Chapter Text
At some point, a fever set in. Peter’s body became overly warm and goosebumps began to climb up and down his limbs. Tony immediately laid down beside him, pulling his kid closer to block some of the chill. Every muscle in his body ached from exhaustion, but he couldn’t bring himself to sleep. Every time he got close, the fear of losing Peter came too close, snapping him awake again.
Night passed into morning. The rain ended, and the sky cleared, making room for the early morning light. Tony blinked tiredly as he watched as a warm early morning glow creeped into the cave. The sky turned purple, then dark red and deep orange. “I wish you could see this, buddy. You’d love it.” Tiredly, he yawned and rubbed his eyes.
Rhodey approached and crouched down, to meet Tony at his level. “You need to take a break.”
Tony shook his head. “I’m fine,” he insisted, but Rhodey wasn’t having it. He rested his hand on Tony’s shoulder and sighed.
“You’ve been sitting here for hours, man. You need to eat something. Drink some water. Hell, just step outside and get some fresh air for a second. You need to get up and move.”
Tony remained stationary, his hand still resting on Peter’s wrist. “I can’t. I need to be here. Just– in case.”
“Jesus, Tony. Nothing’s going to happen in the next five minutes.” Rhodey squeezed Tony’s shoulder and glanced at Peter. “Look at him. He’s doing better than we could have possibly expected. You’ve done everything you can. Now you need to take care of yourself.”
Tony opened his mouth to argue, but the words stuck to the tip of his tongue. His mind was foggy from sheer exhaustion. He hated to admit it, but Rhodey was right. He needed to get up. Even if it was only for a minute.
“I’ll be right here. I’ll watch him. I won’t leave his side,” Rhodey assured. “Just step outside for five minutes. Get a power bar, drink some water, take a piss– do whatever you need to do, then come back. We’ll be here waiting for you when you do.”
Slowly, Tony stood up, his joints creaking and popping in vehement protest. He glanced back at Peter one more time before shuffling over to the mouth of the cave. The cool air, combined with the smell of damp earth, was refreshing. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs as took in the view.
He stood there for a few seconds, closing his eyes and tilting his face towards the sun. Things were looking better, but he wasn’t ready to let his guard down. He took one last peek at the horizon and wandered towards the pile of supplies. He took a power bar from the pile and drank half a bottle of water. A few minutes later, he exited the cave to relieve himself. When he returned, Rhodey was beside Peter, keeping watch just as he’d promised he would.
Tony sighed profoundly as he lowered himself back down onto the cave floor. He looked at Rhodey and smiled weakly. “Thanks. I– I needed that.”
“Of course you did. You probably need some sleep too, but I have a feeling that might be too much to ask.”
A huffed laugh escaped Tony’s mouth as watched Peter's chest rise and fall. He leaned back against the cave, clasped his hand around Peter’s wrist, and closed his eyes. “If I did fall asleep, you’d keep him safe. Right?”
“I swear on my life, Tony,” Rhodey solemnly replied. “Whether you know it or not, this is your kid. That makes him my nephew, and there is absolutely no reality where I wouldn’t protect him for you.”
A soft smile spread across Tony’s face as he allowed himself to finally drift off. Peter– his kid, was safe in Rhodey’s hands.
When Tony awoke, the sun was illuminating the inside of the cave with soft yellow light. Immediately, he ran his hands through Peter’s sweaty hair and down the side of his neck to find his pulse. He didn’t need FRIDAY to tell him the fever had worsened. As he counted out the beats, he could feel the heat burning into his fingertips.
Rhodey approached, a rag saturated in rainwater in hand. “Hey, man. You’re awake.”
“He’s burning up.” Tony mumbled, his voice rough with inadequate sleep. “Why isn’t his healing factor kicking in?”
“I don't know,” Rhodey replied. “But his heart is beating. That’s something.”
The wet rag was passed into Tony’s hands. He rang out some of the excess before placing it on Peter’s brow. There was no reaction. The kid was still unconscious. Tony hoped that meant he wasn’t feeling any pain. Although, the way Peter’s body periodically tensed and twitched made him think otherwise. A painful lump built in his throat. “I’m so incredibly sorry, buddy. I wish there was more I could do.”
