Chapter Text
Peter Parker had died.
Peter Parker lived.
Peter Parker may as well have stayed dead.
Tony Stark had died, officially for over an hour, but for his loved ones it felt a lot longer.
Being in Wakanda had helped, Rhodey and Pepper had flown him to the Shuri’s lab, where a makeshift hospital had sprung up, they froze him, not wanting his body to stop, monitoring his brain waves… until eventually a beep from the machine, blink and you’d miss it, by the time the doctors, Cho and Banner, and Shuri had decided that it would be safe to unfreeze him they still weren’t sure what Tony would be like when un-iced.
The best they could figure was that Tony had been blown, like a fuse connected to too strong a current, but even with that hypothesis they still had no idea if Tony would ever be like his old self.
Peter had stayed in Tony’s room, staying sat on the couch, silently watching, without wanting to overstep his place by sitting at Tony’s side, despite Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy all trying to convince him to talk to Tony or to hold his hand, preferably both. He didn’t open his mouth to do anything other than drink and eat when one of those three people or the rest of the Avengers strong-armed him into doing so, he tried to even not sleep, only doing so when he passed out.
He was so sleep deprived that he was passed out when Tony awoke, freaked out, fighting the tube down his throat, but awake. He was awake the next time though, when Tony woke, no longer incubated, alert enough to understand where he was, to squeeze Pepper’s hand, to smirk at the worried Rhodey and Happy, to raise an eyebrow at the bandaged stump where his arm had once been as though adding a prosthetic arm to his to-do list, his eyes fell on Peter who had stood up for the first time in two weeks. “...Kid?” His voice was rough from weeks of sleep and tears were already building up in his eyes.
Peter had been about to step forward but froze, his heart quickening, Mr Stark didn’t want him there, he shouldn’t have intruded, he should have let any of the many people offering to drop him off at his Aunt’s take him.
“He’s real, Tony.” Pepper’s voice was clear and strong. “He’s alive, he’s safe, you saved him. You got him back.”
She looked over at Peter giving him that warm motherly smile she had given him the past few weeks in Wakanda, and when he went by the tower after all the events of Homecoming made Tony realise that he should try and step into (or at least take a few steps towards) the more paternal role Peter was desperate for.
Pepper turned her eyes back to her husband. “He’s been waiting for you to wake up.”
Tony’s eyes locked with Pepper for a second, before looking at Peter with an already tired smile. “Pete, c’mere.”
He watched his mentor gestured with his head and Peter had no other choice than to obey. He went to walk on the right side of the bed, but Pepper guided him to the same side she was stood on, he didn’t understand why until she moved so that he was stood closer to Tony, and Tony’s hand cradled his cheek. For the first time since the last Snap Peter’s eyes filled with tears, his throat tightened and he bit the inside of his cheeks, still a couple of tears escaped, Tony wiped them with with his thumb, surprising Peter but only Peter.
“Tears for your long lost mentor?” He heard Pepper give a snort of laughter, and could practically feel Rhodey’s eyes roll and Happy’s vein pop in his neck, and it was worth it until Peter nodded and sniffled.
Before he knew it, Peter’s arms were around him, he was still for a second, before wrapping his around Peter, making gentle shushing noises, he could see Pepper rubbing Peter’s back with her hand, trying to soothe him, he couldn’t help but love her just that little bit more for that.
When Peter pulled himself together enough he took a step back from the bed, wiping his eyes on the sleeves quickly in the hopes they would all suddenly forget what they had just witnessed. “Sorry- sorry, I-, Mr Stark, I know we’re not there, I won’t-“
“Kid.” Tony rasped his words were slow and tired, “we’re there. ’N no mis’er Stark crap, Tony.”
“You need to eat,” Tony’s eyes fluttered shut and he tried his hardest to keep them open even as the pain killed surged from the I.V around his body racing to put him to sleep, “shower, ’n’ sleep, ‘m not goin’ anywhere. Listen t’Pep, stay wi’ us.”
The room watched as Tony fell asleep.
“Right,” Rhodey spoke up, “I’m going to pick up some food, Hap you wanna help?” He sent him a look until the other man begrudgingly stood up in compliance. “Pete, the clothes for you are still on the size, they’re not what you’re used to, but they’re the most comfortable thing I’ve put on my body.” His eyes flickered to Tony instinctively, waiting for the smirk and the comment, the one which he’s say something which would inadvertently traumatise Peter, but he was fast asleep.
“Once you’ve slept you’re calling your aunt. I’ve been fielding the calls, lucky for me she’s busy enough that she’s not blowing up my phone as much as you do.” Happy’s voice and words were gruff but there was fondness there.
Pepper waited for them to go before she spoke, her voice quiet even if there was no chance of Tony waking. “Go shower, honey, I’ll be with him, anything happens you’ll be the first to know, I promise, Pete.”
Peter was starting to feel more normal after the food, the shower, and the sleep, the sleep was nearly a whole day long, when he woke Pepper insisted he eat again and wouldn’t leave his side until he did, then Happy handed him the phone.
May’s voice sprung new tears into his eyes, she had thought he had died, he had technically, or he just didn’t exist, she had assumed that he had died in the snap, or he had been killed in battle, he immediately began to apologise, and for once she didn’t stop him, actually she just told him that they’d talk when she saw him again.
That wasn’t good news, Aunt May had just found out about his extracurricular activities and hadn’t been supportive but he had refused to stop. It had become a point of contention between the two; still Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy all assured him that she was just worried about him, and they must have told Mr Stark as he told him the same thing, and promised to put in a phone call.
