Peter

Peter woke abruptly, his spider sense screaming at him that they were in danger. Before he could move, the car swerved and he felt them sliding uncontrollably, making contact with something, and then spinning to a shuddering stop. He was upright in a flash, almost bumping his head on Tony's chin. Tony . He turned to check on his mentor. No, on his soulmate . Making sense of his surroundings and of the day's events only took seconds, but each second seemed to drag out, since his adrenaline said quick action might be needed.

"Tony?" His own voice sounded smaller and younger than he meant it to.

"I'm right here, Pete. I'm fine. You okay?" The man's heart rate said otherwise, but Peter knew he probably had some adrenaline going too.

"Yeah, I think so." Then they both turned towards the front.

"Happy?" Tony questioned. There was silence from the front seat.

Peter heard Tony's heart rate increase, and he instinctively laid a comforting hand on his arm. He was surprised to hear Tony's vitals calm a little.

"Shhh," Peter said, and listened carefully. "His heart rate and breathing are normal-ish. He might just be knocked out." Tony let a relieved breath out at that.

"FRIDAY?"

Tony's connection to FRIDAY was too spotty to do anything with long range, but she was able to scan Happy, and pronounced him unconscious, with a head wound, but safe to move.

"Pete," Tony said after thinking for a moment. "Do you have your suit with you?"

"Yeah," Peter said, feeling calmer. "It's in the backpack."

"We need to get out of here, and get Happy to medical. Last I could tell we were only about twenty minutes away with the storm. I'm guessing my suit can do it in ten or less, even with you guys in tow, but I don't want to leave you here even that long if I can help it."

Peter's brow creased, wondering what Tony was proposing.

"Do you think you could get in your suit and use the heater to keep from turning into a spider-sicle while you hang on to my back, so I can carry Hap?"

"Yeah? I mean, I don't see why not."

"Okay, let's do that. You'll need to be quick once we open the doors. I'm going to get out, suit up, and open Happy's door, popping the trunk so you can get to your bag, and the blanket that should be back there, too, okay?"

"Got it."

Once he got out, Peter wasted no time slipping into his suit.

"Hello, Peter."

"Hey, Karen," he said politely. "Turn on my heater, please?" He was already chilled after just being out in the snow and wind for a couple minutes. He grabbed the big blanket that was in the trunk, but left the other emergency supplies he didn't think they'd need, and slammed it shut. He was already grateful the suit covered him head to toe, blocking the wind-chill.

"I'm having a hard time getting a solid connection, but my GPS indicates we aren't in the city. Is everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah, but I might have to explain later? We're kinda in the middle of something."

"Do you need me to try to contact Mr. Stark?"

"Nah, he's here too, Karen. Lots to tell you later. Just keep that heater going until we get to the Compound, yeah?"

"Of course, Peter."

Happy was awake when he brought the blanket up to Tony, but not overly lucid. Between the two of them, they were able to get him wrapped up like a burrito, with just his face peeking out.

"Okay, Pete," Tony said, very carefully lifting Happy into his arms. "Time to hop on."

Peter jumped up as lightly as he could and crouched, using his stickiness to attach himself to the back of Tony's suit. Even with the heater, he could feel the chill of the metal in his hands and feet.

"Are you set, Pete?"

"Yep."

"Are you sure? You've got a good grip?" What was with Tony? He sounded more worried about Peter than about Happy at this point. He didn't make it a habit to hitch rides on Tony's suit, but it had definitely happened in the past, and Tony hadn't ever seemed this concerned about it before.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Why are you worried this time?"

"I don't know," Tony said gruffly, lifting off smoothly and blasting towards the Compound at a somewhat pedestrian speed compared to his normal velocity. Peter knew adjustment was necessary with his two passengers fairly unprotected in that weather. "It's probably our new bond messing with me. But usually there are buildings around you could web to if you fell or something."

"Oh, that makes sense." At least their comms were working just fine.

"You doing okay, kid? This is all a little crazy."

"Yeah. I mean, I'm worried about Happy, but I think everything's going to be okay. We're together, right?" He said the last part a little hesitantly.

"Yeah, Pete, we're together. It's all good." He could hear the smile in Tony's voice.

They got Happy to the Compound in good time, and after just a few minutes in flight, FRIDAY's connection was better, so they were able to communicate with people, including medical, so they were ready for Happy when they landed.

