POV: Tony Stark
I lean back against Stephen’s chest, stretching out on the couch as he wraps his arms around me.
My eyes close as I yawn, his lips pressing softly against my head.
The perfect end to a lazy day at home, one he finally convinced me to take.
“Incoming call from May Parker.” FRIDAY says, flashing a picture of May into my glasses as I open my eyes.
I sit up instantly, my stomach dropping.
“Answer.” I say flatly, holding my breath as the line connects. “May, what happened?”
A shaky breath on the other line causes me to grab Stephen’s hand, squeezing tightly.
“It’s Peter.” She says, her voice filled with tears. “He was trying to help with a robbery and the man he was trying to stop was shooting at Peter but hit a bystander instead. She didn’t make it and now I can’t find Peter.”
I exhale.
He’s alive.
I can work with alive.
“Okay, I’ll find him.” I tell her. “Make yourself some tea or something and don’t worry that pretty little head of yours. The Spiderling will be home soon, ‘kay?”
She laughs shortly before she hangs up.
“Is Peter okay?” Stephen asks, looking at me with concern.
I nod, unlacing my fingers from his as I stand up.
“Yeah.” I say as I sigh softly. “He just lost his first innocent bystander.”
His mouth twists as he nods, understanding the feeling.
“I gotta go find him.” I say, leaning down to kiss his forehead quickly. “I’ll be home soon.”
He nods, smiling tightly as I turn away.
I walk out to the balcony, hitting my watch to call my suit to me as I step outside.
The armor encases me as I step into the rain and quickly launch into the sky.
It starts to rain harder as I fly away from the tower, and the thick drops clank against the metal of my suit.
Luckily, this won’t take long, he doesn’t know I have a tracker in his suit.
“FRIDAY, activate babysitter mode.” I say with a grin, he’d be pissed if he knew that’s what I called it.
“Babysitter mode on.” She replies plainly, projecting a map onto my screen. “Peter Parker is in Queens, address is 211 7th Avenue.”
I follow the map laid out before me to the rundown brick building on the outskirts of town.
A small hunched over form on the roof of the building confirms that this is the right place.
I land a few steps behind him.
He doesn’t move.
I walk closer, until I’m right beside him.
He sits perched on the edge of the roof, his mask in his hands, his hair slicked to his face from the rain.
His eyes are locked on the dark street below.
I click my watch, retracting the helmet of my suit.
“How’d you find me?” He asks, his voice hoarse.
“Are you doubting my superhero abilities?” I ask, looking down at him.
He still doesn’t look up.
“No.” He answers plainly. “I am doubting mine though.”
I sigh, that was stupid of me to say.
“Come on Pete, it wasn’t your fault—”
“No, it was.” He interrupts, looking up at me with red rimmed eyes. “I’m supposed to keep people safe, and I got someone killed.”
His voice cracks at the end.
He looks down at his hands.
The fabric of his suit is stained reddish brown.
I press my watch again, retracting the rest of my suit.
“Peter, do you want to tell me what happened?” I ask softly as I crouch down to be at his level.
A choked sob escapes his lips, and he falls towards me so that his head rests against my chest.
I sit back, catching him and hugging him close.
“I tried to save her Mr. Stark I swear I did.” He cries against my shirt, the rain and his tears mixing. “I tried to stop the bleeding and it just—it happened too fast.”
I rock him gently, trying to soothe him the best that I can.
“I know kid.” I say softly, patting his back to the rhythm of my rocking. “You did all you could.”
He shakes his head.
“I should’ve been more careful.” He sobs, taking in a gasping breath.
“Did you catch him?” I ask.
He nods.
“And he was arrested?” I ask.
He nods again.
“You’ve gotten a lot of dangerous people off the streets, right?” I ask, pushing his wet hair away from his face.
He nods, looking up at me.
“You’ve saved so many people.” I tell him, wiping rain and tears from his face. “And you have been careful.”
He swallows hard.
“Accidents happen Peter.” I say quietly. “It comes with the job. It’s the worst part of the job. But we have to keep saving as many people as we can.”
He nods again, hugging himself tightly to me.
I squeeze him tighter, patting his back.
“It’ll be alright kid.” I murmur.
The rain falls quietly around us, soaking into our clothes and hair as we sit on the rooftop.
“Let’s get you home.” I say, standing and pulling him up with me. “May’s going to go ballistic if you’re out here in the rain much longer.”
He smiles a tight smile as he shakes his hair out.
I press my watch, pulling my suit over me as Peter pulls his mask over his head.
He flies through the air, his webs attaching to buildings as he swings through the city, and I fly close behind him.
He comes to a stop on top of his apartment building, and I land beside him.
“Thanks for coming Mr. Stark.” He says, pulling his mask off again.
I retract my helmet.
“Yeah.” I answer, studying his face. “You call me if you need me okay?”
He smiles a small smile.
“I will.” He answers. “Tell Mr. Doctor Strange hi for me.”
I smile back.
“I will.” I answer. “Now, get down there and give your hot aunt a hug.”
He laughs, rolling his eyes as he webs over the edge of the building into his apartment window.
“And change your clothes!” I call behind him. “If you catch pneumonia a certain doctor is going to kick my ass!”
I hear another laugh through the window before it slides shut.
I smile to myself as I click my watch, putting on my helmet as I take off and head towards home.
Finally, I land on the balcony, retracting my suit as I step into the living room.
Stephen stands up, walking towards me with extended arms.
“You okay?” He asks, hugging me close. “You’re soaked.”
I take a deep breath, finally relaxing.
“Yep.” I answer. “Of course it had to be raining.”
Stephen laughs.
“Is Peter okay?” He asks in a low voice.
I nod.
“Yeah, he will be.” I answer. “He says hi.”
He laughs again.
“You must be cold.” He murmurs, with his lips against my neck. “Maybe you should take a shower.”
His deep baritone voice sends a shiver down my spine.
“You know, I think you might be onto somethin’ there, Doc.” I answer. “Join me?”
He laughs, leaning back and pulling me by my hand towards the bedroom.