reunited front

10

The time it takes to return to the compound feels like an eternity for everyone as they rush back against time to save the youngest member. Tony sits next to him, gripping the boy's hand into his as he stares at the boy. 

"I'm sorry, kiddo," Tony whispers brokenly. "I'm so sorry." 

Natasha sits down behind him and pats her friend's back. "It's going to be okay, Tony."

"I don't know what I'll do if we lose him, Nat."

"We won't."

Tony wipes his hand down his face. "I survived a ton of shit, but I won't survive losing this kid." 

"Don't say that...not to me." 

Tony feels her hand tighten on his shoulder as he glances towards her direction. "This kid saved my life." 

"Tell me more?" 

Tony opens his mouth to respond, but the jet lands at the compound. He doesn't waste time lifting the boy in his arms and rushing out to meet Dr. Helen Cho. 

"He's losing a lot of blood, Stark, I got him." Helen says and takes him from Tony's arms, placing the teen on the gurney.  She rushes inside to the med bay with hopes that she can save the boy who she grew to love. Like the Avengers, the kid webbed his way in her heart with his doe eyes and childlike innocence. 

The team follows her until they're stopped at the waiting area. Tony paces back and forth with blood staining his hands from holding onto the boy. 

It's Steve who taps the man by his arm. "Tony, come on and I'll help you wash that blood off." 

"It doesn't matter if it washes clean or not, Cap," Tony admits. "His blood will always be on my hands. I should've made sure he was here safe with his Legos." 

"He's a hero, Tony. All he wants to do is to help people. He got that from you." Steve means every word that comes out of his mouth. Since reuniting with the team, he had learned something no S.H.I.E.L.D file could ever tell him. 

Tony Stark is far from being a selfish man. Tony Stark is more than what meets the eye, and only few had unlocked that door. He only hopes he'll be one of those people again someday. 

Natasha stares at the two men with a glint of protectiveness. She knows when Tony is most vulnerable, and that time is now in the waiting area, waiting for the news regarding Peter. She can only hope no one abuses the rare occurrence of Tony being open like this.  

And God help whoever hurts him or Peter Parker again. 

                                                                                   ***

An hour comes and goes as Tony finds himself sitting next to Natasha. The rest of the team had gone to fill out paperwork.  He feels her eyes on him before facing her. 

"After everything went down, I was really low; I wasn't seeing myself having any future," Tony says. "Pete started visiting more and spending nights here. He gave me something to look forward to." 

Natasha rubs his hand with her thumb. "Он сильнее ветров от урагана." 

He nods in agreement. "Иногда слишком сильный." 

She rests her head against the side of Tony's head. "It's going to take a while, Tony. You should get some rest or freshen up. Pete likes it when you take care of yourself." 

"Okay, Nat." 

She presses a kiss to his forehead and leads him to his room. "I'll be waiting here when you're done."

"I know you will."