Chapter 41
"Can I go out?" Peter asked, staring at the screwdriver in his hand as if he saw it for the first time.
"Sure," Tony replied, not even looking up from his phone display, where he was reading something and looked grimly.
"Well," Peter cleared his throat and put down the screwdriver, "you probably didn't understand me. I thought I'd wear a suit."
"Sure," Tony repeated, and now it was his son who frowned. How come he reacted so calmly? Since returning from Germany, Peter had not worn his Spider-man suit and he had no desire for it. And when he wore it before Germany happen, Tony always insisted on going out with him to keep an eye on him.
"Dad, are you listening to me at all?"
"Of course I'm listening. You want to go out and take your suit, which I agreed to," he said, raising his head. He looked amused when he saw Peter's wonder-struck expression. "I know you won't do anything stupid. Plus, I'll keep an eye on you. I will be informed of every step of yours. What are you planning to do?"
"Nothing interesting, just to clear my head a little, I need it," he muttered in response, rubbing his temples. "The highlight of my action will be when I help some old lady cross the road."
Tony chuckled, but then tenderness appeared in his eyes. "You're a good kid, Peter."
He looked embarrassed, but then smiled and went for the suit. "Thanks, Dad. But without you and mom, I wouldn't be." Tony looked away at the mention of Pepper. He hadn't seen her since she'd slammed the door in front of his face, nor had she answered calls or messages. Not even from Peter. If she saw how was the boy suffering... but no, he couldn't force her to return through it.
"Bye," Peter said goodbye, and in a moment Tony was alone in the workshop. He sighed and looked around the room. There was an incredible mess, so it wouldn't be bad to try to clean it up here. At least he would be busy, he has nothing else to do. And then he could cook something for dinner. Maybe Peter will be back soon and help him. But what made him sad was that no one will appreciate their culinary skills. Maybe they should get a dog.
"The dog won't replace our Pepper, you idiot," he growled to himself, then clasped his hands on the table, closing his eyes and exhaling deeply. "No one can ever replace Pepper..."
Peter was already swinging through the city, shooting webs in all directions. Other times he would be excited to try on his suit again and get out for a while, but now he didn't care. He felt as if everything that could be ruined had been ruined. At first, the team disagrees and they start fighting against each other, then Steve and then Aunt Nat disappear, not to mention Uncle Bruce, who disappeared without a trace a long time ago. Rhodey is injured, Peter's biological mother appears and the one who raised him leaves him. He was beginning to worry that it could come a day when he would lose his father, Ned, and... and maybe Quentin Beck. He's gotten along with him lately.
He heard a noise and falling pieces of stone, so he looked around in alarm. His eyes fell on the ruins of one of the buildings in front of which stood two men; one dressed all in black, the other muscular and with long hair. He felt as if he had seen them before...
"Thor! Mr. Loki!" he shouted, his lips widening into a smile. He hadn't seen Thor in a long time. In fact, ever since the Avengers defeated Ultron. And not to mention Loki - but he was, after all, well... a villain. And he definitely had nothing to do here.
"Well, isn't that young Stark?" Thor exclaimed enthusiastically, and when Peter jumped up to them and took off his mask, he patted him on the shoulder. "You grew up. And as I can see, you also became a superhero. You are following your father's footsteps."
"I said you could do great things one day, and you didn't believe me," Loki grinned, crossing his arms on his chest.
"And then you're not a witch. And anyway, don't talk to him, brother, or he'll take the same path as you."
"Who says my path is wrong?"
"Um, what are you doing here? I thought you were in jail," Peter interrupted quickly, feeling uncomfortable for an argument between the Asgard brothers. Loki rolled his eyes.
"As you can see, I am not."
"If he was, it would save us a lot of trouble," Thor said, frowning at his brother. "We kind of lost our father, even though Loki says he left him in this building. Have you ever lost your father, too, Peter?"
"Rather, his father lost him," Loki said, not stating. "Do you still need a babysitter?"
"You could have a gag."
"If you wanted to be my babysitter, you'd have to go back in time in about ten years," Peter grinned. Loki wanted to answer but was interrupted by the screams of two girls.
"Ah, that's Thor and Spider-man! Could we take a picture with you?" they asked enthusiastically. Thor immediately agreed and posed, but Peter was embarrassed and fortunately still managed to quickly put on his mask so that no one would recognize him.
"It's a shame Jane broke up with you," one of the girls said, then said goodbye and left. Thor cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Jane didn't break up with me... I was the one... We broke up by agreement," he tried to explain. Loki smirked, pretending not to believe him at all.
"Well, well, well, let's see who they released from the Asgard prison. I hope you've got rid of that ridiculous idea of governing our world," Tony interrupted suddenly, arriving at them in his Iron Man suit.
Loki glanced at him, then sharpened his eyes inconspicuously to see if any other Avengers were hiding somewhere. "Hi, Thor. That's enough you show up here."
"Stark, that's a nice surprise! Once I find my father, we can meet the others again and—"
"Save your breath, the team doesn't exist anymore. So what is Loki doing here?" he changed the Avengers topic quickly. Thor looked incredulous.
"But how-"
"I'm surprised you dare to meet me, Stark," Loki said mockingly, and Tony grinned.
"Why should I be afraid? It was you who got your ass kicked. Peter, we have to go, I need to make arrangements and I want you to be at home and safe."
"What are you doing?" Thor frowned suddenly as a glowing orange circle appeared beneath Loki. Even the god of mischief looked confused.
"I'm not doing anything, really. I don't have—" And then he shouted and disappeared into nowhere. They were left only with a piece of paper. Thor poked the paper with the tip of his umbrella.
"Loki?"
"Perhaps, you don't think he's turned into a piece of paper?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know my brother."
"Well, Thor, it was nice to see you. As you said, we'll meet again sometimes, but the team is scattered around the world. If you happen to find Bruce, send him home!" he asked, then flew away. Peter fired a web at the opposite house.
"And take Loki with you!" Peter shouted after Thor, then followed his father.