Chapter Text
Spider-Man was thrown across the field, some debris falling on him. "This is gonna leave a mark." He groaned. Captain America threw his shield at Spider-Man, who just was able to stand up.
It was as if time slowed down as he watched the shield coming his way. Will he be able to make it out of the way in time?
The answer was 'No' as the shield slammed into his gut-
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Now hold on a second! Pause! No no no. That's no way to start a chapter. We have to start from the beginning! Who the hell wrote this? Rewind!
(Rewinding noise in the background.)
Tony was dying.
His dad was dying.
And Peter couldn't do anything about it.
He was useless.
No.
NO!
There has to be something he can do!
Anything!
And then he spotted it.
Lying a few feet away, unnoticed by The Avengers, was The Infinity Gaun-
Pause! No! That's not it either! I didn't mean from the very beginning! What will you bring us next time? The Big Bang?
(Distant murmuring in the background.)
Oh, shut up. Fast forward! To where we left of in the last chapter this time!
(Fast forwarding noise in the background.)
Yes! Stop right there! Where Peter was going to see Tony after he summoned him! Play!
Okay, so Peter was making his way to Tony's room. And, to be honest, he was a little nervous. He didn't know if Tony remembered anything from The Middle Ground (that's what he decided to call it. Easier than saying 'somewhere between life and death'). For all he knew, Tony could be lying there, with no recollection whatsoever of actually seeing Peter at all! By the time Peter was at Tony's door, self doubt had took deep roots in his head.
Peter took a deep breath, trying to calm his way out control Stone Pulses, then pushed the door open.
Nothing prepared Peter for the sight that greeted him, however, and he almost broke down because of it.
His dad was sitting up on the bed with his back to the head board, physically burned, mentally scarred, and with one less arm than Peter remembered. He looked horrible to say the least. Tony was gazing out the window, unaware of his visitor, looking like he had the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. He looked miserable. Peter knew that feeling. It was exactly how he felt the first few night he got his powers. Even worse on his first patrol. Almost dying for god knows how many times would do that to you.
It all changed when Tony shifted his gaze to Peter, though. His face brightened, and he smiled despite the bandages covering half of his face and his right eye.
Peter smiled back, taking a seat at Tony's left side (just to get away from his right one. He couldn't bring himself to look at what's left of his shoulder), and said "Hey."
"We've been through deadly light shows, a giant grape maniac, and an army of flying worms, and all you say to me after almost dying is 'Hey'? I can totally feel the love, Kid." Peter laughed.
"It's good to have you back." Peter declared, purposely avoiding saying 'Tony' or 'Dad' or 'Mr. Stark'. He still doesn't know if he remembers or not. "Can I..... ask you a question?"
"Other than the one you already asked?"
"Do you....." Peter ignored his mentor's teasing. "Do you remember....... what happened?"
Tony looked at him strangely.
"Well, we were fighting Thanos, you had the Gauntlet-"
"After you snapped them."
"-I woke up to my lovely wife trying to rip off her own vocal cord and here we are." He concluded with a one sided shrug. The only side that has a shoulder.
'So he doesn't remember.' Peter sighed dejectedly. He was hoping that he'd remember, so Peter could call him 'Dad' as much as he wanted. But of course, Lady Luck hated him. She made that very clear the night Uncle Ben was shoot by that burglar.
"Why do you ask?"
Willing the negative thoughts out of his head and forcing a smile on his face, Peter said "N-No reason." Tony raised his eyebrow. "I-It's nothing..." and as much as it pained him to say that "...Mr. Stark."
"You're a terrible liar, Peter." Tony shook his head, then he lifted his good arm. "Come here."
Peter smiled and hugged him, putting his head on his good shoulder. Careful not to accidentally crush his fragile state with his super strength. He should be grateful, Peter knew, that Tony's even alive at this point. That he could just work his way up to calling Tony 'Dad' again.
But Peter couldn't help but feeling a little miserable. He just wanted a Dad, was that too much to ask for? Apparently yes. And he's bound had to meet the rest of the Starks while pretending that he didn't know them. Ignoring the fact that he had seen every single thing they did in the past five years as if he was with them. Sounds easy enough, right? Peter didn't know how he'd do it. It's like what his Dad said, he's a really terrible lair.
"By the way, what happened to calling me 'Dad'?"
Wait what?
Peter sat up, only to be greeted by Tony's mischievous expression. But that only meant....
"OH MY GOD!" Tony burst out laughing at that. Oh, Tony got him gooooooood. "You tricked me!"
"Gotta hand to you, Kid. That face...." He continued chuckling. "... Was priceless. You cough that right J.A.R.V.I.S?" Peter found, to his horror, Tony's phone on the nightstand, perched on the lamp with the camera facing him, and a little red light flashing every second or so signaling that it was recording. This entire time.....
"Yes, sir." Said the A.I. "And five copies are already being send to F.R.I.D.A.Y at Avengers Tower.
Tony turned back to Peter. "Now I can safely say I'm glad you're okay, son."
Aaaaaand..... Stop! Nice work guys! Although the little time travel party at the beginning of the chapter cost us some time. Hopefully, the readers won't notice.
(Distant murmuring in the background.)
What do you mean 'The microphone was on this entire time'!?