Chapter Text
Peter
Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die.
The words beat a rhythm through Peter’s mind as he sat on the cool, tile floor of the hospital corridor. No one else was here right now but he could hear all the sounds in the surrounding rooms – people moving around with urgency, machines beeping, the low murmur of voices.
The rest of the Avengers who came through the portal with him had been ushered away by a – frankly scary- Doctor, who was not intimidated by a group of battle-weary superheroes. He didn’t dare go in himself, but parking himself in the corridor meant he could at least listen in to what was happening inside.
Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die.
Peter let out a breath, trying to force his own heart rate lower. He closed his eyes as he focussed- cutting through the sounds of the machines, the panicked heartbeats of Pepper and Rhodey, and zoned in on Tony’s familiar heartbeat. The one he’d gotten used to hearing during lab sessions and visits to the Compound; almost two years of hearing it had solidified its rhythm in his mind. Peter knew how it sounded when Tony was concentrating on a project, when they watched movies on the sofa, the sharp upturn of it when he was angry at Peter’s recklessness – (‘you have the self-preservation instincts of a gnat, Parker’). Tony’s heartbeat wasn’t sounding quite like it normally did today – then again, after what had just happened, his own didn’t feel all that steady right now.
Peter felt bile burning the back of his throat as he thought about the battle: Tony’s heart had stopped. He’d heard it stop. The loudest silence he had ever heard. There was barely time to let the tears run down his face when there was a shout and then Thor’s lightning struck Tony and his heart suddenly kicked in again. Peter had thought he might pass out with relief. Thor had given Tony a second chance. It was more that Uncle Ben had ever gotten – they’d never even made it to the hospital.
Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die.
Peter felt his breath start to shorten - no, thinking about Uncle Ben right now was not a good idea. Thinking about losing someone else…yeah, no, don’t go there. Tony’s heart was beating now, that was all that mattered, if Tony could just be OK, everything would be OK. Right?
He rested his head against the wall, continuing to ignore the sharp pain in his back that was trying to make itself known. He couldn’t relax whilst the sounds from next door were still so frantic- heightened heartbeats and stifled sobs making his head spin.
There was a sudden change in the rhythm of Tony’s heart and then…nothing. He ran to the door of the medical room, almost pushing it open in spite of the scary Doctor but pressed his ear against the glass instead. He heard the whirring noise of a defibrillator charging up and he flinched as he heard the sound of the electric shock being sent through Tony’s body.
Nothing.
Whirr, Thump-Thump.
Whirr, Thump-Thump.
He half-sobbed when he heard the heart beat again, slow but steady, before slumping down on the floor of the corridor like someone had flicked his off switch.
“Queens.”
Peter looked up at the voice and saw Captain America above him, holding out a bottle of water.
“Thanks.” Peter took it and watched as the great man slid down next to him on the floor, taking a drink from his own bottle. Peter copied him, suddenly draining the whole thing when his body seemingly realised just how parched it was. He took a sideways glance at the hero next to him, his helmet off now and sweaty, blond hair plastered against his head. Peter noted the cuts on his face had been treated; some patched with steri-strips.
They sat there for a few minutes – Captain America casually sat next to him, quietly sipping on a bottle of water like that was a normal occurrence- Peter not sure if this was an awkward silence that he was meant to break, but honestly too tense to care.
“How are you doing son?”
His voice was warm but had a weary edge to it. It wasn’t the forced jovial tone Peter was used to hearing from the school mandated PSA’s.
“I-I’m fine Captain America, sir.” Peter briefly met the blue eyes that looked down at him.
The older man smiled warmly at him. “The name is Steve Rogers. What about you?”
“I’m Peter, Mr Rogers, Peter Parker.” He guessed there was little point in hiding his true identity now – his mask was off – and well, he was an Avenger now too. At least that was what Mr Stark had said back on the donut ship.
“Nice to meet you without you putting me on my ass.” Steve side-smiled at him and Peter felt his face heat up.
“Um, I, I’m…” Peter flustered.
Steve put a hand up. “It’s fine kid. All water under the bridge.”
