Aftermath (Peter x Tony)

-4-

When Peter opened his eyes, he was met with a very unhappy Tony Stark. "Kid," Tony said when he saw Peter looking at him. His voice sounded raw and strange.

Peter groaned, rubbing his head and sitting up. Tony stared at him, arms folded and eyebrows raised. "You want to tell me what happened back there?"

Sitting up, Peter looked all around him to see he was in someone's bedroom, in the largest bed Peter had ever seen. He rubbed his aching head, looking at Tony sheepishly.

Tony didn't look very happy. "Tell me what happened. I can't have you keeling over on missions, Peter. Are you just gonna pass out if a bad guy breathes on you too hard? Was it the legos?" He did a fake pout, "did you step on one of Ned's legos?"

"No," Peter grumbled.

"Then what?" Tony snapped.

"I was on my own for five years. I didn't have anyone, and May, she's not coming back," Peter stared down at his hands, lip quivering as he tried to speak, "the Avengers were gone but not the villains, they kept coming. Beck, Doc Ock, others... and once the ant dude finally got back and we stopped Thanos, it didn't change the last five years. I watched May die, Tony, I had to watch her die and run the other direction or they would've blamed me," Peter didn't want to cry in front of Tony, anyone but Tony but he couldn't help it. Tears ran down his cheeks, a waterfall that only served to remind him more of all he lost. "I get these... attacks sometimes, I've never seen anyone about them because what am I supposed to say? 'Hey I'm Spider-Man and I need help' like who the hell would believe that? Or ever take me seriously again? But sometimes I'll just be doing my business and then it'll just happen, I can't help it..."

Peter wanted to say more, but his mouth was too dry. He sniffed, looking at the ceiling. He felt someone wipe his tear away and saw Tony dabbing at his cheek with a silk handkerchief. He saw Peter's astonished expression and winked at him, "Don't tell anyone I've gone soft, underoos, or I will sign you up to do three year old birthday parties in that Spider-Man onsie you called a suit."

"I used what I had okay!"

"And it was absolutely adorable," Tony patted his knee and stood up, tucking the handkerchief inside his suit jacket. "Now let's go, pity party ended an hour ago and I have important business to attend to."

"Like what? A glass of vodka?" Peter had pretended he didn't notice how much Tony had been drinking but couldn't help his comment.

"No, like important business for my company, which is in such a shambles since I've been gone, stock prices have been horrendous. Probably because there isn't a collective brain cell among those 'scientists.' They need Daddy back, and who am I to disappoint?" He spread his hands and flashed a snarky grin before walking out the door.

Peter rolled his eyes, glancing around. Was he in Tony's room? He pulled off the grey covers and stepped onto the floor. There wasn't anything that interesting, any nicknacks or photos that would show the room actually belonged to Tony. Maybe it didn't. Or maybe Tony wasn't much for personal memorabilia besides all the stuff in his garage. Come to think of it, Tony spent more time down there then he did anywhere else. And he'd let Peter clear out a workbench for himself.

Peter smiled, knowing that even though Tony might be...Tony, he still looked out for Peter. A little too much. Tony hadn't been there for five years, Peter had to grow up and now he thought he could walk all over him again just because why? Because he's Iron Man?

Exactly because of that, probably.

Peter sighed and walked into the living area of Tony's penthouse, pulling out EDITH and putting them on. He quickly searched for the blip, seeing it even closer than it was when he was with Ned.