Irondad Oneshots

I Don't Trust Myself

Another Steve x Tony being dads Oneshot.
Trigger warning: self-harm

Please come to us next time you want to hurt yourself. You don't have to say anything, just come hang out with us until you trust yourself to be alone again.

Tony and Steve's words rang in Peter's head as he paced his room. His fathers had saw the cuts on his legs just hours before after accidentally walking in on him changing his clothes. It was almost midnight; it'd been roughly 3 hours since they found out he self-harmed. And in those 3 hours, Peter hadn't hurt himself again despite his wanting to. And yes, Tony and Steve had taken away his shaving razor, the utility blade he'd been using, and anything sharp in his room but he could always use an unfolded paper clip or something.

He had been thinking about what his fathers said every time he wanted to cut again, but he couldn't bring himself to go to them. He stayed in his room, pacing and thinking about what to do. Half of him wanted to say 'screw it' and cut himself anyway, but the other part couldn't stop thinking how disappointed his Dad and Pops would be.

"FRIDAY, are either Dad or Pops awake?" Peter finally asked, running his hands over his face.

"They are asleep in their bed. You appear to be in distress, shall I wake them?" FRIDAY responded.

Peter groaned, throwing himself on his bed. "No, don't wake them up. Dad hasn't slept in days and Pops gets up early."

Peter felt overwhelmingly numb, wanting to cut more than anything to just feel something. Maybe he didn't have to wake his fathers up. Maybe he could just go in their room and that would be enough to stop himself from cutting again.

He decided to give it a shot. He left his room and quietly went to Steve and Tony's down the hall. He didn't want to get on the bed and wake them up, so he laid down on the floor.

Steve's enhanced hearing had woken him up when Peter opened their door, however. He knew why he was there and he was incredibly proud of his son for seeking help instead of hurting himself.

"Pete?" Steve called quietly as he peeked over the edge of the bed to see him.

"Sorry, I don't trust myself right now. I can go." Peter said, ready to get up and leave the room.

"No, no, no, no, no. I'm so damn proud of you for coming in here and for telling me you don't trust yourself right now. You're so strong, sweetheart. Get up here, you don't have to stay on the floor." Steve said, rolling away from the edge and giving Peter a place to lay down.

"Me too, Pete. Now get over here because I need a hug from you." Tony spoke up, surprising the other two who thought he was still sleeping.

Peter climbed over Steve and fell into Tony's arms, the arms that held him tight.

"I love you so much, kiddo." Tony assured him, rubbing his back.

"I feel really left out over here." Steve pouted before Tony grabbed him and pulled him into the group hug.

"Can I sleep in here tonight?" Peter asked shyly. He hadn't slept with his dads since he was little and had a bad dream.

"Of course." Steve told him, kissing his temple before scooting over and making a space between himself and Tony.

Peter settled between the pair and rested his head against the arc reactor on Tony's chest. "I just feel nothing and I want to feel something." Peter spoke barely above a whisper.

"FRIDAY, turn the lights on 10% brightness." Tony spoke, confusing Peter momentarily. "Alright kiddo, tell me five things you see."

"Uh, the blanket, your dresser, Pops' running shoes, the doorknob, and the light switch." Peter answered, looking around the room.

"What are some things you hear?" Tony asked gently, running his hands through Peter's hair.

"Your voice, Pops breathing, the AC running, and my own voice."

"Can you smell or taste anything?"

"I can smell Pops' Old Spice and I can smell motor oil and expensive cologne on you. I taste mint from brushing my teeth." Peter spoke, taking a deep breath.

"Good job, buddy. Now what can you feel?" Steve asked as he continued to rub Peter's back and Tony continued to play with his hair.

"I can feel Dad playing with my hair, you rubbing my back, Uh the bed. I can feel the bed and the blankets. That's it." Peter said, clearly irritated with himself because that's all he could feel.

"You're okay, you did good. Wanna know what I feel?" Tony asked, continuing without an answer from his kid. "I feel you beside me, I feel the pillow under my head and the mattress under me. I feel the blankets on top of me. But what I feel the most is pride. I'm so proud of you right now because you came to us, you did something to help yourself, and you're such a good kid, Pete."

"Pete, we couldn't get by without you. We love you so much it hurts." Steve told him, kissing his forehead. "Do you want to try and sleep?"

Peter nodded, listening as Tony instructed FRIDAY to kill the lights before snuggling against his dad. There was no one who could comfort him like his Dad and Pops. Maybe he would start going to them more often.