boy obeyed. Rather, he tried. 

He took off his cap and his frozen fingers began to struggle with the zip. Vainly. When the man returned to the boy, he found him almost as he had left him a moment ago. He dropped the blanket on the floor, knelt in front of the brunette. He pulled off his dark jacket and helped Peter get out of it. Then followed the sweatshirt, shirt, and finally his trousers. Tony pulled a dry long-sleeved T-shirt over the young man's head, helped him into tracksuit trousers, wrapped him in a blanket, and carried him to the sofa in his arms. 

The young man kept shaking.

Tony built a fire in the fireplace, even though the room was warm enough. Then he bounced back to make tea and also change his own clothes.

"Th-Thank you," Peter smiled at Tony and reached for the drink. The man nodded and sat down next to the boy. Peter set the cup down and laid his head on Tony's lap. The man immediately began to play with his wet hair with his palm. 

"Next time, when you would like to take a bath, don't be afraid to tell me. I'll fill the bath, you don't have to jump into icy water in the middle of forest," he grinned.

"Can I-can I a-ask you something?" Peter asked, ignoring the older man's remark.

"Of course."

"I thought that when... y-you know." No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't find the words that could define Anthony's job, so he had no choice but to say it all straight. "W-When you... kill someone..."