Not long for this world
Peter is currently alone in the medbay, as he allowed Tony to join Steve in returning the Infinity Stones to their rightful places. Well, he is talking to FRIDAY for updates and records for the past 5 years and how was Tony during those times. Seeing how miserable he was, just given a tight knot on his chest and slightly on his belly. Be strong you two.
He feels slightly on edge, he knows how dangerous Time Travel is and in one wrong move you can create another alternative or a new timeline. Time Paradox is complex. But he greatly trusts Steve and Tony.
But staring at his beloved’s eyes tells a thousand words. Another chance of seeing his Father. Peter thinks that Tony wants his Father in the past to tell him that he is going to be a Dad soon not indicating that he is his son from the future of course. But Howard Stark is also a genius and he can figure things out. Hopefully, though not this time yet. Impossible really, do not plant a false hope Peter - he thinks by himself. But he believes in this kind of bizarre feeling that this person is related to you, not just by blood but by heart. Like a Deja Vu kind of feeling. Peter laughs at himself if Howard will realize 20 years later that his son had Time Traveled and talked to him, he will be devastated - in a positive way, maybe? And maybe the older genius will be happy in knowing that he will have grandkids and Tony will be responsible, be a big shot and will tie the knot, not to a girl though but to a young man like him with mutant genes and secretly a reincarnated Titan with a Celestial Lineage.
Speaking of reincarnated Titan, it was activated during his captivity inside that fake world, his spider senses heightened, but it also has its cons. It was like his energy is being seeped out and then it will solely focused on his lower core. Are they trying to protect his babies? But he feels so weak. Despite being 23 years old, his body is still 18 years old. But he feels like a centuries-old man in a small body. He feels like his body is degrading, he feels on edge. He needs to talk to him. And what the right timing it is…..
“Brother they can kill you....you have to give up on them. Your children are too strong” suddenly worried tone that he hadn’t heard for 200 years spoke to him telepathically, he is calm but the voice is too deep like it was trying to suppress something - an emotion. He knows how his brothers look like and what they sound like because of the Runes his parents gave to him in his previous life.
“Where are you Eros? I know you are in here in the compound please come to the medbay. I have so many things to ask and tell you, if you may? By the way, I know it was you who de-aged Tony. What is your purpose? And me as your key in unlocking it? Very clever, perhaps?” Peter waited for at least 5 minutes before his Brother spoke to him again.
"I will be right there but I need to cloak myself to be undetected, you too if you can. But I will help you since you are still weak. The AI cannot record our conversation, you know how intricate you Fiance is?” despite Peter’s grumpiness, maybe because he is pregnant or just he wants some Strawberry cake and Parfait, he allowed his Brother’s request “Fine, do what you what. I will be here”.
When Eros arrived at the medbay cloaking himself to be undetected. His eyes welled up upon seeing his Brother. “Are you just going to gawk at me? No hug?” Peter feigned his disappointment, while the older Titan just nodded vigorously and approached his younger brother, whom he hasn’t seen for centuries and gave him a loving and warm hug, tears starting to form in those purplish eyes. “Zoel, I am so sorry dear brother for not saving you” voice muffled, Peter smiled and warmly returned the hug.
“Don’t blame yourself Big Brother, it is not your fault I was just hidden away from you by our parents. Do not stick too much in the past. I am just glad that you are here we can still catch up, but do not pressure yourself for Thanos’s mistakes please….and this is awkward I forgot how tall a Titan is and by the way, I preferred to be called to my present name, okay? Peter...” his small forehead puckered but laughed a little at his light humor about the older Titan’s height. But wow Big Brother, he wanted that for a very long time. But he was reborn on this world as an only normal child, without any memories, just recently unearthed.
Peter in his past life as the hidden Prince of Titan, he is blessed with the unsurpassed talent of knowledge, yet encumbered of the opportunity to use that talent to its fullest. As he dies in such an early age, being a sacrifice for the Soul Stone, because of Thanos’s foolishness and selfishness - looking at him diddly, before pushing him off the cliff. But the Soul Stone spared him because he is their chosen one and he formed a bond with them before this happened. And he is very grateful to be born on Earth as Peter Benjamin Parker and fell deeply in love with Tony Stark.