“Or, in our case, a jet bridge.” The words popped out; apparently he had no filter right now.
Steve let out a short burst of laughter. “Yeah, you’re right.” He laid his head back against the wall with a small smile. “Christ, that was a long time ago.”
Was it? Only two years ago…but then he remembered what Dr Strange had said – that he’d been gone for five years. That…that would take some time to wrap his head around.
“If you say so…” He plastered on a smile that he hoped covered up his current, complete and total, existential crisis.
“So, where are the others?” Peter asked, hoping to divert away from any conversations about all that.
“They’re just getting patched up next door.“
“Are they OK?” Peter sat up a bit. He’d been so focused on Mr Stark’s wellbeing that he hadn’t stopped to consider if everyone else was alright.
“Nothing life threatening. Mostly superficial injuries except for Banner’s arm. He was the one who…” Steve clicked his fingers. “…to get you all back in the first place.”
Peter gulped. Oh yeah, of course, someone had to bring them back from the dead before they could fight. Did that make him a Zombie? Had he just been part of a Zombie army?
Peter must have looked freaked out as the older guy’s eyes softened.
“Look, let’s get you checked out too, OK?” He nodded his head in the direction of the other room.
Peter tensed. He didn’t want to leave Mr Stark. In case he…he didn’t want to finish that thought.
“I’m fine Mr Rogers,” Peter clasped his hands around his drawn-up knees, “I want to stay nearby.”
Steve didn’t say anything but was quiet for a moment. “I think he’s stable now.”
Peter listened in, making out the familiar heartbeat straight away. It was then that he zoned in on the other heartbeats in the room – the one he thought was the senior Doctor’s was steady, as were Pepper and Rhodey’s – all much slower than they had been five minutes before.
“Yeah,” he let out a breath, “it sounds like it.”
“Enhanced hearing?” Steve clarified.
Peter nodded. “Enhanced all senses really.”
Steve looked impressed: like he wasn’t a jacked hundred-year-old super soldier. “Come on then, let’s get you sorted. I don’t think Tony will be happy with me if he wakes up and you’re still bleeding.”
Peter still didn’t want to but didn’t want to be difficult with one of his heroes. As he followed the man, he tried not to think about the fact Steve had said if Mr Stark wakes up, not when.
The room he was led into was full of medical bays, a few curtains part way closed with voices coming from them. Peter could hear more voices from an adjacent room. A lady dressed in scrubs came towards them both.
“Would you mind giving him the once over, Doctor?” Steve said politely, but all business.
“Of course,” replied the Doctor, her voice with an accent Peter couldn’t place.
The Doctor started inspecting Peter’s bruised face, but he gently pulled away.
“I’m fine.” Peter’s eyes caught Mr Rogers, who was giving him a look. He relented. Mr Stark got pretty pissed if he played down injuries. “There is some pain in my back.”
The Doctor went behind him and pulled down the ripped suit. Peter craned his head.
“Oh crap, my suit is ruined. Mr Stark is gonna kill me.”
Steve started to smile but then a voice came from the door.
“Stevie.”
They both saw the Winter Soldier at the same time; Steve pulling in a breath sharply as he did. Peter watched as Steve crossed the distance in a few short strides and encased the other man in a massive hug. Peter could feel the emotion between them from here and he tried not to listen as they talked. But that was almost impossible in this room with someone with his senses.
Steve’s voice flowed with free emotion. “I thought I’d lost you forever this time.”
The Winter Soldier’s voice was gruffer, but not without feeling. “Seems like I’m a hard man to put down permanently.”
There was a little chuckle-sob between them, and another hug and Peter felt his cheeks heat at his intrusion into their very personal moment. So, the Winter Soldier had been dusted as well- it must be so hard to be without your best friend for 5 years. He couldn’t imagine being without Ned. Ned! What had happened to Ned? And oh my God, Aunt May. Had she been gone too? Was she OK?
A sharp pain in his back stopped his spiralling thoughts and made him hiss. He arched away from it.
“I’m sorry,” the Doctor said from behind, “there’s a nasty cut here that will need stitches.”
