Only One Call Away
Tony rested the boy’s body on the ground.
Pepper led Tony away from Peter’s body.
Tony walked away without looking back.
*******
Tony sat inside his house.
He was sitting on his bed. Scotch in one hand and a photo in the other.
He looked at the photo.
Staring back at him was Peter with his mouth open into a smile. Next to him was the man with a bored face and sunglasses. Together they held the Stark Industries Internship upside down. They both did bunny ears to each other not knowing what the other person was doing the same.
That day was such a long time ago.
But it seems so recent.
His tears rolled uncontrollably down his face.
He glanced at his phone before picking it up.
79 miss calls from May.
34 unread messages from May.
Tony made a sound which was like a groan and a sigh. He had to tell Peter’s aunt that he failed to protect her nephew.
Before he could look at the messages, a soft knock came from the door.
Tony quickly put the scotch underneath his bed and put the photo and his phone on his side table. He aggressively wiped away his tears.
“Come in.” He said too quietly. He cleared his throat before saying it again but louder, “Come in.”
Morgan’s head popped into the doorway.
She noticed her fathers bloodshot and puffy eyes but did not say anything.
“Mommy said you were not feeling well.” Morgan whispered, “She said to not bother you.”
“You are the only person in the world who can bother me.” Tony smiled. You and Peter.
The small child hopped onto the bed with Tony, snuggling next to her father.
“Daddy, are you feeling better?”
“Sure.” Tony lied.
Bzzz
Bzzz
Tony’s phone rang. He looked at it and saw May’s name. He let it ring out.
“Who was that?”
“Just a friend.”
“Why did you not pick it up?”
Tony stammered for a response that will not traumatize Morgan.
“I made a promise to her and broke it.”
Morgan nodded.
“Where is Mommy?”
Pepper was getting Peter’s funeral ready. His funeral will be tomorrow, he had to tell May before tomorrow.
He could still not believe the fight was just three days ago.
He lost Peter three days ago.
It felt like a lifetime.
Lost then found then lost again.
“Daddy?”
Morgan's voice made Tony step out of his daze.
“Oh.. Ahh yes. Um she is helping me with uhh.. setting up something for a friend.”
Tony knew he had to tell Morgan. But he was so relived when Pepper volunteered to tell her.
“Morgan? Where are you? I need to talk to you.” Pepper’s voice rang through the house.
“Coming!!” Morgan yelled. Jumping off the bed and slowly closing the door behind her.
Tony smiled.
Then sighed.
He took his phone and began looking through it. Thankfully May left no voicemails, knowing Tony will not listen at any of them. He started to scroll through the messages.
MAY
Tony what happened?
WHAT HAPPENED!
What did you do?
What is the news saying?
Why did I get ‘dusted’?
Or bliped?
Wait!
Is Peter with you?
Where is Peter?
Tony answer me!!
He is not with me and he is not returning my text or calls.
Where is he?
TONY!!
PICK
UP
MY
CALLS
NOW
!!!
This is not funny.
TONY!!!!!!!
ANSWER ME!!!
Where is Peter?!?!
This is not funny Tony!
I swear if this is your idea of a prank.
Where’s Peter!!
Is he with you?
Tell me!
Tell me now!!!
I am this close to finding and yelling at you!
Tell me!!
Answer my calls!!!
Answer my texts!!!
If you are trying to play dead it is not working!!!
“If you are trying to play dead it is not working!!!”
The irony.
Tony’s thumb hesitated before pressing the ‘Call’ button.
Before he could even bring it up to his ear, May answered.
“Tony? Where is Peter?”
“Hello to you too.”
“Tell. Me. Where. Peter. Is. NOW!” May yelled. Tony had to move it further away from his ear to stop from going deaf.
“Peter is uhh. Your nephew is umm. He is taking a very long break from being Spiderman and uhh Peter Parker….”
“No.” May said, dropped the phone.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” She screeched. She grabbed the phone again.
“You son of a bit-! What are you talking about! My Pete is not dead!”
“I’m really sorry. I… He sacrificed his life to end the battle. His funeral is tomorrow.”
He could hear her sob through the call.
My nodded then remembered that this was a call.
“I’ll be there.” She croaked. May ended the call before the man could say anything else.
She slumped down onto the floor, hugging her legs to her chest.
“Peter….” She whispered hoping her nephew would hear, “Come back… Please.”