Peter had still felt bad, he knew that Happy had told her he was alive, had told her everything in fact, but still Aunt May must not have believed it, according to the way she both cried and scolded him over the phone.
He had thought they would have another fight when he told her that he wanted, no needed to stay, just until he was sure that Mr Stark was okay, by Peter’s standards, not everyone else's; but May had surprisingly been okay with it, apparently she had become both a nurse and a homeless shelter volunteer, both of with ‘along with everything at home’, had been very busy according to May, and so long as Peter stayed in contact she was okay with him sticking around Wakanda and Tony for a while, it wasn’t like he’d be missing school, and at least then she knew where he was.
Peter still stuck to Tony’s room, despite being offered both a room in the Royal palace by the King of Wakanda himself, and a personal of the science labs by Shuri (once she had found all the YouTube videos of Spiderman and discovered, Peter assumed through Tony who was the only one who he had told, that Peter had made his web shooters and fluid), but had denied either.
Instead he spent his days talking to Pepper and Rhodey, when Tony was awake he would insist that Peter was told nothing about his college, or precollege… or post college… days, incase they ‘ruin his kiddie innocence’, which Peter had protested (he was fifteen not five!), but loved hearing about the things he had missed during the blip, and the stories Tony would allow him to be told.
He didn’t miss the fact that Pepper was mothering him, and Tony kept dad-ing him, but he put that down to them missing Morgan, and if he enjoyed it what harm did it do, it wasn’t like he’d tell them, instead he pretended to oblige in it.
Tony was getting better each day, the Wakandan doctors gave him medicine and treatments which were helping, he was even able to stay awake for up to three hours at a time, Pepper joked that it was the most sleep the mechanic had ever had.
Tony seemed to want Peter close as often as Peter wanted to be close to him, whenever they were awake, hell even sometimes when Peter was asleep Tony would be worrying about him being uncomfortable or about him having nightmares.
Peter talked to May everyday, using Rhodey’s cell, they didn’t talk about Spiderman, and they didn’t talk about May’s life during the snap, they talked about the future, about the displaced people, about the kids left without parents, the ones left with two sets, about what was happening now people were back; Peter wasn’t used to the chaos of New York anymore, he was used to Wakanda whose government were trying to help everyone rather than avoid responsibility.
Leaving Wakanda was something Peter both wanted and dreaded, he missed the city, he missed May, and Ned, and MJ, he missed helping people… but leaving Wakanda meant no longer being with this small family forged out of their love for Tony Stark and their refusal to leave his side. But there was no way Tony would be staying there forever, for starters he had a daughter.
Peter knew it was coming, Happy had left to take Morgan from the lake to the tower, where it would be safer for Tony to recover, the Avengers all gave him looks, tried to get him excited about going to the city again, mentioning fun things about the tower then trailing off when they cottoned on to the fact Peter was a teenager who would have to go home.
Pepper steered him to a seat in the main area of the plane, instead of next to Tony, Peter would have protested but she smiled at him and told him the med bay would tell them straight away if Tony was awake or needed them.
“I talked to May.” She told him gently after the noise told them that they could take their seatbelts off. “I know that she’s been really busy, sometimes even too busy to talk to you for long, I know she’s sorry about that…. We were thinking, me, Tony, May, that perhaps you wouldn’t mind sticking around the tower for a couple of weeks? It’ll give us all time to catch up, May to sort somethings out before she comes and gets you, and you’re probably one of the few people in the world or out of it who can get both Tony and Morgan to listen to you.”
Peter had to try and restrain the smile which was trying desperately to escape. “Morgan’s never even met me.”
“You’re her hero.” She told him without a doubt in her voice. “If you want to go back to May’s that’s also fine, we’ll all understand.”
“I’ll stay.” He answered quickly. “I mean if it’s not too much trouble.”
“You’re never too much trouble.”
Peter’s cheeks blushed. “Thank’s Ms Potts,” he mumbled looking down at his lap, “I mean Mrs Stark.”
“Peter.”
Peter met her face then realised, his cheeks turned from light pink to dark. “Pepper, sorry.”
She ruffled his hair lovingly, apparently it took the end of the world, twice, to convince Peter to finally call them Pepper and Tony, and even then it took some prompting.
Peter and Morgan met for the first time in the Tower, Pepper by Peter’s side, holding her arms out for her daughter, Happy at Morgan’s side smiling and saying it was nice to see Peter again. Peter was sure Morgan would hate him, despite assurances to the contrary, he had been there with Tony and Pepper and she hadn’t, he had been the reason her dad nearly died, he had…
Morgan immediately ran at Peter’s legs and wrapped her arms around them. “Spiderman!”
Peter froze, she must be confused, or trying to attack him somehow but hadn’t figured out the best way to do it.
“Peter!”
Peter looked down at her with a fearful look. She raised her arms up to him and he slowly picked her up, in his confused state, as soon as he did she continued to hug him.
“You saved daddy! And daddy got you back!-“
Peter frowned in confusion as she carried on, he didn’t understand, Pepper’s hand went to his back, rubbing circles on it, clearly picking up on his confusion.
“Honey, calm down a little, okay. Peter’s been very tired, he’s been watching to make sure daddy’s okay, and he’s not been eating, do you want to help me order everyone some food?”
Peter saw the out he was being given, he grateful held Morgan towards Pepper, with a small smile still on his face.
“Honey, Peter?”
“Huh? Sorry I was just…” He tailed off, he was so often caught in his own head these days, frankly he assumed the pet name had been for Morgan.
