Hey guys.
Well, I saw Endgame and no, I won't spoil anything for those that haven't seen it yet. I have a lot to say but I'll do it after this.
This is a short chapter but I really wanted to get something out after seeing Endgame. No spoilers of it here.
I will edit this later on to fix errors and such as always.
(P.S. I've decided to add titles to these chapters so expect that too.)
I own nothing of Marvel (if I did some things I'd change) but I do hope you enjoy.
#8 – Shopping Time
"Not that I don't appreciate your company, Peter, but you really didn't have to come along with me."
The sound of her voice kinda brought him out of his daze. "We barely spend any time together lately, May."
"Well, I hoped I would last week but a certain someone was grounded and under lock down and Mr. Stark didn't specify on why exactly." She raised a brow at her blushing nephew.
"Hehe, sorry about that." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously but then May kissed his cheek.
"Well, you're here now." She smiled before tugging on his hand.
The day he was finally free from his grounding at the compound. the first thing Peter did was invite Ned over to catch up by having a movie marathon. Which involved junk food and leaving a big time mess. Aka ruining the couch. Well, it was getting old anyway. Time for a new one. Which meant one thing … shopping time!
Peter followed May through the front entrance of a gigantic furniture store; Target. As Peter looked at the many bed, bath and dining accessories they passed as they maneuvered by other browsers, his mind began drifting again.
The dream he had this morning … it was the same one he had over a month ago when he and Tony made up but the heavy rain shower outside had him stay overnight at the compound. He couldn't sleep all by himself so he went to Tony's room; finding sleep easily. That's when he had that dream … so surreal … like it was actually happening in real life. This morning, the same dream happened. Seeing the Avengers, his aunt and friends, then seeing familiar faces like Strange and Wong as he finally connected the dots, but there were still others he didn't recognize at all.
But this morning, the dream ended differently. As he and everyone else looked up at the endless sparkling sky, it quickly changed into a dark deep void that sparked out blue energy before revealing a gigantic ship that looked menacing before it shot one big energy blast that gave off intense heat and ended with a blinding light before Peter gasped waking up in a cold sweat. It was the opposite of what he felt the first time he had that kind of dream; the first time left him feeling dazed but in a peaceful sense whereas this one left him on edge. He thought coming with May today would help him ease down his troubled mind but it kept drawing him back to the chilling feeling of uneasiness. Uncertainty. Quite possibly … death.
"Peter? Sweetie? Are you alright?"
"Huh?" Peter's eyes snapped open to see May hovering close to him, her staring at him, worry displayed.
"You got quiet on me for a moment there. Is something wrong?"
"No I – "
"Are you sick or hurt, sweetie? Did you do something reckless again?" She ran her hands up and down his arms then cupped his cheeks before checking his forehead for his temperature.
"No! May, I'm fine. I'm just … tired, that's all." It showed in his tone.
"Okay." She kept an arm around him as they walked to the couches section across the other side on the vast room. "When we get back, you better get some shut eye early. Now," they both stopped before the various couches, "which one do we want?"
"Well, I kinda ruined it so …" Peter apologetically smiled.
"Whichever one you choose, I know I'll love it just the same." May encouraged.
But after looking over the many they had on display, none of them seemed homey enough. Like, not on the Parker scale of cozy comfort. An hour and a half passed and still they couldn't find the perfect couch for them. Not too stiff. Not too strange feeling. Not too small or too big. It didn't make Peter feel any better either; he was starting to feel his eyes droop more. He tried blinking away the sleepiness he felt tugging at him as he looked around the store and saw many people there; mostly couples, and one pair caught his eye.
Both wore average clothing; the woman wearing a gray cardigan, a lilac shirt, plain jeans and heeled boots plus shades, the man in a dark navy hoodie, gray shirt, denim jeans and dark sneakers plus a baseball hat and shades. They were talking to an employee about something; his enhanced hearing picked up along the lines of furbishing and moving arrangements. There was something familiar about them.
As Peter walked over and tried his best to act casual and walk in a normal pace, he got closer to them when the employee left for the back room and he heard the couple's voices.
"Furbishing is gonna be a challenge, especially if you plan on doing this."
"When I said I'd build you a house, you thought I was kidding? Really?"
"Nope. I just don't want you to throw your back or something."
