Request from @tessalucy
Third Person POV
It had been a couple weeks since the death of May Parker and Peter Benjamin Parker hadn't said a word. Luckily though, Peter hadn't stayed in the foster home long, he had just been adopted by the Bartons and still hadn't said a word. I mean who could blame him? He was 12 years old and had lost his mom, dad, uncle and now his aunt. That's gotta be hard on anyone but a kid? That pain is unimaginable.
They had just gotten to their house from running a few errands and Cooper, who was the same age as Peter, had shown where Peter was going to be staying. Peter said a "thank you" in a raspy voice, because of the lack of usage of his voice and then started to get settled in.
Cooper was surprised, he had barley heard him talk. "Y-your welcome." He replied
"No, I mean, thank you. Not many people would have taken in a kid who has lost everyone. A kid so broken. So thank you." Peter whispered.
Cooper was shocked, but then regained himself and smiled. "No problem, I've always wanted a twin." He joked
Peter smiled and Cooper started walking away, assuming that Peter needed space. Just as he got to the door Peter cried out "Wait!", Cooper paused and turned around, "Yeah?"
"Could you maybe stay? I mean, if it's not a bother. I know I'm probably bothering you, I am sorry. You can go. Forget I said anything. Never mind." Peter started backtracking
"Woah, don't worry. I can stay" Cooper said, walking back to Peter. He sat on the bed, knowing Peter just wanted some company, he didn't want someone to talk to him, Peter just wanted some company.
"Thank you" Peter murmured.
After a couple of minutes Cooper decided to try and talk to Peter, "So what's your favourite subject?" Cooper said, trying to break the ice.
Peter looked surprised that Cooper was talking to him before he said "I like pre-bio-chem. But I also love pre-physics. What about you?"
"Those are hard! Wow! I like History but nothing as cool as those." Cooper replied
"What movies? What movies do you like Cooper?" Peter asked, surprising himself and Cooper.
"I like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Although the books were sooooooo much better then the movies for Harry Potter and Percy Jackson." Cooper responded
"Me too! I LOVE Star Wars! I like Percy Jackson and Harry Potter too and I agree, the books are so much better. They totally messed up the movies." Peter exclaimed
"I know right! They totally trashed the plot for the Lightning Thief, it was terrible. Don't even get me started on Annabeth!" Cooper shouted, shaking his head.
"EEXXXAACCTTLLYYYYYYYYYY! Brown hair? Blue eyes? Not to mention her personality, they totally messed her up!" Peter agreed
"They didn't even have the 'You drool-'" Cooper started
"'WHEN YOU SLEEP!'" Peter and Cooper finished in unison.
They looked at each other and then started laughing, "Thanks, I needed this." Peter said, "No problem. Someone finally understand the pain of watching the PJO movies!" Cooper says, dramatically.
"Can I hug you?" Peter asked, shyly
"Of course, brother to brother." Cooper replied
Cooper hugged Peter and they just stayed there, "I really needed this. Thank you" Peter mumbled
"Everyone needs a hug sometimes." Cooper answered
After a couple of minutes, Cooper broke the silence by saying, "Come on let's go eat dinner."
The new brothers walked downstairs and into the kitchen where the rest of the family was waiting for them. "Ah, good you're here. Come on, let's start eating." Laura said in a kind voice
Skip of time to the end of dinner
"Hey Peter can we talk to you for a second." Laura and Clint said as the family was finishing up dinner. Peter nodded and walked towards the married couple, albeit a little nervous.
Clint, noticing the nervous look on Peter's face said "There's no reason to be nervous, we just wanted to tell you that if you ever need to talk, we're here for you."
"Exactly, so if there is anything, anything at all, don't be afraid to come to us. We're happy to help." Laura told Peter
"I will, thank you." Peter whispered
Laura and Clint smiled at the boy while saying "Come on, lets go watch a movie."
The trio walked over to the living room, Peter going to sit with Cooper, Laura and Clint sitting in their regular spots, and asked if there was any suggestions for the movie.
Cooper and Peter looked each other with mischievous grins and said perfectly in unison, "Percy Jackson!"
Laura and Clint looks surprised that Peter was talking and smiling but nonetheless put on Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
All throughout the movie the two boys were whispering to each other and quietly laughing together. They heard snippets of:
"Gods, look how old they are!" Peter complained
"Where's Nancy?" Cooper wondered
"Look's like Clarisse didn't make the cut!" Peter pointed out
"Too bad the bathroom incident didn't happen" Cooper sighed
"Too bad they didn't introduce the houses" Peter said, shaking his head
"Look at Annabeth" Cooper said while laughing
"Why the heck is Persephone there?!?!" the Peter asked
It made Clint and Laura happy to their oldest boys happy. After the movie all the kids went to bed while the married couple watched some of their shows.
