when the world comes down
Peter Stark was good at a lot of things. He was one of the top students in his class, he worked alongside Dr. Bruce Banner, he was always successful at putting Morgan down for naps. Peter was good at a lot of things.
Now all Peter is good at is forgetting things.
When he woke up, he forgot where he was, yelling at the two young adults by his bed to get out. He threw a fit when his mom and brother came rushing in, crying that he wanted Tasha, not them, get out getoutgetout.
The doctor gave him something to calm him, and he quickly fell asleep.
The second and third times he woke were the same fight.
“Petey?” A gentle voice asked.
He was awake again.
The only people in the room were the doctor and two ladies. He recognized them, but the names didn’t connect with the faces. Guess his brain knew more than he realized, because next thing he knew he was croaking out, “Mama?”
The red head smiles, “Hey baby.” She glances over to the other woman, “Do you remember who this is?”
Peter stares at the girl, “It’s... it’s...”
The girl frowns. Why can’t he remember?
“Mi—“ Peter’s frustration grows, tears forming in his eyes. Why couldn’t he remember?
He closes his eyes tight. He just needs to concentrate. The girl’s face is clear in his head, but no name follows.
Peter opens his eyes, staring wildly at his mother. “I-“ His voice cuts out, a sob forcing its way out, “I don’t know.”
Covering his face with his hands, he closes his eyes again. The girl looked so sad, so disappointed. Peter was sorry he couldn’t remember her name.
Pepper sighs, then gently pulls Peter’s hands from his face, “It’s okay, Petey. This is MJ. She’s one of your friends from school, you went to high school together.
Oh. MJ.
“That’s a nice name.” Peter mumbles, feeling tired again.
The girl—MJ—struggles to find her voice. “Th-Thank you.”
Peter nods, his head falling lower and lower. With his hands still in Pepper’s, he drifts back to sleep, keeping MJ’s name in his mind.
—————
Michelle stared at her boyfriend. Her boyfriend who couldn’t even remember her name.
She couldn’t help the tears that fell once he was sleeping again. Pepper—bless this woman—rubbed MJ’s back, a simple but soothing feeling.
“He doesn’t remember me. He didn’t remember Ned or Shuri. He doesn’t remember his closest friends, Pepper.” MJ cries.
Pepper—tears springing, one hand on MJ’s back, one still holding Peter—pulls the former closer, whispering words that were supposed to be calming, but left MJ with a dreadful feeling.
“He’ll be okay, he’ll remember.”
—————
Harley was there when Peter woke up again, much less confused. He had asked Peter if he wanted to play a game of GoFish with him. A child’s game, yes, but would help keep Peter grounded.
“Harley,” Peter said, laying down a match, “Can I tell you something?”
Harley nodded, picking up a new card.
“That MJ girl? She’s pretty cute.”
The words have Harley frozen in his seat. He didn’t remember MJ? The girl he gushed about 24/7?
“Yeah, she’s pretty cool. You and her are actually good friends.”
Peter freezes. Looking at his brother, he says, “How are we good friends if I’ve never even met her?”
Harley hopes he doesn’t show how uncomfortable he feels, or hopes that Peter isn’t paying enough attention to notice.
—————
Cho and Bruce both clear Peter from the medbay within the week, but not before they send out a memo reminding the team that Peter may not remember them, and he’s having some spotty memory issues.
Any unnecessary personnel were asked to stay to their floors, leaving just the team and family to the upper level, as not to freak Peter out.
Helen also sends out a memo on what to do if something happens to Peter. She made sure everyone read it twice.
And that’s how Peter found himself on the main floor, hoodie pulled over his head, watching reruns of Brooklyn 99, Harley seated next to him.
They were nearing the end of the episode when Harley’s phone lit up with an incoming call, and he was too slow to pick it up.
The screen read ‘Old Man #2’, but the contact picture was missing.
Harley smiles at Peter, telling him that he’d only be gone a minute, then ducks into the next room.