“It’s okay.” Her hand brushed his cheek, his thumb just under his eyes, the bags which he knew were there. “Tony’s in our room, it’s all been set up for him, can you check on him for me? Tell him we’re ordering food, Gino’s.”
Peter nodded his head and quickly escaped, his ears still hearing Morgan talking about how he was Spiderman, and asking her mom if he was going to be living with them, and if he would play superheroes with her.
“Hey, kiddo.”
He realised that he had made it to the Starks’ bedroom, in a daze, his confusion must have shown because Tony was looking amused, his half of the quadruple king size bed in the upright condition. “H-Hey, Tony. Sorry I just…”
“Don’t worry kid.” He told him seriously before adding a fake sarcastic smile. “I know you’re just in amazement at the Amazing Iron Man.”
“Is your ego your greatest weapon?” Peter realised what he had said but before he could apologise Tony was beaming.
“Finally! I was missing that Peter Parker snark. You’ve been acting like a ghost kid, and that doesn’t work for me.”
Peter shrugged but when Tony nodded to the bed Peter moved to sit beside him. “Pepper said she’s ordering Gino’s.”
Tony hummed. “Pizza, it’s been too long. You hungry?”
Peter shrugged again.
“Yeah, me too.” They were quiet for a moment, Peter looked out of the windows at a city which was no longer his. “What’s on your mind Pete?”
“Nothin’.”
“You said that too fast for me to believe it, sorry, you need to work on your lying, or not, I probably shouldn’t be encouraging it.”
“I thought Morgan would hate me.”
“What?!”
Peter nearly laughed at how comically large Tony’s eyes went, instead he shrugged and mumbled. “I was there with you for weeks, and I was there when you did the… I should have done it, the snap, you had a family, and I-“
“No.” Tony’s voice was firmer than Peter had ever heard it, and he had been in trouble with the man more often than he wanted to admit. “Seriously, no. You ever let me hear you say that again and I’m taking your suit and grounding you. Peter, you know…” Tony fell silent.
Peter waited for him to continue, but when he didn’t Peter tried to fill the silence. “I don’t think you can ground me, y’know?”
“Wanna bet?” But when he caught sight of Peter’s tiny smile he shook his head, rolled his eyes, and sighed, but was smiling a little too. “I told her stories, y’know? Maguna, you’re her favourite superhero, I had to stop her from trying to climb up walls.”
“Why?”
Tony quirked an eyebrow. “Because it’s dangerous?”
“I meant… why did you tell her stories about me? I mean you’re friends with the Avengers, with Cap- Steve-!”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Tony held up his hand pausing him. “He gets Steve but I had to fight for like a year to be called Tony?” He watched Peter hide a smile as he shrugged. “Yeah, you’re totally grounded. Hope you like sticking around the tower with me. A week, probably more, maybe until you're thirty six.”
Peter bit his lip, he could see the glint in Tony’s eye, that he was using this to keep Peter close to him, or at least in the tower, for at least a week. He tried his best to look serious, and when that didn’t work he said. “I’m serious. Why…?”
“You’re a hero, Pete, looking out for the little guy, not getting into the fuckin’ politics the rest of us did-, hell you don’t even swear!”
“Mr- Tony, I’m from New York, Queens... you really think I’ve never sworn?”
Tony narrowed his eyes at him. “Yes. You’re actually not allowed to, I saved the world I think the president owes me, I’mma get them to add “Peter Parker isn’t allowed to swear” into law.” He reached over with his left hand, his only hand (he supposed he no longer needed to clarify which one), and ruffled Peter’s hair.
Peter let out a huff of air and dramatically dropped back to lie/ headbutt Tony’s reclining mattress. He heard Tony let out a snort of laughter, his hand stroked his hair.
“Take a nap, Pete.”
“You take a nap.” Peter mumbled into the mattress, sure he sounded like a five year old, but it was only midday and it had already been a long day. Another puff of laughter.
“I’ve missed you kid. A lot.” He lowered the bed but when Peter went to move Tony wrapped his arm around him, stilling Peter completely, it took all Tony had not to look at him to check he was breathing. “I’ll fall asleep when you do.
“Pepper sent me in to tell you about the food.”
Tony smiled, he knew that Pep sent Peter in because this was the only way he would be forced to take a nap. “Food won’t be here for a while, just… you sleep first, okay? I’m not going anywhere… and don’t give me that whole ‘I’m fine’ crap, coming back to life is tiring. And Morgan isn’t gonna leave you alone for long, this is probably your only chance… Sleep, Pete... please?”
“…I thought Tony Stark didn’t say please?”
“Tony Stark had to learn to use his manners or Mrs Stark would make him sleep with Gerald.”
“Who-?”
“Sleep, Peter.” Tony heard a huff but could feel Peter move slightly closer to him, he chanced a quick look and saw his eyes were closing.
“….D’ya think I’m classed as a zombie now?”
“Peter.” Tony let out in a loud and pained groaned, hearing Peter giggle in response, god, that was a good sound.
Peter fell into a routine at the tower:
He’d wake up in his room, shower, he’d down a couple of bananas, he’d grab a bottle of water, then would go the floor down to the Avenger’s common room and wait for the others, usually Steve, Bucky, and Sam, they’d head to one of the newly built parks and would run.
He’d get home, back to the tower, Morgan would run to hug him, Pepper and Tony would also be awake and in the common area, the kitchen or on the couch, they’d tell him to shower before breakfast, so he would.
He’d wolf down his breakfast, Tony and Pepper told him that he wasn’t allowed to claim not to be hungry, so for once he managed to fill that Spidey metabolism.
