His Protective Dad (Starker FF) Completed ✓

Shadows and Secrets

The next few days at Stark Tower were filled with laughter and light as Peter, Morgan, and MJ embraced the simple joys of being a family. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city, Peter felt the familiar pull of his responsibilities as Spider-Man. He knew he had to balance being a hero and being there for his family, but lately, the urge to protect them was stronger than ever.

On a particularly quiet evening, as the city settled into a peaceful lull, Peter slipped away unnoticed. He donned his suit, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. Swinging from the rooftops, he felt alive, exhilarated by the thrill of the night. The city sparkled beneath him, a beautiful tapestry of lights and life.

However, the night took a dangerous turn when he stumbled upon a group of criminals engaged in a heist at a local jewelry store. He couldn’t ignore it; he had to intervene. With agility and grace, he swooped down, determined to put a stop to their plans.

The fight was intense. Peter used all his skills to take down the thugs, dodging punches and webs with precision. But as the chaos unfolded, he miscalculated a jump, colliding hard against a brick wall. Pain shot through his body, blurring his vision momentarily.

“Ugh, come on, Peter!” he chastised himself, shaking off the dizziness. He pushed through the pain, focusing on the task at hand. With one last effort, he subdued the last of the criminals and ensured they were tied up, awaiting the arrival of the police.

However, the adrenaline faded quickly, and the pain in his side became unbearable. He managed to escape the scene, using the darkness to conceal his injuries. He swung home, but the night felt longer than usual, each movement sending jolts of pain through his body.

Back at Stark Tower, MJ had grown concerned when she noticed Peter’s absence. She sat in the living room with Tony, both immersed in a late-night movie. The clock ticked ominously, and the flickering light from the screen highlighted MJ's furrowed brow.

“Tony, it’s getting late. Peter should have been back by now,” she said, glancing at her watch. The unease in her voice made Tony look up.

“You’re right. He’s been gone longer than usual,” Tony replied, setting down the popcorn. “Let me check the tracker on his suit.”

As he pulled up the interface on his watch, his heart sank. “He’s still out there… in the same location,” he murmured, his tone turning serious. “I’m going after him.”

“Wait! Let me come with you!” MJ insisted, feeling a sense of urgency swell within her. “If something’s wrong…”

“Alright,” Tony said, nodding. “But we need to be careful. If he’s hurt, I don’t want him to panic.”

Together, they moved quickly, slipping on their jackets and heading toward the exit. They arrived at the location where Peter’s tracker indicated he was last spotted: a dark alleyway near the jewelry store.

As they arrived, the silence was palpable. Tony scanned the area, searching for any sign of Peter. “He should be here somewhere,” he muttered, worry etched across his face.

MJ knelt down, looking for clues. “He wouldn’t just disappear like this. He must have encountered something… something he’s not telling us.”

“Let’s split up,” Tony suggested, his instincts kicking in. “I’ll take the left side of the street, and you check the right. Call out if you find anything.”

They moved swiftly, glancing into shadows and searching for any sign of Peter. As they ventured deeper into the alley, Tony’s thoughts raced. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

Meanwhile, Peter had made it back to the tower but was struggling to maintain his composure. He stumbled through the entrance, clutching his side, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He was determined to hide the pain, but his vision swam as he leaned against the wall for support. He took a few deep breaths, trying to steady himself.

“Okay, just a little rest…” he muttered, feeling the weight of the world crash down on him. He couldn't let them see him like this. He couldn’t worry them.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Tony and MJ rushed inside. “Peter!” MJ called, her voice filled with relief and concern.

Peter straightened up, forcing a smile. “Hey! What’s up?”

“Where were you?” Tony asked, his eyes narrowing as he approached. “You’ve been gone for hours.”

“Oh, you know… just swinging around,” Peter said, trying to brush it off, but the wince that crossed his face didn’t go unnoticed.

“Peter,” MJ said softly, stepping closer. “You don’t look good. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” he insisted, but the tremor in his voice gave him away.

Tony stepped forward, concern written all over his face. “Let me see, Pete. You’re sweating.”

“I told you, I’m fine!” Peter snapped, the frustration bubbling up. He didn’t want to worry them; he didn’t want them to think he couldn’t handle it.

“Enough with the games. I know you,” Tony said, his tone firm but caring. “You’re not fine, and I’m not letting this go.”

Just then, Peter’s vision blurred again, and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He swayed slightly, and before he knew it, his knees buckled.

“Peter!” MJ shouted, rushing forward to catch him just before he hit the floor.

“Whoa, hey! I got you,” Tony said, quickly moving to support Peter’s other side. “What happened?”

“I just… I fell,” Peter mumbled, his voice shaky.

“Fell? This isn’t about falling. You’re hurt! Let’s get you to the med bay,” Tony said, urgency lacing his words as he and MJ helped Peter walk toward the infirmary.

“No, no! I’m okay, I promise! I just need to rest!” Peter protested, but he could feel the pressure in his side intensifying, his body betraying him.

“Peter, you need to stop lying,” MJ said gently, guiding him to a chair. “We can’t help you if you don’t let us in.”

As Peter sat down, Tony began to examine him. “What’s going on?” he pressed, scanning for any visible injuries.

“I just… I got into a fight. It wasn’t anything serious, I swear!” Peter said, but his voice was strained, and he could see the worry in Tony’s eyes.

“It’s never just ‘a fight,’ is it?” Tony murmured, carefully lifting Peter’s shirt to inspect the damage.

Peter flinched as the fabric pulled away, revealing a bruise forming on his side. “It’s just a little bruise,” he said, trying to downplay it.

“A little bruise?” Tony echoed incredulously. “This is bad, Pete. How did you not come home after getting hurt?”

“I didn’t want to worry you guys,” Peter said, his voice dropping. “I thought I could handle it.”

“You can’t always handle everything on your own,” MJ said firmly, kneeling beside him. “You have us for a reason.”

Feeling overwhelmed by their concern, Peter’s eyes glistened. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to be a burden.”

“You could never be a burden to us,” Tony said, his voice softening as he reached out to cup Peter’s face with his hand. “We love you, and we’ll always be here for you, no matter what. Just promise us you won’t hide things like this.”

Peter nodded, swallowing hard as he let their words sink in. He felt the weight of his secret lift slightly, and as Tony tended to his injury, he realized that leaning on his family didn’t mean he was weak; it meant he was stronger.

“Okay, now let’s get this cleaned up,” Tony said, his tone shifting back to that of the caring father he was. “You’re going to be alright. We’ll handle everything together.”

With his family by his side, Peter felt a flicker of hope. Together, they would face whatever came next, and this time, he wouldn’t have to do it alone.