(Peter Parker x reader) Romeo and Juliet

58: Miss Potts

FROM THIS POINT ON, MAJOR ENDGAME SPOILERS. 

Tony and Nebula sat at the table, playing a game. Tony held his fingers up like a goalpost while Nebula flicked a triangular piece of paper through his fingers, which amazingly entertained them for quite some time. Nebula was taking it very seriously, and Tony kept smirking at me, amused by her. "You don't need to do that, because you're just holding the position. Come on." He held his fingers still, letting Nebula flick the paper.

She missed.

"That was close," Tony said, watching her approvingly. "That's a goal. We're now one a piece. You having fun, kiddo?" He was asking me.

I looked up from where my head lay on my hands, bored as hell, leaning against the table watching them. "Not really, no."

"I'd like to try again," Nebula said in her monotone voice.

Tony looked back at her and nodded. "We're tied up. Feel the tension? It's fun."

I sidled closer to him, my arm brushing his. He was beginning to look more and more weak as the days went by.

I suppose I did too. Tony and Nebula finished up their game, and Tony stood up with a sigh, limping away.

I sat at the table, watching him. He looked out the large window at infinite space, as he often did after he socialized with Nebula and I.

The ship stopped working a few days ago. We only managed to get it to work for a small amount of time, and then it died. Now me and Tony and Nebula were stranded, in the middle of nowhere.

I sighed as Tony had done, standing up and walking towards him. He was sitting on the floor, and pressed a button in his IronMan helmet, where it lay on the floor in front of him. "This thing on?" He sat back, looking down at it.

I came and sat down on the opposite wall, watching him. I felt like a little kid again; watching uncle Tony mess with his IronMan things. I realized then, that I would give anything to be back there. Back in Tony's garage. Back where it was safe, simple. Back where Peter was still alive.

"Hey Miss Potts," Tony said, sounding tired. "Pep. If you find this recording...don't post it..on social media. It's gonna be a real tear-jerker."

I closed my eyes, leaning my head back.

"I don't know if you're ever gonna see these. I don't even know if you're still..." He stopped, squeezing his eyes shut. "Oh god I hope so. Today is day 21...uh, 22. You know, if it wasn't for the existential terror of staring into the literal void of space, I'd say I'm feeling more....better, today. The infection's running its course, thanks to blue meanie back there. You'd love her. Very practical. Only a tiny bit sadistic."

I peered around the small corner at Nebula, who glared at me. She was still mad at me for snapping at her back on Titan.

"Some fuel cells were cracked during battle, but we figured out a way to reverse the ion charge to buy ourselves, about, 48 hours of playtime. But it's now dead in the water. We're 1,000 light years from the next 7-11." Tony blinked sadly at me. "Oxygen will run out tomorrow morning. That'll be it. And Pep, I-I know I said no more surprises, but I gotta say I was really hoping to pull off one last one. But it looks like...well you know what it looks like." Tony gave me a grim smile. "I've still got Tasha's little one with me. She's fine, doing fine, perfectly healthy, save for the broken heart. And malnourishment. But she's a teenager, she'll spring back. You'd be amazed to see her now. She's...she's grown up."

I had covered my mouth, silent tears streaming onto my fingers.

"Don't feel bad about this," Tony went on, "I mean actually if you grovel for a couple weeks, and then, move on with enormous guilt. I should probably lie down. Please know that, when I drift off, I will think about you. Because it's always you." Tony leaned forward with effort, pressing the button, and patting the helmet softly. Then he looked up at me. "Let's go to sleep kiddo. There's...there's nothing else we can do. Come 'ere."

I stood up, walking over to Tony carefully. It took effort to move sometimes. I sat down right beside Tony, leaning my head on his shoulder. He lay his head on mine. "I love you, Y/N."

I wrapped my arm across his chest. "I love you, Tony."

He laughed weakly. "I'm sorry I didn't say so to you sooner," he said.

We didn't say anything else after that. We just fell asleep.

I woke up, laying on the floor with a blanket over me. Tony was in the pilot's chair next to me.

But there was a really, really bright light shining in from the window. I sat up carefully, squinting. The light got closer. "Tony," I said, and he slowly woke up, looking at the bright light with the same squint as me.

The light faded slowly, and-

Holy shit, it was a woman. She was, flying, in space. I've seen some odd things in my time, but this is really strange.

I sat all the way up, looking at her. She had long blonde hair, and wore a superhero suit.

And she smiled.

I looked up to Tony, who looked at me with a relieved look. So relieved. "We're safe, Tony."