In The End
Peter woke up and was immediately disoriented. The walls in whatever room he was in were lighter than the usual ones that surrounded him. He turned on to his side and froze. He turned to his other side just to make sure, and yes, it was him that was moving. He suddenly remembered that he was in the tower and he was free. He was able to move his own body and talk for himself, he was no longer at the mercy of the Spider; of Hydra.
He looked around his room at the tower, Tony must have brought him up and tucked him in after he fell asleep from exhaustion. His heart swelled at the thought of his mentor being so fatherly. His room looked basically the same as when he left. Tony had given him a room for when lab sessions ran too long and he had to stay the night. Peter had decorated it with various Star Wars and science posters, and secretly an iron man poster on the back of his closet door. Iron Man has been his hero since he was little, even before he was saved by him when he was nine at the stark expo. Now after meeting Tony himself he became an even bigger hero to him; a hero inside and outside of his suit. Someone to look up to.
He did notice a few differences to his room. A couple of the posters on the wall were not there before, they were supposed to be in his room at his apartment. The picture next to him on the nightstand of May, Ben, and him together, should also be at his and May’s apartment as well. He looked down to see that the comforter on top of him was from his bed at his apartment. He decided he would ask Tony about it when he saw him.
Peter got up and decided to stay in his comfy clothes, he doubted he was going to go anywhere today. It was nice to be back at the tower, but also a bit disorienting. He had not been here for so long. He walked out of his room and was immediately hit by the smell of eggs, bacon, and sausage. It had been months since he had had any of them. He walked into the kitchen to find Tony cooking breakfast, it was such a domestic action for a billionaire and superhero. He smiled, he had really missed Tony. Lab days had become his favorite days of the week. He always looked forward to them, not just so he would work on his suit, but because he got to see Tony.
Tony put the eggs on a plate and turned around to put it on the center island. He jumped a little when he saw Peter standing there, “Oh, kid you scared me.” He put the plate on the counter and made his way over to Peter. “Are you feeling okay?” He asked, concern laced into his voice.
“Yeah, that was probably the best sleep I've had since…” He stopped. He didn't want to say the words 'since before I was kidnapped.’ He paused and then said, “In months.”
Tony noticed what had happened, but decided not to mention it. Peter wanted to feel normal, since he was finally free. Tony wasn’t going to bring up Hydra and ruin his first morning as a free person in months. “Well, let's see if we can keep this streak going. Best sleep and now best breakfast.”
“I don’t know, I’ve heard Cap's pancakes are pretty darn good.” Peter said with a grin.
“Yeah, well I’m the chef today and my food will taste better.”
“Mr. Stark the bacon is burning.”
“Shit!” He turned to see the bacon turning black. He rushed to the stove and took the pan off. “Sorry, where was I?”
“You were saying that your food is better than Cap’s.” Peter said with a smirk.
“Listen smart alec, you are the one who distracted me.”
“Don’t try to pin this on me, I'm just an innocent bystander.” He said as he put on the most innocent puppy dog face imaginable.
Tony rolled his eyes, but couldn’t keep the smile from his face. Peter was back. Peter was right here in front of him and he was safe. His happiness was insurmountable.
“Mr. Stark, can I ask you a question?” Peter said with confusion in his face.
“Of course, shoot.” Tony said, turning to give Peter his full attention.
“Why are there things from my apartment here in the tower?” And just like that Tony’s joy turned to dread and sadness, his smile falling into a frown. Peter didn’t notice since he was looking down in confusion and continued. “Also where is May? When you were talking to me about the people that missed me you didn’t mention her.” Tony was at a loss. He knew he would have to talk to Peter about what had happened, but was hoping he would have a little more time to plan out what he was going to say. What could anyone say in that situation?
Peter picked up on his hesitancy and the sorrowful look on his face. Peter knows that look well. He saw it in the police officers faces when they came to May and Ben's door after his parents plane crash and he saw it for months in May's face after Ben died. He honestly saw it in his own face quite often when thinking about his parents or Ben. Dread filled every cell in his body as he asked, “Mr. Stark,” His voice cracked, “where is May?” His voice was high and child-like and it shattered Tony’s heart.
Tony softened his voice. “Peter, I’m so sorry sh-”
“No.” Peter said it so softly, but Tony heard and stopped talking. Tears started to fill his eyes making everything around him a blur. “No, no no no no no.” His voice got higher with every ‘no’ and tears started to stream down his face.
Tony stepped towards him and when Peter did not move or flinch away he closed the distance and wrapped Peter in a comforting strong hug. “I’m so sorry.”
“No!” he cried out. “No! No you're wrong!” Peter shouted into Tony’s chest. He started to struggle. Normally, Tony would not be able to overpower Peter, but he was still exhausted from the hold the Spider had had on him. Tony just held him tighter as he struggled and fought. As fast as the fight came to him, it left, leaving Peter heartbroken, grieving, and exhausted. Tony took most of his weight while still holding him. Peter just sobbed, his tears wetting Tony’s shirt, his fists crumpling the material in his hands. He was holding onto Tony for dear life. His whole family was gone and Tony was the last thing he had that was remotely close to a parental figure. He didn’t want to let go in fear he would disappear just like his parents, Ben and May had.
