Chapter 4
When Steve and Natasha found a completely disintegrated Bruce, they knew something was up. They managed to calm him just enough to find out what was going on. Naturally, both of them were in shock.
“Nat we... We have to do something. He is a child... I - I can't believe” Steve runs his fingers through his hair. He looks at Natasha who is just staring into the corner of the room. Suddenly, she turns to her teammate “Whoever did this is going to die”
Steve managed to persuade Natasha, to keep the revenge on hold and rather find Tony and Peter. The walk through the tower felt like an eternity, they didn't know If he was still alive, if they could say goodbye.
Finally, they reached the door to the living room. Pushing down the door handle did nothing.
“Door is locked, please do not disturb” FRIDAY's voice cuts the silence like a sword
“FRIDAY please unlock the door,” Steve said while frantically rattling the door. “I'm afraid that I can't do that, I received specific instructions to keep the doors locked”
He turned to Natasha who was definitely going to break through the door if they won't find a better option in the Next Minute. Steve puts his Hand on Natasha's shoulder “Please Let me try something else. Tony is already distressed enough”. He looked at the ceiling “Override CAPSICLE. It's an emergency…We can't leave him in there FRIDAY, please, you know that we can't leave him alone”
”Override successful”
Both of the avengers let out a relieving sight. They step through the door trying to be as quiet as possible. When they saw the heartbreaking scene, Tony holding his son in his arms, silently crying to himself. Steve and Natasha slowly stepped closer to the couch, holding back their tears.
Steve took a deep breath and finally found the power to speak to Tony “Come on Tony, let's go, you can't stay here, please” But he didn't even care to react.
Natasha carefully sits next to him putting her arm around his shoulder “Please Tony, look at me, you sat here for several hours, you need to eat, no at least drink something”
After a more persuasive talk, they finally got a reaction. Tony sniffed and looked at Steve who was now standing in front of him. “He was just a kid... I- I wish I could have protected him” his voice sounded weak and brittle and his eyes looked red and puffy. “I can't leave him, maybe… Maybe Bruce was wrong” The last part was incomprehensibly quiet.
Steve looked at Natasha, both of them knew, they are will have to drag Tony out of the room and that it is going to be the hardest thing they have ever done. Considering they got almost no reaction to over an hour of talking to him, its just… it has to be done
He Slowly Grabbed Tony and Natasha carefully took Peter out of his arms.
“Please, don't do that, I want to be with him, I … I can't leave him…”
His hearth ranking pledge shakes both of his friends to the core.
They set Peter's body down on the couch, he was going to be picked up by the mortician and everyone is going to say their last goodbyes.
They all loved him, and since he started living at the tower, which Tony had bought back just to have a place close to Pete, the Team grew a lot closer.
At first, Steve was not sure how to act around the young boy, but after Peter showed him a lot of Movies and Music so that “He can understand his references” he had taken him to his heart.
Natasha never was around kids a lot, except Bartons Kids. Maybe because she knew she never had the choice, even if she wanted one of her own. But one thing she knew with a 100% certainty is, that she would be more than happy if it turned out like Peter, she loves her little Spider. But he's gone, lost, she has lost so much before.
They started walking, Steve had to support every Step Tony took, he was shaking and his steps are wobbly. Natasha was just stepping up to help them as her eyes landed on a small Cardboard box. On its side, it had a label “In case I pass away, For my friends and family”. She grabbed the box and followed Steve and Tony. Peter must have given it to Tony when he knew that he is going to die. Thinking about the Box Natasha just gets even sadder, he prepared something in case he dies... He is just a kid...But that is not important at the moment.
She shrugged the thoughts off Clamped the box under her arm and joined Steve who had already gone a little ahead with Tony.
Finally, they reached the kitchen where they sat Tony down and gave him a glass of water and a cup of Tea. He looked miserable.
“Could you two maybe give me a second”
Natasha nodded and quickly stepped out of the room, she needed a second. Tears stream down her cheeks as she sits down on the floor in the hallway. Steve lowers himself down next to her. After silently sitting and crying together. Steve got up “ I am going for a run, want to join?” Steve likes to drown his Emotions in Sports, especially running.
“No, I think… I will just go into the training room, and do boxing or something…”
Steve nods and makes his way to the elevator.
In the kitchen, Tony sips the Tea Natasha had prepared for him. He thought about his son, and how he came into his life and brought chaos and a bunch of happiness with him. He tore down the walls around his hearth and brought Light to his world. He was the best thing that has happened to him. If it wasn't for him, Tony might still live on coffee, sleeplessly locking himself in his Lab.
And now he is gone and he feels like he is going to break into pieces. But even if it hurts, even if he breaks down, even if he missed him already, he will keep going. Trying to go on, get back on his feet.
For Peter
Because he made a Promise
He will try to make the world a better place like he always tried: He will Save life to save people, that never should feel this incredible Pain so that parents can watch their kids grow, fall in love, and get married.
Things that Peter should have done, but were denied to him. He will use his life, he owed that to his son
It does not matter how much it hurts, or how hard it is going to be, he will keep fighting and make his son proud.
For Peter