Peter watched as the Doctor went and gathered what she needed. She pulled a small table on wheels and secured it in front of him, before going to get some more supplies.
“Peter, this is James Buchanan Barnes.” Steve was in front of him smiling, his eyes tinged red. Peter saw that Mr Barnes’ eyes were too.
The soldier stuck out his hand and Peter shook it. “Mr Barnes, nice to see you, um,…again.”
The soldier’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave a short nod.
Any further conversation was halted by the return of the Doctor. She had a large needle and Peter raised his hand in a stop motion. “What is that for?”
“Anaesthetic to numb the area and another shot for pain relief. You are allergic to something?”
“No, it just won’t work.” Peter hesitated, not really wanting to give this stranger detail about how his powers worked. “I just burn through it.”
“It really needs to be done, even if you heal fast, as I imagine you do?” Peter nodded slightly. “Even then, it’s still bleeding too much now.”
“Y-you can just do it without anything.” Peter had had to stitch himself up a few times in the early days and he hadn’t had any fancy painkillers then.
A discomforted look travelled over the Doctor’s features, but she just nodded.
“I’m starting to think we have more than a few things in common, Queens.” Steve nudged him with his shoulder.
Something in common with Captain America? Peter felt his cheeks start to heat. “I-I don’t know about that, sir.”
“Yeah Stevie, no one can be as much of a punk as you...”
“Jerk.”
Steve knocked his shoulder into Mr Barnes who returned him a shove. It was funny to see them goof around and it raised the first genuine smile from him.
“Lean onto the table please.” The Doctor instructed him. “Try to stay as still as possible.”
Super-healing or not, he felt everything and the needle going into the skin was no exception. He held his breath as she made the first incision, gripping the edges of the table in front of him.
The second time, she must have snagged something as it caused a burst of pain and he gripped the table harder. This time the flimsy metal started to bend and crack with the force of his grip.
The Doctor stopped. “I really need you to stay still.”
There was a clunk as Mr Barnes’ metal elbow hit the table. He crouched down and offered his hand out. Peter hesitated.
“It’s Vibranium,” he said, cool blue eyes meeting his, “you can’t break it.”
The Doctor started again, and Peter grasped his cool metal hand quickly. He breathed heavily, bearing down on the Winter Soldier’s hand when the pain spiked.
The Doctor finished and Peter unclasped Mr Barnes hand. “Thank you,” he said, wiping a line of sweat off his forehead. His back throbbed but it was nothing like the sharp pain of the stitches.
“You got heart, Kid.” Steve squeezed his shoulder briefly. Ned was going to freak when Peter told him.
“Any news, Steve?” Peter looked up from his seat on the bed to see a large, green man. His arm was strapped up and Peter realised that it was Hulk, but not the one he was used to seeing on TV. He seemed very much calm and in control and as he walked over closer, Peter could see worry in his eyes.
“No, but his heart is beating on its own right now, which is an improvement.” Steve replied. He seemed to notice Peter staring at Bruce.
“Have you met Dr Bruce Banner, or wait, do you prefer Professor Hulk now?”
The green man laughed. “That’s just something that they call me now I’ve combined my brains and brawn. But Bruce is just fine.”
Peter tried not to stare at this walking, talking embodiment of how much had changed in five years. His level of hero worship though had certainly not.
“Oh my God, Dr Banner, it’s an honour, sir. I read all of your papers on the effects of Gamma radiation and your work with portable water filtration systems for third world countries.”
God Peter, try to rein some of your nerd in right now.
Dr Banner looked surprised but smiled broadly. “You must be Peter – Tony told me about you.”
A warm feeling surged into Peter’s stomach. “He did?”
“Sure.”
They were interrupted then by the arrival of Rhodey. Peter jumped off the bed, his stomach clenched, and he crossed his fingers that there be no bad news.
Rhodey looked tired and tense but as he spoke his gaze softened a little.
