Whumptober 2023

Safety Net - Day 7

Peter Parker sat on the rooftop, his mind consumed by the weight of the world on his shoulders. The city below buzzed with life, unaware of the internal struggle he battled within. In a moment of heart-wrenching despair, he made a decision that he hoped would bring about change, but would ultimately end his own life.With trembling hands, Peter removed his webshooters and carefully peeled off his mask, revealing his vulnerable face. As he did so, his tears mixed with the gentle breeze that caressed his skin. Feeling a sense of finality, he reached for his phone, typing a heartbreaking message to the one person he trusted most - Tony Stark."The world will be better without me," Peter wrote, his finger hovering over the send button. With a heavy heart, he pressed the small icon, casting his message into the digital void. As he leaned forward, a mixture of fear and sadness engulfed him. In that moment, he no longer saw a future, only the cold and unforgiving embrace of the concrete below.Meanwhile, Tony Stark, engrossed in his work within the lab, felt his phone vibrate. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Peter's name on the screen. With a sense of trepidation, he opened the message, his eyes scanning the words that sent shockwaves through his very being. Tony's grip on his phone weakened, causing it to fall from his trembling hands. "F.R.I.D.A.Y., track the suit!" Tony's voice echoed through the lab as he hastily abandoned his work. Bursting out into the garage, determination fueled his every stride. He hastily climbed into the fastest car at his disposal, eager to race against time to reach Peter's location. His heart pounded in his chest, fueled by a mixture of fear, guilt, and a desperate need to save the young hero. He saw Peter lying on  the concrete in a mangled pile of limbs. He landed next to the bloody body and checked for a pulse. It was there, but very, very weak. Tony picked up the young boy and got back in the suit. "F.R.I.D.A.Y., call Bruce and tell him to get the med bay ready. When Tony landed outside the Compound, he ran in and met Bruce by the door. Bruce felt his pulse and sighed. "I'm so sorry, Tony. He's gone." Two weeks passed, marked by Tony's absence from the world beyond the confines of his penthouse. The grief that consumed him was palpable, suffocating him like a thick fog. In that time, he only ventured out to attend Peter's funeral, a private affair where he could mourn his protege without the prying eyes of the public. Shielding his vulnerability from the world, he shed tears in solitude, unwilling to entertain the thought of anyone exploiting his grief.For Tony Stark, the loss of Peter Parker left an indelible void in his heart. The weight of his absence pressed upon him in every moment, paralyzing him within the confines of his penthouse. The world continued to move forward, but for Tony, time stood still. He replayed their memories together, tormented by the haunting "what-ifs" that filled his mind.