Dust - On Hiatus

I Love You 3000

Note: I just really wanted to add this song in here because I felt like it really fit for Tony's message to Peter.

Peter sat down by Ned. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked, hoping that his friend had made a breakthrough.

"Maybe..." Ned said, thinking for a moment. "Do you have your IronSpider suit with you?"

Peter nodded. "Can you put it on?" Ned asked. "I think that if I hook up this suit to that one, the AI will be able to access the files."

Peter grabbed his backpack from a chair and pulled out the bracelet that housed the nanobots for the suit. He hesitated for a moment, running his thumb over the small Stark Industries logo.

"Dude, you okay?" Ned asked when he didn't immediately put in on.

"Yeah, it's just that..." he paused for a moment. "I haven't worn this suit since, well, since the battle. I haven't even looked at it."

MJ had come over, noticing what was happening. She laced her fingers with his, squeezing them encouragingly.

"This is the last thing Mr. Stark gave me," Peter said, slipping the bracelet on. "I guess I just didn't want to face that before now."

He double-tapped the bracelet, trying not to squirm at the unsettling feeling of the nanobots covering him. He blinked a couple of times, waiting for the suit to sync up to him. He turned to Ned, about to tell him to connect the suits, when something odd happened. A line of programming started scrolling down his vision.

"Something's happening, guys," he said, trying not to panic. "Karen? Are you there?" His AI didn't answer.

"What's going on?" Ned asked. "Tell us what you're seeing."

Peter squinted, trying to make sense of it. "It looks like some program booting up. Or-"

All three of them jumped as a voice echoed from his suit. "Playing memory file 1375. Loading hologram. Welcome back, Peter."

"You guys are hearing this, right?" Peter said, shaken. The other two nodded. They all waited with bated breath, none of them daring to move. After what felt like the longest ten seconds ever, blue light started pouring out of the front of Peter's suit, coalescing into a shaky hologram in front of them. Peter let out a breath, unable to believe his eyes as he stared at the misty form of Tony Stark in front of him. He was sitting down, leaning his head back and covering his eyes with hands.

"Hey, kid. Um...So Pepper says that recording this message will help me get over, y' know, losing you.

I don't see how it will. I'm never getting you back, kid, and nothing's going to change that. Especially not talking to you like you're still here.

I owe it to Pepper to try, though. God, she's been an angel this past couple of weeks. I don't think I would've made it without her.

I miss you, kid. There, I said it. Never thought I liked kids, you know? Always thought I'd be just like my dad. And I was okay with that too. But then you had to swing in with your endless enthusiasm and stupid science puns and- I don't know how to say this.

You gave me something I thought I'd lost a long time ago. Hope. You always believed in people. Always. You had optimism coming out of your ears. And you were an amazing superhero.

I almost wish you'd been an Avenger sooner. I wanted you to be able to enjoy it more. I know how much it meant to you.

God, look at me. I-I just wanted to say I miss you, kid.

And I'm sorry."

The image froze for a moment, before reforming into an older-looking Tony Stark. The Tony Stark Peter had only seen once, on that battlefield.

"Hey, kid. It's been a while, huh?

So it looks like we might actually have a chance to bring you back. A very small chance, mind you, but a chance, which is more than we've had these past five years.

God, has it really been five years? Sometimes it still feels like I'm on that godforsaken planet, watching you disintegrate. Helpless.

You'd love this actually. This whole time-travel thing. I can already see you geeking out over it. I can't really believe it myself. I figured out time-travel. I'd like to shove that one in the old man's face.

Anyway, I wanted to record this message on the off chance that you make it back...and I don't. God, I hope I do though. There's nothing more I'd love in the world than seeing you meet Morgan. You'd love her, Pete.

If I don't make it back, it's okay. It really is, kid, if it means I gave you a second chance. I got mine, you should get yours. Just...promise me you won't waste your life. Save the world, kiss the girl, go out and live.

Because you can do anything, Peter, if you put your mind to it. I mean, you had a great teacher.

I hope you never have to see this message, I really do. I'm uploading it to Karen, with instructions to only play it if- well, if the worst happens.

This whole thing will be over, one way or another, tomorrow. See you soon, kid.

 I love you 3000."