It had only taken them an hour or so to assess and treat the bodyguard, and it looked like the concussion was relatively minor. There were no other injuries to speak of, and they were letting him sleep awhile before deciding whether to release him from medbay that night or not. Still, Tony and Peter were hanging out on the couch just outside his room, waiting for him to wake up so they could see for themselves that he was okay. Peter sat on Tony's right so their soul marks were pressed together, both on their phones texting. After assuring May that he was fine, and Happy was fine, and everyone was fine, he opened up his group chat with Ned and MJ, which showed unread messages.

MJ: Hey, I know you were planning to drive upstate today. Did you guys make it okay? This storm has been crazy.

Nedward: Yeah, dude. We need to know you're good.

Nedward: Dude.

MJ: Peter, seriously.

Hey guys. Sorry, it's been crazy.

We made it to the Compound, but we totally got in an accident and Happy has a concussion, and Mr. Stark had to fly us the rest of the way with his suit.

Nedward: askldfj WHAT

MJ: An accident? Are you okay?

Yeah, guys, I'm fine. Happy is gonna be okay too.

But that's not the craziest news of the day.

Nedward: Again. WHAT.

So, you know my platonic blank?

MJ: What.

Nedward: What about it?

"You want pizza for dinner, Pete?" Tony leaned into him slightly just before speaking, to make sure he had the boy's attention as he spoke.

"Is that a rhetorical question?" Peter asked, looking up from his phone and side-eying the billionaire. Tony huffed out a laugh and turned to really look at him. "Sorry, kid. You're probably starving," he said, reaching up to swipe affectionately at his hair.

Peter didn't feel like ducking away like he normally did, and instead leaned into his soulmate's touch. Tony's eyes softened, and he stroked the teenager's hair a few more times before sliding a thumb down the side of his race as he dropped his arm. Peter's eyes closed in appreciation.

"Kind of a crazy afternoon and evening for you, especially. We hit you with the soulmate stuff, then threw you in a car and a snowstorm, and it all ended in an unexpected rescue mission. I promise we'll lay low the rest of the weekend and work on settling our bond."

"Eh, sounds pretty typical for both of us," Peter said with a smile. "It wasn't my favorite way to wake up, though."

"Top ten worst ways?"

"Definitely." Peter responded. "But, yeah. I'm pretty hungry."

"Why don't you run to the kitchen and grab a snack? Pizza won't be here for thirty minutes still."

"Maybe I will. Just a sec."

He leaned his weight against Tony again and looked back down at his phone.

MJ: We're waiting…

Nedward: Um, hello?

MJ: Peter.

MJ: Peter!

Nedward: seriously, dude?

Whoops. He had really left his friends hanging.

Sorry guys, didn't mean to ghost you after that

MJ: so you are alive

Ned: what is the bigger news? did you meet your soulmate dude?

Well, I didn't meet him, but I found out who my soulmate is

You know, as soon as Mr. Stark got back from his meeting.

MJ: Are you serious?

Nedward: as;gjwwrrgrwhj;oifwjrw;fkwjfjkwf

MJ: Tony Stark is your platonic soulmate?

Yeah

MJ: Peter, that's insane. But amazing. Are you happy?

I am

Overwhelmed, but really happy

MJ: And Mr. Stark?

Peter knew MJ still had some mixed feelings about his mentor, though they'd softened over the last year or two, seeing how he valued and treated Peter well.

He seems pretty happy

Peter smiled slightly, and turned his head towards Tony, who seemed to be texting as well. The older man stopped and raised an eyebrow at him, silently asking him what he was thinking about. Peter felt a warmth in his chest. Yes, they had a lot of adjusting to do with the added dimension of the soulmate bond, but their connection already had pretty deep roots. They usually talked and bantered a lot, but they also communicated well without words, a side effect of lots of time spent together and of minds that were accustomed to running on the same wavelength.

"Just talking to Ned and MJ."

"You filling them in?"

"Yeah. They're… surprised. Excited for us, though, I think."

Ned, you alive?

Nedward: No. I am deceased. And my mom thought I had cut my hand off or something with all the yelling.

Nedward: We are talking about this so SO much later

Tony set a hand briefly on his knee, and smiled at Peter when he looked up. "Go eat, kid. They're gonna wake Happy up again in a few minutes, so I don't want to leave right now."

"Okay, sounds good. I'll be back in a few."