Then would spend the rest of his time with the Starks, the Avengers, and everyone else who were important enough to be in the tower.
Peter was surprised to find that Morgan genuinely loved him, and he quickly loved her back, he was pretty sure it was impossible not to love her, but maybe it was because she was four.
Did he sometimes get those feelings in his stomach which definitely weren’t jealousy when he saw Morgan with Pepper or Tony, or worse the three of them together, sure, but they were her parents, and things had changed in the five years he was gone.
But Tony would try and spend as much time as possible with him, even though he couldn’t stay awake for four hours straight yet, or Pepper would rope him into helping her with the Stark Relief Foundation, helping her choose which charities they should donate to (he normally chose foundations favouring orphaned children, like he was, or would be without May).
Happy insisted on teaching him some cooking, teaching him a few recipes which he could make cheap which would help fill him up.
Rhodey was often going on trips to the store, to grab groceries or things he claimed they needed, a couple of times he dragged Peter to the mall to get him clothes which weren’t Wakandan or Tony’s old clothes (not that Peter stopped wearing the latter).
Nat had him down in the gym most days, she would spar with him, letting him use his powers, and would teach him how to defend himself without his powers as he outright banned any Avengers dealing with Flash for him.
He taught Wanda and Vision how to play Mario Kart and they held regular races to beat Clint who promised to take them to shoot arrows whenever he lost, which, due to Peter, was often.
He saw Bruce often too, the doc was keeping an eye on the injuries which were slow healing thanks to the Alien weapons, he also helped him with a few experiments which Tony judged as being safe (Peter had rolled his eyes at that but neither men relented).
And when he wasn’t with any of those Morgan was at his side, begging him to play, normally Superheroes, and Peter would choose to play as Tony whenever he thought the man couldn’t hear.
He rang May every day, her shifts were often at night but she was working overtime, it was two weeks into his stay that she mentioned that she was married, she insisted that she had told him before, but Peter knew deep down that she had been hiding it.
Tony confirmed his suspicions when he apologised for not telling him, he had been waiting for May to tell him. Not only that but May had a kid, well, two kids, one was a step kid but one was a kid Morgan’s age. If Morgan’s existence made him feel like he had been replaced then this kid… it was something else.
Everyone tried to talk to him about it, Tony, Pepper, Banner, Steve, Sam, everyone, Peter insisted he was fine, no matter how many times Rhodey or Tony would call him a shit liar.
He didn’t want to talk, he didn’t want to think about it, but every time he saw Morgan, Tony, and Pepper curled up together, or just talking, watching Morgan put on a play or singing songs, Peter felt homesick. He felt homesick for Aunt May and Uncle Ben, though, not Aunt May and whoever the hell she married, but he felt bad, hiding out here, and Aunt May was starting to talk about Midtown starting up next week, about how she missed him, how she had sorted him out a bedroom, asked him when he would be coming home.
“You really don’t have to wait with me.”
“We do.”
“Tony, seriously, she’s late, and you’re in a pain.” He tried to look brave, his hands on his backpack straps, not looking down at his mentor who was sat in a wheelchair or Pepper who was stood on his other side. “And Mo is upset she probably wants you both-“
“Peter,” Pepper’s voice was iron, “we’re staying. Morgan’s upset that you’re going, she’s not the only one, but she’s going to see you soon, and she’s got everyone upstairs with her, she’ll be okay. Anyway, we’re with you right now.” She looked over Peter’s head at Tony.
“Kid,” he waited until Peter looked down at him, “Morgan will be okay, she’s gonna see you real soon, right? You’re still coming to dinner on Friday.”
“I don’t want to overstep-“
Tony rolled his eyes. “You’re not overstepping, and it wasn’t a question, you’re coming. Don’t make me pull out the ‘I just saved the universe’ card.”
A ghost of a smile flickered onto Peter’s lips, he shook his head. “You’re shameless.” He mumbled.
“Yup.” Tony proudly popped the ‘p’. “You got everything? Your clothes? Your suit? Enough web fluid? Oh did you remember your-“
“Tony,” Peter’s voice was quiet but silenced him, "I got everything.”
“You don’t have to take everything, kid, you have a room here, y’know if you’re in the neighbourhood, or if you’re not. Pep’s right, Mo’s not the only one who’s gonna miss you.”
Peter let out a sniffle, he felt Pepper squeeze his shoulder, but was too ashamed to look up.
“I’ll give you two a minute.”
“You don’t have to go.”
“Tony… I gotta.”
“I know.” Tony’s hopeful tone dropped to a sad and resigned one. “I know kid. She’s your aunt.” From his lower angle he could see the tears in his kid’s eyes. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, we’re gonna see you on Friday, yeah? And I’m only a call or a text away.” He reached into his pocket, then held out the gift to Peter.
“A StarkPhone? Mr Stark- Tony, this is, it’s too much, I can’t-“
“Hey, I didn’t save the world on my own. Hell, none of it would have happened without you, you’re the reason any and all of this exists. I owe you, so does the world. And even if that wasn’t the case I’d have the others on my ass if I didn’t give it to you, they all programmed their names in, I think if you don’t text them every so often you’ll have them on your ass instead.”
“Tony this is brand new.”
“I’m a billionaire, it would be very asshole-ish if I gave you a second hand one. And it’s technically a prototype, I figure that someone who needs a more reinforced phone on account of them throwing their backpacks against buildings should test one, think of it as official Stark internship work.”
