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Tony Stark died five months ago snapping his fingers, sacrificing himself and saving them from Thanos. Last five months Peter spent losing himself in Spiderman work. He would patrol every night, getting bare minimum of much needed sleep. Then he would go to school, which was only bearable because of Ned and MJ, and after that he would attend events and meetings with people who either tried to stop his efforts as a secret vigilante, wanted to discover his secret identity or believed that he was the new Iron Man and would magically remove all the world's problems. He hated them. He hated that all everyone wants is to control his actions or reveal his real name. And above all else, he hated them because how could he be the new Iron Man, how could they ever think that one can replace Tony Stark.
Tony Stark is irreplaceable and he’s gone.
And all Peter Parker wants is a break. That's why he doesn’t try to find an excuse when his academic group is planning to go for a trip to Europe. He accepts this as a perfect opportunity for vacation, a bit of time as an awfully awkward teenager nothing more.
Then everything fucked itself up. He blamed it on Parker luck. Because how else could he explain that just as they were in Venice the water elemental attacked the city, or that Nick Fury interfered with his school trip and sent them to Prague just as yet another elemental tried to destroy the streets.
Peter Parker heard a scream. One that left him terrified, because he wouldn’t survive if he also lost Ned from his life. “Night Monkey! Up here!” He was trying, but all of his effort was being burned by the fire mas that had very ugly facial expressions. Usually he would laugh at it, make a joke or a mean comment. Now however Peter was terrified. That’s when Mysterio flew and destroyed the elemental. In that moment Peter worshiped the ground Mr.Beck was walking on. “Good job Peter, see you around.” Mysterio said as Peter helped him up.
“Oh my god, Peter. It was amazing, did you see that thing? It nearly burned you alive!” Ned rambled on their way back to the hotel.
“Yes, Ned, I saw, very closely.” He gave Ned an annoyed look, he was exhausted and as much as he was glad that Ned was there, alive and healthy, he needed a moment of peace. “Let’s just go, I’m really tired, Ned.”
“Yes, sure, you need rest and I’m your guy in the chair, I’ll find you best rest ever, you’ll see.” Ned started talking again, just as they entered the hotel lobby.
Peter took a glance at the TV on the wall, wanting to see if they already showed the events of tonight, they didn’t but he had this feeling again like something was about to happen, Peter tingle as May loved to call it.
Tony Stark just appeared on the screen. He looked tired but content. And Peter just stood there, eyes glued to the TV screen, he didn’t hear people around him, lost in the memory of when he looked at Mr. Stark’s face and he stopped hearing his heartbeat. “We won Mr. Stark” Yet they didn’t.
Peter was lost, confused and tired. He couldn’t understand what they were saying on the news, all in Czech. It was Ned who grabbed his arm and took him to the hotel room. “Peter, oh my god, you won’t believe it!” Ned whispered excitingly. “Peter, look, it’s everywhere on the news.” And Peter did look, and just as Ned said he didn’t believe it. Tony Stark is alive… seen today at a park with his wife Pepper Stark and daughter Morgan. Open the article to see the photos. Peter read on Ned’s laptop.
“EDITH” Peter said grabbing his glasses from Mr. Stark “Is .. Is Mr. Stark really alive?” he asked with a trembling voice. “Yes, Peter, I can confirm from the activity of connected systems that Tony Stark is alive.” the AI replied. “Can you change the plan of the academic school trip and buy us tickets to New York for tomorrow morning?” Peter asked. “Yes, Peter, do you want economic or business class?” “Doesn’t matter” was all that Peter managed to reply before he started packing his bags. He didn’t care if Nick Fury needed him, or if there would be another elemental attack, all he cared about was to see Tony Stark with his own eyes.
Only two months ago he woke up from the coma that was medically placed on him so the mind of the genius could recover. His body was still weaker, but Tony was a fighter and now he had a lot to fight for. So he thoroughly followed his recovery plan, he took all the meds, ate only healthy stuff, he really missed burgers, and he did all the boring exercises. Yesterday Tony even went for a walk with his family, he’s quite sure that someone saw them and that the news was out for the world that Tony Stark was alive. But he didn’t mind, he wanted to be back in the game.
Tony Stark was enjoying the weekend at his home, with his wife and daughter. They were cuddled on the sofa before the TV. But, what was supposed to be a relaxing time before the diner, was destroyed when the news on the incident in Prague showed up.
Night monkey and Mysterio, the lady said, but Tony knew better. “It’s Peter, it has to be Peter.” he said. “My brother Peter?” Morgan asked her daddy with a bit of sleepy eyes. “Tony” he looked up at Pepper “Hey, relax” she said, eyes focused solely on him. “That’s my kid.” Tony whispered with a look of desperation in his eyes. “I know, honey, I know that is why you will call him now, or check when he is coming and you will go and tell him that you missed him, ok?” “Ok” Tony agreed.
It’s not like Tony only now remembered about Peter Parker, he spent two months thinking what he should do. He nearly called him a few times. Later when Tony felt stronger, he once entered the car with the thought of visiting Peter. But then he would see the news or hear on the radio that Spider man was doing perfectly fine, he was very active, he went to the meetings, handled the press and Tony Stark did not feel needed.
