The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the rain
Info: This is for day 1 of starker week. Angst, fluff, more angst. Someone had to rewrite IW and Endgame.
Peter wanted to enjoy one school trip. But as soon as he felt on edge and saw a huge spaceship, he knew that that was a job for Spider-Man. So he got Ned to cause a distraction and he went on to save the day again. But apparently he was saving more than the day, because when Peter stopped the villain he saw Tony.
"What's up, Mr. Stark?" he said, trying to sound cool and nonchalant, despite the pressure of this guy's hammer.
"Kid, where'd you come from?"
"Field trip to MoMA. What is this guy's problem, Mr. Stark?"
"He's from space. He came here to steal a necklace from a wizard.". After getting a few hits in the villain, Mr. Stark said.
"Kid, that's the wizard. Get on it."
"On it!" The younger hero felt bad about leaving his mentor, Tony could get hurt or worse. But this time the world was just a tiny bit more important than Mr. Stark.
Peter was swinging, chasing after the alien which looked like a whitewalker. Why was it after a flying wizard and why did it just float on a pile of rocks? Spider-Man had just grabbed the wizard when a blue light from the spaceship pulled them up.
"Uhh, Mr. Stark? I'm being beamed up!" Peter said desperately. This wasn't happening, he didn't sign up for this. He was holding in for dear life, as the ship went up. Mr. Stark yelled to him.
"Pete, you gotta let go. I'm gonna catch you."
"But you said save the wizard!" He was getting more dizzy by the second, needing more air, he pulled off his mask. That didn't help, so he said
"I can't breathe!" in hopes that Mr. Stark knew what to do.
" You're too high up. You're running out of air."
"Yeah! That makes sense." With a final gasp for air Peter passed out and started falling. A pod stuck itself to him, quickly turning his suit in a new model, similar to Tony's.
"Mr. Stark, it smells like a new car in here!"
" Happy trails, kid. F.R.I.D.A.Y, send him home."
"Yep."
Peter didn't understand how the A.I. would do that, but then a parachute emerged, sending him back to Earth.
"OH, COME ON!"
Peter decided to listen to Tony for once and not stick to the ship like he originally planned. After nearly dying already, he was ready to go back home.
Thanks to F.R.I.D.A.Y, he was back in Queens, safe and sound.
No one called Peter to the final battle. No one warned him about the potential destruction of the world. No one explained to him why his aunt turned to dust. So he watched the news, watched as thousands of people were announced to be missing.
Peter spent days all alone. Everyone he loved was gone - May, Ned, MJ and even Tony. He felt guilty - he couldn't prevent this, he didn't help the Avengers. He couldn't be the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man anymore. Peter called Happy over and over again, wanting to return his suit. The bodyguard finally picked up, glad to hear the superhero's voice.
Peter spent a few days in the Avengers compound. At first he was just there to leave the suit, but it was refreshing to spend some time with everyone else. They all had something in common - they lost someone. Steve had lost Bucky, Rhodey had lost Tony, they all had lost Sam and Wanda.
Peter was about to leave, he was out of the door and in the yard when the ground shook violently. Soon everyone was with him watching as someone landed a spacecraft. Peter could make out a blue android or alien or something else entirely supporting Tony. Before the teen could move Steve ran to Tony, helping him stand up. Tony grips Steve's arm as he joins him. Peter just moves back and listens to them talk.
"I couldn't stop him."
"Neither could I."
"I lost them."
"Tony, we lost."
"Is ummm... Pepper okay?"
"I'm sorry Tony."
Tony had been in space for 22 days, he was weak and malnourished, he looked moments away from death. And when he heard that, he was about ready to die. But there still was a sliver of hope.
"And the kid?" Peter stepped forward.
"I'm right here, Mr. Stark." Tony embraces him and whispers in his ear.
"You should be home."
"May's gone." Peter says back.
"Let's get inside."
They all sat down, Tony with an IV in his arm. Natasha started filling them in.
"It's been 23 days since Thanos came to Earth. World governments are in pieces. The parts that are still working are trying to take a census. And it looks like he did... exactly what he said he was going to do. Thanos wiped out fifty percent, of all living creatures."
"Where is he now? Where?"
"We don't know. He just opened a portal and walked through."
They talked about Thor, about Thanos. Peter zoned out, just watching his mentor in awe. Tony was back, finally. Then it all happened, it was like he was in a daze. He heard Mr. Stark arguing with Cap, saw Tony's weak body get up, ready to fight, calling Steve a liar, he watches how Tony rips his Arc Reactor from his chest and shoves it into Steve's hand, saying something. Tony falls to the ground, losing consciousness. Peter stayed by his side.
Peter stayed by his side after that too. They were in a cabin, all by themselves. Peter knew that it was meant for Tony and Pepper. It was evident by the queen bed. The bed that he sometimes crawled into after a nightmare. They shared their first kiss on that bed. It was needy and desperate, passionate and a little bittersweet. After that their relationship was complicated. It took time for Tony to accept that his feelings weren't wrong and that his partner was a consenting adult. It took time for Peter to realise that he wasn't just a rebound. But they both healed and they started their lives again. They went on dates, lived together, they even talked about their future. They never married, Tony was still technically married to Pepper. Peter still wore a wedding band, Tony made them a pair.
He fiddled with it as he watched Steve, Scott and Natasha talk to his partner. Tony returns without a word. He tells Peter about their plan and he thinks about it. Pete doesn't say anything about it. They eat dinner and Tony stays behind to do the dishes. He looks up to see a picture of Peter and May. Maybe he has something to fight for.
When he tells Pete, the latter panics. He accuses Tony of just wanting Pepper back, for wasting 5 years of their lives.
After Tony explains they go to the lab and work. They figure it out and Tony wants them to go to the compound.
Peter gulps and says.
"I don't wanna go. I don't I'll be able to help when you're in danger. Just be safe okay, I don't want to loose you again."
"I know, baby. Peter, I love you 3000."
"I love you 3000 too."
