Kid, tell me what happened: The Sequel

Right By Your Side

It's a customary tradition to bring deceased relatives flowers on the anniversary of their passing. And for Peter, that tradition was highly reinforced, only this year would be harder than the others. Ben and May would take Peter to visit his parents' graves, May would take Peter to visit Ben, but Peter didn't have anyone to take with him to visit May's grave, his last living blood relative was gone.

The memory of that awful night was still ingrained in Peter's mind. He had done his normal few hours of patrol, letting the wind carry him wherever until he decided to call it a night at around eleven, which happened to be the boy's curfew anyways. And when he did, he found May slumped on the sofa with blood oozing out of her chest.

His reaction was immediate, panic dribbling within the pit of his stomach as glassy eyes welled up with uncontrollable tears. He was still in his suit, but the mask was off as his eyes were blown wide in fear and shock. He started blurting and mumbling as all of his anxiety ticks released at once, "No, no, no, May!" Tears spilled down his cream-colored cheeks as Peter knelt by May's side, who in turn had hollow empty eyes. He didn't remember calling Tony, only remembering the Avenger holding him as he whispered soft promises and reassurances that everything was going to be okay, even if it didn't seem that way.

Fast forward three heartbreaking months, came the tenth anniversary of Uncle Ben's death. And for the first time in Peter's existence, he didn't have anyone to go with.

The topic had been bugging him for the entire week, more so from the panic-induced anxiety as that was the only thing that would stay on the boy's mind. It had come to a point where it was unbearable when he asked Tony one late night, "Mister Stark, if it's not too much trouble..."

Tony replied kindly as brown eyes met brown eyes, "Kiddo, you can tell me anything." His voice was sincere, "You know there's no trouble when you need me to do something for you." The boy had a particularly bad habit of thinking that he was a huge inconvenience to everyone around him, especially with Tony. And as much as the surrogate father tried to shake that out of the boy, it seemed to be a part of him.

Peter stuttered, "Tomorrow is um, Ben's anniversary for his passing." He stopped to swallow thickly, Adam's Apple bouncing as he did so.

Tony instantly softened as he noticed tears beginning to well up in his kid's eyes, "Oh Pete, come here." He wrapped his arms around the kid, knowing how sensitive of a topic Ben was.

Peter wiped the few tears that fell with the backs of his hands continuing, "Usually May goes with me, but um, she can't now, so could you?"

Tony nodded as he offered a sympathetic smile that was warm and promising all at the same time, "Of course I'd go with you kid. In fact, I was already thinking about it."

Peter dipped his head down relieved, "Thanks, Mister Stark. Really."

Tony smiled warmly as he ruffled Peter's hair, "Of course kiddo, and I'm not that old yet."

...

The next morning, Tony woke up earlier than Peter, something that was a natural occurrence, especially on trying days like today. Tony smiled fondly as he looked over at Peter who was sound asleep curled against him. Peter clung loosely to his surrogate father's shirt as slight drool spilled out of the corner of the boy's lips as his eyes were shut. He looked peaceful, despite all the pain he was going through.

Tony smiled as he rubbed Peter's temple, unable to resist showing affection to his kid. Peter was pure and loving, everything that Tony wished he could've been. Peter was also a kid who needed someone to hold him and ground him, and to tell him that no matter what happened he'd be okay. Tony felt more than honored to be the person.