Don't Leave Me Here - Starker

3

The next morning, Tony was startled awake by Friday. He peeled himself away from the desk, realizing he'd fallen asleep at his work bench. He groaned, swearing he needed to stop doing this.

Tony slowly made his way up the stairs to the kitchen, in desperate need of coffee.

"Boss?" Friday's voice filled the room.

He was worried by the softness of the A.I.'s tone. Nerves racked his body, realizing he hadn't heard anything about her condition during the night.

He swallowed hard and took a deep breath, hoping for some good news. "Yes?"

"It's May Parker-" She started. "I'm sorry to inform you, but at one fifty-eight a.m. this morning, she was declared dead. The bullet wound in her chest caused irreversible damage to the veins and arteries surrounding her heart. I'll spare the details, but she never made it off the table."

Tony stood, motionless, his heart sinking in his chest, and eyes burning with tears.

"Should I inform Peter?" Karen asked, breaking the silence.

"No-" He choked out. "No, I will tell him."

A few tears escaped, as he thought of Peter's face. Tony didn't know how to tell him. May was his last living relative, let alone she practically raised him. He couldn't bear having to break the younger's heart.

Tony poured himself a cup of coffee, then sat on a stool at the island, his head in his hands.

"I need you two to uh- to contact the hospital. Start on funeral preparations please." He mumbled.

The two A.I.'s agreed, not saying another word. Tony was left with his thoughts for a while before he heard footsteps shuffling around behind him. Peter appeared in his view, wearing a much to big 'Stark Industries' crew. Tony felt the pit in his stomach grow.

"Morning Mr. Stark..." The younger mumbled, making his way towards the coffee mugs.

Tony opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but quickly closed it after nothing came out. He didn't know what to say to Peter.

Peter glanced over at his mentor, confused when the other didn't respond. "Mr. Stark?"

Tony trained his eyes on the mug before him, unable to meet Peter's gaze.

"Are you okay?" He asked, filling his mug.

Peter turned slightly, delicately blowing away the steam, to face the older. When Tony met his stare, fresh tears filled his eyes.

Peter's face fell. "May?"

Tony nodded slightly, chewing his bottom lip.

"No-" He choked up, shaking his head. "No, no- she can't be-"

"I'm sorry Pete..."

The mug slipped from his grasp, the contents inside burning Peter's hands before falling to the floor. He fell with it, his body shaking with sobs. Tony was on his feet quickly, racing towards the younger.

Tony caught him in a tight hug, with Peter clinging to his shirt. He grabbed a towel, leading them over towards the couch in the living room. He sat them both down, gently wiping the remnants of coffee away from Peter's inflamed skin.

His heart broke for the younger as he listened to the soft cries and sad whimpers from him. He wasn't sure what he could say in this moment that would ease the other, so he opted to say nothing instead for the time being and made sure Peter's hands were okay.

Peter was shattered. May was gone. The amazing woman who'd raised him, given him everything he could've ever wanted, loved him with everything she had. The one woman who deserved more than anyone, to live the most amazing life- was gone.

His heart ached as he replayed the events of the night before. He could've done something more, anything, and she might've had a chance.

At some point, Tony had set the towel aside, and pulled Peter into his side. The younger clung to him, desperate for any kind of comfort.

"I could've- there should've been an-other way..."

Tony shushed him, pulling him into a hug. "Hey, easy Pete. Deep breaths."

Peter set his attention on Tony's voice and his steady breaths.

"There ya' go. I'm right here."

The younger's cries continued on for several more minutes, as he was unable to console himself. Tony only removed himself to retrieve a blanket for Peter, wrapping him tightly in it.

Tony held tightly onto Peter, listening as his cries died into sniffles and whimpers. After he had exhausted himself, Tony listened as his breathing became calm, and soft snores escaped his mouth.

He removed Peter from his arms, gently laying him onto a pillow on the couch. Tony tucked the blanket tighter around him, before making his way back to his mug sitting at the island.

He sipped his coffee, watching Peter from a distance, as his chest rose and fell slowly. For the first time, Tony didn't know what to do.

He remembered, all the years ago, learning the news of his parent's death. Sure, his mother did her best, and he hadn't been exactly close to his father. Hell, he barely spoke to the man. But their death had taken its toll on him.

And those feelings from long ago, which had resurfaced recently, felt just as terrible now as they had back then. To say the least, his heart ached for Peter. To lose the only family one has-

There are no words to explain that type of pain.

Knowing this, Tony decided he would take care of Peter. The younger wold deny at first, he was sure, but Tony wouldn't leave it up for discussion. He knew firsthand, what it was like to be alone at a time like this. Being so young, with nothing other than your last name to fall back on, certainly didn't provide any comfort. It was miserable.

And Tony would be damned if he ever let Peter feel that way.

A well, Tony felt guilty about leaving the younger hero hanging a few months ago. Because if he were being completely honest, he'd missed Peter terribly. It would be nice to have another intelligent mind to work along side him in the lab.

With a sigh, he poured himself another cup of coffee, making his way back towards the living room. Tony collapsed a few cushions away from the sleeping mass, not wanting to wake him. He turned the television on a low volume, leaving it on the cooking channel for now, as he wasn't paying it much attention.

Glancing back towards blankets, Tony knew he'd made the right decision. He told May he'd take care of Peter. And he would do everything in his power to honor that promise.

Edited 12•19•24