His Protective Dad (Starker FF) Completed ✓

Holding On

The waiting room was eerily quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of feet, the hum of machines, and the soft sniffles of those gathered in the sterile, dimly lit space. Morgan sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, her eyes red and raw from hours of crying. She hadn’t moved since they arrived at the hospital. She hadn’t said much either. Her mind was trapped in an endless loop of what she had witnessed outside the ice cream shop. The image of her father’s still, bloodied body was burned into her memory, a sight that haunted her every time she closed her eyes.

Peter sat next to her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder, though he didn’t know what to say. His own heart was in pieces, torn by fear and helplessness. Tony wasn’t just a father figure to him; he was his mentor, his protector, his everything. And now, Tony was fighting for his life, and Peter didn’t know how to handle it.

Steve, who had been pacing around the room for what felt like hours, finally sat down beside them. His face was drawn with worry, his hand clutching his phone, waiting for any update from the doctors. But nothing came. It felt like the entire world had come to a screeching halt.

Harley was next to Steve, his eyes wide with disbelief. He wasn’t sure what to say or how to comfort anyone. He was just as terrified as everyone else. The tension in the room was thick, suffocating.

"We’ll get through this," Steve finally said, his voice hoarse. "Tony’s strong. He’s been through worse. He’ll make it."

But even Steve’s reassuring words didn’t seem to reach anyone. It was as if they were all waiting for a miracle that seemed less and less likely with each passing second.

Just then, a nurse appeared at the door, her face hard to read. “Are you the family of Mr. Stark?”

Everyone in the room stood up, their hearts pounding in their chests. Morgan’s eyes shot to the nurse, her face desperate. “How is he? Is he okay?”

The nurse took a deep breath, her eyes briefly flicking to the floor before meeting Morgan’s gaze. “He’s out of surgery. He’s stable for now, but it’s too soon to say what the long-term effects will be. The impact caused significant damage to his internal organs, and there was a lot of blood loss. He’s being moved to ICU for monitoring.”

Morgan’s breath hitched in her throat. “He’s gonna be okay, right?” Her voice trembled, but she tried to hold on to a sliver of hope.

The nurse’s face softened, but she didn’t give any guarantees. “We’re doing everything we can. I’ll let you know when he’s awake, but right now, he needs rest.”

With those words, the nurse left the room, leaving behind a silence that felt even heavier than before. Morgan crumpled in on herself, her tears starting again. Peter wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as if he could protect her from the pain, but in reality, he was just as vulnerable.

---

In Tony's ICU Room

Tony lay unconscious, the sterile hospital room humming with the steady beep of heart monitors and the quiet shuffle of nurses checking on him. His body was battered, bruised, and broken. The bandages covering the cuts on his face and the tubes running into his arms were a grim reminder of the crash that had almost taken his life.

His chest rose and fell slowly, each breath a battle. His body was weak, but his will to live was strong.

But in the darkness of his mind, Tony was fighting his own battle. He could feel himself floating, suspended between the conscious and the unconscious. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he could hear voices. His heart ached at the sound of Morgan’s cry, her voice filled with such raw emotion. He felt a stirring in his chest, as if something was pulling him toward the surface.

A moment later, he heard Steve’s voice, muffled but full of emotion. “Tony… please, come back to us. I need you.”

Steve’s words cut through Tony like a blade. He could feel the love and desperation in his husband’s voice, and it was that connection that anchored him, that made him fight to open his eyes.

---

Back in the Waiting Room

Steve looked at his phone again, his heart pounding. He couldn’t stand this uncertainty any longer. He needed to know that Tony was going to be okay. He couldn’t bear to imagine a world without him. His hand trembled as he typed out a text to Natasha, asking for any update.

It had been too long. They all needed to hear something good. Morgan, who had fallen asleep against Peter’s side, was still clutching the crumpled napkin from earlier, her tear-streaked face a mirror of her fear.

"Pops..." Peter began, his voice barely above a whisper. He had been staring at the floor for what felt like forever, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. "What if... what if he doesn’t make it? What if Dad doesn’t come back? I can’t... I can’t lose him."

Steve turned to Peter, his face contorting with the same fear, but he refused to let it show. He couldn’t afford to let his own fear overwhelm him in front of the others. He needed to be strong—for Tony, for Morgan, and for everyone else. But the truth was, he didn’t know how he was supposed to keep it together.

“I know, kid,” Steve said quietly. “But we’re not giving up. Tony’s not going to give up. He’s a fighter. He’s the strongest person I know.”

Peter nodded, but the doubt in his eyes was evident. Tony had always been there, always been the strong one. But now, Peter felt like the foundation of his world was shaking beneath him, and he wasn’t sure how to hold it all together.

Harley sat in the corner, his own tears barely held back. He was trying to be the strong one for everyone else, but inside, he was falling apart. Tony had been a father figure to him too. And seeing him like this—broken, vulnerable—was more than Harley could process.

MJ sat beside Peter, her hand over his, as if trying to offer him the strength she herself was struggling to find. Her eyes were red, and her body stiff, but she stayed close to him, unwilling to leave his side.

---

The Moment of Hope

After what felt like an eternity, a doctor finally entered the waiting room, her face unreadable. She paused for a moment, scanning the room filled with anxious faces.

“I’ve got good news,” she said, and for the first time that night, there was a flicker of hope. “Mr. Stark is awake. He’s stabilized, but it’s still early. We’re moving him to a regular room soon.”

A collective sigh of relief filled the room, and for the first time in hours, a small spark of hope ignited in their hearts.

Steve stood up immediately, his breath catching in his throat. “Can I see him? Is he... is he okay?”

The doctor nodded, though her expression remained cautious. “He’s stable for now, but it’s going to be a long road. He’s awake, and he’s responsive, but he’s still very weak.”

Morgan, who had been asleep on Peter’s shoulder, shot up in alarm. “Dad’s awake?” she asked, her voice full of disbelief.

The doctor smiled softly. “Yes, he is. You can see him now.”

---

Tony's Room

When Steve, Peter, Morgan, and the rest of the Avengers entered Tony’s room, they were greeted by the sight of Tony lying in bed, pale but awake, his face covered in bandages. His eyes fluttered open as the door creaked, and he saw them standing there.

“Morgan...” Tony’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. He reached out weakly, his hand trembling as he beckoned her toward him.

Morgan’s heart ached as she rushed to his side. She took his hand in hers, her tears flowing freely as she looked into his eyes. “Dad... you’re awake... you’re really awake.”

Tony smiled faintly, his breath shallow. “Of course I’m awake, kiddo. Wouldn’t leave you alone. Not after everything...”

The room fell silent, the tension that had held everyone in a vice grip easing ever so slightly. Tony was still alive. He was still here.

And that was all that mattered.