Note: Tony survived Endgame
Peter stared in shock at the screen where his own face stared back at him. This couldn't be happening!
Below him, MJ was surrounded and people started barraging her with questions.
Peter jumped down, grabbed MJ, and started swinging. He wasn't fully paying attention to where he was going, he just knew he needed to get away. Away. Away from the people and the city and the accusations. There was one place Peter knew would be completely safe.
Tony fiddled with Dum-E's circuit board, the robot beeping inquisitively at him.
"Hang on, I'm almost done," he grumbled, "What are you rushing me for? You only reed repairs cause you tried chase those ducks."
Pepper smiled fondly as she finished making Morgan's lunch. She patted her husband's back as she passed him.
"Don't worry about him Dum-E," she said, "We all know Morgan put you up to it."
The robot beeped happily at her and Pepper laughed as Tony rolled his eyes.
"Morgan, come eat your lunch!" Pepper called to her daughter.
"Mommy! Daddy! Peter's on TV!" Morgan called from the other room.
Tony and Pepper exchanged looks before walking in to join their daughter. There, on the screen, J. Jonah Jameson was announcing to the world that Peter was Spiderman and had apparently killed some guy named Mysterio.
Pepper looked at Peter, her eyes wide.
"Damn it," he cursed, running a hand through his hand. He pulled out his phone, but before he could dial, it started ringing.
"May," he answered, "I know, I just saw it. Listen, I'm gonna take care of this, okay? If he's in the suit I can track him and-"
"Tony!" Pepper called and he turned to see she was pointing outside.
He looked out just in time to see Peter landing in front of the house, a few yards away. MJ was with him, and she crouched down as Peter collapsed to his knees.
"May, he's here," Tony said, "Yeah, he just got here. Listen, pack some stuff, I'm gonna have Happy come pick you up. I'm gonna have him get Peter's friend, Ned, too. People are going to have questions. Don't worry, we'll take care of this."
He turned to his wife, but she was already on the phone with Happy, relaying what Tony had said. He gave her a grateful smile before hurrying out the door.
Peter was still where he had landed, but his mask was off, and even from the porch Tony could hear the gut-wrenching sobs escaping the kid.
He dropped to his knees in front of the teen.
"Pete, Peter, listen to me," Tony said softly, "You're okay buddy, you're okay. You're safe here. I know this is scary, I know this is a lot, but you're safe now. You hear me? I need you to try and slow your breathing. In… out…"
He coached Peter's breathing until it had slowed enough for Peter to stop panicking completely.
"Mr. Stark," Peter cried, "I didn't kill him! I didn't! I wouldn't do that! But everyone thinks… And everyone knows I'm…"
Peter was starting to panic again. Tony pulled the boy against his chest and held him tightly.
"Shh, buddy, I know you didn't do it," Tony soothed, "It's gonna be okay, just breathe, alright? I'm gonna take care of this, okay? Happy is picking up May and Ned and he's bringing them here, and we'll get this sorted, okay?"
Peter nodded, gripping Tony's shirt tightly just like Morgan did during storms when she got scared.
"Come on, let's get you inside," Tony stood slowly, pulling Peter with him. He kept his arm around Peter's shoulders while MJ gripped Peter's hand tightly.
Pepper rubbed MJ's shoulder as the trio entered the house. She held out some clothes to Peter.
"Here sweetheart, why don't you go get changed and then we can talk, okay?" she suggested.
Peter nodded, grabbing the clothes and mumbling a thanks as he headed into the bathroom. He returned a moment later and was absolutely swimming in a pair of Tony's sweats and an old AC/DC t-shirt. He walked over and collapsed on the couch between Tony and MJ. Pepper sat in the chair opposite while Morgan ran out of the kitchen and stood in front of Peter.
"Why are you sad?" she asked.
Peter opened and closed his mouth, not sure how to respond.
"Some people are saying some bad things about Peter right now," Pepper told her daughter gently. That was one way to put it.
"That man on TV?" Morgan asked.
"Yes," Pepper nodded, "So daddy and I need to talk to Peter. How about you go play in your room for a bit?"
Morgan looked like she wanted to argue but looked between her parents before sighed dejectedly and traipsing up the stairs.
