portalhopping | ota; memory share

[ It all hits him what feels like back-to-back violations of the kid's privacy over which Five has no control. It's good to see Tony Stark again; it's been too fucking long. He can now see why Tony was so taken with Prim when they'd flanked her bedroom with their own to keep the little girl safe without ever having to discuss it. He, like Five, has secretly always needed to take care of someone other than himself.

His heart aches for Peter all over again, the same way it did when Peter first came back.

With a sigh, Five sets down his notebook and gets to his feet, crossing the room and opening his bedroom door. ]

Hey Peter, are you home?

[ Peter is sitting in his own room, the bedroom door open and music playing from inside. should someone peek in they'll find his room is a mess of parts and blueprints and paper. there are a few rogue lego models, and a couple of mugs - one which is very much Prim's, and the other his own from hours ago.

he looks up, a screwdriver in his mouth, one hand tangled in the wiring of a power module from the portals. ]

Yeah? In here! Hang on I'll - oh, jeez.

[ there's a rustle, a clatter, and a few screws roll out the door before he peeks out to look at Five, sheepish. ]

Sorry about that.

[ Even with the ache in his heart for Peter's losses and struggles — no one as young as the three of them were when they were so impacted should have to deal with the level of trauma they all have, he thinks — Five can't help laughing a little at the sounds in response.

He leaves his room and moves across the apartment toward Peter's room, bending to pick up the screws on his way. Five holds them out to Peter. ]

Don't apologize. I just got hit with a whole fucking barrage of your past.

[ He pauses. Goddammit, he's not good at this. ]

You've been through far too much for a kid your age, Peter. You know, the more I learn about you, the more impressed with you I am? To be as well-adjusted as you are after everything you've been through? You could've ended up like me...but you didn't.

[ Five pauses again. ]

I'm really proud of you, kid.

Wait, what?

[ he's heard tale of these memories, but the idea that some of his own might be lingering out there in the ether unsettles him - he goes red in the face almost immediately, looking a little awkward. ]

O-oh. It's... it's really not that big of a deal. I couldn't let them get to me you know? Then they'd reall win.

[ but Five says he's proud and he finds himself a little stunned, sheepish. ]

Um. Wow. Uh, thanks, Five. I'm... I'm really trying.

[ it's hard to chase away the eerie sense that there's a place waiting for him where he doesn't belong anymore. ] And I'm grateful you were here when I got back. From home. Kind of getting my feet back under me, you know?

[ Five gives Peter a knowing look. It's a lot easier to say that you can't let the bad stuff get to you than it is to actually avoid letting it get to you.]

You're welcome, I'm really impressed with you. I could've used whatever your coping mechanisms were when I was stuck in the apocalypse at your age.

[ He lifts an eyebrow with interest. It's a little bit surprising to him that Peter still feels grateful to Five for being here when he got back after he's adjusted. It's nice to hear, but a little surprising all the same. ]

I'm glad I could be here when you got back, too. We missed you, you know. Here's home now for you, though...right? Here with Prim and May and I? Because, frankly, as much as I hate to admit it, I got pretty attached to you, kid. I'd hate to see you go back to a place that turned so cold. You'll always have a place here. You know that, right?

ota; memory share

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