Work Text:
“Have you ever wondered how failing to save someone important feels? Mr. Stark?"
Peter suddenly asked while dangling his legs from the table. He was holding a screwdriver and had a little frown on his face. The one he always makes when he’s focused.
The specific scrunch of eyebrows, one of his eyes more closed than the other and the nervous little twitch in his fingers signaled how determined he was to solve the most recent problem.
Tony just stared at him for a while. He looked bewildered. Almost taken aback by the question.
"Kid. What in the loving fuck are you talking about?"
His voice carried a slight tone of worry accompanied by a single raised eyebrow.
He and Pete have been working in the lab since the morning. Maybe the kid really needed more sleep?
"What? I didn't even say anything! Why do I get scolded!?"
That was strange.
"Yeah, yeah and I'm schizophrenic. Fri, recap what the Spider-Baby had said"
The smugness in Tony's expression could be an example in a book titled ,,How to be an ass? Guide''.
"On it, Boss. The last thing Spider-Baby had said was: "What? I didn't even say anything! Why do I get scolded!?""
The AI response was immediate.
"Maybe y-you really are a-a schizophrenic Mr. Stark"
Peter stuttered while trying to hold back his laughter. His whole demeanor changed from the hyper focused little brilliant shit, to the menace laughing at THE Tony Stark little shit.
Peter almost fell from the table. Still fighting the cackle.
Tony wanted to be irritated, but he couldn't. Not as his kid. Not at the teen who he grew to love so much.
Like his own.
A muffled chuckle escaped Tony's chest. He would gladly be the main focus of Peter’s banter if that would mean he would get to see his kid so happy and carefree everyday.
He hoped moments like these would be a new constant in his life, because as much as he didn't want to admit, Peter helped him live again. The nerdy kid made him see life in colours again
~~~~~
A sudden fog started creeping up his vision. Everything started to blur together.
He tried to wipe his eyes, not understanding why it didn't go away.
Dark spots started flying in front of his vision. He swayed on his feet. His head was killing him. Almost like tiny shards of ice poking at his mind.
"Mr. Stark? A-Are you okay? Hey! M-Mr. Stark! Mr. Sta...."
Peter's screams were the last thing he heard before the darkness took control.
~~~~~
The air in the room was thick. The electronic clock showed 3:37 AM. Dust particles were visible in the dim light, which had been left-on.
There on the floor a person suddenly shot up. Wide-eyed, like a deer caught in the headlights.
It was the one and only Tony Stark.
His clothes were sweat drenched, under his eyes big dark circles. Empty bottles lying everywhere. He looked almost like a dead man.
Maybe not only looked?
"Pete?"
Only the suffocating silence answered.
"It was only a dream... again..."
His voice sounded hollow. He wasn't even surprised or sorrowful anymore. Instead he awaited them. They were the only way he could escape the picture that had burned into his mind.
A body lying in an alley. Cold. Broken. Red.
A wave of nausea hit him.
He wanted to go back to the dreamscape. This world was too dark.
He just wanted to hug him again. To tell his Kid how much he loves him. To hear Peter’s laughter again.
But Peter was dead.
He couldn't save him.
He had been dead since that morning in the alley.
And thats how the mighty Iron-Man broke.
It only took one person to achieve that.
It’s even funny how little it took
Who’s going to save him now?