Peter didn’t mind. It’s not like he couldn’t sit on the couch by himself.
The episode ended, and the next was on auto play. Peter leans back into his seat, toying with the edge of his hoodie.
He couldn’t believe he lived here, with the Avengers. His mom said that both Harley and herself were part of the team of superheroes, something that amazed Peter.
His family was superheroes.
“Hey kiddo, what’re doing here?”
Peter had been introduced to all the Avengers, including this guy, but he couldn’t place the man’s name.
“Harley has a phone call.” He looks back to the TV.
“You mind if I sit with you?”
Peter shrugs, “It’s a free country.”
The man chuckles, then sits next to Peter on the couch.
Peter doesn’t pay much attention. Maybe that was the problem.
—————
Rhodey sat next to Peter, Harley had passed him in the hall, asking to tag team.
‘Tag team’
It felt wrong to say it like that, but wasn’t it true? They couldn’t leave Peter alone, only getting privacy in the bathroom or when sleeping. Otherwise, he had the Avengers knowing his whereabouts 24/7.
It had been a couple weeks since he woke up, forgetful of everyone but Pepper and Harley.
He was getting better at remembering people though.
Peter hadn’t connected this yet, but it was quickly noticeable in who he remembers the most. The people he saw in person more often were the ones he recognized better.
His siblings, were easy: Harley and Morgan. His mom and doctors, barely left his mind: Pepper, Helen Cho, and Bruce Banner.
The avengers had some people on the easy list, and some on the difficult one.
On the easy was Bucky, who wants Peter to remember his life as much as he wants to remember his own. Scott and Hope were almost always recognized, and Cassie was someone Peter enjoyed talking to. Sam Wilson made sure to bother Bucky at least once a day, and in turn meant he was seeing Peter often. Wanda was someone Peter found he could rely on, without the fear that whatever he says is being relayed to his brother or mom.
On the unintentional hard to remember list, Thor was number one, as well as the Guardians. They hadn’t been to the compound once, and no matter how many pictures or video chats he’s seen, Peter can’t seem to recall their names. He was better about Carol, who had stopped by when she heard of his accident, but it still was difficult. Strange wasn’t keen on coming out to the compound, and so Peter’s brain wasn’t keen on remembering his name. T’challa was on and off. In person, Peter could greet him, see Shuri and remember who it is, but when the hero is in the background of Shuri’s video chats, his name leaves Peter’s mind right as he’s about to say it.
Rhodey was on either list, depending on the type of day Peter was having.
Today, James knew from the moment he entered the room, Peter couldn’t recall his name.
“Kid, it’s okay, just let me tell you.” Rhodey offers. Peter shakes his head, not looking at the man. He was growing quite frustrated, and Rhodey was wondering whether or not he should get someone else in here.
“No! I should be able to remember, I can remember! Just give me a minute.” Peter plays with the sleeve of his hoodie, trying to focus. If he could just remember when they met, he would know the man’s name.
His mind supplies him with nothing.
Frustrated, Peter shoots out of his seat, still not locking eyes with the man, pacing around the room.
“Peter, c’mon. It’s okay to get help-“
”No! People need help remembering where they put their keys, not remember names of people you’ve known your whole life, so just shut up with your help, Rhodey!”
Peter freezes.
“Rhodey.”
He remembered.
“Rhodey!”
The man—Rhodey—smiles as Peter grows excited.
When Harley comes back in, he finds Peter and Rhodey bouncing around, laughing like schoolgirls.
“What’s... going on?” He asks, an amused grin on his face.
”I remembered!” Peter laughs, his grin unwavering.
”What?”
”I remembered Rhodey’s name, Harley!”
Realization dawns onto Harley. Peter remembered a name. He usually needed more of a push before remembering a name. He hasn’t done it on his own yet.
Harley smiles before pulling his brother into a hug. It didn’t matter how long it would take, his brother would be okay.