“Hey, it’s Peter Parker, leave a message.” Tony paused for a second not knowing what to do. “Pete, Hi, It’s me Tony Stark” He looked around the room and his eyes lingering on the photos, he found one with Peter and himself holding the SI internship document. “I just saw you on the TV in Prague..” He paused again. “Sir, do you want to continue the voice message to Peter Parker?” FRIDAY asked. “No, delete it, find me information when is Peter coming back” Tony replied to his AI. He didn’t start to use EDITH again, mainly because he knew that now the kid had it and It would cause confusion. Plus he was scared that then Peter would learn that he’s back. He was scared that Peter would know and wouldn’t show up to check on him “Peter has a scheduled flight from Czech to USA for this morning, he is landing at New York’s airport at 3p.m.” FRIDAY said.
Tony was standing in his lab, watching through all the information about the elemental attack. Something was fishy. Then he found a good quality photo of Mysterio. “There you are, I know you, Quentin Beck.” he said under his nose. “This motherfucker.”
“What’s motherfucker?” a sweet voice came to Tony’s ears. His eyes widened in shock. “O no Morgan, that’s a bad word, don’t tell mummy.” Morgan smiled and said. “Motherfucker.” She was already six years old and she was a big girl. “Morgan.” Tony started putting the emphasis on his daughter’s name “That’s mummy’s word, only she can use it, don’t tell her I did, ok?” “Yes, daddy, can I meet Peter?” Tony looked at her big pretty eyes. “Yes, honeybear, today I will take him home, If he will let me.” He added the last part in a quiet voice so that Morgan wouldn’t hear him.
They were on a plane for almost four hours now. Peter Parker hated flying, no matter that business class seats were very comfortable. First his parents died in a plane crash, he liked to think it was enough of a reason, but then when he was for the first time on a plane it was to Germany and he doesn’t have pleasant memories from a fight with the Avengers. And then now, he was supposed to fly for a pleasant trip to Europe, which happened to be a trip going after elementals. So when he started panicking he wasn’t that surprised.
It started slowly, only with a few overwhelming thoughts. What if Tony Stark isn’t really alive? What if all the news is wrong and EDITH just picked up some activity of Mrs. Stark or Morgan? He knew that there was a really slim possibility that EDITH would be wrong, so his mind drifted into a different direction. What if Mr. Stark doesn’t want to see me? Why didn’t he let me know that he was alive? Why am I learning this from some news articles? From that point Peter wasn’t able to stop. His mind creating only worse and worse possibilities. He started having problems with breathing. It was too loud on the plane, everything was too much.
Bathroom doors slammed after him, separating his senses from the rest of the passengers. It wasn’t ideal but still a bit better. “You can do this.” Peter said to his reflection in the mirror. “Just four more hours Peter, nothing more.” His pep talk didn’t change much, but he left the bathroom going to his seat.
“Hey, Parker, will you introduce us to your best buddy Tony Stark, you know now that he is alive, you must have known!” Flash yelled. “Shut up, Flash, nobody cares!” MJ shout back. “Thanks MJ,” Peter said. “I really wanted to visit Paris, but maybe it’s better we would probably end up in the middle of another attack or something.” MJ said as she looked at Peter who now had a guilty expression on his face. “Yea sorry, I mean, me too, I also really wanted to see Paris.” MJ smiled at him and put her earphones back on. “I’m gonna watch some movie about plane crashes, you want to join?” “I’m not a big fan of planes, sorry.” Peter only managed to gasp out. They landed exactly four hours and fifteen minutes later.
“Going live, for BBC news, Tony Stark is at the New York airport, he came here ten minutes ago and is waiting before one of the exit gates. He refused to give any comments.” Tony heard the woman talk behind his back. Peter should be here, they landed twenty minutes ago, so why isn’t he still there? Tony started pacing around.
Peter Parker heard Mr. Stark’s name before he saw him, all the reporters behind the door weren’t exactly quiet, which made him confused, because why Mr. Stark would be at the airport. And then he went through the gates and stopped. He saw him, waiting for someone. Peter really wanted to believe that Mr. Stark waited for him, but he didn’t want to be left disappointed. They made eye contact. “Mr. Stark" Peter barely whispered. "Peter.” Tony replied. The tension between those two was very transparent. They seem to grab the attention from everyone around.
Peter left his baggage behind as he ran into Tony’s arms. “Oh my god, it’s really you, I didn’t believe it. I mean you were dead. And then you weren’t and I was so confused. I wanted to believe them, you know. But it isn’t something you really just believe, right. I needed to see you and ..” “Kid” Tony stopped Peter’s rambling “Kid, I’m here, I’m alive and I missed you”
Peter Parker stood in the middle of the airport in the arms of Tony Stark, they were both crying. “What the fuck.” Peter heard Flash saying and that made him laugh. And when he started he couldn’t stop. Tony picked up the kid's laugh and also couldn’t stop himself. They made a pretty crazy image, Tony thought later, two men, the highschool kid and raised from the dead billionaire crying and laughing at the airport to the confusion of the press and Peter's class. “Come Peter, I’ll take you home.”