"Hey, I'm not that old! I am offended, by my own fiance no less."
Quiet laughter ensued between the two when Peter's brain made the realization.
The woman felt eyes on them and her face looked over the man's shoulder to see Peter there.
Her shades fell forward as her blue eyes widened but seeing Peter made her relax and sigh relieved before smiling at him. The man with his back to him turned around and just like Pepper, his shades dropped to reveal the surprised but warm chocolate eyes of his dad. He grew an amused grin before plopping a hand in Peter's curly hair.
"Underoos, eavesdropping now, are we?"
OOO
"So, when are you two moving ?" May asked.
"We thought after the honeymoon, but then thought about moving into our own place to make it easier to plan the wedding. Though, Tony is persistent on building me a house. A farm house, if you can imagine." Pepper mused.
"Just you two, in a nice home in the countryside. The simple life."
"He has blueprints for it and everything."
"I think that's sweet." May awed.
"He's very thoughtful like that." Pepper smiled bashfully.
They laughed before the same employee came back and helped Pepper arrange her tall order.
The guys watched them from afar as Peter asked, "Are you really moving away?"
Tony heard the sadness in his son's voice, making him frown deeply. "Yeah, but eventually. There's still a lot we have to do first."
"But shopping here?" Peter looked sideways to Tony.
"Pep suggested we go out." Peter raised his brows, not sure if that was the entire reason. Tony pursed his lips as he clasped his arms behind his back, "And I may have got wind of you coming here with your aunt and thought we could all catch up. Besides," Peter leaned back as Tony's hand settled on his back, "I missed you."
Peter smiled shyly at him, "It's only been a day."
"Yeah well the compound was less lively without you around." Tony sounded sad but he was grinning nonetheless.
"By doing chores, having early bedtimes, and you taking my … stuff? That's your definition of lively?" Peter asked incredulously, remembering his punishments all last week including have his suit taken away again, making sure not to say anything out loud that could draw unwanted attention.
"If lively means more of me keeping my eye on you, guilty as charged. Come on, you really think I'd let you get back out there when not only you couldn't go away scotch free, but the thought of you ending up on the moon could make my hair go gray? Every day with you makes me feel older than I should. It's a challenge." Tony made it sound more dramatic than it really was.
"So, you're not leaving me?" Peter whispered.
That question hit him hard, like someone punched him square in the chest. What did he just say? Suddenly, Tony felt a body hit his side as Peter's head leaned forward along with his form. Tony's eyes widened as his arm immediately wrapped securely around the kid's form, keeping him pinned in a one armed hug. "You okay, kiddo?" He watched Peter raise his head up slowly and blinked his eyes from the quick movements before Peter buried his face in Tony's shoulder and Tony's face buried in his hair as he helped sit themselves down on the couch next to them. Peter grabbed the front of Tony's shirt and curled himself closer, mumbling as he felt the strong urge to keep the man as close to him as possible. Tony looked around and saw the area not so crowded anymore and Pepper and May still busy with the employee. "What did you just say?"
"You … you won't … won't leave … leave me … will you?" Peter asked softly, his warm breaths seeping through Tony's shirt where his heart was, making him feel heightened with strong emotions coming in.
"Peter, did you really think I'd just pack my bags and leave you behind? After I get married? Just move across the country or the other side of the world? Who do you take me for?" He lightly joked but he still sounded serious as his eyes narrowed behind his shades looking down at the boy who looked restless. He didn't look this tired at all when he was at the compound "Are you having trouble sleeping?" Peter hummed, meaning yes. "That hasn't happened in a while." The last time he saw him having trouble sleeping was that rainy night when he let Peter sleep over at the compound. Nice bonding moment but this was different.
"It was … the one … I had … like … before … only … this was … different." Peter spoke slowly, trying his best to stay awake for Tony.
"Different how?"
"Ended … differently … we … were all … there … but … it went … from … warm … to … cold … so cold … like … death."
Tony's eyes widened again, fear striking his core. What Peter just said, it shouldn't be taken seriously. It was just a dream. Then again, Tony could relate. Thinking back to the nightmares he had following the New York invasion were terrifying. Flying the nuke through the portal, entering deep space, seeing that giant space ship as everything exploded. Falling. Unable to breathe. To think clearly. To fall into a deep sleep. Almost like embracing death. Was something similar happening to Peter?
