Tragedy Strikes
Just when Tony thought he had everything under control and things were finally settling down, everything came crashing down. It started with a phone call. Tony was up late, working in the lab, Aniyah peacefully sleeping upstairs with FRIDAY watching her, when his phone started ringing. That in of itself wasn’t unusual, he was a busy man who knew a lot of very important people. But this phone call quickly proved to be different, and rather life-changing.
“Stark,” he says curtly into the receiver, busy looking over the blueprints for his latest Iron Man suit. He glances up at the time and frowns upon seeing that it is nearly midnight. Who in their right mind called anyone at this time of night, regardless of who it was?
“Mr. Stark? This is Doctor Shang over at Queens Medical Center. I have a Mr. Peter Parker here with me. I regret to inform you that earlier this evening Mrs. May Parker was struck by a car while walking home. She was pronounced dead soon after arriving here at the hospital. Mr. Parker stated you as his emergency contact.”
Tony freezes, dropping the tool in his hand as he stares blankly at the desk. He must be hearing things, at least that’s what he rationalized. There couldn’t be any way that May Parker was dead. That Peter was now an orphan.
“Mr.Stark? Mr.Stark.” the voice on the line says, catching Tony’s attention. Within the span of a few seconds, he comes to two realizations: Peter was, indeed, an orphan, and he was currently alone in a hospital where any social worker could pick him up and cart him off to a foster family. Tony quickly makes his way back up to the flat, grabbing his shoes and coat as he passes by them. “I’ll be there as soon as possible. I don’t want any social workers talking to him until I get there,” he says into the phone, and after he gets an agreement from the doctor, he hangs up and dials Rhodey’s number. As soon as the line picks up, Tony is talking.
“Rhodey, I need you to get over here to watch Aniyah. I don’t have much time to explain. May was hit by a car earlier this evening and was killed. I have to get to the hospital to get Peter, but I don’t want to wake Aniyah up and upset her by dragging her to a hospital at this time of night.” his words are clipped, but Rhodey quickly catches on, agrees, and promises he would be there in five minutes. True to his word, five minutes later he’s landing on the balcony, the machine taking off his suit.
“Aniyah is asleep in her room, she shouldn’t wake up but if she does just get her some milk and put on a movie until I get back. She won’t want to go to sleep if I’m not here. Oh, and in the back of the fridge, there’s a-”
“Tony, " Rhodey interrupts, holding up a hand. “I already know all this stuff. Now go get Peter.”
That’s all that it takes before Tony is in the elevator, pressing the button for the car garage. The elevator ride was one of the longest in Tony’s life, but finally, the doors opened and Tony ran for his closest vehicle. Moments later, he is pulling out onto the road and heading straight for the hospital.
It feels like he hits every bout of traffic, every red light, and every possible delay but he manages to make it in record time. He wastes no time jumping out of the car and running for the entrance. He had called Pepper on the way and told her to get his best lawyers to the hospital. They’re already there, waiting for him by the front door, and Tony barely says a word to them except to briefly explain what is happening. He comes to a stop in front of the receptionist who looks at him in shock, obviously not expecting to see Tony Stark at a random hospital in Queens nonetheless with an army of lawyers.
“I’m here to see Peter Parker.”
To the receptionist’s credit, she doesn’t say anything. She simply types something onto her computer and rattles off the room number, nodding when Tony quickly thanks her, hurrying off down the hallway.
He takes the stairs instead of the elevator, not really caring if the group of lawyers are following as he takes the steps two at a time up to the correct floor. He rushes down the hallway to the room and peers inside. Peter is sitting in a chair, staring at the hospital bed, which holds May Parker. Tony’s heart clenches at the sight, a wave of nausea hitting him when he sees just how messed up May is. Taking a deep breath, he opens the door.
“Peter…?” he calls quietly, cautiously approaching the teen, reaching out a hand and placing it gently on his shoulder. Tony jerks in surprise when Peter suddenly turns around, throwing his arms around his mentor’s torso, and burrowing his face in his chest. Tony quickly recovers, wrapping his arms around Peter tightly.
“Hey bud,” he murmurs, lifting a hand and running his fingers through the teen’s hair. “I’m so sorry, Pete. Everything’s going to be okay” Peter shakes his head and mumbles something against Tony’s shirt. “What was that?” Tony asks, gently grabbing Peter’s chin and angling it so he can look at him. “What did you say?”
