There's A Safety In Your Arms (That's The Part I've Forgotten About)

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Prompt by @that1nerd11: Can you write a story were peter returns from the soul stone and tony is still alive cuz I refuse to believe that he will die

Disclaimer: I do not own Spider-Man or any related materials.

                               __________

Tony scans the crowd, his side aching as blood drips down his temple, falling to the dirt like a red tear drop.

They won. It was hard fought, had taken every once of strength they had left, but eventually, after months of battle planning, of bleeding and crying over the loss of half the world--half their souls--, they had managed to outwit the Titan.

Tony could still feel the buzz of the Gauntlet against his skin, the way the ancient metal had burned as it was used against Thanos .

The Titian had gone down in a purple blast of rage.

Now, however, he continues to scan the crowd slowly gathering, the sight of people hugging and crying as they are reunited filling his heart with a panicked longing.

Where was Peter? 

It was the very thing on his mind, the only thought he had kept circling back to for months and months and months. It had kept him up at night. It had haunted his dreams, had plagued his nightmares and echoed through the choked off cries he had smothered against his pillows.

But now he was so close to an answer he could almost taste it.

He started walking. Around couples kissing, around mother's holding their children close and father's grasping them all tight. Through gangs of people with no one to greet them, their faces hollow and eyes vacant. Tony shutters as he passes.

Along the way, Rhodey finds him, joins his walks with a nod and a small squeeze to his shoulder. And then Natasha, eyeing him from behind her now blonde hair. And then Steve. And Bucky, only looking at Tony once as he slips to Roger's side. Rocket, with Groot trailing behind him, holding the raccoon's tail with a branchy hand, the rest of his team right beside him.

Tony can feel their support as he searches.

He isn't sure how long he walks until he hears him.

It's a far off cry, a yell mixed with terror and exhilaration. A voice Tony knows better than his own.

He turns just as a small body slams into his side.

"D-Dad." Peter whimpers, shivers racking his thin frame as he practically claws his way into Tony's arms. "Daddy."

Tony pulls him closer in response, biting his lip when his side and leg screams in protest. He can feel the other gazes on him as he staggers slightly, but he doesn't care. He doesn't care about anything other than the boy in his arms.

"Peter." He says his child's name over and over again, smooshing his lips against the boy's forehead and temples, running his fingers through the soft hair that tickles his nose. "Peter. Peter. Peter."

"I-I was so scared, it was so dark and cold and-and the whole time I just wanted you to come and make it better--" Peter sobs against his chest, his thin arms wrapping around his father's neck and squeezing.

Tony's chest constricts, his pulse pounding under his skin.

"Shh, kiddo, shh. You're okay now. You're here with me now, bud." The genius says over and over again, rocking them from side to side gently. "It's okay, it's okay."

He knows he's babbling, spitting out a string of phrases but he can't seem to get himself to stop. Tony just continues to talk, to comfort his child and himself. He can see the others out of the corner of his eye, can see them watching them both, their expressions ranging from confusion to sympathetic. Tony only glances over once before his eyes draw back to Peter. 

His boy is blinking up at him, his doe eyes still wet with tears, shining in the light of the sun.

"I-I could feel myself dying--" He cuts himself off, swallowing and curling closer to his father. "--fading to dust, getting blow away. . ."

Gripping the spidering's tighter, Tony reaches down to cup his chin, tilting his face up and smiling gently when Peter's gaze meets his. The superhero brushes his thumb across his son's cheek, relishing in the smooth skin against his own rough fingers.

"But you're not fading anymore, Peter." Bringing his trembling hand down, Tony sets it against the boy's chest, feeling his heartbeat against his fingers, thumping like a drum, quick and steady. "You're here with me, baby. You're right here with me."

"I'm here with you." Peter's hand meets his, curling around the billionaire's.

"Yes, Pete. You're solid and real and here."

Peter slumps down fully, his body going limp, leaning against his father and trusting the man to catch him before he slips down to the street below. His eyes close, a sigh spilling from him, his grip never faltering.

"I've almost forgotten what that felt like." It's whispered, a hot breath against Tony's dirty and grime stained shirt. "I've almost forgotten what this felt like."

"What? A hug?"

Peter shakes his head, curls tickling Tony's neck. "No, being safe."

Tony, his throat constricting, just holds his son closer, kissing the top of his head and finally begins to let go of the worry and stress that had followed him around for months.

"Well, I'll make sure you never forget it, buddy."


Never again.

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