“Here,” Rhodey said, as he tossed a protein bar and a quarter of a bottle of water into Tony’s lap. “There’s not much left. There’s that, two more bars, and the rainwater we collected overnight. I could try foraging later, maybe fishing. I don’t know.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Whatever it takes.”
A grunt of effort passed through Tony’s lips as he stood up. He wandered over to the bucket and looked inside. It was mostly clear with little bits of dirt and leaves floating at the top. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than no water at all. He looked at the kid and made up his mind. He’d save the last few ounces of clean water for Peter– just in case he woke up.
“I have a job for you.”
Tony looked up. Rhodey was standing there with the broken, disassembled transmitter radio in his hands. A tiny, nearly indistinguishable spark of hope flickered in his chest. “You think it can be fixed?”
“It’s pretty busted up. I don’t even know if all the parts are here,” Rhodey admitted. He licked his lips and peered at Peter. “But it seems to have dried out, and I thought– I thought you might want to give it a try.”
The wheels on Tony’s head started turning. If he could get the transmitter working, they would no longer have to worry about the functionality of the quinjet’s distress signal. They could call for help, and the more quickly that happened, the better. He desperately needed to get Peter out of the damn cave and into a hospital as quickly as possible. He gathered a fortifying breath, nodded curtly, and rolled up his sleeves. “Give it to me. I’ll see what I can do.”
The next few hours passed slowly. The cave grew warmer as the sun continued to climb. Rhodey was in and out, tending to Peter and searching for a freshwater source, while Tony worked on the transmitter radio.
The thing was a mess. The crevices were caked with sand. He had to delicately scrape it away before assessing the electronics. Tony picked up the circuit board and examined the wires tangled around it. He was sure at least one resistor was missing and the trimmer capacitor looked like it had seen better days. “This is fine,” he told himself. “I’ve worked with less.”
After taking a few calming breaths, he attempted to manage the wires. A few of them snapped in the process. Tony hissed a quiet curse each time. There was only a little bit of conductive glue left, and he was hesitant to use it. If something came loose on Peter’s arc reactor, that glue might be the only to help him.
But the radio– the radio could save them all.
Frustrated, Tony ran his hands through his hair and pulled it until it hurt. His thoughts swirled violently as he waffled between his options. They always fell back to Peter. Keeping his kid alive was unequivocally the most important thing he’d ever been tasked with. He supposed the best way to do that, would be to ensure their rescue.
With renewed determination, he picked up a pair of rusted pliers and used them to position the wires. He managed to get two of them in place before the water damaged circuit board cracked in half, creating a whole new set of problems. He discarded the tool with more force than necessary and squeezed his eyes closed. He needed better tools, new components– an actual soldering gun.
“How's it going?” Rhodey apprehensively inquired.
Tony gritted his teeth, aggravation darkening his expression. “Everytime I think I'm getting somewhere, something else breaks.” He pressed several buttons and vigorously twisted the dials. The radio, expectedly, remained dead. “I don’t have what I need to fix this useless piece of shit!”
Rhodey crossed the short distance between them and reached for Tony’s shoulder. “Tony…”
“What!” Tony growled, his temper reaching its boiling point. He dodged Rhodey's grasp and flourished his hands. “What do you want from me?” he shouted as he picked up the transmitter and hurled it against the cave wall. “This isn’t Gilligan’s Island! I can’t just make a radio out of coconuts!”
Rhodey looked at him, his eyes soft with understanding. He didn’t say anything as Tony turned his back, allowing a thick, tense silence to fall between them. They both knew they were running out of options.
He’d just about to resign himself to another long night when a faint hum echoed in the distance. He stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he searched for the source of the noise. “You hear that?”
“Hear what?”
Tony held his breath, straining to listen. The hum shifted into a rhythmic buzz. His eyes widened as he placed the familiar sound. “A helicopter! Rhodey, someone’s coming!”
Adrenaline pumped through Tony’s veins, every fiber of his being ready to run. His eyes darted towards Peter, clocking the way his chest was rising and falling. “I’ll be right back, kiddo. Hopefully with some help,” he hollered as he darted out of the cave and down the hill behind Rhodey.
