Irondad and Spideyson One-shots

Just Peter Parker (Part Six)

Everything hurts. 

As Peter wakes the first time, there’s chaos around him. His eyes won’t open, and all he can make out is a loud (and quite annoying) beeping noise, along with the sound of overlapping voices. Every part of him is in pain, and he wishes more than anything that he could scream. The second time, it’s more quiet. His eyes still feel heavy, and everything is muffled. 

“Tony you need to sleep. I’ll watch him for a while.” 

“I’m not leaving this room, Romanoff.”

“You’re no good to Peter if you’re exhausted. Besides, Harley needs you. He’s freaking out.” 

“Alright. Come get me if anything changes.” 

And then Peter drifts off again, 

The third time, his mind is clouded but he’s more aware than before. The pain is still there, but it’s bearable. He feels a slight weight on his shoulder. His eyes flutter open, and he takes in his surroundings. MJ is on the bed next to him, sound asleep with her head resting on his arm. That explains the weight. 

He slowly turns his head- a movement that was enough to make him feel sick. He looks to the chair next to the bed, where Tony sits asleep as well. He’s snoring and rather loudly at that. A few feet away, Harley and Ned sit on the couch, seemingly just as exhausted as the others. The only one awake is Natasha, who sits in the farthest corner of the room, near the door. She’s flipping through a magazine, something with knives on the cover. 

“Aunt Nat?” He says quietly. His voice is so hoarse the words almost don’t come out. “мама паук?” He tries again, slightly louder this time. This gets her attention. 

“Hey, маленький паук .” She answers gently, placing her magazine on the table as she walks over. She perches carefully on the otherside of his bed, where Tony sits, still asleep. “You were out for quite a while.”

“How long?”

“A good three or four days. May went for coffee but she should be back soon.” She sighs. “You scared us.”

“I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t worry about it.” She nods in MJ’s direction. “When did this happen?” 

“What?”

“You two.” 

“I’m not really sure.” Peter looks to Tony. “Should we wake him up?” Instead of answering him, Natasha gives a hard kick to the chair, jolting Tony awake. Startled, he nearly falls from his seat. 

“Romanoff!” Tony says harshly, glaring at her. “You told me to sleep and now you won’t let me. You make no sense.” 

“Oh I’m sorry. I just thought you’d like to know your son is awake.” Tony immediately looks to Peter, who gives him an attempt at a smile. It’s as if Natasha sees it coming, as she hops off the bed just as Tony crushes Peter in a hug. Or as best as he can anyway given Peter’s current condition. 

“Ow…” Peter mumbles. 

“Shoot I’m sorry.” Tony answers, letting him go. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt? I feel like we should get Bruce-” 

“I’m okay.” He lies. Everything still hurts, but he isn’t going to let his dad know that. “So what’s the damage?” 

“Four broken ribs, fractured ankle, gunshot wound to the chest, and a concussion.” Natasha answers, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. “Not to mention the bruises and small cuts and wounds from the beatings you took.” 

“How am I not dead?” The teen asks, astonished. Tony says nothing, but knows exactly how. His prayer was answered, and a faith he’d lost after the loss of his parents seems to somewhat return after having his son back. 

“Someone, somewhere, was looking out for you.” Natasha answers instead. She hesitates, then continues. “Osborn was arrested, and Oscorp is being investigated. And we’ve seen the security footage. What you did was incredible to say the least.”

“Wait, so you’re not disappointed?” 

Tony looks confused. 

“Underoos, why would we be disappointed?”

“Because, I’m not Spider-Man anymore. I’m just Peter Parker. Every day, ordinary, Peter Parker.” He says with a shrug, which he regrets. The movement hurt, but he tries to ignore it. “What happened at Oscorp with the escape was pure adrenaline. I couldn’t do anything like that again no matter how badly I wanted to.” 

“Harley doesn’t have any powers, and I love him don’t I?” Tony asks. 

“Well yeah, but-”

“You’re no different. I don’t care about you because of some radioactive Spider bite. I care about you because you’re my kid. You and Harley both are the greatest thing to ever happen to me.”

“What do I do now? I can’t help people anymore.”

“That’s not true either. You helped people before you were Spider-Man and you’ll help people now. As Peter Parker. Besides, maybe one day you’ll get your abilities back. But it won’t be the end of the world if you don’t.” 

Peter just nods. He doesn’t really want to think about it if he can help it. He’s lost Spider-Man, and in that he feels like he’s lost a part of himself. And it hurt almost as bad as any of the other wounds he recieved at the hands of Harry Osborn. 

“We should probably wake the others. And tell the team. They told us to keep them updated. I think Clint even made you a get well card.” Natasha says. She leaves to tell them, and Peter carefully reaches over and lightly shakes MJ. She mumbles something in her sleep, but doesn’t wake. 

“MJ.” Nothing. “MJ wake up I have to tell you something.” 

“Five more minutes.” 

” He shakes her again. She finally wakes, looking up at him, groggy from sleep. She blinks a few times, as if she’s not quite sure she believes what she’s seeing. 

“You’re okay?” She asks hesitantly. He nods. 

“I’m okay.” 

Instead of answering with words, she leans in and kisses him. Something he never in a million years thought she’d do, but he’s incredibly happy she did. He returns the kiss, and for a second they’re lost in the moment. Until Tony reminds them of his presence. 

“You know I’m still here.” 

The two pull apart, Peter redfaced and feeling embarrassed. Shortly after, Ned and Peter wake and the team floods in.

As Natasha predicted, Clint handed Peter a handmade card and the others greeted him with tired yet relieved reactions. It was a great reunion, and while Peter was bummed about the loss of Spider-Man he was happy to be back home. With People who loved Peter Parker just the way he was.

*bows*  That's all for today, I'll see you all again soon!! I love you all my amazing arachnids.

~Nat