Tony watched as the Ant-guy, or whatever he called himself, flung Peter into the air. The boy plummeted toward the ground. If it weren't for the shrill shriek Peter let out, Tony would've assumed he died before he even hit the ground.
"Damn it," the man muttered, powering his thrusters at full speed toward the boy. He wasn't even close, he only gave himself a front-row seat to the kid's death... No, he couldn't say that. Hell, with all the freaky stuff he could do, the kid may not die. It wouldn't surprise Tony.
Tony stopped his mind from rambling as he approached Peter. His suit retracted, as he assumed Peter would rather see his actual face than the suit. As he rounded the corner of a shipping crate, he heard heaving breaths. It willed him to move faster, despite the aches he had earned throughout the fight.
"Pe-... Spider-Man!" He caught himself. The last thing they needed was for the rogues to find out Peter's identity. Kneeling next to the pile of debris Peter landed on, Tony took in the sight. Peter tried to lift his hands toward his mask, scrabbling at the unwanted fabric.
Tony helped the boy, hooking his finger underneath the spandex and pulling it over the boy's head before tossing it to the side. Peter was a mess. His eyes gazed across his field of vision as his pants grew heavier.
"You good, kid? Breath for me, okay? The fall shocked you. You're alright." Tony said, tremors running through his hands as they traced over Peter's body. The boy twisted and spasmed in pain. "Stay still," He mumbled, holding a hand on the boy's chest. Peter gasped as he arched away from Tony's touch.
"Okay, okay. I won't touch. Can you tell me where it hurts?" He asked, frowning when it took a few moments for Peter to find his face.
"My... n-neck hurts so bad," the boy slurred. The arc-reactor in Tony's chest grew ten-times heavier. This was bad. Tony raised a shaky hand to his ear before pressing on his comm.
"Rhodes, I need you. Spider-kid's hurt." Tony didn't bother to listen for a response as his focus returned to Peter, who now had tears trailing down his face.
Tony wiped the tears off of the boy's cheeks, being as gentle as possible. Once Peter had calmed down, Tony spoke, "Pete, you think you can answer some questions for me?" The boy hummed, eager for anything to distract himself from the pain.
Tony caressed the boy's hand. "Okay, try to wiggle your fingers for me." He said, watching as Peter's fingers twitched and spasmed. But at least he could move them, albeit barely.
"Good, good job buddy. Now try your toes." Tony pinched Peter's big toe between his fingers lightly, waiting for even a slight twitch. But nothing came. Tony leaned around, trying to catch Peter's eye, "Pete?" The boy hummed, "A-are they not-?" Peter began, "No! No, you're fine kid, lay still for me, okay?"
The last thing Tony needed was for Peter to panic. It could cause the kid to hurt himself more, and Tony didn't think he could watch Peter in any more pain.
At that moment, Tony heard the low whirring of Rhodey's suit behind him. He allowed him to relax slightly, "I'm gonna get you some help bud, just stay calm, alright?" Tony moved a strand of Peter's hair away from the boy's eye before he stood. Peter's eyes lazily followed him until he was too far.
"What happened?" Rhodey asked, looking over Peter's still form, "Holy shit Tony. You said he was young, not a fucking preschooler." Tony felt shame flood over him, he knew he fucked up, but they needed to help Peter.
"I know. The fall damaged his spinal cord, we need to get him out of here." Rhodey looked around, before his eyes laid on scattered wood and a tarp, "Grab some longer pieces. We have to make a stretcher, he's not walking out of here."
Reluctantly, Tony left Peter's side, giving his hand a small squeeze before he followed Rhodey to the piles of wood. The two fashioned a makeshift stretcher in a matter of seconds. Setting the contraption beside Peter, the two took their spots. Rhodey at his head, while Tony stood between the boy's feet.
On the count of three, the two men lifted Peter onto the stretcher. Tony tried his hardest to block out Peter's cries, but he felt a piece of him chip away at each one. Though as quickly as the cries started, they stopped.
"Is he okay?" Tony asked, trying to see Peter's face. "He's fine Tones, he just passed out. Probably for the better."
"Shit," Rhodey mumbled as he set Peter's head on the tarp, "What? What's wrong?" Rhodey glanced up at Tony before returning his hands under Peter's head.
"His head's bleeding," Tony almost dropped his side of the stretcher, how could he miss something like that? No wonder the kid had been out of it. Rhodey ripped the sleeves of his shirt, tying the fabric snuggly around Peter's head. The boy winced as his neck jostled, before fading back into unconsciousness. Rhodey led the way to the jet they arrived on, weaving between the large crates to avoid the fighting. Tony couldn't care less whether the rogues escaped, he needed Peter safe.
Tony hadn't left Peter's side since they boarded the jet. They'd set Peter down on an actual stretcher, and Tony folded up their extra sheets so Peter had something to lay his head on. Rhodey knew the man would deny his fatherly antics in the future, but Rhodey couldn't say he didn't like to see them. It was nice to see Tony care for others; it was a side of Tony that the man didn't let show often.
Tony offered many times to help Rhodey out, by speaking to the others on their team, or flying the jet. Though Rhodey waved him off each time, "Be with your kid."
Once the jet landed on the top of the Avengers tower, the bridge opened, revealing medical staff. Tony followed the boy as far as he could until nurses forcefully pushed him away.
Tony found a seat just before he collapsed. It sat in front of the double doors that Peter disappeared behind. His plan was to stay there until they wheeled Peter out, as happy and star-struck as the first time Tony met him.
A few moments later, Rhodey arrived, his hands still stained with blood, Peter's blood. The man sat next to Tony, "He'll be fine Tony, trust-,"
"I made him a martyr." Tony said simply, picking at his nails.
"He's not dead Tones.."
"You know, he has an aunt back home. She's his only family left. I told her I'd bring him back safely. I-I promised.."
"Then make it right." Rhodey said, setting a palm on Tony's shoulder, "Bring her kid back home to her," He said, patting Tony's shoulder before leaving the med bay.
Peter's memory was fuzzy. Honestly, everything was fuzzy, he felt as if someone stuffed cotton balls into every orifice of his body.
"That would be uncomfortable," A voice chuckled from beside him. Peter whipped his head over, grimacing at the sudden movement.
"Woah kid, calm down," the mystery voice belonged to Tony Stark, who was sitting next to his bed. His hospital bed.
"Mr. Stark... What happened," He asked, the fuzziness in his vision fading as he fully awoke.
"You, ah," The man tensed, "You fell. It was a close call, damaged your spinal cord, and you hit your head pretty hard." Peter frowned, searching his memory for anything. Though he came up blank.
"Guess I wasn't much help then," Peter laughed deprecatingly. Tony shook his head, "No. Don't say that. You helped us take down the ant-dude. We couldn't have done it without you."
"It's Ant-Man, Mr. Stark."
"Yeah, okay Spider-Boy"