“Shit!” His shoes slipped on the rocks in his haste, causing him to stumble. He landed on his hip and elbow, sliding several meters down the slick, rain-washed hillside. Rhodey held out his hand to assist. Tony vigorously batted it away. “I’m fine!” He hissed, his hip aching as he scrambled to his feet. “Just go. Get to the beach. I’ll meet you there. Go. Go!”
Tony rubbed his side and limped forward, gaining more speed with each stride. The pain receded to a bearable level, and he met Rhodey on the sand within two minutes. They stood there just beyond the surf’s reach and served the sky. The sound of rotating blades cutting through the air grew louder as a Navy Search and Rescue helicopter appeared on the horizon.
Frantically, they waved their arms above their heads and haphazardly paced the beach. All the while, Tony screamed with the full might of his lungs. “Over here! Please! We’re over here!”
The helicopter drew closer until it was hovering above them, the downwash of the whirling blades kicking up thick clouds of sand and debris.
Tony pressed his lips together. His hair whipped across his forehead and squinted toward the cave. Being separated from his kid had anxiety creeping up his spine. However, as the helicopter touched down and people poured out of the cabin, he released an extended breath. Assistance had finally arrived, bringing with it Peter’s best chance for survival.
“Are you two alright?” the Navy officer shouted over the deafening swoosh of the helicopter blades.
Before Tony could answer, Rhodey took the lead. “We’re fine,” he replied, gesturing between himself and Tony before pointing up the hill. “But we have a third man down. You’ll need a stretcher. Follow us.”
Tony’s pulse pounded in his ears as he and Rhodey led the group to the cave. He rushed inside first, leading the medics to Peter. “This is Peter Parker. He’s sixteen and enhanced. He was stung multiple times by a giant, venomous sea creature. There were a lot of complications. His heart tried to stop. I–” The medics were already unpacking their bags and pulling on gloves. “I guess his healing factor couldn’t keep up. He was dying. I had to help him…”
The medic in charge nodded in acknowledgement, but his focus was mitigating the crisis. He used a stethoscope to listen to Peter’s heart and lungs, then fitted an oxygen mask over Peter’s face. Meanwhile, his partner worked around him, trying to insert an IV port. Several attempts were made before the catheter finally slid into place and fluids could be attached.
Tony stood back and watched, his hands hovering helplessly in front of himself. He didn’t know what to do. The medics were moving swiftly and communicating through jargon he didn’t understand. A pocket sized heart monitor came out of the bag, along with several leads and a sheet of sticker-like electrodes. The gauze from Peter’s chest was peeled back and Tony stiffened as remorse, trepidation and embarrassment hit him all at once. He swallowed hard and bit the inside of his cheek. Once the bandages were gone, everyone would see what he’d done.
The lead medic leaned in, his face aglow from the arc reactors pale blue light. He examined the device from every possible angle. Then allowed his eyes to follow the wires until they disappeared beneath Peter’s red, angry skin. He lifted a gloved finger, ran it gently over the stitches, and furrowed his brow. “Is this-- is this a pacemaker?”
Tony’s chest tightened. The question hadn't sounded judgmental-- just curious. Still, Tony felt like he was being scritized by a room full of executors. The word 'monster' rang though his head as he rubbed his sternum and cleared his throat. “Yeah. Yeah, pretty much. I took what I had and rigged it together to keep his heart going. I know it seems unpolished and– awful, but we were losing him,” he explained, the words tumbling out of him more and more quickly as he spoke. “He was declining quickly, and we had no way of knowing if, or when, anyone was coming. There was no time to sit around and wait. I had to do something and...”
The medic nodded but said nothing as he swiftly applied the electrodes on Peter’s skin. He snapped the leads into place and turned on the small screen. A short, rhythmic beep filled the air. The medic looked up and smiled weakly. “Well, whatever you did, it seems to be working. He’s stable enough to move.”
A relieved breath passed through Tony’s lips. He looked around the cave and found Rhodey standing near the damaged, powered down suits. He was animatedly pointing at various things while talking to a few of the Navy officers. Although the moment his eyes landed on Tony, his attention shifted completely.
“Hey, man. Everything okay?” Rhodey asked, giving Tony pause.
Tony huffed, nearly scoffed as he considered the loaded question. Peter, being stable enough to move, didn’t mean he was out of the woods. There were still a lot of unknowns, all of which made Tony’s stomach twist and turn. He looked over his shoulder. The medics were carefully strapping Peter onto a two-man stretcher. He swallowed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “They’re moving him to the helicopter.”
