Chapter Text
He wasn't supposed to be here. He wasn't supposed to be here and now- Oh God, now.
It's only been a few months training with the kid, or almost a year maybe, showing him the lab and watching him go to town on his own little experiments, but Tony's already gone for him. Peter's like his own son, and he knows it's dangerous how close he's getting to the Spiderling, because Iron Man is dangerous, but that's why he built the suit. That's why he's done every single thing he can to protect him.
But Peter wasn't supposed to be here, at this fight, at this airport. This wasn't Peter's fight. Tony had gone to his place to tell him he wasn't going to be available for a few days and Peter had somehow, inexplicably, wormed his way into the battle. He'd promised to wear the latest suit, of course. Promised to be as careful as possible. But he'd absolutely refused when Tony told him no.
Even got his damn aunt involved. Young Geniuses Convention in Berlin. God, the kid might as well be his, how quick on his feet he is. Brilliant, too. And he's too good at lying when it counts. Tony loves that, and he hates it.
He hates it, because right now he's staring at a collapsed terminal building where he knows Peter just was. Peter was in there with that bird guy, Sam Wilson, and that friend of Steve's from the 40s. What's his name? Buckley? No. Bunty? God, he's so bad at names. Terminator. That works for now.
The point isn't their names though. The point is that his kid is in that collapsed building with men who should be his teammates. All three of them could be hurt. Dead.
As soon as that thought hits, Tony's breath stops short. Panic. Panic. Oh, God. He hasn't had one this bad in years. The edges of his vision begin to black out and he hits the ground with a heavy thud as his boosters just stop, boots nearly cracking the pavement under him. His chest heaves as he gasps for air, struggles.
Everything was fine. Aside from the fact that they were all fighting each other, everything was fine. The building was intact. No one was too badly hurt. They were just trying to capture Steve and the others. Bring them in. Just-
But something happened. There had been an accident. An explosion. The building collapsed around Sam and Bucky (that's the name, okay, got it) and Peter. His kid.
Why is he thinking of him like Peter is his own? He's not. Peter has a family. May is his family.
Oh God. May is going to be so angry. So distraught. If Peter isn't okay, May is going to kill Tony. And for good reason.
Tony's chest hurts and he's moving on legs he can't feel without processing the thoughts that led to the action. He's just there, at the ruins of the terminal building, hands itching to tear cement and plaster away until he gets to his goddamn kid. He has to get Peter out safely. It's all he can think about.
Then, the crumbled pile starts to shift, move, fall away from itself, and Tony sees Sam and Bucky pushing their way out of the rubble. Sam's wings are wrecked, torn to shreds, and he looks like he got scraped up pretty badly. Bucky's limping as he crawls out of the pile and his head is hung low, but Tony thinks he can see some bruising at his jaw. Bucky's left arm is mangled. Missing.
His right arm is wrapped around the small frame of a bundle of red and blue that sends Tony's heart into his throat. Until that bundle pulls from Bucky's grasp and practically bolts down the rest of the wreckage, barreling into Tony's chest with so much force, Tony almost falls over even in the suit.
Peter wraps his arms around Tony and gasps out a sound that Tony can only describe as terrified. It's what he feels as he puts his own arms around Peter, awkwardly because of the suit, but protectively and with great relief to feel the shaking kid in his hold.
“Mr. Stark, I'm sorry- I'm so sorry-”
“Why?”
His voice is so much more calm than he feels. He's ready to fly apart with equal parts fear and relief, but he's holding it in. For now. He kneels down in front of Peter, holding his shoulders and pulling his mask off his head. He hears a sharp intake of breath from behind him and he knows it's Steve. Judging him, no doubt, for bringing a child to this fight.
He hadn't wanted to.
“Why are you sorry, Pete?” Tony asks, forgoing all nicknames. The fact that the kid is alive and in his arms is almost too much.
“I should have listened to you,” Peter whispers, eyes welling with tears. “I thought I could handle it. After everything last year, with the train and the new suits and- I just thought that I was stronger.”
