"Sweetheart, are you excited?" Pepper smiled as she approached Peter amidst the vibrant glow of holographic screens near them.
After months of meticulous planning by Pepper for the company and Tony's dedicated work on the reactor prototype, the moment had finally arrived to install it within the undersea infrastructure of New York City.
"I am, I am!" Peter exclaimed, bouncing with excitement, "We've been waiting for this for months!"
"It won't be long now," Tony said, his hands completing the installation of the final piece of the Stark-Energy Reactor in just a matter of minutes, "We're good on this end. The rest is up to you, kid."
With a confident nod, Iron Man ascended toward Stark Tower, where Peter and Pepper eagerly awaited his arrival.
Peter completed the system checks, confirming their readiness and stability. With a lifelong grasp of programming since the age of five, it was now simply a matter of monitoring, "Transition lines disconnected, we're off the grid. Everything's running smoothly on our end, Dad," Peter announced, a warm smile gracing his lips as he glanced up at Pepper, wrapping an affectionate arm around her side.
Peter and Pepper shifted their attention to the adjacent screens, granting them access to Iron Man's perspective.
With a flick of the switch, Peter activated the power, and their eyes widened in amazement as the STARK sign illuminated, "Awesome! It's like lighting up our tree during Christmas!"
Pepper softly grinned at Peter and after a few moments she added, "We gotta go wider on the public awareness campaign, Tony. You need to do some press. I can do some more tomorrow. I'm working on the zoning for the next billboards."
"Pepper, you're killing us. Remember? Chill. Enjoy the moment."
Tony landed on the penthouse's landing pad, where automated bots swiftly removed his suit as he entered.
"Excuse me, Sir, but Agent Coulson from SHIELD is on the line." JARVIS interrupted.
Oh, great timing. I'm once again on their radar. SHIELD must've wanted a piece of the reactor now.
"I'm not in. I'm actually out."
"Sir, I'm afraid he's insisting."
Tony raised a brow, It's really that important, huh? Whatever it is, it's gonna wait.
"Grow a spine, Jarvis. We're gonna celebrate."
"How are we holding up?" Tony asked as he stepped inside, his gaze landing on Peter, who was meticulously monitoring the systems.
Pepper met his glance with a welcoming smile, "Levels are holding steady... right, sweetheart?"
"Totally!" Peter's excitement was palpable as he dashed towards his father.
"Dad, that was incredible! Your armor can function underwater now? And laser beams? You never mentioned that! What other upgrades does it have?"
Tony carried his son, a mischievous grin on his lips, "Well, that was the reaction I was aiming for. I love surprising you," pressing a kiss to his son's cheek as they strolled toward Pepper in the opulent center of the penthouse living room.
The air hummed with the tinkling of glasses as they joined her, raising a toast with champagne for themselves and Peter's favourite grape juice.
"No weapons presentation for Peter, Tony. That's too dangerous." Pepper warned firmly, her concern evident while Peter began to protest.
Peter pleaded, "But there was a safety glass in between, and I'm gonna be wearing safety gear at the lab. Please…" employing his trademark puppy dog eyes.
Tony grinned at the exchange, relishing the heartwarming sight before him. He couldn't resist the opportunity to appreciate Pepper's maternal protectiveness towards his kid.
Pepper almost agreed if she wasn't saved by the timely ding of the elevator,
"Security breach," Tony uttered as they all looked at the private elevator where Agent Coulson could now be seen, stepping inside the penthouse.
"Mr. Stark. We need to talk."
"Hi, Agent Coulson! We're celebrating." Peter said with boundless enthusiasm as he rose from his seat.
"Hi, Peter." Coulson smiled with a subtle wave on the kid.
Pepper joined in, her smile radiant as she welcomed him, "Phil. Come in."
"Uh...his first name is Agent." Tony pointed out, gesturing ahead, hoping to stop her.
"We want you to look this over, as soon as possible," Phil extended a file toward Tony, who didn't even flinch.