A soft, cautious smile crossed Rhodey’s lips. “That’s good news. If they’re willing to transport him–”
He couldn’t finish his sentence. Peter was being carried out of the cave and the Commanding officer was barking orders.
“Let’s move out, everyone! The Iron Man and War Machine armor is not to be left behind. Collect it and get it back to the beach. Wheels up in ten!”
“Go with Peter,” Rhodey insisted. “I’ll take care of everything here.”
Tony nodded curtly and left behind the medics. They took the slope slow and steady, taking care to jostle Peter as little as possible. When they got into the helicopter, there was a renewed flurry of action. What was left of the spider suit was cut away from Peter’s body. The wounds on his chest were gently flushed and the stings covering his legs and side were cleaned.
Once he was done he turned to Tony. “Can I take a look at that arm? That’s a pretty nasty abrasion.”
Confused, Tony looked down, realizing for the first time that his elbow and forearm were raw and bleeding. His immediate reaction was to decline any assistance. He tucked his arm tightly against his side. He didn’t want to take even a fraction of the small medical team’s attention away from his kid.
“Peter’s being monitored,” the medic said, as if he’d read his mind. “But I won’t hesitate to jump back over there, if anything happens.”
Reluctantly, Tony propped his elbow up to be seen. The medic clicked his tongue and grabbed a bag of sterile fluids to wash it. He poured the cool water over the worst of the damage and wiped it clean with gauze. Tony had to bite down on lip to prevent himself from hissing at the friction.
“Peter’s incisions are infected,” the lead medic casually stated. “I added some antibiotics to his IV fluids. The hospital staff will take samples and run diagnostics, and put together a full treatment plan based on what they find. If you have any questions or concerns, let me know. I’ll do what I can to address them.”
There was a short stretch of silence before Tony finally nodded his head. The medic finished wrapping his wounds and looked at him fully and completely for the first time. Tony licked his lips, contemplating the one question that had been nagging him. He looked from the medic to Peter and back again, then hesitantly asked, “Is he in pain?”
“He shouldn’t be feeling any pain right now,” the Medic replied, his expression one of unwavering seriousness. “One of the first things to go into that IV port was a dose of pain relief. It should be working at this point.”
A tight knot formed in Tony’s throat. His kid had been in pain for over twenty-four hours and he’d been the cause of most of it.
“You can sit with him if you’d like.”
Tony pressed his lips together. He wasn’t sure he deserved to be the one offering the kid comfort at the moment, but he wasn’t willing to leave him alone, either. He crossed the aircraft cabin and took a seat beside the stretcher. Someone draped a crisp white blanket over the lower half of Peter’s body. It looked out of place against his marked skin. Absentmindedly, he reached for a hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Buddy.” A tear broke free. He was swift to wipe it away. “I never wanted to hurt you.” He leaned his head against the back of the flight bench and dozed off, his fingers still intertwined with Peter’s.
A few short seconds later, he was abruptly awoken by the clamoring of feet and clanking of metal. “We’re loaded in, ready for takeoff!” someone shouted. Tony looked around until he found Rhodey climbing into the cabin.
“Hey.” His voice cracked. He coughed into his elbow and scrubbed his free hand over his eyes. Rhodey sighed wearily and sat down beside him.
“The heart monitor sounds good. No bells going off.” He passed a bottle of juice, a bag of dried fruit, and some beef jerky.
Tony released a shaky breath, his gaze drifting to the horizon beyond the helicopter window. He took a sip of the juice, then tossed a handful of dried fruit into his mouth, chewing slowly. It was more difficult to swallow than it should have been. HIs throat was still tight with emotion.
“You know you did the right thing, don’t you?” Rhodey asked. “You understand that you saved his life?”
Tony’s jaw clenched. “I know. I know, but at what cost?” He asked, his tone coated in raw culpability and self-deprecation. “I hurt him, Rhodey. That kid trusts me completely, and I didn’t even ask! I just–”
“You did what you had to do to keep him alive.”
“I-” Tony’s words faltered, exhaustion weighing heavily on his mind and body. “I’m so tired.”
