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Peter’s eyes opened with a sharp inhale of breath. His heartbeat was loud in his ears as he looked around the room, immediately noticing the view of trees and stars through the window. Not buildings, no headlights or sirens, just a quiet forest lit only by the moon.
The realization he wasn’t in the city brought on a familiar feeling in his chest. He was at the Stark’s cabin, it was 2023 and the dream he just had was just that: a dream.
Not real.
His hand landed on his phone sat on the nightstand to his right, the screen making him squint as it lit up the room. Tears begin to form in Peter’s eyes as his shaking hands land on MJ’s contact and he hits call. He takes a deep breath as the phone rings in his ear, trying desperately not the fall apart into a fit of tears.
He fails when MJ’s voice interrupts the ringing, “Peter? Are you okay? It’s 2 am dude.”
Tears roll fast down his temples as he lays there trying to speak and failing. Only able to get out sobs and hiccups.
“Peter, sweetheart, you have to breathe I can’t understand you, love,” MJ’s soft voice and reassuring just makes Peter cry harder, “It’s okay Peter, you’re okay. Was it another dream?”
“Y-yes,” he gasps.
“Oh honey I’m sorry, it’s okay you’re alright now,” but it wasn’t okay. Peter’s breathing just got faster and the sobs got louder.
“Parker, you need to calm down you’re going to make yourself sick, please just breathe,” MJ sounded worried as Peter tried and failed repeatedly to slow his breaths, “Okay Peter, it sounds like you’re having a panic attack. I’m gonna get Tony okay? I can’t help you over the phone I think you need someone there is that okay?”
“Y-yeah…T-tony,” Peter sobs.
“Yes honey, Tony’s coming okay? I just texted him he said he’s in the garage on his way to you okay?”
“Mmhmm”
“Okay, I’m gonna hang up now alright? Tony’s going to help. You’re okay Peter, you’re going to be okay,” MJ says in an uncharacteristically soft voice, “I love you, text me in the morning alright?”
“Al-alright.”
“Goodnight Peter,” with that, the phone beeps, and Peter’s door swings open. Revealing a very worried Tony Stark.
“Peter! What happened are you okay? Your scary girlfriend just texted me you were having a panic attack?” Tony whisper-yells as he darts across the room and lands sat next to Peter on his bed.
He tries to respond, tries to tell Tony he’s okay but the tears keep coming and everything hurts. His stomach is in his throat and his heart is screaming in his ears. All he can do is whine and reach out for his father figure's hand. Tony interlocks his mechanical hand with Peter’s as his real one wipes his tears and smooths his hair. Peter’s grateful for the metal hand for a moment as his grip tightens against his will. He’s glad he won’t hurt Tony by accident.
“Alright, no voice yet huh? that’s okay buddy, let’s just focus on our breathing yeah? Can you try and breathe in sync with me?” Tony asks gently as he continues to run his hand through Peter’s sweaty hair. Peter nods back and listens to Tony’s exaggerated slow breathing and tries to mimic it.
“There you go, kiddo! Just like that Petey Pie, you got it, just keep breathing with me, bubba.” Tony encourages as Peter’s rapid ‘breathing’ (if you could call it that) starts to even out and aline with his own breath.
Peter’s heart begins to settle once his lungs do, and the tears slow down along with the repetitive breathing exercise. He blinks his vision clear and stares up at Tony’s gentle eyes and reassuring smile.
“You back with me, Pete?” Tony whispers as his hand caresses his kid's wet cheek.
Peter nods, “Y-you’re really good at th-that.”
“Practice makes perfect right buddy? I’ve also been on the other end one too many times as we both know,” Tony smiles and squeezes Peter’s hand, “Can you tell me what’s going on now kiddo? That was a pretty nasty attack.”
Peter takes a deep breath and the dream comes flooding back. A new round of tears starts before he can get a word out.
“It’s okay buddy, just take your time alright? No rush my sweet spider-baby. We have all the time in the world,” Tony wipes away the tears once more as Peter takes a deep, shaky breath.
“P-please don’t l-leave me, sir. Please d-don’t leave me,” Peter stutters out.
“Oh kid, I would never, why is that on your mind?”
“My dream. It wasn’t a nightmare Mr. Stark. I-it was a nice dream.”
“Nice dream?” Tony questions, this is definitely not what he expected.
“Y-yeah. Nice dream. They were here, my parents and uncle Ben. They were still h-here,” Peter feels his throat ache as all the grief comes flooding in.
“Oh, Peter…” Tony sighed and gave the teen a shoulder squeeze, encouraging him to continue.
“They were here Mr. Stark. They were still here and they l-loved me and I was safe and none of them ever had to d-die and everything was okay,” Peter falls into tears again, sitting up and slumping against Tony’s chest. He breaths in the smell of motor oil and expensive cologne as he sobs into his shirt.
“Oh kid, I’m so sorry. You’re okay buddy I’ve got you. I’m right here Pete I’m not going anywhere okay?” Tony wraps his arms around the kid as sobs shake his frame. Tony knows first hand what it’s like to lose your parents, but having that on top of watching your uncle and father figure bleed out in the street… Tony would never understand that pain. Yet he wishes so desperately he could take it away from his kid.
“I just really miss them,” Peter sighs as his sobs begin to die down.
“I know baby I know.”
“Please don’t leave me, Mr. Stark. I mean it, I don’t think I could handle that. I can’t lose another d-, I can't lose anyone else, Tony,” Peter's arms wrap around Tony and his hands grip tightly to his shirt as if it's the only thing keeping Tony from slipping away. From leaving him as everyone else has.
"I'm not going anywhere, buddy. I promise you, alright? I'm here for the long haul, kiddo, there's no getting rid of me now," Tony whispers gently as he rubs his hand soothingly over the crying teen's back, "I can't imagine the pain you're feeling Pete. I lost my parents when I was pretty much grown, and we both know I never had the best relationship with my father. I do know that it gets easier, losing people is hard but it does get easier with time. I know too that they are so, so proud of you Peter. I know for a fact Ben and your parents are watching over you and know how amazing you are. They're so proud of the person you've become."
"How?" Peter sobs, "H-how do you know?"
"Because I'm proud of you Peter. I know I'm not your father or your uncle and I am in no way trying to replace them but, I love you like a son, Pete I hope you know that. I love you so much and I am so fucking proud of you every single day. You're amazing, kid, you are so incredible," Tony presses a kiss to Peter's temple and brushes the remaining tears from his eyes.
"I love you too Dad," Peter whispers, he shoots up when he hears what he just said, "I mean, Tony, uh, I love you, Tony, sorry I-"
"Hey hey no apologies kiddo," Tony laughs and pulls Peter back to his chest and lays against the bed, "You can call me Dad if you want Petey, you know I see you as my kid."
Peter smiles and relaxes against Tony, exhaling the last bit of anxious breath as his eyes close and he cuddles closer to his... his dad.
"Thank you, for everything," Peter whispers.
"You don't need to thank me bud, I'm always here for you. Now get some sleep okay? I'll stay with you but you have to go to sleep, I know Morgan had plans for a tea party tomorrow. You need all the rest you can get," Tony plants a kiss to Peter's head as he nods in response, "Goodnight Peter, I love you, kid."
"Goodnight. I love you too, Dad."