Tony's Nightmare
His nightmares, they always started the same.
With darkness.
He would turn and see a faint red light glowing in the distance.
And Tony knew something was wrong. Horribly wrong.
~~~~~
Something was wrong something bad was happening
Peter
He needed to save him
He had to
Tony raced through the halls
The walls were stained with blood
Peter’s blood
No
Nonononono
There was screaming
High and pained
Peter’s voice, shouting for him, begging him to save him
Tony had to save him
He needed Peter
And then suddenly he was in a room, dark and damp, metal walls covered with blood, and a cot in the center.
And Peter was there, lying still, his eyes wide and staring at Tony
Pleading
“Mr. Stark… help me. Please.”
“Mr. Stark, please.”
“Help.”
But Tony couldn’t move, could only stare in horror as a shadowy figure appeared
With a raspy voice, it’s hooded head turned to him. “This is your fault, Stark. You let him die.”
No
NO!
Then Peter’s eyes went blank, losing all their light and happiness, all their joy and love, their pain, their brilliance.
Nononono
Peter
Peter!
PETER NO
Nonono
He needed him he needed Peter
He had to be okay
He needed him
But Tony knew, deep down, that Peter was gone. And that he had failed.
And his son, his child, his baby, was dead.
It was all his fault.
Tony screamed
Screamed
Screamed
Screamed forever
Peter
“Mr. Stark!!”
He jolted up from his bed, tangling himself in the covers and looking wildly around.
PeterPeterPeter
He stood right there by his side, looking scared and worried.
Tony lunged forward and pulled Peter into his strong arms, tears streaming down his face and throat raw.
He’d been screaming.
Tony rocked Peter back and forth, clutching him tightly, sobs ripping from his throat. The boy hugged his waist. He knew now what his nightmare had been about.
Tears streamed from the man’s eyes as he buried his face in Peter’s soft, tangled curls. He tried to focus on the sweet smell of strawberry shampoo.
“It’s okay Mr. Stark. I’m here. ‘S okay.”
“Oh god. Oh god. Peter. Peter. I got you, you’re here. You’re fine. Peter. Peter.”
“Yeah Mr. Stark. I’m always fine. I have you!”
Peter had Tony.
Tony protected Peter.
Always.