“They think they’ve managed to stabilise his heart. Whatever Shuri gave him to combat the radiation seems to have been mostly successful. Strange has been monitoring his brain function and it looks promising. They’re going to keep him in a coma though to see how he reacts. Then they will try surgery to take the gauntlet off – it looks like the nano tech fused to his skin – and then see if they can save his arm. Bruce, can you get in contact with Dr Cho? We are going to need her regeneration expertise.”
Bruce nodded and headed off in a different direction.
“Steve, could you contact Happy? Pepper wants him and Morgan here.”
Steve nodded and Mr Barnes trailed after him, as he went to find a phone. Peter didn’t know who Morgan was but no doubt a lot had gone on that he wasn’t aware of.
Rhodey saw Peter then and he came over, his eyes lit up. “It’s good to have you back.” He patted him on the shoulder. They’d met a few times at the Compound; Peter liked his easy-going nature and the way he and Tony bounced off of each other – Rhodey a calming presence to Mr Stark’s frenetic energy.
“It doesn’t feel like I ever went away,” Peter said.
Rhodey nodded. “I can imagine.”
“Um, Mr Rhodes, would it be ok for me to borrow someone’s phone…?”
Rhodey’s eyebrows jumped. “Of course! You want to call your Aunt, right?”
“Yeah, do you know if she…?”
“No, she didn’t snap.” Rhodey seemed confident of that and Peter wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. She would have spent the last five years thinking he was dead. She would have lost the last of her family and been alone.
Peter’s throat felt tight as he followed Rhodey into the other room. Bruce and Steve were talking on phones at opposite ends of the large room. There were some couches on the other side of the room and on them sat Thor, Falcon and Scarlet Witch. Like that was totally normal. They looked over at him and he smiled nervously, putting a hand up in a lame ‘hello’. He heard Falcon’s voice say quietly, “Shit, Spider-man is just a kid.” He wanted to say ‘actually I’m 16’, but didn’t have the chance before Rhodey turned and handed him a phone.
“Here you go, I have some official calls to make myself. I’ll check in with you later.”
Peter thanked him and then, gripping the phone, he slipped back out into the medical room he’d just been in. He sat back on the bed before dialling the only phone number that he had ever memorised.
The phone rang once and then an automated voice cut in. “This number is no longer in service.”
Peter frowned. She’d always had that number, since, like, forever. He didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t like to bother Rhodey with this, as he had enough on his mind. He felt tiredness setting into his bones. Normally the chance to be around his lifelong heroes would have been his dream, but right now he didn’t have it in him to have any more introductions and small talk.
He made his way back to the corridor and slid back into his spot on the floor. He leant his head back against the wall and searched for the only sound that would give him any comfort. He found it and let his eyes close as he listened to the steady rhythm of Tony’s heart.
---
“Peter, Peter wake up.” It didn’t sound like May: but it was gentle and familiar. He opened his eyes to see Pepper leaning over him.
He jumped up. “What’s going on? Is he OK?”
“No change, still stable.” Pepper smiled; her eyes weary, dark shadows beneath them. “Have you been out here all night?”
Peter had no idea what time it was. “I'm not sure, Miss Potts,” he said, working a crick out of his neck with his hand.
“King T’Challa organised some rooms for the others to get some rest. I could find someone to take you.” Pepper’s brow wrinkled as she looked around the corridor.
“I’m honestly OK. I’d rather stay nearby.” Peter pushed his hair out of his face.
Pepper gave him a sympathetic smile. “Would you like to come in and see him?”
He wanted to see Tony, but he was scared. The last time he’d seen him, he had taken his last breath. He hadn’t ever wanted to be in that position again after watching it with Ben, but he had. He wasn’t sure he could watch it a third time.
Pepper seemed to notice his hesitancy and squeezed his arm. He followed her into the bright, white room. She went directly over to the bed and slipped into the chair next to him, but Peter stopped near the door. The beep of the machines was even louder now, and Tony lay with wires coming out of what seemed like everywhere. Peter could see from here that the right side of his face was charred, and branch-like marks trailed down his neck, chest and arm before it stopped where his arm became the gauntlet. Lichtenberg figures – his mind supplied that information out of nowhere.