“Me too.” Rhodey dipped his chin to hide a yawn and looked out the window. The helicopter swayed gently, lifting them from the beach and carrying them away. “Peter’s in excellent hands. Why don’t we rest?”
Tony kept his eyes fixed on the medics adjusting Peter’s oxygen mask and IV tubes, their attention locked on the steady numbers scrolling across the monitors. He’s in excellent hands, Tony told himself, repeating it like a mantra until he finally felt his nerves ease enough to let him slump back in his seat, his shoulder pressing against Rhodey’s as he leaned into the back of the bench. Gradually, the exhaustion overcame him, and he drifted into a solid sleep.
Sometime later, he woke up with aching muscles and a dry throat. He kept his eyes closed for a few extra seconds, listening to the steady pulse of Peter’s heart monitor echoing through the cabin. He smiled slightly as he shifted in his seat, easing into a sitting position. His hip and thigh throbbed with vengeance, a sharp reminder of his tumble down the hillside. Gingerly, he pressed a hand against the sore spot, wincing as the bruised area flared with pain.
“Are you okay?”
Tony looked up. The lead medic was staring at him with a look of concern. “Yeah. Yeah, I fell earlier- slid down the side of that damn hill like an idiot. It’s just a bruise. Probably a really big one.”
The medic nodded, though he still looked apprehensive. “We’re about ten minutes out. You and Colonel Rhodes will undergo check-ups. We’ll make sure that gets looked at.” When Tony opened his mouth to protest, the medic held up a hand, his mouth twitching into a half smile. “At the very least, you’ll get some ibuprofen out of it.
Admittedly, an Ibuprofen or six sounded really good. He nodded his head and reached for the orange juice he’d previously abandoned. It wasn’t cold anymore, but he didn’t actually care. He tipped the bottle back and swallowed its entire contents in a few large gulps, and crushed it in his fist.
A few minutes later, the helicopter descended towards the landing pad at the top of a trauma center in Miami. The moment they touched down, the medics rushed to Peter’s side, checking vitals and gathering equipment so they could be the first to exit.
Tony remained seated as they rolled Peter across the rooftop and into the hospital. Some called out, over the roar of the helicopter, that the kid’s guardian had been notified and would be arriving soon. A fresh wave of anxiety filled his gut, making him feel sick. He hadn’t considered it until that moment, but he was going to have to face May Parker. He was going to have to tell her what he’d done to her child, and she’d hate him for it.
“Come on, man,” Rhodey nudged. “It’s time to go inside.”
Tony shook his head. His eyes glazed over as he stared at his filthy shoes. “I’m never going to see him again.” He looked up, a surge of grief filling his chest as he spoke the words aloud. “This is it, Rhodey. I lost the kid.”
Rhodey tilted his head to the side, his eyes narrowing with perplexity. “Tony.” He hesitated, looked towards the hospital doors and back again. “Tony Peter’s alive and being taken care of by a topnotch, level one trauma care center. You’re not losing him.”
“No.” Tony shook his head, his hands coming up to his hair. “No, not like that. It’s May. She’s– she’s never going to let me in the same room with him again and, frankly, I don’t blame her. I just- I’m really gonna miss him.”
There was a short stretch of silence. A few of the officers milled around, preparing the helicopter to take off again. One of them stood outside near the exit chatting amicably with the nurse waiting to escort them inside. Although none of them pushed or rushed them into leaving their seats. Rhodey sighed and squeezed Tony’s knee. “Look,man. I’ve never met May, but I can’t fathom…” His mouth snapped closed and he shook his head. “Actually, why don’t you pack that particular worry away for the time being? Wait and see, hmm?”
“Sure.” Tony tightly replied. He pulled his tense shoulder blades back, rolled his neck, and stood up on shaky legs. His hip hurt like hell as he limped away from the bench. Being stationary for so long had really done a number on him. He pressed his hand against the worst of the pain as he slowly stepped down to the landing pad.
There was a wheelchair waiting, probably at the request of the lead medic. Tony looked at it with distrain as the nurse broke away from his conversation with the officer and pushed it forward. He huffed and vehemently shook his head. “I don’t need that.”
The nurse’s brow furrowed as Rhodey sighed, rubbing his temple. “Tony, just get in the damn—”
“I said, no.”
The nurse exchanged a look with Rhodey, who raised his hands and shrugged. “You’re not going to win this one.”