“That’s… that’s not even… that’s fake, it’s a cover for-“
“Well, after Christmas we’re gonna talk about that…” Peter was looking at him all wide eyes, opened mouthed, adorable even Tony had to admit it. “You have to keep up your grades and your social life though, or you’re done. C’mon kid, you’re the smartest person I know, counting myself, so long as you never tell anyone I said that.” He took Peter’s spare hand and squeezed it. “Any time you wanna stay other, wanna talk, anything, I’m a phone call away.”
“No one calls people anymore-“
“Or you can text me” Tony said with a playful roll of his eyes. “You get anymore of those nightmares and you call me though, no matter the time. I mean it, don’t make me sic a new and improved Baby Monitor two point oh on you.”
Peter opened his mouth to thank him, or to say he didn’t need to worry, or to give him things, or many of the other things he wanted to say, but none of it seemed enough, he leant down and hugged Tony as tight as he could, still afraid of hurting him. He felt Tony’s hand go to his head and pull him closer so Peter’s head was resting against his shoulder.
Tony didn’t move his hand from his head, he was about to tell Peter that in another ten minutes he may as well just spend the night, or two, more even… hell they could take him to school the next week and then Happy could take him home aft-
“She’s coming down to the car park now, honey.”
Tony felt Peter pull away and stand up, he waited for Pepper to wrap him in a hug for Tony to subtly let out his disappointed sigh, he had wished May had turned up even eleven minutes later.
“You’ve got everything right? And you’re coming on Friday, and you’re going to let Bruce check on you without complaining, or demanding to see his credentials, or claiming he’s breaking the law treating you,” Pepper’s hands were cupping Peter’s cheeks looking him in the eye, giving him the look she had perfected since Morgan had been able to get into trouble, “I’m sure your- Tony taught you to do both those things, by the way.”
Tony smirked, he actually hadn’t, he wished he had seen that though.
“Hey,” Pepper’s voice hushed into a soothing one when she saw the way he was biting his lip, “c’mon, it’s going to be okay, hey, you’re going to be back here soon, and aren’t you and May going to grab ice cream.”
Peter sniffled inelegantly and nodding, not pulling away from Pepper wiping the tears from his cheek. “Me ’n’ her, Queenie’s. Her and Ben took me when my parents… ’n’ then when we were having a bad day… after Ben died… it’s our place.”
Pepper pulled him in for another hug, kissing the side of his head. “It’s going to be like you’ve never even been gone before you know it.”
It was not like he had never been gone before he knew it, May had turned up, she had pulled him into a hug and both of them had cried, he wanted her to hold him for hours as she had when he was five, how she had when he was fourteen and Ben had died, but she pulled away too soon, in response to a deep voice.
“Well, aren’t you going to introduce us, Maggie May?”
Peter’s eyes shot towards May, an eyebrow raised, waiting for her to chew him out as she did whenever heard anyone calling her that, or even if she thought they had called her that. But May wrapped her arm around the man’s waist.
“Peter, this is Charles Fisher, my husband.”
The man held out his hand, Peter looked at it then up at the man, his hair was greying at the sides, he was wearing a sharp suit which Peter would say was super expensive, but he had spent the last month and a half in the presence of two billionaires, so it was less impressive, his skin was tanned… actually it was too tanned, that explained the strong smell of self-tan, he not that there was anything wrong of that, but his spidey-sense was going off, he ignored the outstretched hand instead he used Tony’s stolen MIT hoodie to quickly dry his tears.
“Charlie, Charlie, Chaz.”
Tony’s hand slapped Charles’ into his own hard enough that Peter jumped, he knew that it must have hurt both men, and that Tony would have claimed it was worth it. He wondered
“How ya doin’? Wow man, you’re looking very tanned, been on vacation?”
“It’s Charles, Mr Stark, sir, just Charles.”
“Mmhm.” His tone showed how little he cared. “Hey May.”
“Tony.” Peter watched his aunt lean down and kiss Tony’s cheek. “You look good.”
“New diet, I lost like 12 and a half pounds.”
Peter let out loud groan. He felt everyones’ eyes on him. “It’s the average weight of a human male’s arm.” Tony looked proud and Peter rolled his eyes, of course he would be, though he’d be lying if he said that look didn’t make him feel better. “Bruce mentioned it to distract me from the needles when we were… abroad.”
“I could have told you that.”
There was Charles again, making Peter’s skin crawl, there was something off about him, about
“Charles is a doctor, Peter, and he’s in the army, he’s a Captain.”
“Like Sparrow?”
The question came out quickly, he was used to being around people like Tony and Pepper, people who were quick witted and both of whom laughed at his comment, a laugh escaped May’s lips, and Peter would have laughed had it not be the growl coming from the back of Charles’ throat, too low for anyone else to hear but him. Peter was being too paranoid, he was being overprotective of Aunt May, he was jealous of not being centre of her world anymore, he was just out of it after five years gone, not used to the overprotective feeling he got when it came to May.
“Oh Peter, it’s good to have you back.”
May’s smile was wide and soothed his senses completely, it would be okay, it would all be okay, because May was there, she’d never let any harm come to him,
“Well, Mrs Fisher, we should head on home, the two princesses will be missing us.”
“You’re not staying for a little while? You only just got here.” Pepper’s voice this time.
May hesitated, she looked to her husband, who gave her a tight but sad smile. “Sorry, we had been planning on coming earlier, but I had car struggle and Charles had some errands and… well, you have kid, you know how time gets away from you… I’m sorry.”
