Chapter 2
They were lucky that Peter's burns weren't any worse.
They were mostly first and second degree burns. There were two on his legs that would scar, but they would be barely noticeable.
Really, they were lucky that Peter was alive.
~~~~~
Tony was a wreck. He was devastated.
He'd been awake for days at Peter's bedside, stroking his soft curls and peppering kisses all over his face.
Happy and Rhodey hovered anxiously by the man. "What did Cho say?" Rhodey asked.
Tony bit his trembling lip. "She, uh... she says she's not sure when Pete will wake up. Says that given the circumstances, it's pretty much- pretty much up to him." He took a deep, shaky breath, his eyes never leaving Peter's face.
"So he's in a coma?" Happy regretted saying it.
Tony shook his head frantically, trying to get the thought out of his head. "No. No, no. He's not in a coma. He's just asleep. He's gonna wake up soon. He has to."
Rhodey placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah man, of course. I'm sure he's gonna be fine."
Tony shuddered and kissed Peter's forehead. "I know he's gonna be fine. I need him."
~~~~~
Pepper and Rhodey spent ages trying to get Tony to sleep. He refused.
"I need to be with Pete. I don't need to sleep. I need Peter."
Dark circles had appeared under his eyes. His words were slurred and confused. But they both understood.
"Promise me you'll sleep eventually, though," Pepper said, looking him in the eyes.
Tony looked away silently. "Once he wakes up," he whispered. "Then maybe."
Pepper nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
~~~~~
Tony stood up to close the blinds, turning on Peter's Iron Man night light. Carefully he tucked the fuzzy blanket (also Iron Man themed) around the tiny boy, kissing his forehead and placing his teddy bear under the blanket. "Petey. Oh, Peter. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I'm sorry. You've gotta be okay, hear?" He sighed and cupped the toddler's cheek. "I need you to wake up, mimmo. But however long it takes... I'll be here. I'll always be here."
Please wake up. I'm so so sorry.
Tony didn't want to fall asleep, but he had been awake for days. He fought the weariness in his bones, the pounding in his head. Wearily he kissed Peter's hand and rested his head on the mattress. "Petey."
~~~~~
"-Addy! Daddy! Daddy, pwease. Need hewp! Daddy!"
Peter. PeterPeterPeter.
He jolted up with a gasp. "Pete?!"
"Daddy!" the toddler sobbed. "Daddy! Hewp! It hur's!"
"Petey, oh Pete. Oh, baby. I got you. I got you. Petey." He ignored the tears streaming down his face and focused on the tears on his son's cheeks.
"Hur's! Daddy! Daddy!"
"It's okay. It's okay, sweetheart. I got you. We're gonna make the hurting go away, okay? It's okay, baby. I got you." He stroked Peter's cheek gently with one hand, frantically pressing the call button over and over with the other.
"I got you, Petey."