Reluctantly, the nurse pushed the empty chair to the hospital entrance and held the door open as Tony and Rhodey passed through it. “We’re going down the hall and to the left. I have two rooms waiting for you.”
Despite arguing that he was fine, Tony was subjected to a basic exam and a handful of unnecessary radiographs. He asked about Peter throughout the process, far more concerned about his well being than his own. The answer was always the same. “He’s stable and under doctor's supervision.” It was meant to be reassuring, but with each repetition, he found himself wanting to scream.
After what felt like an eternity, the medical team declared him mostly healthy. He was given a bed, an IV, and a plate of real, hot food. He picked it, his mind drifting to Peter and the device he’d grotesquely implanted in his chest. Suddenly, the food tasted like cardboard in his mouth. He pushed the plate aside, leaned back, and blinked at the ceiling.
A brisk knock startled him from his thoughts. He turned his head to the side to see who was entering and immediately wished he hadn’t. May was walking in, her eyes red rimmed and glossy. She paused just inside the room, her lips pressed into a deep mournful frown as he crossed her arms tightly across her chest.
Tony swallowed back the nausea that was creeping up his throat. “May. I can– I can explain.”
With one hand cupped over her mouth, May shook her head. He choked back a small sob and released a tremulous breath. “They told me what you did. I came–”
“I’m sorry!” Tony interrupted, ignoring the sharp pull in his hip and he jerked into an upright position. “His heart was failing. May, he was– whatever venom was in that monster attacked him with– I had to do something and–” He paused, filled his lungs with a steady breath and averted his eyes. He couldn’t look at her. Not after what he’d done. “I did it without consent. It was selfish and horrific, and God– I’m so sorry.”
He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes and growled reproachfully under his breath. May shuffled closer and felt her hand wrap around his forearm. He looked up, expecting her to look angry. What he saw instead was a mixture of sorrow and perhaps understanding. His brows come together in confusion. “Why are you looking at me like that? You should be furious.”
“Tony,” May softly replied. “You saved his life. I can’t be mad about that.”
Her words words hit oddly. First came relief, followed by disbelief, and a lingering twist of guild. He couldn't quite make sense of her forgiveness. He too was utterly relieved that Peter was alive, but he also felt outraged. By everything. The mission, the monster. The cave. At himself…
“He’s still here because of you. I don’t have to bury my baby, because you made a terrifying decision, knowing it was his best chance. You saved him. You saved my baby.”
A shaky breath passed through Tony’s lips. Her words brought some solace, but conflicting thoughts continued to linger. His fingers had brushed up against his kid’s beating heart. That wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to know what that felt like. But the experience, gruesome as it was, gave his kid life. He looked into her determined eyes and tentatively bobbed his head.
“I got to sit with him. I held his hand and kissed his cheek.” Renewed tears flowed down her cheeks in thick, shiny rivulets. “They’re watching him closely for signs of pneumonia and have him on strong antibiotics to prevent any further infections. The doctors took biopsies of the sting wounds. They’re going to run the tissue against a panel of common sea creature venoms. They don’t expect to find a match. Right now, the plan is to treat the symptoms and offer his body the support it needs to heal.”
Tony lowered his gaze, feigning interest in the indistic pattern sewn into the hospital blanket. May had already given him more information than he probably deserved. But she hadn't mentioned his state of consciousness. It made worry. “So..." He picked at a loose string, balling it up between his fingers and dropping to the floor. "Has he woken up?” he hesitantly asked.
“Not yet.” May sat down in the chair beside the bed, leaned forward, and brushed a few loose hairs away from her forehead. “But his fever is down. Between that, the fluids, and the antibiotics, they’re hoping his healing factor will kick in. They’re optimistic that he’ll come around soon.”
Tony nodded slowly, clinging heavily to the word ‘optimistic.’ “What about the, uh, the–” He paused, the words sticking in his throat. “The thing.”
“The arc reactor?”
“Yeah,” he confirmed, his fists wrapping tightly around the edge of his blanket. “That.”
“They flushed out and re-stitched the incisions, but it’s still there, keeping his heart steady.” May looked down and momentarily bit her lip. “There was some debate. there was a lot of debate... But for now, the plan is to remove it the moment they feel he’s strong enough to undergo anesthesia.”
