Tick Tock Goes the Clock

Chapter 5

Peter stretched, arms bumping into the headboard and leg extending over the side of the bed. He blinked the sleep from his eyes. Since when was he in his bedroom? Tossing the covers off of himself, he stood, almost tipping over back onto the bed. Peter massaged his temples, which suddenly ached as his blood struggled to get to his brain. He shouldn't've stood up so quickly. Instead of giving himself time to recover like a normal person, Peter staggered to the door and down the hall. Blood pressure finally recovering and letting him see and hear properly, something pricked his ears. Slowing his walk, he crept closer to the end of the hall, straining to make out the hushed voices.

"-usually takes over a year. How am I supposed to do this in less than a month?"

"Tony, you're the smartest man I think to ever exist. If anyone can do it, it's you."

There was a long drawn-out sigh. "It's not going fast enough."

"Look, obviously, I don't understand any of this science stuff, but I know you. I know you care about him, so I know you'll find that cure."

"He's so young. He's got his whole life ahead of him and- I can't fail."

"Maybe you should take the day and spend some time with him."

"No. No, I can't afford to lose any time, much less a whole day. I shouldn't even be up here right now. The best thing I can do for him is spend every second in the lab."

"You're gonna kill yourself if you don't let yourself re-"

"I don't care!" Tony bit. He sighed. "I can't lose him again."

A heartbeat. "I know."

"No, no you don't. You have no idea how much I lov-" Tony's voice cracked. He cleared his throat. "I didn't invent a goddamn time machine only to sit by and let him die from some stupid fucking disease."

"So you did build it because of him..."

"Yeah. So what? You said it yourself: the only person I look out for is myself. I built it to bring him back. Everyone else was just a tag-along, ok? Sorry if that hurts your stupid moral compass."

The other man's voice was soft when he spoke again. "I was wrong, Tony, when I said that. I don't think a single person has sacrificed more to protect this world." Tony grumbled something incoherent. "I mean it."

"Whatever, it doesn't matter. What matters is the kid and he's... he's not doing so well. You should see him; he looks like he's a step away from death."

Welp. Peter didn't think he looked that bad, but whatever.

Seeing this conversation going in the direction of pity on his part, Peter thought it wise to interrupt and put an end to it. Creeping back down the hall, he made a show of opening his door and closing it loud enough to be heard from down the hall. Just in case, he also audibly yawned as he approached the end of the hall.

Stepping into the central part of the penthouse, he feigned surprise at Steve's presence.

The man's eyes did a once over of him, he tried to hide the tense look behind a warm smile. "Hi Peter."

"Hey kid."

"Hi Mr. Stark. Mr. Rogers."

"It's Steve," the buff man said kindly.

"Oh sorry: Mr. Steve."

The man's smile twitched and his eyes squinted. "N-no- that's not what I..."

Peter tilted his head. "Mr. Steve Rogers?"

The man opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Mr. Stark snorted and ruffled Peter's hair. Peter blinked; that was a new one.

"Is there another meeting or...?"