Eros becomes aware of the existence of his Baby Brother when Thanos had done the Genocide. On their parent’s last breath they gave him a Rune, it has Zoel’s recordings of his daily life, his rants, his laughs, how he talks about how vast the universe is and how he wishes he could meet his Brothers. It is the only thing that he treasured the most. After that, he became a changed man. Solely focusing on using his power in helping people and rebuilding their homes.
“How do you feel?” Eros looked at him perceptively.
“I feel weak and heavy, although I can walk. But Natasha dotes on me so much” Peter laughed lightly, as he remembers the Russian Spy acting for real like a Mama Spider. Eros laughed with him as well “You are lucky, you are well loved here Peter and call me Starfox, all people here call me that except Captain Marvel”.
“Wow. Another Captain so we have two Captain’s right now. Awesome! And yes, I am lucky to be showered with love. And I will take note also of your new name” his fanboy mode and innocence surfaced a little, and suddenly his face morphed into sorrow, “But...is this really my fate Brother? To have a short lifespan or destined to die early?” a tinge of sadness emitting from his little Brother. His mood switched so suddenly and all Eros could do is hold his hand for support and be there for him, Peter’s hand reminds him of a child in Titan - small and delicate. “I know if in case I will not make it, Tony can take care of them” Peter began to hiccup and cannot form coherent words as it escalated into sobbing.
"Please you will not die, Peter, you have to fight for your family. I am so sorry for what I said earlier to give up on them. I feel remorse for that, I am not like Thanos” the Titan coaxing him to be strong and he knows what the young man is capable of. Peter looked at his eyes full of tears and telepathically “ Thank you, Eros, and doing that to Tony” .
“I just want your happiness and to be with him longer that’s why I did that. And I remember Carol told me a Fairytale of true love’s kiss, isn’t that sweet and I know how large your age gap is, I know you want to die together with him of old age. It is unlike us Titan’s having a long life span and possibly immortality. Don’t lose hope I am here, I will help you if you need energy. But remember you are more powerful than I. It’s just that your children are too powerful, they have strong defiance”.
The two sat in silence, and Peter can feel that his eyes are getting heavy because he cried too much. But he has to be ready for whatever outcome it may be. He will show all his love for Tony and to their unborn children.
As Peter fell asleep after his long self-loathing. Starfox cooed at him “I will not let you die….” he bolstered his energy on Peter so that when Tony Stark returned from Time traveling his betrothed will look better even in a short span of time.
But he knows Cosmic Poisoning is really deadly. Peter bearing two powerful children and the only person who can wield the Infinity Stones without using any tool, he is going to help him. He understands why Peter doesn’t want Tony to know, the man is broken and just started to return into pieces. Unbeknownst also to everyone, his brother is tied up to the Stones again and they are also depending on him. It is like 8 entities feeding on his power - resulting in poisoning. All he could do for now is to slow its process, but he knows soon enough Tony will discover it. He admired the man’s high intellect. They will figure this out.
When he was about to leave the medbay, he saw the presence of a man. In a red cloak standing a little far from where Peter is - lips set in a grim line at the sight of Peter’s pale form, his physique is a little like Tony Stark, his deep eyes are what caught his interest on this mysterious visitor, the AI didn’t react to meaning he was harmless. He also noticed that he is holding a very beautiful flower, on earth, they are called Daffodil. The Titan is a fan of flowers in any part of the Universe, due to his former playboy days. And he knows their meanings as well.
Daffodil symbolizes regard and chivalry, which suits Peter. Rebirth and new beginnings and eternal life, for his brother, Tony and their children.
Good thing he is still cloaked and the said man did not felt his presence. The man began to skitter towards Peter’s bed and the Titan made a distance a little bit far away from them and just observing.
His expression transposed into another emotion, the man looks perturbed. And suddenly he reached out his hand to check on Peter, but he suddenly holds back. He inhaled a deep breath and blow out slowly. The next thing he saw is that the man had created a beautiful vase on the bedside and set the flowers on there. He stood up and kissed Peter’s forehead and left through his self created portal.
And suddenly Starfox remembers the other meaning of that flower.
Unrequited love.