“How can it be okay?” the teen chokes out, eyes red, and nose runny from the excessive crying he’s probably been doing. “Aunt May is gone.”
“I know bud, and I’m so sorry. But I’m here now. I’m going to take you home, and we’re going to figure this out. I promise it will be okay. Even if it doesn’t seem like it right now.” Tony sighs, giving the boy a gentle squeeze. “But for now, we’re going to go home and you’re going to get some sleep. I’m sure Aniyah wouldn’t mind a cuddle buddy. Come on, up you get,” He carefully lifts Peter onto his feet, tucking him protectively under his arm as he leads him towards the door.
As he passes by the group of lawyers he leans in and mumbles a quick “Make sure her body is transported to the appropriate funeral home. I’ll set up a funeral in a few days.” They all nod and Tony quickly begins to usher Peter down the hallway. Just as they were about to turn a corner, a lady appeared around it, spotting them quickly.
“Mr. Stark? My name is Sarah Wittleburg, I am the social worker who has been assigned to Peter’s case. If you would please step into this room over here, we can discuss Mr.Parker’s options.”
“There aren’t any options.” Tony says bluntly, “He’s coming home with me. You’re more than welcome to discuss things all you like with my lawyers. As for myself, I am taking my kid home. Now.”
“Mr. Stark you can’t do that. There’s a process to this sort of thing.”
Tony snorts, stepping around her and onto the elevator she’d just evacuated. “Watch me,” he says bluntly, and the doors close in the woman’s shocked face.
Tony loads Peter in the backseat of the car and drives home at a much slower pace than he had coming here. He plays quiet music in the hopes that it may calm the kid down enough so that he’ll sleep easier once they get home. However, he may not even need to worry about it if the way Peter’s eyes keep drooping is any indication.
When they walk into the flat, they’re greeted by Rhodey and a very sleepy Aniyah. The latter hops off the couch, padding over to Tony and lifting her arms. He obliges, lifting the little girl into his arms and planting a kiss on her head.
“Daddy, what’s wrong with Peter?” Aniyah asks quietly, watching the way that the teen flops onto the couch, curling into a ball.
“There was just an accident, sweetheart. Peter’s going to be staying with us from now on, alright. You don’t need to worry about anything else. Would you be alright if he slept in your room with you tonight?”
The girl nods, and Tony sets her down, walking over to Peter and tugging him back to his feet. “Come on kiddo, we gotta get upstairs.” He turns to Rhodey, “Thanks again, Honeybear, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“If you lost me, Pepper would keep you afloat, but if you lost both of us you’d likely crash and burn,” Rhodey replies dryly and Tony snorts, nodding his head.
“Probably. Are we still on for tomorrow night?”
“I may be a bit late because I need to be in DC tomorrow but I should be able to come,” Rhodey replies and Tony pats him on the shoulder, as he walks by, tugging Peter along.
“Alright, well goodnight. Come on Aniyah, bedtime.”
“Goodnight Uncle Rhodey!” Aniyah quips as she passes by and the man chuckles, ruffling her hair as she goes.
“Goodnight, text me if you need any help Tones.”
As Tony herds his two kids upstairs he can hear Rhodey taking off from the balcony, FRIDAY closing the doors behind him. “Alright, Peter I want you to go take a shower real quick. I’ll bring you some clothes. Aniyah come with me, we’ll get you settled in your bed and I’ll read to you until Peter is ready.
Fortunately neither of them protests and within thirty minutes both of them are settled in Aniyah’s bed, Peter already passing out as Tony tucks the covers in around them. “Goodnight you two,” he says, brushing a kiss on Aniyah’s forehead and -after a moment of hesitation -onto Peter’s as well. “sleep well.”
“Love you, Daddy,” Aniyah mumbles as she snuggles into Peter’s side. Tony flicks out the light as he leaves.
“I love you too kiddo,” Tony heads back downstairs after cracking the door, feeling far too keyed up to go to bed. “FRIDAY, tell me if one of them wakes up.”
“Yes, Boss,” FRIDAY replies and Tony heads down to his lab.
“Might as well get some work done since I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” he says to himself.