His Protective Dad (Starker FF) Completed ✓

Shadows of the Unknown

The warehouse was a distant memory now, the echoes of their battle with the unknown force lingering in the corners of Tony’s mind. He sat in his lab at Stark Tower, running diagnostics on his suit, but his thoughts were far from the task at hand. Peter was safe—for now—but Tony couldn’t shake the feeling that something darker was at work. Something that had only just begun to unfold.

Peter sat nearby, looking pale but recovering. His usual energetic self was subdued, his eyes distant, as though his mind was still trapped in the shadows of what had happened in that warehouse. Steve was close by, pacing, always vigilant. It was rare for Steve to seem uneasy, but the strange events surrounding Peter had shaken even him.

“Are you feeling okay?” Tony asked, his voice softer than usual as he approached his son. He wanted to reassure Peter, to remind him that everything was fine, but his instincts told him there was more to the story.

Peter nodded, but the tension in his posture betrayed him. “Yeah, just a little... confused. I don’t remember much after I got hit with that energy.” His voice faltered. “It felt like I was... like I was someone else. Someone I didn’t recognize.”

Tony’s heart clenched at the raw fear in Peter’s voice. He wanted to say that it was over, that the danger had passed, but deep down, Tony knew the truth. They hadn’t beaten this enemy. It was far from over.

“We’ll figure it out,” Tony reassured him, though he wasn’t sure if he was trying to comfort Peter or himself.

Steve, who had been listening from the other side of the room, walked over and placed a hand on Peter’s shoulder. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. You’re not alone in this.”

Peter managed a small, tired smile. “Thanks, Pops.”

But there was something in the air, something heavy that neither Tony nor Steve could ignore. It was as though the very walls of Stark Tower were closing in, and the family’s safety was slipping through their fingers.

---

Meanwhile, Upstairs in Stark Tower...

MJ stood in the nursery, holding both twins close to her chest, her face a mixture of worry and determination. The babies had settled for now, their cries having subsided, but MJ’s unease was far from gone. It was as if an invisible thread had been pulled taut between her and Peter, stretching further with each passing second. Her instincts had never been wrong, and right now, they were screaming at her that something was terribly off.

The babies, though they couldn’t speak, had a strange way of communicating with their mother. Their cries, their restless movements—MJ had always believed they sensed things that adults couldn’t. And right now, they were on edge, sensing something she couldn’t fully understand.

“Morgan... Harley...” MJ whispered, glancing over at the twins who were still in her arms. They cooed softly, their small hands grasping onto her fingers, as though seeking comfort. “I don’t know what’s happening, but I won’t let anything hurt your father.”

Her mind raced. She needed to find out more. The strange force that had controlled Peter was still out there, and it wasn’t just a physical enemy. It was something deeper, darker. Something that had ties to her family. Peter’s connection to it was clear now—she could feel it in every part of her being.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine, and the air grew colder in the room. A voice, faint and distant, echoed in her mind, sending a shiver through her.

"You can’t protect him forever."

MJ’s breath caught in her throat. She looked down at the babies, their faces still, their eyes wide and unblinking. The feeling of dread only intensified. Whoever—or whatever—was after Peter wasn’t done yet.

---

Back in the Lab...

Tony’s mind raced as he ran diagnostics on the data gathered from the energy field in the warehouse. But despite his best efforts, he couldn’t find a clear explanation for what had happened to Peter. There were too many gaps, too many unanswered questions.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y., run a full analysis of all known energy sources that could cause an event like this,” Tony muttered to himself, tapping away at his console. His fingers danced across the screen, but there was no breakthrough. Every lead seemed to dissipate, like smoke slipping through his fingers.

Steve stood nearby, arms crossed, his brow furrowed in concern. “What are we missing, Tony?”

“I don’t know,” Tony replied, frustration evident in his voice. “The energy signature was like nothing we’ve ever seen. It doesn’t match anything in the databases—nothing from Hydra, AIM, or any other known organization. This... this is something else.”

Steve’s gaze shifted to Peter, who was sitting on a nearby chair, staring blankly at the floor. “Is he okay?” Steve asked quietly.

“He’s not fine, Steve,” Tony replied, his voice edged with worry. “This thing—whatever it is—it’s still connected to him. I can feel it. And it’s like it’s waiting.”

Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled, the whole tower vibrating with a low hum, as though it were reacting to something. Tony’s eyes shot up, his heart racing.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y., report!” Tony barked.

“Sir, seismic activity detected beneath Stark Tower,” F.R.I.D.A.Y. responded urgently. “It appears to be originating from within the city—unusual energy signatures are present.”

Tony’s pulse quickened. No. Not now.

“Steve, get Peter to safety. I’ll deal with this,” Tony ordered, his voice hard.

But Peter stood up, determination flashing in his eyes. “No. I’m not going anywhere.”

Before Tony could protest, the entire tower seemed to shudder, a burst of energy exploding from beneath the ground. It felt like the world was cracking open, and Tony had a terrible realization—this wasn’t just a random attack. The enemy they were facing knew exactly what they were doing, and they had been planning this for a long time.

---

Meanwhile, Outside Stark Tower...

The sky above the city darkened, clouds swirling ominously as a figure cloaked in shadow watched from afar. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light as they observed the Starks, their every move calculated. The force that had been controlling Peter was just the beginning. The true power behind it was still hidden, biding its time.

"The Starks are not ready for what’s coming."

The figure’s lips twisted into a cold smile. But they will be soon.