Work Text:
Love was enough, as Peter had learned. Love was enough to bring him back after he dusted; love was enough for a broken man to invent time travel to get his child back. Love was enough to have his father wrapped around him like a human shield on an active battleground.
Love, however, special and protective as it might be, wasn’t enough to keep Peter’s father alive.
Tony lay there dying in front of him, and still Peter couldn’t do anything. His heart, once described by Tony himself as bursting at the seams with too much love and happiness couldn’t fix the damage done. The destruction running up Tony’s entire side.
“Dad-“ Peter has sobbed, loud enough to echo across the barren landscape. “Dad, please.”
Tony only gave him a solemn smile.
“Dad, please don’t go. I don’t want you to go yet, please, Daddy. Just stay, stay with me.”
Peter pressed his uninjured hand to his cheek, feeling as Tony used some of the last of his strength to rub his skin gently in an attempt to comfort his lost son.
“I can’t stay, Petey. I’m sorry.”
“Please, please, you can stay, you can stay, it’s okay.” Peter rambled, nonsensical.
“I can’t, bambino. I’m sorry.”
Peter cried that much harder.
“I love you, baby. I love you so much. Don’t forget that.” Tony choked on his words, coughing up disgusting amounts of blood.
“I- I love you too, Dad.” His words were resigned. He’d given up on his pleas. It was just.. tired now.
Just so tired.
It was a sorry sight to see for Tony as he lay there dying.
A sorry sight indeed.