Another knock penetrated the room. Rhodey was standing at the door, freshly washed and dressed in a clean pair of hospital scrubs. Tony glanced down at his dirt-smudged arms and the paper-thin gown they’d given him to wear. “They let you out of bed?” he asked, his eyes narrowing in mock outrage. “And shower?”
Rhodey smirked. “Turns out I wasn’t nearly as dehydrated as you.” He shrugged casually as his smirk shifted into a full grin. “I also didn’t bust my ass on the side of a mountain.”
Despite himself, Tony chuckled, the tension easing, if only for a moment. Having Rhodey there– his best friend, his rock– was an undeniable relief.
“How’s the kid?” Rhodey asked, his gaze shifting between Tony and May
May managed a small smile. “He’s in serious condition, but showing improvement. They suspect the additional support has finally jumped-started his healing factor.”
Rhodey’s shoulders relaxed, a genuine smile lighting his face. “Best news I’ve heard all day.”
“Yeah,” Tony echoed quietly, his smile softening at the edges. “Best news of the day.”
By dawn, Tony was feeling a tentative amount of peace. Peter had woken up a few times during the night. May had been with him each time, reassuring him as he fought through the fog. And once he’d fallen back to sleep, she’d slip into Tony’s room to give him an update.
“Does he know?” Tony asked, apprehension lacing his tone. “Does he know what I did?”
May chuckled lightly and ran a tired hand over her forehead. “He wasn’t completely with it, so I stuck with the very basics.” She ducked her head and bit back a smile. “He noticed the arc reactor and started grinning like an absolute dope. He told me-” She stifled a small laugh and swayed her head. “He said, ‘I am Iron Man,’ then fell right back to sleep.”
Tony’s heart had ached and soared at the same time. He could picture the kid’s lopsided smile and imagine the hazy amusement in his voice. Probably the meds, he thought to himself, but it didn’t matter. Peter’s humor was intact, and that was everything.
At noon, Tony was released from care. The moment they pulled out the IV, he was up, showered, dressed, and unwilling to stay where he was when Peter was just down the hall. Fortunately, May had convinced the staff to bend the ‘family only’ rule so he could visit.
“He is family,” she’d argued, and Tony had been grateful.
He sighed as he stood outside Peter’s door. He wiped his hands over the scrubs he’d been given and looked at May.
“He’s still pretty drowsy, but he’s been asking about you,” she said, her warm hand wrapping around his own. She pulled him through the door and nudged him towards the chair beside the kid’s bed. “Go on in. Have a seat. I’ll give you two some space.”
Tony’s nerves were alight as he took a few tentative steps into the room. He looked back at May, who nodded encouragingly, before sitting at the edge of the seat. Peter was there, sound asleep, in front of him. The heart monitor beeped steadily, soothing the remainder of his raw nerves.
“Hey, Buddy,” he whispered. “I know it’s only been twenty-four hours, but man, am I glad to see you.”
There was no response, but that didn’t stop him from talking.
“Your aunt tells me you’re doing great. The doctors suspect your healing factor's picked back up again. So, that's good.” He continued to prattle until the kid shifted and his eyes fluttered open.
“There you are.” Tony smiled and cupped Peter’s cheek in his hand. “I was wondering if I’d get to see you today.”
Peter stretched, flexed his fingers and yawned widely. Once he settled, he blinked a few times and smiled. “Mr. Stark?”
“Hey, buddy,” Tony replied, his voice soft and reassuring. “How are you feeling?”
There was no immediate reply. Peter stared blankly for several seconds and shifted beneath the sheets. “I feel– I feel like I got hit by a train…” He looked up and smiled. “Or fought a sea monster… It’s too bad–” he paused to yawn. “It’s too bad I didn’t have a sword. That’s like– pirate 101.”
Tony chuckled, brushing his hand across his mouth. “Ah, well. I guess you’ll have to apply for a pirate certificate when you get to MIT.”
“That’s a thing?”
“Yep. Unfortunately, it didn’t start until after my time. So, it’s all you, Kiddo.”
Peter giggled quietly and tucked a hand beneath his head. “I’ll make the best pirate ever.”
“Yeah, Bud,” Tony smiled. “You sure will.”
