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[The fear of losing the glasses keeps him feeling stuck in place. One wrong move and EDITH will disappear again.

He won't let Tony down again.

Rue knowing should make it safer, right? Better? He has no idea anymore.]

Could you come to the apartment? If that's okay? I'll unlock the door when you get here.

[hm. small rising anxiety]

I will be there as quickly as possible.

[And they are all of the way in Gram so it takes some time to get over to the city, but as quickly as they are able, Rue rolls up and, after a brief knock to announce their presence, lets themself inside.]

Peter dearest?

[Peter for his part just finds himself flipping open the glasses case, staring and shutting it on loop. Unable to break the anxious pattern for a good while.

Rue's arrival is enough for Peter to push himself onto his feet, carefully taking the glasses case with him. He tucks it smoothly into his shirt pocket.

He walks out into the main part of the apartment. Compared to when they last saw each other on the family sleepover, Peter seems excessively tired. EDITH has been weighing on him.]

Hey, Rue. Um, feel free to make yourself comfortable. Sorry, I should've made you like... something to drink or a snack. I can still do that, just... gimme a second.

[He's being a terrible host, and he knows that much.]

[If Peter even tries to step away to retreat to the kitchen, Rue is going to carefully take his hand in their palm and give it a gentle, supportive squeeze.]

Nonsense. I am here to see you. I don't need a thing.

[Rue's gentle hand pulls Peter to a stop. He's relaxed under Rue's touch. The squeeze softens some of the tension he's carrying.]

Okay, just- tell me if you change your mind or anything?

[He hesitates, needing a second to collect his thoughts.] I... I just wanted to trust you with something really serious. Like, let you in on a secret, I guess?

[That sounds stupid to Peter, given the way he winces at himself.] It's not dangerous here, technically, but It's something that's dangerous back in my world.

[As always, Rue is patient and calm and ready to wait as long as Peter needs, even if their worry is slowly rising with what the young man is describing. Something dangerous? A secret?

Can't their family have a single moment's peace?]

I am right here, darling. You can tell me anything.

So, um, when I died. The man who killed me, Quentin Beck, was after these.

[He breaks away from Rue's hold to withdraw the glasses case. He opens the case and within are what seem like normal sunglasses. Nothing that really suits Peter.] Mr. Stark gave these to me in his will I think, and back home, EDITH, the glasses, are connected to a lot of weaponry. If you have access a lot of people could get hurt.

Beck wanted that, and made sure I was out of the way.

[He is half tempted to close the case.] Mr. Stark got them back somehow, and... now I have them again.

[Peter's mentioned them before when he'd been so deeply wrapped up in his own heavy guilt, that as that case opens and he shows the glasses inside, Rue physically recoils at the sight of them.]

He gave them to you? [Doesn't Tony know what those represent to Peter?] Why?

[It's sign enough of Peter trying to grow past the guilt that he doesn't wallow in it. He winces at Rue recoiling, but he doesn't close the case yet. The glasses are innocent enough looking.]

When he gave me these originally, he had Mr. Fury tell me, 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown'. [He frowns a little, trying to not dwell on what happened last time he saw these glasses.] He thinks I can grow into it.

[Incorrect! They look evil, they got Rue's baby boy murdered.

Once their shock passes, Rue closes the distance to Peter, reaching out a paw to rest at his shoulder, their attention fully focused on him, not the object in his hands.]

That is not his choice to make. It is yours. [ugh, men!!!] Peter, would you like me to take them? If nothing else, I will hold onto them until you feel more prepared to handle this. You know no harm would come to them in my care.

[Peter blinks a little as Rue steps into his space. He relaxes, at least marginally.]

I... maybe. [He knows Rue wouldn't turn on him, not like Beck had. That much is a comfort, a reassurance that keeps him from over analyzing things.] I wanted you to know, like Leo, so you guys could help me like, hide it? At least you guys knowing about it makes me feel better.

I know, they're just glasses right now, but I don't want to lose them again.

[It's entirely unfair he has to go through this at all, but it warms Rue's heart that Peter trusts them with this. They don't know if he would have if it had been a few months prior. Their relationship has blossomed so much in the last few months.]

Of course, darling. Leo and I have your back in this, always. But I would be happy to take them from you and keep them safe elsewhere. You wouldn't have to think about them at all. And I promise, they will not be lost. No one else will touch them.

I trust you. I just... I promised Mr. Stark I'd keep them. He's trusting me with them. I want it to work this time. Even if I never use them. [He would rather make them disappear.]

If, if we keep moving them between places, do you think that'd be okay?

[tony, why do you keep doing this to rue, they want to like you so much!!!]