Pepper opened her mouth but closed it, her lips tight, she nodded. She turned instead to Peter. “You’re welcome to stay over any time you want, we’re really going to miss you around here.” She wrapped him in a tight hug and kissed the side of his head. “We’ll see you on Friday though, Happy’ll pick you up in the morning…” She let him out of the hug. “As long as that’s alright with you, May?” It wasn’t really a question despite her pleasant tone.
Peter let out a breath when May agreed easily. Peter bent down to hug Tony again.
“You sure you don’t wanna stay overnight, bambino?”
Peter nearly agreed purely on the basis of Tony using the nickname he had taken to using on both him and Morgan, but he heard Tony’s heart quicken the exact amount it did when Tony was in pain, he had just been sitting out in an uncomfortable wheelchair for over an hour longer than he had been planning on for Peter, he wouldn’t have been in pain if it weren’t for Peter. Peter shook his head, he went to move away completely but Tony only let him get far enough to be able to look into his eyes.
“Call me if you have any nightmares, I’ll fly straight out.” He heard Pepper clear her throat. “Sargent Buzzkill or Platypus will fly straight out.”
Peter had stared out of the window of the car the whole way home, and by home he meant the new apartment in a different part of Queens, May happily told him that it was closer to the hospital where May worked, it was closer to the subway so he would get to school marginally faster, and was marginally closer to Tony’s tower, but it wasn’t Peter’s home. He couldn’t stand the car, May had tried originally, but Charles had hooked her into a conversation about some acquaintance Peter had never even heard of, May was wearing a new perfume which made his head pulse, and Charles’ cologne made him take slow and steady breaths so he didn’t have to ask them to stop driving so he could vomit.
His phone buzzed, he pulled it out of his hoodie pocket, the phone unlocked and he managed to find his texts.
Uncle Rhodey : Dare you to tell Chucky that the airforce is better than the army :).
Peter managed to hide his snort of laughter, he quickly text him back, rolling his eyes at the name which appeared on his side of the phone, clearly an added extra name from Tony.
Spider-baby : Aren’t you meant to be the good influence?
They pulled up in front of an apartment block which looked a lot nicer than the one he had spent most of his life in, less graffiti, no weird smell when he got out of the car (well no weirder than any city), better security at the door, there were some food places around. He hated it. The food places weren’t the ice cream place May promised, there were the people hanging outside he was used to, the smell wasn’t his Queens.
Inside they climbed into the elevator, and he found himself missing having to drag himself up the five floors in the old building where everything was constantly broke, Aunt May spent the whole ride trying to get him to agree how amazing this place was, he gave her an unconvincing smile and nodded, but he didn’t think she even realised.
The apartment was half of the entire floor, a lot larger than his own, no, his old apartment, but it was just… wrong…
Everything was super modern, like a show room, everything had its place, there were some toys around but they were all put in their own places, everything in Peter’s old apartment had been found through the years, nothing really matched, it fit in its own special way, there had been framed photo graphs in that apartment, but their frames had been mismatched, numerous, all the frames chipped, dusty on account of them both forgetting that dusting was a thing. There were photographs in this apartment too, but they were in shiny silver frames, or shiny black frames, or canvas prints hung on the walls, and only a carefully curated selection, all of the people, besides May, Peter didn’t know.
A chorus of ‘Mom!’s and ‘Dad!’s filled his ears, too loud, he slunk backwards ever so slightly, something bad, his spidey senses like alarm bells, things ever so slightly too loud, he tried to centre himself but May’s hand went to his back pushing him forward.
“This is Peter, Peter this is Chloe, and Sophia.”
In front of him was a blonde girl, Chloe, twelve years old and looking at him like she hated him, like he didn’t fit in there, like the type of girl who had been mean to him when he was twelve… at least they could agree on that.
Four year old Sophie had darker hair than her sister, a mousey brown a shade or two lighter than his own, she didn’t look happy to see him either, and he didn’t blame her, she was looking at him like he was a stranger, she moved past him to cling to May, her mom.
Peter raised his hand in a half hearted wave, too awkward and overwhelmed to know what was going on.
“Was he your sisters’ kid?” Chloe asked May, completely ignoring her.
“No,” May told her either not seeing or ignoring her rudeness, “I was married to his uncle, a long time ago, but I’ve known him since he was little.”
Chloe made an unimpressed humming noise in the back of her throat but she smiled at May and Charles. “Can we order pizza for dinner?”
It was the first time Peter had seen Charles smile.
“Sure, Princess, let’s just pay the sitter and send her home.”
Peter watched them move and found himself missing the Starks, missing Pepper knowing how he was feeling all of the time, Tony making sure he was never being left out, Rhodey giving him normalcy, Morgan just loving him. Maybe he should have stayed, he could have moved in another time, when it was just him and May, when he had slept more, had been more prepared.
“Honey, let me show Peter his room, you go and see your daddy.” The toddler gave a noise of protest but scurried off to find her father and sister.
May immediately wrapped Peter in a hug and the boy felt better, he had been over reacting, he was tired, overly emotional, not used to this new world. “I’m sorry honey, I had meant to… I had wanted to do this just the two of us.”
She let go of him too soon but Peter put on a brave face. “No, what? No May this is fine, this is great, I mean this is, this is an awesome apartment!” There was too much enthusiasm in his tone but May gave him a warm smile as though she didn’t notice.
“I know, I can’t believe how we coped with that tiny apartment, it was always too hot, and one you had gone…” She trailed off looking sad but she perked up again, a smile on her face she placed her hand on his back and led him down a hallway. “It doesn’t matter now, now you’re here, you’re home!”
Peter’s bedroom had been May’s office, which apparently she used rarely enough that she could share with Charles, there was a large bookcase and a desk, some biology textbooks were in the bookcase but Peter insisted that she could leave them when she went to move them. The bedroom/ office, was small and bare.