Peter made his way to the Compound's expansive kitchen, guessing he'd have more luck with the communal one vs. the smaller one in Tony's suite, since they hadn't been here much lately. He was hungry, but didn't want to fill up too much when there was pizza on its way. He settled for a bowl of cereal and a banana, then decided to call MJ while he had a chance.

"Peter, hey! I didn't think I'd be hearing from you today."

"Yeah, I had a few minutes, and was by myself, so I just thought I'd say hi."

"Are you sure you're okay? What caused the accident?"

"Uh, that's a really good question that I should probably ask, actually. I was asleep at the time, and woke up when we crashed. I haven't even thought to ask what happened. The car didn't look too beat up though, and there wasn't another car involved, I don't think. They didn't stick around if there was. I think there might have been a deer?"

"Well, I'm just glad everyone's okay."

"Yeah. It'll be better when Happy's out of medbay, but Tony said the doctor said he's going to be fine."

"So, it's Tony now, huh?" she teased him gently.

"I called him 'Tony' before. Sometimes." Peter protested.

"Not often to us," MJ said lightly. "That's good, though."

She was silent for a minute, and then her voice turned frustrated. "Wait, did you say you're by yourself? Aren't you supposed to like… stay with your soulmate for the first few days? My mom said you get headaches and sick to your stomach and stuff if you don't. Her sister has a soulmate, and she said they couldn't be apart at first." Her voice was getting more agitated as she went. "Where is Mr. Stark, and why isn't he with you?"

As if he'd been summoned, Tony poked his head in the door. "Hey, kid, you've been gone for a while. Everything okay?"

"He just came looking for me, MJ. Chill," Peter said good-naturedly. "He'd sent me up to get something to eat. Don't worry, no one's being neglected."

"Okay, then. Tell him if he does I'm going to come kill him slowly."

"Violent, much? No, I'm not going to tell him that. Love you, Em. Talk to you later."

There was a pause. "Love you, too."

"How are you feeling, bud?" Tony asked as he walked over to Peter. "Because you've been gone about fifteen minutes, and I'm starting to get a killer headache."

Peter jumped to his feet. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, I didn't even think about that until just now."

"You don't feel anything?"

"Mmm," Peter considered. "My head does hurt a little bit. But it kinda comes and goes."

"Interesting," Tony said, then stepped into Peter's space and clasped his shoulder over his soul mark.

Wow. That was a lot better than he'd been before. Yeah, that was pretty much the best feeling ever. "That… that's good... Headache's gone. That's crazy!" Peter ducked his arm from under Tony's so he could return the favor, putting his hand over his mentor's soul mark. And, because he couldn't seem to help himself, and probably because of his reflexes with May, he also stepped in close and wrapped the other arm around Tony's middle in a hug. Even as he did it he started preparing to retreat, because what was he thinking, exactly? But before he could, Tony's arm came up to wrap tentatively around his shoulders as he leaned into Peter as well.

"Oh, hi," he said, sounding surprised. Then, "Yeah, you're right, that feels much better." Peter stepped back, feeling the loss immediately, but kept his hand on Tony's arm. After all, it was his fault the man had a headache.

"Sorry, I don't know what-"

"Pete, stop that. You're my soulmate. You don't need permission to hug me, and you definitely don't need to apologize for it. Despite what you may have heard, I don't melt into a puddle when someone hugs me."

"Oh. Um, okay." He wasn't sure how easily he could make that mental switch. But he wanted to. Hugging Tony had felt really great every time he'd done it. There just hadn't been many real, full hugs. Usually only after he'd almost gotten himself killed as Spiderman, now that he thought about it. But he knew Tony struggled with touch, from a few conversations with Pepper and Rhodey, and the man had been good at letting Peter know he cared about him in lots of other ways, including making frequent physical contact. But for Peter, it was hard not to touch people he cared about. So he was always just a little guarded around Tony, in that way. He didn't want to overstep or bother him.

The man looked anything but bothered, though, and he wrapped his arm around Peter's shoulder and steered them towards the door.

"How about we go help Happy get settled in his own room for the night, then we'll eat dinner and pull up a movie. Sound good?"

"Yeah, that sounds great." Peter sighed, falling into step and trying to keep his eyes completely open as his body reacted to Tony's hand brushing casually over his soul mark. It had been such a weird day. A really hard, and then really good day, but just… he could not have predicted anything that had happened today. Hopefully the rest of it would be calmer, because he was feeling stretched a little thin.

Well, not right this minute, tucked into Tony's side and heading for pizza. Right now he felt completely content.