“You are,” Tony whispers. “You are stronger than you were. But that doesn't mean you're the strongest you're ever gonna be, kid. And it definitely doesn't mean you're cut out for every fight every time.”
He's proud of himself. There was a time he would have been telling at Peter right now, but he's learned. They've both learned from each other. Tony's yelling had been out of fear for the kid's safety. But it wasn't effective.
Peter nods shakily. “I get that now. Believe me. I-” He looks back at Bucky and Sam, who are holding each other up as they finish climbing down from the rubble, both looking worse for wear. “If it hadn't been for them, I think I might not be talking to you right now. The metal arm guy grabbed me right before the ceiling gave in, even though we'd been fighting each other.”
Tony looks up, past Peter, to Bucky. He stands carefully and walks around Peter to the other two, stopping in front of them. Bucky looks up at him warily, jaw clenched in pain.
“Thank you,” Tony says softly, taking a breath. “You- It takes a certain amount of good to do what you did.”
Bucky's expression shifts, surprise coloring his cheeks as he looks at Tony, then away quickly. He seems almost ashamed and clears his throat. “Couldn't let him die,” he whispers. “He's just a kid.”
“Yeah, Stark,” Steve cuts in now, coming up and grabbing Tony's arm, pulling him to face him with strength that still surprises Tony to this day. “He's a kid. What the hell were you thinking bringing him here?”
“I told him no!” Tony swats at Steve's hand, a gesture they're both very familiar with by now. So much so that Steve moves his hand before Tony makes contact. “The kid's stubborn, Rogers.”
“That's just what we need on this team,” Steve grumbles. “More stubbornness.”
“What team?” Tony hisses. “What team acts this way?” He gestures around them, at the wreck the airport has become, the injuries both sides have sustained. “God, we've- Well, I've been an idiot, at least. All this bullshit paperwork and red tape? What about us?” He presses the tips of his fingers to his chest roughly, then taps the backs of those same fingers to Steve's chest. “What team, Steve?”
Steve stays quiet, breathing heavily. Tony can see his shoulders move with each breath and watches the way his gaze has hardened. Then, he gives a strained smile.
“Did you just call yourself an idiot?” Steve asks quietly.
Tony waves his hand and turns away, looking back at Peter. “Don't get excited, Sparkler. It's only Tuesday.”
“Uhm, Mr. Stark?” Peter taps his arm. “It's Friday.”
Tony closes his eyes and takes a slow breath in, then looks back at Steve. “Friday.”
“Yes, Boss?”
Tony would laugh. He really would. He doesn't know whether or not Peter set him up for that one. Getting him to inadvertently activate his own AI without meaning to? It's clever. That's for certain. But definitely not the moment, and he's pretty sure Peter knows tact.
At least, a little bit.
“I have to get the kid home,” Tony sighs, putting a hand on Peter's shoulder. “Conveniently, I think my leaving the area to do so leaves the jet unguarded.” He looks pointedly back at Sam and Bucky, then at Steve. “If anyone were to take advantage of that, I couldn't really blame them. I'm the one that left. Isn't that right, Rhodey?”
Rhodey, who's been near for a minute now, but kept his distance, nods firmly and raises his arm, gesturing to Tony's side of the field to back down. None of them have noticed Nat and the Wakandan King aren't around, but Tony himself isn't paying full attention.
He knows this is how it has to be. Bucky saved Peter's life. He deserves a chance to get out. If that means Tony's letting Steve and the others go, then that's how it's going to be. No matter what he signed.
Looking at Steve, he nods, then leads Peter away from them all, back toward the safer areas of the airport and an awaiting car. He doesn't dare look back. If he had, he might have seen Nat take T'Challa out temporarily at the hangar moments later, ensuring Steve and Bucky got out. He might have seen Rhodey helping Sam into the cargo and Bucky into the secondary pilot seat of the jet and seeing them off once Steve was settled.
All Tony can see is the bruise on Peter's face and the fact that the boy is alive.