“I know it’s not much but we’ll get you some more stuff, we were trying to figure out where you could go quickly…” Her eyes fell on the spare camp bed, covered with a Disney princess duvet. “We can-“
“May, it’s fine, seriously, it’s… I get it, I… I’m grateful… I know that- that before we went, before I went to, I know it was…”
“Peter, it’s okay.” She wrapped him in another hug. “I talked to Tony, while you were gone.”
“You did?”
“He came to my wedding, we spoke a little while, it was hard for us both but… he explained, he explained you look out for the little guy, that you rescue cats from trees, and take home lost kids, that you would do anything to protect people, the neighbourhood. Peter, you’re a hero.”
Peter buried his face against her shoulder, she didn’t smell like her anymore but he could get used to it, he would get used to it, like she got used to him as Spiderman.
“Peter I need to tell you, I told Charles, about you, about Spiderman, he knows.”
“What-!” Peter pulled back, betrayal on his face.
“You died, you left me to go to space and you died, I didn’t think that…” She shook her head. “Look, he’s a hero too, he probably gets it. I needed to talk to someone, and Stark reminded me too much of you. It was too… Look we’re okay with you still being Spiderman.”
Peter calmed a little but there was still a stab of betrayal in his heart.
“But there are going to be some restrictions.” She held her hand up to quiet him when he went to protest. “You’re in bed by midnight, every week night, two am on Fridays and Saturdays, none of your grades drop below a B+ or you’re grounded, if you get hurt you tell me, or Tony, or Charles, and you take time to recover.”
Peter nodded his head, he knew he could heal his injuries by himself, they’d be healed overnight anyway.
“And no one knew where you were, Spiderman, they thought you had died, I mean you did…. Give it a week to come back, we don’t want people to figure out who you are, where you live, who…”
“May, I wouldn’t put any of you in danger.” He swore, it was true, he may not particularly care for Charles or the girls, but they had just met, he wouldn’t endanger them.”
“Good.” She smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I er, I got rid of most of your things, it was too hard… I kept some stuff, sentimental things, but we can get you some more clothes tomorrow, I’m off work, just the three of us.”
“Three?”
“Charles will want to come too. He’s a little strict, but he’s an army man, you’ll get used to it. He’s been so kind to me, he’s such a good father to the girls, he will be to you too-“
“-He’s not my dad.” Peter’s voice was firm for the first time. Even Ben hadn’t been his dad, Peter might have thought of him like that a few times, but Ben had been intent on not stepping into Richard’s place, like May had never become his mom.
“I… I know, I just… look just clean up after yourself, do your chores, follow the rules, and you and him will get along fine.”
Peter wanted to point out that the two of them had never needed a formal chore chart, they tackled them between the two of them, hell he wanted to point out that Rhodey was higher in the armed forces than Charles was, but this new May seemed like she might not take his side.
He nodded his head, swallowing his emotions down.
May nodded back, she moved towards the door. “Peter, I, I’m glad you’re back, really. You have no idea how much I missed you… Just… I know you get over protective of me, but Charles is a good man, give him a chance, for me. I let you settle in.”
She was gone before Peter could say anything else.
Peter’s phone buzzed, he opened it to see another text from Rhodey, it felt like a lifeline.
Uncle Rhodey
: Nah, that’s Pepper’s job. ;) Just don’t do any of the shit Tony did and you’ll be fine :). How’s it going?
Peter smiled at it but didn’t respond, he didn’t know how it was going, not good was an answer but would also lead to at the very least a phone call but also probably a in person visit from War Machine.
He stood up, walking slowly around the slow room, there was a dresser, a cheap one, overly modern, the sticker with a for sale price still on the side, the books May had left looked interesting at least, maybe he could impress Bruce next time he saw him.
There was a photograph on the desk, a group one, outside of a church or something, he assumed based on the fact May was centre, a sleek white wedding dress, but not the wedding photograph to Ben he was used to seeing; May’s wedding Charles then. Peter was about to put it down when he saw Pepper and Tony to the right side. They both looked dreadful, like they had died, both pale and holding onto each other for dear life, Tony was skinny, too skinny, his muscles not there, and Pepper was pregnant, her eyes looking at May, a smile on her face but she looked sad, May looked ecstatic… Peter wondered if any of them were missing him.
When Peter’s door opened without a knock Peter assumed it must have been May, instead a frowning Charles was there, a slow fake smile spread on the man’s face, Peter placed his back against the wall, adrenaline flooding his veins. He wasn’t in danger, he wasn’t in danger, he needed to remember he wasn’t in danger, he was fine, Charles was a good man, Charles was in love with May, Charles was safe.
“Hey there, Champ. I thought we should have a little talk, man to man.”
“Er, sure,” He hated that new nickname which was weird because he was fine at the very many nicknames Tony gave him. “May already gave me the like, the outline of the rules, and stuff.”
“Good.” Charles closed the door shutting them both in. “Look before we start I think you should know how hard this has been for May. You lied to her for a year, made her worry about you all the time instead of telling her the truth-“ Peter went to protest but Charles held up a hand stopping him, “I am talking.”
In Peter’s head he heard Tony after the Ferry telling him that the adult was talking. “Sorry.” He murmured.
“May was… She was terrified about losing you, then you went awol, she thought you had been killed, only to be told months later by Tony freaking Stark that you had in fact hopped a ride to space, without a second thought for her.”
