They’re back
Harley and Peter soon were inseparable. The two boys spent day and night together and so did the two- well- dads. Yes, Tony and Stephen were fathers. And they couldn’t deny it anymore.
Peter, Harley, put on your jackets, it’s cold outside! Have you brushed your teeth? Did you have that maths test today? If it’s worse than a D, I’ll have to talk to your teacher. Stop hitting your brother with the pillow, that was expensive! I will not cook you two separate meals everyday, you eat what is there.
And that wasn’t even the start of it. They just were the most wonderful family but only inside of the mansion. Outside, Tony and Stephen were colleagues. And Harley and Peter best friends. For several reasons. One: The press would be all over them and neither was very thrilled about the idea. Two: Being a superhero was dangerous enough. Being each other’s pressure point was worse. And they knew that. Just being the close friends and colleagues they officially were was not the best thing. It was downright scary. And then one morning it all started falling apart.
“Morning, Merlin.”
Tony yawned and stretched his limbs. As he looked next to himself, he saw no one.
“Rude”, the billionaire mumbled as he got up.
“Stephanie? The least you could do is cuddling, you innocent brat.”
In the beginning everything was fun but the doctor was neither in the bathroom nor the living room or kitchen. Stark jogged to the boys’ rooms and knocked.
“Peter?”
Harley opened the door with small eyes and his blanket around him.
“When will you two finally stop switching rooms?”
“Good morning to you too, Tony. It’s Saturday and it isn’t even lunch time. Why are you awake?”
“I usually wake up before the sunset, Harley. I just am happy to spend some alone time with my wizard lover as well. That’s why we let you sleep. Speaking of Legolas, have you seen him?”
“I was in dreamland before you came, no. I haven’t seen him. Can I continue sleeping?”
“Yes. Good- goodnight? I guess.”
He closed the door and did the same with Peter but the younger hadn’t seen anyone either. And hopefully, hopefully, hopefully no one had seen Peter’s Ironman shirt. All Tony had left to do was call Christine. She picked up after two rings.
“Doctor Palmer here, how can I help you?”
“Good morning, Christine.”
“Tony, good morning! How are you?”
“A bit lost. You haven’t seen Stephen by any chance?”
“Saturday? No. Thanks to you my Saturdays are now my Stephen-free-days. Why?”
“Because he’s playing hide and seek with me.”
“Hide and seek? As you two have kids now, I have to ask if that’s a metaphor or if you are actually-“
“No, no. Metaphorically. He’s not here, not at the hospital- that’s usually all places he goes to without me making him go somewhere. I-“
His phone rang.
“Christine, I’m getting another call. I’m sure that’s him. Have a good day. Sorry for interrupting whatever you’re cutting open or sowing closed or- inserting or all the other doctor stuff you do.”
The woman laughed as he hung up. They had instantly become friends with their same sense of, what Stephen called, fucked up sick disgusting humour. Stark picked up the phone immediately.
“Doctor?”
“Yes, hi Tony!”
“Oh. Not the doctor I was expecting to hear. Hello, poison Ivy.”
“What?”
“Right. Not that fitting. Shrek?”
“Pardon me?”
“Big green guy?”
“Just Bruce is fine.”
“Hm. Makes me think of the depressed bat too much. Just kidding. What’s the problem?”
“They are here again. These- things. These aliens? Or whatever they are.”
“No fucking way.”
“Yes! Yes. They threatened to attack. They want to destroy us. Can Stephen and you come? He’s probably the only one who knows what to do.”
Tony had instant nightmare scenarios shooting through his head.
“I’m on my way. Get ready.”
The engineer didn’t want his voice to be pained with so much fear and uncertainty but he was so scared.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Stephen isn’t here.”
Banner paused.
“That doesn’t mean anything, Tony. It’ll be fine.”
“He isn’t here! I need someone to protect the boys. Send someone. Please.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll- yes. Someone is on their way. You have to breathe, Stephen will be fine.”
“Get everyone together.”
Ironman ran outside and took off as soon as it was possible. He flew to the others with full speed and did what he did for the first time since he could think: He prayed for his family to make it through.