Work Text:
Peter slowly bled in the alleyway with no one to save him. After everything that happened in his life, especially the argument with the one and only Tony Stark, Peter had stopped giving him updates on patrols, arriving on lab days, and blocked Tony on all social media platforms and numerous (Petty, I know, but he didn't want to feel any pain being reminded of Tony). Now it is dark, and Peter had gotten stabbed by a criminal, which led to this.
"Peter, you have an open stab wound in your side. Would you like to contact Mr. Stark?" Karen chimed in.
Peter knew he needed the man's help, but even if he did, Pete would have to force himself to apologize. So, he chose to refuse contacting the man. "No, Karen. I'll just stitch it up when I get to the apartment. I can handle it."
"But, Peter. You need medical attention right away." Karen tried to convince the boy, but it was no use.
"I know, Karen. But I can handle it." Peter retorted to the AI.
"Okay, Peter. However, I shall remind you that the Baby Monitor Protocol is reactivated and in action." Karen reminded the boy.
Shit. Mr. Stark must've been watching. He thought to himself. He needs to get up right away.
"And where.. is Mr. Stark?" Peter asked softly.
"Almost at your location, Peter. ETA, 10 minutes."
Peter's eyes widened, he knew that he is going to get in trouble. He was too stubborn for his own good. With the inability to get up from the pain, he may have started squeezing the blood out of his side. I'd rather die. I'd rather die. Please let me die, God. Tell me that this is my time.
"Peter, I advise you to stop what you are doing right now. Mr. Stark is currently on the way to your location. Please do not worsen your condition any further." Karen said, and probably begged to the boy. She never does that unless it's become too much.
"I'm just accelerating my death, Karen. I don't need Mr. Stark anymore. Please don't let him get to me any closer." Peter begged the AI, but it went in vain as soon as he heard the repulsors and the landing of metal next to him.
Tony was silent, then he spoke in a tone that Peter did not expect. "Pete, God, what happened to you?" His tone was worried, it was softer than the man he fought that night.
"You got me worried when you stopped coming to lab days, Pete." Tony had the soft tone again, Peter hated it so much because he missed it. "Even on patrols, you stopped updating Happy and me to the point when I had to reactivate the Baby Monitor Protocol just to keep you safe. I even found out you blocked me everywhere and— God, I was so worried, bambino."
Peter had closed his eyes, trying to wake up from his dream, but the man begging for him to wake up and immediately taking him to Medbay is more than just a dream. The boy ended up sleeping in Tony's arms.
...
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Peter groaned as he woke up. He scanned the white walls and Medbay bed in his room—wait. He doesn't have white walls in his room! He realized that he woke up in Medbay.
Peter sits up, shocked, but Tony pushed him back. "Calm down, Underoos. It's just me." He said. That doesn't make Peter feel even better. He looked away and kept quiet.
"What were you thinking, Peter?!? Not fighting back, then proceeding to squeeze a two-package amount of blood from your body as soon as you found out that I was coming to get you?? Oh, and I even heard that Karen had to warn and BEG at the same time for you to stop. SHE DOESN'T BEG UNLESS IT'S CRITICAL, PETER!!!" Tony exclained as he lectured Peter, a worried look on his face. "I told your Aunt May about this, but she'll let you recover first before she goes to lecture you."
"Why do you care? You said it before, you don't need me that much. I was only tiring myself whenever I make an effort to bother you." Peter retorted.
Tony's eyes widened. His own words were used against him. He knew that it hurt Peter, considering the fact that the boy spent more time with him than the years he spent without him.
Tony tried to hold the boy's shoulder, but Peter pushed his hand away. All Tony could do now is apologize to the boy. "Look, Pete I know I hurt you. But I didn't mean what I said. I do love having you around, talking to me about Star Wars or anything irrelevant. As long as I have you."
Peter could only stare at the man and Tony continued. "I should've listened to what you were going through. I should've acted like a responsible adult and stayed silent than drop every single traumatic event I had to you. I'm sorry, Pete."
Peter blinked once, then twice, and it took him approximately 6 blinks for him to process Tony's apology. He thought that he should be the one apologizing to the man, not the other way around.
"... What?" was all Peter could say. He was still processing the idea of the egotistical Tony Stark apologizing to the loser named Peter Parker. Tears brimmed in the boy's eyes.
"Oh, bambino." Tony pulled the boy close, comforting him as Peter sobbed in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark. I'm so sorry." Peter said between sobs.
Tony shushed the boy. "It's okay, bambino. No matter what happens, I'll be by your side. No matter what."
Tony pulled away from the boy, giving him the smile that Peter had missed so much. He smiled back.
"Now, come on, Pete. What did you say we get some jello from the cafeteria and rewatch a Star Wars movie?" Tony offered. Peter perked up.
"Yes, please, Mr. Stark!" Peter squealed, but the pain on his side stopped him.
"Woah, calm down, Pete. I'll go get your jello so we can get started, hm?" Tony immediately walked out.
The day ended with Tony and Peter cuddling next to each other halfway throughout the movie. May even took a picture of them and sent it to Pepper.
(text is messages!)
May: "Oh look, the two are cuddling. It seems that their little argument is all sorted out. I can finally sleep at night." (*attached photo*)
Pepper: "WHAAT?!?"
fin.