Peter bit his lip and looked down, he had thought about her, of course he had, but too late, when they were in space with no way back… he had been overwhelmed with the cool space shit, and the superheroes.
“It was a big decision for her to decide to take you in. It was so painful for her, if you weren’t Benjamin Parker’s son…” Peter had never heard Ben called Benjamin, “she’s already under a lot of stress, she’s moved on, it’s been a long time you’ve been gone. I was the one who said that she should take you in, I vouched for you, you do anything wrong and it’s on me. I won’t give you many chances to prove yourself to me. You’ve got to be a man and step up.”
The or else was unspoken but rang through the room.
“I really am sorry, Charles, I’m not gonna do anything wrong, I swear I-“
“Sir.”
“I… what?”
“It is sir or Mr Fisher. You are not my son, not my nephew, hell you’re not even May’s nephew, not by blood, you will show me respect or I will teach you it.”
Under his gaze Peter couldn’t help but fell powerless, like he had never been Spiderman, like he was just a small little kid, he wanted May there, he wanted Pepper, wanted Tony, wanted all of the Avengers who had adopted him as a mascot or a lost puppy. “I’m sorry, sir.” He squeaked out.
“Good. If you’re a second late for your curfew I’m locking your window.” His eyes were still narrowed for but a moment before that smile reappeared. “You should get some sleep, I’ll tell May that you’re tired, have breakfast by eight tomorrow morning or not at all. Oh, you should get a job too, I’m not paying for you.”
He left without another word, Peter could hear him a few rooms away, telling May that Peter was asleep, his voice all soft and sweet. Peter hated him, he hated him, he hated him, he wanted to go out and tell May what happened, but it struck him that May might not believe him… and maybe he was overreacting.
His stomach rumbled but he didn’t dare leave his room.
He changed into the pyjamas from his bag, a Stark Industries sweatshirt and those god awful but extremely comfortable pink Hello Kitty pyjama pants, the ones which had been a weird sort of punishment from Tony. He led on the bed and pulled out his phone.
Punkass Bitch <3: Hope it’s going well, bud. Any problems let me know (Text HoneyBear, he’s the only one who won’t rat on me to Pep)
Punkass Bitch <3: I’m not the one who set Steve’s name as this FYI. I think it might have been Combat Elsa… I think I might have respect for him… Don’t tell anyone.
Peter smirked, forgetting the conversations with May and Charles, pushing aside the weird smell of the apartment, all bleach and cleaners and sweat, and spicey aftershave and dusky perfumes.
Spider-baby: Wow… he keeps this up and you might even start to t r u s t him, huh…
Punkass Bitch <3: I already do, I wouldn’t have trusted him to go out anywhere with you if I didn’t.
Peter frowned at the text, uncertain what to say, he wanted to understand why, to pick apart the components of the words, to decipher its meaning, but before he could type anything Tony’s next text came through.
Punkass Bitch <3: Get some sleep, Underoos. Love ya.
Punkass Bitch <3: P.S Do not text back, Warden is on her way, send help.
Punkass Bitch <3: P.P.S Did you get your ice cream?
Punkass Bitch <3:
P.P.P.S Shit don’t answer Pep is herrgrehbk
Peter snorted. “Got him before he could finish.” He mumbled to himself a smile still on his lips.
He shivered in his bed, it was colder here than the tower where Tony had set up Peter’s room perfectly for his body temperature, in the old apartment he know where all the blankets were kept.
He got up from his bed, rooted through his backpack before he found another MIT sweatshirt, this one was for the MIT Crew, with ‘Rhodes’ engraved on the left chest above the heart, but it smelt mostly of Tony, a little Pepper too, Peter smirked, clearly Tony had stolen it from Rhodey, and Pepper had stolen it from Tony, now it was Peter’s turn.
Peter had just led back down when his phone rang, he answered it with a frown, not looking at the caller I.D.
“H-Hello?”
“Hello Peter.”
“Karen?” Peter sat straight up the excitement clear in his voice.
“Yes Peter. It is good to hear you again. Mr Stark programmed me into this phone as an easy way to stay in contact, I can send you a text or I can phone you like I am now. I have a message from Mrs Stark.”
Peter was smiling from ear to ear but it dropped. “What’s wrong? Is it Mr Stark? Tony? Is he okay? Should I-?” He scrambled towards his backpack ready to swing over.
“Mr Stark is in good health, Peter. Mrs Stark would like to know if you would like some ice cream delivered to your bedroom window via drone.”
“Sh- She does?”
“Yes Peter. Shall I accept?”
Peter debated denying it but he felt his stomach rumble. “Please.”
“Mr Stark suggests Stark Raving Mad flavour.”
Peter smirked. “Sure, that sounds good. Can you, can you tell them I said thank you?”
“Of course Peter.” There was a pause as Karen communicated via Friday. “They insist there is nothing you need to thank them for.”
Peter could tell Karen was done and would hang up soon, but Peter couldn’t stand this unfamiliar silence. “K-Karen, can you keep talking to me?”
“Of course, Peter. Would you like me to tell Mr Stark that you would like some company-?“
“No! No, I mean… do you know any facts about stars?”
“I can tell you facts about the Cosmos, Peter. Would you like me to project the constellations as I talk about them?”
“You can do that?”
“Yes Peter.”
Peter settled back on the thin mattress as he listened to Karen’s soothing voice, waiting for his ice cream dinner. He could do this, it was just a rough day, he’d be okay, he was Spiderman, he could get over these stupid feelings, he could make May proud of him, make the girls like him, hell he could even get along with Charles; he had made The Winter Soldier like him, what was a Captain who had already vouched for him after that?