"It was … real … Tony. It felt … so real. It … felt … terrible. I … I don't … want it … to be … real." Peter whimpered, a new found fear clawing inside him. He felt Tony's arm hug his waist tighter as well as Tony's other arm swooping under his legs and lay them on the chaise while his upper body lays on Tony's chest. Peter felt sleepy again when a hand brushed back his hair comfortingly, making him hum in content.
"It's okay, Peter. It was just a dream. It can't hurt you." Tony assured him.
"But … you were there. The team. My friends. May. Everyone was there. And … it ended badly. Tony, what if it's … not just a dream? I can't stop thinking about it. I …" Peter tried speaking more but he just felt so tired. Tony shushed him as he hugged him closer.
"Okay, kid. If you're really worried about this, then maybe … maybe this should be looked into. You're not the only one who has had strange dreams of sorts … we'll figure this out. So don't think I'm taking off anytime soon. You're stuck with me, kiddo. Till the end of the line."
Tony swore on it.
Peter hummed softly as his form relaxed against Tony's as he finally dozed off. His face snuggled into Tony's chest, making the older man smile warmly as he let his kid nap. It should help get some of his energy back. Tony went back to thinking on this new predicament. Peter's dream reminded Tony of the one Peter had of Toomes. Of being left dead. And Tony leaving him. His arms gripped the kid tighter, making Peter moan in discomfort so Tony loosened his arms a bit, helping Peter relax back into sleep. Peter's latest dream and how much of a mess it left him in, compare it to Tony's nightmares of the Chitauri invasion and how unease and fearful he got from them, they were both left feeling similar things. Almost the same. Or exactly the same. Maybe it was a one time thing and Peter would be able to move on from it. Maybe Tony was worrying over nothing. Maybe … or maybe his kid was onto something and it left him feeling scared.
Pepper helped Tony go through those tough times. He would do the same for Peter. Even if it might not be anything too serious, his kid needed him.
"I won't leave you, Peter. I'll be there for you. Always." He whispered in Peter's hair before kissing his forehead, seeing Peter smile faintly made his heart soar.
The sound of footsteps made Tony look up and see Pepper and May approach them, both with adoring looks on their faces at the cute scene before them.
"Kid needed nap time." Tony explained.
"Well, I've got everything taken care of. I'd get started on that farmhouse if I were you." Pepper teased.
"A farmhouse, cabin, whatever suites you best, my dear." Tony winked.
"My poor baby. He did seem off since we left this morning. Did he say what was wrong?" May asked, running a hand through Peter's hair.
"A bad dream. Left him troubled. Same goes for me too."
"Should we be worried?" Pepper asked.
"I hope not. It's probably nothing but … we'll see." Tony gave a loving look at his sleeping son.
"Why don't we look around, May? Let our boys relax for a while?" Pepper suggested, worried for Peter but knowing that he'll be alright with Tony there. Like always.
"Well, I think it's safe to say that we should get this for our apartment." The fiances gave a curious look at May. "We were looking for a replacement couch. This sofa looks much nicer than it though. I can tell Peter likes it too." The kid was looking comfy laying on the chaise, even humming as he napped. "See?"
May and Pepper left to go purchase it along with other things.
And the grey Haven two piece terminal chaise sectional was left occupied by Iron Dad and his sleeping Spider Son.
I wanted to add more but I needed to get something up after seeing Endgame ASAP.
So, the next chapter will be a follow up to this one and they, like the last chapter of Your Underoos if you remember, will have Peter's dreams play a big role in what I'm planning. I'm still thinking it over but after seeing the movie, I am torn on if I should add Infinity War into this story somehow as well as Endgame ...
What do you guys think? I am unsure on what to do. Because this series of mine is AU so if I do decide to make IW and Endgame a part of this story, they'll happen way later on. And yes, it'll be a fix-it situation/story. Let me know, help me out, by commenting down below.
Guys, that movie though, I was overwhelmed and unable to react after leaving the theater and only when I came back home and re-watched some particular scenes on Youtube did I finally breakdown so hard! T-T
I'm fine now.
Once again guys, your constant love and support of this series of mine is truly something I love and am thankful for. Fave, follow, review.
Until next time, bye guys.