I think however you want to handle it would be the correct way. Moving them between places, I can see the benefit to that plan. Would that make you feel more comfortable?

[Peter fidgets with the glasses case. Eventually he does close it, and seems to relax now that it's not in sight.] Yeah, I- I think it would. I know I can trust you.

You can tell Hob too, so he knows why these are like around your home sometimes. [Peter intends to keep moving the glasses back and forth. Paranoid about losing the sunglasses.]

I will let him know and we will both keep it safe. Would you like me to take the first shift?

[They hold out a paw, offering to take the glasses for now until Peter is ready to make the next changing of hands.]

[There is a guilt there, a guilt at giving up the glasses so quickly when he promised. But the guilt doesn't last long. Not when Peter looks at Rue, and knows they wouldn't hurt him. They wouldn't turn on him in the way Quentin Beck did. They wouldn't mock him for being trusting, or needing other people.

That has never been Rue. That will never be Rue. They have only ever fostered trust and caring.

He's not giving up responsibility. He's sharing it. There is a difference therein.

He places the glasses case into their paw. His fingertips stick to the case absently before he refocuses enough to properly let go.] Please. I trust you.

[He hesitates for a long moment.] Do... you think, I'll ever grow into it?

[Its a nervous kind of question. A teenager, a child, seeking some kind of assurance.]

[The moment Peter fully relents the glasses to Rue, they slip them into a pocket - out of sight, though never quite out of mind - before their paw is moving to rest at the teen's shoulder instead.]

I don't think you will, I know you will. There is no doubt in my mind that you can grow into them.

But Peter, there is more to growing up than simply being obedient. Doing what others ask, though sometimes difficult enough in it's own right, can often be the route of least resistance. If you want to grow into these glasses it is one thing and you know that I will support you every step along the way, but there's never just one path.

What you do, I want it to be your own choice, not Tony's, not mine. Though I can't the stop world from pressuring you one way or another, I can always remind you that your voice matters.

[Peter is quiet, just mulling over Rue's words. His expression is thoughtful, uncertain at the edges.]

The reminder, definitely helps. [He says with a soft sigh, shoulders slumping somewhat.] Back in my world, everyone wanted me to be like Tony.

The glasses came with a note from Tony saying something like, 'For the next Tony Stark, I trust you.', but... I dunno if I could be that. I don't know if I want that.

[Of all the awful things to put in a child's head...]

Then that is not the path I or Leo or any of the people who matter want to see you take. You do not need to become the next Tony Stark. There's already enough of that man going around.

I much prefer you to be my son, Peter Parker. The boy who loves to dance and bake and sew, and sometimes will sit with me and suffer through my terrible reality shows just because he cares so deeply. That's what the world needs more of.

[The soft assurance on Rue's part makes Peter's lips quirk into something of a smile. He rubs at his arm absently, able to curtail his urge to pick at his shirt's hem sleeve.]

Suffer feels like a strong word. I don't understand the shows, but, you like them and I wanna be with you. [Just kind of proving Rue's point.] Would it be okay, if... I didn't care about what the world wanted, for a little while?

[Rue is just going to press a paw to Peter's back and gently push him over towards the living room, where they will be dragging the boy into their arms to cuddle on the couch, the glasses out of sight.]

Don't understand! [Rue says with a tease, but it falls so short in the face of his sweetness, which leaves the owlbear pecking a kiss to his cheek and tugging him close.]

For what it's worth, as fun as they are, my favorite thing will always be getting to spend time with all of my boys. And of course, Peter. I'd be so proud to support you taking some time just to be you and you alone.

I mean, its so dramatic all the time on those shows! [That is as much of a protest as Peter musters as Rue nudges him along further into his own apartment. He has no qualms about being wrapped up in Rue's arm for a cuddle. He settles against them with a slow sigh. This time the sound is more content.

It is still occasionally surreal to be held like this so easily by someone. He had outgrown May being able to wrap him up ages ago. It feels safe, nice, reassuring- he is afraid he'll outgrow this one day too.]

I know Mr. Stark will be disappointed, but... I don't know what to tell him.

[Nonsense, what's the point of having a wingspan this big if it's not for cuddling your giant children.

So Rue waits until Peter is well and cuddled in their wings before they peck a kiss into his hair, feathery chin dropping to nuzzle against him.]

Would you prefer if I spoke to him?

[because they are gonna]

I dunno. I don't want you to feel like you're stuck in the middle.

[He is absolutely unaware of what is to come. Woe.]

Mr. Stark can be a little... abrasive sometimes. [Absolutely the meanest thing Peter can muster about Tony.]

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