The rainbow colours of the Stones stood out on his hand. The rest of the suit had been removed and his body covered with a sheet; dark blue and purple marks littering his chest where it poked out from the top. Peter folded his arms around himself and swallowed a shaky breath. He didn’t look like Tony, he looked like a shell. What if he never recovered?
“He’s not in any pain and his heart is stable. They’re keeping him in the coma to help him recover. Once Dr Cho gets here they will do surgery to take off the gauntlet and then try to regenerate his cells to heal his arm.”
Peter nodded. That was good. Well, as good as the situation could be.
“You can come closer and sit with him, if you like.” Pepper said, patting the chair next to her.
Peter started to edge forwards, but a no-nonsense looking nurse came over.
“I’m sorry but we need to be wary of infection. You are filthy.” Her stern look made him take a half step back.
Peter looked down – he was still in his suit and she was not wrong – he was covered in the muck and sweat of the battlefield.
Pepper frowned. “I didn’t think of that. Why don’t you use the shower in the bathroom – there are scrubs in there to change into.” She pointed to the door at one end of the room.
Once inside, he started to pull off the Iron Spider suit and it released itself, turning into a small pocket- sized square. Wow – he hadn’t really had the chance to fanboy about the nanotech suit he now had. He then realised that he still had his usual suit on underneath. Huh. Oh yeah, Tony had saved him when he was falling off the donut ship thingy. He pulled it off and could see how badly he’d ripped the back. Shit. The nano suit was incredible but this one was the first one Mr Stark had ever made for him and he felt sentimentally attached to it.
The shower was amazing and soothed out the sore muscles and bruises from the fight - yesterday?- or whenever it was. He felt a bit sore in places, but a look in the mirror showed he was mostly healed: ghosts of bruises on his face. The stitches on his back had done the job and he couldn’t feel much pain there anymore.
He dried off and slipped the scrubs on, grabbing his suits before opening up the door. As he stepped back into the room, there was a small shriek.
“Peter!” A little girl with dark, brown hair jumped off of Pepper’s lap and ran at him, full pelt.
“Morgan, wait…” he heard Pepper say just as she collided with his leg, causing him to drop the suits.
He instinctively reached out and patted her on the head even though he had no clue who she was.
Pepper made it over to him with an apologetic smile. “Peter, this is our daughter, Morgan.”
What? A shiver of shock went through his body and he looked back down at the little person grasping his leg. She looked up at him with familiar brown eyes.
“Your daughter? And Tony’s?”
“That tends to be how these things work.” Peter looked up to see these words were spoken by Happy.
“Happy!” He exclaimed before being pulled into an unexpected bear hug by the man. He was surprised; Happy always seemed to begrudgingly put up with him.
Happy pulled away, his eyes glassy as he clapped him on the shoulder. “Glad to have you back kid.”
Peter felt his chest tighten at the emotion. It was reassuring to speak to someone he knew well.
“Morgan, let Peter go now.” Pepper’s voice was soft, and the little girl seemed to hold on to him tighter.
He got down to her level and looked at her face to face.
“Hey, nice to meet you Morgan.” He held out his hand and she laughed and shook it up and down and he pretended to fall over from the strength of it. He was rewarded with a giggle and her trying to pull him up again. He let himself be pulled up and she kept her hand in his.
Just then, the doors opened, and two Doctors came in.
“Miss Potts, Dr Cho is all set up and ready in our surgical unit. We just need to prep Mr Stark.”
Peter watched a wave of worry wash over her.
“Happy, can you take Morgan…somewhere else?”
He nodded but as he reached for her, she dipped behind Peter’s leg.
“Let’s go together, yeah?” Peter asked her, and after grabbing his suit in the other hand, she let herself be led by him.
“Thanks Peter,” Pepper said with a weary smile.
Peter followed Happy out of the corridor and all the way out to a courtyard that sat in-between buildings. There was a water feature and Morgan let go of his hand to go and look at it.
Happy must have seen him watching her as he said; “She is really something, hey?”
Peter nodded looking at this physical evidence of how much had changed since he had been gone.
