Chapter 2
Peter looked at Tony “Dad?” Said permit uncertain, shaky almost toneless voice. Tony seemed to break free from his rigidity, Peter never called him Dad before, but now, looking in his son's tear-filled eyes, it was the most beautiful and agonizing thing he could have said. He pulled in into a hug and squeezed him as tight as he could, giving support to both of them. “Peter” he whispers, with a rough and scratchy voice.
After a while of silence and hugging. Peter looked Tony In the eyes “ It's okay- Dad” He felt how a silent sob runs to his father's body “Peter, I- I am so sorry... I should- should have been there - I could - have...”
“No, that is not your fault” Peter responds “ I would have been spiderman anyway, it was my choice to use my Powers for the good. I knew the risks, I knew I would possibly not come out of it without prejudice... I- I just thought I had more time” he took a deep breath to calm his voice “The only thing you have done is giving me security when I am out as spiderman. Like I had the coolest suit ever, Much better than my old hoodie. But the most important part is, you gave me a home. I owe everything I have to you so don't you dare blame yourself“. Tony loosed his arms a little “ I am so proud of you, Bambi, you made my world so much better. You deserve so much better” Peter smiled “No I could not have wished for a better Dad”
And Tony could not have wished for a better son, Peter was so smart and nice and happy all the time after everything he went through, when he moved in with him, it was the best day of his life. At this moment he made a decision, he will the best last hours he can get
“What do you want to do?” Tony asked “Ice cream and Pizza?” he knew that this was Peter's favorite food. It would be the only thing he ate if Tony did not monitor his diet. Peter thought for a second “ No I don't think I want Pizza, Ice cream sounds good though”
A few minutes later they are sitting on the couch, Peter resting his head on Tony's shoulder, the biggest bowl of Ice cream on his lap. Filled with every flavor and topping that was found in the tower, except peppermint of course. Tony slowly strokes the brown curves, whilst the knot in his stomach is tightening itself. “Dad, could you get the blue box outside out of my wardrobe?” Peter took his eyes away from his ice cream, looking into his father's eyes. “ Of course” he responded already on his way to the big room, which Peter has completely taken. He quickly found the box and hurried to get back to the living room.
“Here you go, Pete” The boy took the box and opens it, staring at its content wistfully. Inside there were a few letters, labeled with Names. “Please Promise everyone will get their letter,” he said “And don't open them until... Until I am... Gone” He handed Tony the box. The man swallowed hard as he took it from his son's hands. “And please take that too,” Peter said removing the necklace with the small spider charm from his neck. Tony knew it was his most valuable possession as it contains the iron spider suit. “Remember how we finally figured out how to get the suit that small?” he smiles at the memory of Peter jumping around the lab in pure joy “ Yes, of course, that thing is like the coolest thing I have ever had in my entire life. I love Saturdays, being with you in the lab, inventing things, was the highlight of my week” Peter smiled. “ It was my highlight too, kid” Tony holding back tears again, he can't cry knowing he has to be strong, for His Son.
Peter looked into Tony's eyes “Could we maybe watch a movie together?” It was sort of a tradition to watch a movie whenever “Life got a bit too much” and they just need each other's company. Most of the time they would do that instead of paying attention to whatever they were watching. Beyond that, they also had movie nights every week, However, there was usually other Avengers present as well.
Tony brushed the boy's hair back “ Of course bud, I love our little movie dates. Do you want to choose the movie?” Peter usually picks the film anyway, About every third time Tony was also allowed to choose a movie, he smiled at the memory of Peter jokingly complaining about “having to watch a black and white movie”.
Peter considers his answer for a few seconds “ Could we watch Bolt?” He remembers watching the movie in the theater when he was seven years old. He loved it so much that May and Ben gifted him the DVD. He would watch that movie almost every week especially when he was sick, which happens a lot.
“FRIDAY you heard him and please lock the doors to the living room, we don't want to be disturbed” In The intro to the movie, Peter knew by the heart starter playing but nobody was looking. The boy rested his head on Tony, Who held him so tightly as if he would never want to let him go again.
God, Tony loves that kid so damn much
He tried to enjoy the moment, but at the same time, he tried to memorize every detail of this feeling so that he would never forget it again.
“How are you feeling roos?“ Tony asked his voice brittle and hoarse from all the crying. “Are you scared?”
“I am feeling okay actually, I am a bit tired but not too much” The knot in Tony's stomach tightened, even now, knowing he was going to die he was still comforting Tony. But he still saw Peter was not as calm as he acted.
Peter wasn't scared of dying. Because he knew it would not change anything, it would just make it harder for Tony. But he was scared to leave his friend and family alone, especially Tony. He was scared that he would go back to old habits. Locking himself up in his Lab, forgetting to sleep and to eat, living on black coffee. He knew Tony turned his life around for him, attempting to be a decent role model. What if he changes back when he's gone?
“I am scared” He finally admits “but not of dying or death but of what I leave behind. I don't want to leave you alone.“
“I know Pete is hard for me too. I don't want you to go either”
“You have to promise that you don't encapsulate yourself, You are not alone, you have a family. Please promise you will let them help you”
Tony hugs his son even tighter, Peter has the biggest heart he has ever seen, “I do not only promise that to you, but also that we will get through this together. I will not leave your site”
Peter sniffs “I -I don't wanna go”, so quiet Tony can hardly hear it.
It breaks his heart seeing his Son like that, He seems young and weak, incredibly small and fragile. Tony wanted to put armor around him that protects him from his Inevitable faith, instead, he says almost with no tone to his voice
“I will be at your site”
Peter nodded, looking at him with tear-filled eyes, that also expressed deep trust, like Tony has never witnessed before.