There were a few beats of silence. Peter looked at his chest and traced the edge of the arc reactor with his finger. “Is this permanent? Do I get to keep it? Can I be… Iron boy? Iron Spider?”
“No,” Tony calmly asserted. “That’s coming out as soon as the doctors deem you healthy enough.”
“Oh.” Peter frowned and released a breath through his nose and smiled. “It’s pretty cool, though. I’m just like you!”
Tony hesitated, his hand absentmindedly moving to his own chest. Below the scrubs, he could feel the scars his own arc reactor had left behind. A phantom pain shot through his sternum, causing him to grunt. “Pete…” he murmured. “I– I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It wasn’t fair. You should have had a say in what happens to your body and I…” His voice trailed off as he attempted to gather his thoughts. “I made that decision without you. I just couldn’t let you go.”
Peter looked at Tony, his eyes round and trusting. “It’s okay, Mr. Stark.” He smiled gently. “If anyone was gonna have to do some kind of crazy field surgery on me, I’d want it to be you.”
Tony scoffed and ducked his head to hide the smile that was pulling at his lips. “That is very possibly the worst compliment I’ve ever received. But, It’s from you. So, I guess I’ll take it.”
A moment of quiet followed. Peter’s gaze drifted back down to the arc reactor, his mouth twisting to the side in thought. “I watched a television special about you when I was eleven.”
“Oh, yeah?” Tony quizzically replied. He’d been the center of dozens of broadcasts in his lifetime. They had highlighted everything about him, from his misspent childhood to the source of his wealth, down to his political leanings. Although he had a feeling Peter was referring to a more relevant subject. He clasped his hands together, waiting patiently for the kid to continue.
“It was pretty short– about that time you were held captive.”
“I remember that one.” Tony nodded, his mind drifting back. He’d not played a huge personal role in that production. He’d come into the studio for an interview. The questions had veered off of the pre-approved list, prompting him to walk out part way through. They’d pieced it together with old news footage, managing to capture only a sliver of what had happened in that cave.
“You told the lady there was an explosion, then you woke up in a cave with a battery attached to your chest. They did– someone– sorry, I can’t remember their name– did surgery on you while you were passed out.”
A flicker of sadness crossed Tony’s face. “Yinsen. His name was Ho Yinsen.”
“Right. Yinsen.” Peter coughed into his elbow, reached for his water, and took a few sips. “It’s just– I’ve been thinking about that, and me. The cave, the surgery, the arc reactor…”
“There are a lot of parallels, hmm?” A thick knot formed in Tony’s throat.
“Yeah.” Peter brought his bottom lip between his teeth, then tried to smile around it. “But they say shared experiences bring people closer together, right?”
“Sure, kid.” Tony huffed a quiet laugh. “But bonding over non-consensual field surgery performed in a cave? Definitely not something I ever planned or wanted for you.”
“I know. But– thank you. For saving me.”
A sudden, blatant realization popped into Tony’s head. He reached out, taking Peter’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I would do anything for you, Kiddo.”
Peter’s grin widened, his eyes lighting up even despite the obvious fatigue. “Makes an awesome story, right? I mean, come on–Iron Man saved me with an arc reactor and a handful of scraps, in a cave, in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle!” His words were airy. Tony could tell he was running out of steam. “That’s pretty epic, Mr. Stark.”
“Epic, huh?” Tony arched an eyebrow, a wry grin spreading across his face. “I don’t know if ‘epic’ is the word I’d use. I’m thinking more along the lines of ‘terrifying’ or ‘barbaric.’ But hey, I suppose ‘epic’ works too.”
“Guess it depends on your perspective.” Peter chuckled, his warm laughter hastily morphing into a wide yawn. “But we both made it, though, right?”
“We both made it through,” Tony echoed, smiling as he watched Peter’s eyelids grow heavy. His kid was right there in front of him, alive and healing. The overwhelming wave of relief and love that rushed through him was almost too much to contain. He’d gone to hell and back to keep Peter safe, facing down his own demons in the process. And somehow, against all odds, they were both still there.
He reached out and rested a hand on Peter’s cheek, the warmth of life radiating beneath his palm. “I love you, buddy.”
There was no reply. The kid was already sound asleep, his breathing slow and steady. But that was okay. The sentiment didn’t have to be heard to be felt, and he was certain Peter already knew.