"Peter, can you tell us what happened?" Tony asked gently.
The boy closed his eyes, bottom lip trembling. Tony wrapped his arm around Peter's shoulders again and the teen basically buried himself in Tony's side.
Before Peter could start explaining, Morgan came back down the stairs.
"Morgan-" Pepper started.
"I'm going back up," Morgan told her mother, "I just wanted to give this to Peter first." She held out the plush brown bear that was clearly well loved.
"Uncle Happy got him for me when I was a baby," she told Peter, "He makes me feel better when I'm sad. He can help you too."
Peter slowly reached out and took the bear, running his fingers through the soft fur.
"Thanks Morgan," he murmured, and the little girl hugged his legs tightly. He patted her back and then ran back up the stairs, leaving the two teenagers and her two very proud parents, to their discussion.
Peter stared at the bear, playing with it's ears, as he started to talk. He told them all about Fury taking over his trip and Mysterio and everything that had happened in between.
"Pete, why didn't you call me when all this was going on?" Tony asked.
"I… I thought I could handle it," he said, "Fury came to me so I figured if he thought I could do then I'd be fine."
"Yeah, well, wait till the next time I see Nick Fury," Tony growled. Eye-patched bastard sending his kid into danger.
"I didn't want you to know I let him take Karen either, I felt like I let you down," Peter said softly.
"Peter…" Tony sighed, "I could have helped you."
"I know," Peter said, tears gathering in his eyes again, "I know you would have come right away to help me and that's part of why I didn't call you. If you'd come… you might have got hurt again… and… and I-"
Peter buried his head in Tony's chest, sobbing openly again.
"I didn't want you getting hurt again," Peter cried, his voice muffled by Tony's shirt, "Especially not for me. I couldn't do it."
Tony ran one of his hands through Peter's hair, the other wrapped around his shoulders as he held the boy tight to him. He met Pepper's eyes and saw tears gathered there. MJ had a few tears escaping as well.
"I get that buddy, I do," Tony said softly, "And I appreciate you looking out for me. And I know Pepper and Morgan do too. But it's not your job to protect me, okay?"
"But- But I have to," Peter said.
"Peter," Pepper spoke up, leaning forward ad the boy turned his gaze to her.
"I appreciate you looking out for Tony," she said, "But he'd right, it's not your job to protect him. It's the parent's job to protect their kids, not the other way around, okay?"
Peter nodded slowly and Pepper reached over to give his had a squeeze.
"You can always call me bud," Tony murmured, "Even if I don't come, I can always make a call, get someone to you who can help. In case you didn't know, I'm pretty well connected."
Peter actually let out a small laugh at that and nodded.
"I'm really sorry Mr. Stark," Peter murmured.
"Nothing to be sorry for kiddo," Tony soothed, "I told you I'm gonna take care of this, okay?"
Peter nodded, blinking heavily. Tony held him close, running his hand up and down the teen's back and it wasn't long before Peter was asleep.
"What are we gonna do?" MJ asked quietly, speaking for the first time since they arrived.
"I'm gonna take care of it," Tony replied, "I don't know exactly how yet, but I will. I don't want you to worry too much, okay?"
"Hard not to worry when he's involved," MJ admitted, and Tony smiled.
"Yeah, I get that," he replied, "I think you two will probably get along pretty well." He looked between her and Pepper.
"Don't worry," Pepper told the girl, "I have years of experience dealing with self-sacrificing heroes."
MJ smiled at her, but before she could say anything the door opened and May, Happy, and Ned rushed in.
May stopped in front of the couch and took in the scene before her. Her nephew asleep curled into Tony's chest.
"He's okay," Tony assured her.
"Yeah?" she asked, sinking down in front of them.
"He will be," he amended, "It'll take some time, but we'll get him there."
May nodded, brushed her hand through Peter's hair.
"Thank you," she said, looking at Tony, "For always looking after him."
"Turns out he's been looking after me too," Tony told her.
Ned sat down next to MJ while Pepper and Happy retreated into the kitchen to make tea for everyone.
Tony looked down at Peter and smiled softly. He didn't know exactly how he'd fix this, but he knew Peter would be okay. He had a lot of people around him, and his kid was resilient. They'd get through this.
Thanks for reading!
