“Karen, ask Friday to see what Mr. Stark is doing,” Peter requested. Times like these made him glad he tampered with Friday to give full access to Karen whenever he needed information.
“It appears boss has a hologram of the gauntlet on his arm,” Karen replied, passing along what Friday said.
Peter’s blood ran cold when he realized what Mr. Stark was planning. He had to act fast, a plan already formulating in his head.
He webbed the gauntlet away from his mentor, right before Tony put it on.
“Kid what are you doing,” Tony asked cautiously. Trying to keep the panic out of his voice.
“Thanking you, for everything you’ve done for me,” Peter replied as he slid the deadly gauntlet over his arm.
“Kid no!” Tony called out as the kid positioned his hand.
“I’m sorry Mr. Stark,” Peter said as he snapped.
Tony was by Peters side in an instant.
“Kid?” He asked. No response.
“Please wake up,” he pleaded, voice full of desperation.
While all the Avengers, especially Tony, we’re worried about Peter, Peter was at peace. He knew it wasn’t an ideal outcome but Mr. Stark was alive, and that’s all the mattered.
He mentally apologized to Ned, Mj, and his aunt. He was really going to miss them. But Mr. Stark is okay and that’s what’s important.
Did he die? Is this what death was like? He relaxed with content.
Peter suddenly felt a hard, uneven surface on his back. It felt like he was being carried. But who has arms made of metal? His brain swarmed with confusion. He feels safe though. He leaned into the warm, safe presence he sensed besides him.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Peter heard a distant voice try to reassure him.
“Dad?” Peter croaked out, his voice raw. His spidy-sense was telling him to trust this man.
“I got you kid,” the voice replied.
“Dad my arm hurts,” He told the voice. Peter felt like his arm has been stabbed and dragged though fire and all he could think about was how his arm was in so much pain. Black spots started clouding Peter’s vision. He slowly let the darkness overtake his him.
Tony was freaking out. That was an understatement. He was having a panic attack. He just doesn’t understand why the kid would do that.
Tony had it all figured out. He would snap and Peter would be safe and the world would be safe.
But Peter just had to have other plans. Does the kid not understand that he’s to young to die? He wasn’t even supposed to be there in the first place.
“Tony calm down, he’s gonna be okay,” Bruce reassured.
“You don’t know that,” Tony snapped. He knew it was wrong to take his anger out on Bruce but he was to busy worrying about his kid to care.
“His heart rate is stable,” Bruce explained.
“Sorry for blowing up at you,” Tony apologized.
“It’s okay, I get it, he means a lot to you,” Bruce responded.
“Can I have a minute alone with him?” Tony asked the doctor.
“Of course. And Tony, don’t beat yourself up, it wasn’t your fault,” Bruce said while he left the room.
“Feels like it is,” tony muttered under his breath.
He grabbed Peter’s hand, praying the kid would wake up.
“Peter why would you do that? Why would you do that knowing it could have killed you,” Tony told the boy.
“Please wake up,” he pleaded with tears running down his face.
He sat there in silence for a few hours, occasionally telling Peter he shouldn’t have done it. Asking him to wake up.
“You need to eat, he’ll be okay,” a voice interrupted.
Tony jumped slightly, he didn’t even hear Pepper come in. he was surprised to see Morgan with her as well.
“Is that Peter? Why is he sleeping?” Morgan asked curiously.
“He’s really tired from the fight, he needs sleep to recover. But he will be okay,” Pepper tells Morgan, directing the last part at Tony.
“What do you say I order a pizza for us to eat together,” Pepper askes.
“Yay pizza!” Morgan exclaimed.
“Sorry I’m gonna have to stay here,” Tony responded, not liking the thought of having to leave Peter alone.
“Fine, at least eat something,” Pepper told him.
“Yeah yeah I will,” Tony reassured. How could he though? Peter was literally dying and Pepper is concerned about him eating?
“I can’t wait for you to meet Morgan,” Tony told the sleeping boy.
“And then we can get ice cream,” he continued, a smile forming on his face.
His smile fell.
“You need to wake up. I can’t do this without you,” he said with a strained voice.
Suddenly he felt pressure on his hand. Was he imagining it? No he couldn’t have. That can only mean one thing.
“Peter,” Tony called desperately.
There was no movement for a second but relief washed over him as the boy eyes flickered open.
“Morning Mr. Stark,” Peter chuckled.
Peter didn’t have time to react as Tony threw his arms around him and had no intention of letting him go.
“Why would you- just why would you do that? You scared me half to death,” Tony berated.
“Better then how fully dead you would have been if you snapped,” Peter muttered.
“I’m sorry kid, I’m not mad. I’m just happy your alive,” Tony apologized.
“Sorry I scared you,” Peter responded.
“I would totally do it again if I had the chance,” he added.
“I wouldn’t let you,” his mentor responded.
“Your Tony Stark, billionaire, inventor, genius, superhero. I’m just some kid from queens, you deserved to live more then I did,” Peter said, eyes glued to the ground.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that. Don’t ever think that your life is worth less, you are so much more then I’ll ever be,” Tony told his kid.
“Fine, I shouldn’t have taken the infinity stones and snapped. I’m sorry Mr. Stark,” Peter responded, even though he didn’t believe what Tony said at all.
“That’s better, no kid of mine steals deadly powerful stones then almost dies to save the universe,” Tony lectured, not comprehending he called Peter his kid.
It seemed Peter noticed right away, based on the shock present on his face.
“You called me your kid,” Peter said, a mix of emotions on his face. Surprise, relief, happiness, shock.
“Or if you don’t want-“ Tony started to ramble.
“No I like the nickname,” Peter quickly responded. Both knew he meant more then just the nickname.
“Do you um remember what happened after I snapped?” Peter asked nervously.
“Like what I said,” he added.
“No I was pretty focused on getting you back to the tower so you don’t die,” Tony joked.
“Why what happened?” He asked, faking confusion. Thank god he installed the protocol into Friday.
“Nothing, Friday please delete the clips from the Ironman suit from 6 hours ago,” Peter requested.
“I’m sorry Peter but Mr. Stark has requested to permanently save any video clips when you refer to him as ‘dad’,” Friday responded.
“Seriously Friday,” he said as his cheeks heated up.
“I would love to see that clip Friday,” Tony asked his ai smugly.
“You know snitches get glitches Friday. Watch your back,” Peter grumbled.
Friday played the clip of Peter calling Tony ‘dad’ when we was half-unconscious.
“You seriously had a protocol to never let that get deleted,” Peter asked.
“Yes so I can play it to embarrass you when your friends come over,” Tony said, only half joking.
“Just for that I’m still calling you Mr. Stark,” Peter attempted to negotiate.
“I’m wounded,” Tony exaggerated.
“Mr. Stark is responsible, he should take more responsibility. Mr. Stark wouldn’t want his kid to stay out to late, I think you curfew will be cut back to 8,” Tony challenged.
Peter grumbled before eventually giving into what his mentor was trying to do.
“Can I please stay out later dad,” he mumbled.
“Well since you asked so nicely of course,” Tony replied.
“I’m putting neon glitter all over your lab,” Peter threatened.
“Sure kid,” Tony responded, still amused.
“Don’t test me dad,” Peter tired to seem Intimidating, before realizing his slip up.
“Damn it you tricked me,” Peter accused.
Tony just stood there with a huge smile on his face.
“Shuri where do we keep the prank supplies,” Peter called out with the full intention to “redecorate” Tony’s lab.
But Tony couldn’t be happier. He would clean glitter out of 1000 labs just for Peter to be alive and feel safe enough to refer to him as his dad.