The next day
The next around lunch, Clint complained to his wife about the tractor acting up again. Peter heard this and thought he could help, knowing that he was pretty good with mechanics.
"I think I can help." Peter said in a small voice, walking over to them.
"Really?" Clint asked in a voice surprised but also hopeful voice.
"Yeah! I love working with mechanics! I'm in the engineering group with all the grade 8s at my school!" Peter perked up
"Um sure, let me take you to the tractor." Clint said with Laura and Peter following
It was about a 5 minute walk and boom they were with the tractor. Peter got under the hood of it and about 5 minutes later he addressed the problem. "So you were using subpar fuel with bits of rust in it and that corroded-" Peter started
"In English terms?" Clint said, with a confused look and a smile
Peter nodded and said "Low quality gas damaged the-"
"Simpler terms?"
Peter smiled and decided to joke around. He said "Bad go go juice made the tractor - that goes vrroom vrroom - all weird!"
Laura started laughing while Clint just stared in amusement and shock then started laughing too, "Well thank you for that, how do we fix it?" Laura asked, still laughing a bit
"Just change the fuel tank more often and get better quality fuel. It's a small problem and an even easier fix. Right now, all we have to do is just change the fuel tank" Peter explained
"Alright, thanks Peter. I had no idea you had such a gift for engineering and mechanics!" Clint exclaimed
Peter shurgged "I dunno, I find it fun." he replied
"I'm glad you do." Clint replied
Peter felt safe with these people, something he had not felt in a long time, even with May. He felt loved, he trusted these people. "Is it okay if I talk to you guys about something?" Peter asked, carefully
"Of course!" Clint said
"What is it?" Laura asked, gently
Peter took a deep breath and totally unloaded on them.
"I just wanted to say thank you so much for taking me in. I totally understand if you want to drop me back the orphanage, not many people want to deal with a kid so broken, a kid that has lost everyone. Thank you so much. I don't wanna get close to you guys because everyone I love dies and everyone I get close to dies and I really, really don't want that to happen to you guys. You guys seem to be a perfect family and I don't wanna mess it up!" at this point Peter had tears in his eyes
"It's just I miss them so much. What did I ever do that I've lost everyone!? I lost everyone! Ev-every-o-o-ne I've ever loved! What did I do!?!? I miss Mary and Richard! I didn't even know them that long to call them 'mom' and 'dad'! I miss Uncle Ben! I miss playing base ball with him and building legos and-and reading Doctor Bruce Banner's work with him! I miss Aunt May! I miss making science jokes with her, and watching Star Wars and even her burnt food. I miss their hugs and their kisses and their snuggles. What did I do that made me deserve this?! WHY ME!?!?!" Peter cried, his sobs racking his entire body.
"And I know, that I shouldn't be unloading on you but I didn't know what to do! And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Sorry that you have to deal with me. Sorry that you have to put up with me. I'm so sorry! But I'm also so grateful for you. So thank you but I'm so sorry!" Peter whispered
Laura and Clint's hearts broke hearing a little boy saying this. Seeing their little boy crying, asking "What he did to deserve this".
Laura walked over to him and gave him the most comforting hug she could give while saying "You are valued here. We are a perfect family because we have you with us. You did nothing to deserve this, it was just rotten luck. You are not getting rid of us that easily, you're stuck with us forever and always now."
"Exactly kiddo. And I know you miss them. But you know what we do when we can't be with the ones we love?" Clint asked
Peter looked up and with a questioning look in his eyes. Clint took this as a sign to continue, "You celebrate them. You celebrate their lives and you celebrate the memories you had with them. I'm sure your Aunt May and Uncle Ben would want you to be happy and I know it's hard now but it gets better. I promise." Clint said
"Really? Are you sure?" Peter asked
"Positive." Clint confirmed
Clint hugged Peter and not even a minute later, there was three more pars of hands that had joined the hug.
"We're Ohana." Lila started
"And Ohana means family." Cooper carried on
"And family means nobody gets left behind." Nathaniel continued
"Or forgotten" Peter said, finishing the quote.
"Exactly, we are family. Don't you forget it." Laura said looking to each person.
From that day forward, that moment, that second in time, let everyone in that family know they were valued. And let's just say that quote became the family motto.