Of Apocalypses and Revenge

4

After that first night, Peter rarely showed up to the meals and such. He would get the food ready and call everyone and leave himself. Peter would sit in his little lair at the top of the tree and gaze into the skies. He also occasionally checked on Tony to make sure that his wounds were healing and he wasn't close to death.

Yeah, he still cared.

It was one afternoon right after lunch when Peter sensed him waking up from the coma he had been in for a few weeks. The team was already there was Peter could hear Tony asking 'is this heaven?' He smiled a bit at the question and slid down the ladder. Loki and Natasha was waiting for him. 

"Hey." Peter greeted.

"Brother, you have not eaten at the meals as far as I could see." Loki said.

"I eat by myself." That was not a lie. Peter did eat by himself. He would climb up to the lookout and sit there, alone, and eat while thinking.

"Are you sure you're eating enough?" Nat asked.

"My record of starvation is no food for a month and a half back in HYDRA. I can handle anything." Peter replied.

"Does that mean your starving yourself?" Loki questioned.

"No." Peter said simply and they all headed towards the little hut where Tony was.

<•>

Tony had woken up with a yell. He had a dream that he was falling from the sky and then suddenly, he was awake.

The Avengers ran in and told him to breathe. He looked around at his surroundings and was pretty sure that he was in heaven since the memories of that battle with Strucker was slowly coming back to him. He had fallen from so high in the air with his suit deactivated. How could he have survived? Oh. The housing unit for nanoparticles on his chest was gone as well, replaced with a clean white bandage. Tony tried to sit up but he felt like everything hurt. He lay back down and looked at the team.

"Where the hell are we?" He inquired.

"Far from heaven." A voice came from the doorway of the hut. The Avengers backed away to reveal Loki, Natasha and-, Peter?

At that moment, a flood of emotions overcame Tony. Sadness, regret, thankfulness, guilt, and most of all, remorse.

"This is the only sanctuary now during the apocalypse. The bunkers are all secure and locked so I decided on taking you here." Peter explained.

His voice had gotten deeper and he looked more mature. There was a huge scar running down from his forehead down to his right chin.

"So uh, you saved me?" Tony asked.

"Yeah. You fell from the sky when I was out hunting. Scared away a herd of perfect deer. I took you here and healed you. Found the others as well." Peter took a deep breath, "rest up. I'll tell you all the full story at dinner."

Peter had turned and left without as much as a second glance. Nobody followed him.

The Avengers explained to Tony about this place in the tree that Peter had built and all they knew about him so far. Tony's heart broke when they told him about Peter saying he came from HYDRA. What had the kid been through?

Slowly, everyone dispersed and Tony got up. He winced at the pain in his chest and walked out of the hut.

He was astonished.

Peter had built a whole colony of houses in a bunch of trees with intertwining branches. There were huts everywhere and bridges connecting everything. He spotted a dining pavilion that looked like it had been used recently. The Avengers were scattered around, some practicing and some just relaxing. There was also a small platform on the top of the tree which was surrounded by leaves and branches. A rope ladder ran down from it. Peter was obviously in there since he was no where to be seen.