His Protective Dad (Starker FF)

Rescue in the Quiet

The gym was silent. After what felt like an eternity of taunting, shoving, and insults, Flash and his gang finally left, leaving Peter bruised and exhausted on the cold floor. His heart was still racing, his senses overwhelmed from the tension of holding back his powers. He lay there for a moment, trying to gather himself, wincing at the sharp pain in his ribs where Flash’s punches had landed.

Peter could still hear the faint echoes of their mocking laughter fading as they disappeared down the hallway, but the ringing in his ears remained, louder than anything else. His body ached, but the pain was nothing compared to the frustration boiling inside him. He had the power to stop them—to protect himself—but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t risk revealing who he really was.

As he struggled to sit up, the overwhelming rush of adrenaline and fear caused his heart to race even more. His head spun, the sensory overload threatening to take him under again.

“Karen,” Peter rasped, his voice barely audible.

“Yes, Peter?” Karen’s soft voice responded in his ear.

“I… I think something’s wrong. My heart rate is going crazy.”

“I’m detecting an elevated heart rate and signs of sensory overload,” Karen replied, her tone steady but laced with concern. “I’m alerting Tony immediately.”

“No, wait—" Peter started, but it was too late. He could already feel the familiar twinge of anxiety rising at the thought of his dad knowing what had just happened. He didn’t want to worry Tony, didn’t want him to think he couldn’t handle himself. But right now, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could stay upright.

Minutes passed, though it felt like hours. Peter sat on the gym floor, leaning back against the bleachers, trying to focus on his breathing, but every breath sent a wave of pain through his chest. His head throbbed from the tension of keeping everything in check.

Then, the gym doors burst open with a loud clang, and there stood Tony Stark, worry etched across his face. He rushed in, eyes scanning the room, and when he saw Peter sitting on the floor, his expression softened into relief.

“Peter!” Tony called, his voice urgent but gentle as he hurried over.

Peter looked up, forcing a weak smile, but the pain was still too fresh. “Hey, Dad,” he said, his voice strained as he tried to push himself up.

Tony was beside him in an instant, kneeling down, one hand steadying Peter’s shoulder. “Easy, kid. You don’t need to move yet.” His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of anxiety. He gently lifted Peter’s chin, examining the bruises forming on his face and the way Peter winced when he touched his ribs.

“What happened?” Tony asked, though he already had a good idea. “Karen didn’t say much, just that your heart rate spiked. You should’ve called me sooner.”

Peter let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes for a moment. “It was Flash. Him and his friends. They… It’s not the first time, but this time…” He trailed off, not wanting to admit how badly he’d been hurt, physically and mentally.

Tony’s face darkened, a flash of anger crossing his features. He stood up briefly, glancing around the gym, but the place was empty—Flash and his goons had already vanished, leaving only silence in their wake.

“Did he hurt you?” Tony asked, concern etched across his face.

“I’m fine,” Peter lied, though his heart betrayed him, pounding like a drum in his chest. He could feel the heat rising in his face, and he hated that he couldn’t hide it from his dad.

Tony studied him for a moment, and Peter could see the worry in his eyes. “You don’t look fine. You need to tell me what happened, Pete. I can’t help if you don’t tell me.”

Peter shook his head, not wanting to add to Tony’s stress. “It’s okay, really. It’s just… I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. I can handle it.”

But Tony’s expression was firm. “It is a big deal. No one should have to deal with bullying, especially not my son. If you’re in trouble, I want to know about it.”

Peter felt a rush of gratitude wash over him. He knew his dad was protective, but seeing him stand up like this made Peter feel a sense of safety he hadn’t realized he needed.

“Let’s go, Peter,” Tony said, his voice steady but firm. “You’re coming with me.”

Peter nodded, grateful for the reprieve. As they walked out of the gym, Peter glanced back, catching a glimpse of Flash’s empty sneer, and for the first time, he felt a sense of empowerment.

“Hey, Stark,” a voice called out from behind them, but Tony didn’t turn to face it. “Nice parenting skills. Too bad it didn’t help Parker learn to stand up for himself.”

Peter clenched his fists at his sides, but Tony only turned back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. “Believe me, if I find out who’s messing with my kid, they’re going to wish they hadn’t.”

With that, Tony led Peter out of the gym, the noise fading behind them as they stepped into the quieter hallway. Peter glanced up at his dad.

“I didn’t fight back,” Peter admitted quietly. “I could have stopped them, but…”

Tony sighed, understanding all too well. “I know. But you don’t have to do everything on your own. That’s why I’m here. And if Flash and his buddies try anything again, they’re going to have to answer to me.”

They made their way out of the school, the tension easing as the cool air hit Peter’s face. Tony led him toward his car, helping him into the passenger seat.

As Tony slid into the driver’s seat, he turned to Peter, his voice softer. “We’ll deal with Flash and his little gang later. But right now, let’s get you home. You’ve had enough for one day.”

Peter leaned back in his seat, the exhaustion settling in. “Yeah,” he murmured, closing his eyes as the engine hummed to life. “Home sounds good.”

Tony glanced at the road ahead, a determined look in his eye. He didn’t know the full story of what had happened, but he would make sure Peter felt safe again. Because no one messed with his kid—not without facing the consequences.