stark, peter parker

iv. just don't die

dakota crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the large window of the ship. she'd never been in space before, and was in awe of how beautiful everything was. if she wasn't on her way to save the world for the umpteenth time, it could've been admirable.

"hey, kid." she heard her father say. instinctively, she turned to look over her shoulder. kodie was surprised to see tony approach peter instead of her. intrigued, she pretended to look back out at the window, instead listening in on their conversation.

"hey, mr. stark." peter replied, looking over at him.

tony cleared his throat, always finding serious conversations difficult. "peter, i've grown quite fond of you over the past year or however long it's been."

peter furrowed a brow, not knowing if this was a compliment or not. "thank you?"

"don't interrupt me while i'm talking." tony replied, trying to avoid letting his emotions out. "what i'm trying to say here is, you truly are amazing for kodes. and.. the future is extremely.. uncertain. we're in this space donut, and we don't know if we're going to survive what's out there."

"mr. stark-"

"my point is, i don't care if i don't make it back. i will do anything to make sure that it's me who's gone instead of her. no matter what it takes. and, as much as it.. pains me to say it, the same goes for you, parker." tony cleared his throat. "what i'm trying to say is.." he rarely stumbled over his words like this, dakota noted as she listened in. "if i don't make it back, you have to promise me you'll be there for her."

peter was shocked. he wasn't sure what he'd been expecting from this conversation, but it wasn't this. "i.. mr. stark-"

"i'm trying to have a serious conversation with you here, kid." he continued.

"and i'm subtly trying to avoid it."

"if anything happens to me, parker," tony put a hand on peter's chest, "you have to promise me that you will take care of her. i guess.. i guess i'm giving you my blessing." he looked up. "i can't believe i'm doing this." he mumbled before looking back to the teen. "please promise me that you'll be there for her."

peter was shocked to the core now. "i.. of course, mr. stark." tony clapped the boys' shoulder, nodding.

"that's the most serious conversation i'm having for the rest of the day." the man said, turning and walking over to strange.

peter stood there for a second, attempting to process what had just happened. anthony stark had opened up to him, and had trusted him to take care of dakota, who everyone knew was tony's proudest accomplishment and only true care in the world other than pepper.

he blinked a couple times before looking up, seeing the very girl standing with her arms crossed over her front, looking out the window. the light of the stars made her face glow, and brought him back to outside of liz's party when he almost told her he loved her.

the boy had gotten so close to saying it so many times before. he wanted the moment to be right, though. the perfect girl deserved nothing less than the perfect "i love you", of course.

now, as he looked up at her, the only thing peter's brain could come up with was love. it was as if his brain was screaming "i love you! i love you! i love you i love you i love you!" and he could only smile with his lips pursed together, knowing that only she could make his brain turn to mush like that.

dakota then turned, feeling his gaze on her. "hey, what were you two lovebirds chatting about?" she asked in regards to his conversation with her father, even though she'd overheard the whole thing.

peter cleared his throat. "nothing, he was just giving me superhero advice." he lied, smiling at her.

"you wanna know the best advice?" kodie asked. "just don't die."

"very helpful."