After what felt like hours, but was only about ten minutes Peter’s sobs slowed, but the tears did not. The food was cold, but it didn’t matter, all that mattered was the kid in Tony’s arms. He kept holding Peter, but moved them both to the couch. Peter went with him, moving like a zombie. Once on the couch Tony pulled Peter close as he kept crying. He brushed his hand through Peter’s mop of curls as added comfort. After a few minutes Tony heard a soft, “How?” from Peter.
Tony didn’t know how to tell him. It was one thing to say someone died of a medical issue or in a tragic accident, but it was a whole other to tell someone that their last family member died because losing him was too much. She couldn’t live without him, but now he has to live without her. It was completely unfair, and Tony hated the universe for doing it to Peter. “She-” He cut himself off, still not sure how to break it to him, “Losing you was too much for her.”
Peter looked up at that. His eyes were swollen, puffy, and red. Tears still filled them. “No.” He said again in a whisper. “She wouldn't.”
“I’m so sorry.” He breathed out. He didn’t know what else to say. Peter put his head back on Tony's chest, tears once again falling onto his shirt.
He said the next part so softly it seemed it was only meant for himself. “I killed Ben and May.” he whispered, but Tony heard.
“No Peter, you didn’t.” He said it with such certainess.
“He was only out because I ran away that night and May only died because I got myself kidnapped.” He cried while speaking, but his words here were soft and heartbroken.
“None of that was your fault.” Tony said softly. His own tears started to form at hearing the raw hurt emotion in Peter's voice.
“Yes it was.” He seemed so sure.
“Were you holding the gun that night?” Tony asked, but kept his voice soft.
“No, bu-” Peter said, but was cut off before he could debate.
“Did you plan on getting kidnapped?” Just saying it hurt Tony. Peter was kidnapped.
“No.” Peter said simply, exhaustion and despair filled his voice.
“Then neither one was your fault.” There wasn’t much to say after that. They sat in silence as Peter’s tears slowed.
After a while Peter looked up at Tony. His face was now dry as the tears had stopped, but his eyes were still swollen and red rimmed. “I’m 16 so I’ll have to go into Foster care again right?” He said it so sadly.
Tony was struck by the ‘again.’ “What do you mean again?”
“They put me in foster care while Ben and May filed for custody. The family I stayed with wasn't really nice.”
‘God, how much is this world going put Peter Parker through,’ Tony thought. “No Pete. I have a whole team of lawyers already working on getting me custody so that doesn’t have to happen.” he said, but then he realized he didn't ask Peter and it was his life not Tony’s that had just turned upside down. In fact Tony’s had just turned right side up again the minute they got Peter back and freed. “If that’s what you want of course.”
Peter didn’t trust his words at the moment, worried that if he opened his mouth he would start crying again from sadness and joy that Tony wanted him. He just nodded and tightened his hold on Tony. Tony smiled, but it was still a sad smile. Of course he was overjoyed that Peter wanted to stay with him, but felt sorrow towards the reason he would be staying there. “Good. And in two years when you're eighteen, if you want to move out you can.” Peter gave a small nod into Tony’s chest. “Or if you like it here we can talk about adoption so you can stay as long as you want.” He rushed to correct himself. “Not to say that if you didn’t want me to adopt you you couldn't stay it just-” Tony started to nervously ramble.
Peter cut him off, “You really want me?”
Tony looked surprised, but recovered quickly, “Of course I do Peter, why would you think I wouldn’t?”
“I thought you just wanted Spider-Man.” His voice was small as he said it.
That crushed Tony’s heart, but he couldn’t blame Peter. He did try to push him away before this. “No Peter. Spider-Man is great, but if you woke up tomorrow and decided never to get into the suit again I would still want you.”
Tears started to fall again as Peter said, “Even with my Parker Luck?”
“Your what?” Tony said in confusion.
“Everyone I love dies.” He said it like a fact, despair filling his voice..
If there was any whole piece of Tony’s heart left it just shattered at Peter's words. “Oh Pete,” Tony said, once again on the verge of tears tightening his grip on the boy. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everyone you have ever lost, but I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?” He knows it’s childish, but he needs to be assured.
“Promise. I love you kid.”
“Love you too.” Peter said, tears still falling, but they were slowing as Peter's emotional exhaustion took over. Tony stayed holding him until he fell asleep and even then did not move.
Peter’s life would never be the same again, but with Tony’s help it wouldn’t hurt like this forever. It will take time, and the grief would never fully go away, but it would become more manageable. He would heal, as best he could, from Hydra and Tony would be there every step of the way. He would be there through the good and the bad, hugging Peter when he got a good grade and hugging him while he cried. Tony would be there for Peter no matter what.