Spider-Man Oneshots || Peter Parker

Insomnia

The first time Tony calls Peter, he regrets the decision immediately.

Sometimes, Tony would wake up in the middle of the night and dial Peter's phone number, especially after a particularly rough nightmare. During the five years when Peter was Blipped, Tony would listen to the voicemail on repeat, desperate to hear the voice that he had missed so much no matter how painful the reminder was.

He hadn't realized he had made a routine of it until Pepper had pointed it out one day. She was somehow able to recognize that it had been helping Tony cope with the aftermath of the first snap, and quickly made arrangements to pay for Peter's phone bill once the realization struck. May was initially skeptical with transferring the bill, but Tony had insisted upon it, practically begging her at one point in time.

The nightmares had naturally dwindled down as the years passed by, but they never truly went away. So, when Tony wakes up at four in the morning, sitting upright and gasping for air, he doesn't hesitate to grab his phone and dial the number he has committed to memory.

Old habits die hard, and he doesn't properly think as he listens to phone ring against his ear. He gets out of bed and begins to pace the room, letting the feeling of the cold floor distract him as he waits for the call to run to voicemail.

Much to Tony's shock however, someone answers the line after the fourth ring, and he almost drops the phone when Peter speaks up.

"Is everything alright?"

His voice is slurred and groggy, and it's obvious that Tony had just woken him up from a deep sleep. He feels embarrassment flair on his cheeks, and he tries to think of a quick answer to fix the situation.

"Yeah kid, I must have butt dialed you- sorry about that."

Tony hears a noncommittal hum and breathes a sigh of relief. If Peter were more awake he would have seen through the lie in seconds, but it seems that he must have woken up from a REM cycle.

"Okay- goodnight Mister Stark."

It was clear that Peter was already falling back asleep even before the conversation had ended. Tony lets out a laugh that sounds suspiciously wet even to his own ears.

"Goodnight Pete."

~

The second time Tony calls Peter, he isn't as lucky.

Tony wakes up from another nightmare, and he once again shoots out of bed. He can't remember any specific details from the dream; all he feels is the familiar temptation to contact Peter, and his hand moves to the nightstand on its own accord as if it were second nature.

He quickly dials the number and holds it to his ear, counting the rings until it hits Peter's voicemail.

"Mister Stark?"

Tony is horrified when Peter actually answers the phone, and he instantly scolds himself for making the same mistake twice.

"Sorry kid, I didn't mean to call- you can go back to sleep."

"No, no, wait, is everything okay?"

Peter's voice is thick with traces of sleep, though he unfortunately sounds more aware this time around. Tony pinches at the bridge of his nose and holds back a groan.

"Yeah I'm fine, I must have butt dialed you or something."

"In the middle of the night?"

Tony can practically see Peter's eyebrows scrunching together, and he can't help but smile with endearment when he hears the concern laced in his voice.