“She is. How old is she?”
“Four now. But she can seem older, she’s a bright spark. Takes mostly after her mother, thank god.”
Peter looked up to share a wide smile with Happy. He remembered the suit in his hands.
“Oh man, Happy, look, my suit got shredded,” he held it up, poking a finger through to show the gaping hole through the material, “Mr Stark is going to kill me.”
Happy let out a short bark. “I think he might let it pass this one time. Why don’t you let me sort that out for you?”
He took it off Peter before giving a laugh again, his eyes lingering on Peter, and then squeezing him on the shoulder. They both watched Morgan for a moment as she ran around the fountain in circles.
“Um, Happy, I-I tried to ring Aunt May, but it said that number is no longer in service. Do you…do you know if she is… OK?”
Happy paled then but started searching in his suit pocket.
“Oh God, you haven’t spoken to her yet?” He pulled his phone out and started tapping on it. “Crap, I have a missed call from her. Yes, she is OK, last I heard. She didn’t snap. I have her number here.”
Peter felt a trickle of electricity run through him. He didn’t know relief could feel so visceral.
Peter took the phone from Happy and walked to a corner of the courtyard. He didn’t know what to expect – to him he’d just seen her a few days ago. Yes, he’d been on a spaceship – on Titan, the pain of disintegrating and the horror on Mr Stark’s face – and then in another battle since then, a lot had happened, but he hadn’t felt the passage of time. He hadn’t felt ‘gone’. Still, tears were in his eyes as he pressed the call button on the phone.
“Happy?” It was her voice; just the same as it’d always been.
Tears rushed forward. “May?” was all he could get out.
“Peter? Peter. Oh my God, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me, Aunt May.”
“Are you OK? Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s you, you’re alive.’ She was weeping now and so was he. He crouched down leaning his head against the cool wall. “Where are you?”
“I - I think I’m in Wakanda,” he said, as that had been his assumption.
“What?!”
“Mr Stark, he died, but then they brought him back. He saved us all, but he’s in a bad way. He is going into surgery now. I don’t know if he will make it.” His throat tightened again.
“Oh sweetheart, that’s awful. I hope it goes well.” He could hear her wiping her nose. “When can you get back to New York?”
“I-I don’t know.” Peter stuttered. He wanted to see her desperately, but he also didn’t want to leave without knowing if Tony would be OK. “It’s hectic here so I might need to stay for a bit. But I’ll make sure I call you. I tried to call yesterday but your number was disconnected. Happy arrived today and he gave me this one.”
“Oh, thank God, I knew I shouldn’t have got a new phone plan, but Kevin convinced me. Something in me said not to, but you were gone; we held a memorial....” She started to cry again. Peter could make out a deeper, questioning voice in the background.
Aunt May’s voice muffled on the line a bit, but he heard her say; “It’s Peter, Kevin, Peter’s alive.”
“Who is Kevin?” Peter asked.
“Oh sweetie,” May’s voice softened, “there is so much to tell you. I don’t want to overwhelm you but I-I got remarried – Kevin is my husband. We have a son, Alfie, who is almost 4.”
Peter took in a breath. She what? The idea of Aunt May moving on after Ben felt weird in itself, but to have a kid too. He didn’t think she’d ever wanted kids. This all felt like it had happened in such a short time and he had to remind himself that it had been five years.
Her voice, tinged with anxiety, stopped his free-falling thoughts, “Peter, are you still there?”
“Yes,” his voice was so thick that he coughed but it did nothing to help, “yes I am. Wow, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”
“I can’t wait for you to meet them. I’ve told them all about you over the years. I think Alfie knows every story about your childhood by heart.” He could hear her tears starting again. “I can’t believe this is happening. I love you so much Peter. I know how much you care about Tony, just, get back home to me as soon as you can.”
“I will, Aunt May. I love you too. I'll be home soon.” He didn’t stop the tears this time: letting them drip onto the light blue scrubs. Home. A new husband and a kid. That wasn't the home that he'd been thinking of. Suddenly getting back to Aunt May didn’t feel as easy as it had before.