Peter intervened, offering the black tablet directly to his father, leaving Tony with little option but to take it, "Dad has a peeve, Agent Coulson. He doesn't like to be handed things except when I give it to him."
Pepper giggled as Agent Coulson replied with a smile, "Thanks, Peter"
"Alright, kiddo, it's way past your bedtime. Time to skedaddle to your room and wait for me. I'll come tuck you in." Tony planted a gentle kiss on Peter's forehead before Pepper enveloped him in a warm hug.
"Goodbye, Agent Coulson!" He waved as he hurried off to his room, and Coulson reciprocated the gesture with a friendly wave of his own.
As Peter made his way to his room, a nagging curiosity tugged at the back of his mind. Why had Agent Coulson appeared so suddenly, especially at this late hour? And why did he seem pretty shaken?
The persistent thought gnawed at him, knowing it would prevent him from sleeping unless he gave in. He stopped short, retracing his steps with cautious tiptoes to avoid alerting anyone. Despite his inner will, as stubborn as he is, he couldn't resist the urge to peek. Remarkably, the adults remained oblivious to his actions.
He observed as his dad tapped away on the tablet, Pepper nestled nearby. As his dad navigated through the files, various profiles materialized in holographic form, hovering before them.
Peter's astonishment grew as he witnessed scenes unfold: the Hulk's ferocious roar amidst battle, a figure covered in red, white, and blue encased in ice, Natasha alongside a man armed with a bow and arrow, and a long-haired individual wielding a mighty hammer.
Wait, I know that kind of outfit, that's Thor from Norse legends!
Peter's fondness for Norse mythology began in second grade when he delighted in reading a children's book on the subject. As he glanced over at his dad, who was now studying a blue cube hologram, Peter realized something was wrong.
Sensing the adults leaving, he darted out from his hiding spot and swiftly retreated to his room before they could spot him.
Peter couldn't believe what he just saw. He tried to breathe evenly as Dad might come in any second.
Oh men, I'm toast. I'm not supposed to see that. I should've just gotten into my room. I might not even be able to sleep now.
A knock on the door jolted him, and he watched anxiously as his father's figure approached. His dad's examining gaze bore into him as he took a seat on the edge of the bed, "Pete. Whatever you saw earlier… forget about it, alright. It's nothing you need to worry about."
Peter's eyes widened, "I— I didn't…" he started to argue, but then, oh screw it, Dad's not going to believe that, "Okay… I'm sorry, Dad. How did you know?"
"Oh, I know and JARVIS knows."
Peter face palmed, he realized he had forgotten about JARVIS. His dad chuckled and affectionately pinched his nose.
"What was that?" Peter asked worried.
Dad's not gonna fight, is he?
"A precious item of theirs has just been stolen and they just need me to help find it, as their Consultant."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it. So no need to worry, my little one. I'll still drive you to school tomorrow, and then I'll fly out. Pepper will be in DC, you know that right? So Happy will be here to babysit you. That okay?"
"Okay, but Dad..." Peter's gaze met his father's, his hands gently cradling his face, "Please be careful." With those words, they held each other in an embrace.
Tony planted a gentle kiss on Peter's forehead.
Peter closed his eyes, taking comfort in the rhythmic hum emanating from his father's chest, a soothing lullaby guiding him into sleep.
Peter glimpsed at his phone discreetly. Months earlier, he had discovered a method to reconfigure certain codes within JARVIS's program, enabling automatic tracking of his Dad's location synced directly to his phone. Under the guise of normal computer activities before heading to school, he secretly activated the tracking system.
He's unable to shake the images he saw from last night. The sight of Dad holding that mysterious blue cube haunts him—it could be the very object they're searching for. But who could have taken it?
And what's Thor's involvement in all of this? He couldn't believe the Norse god was real. That's only the stuff of legends and myths, more so bedtime stories. But it's as if anything can be real now, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. And then there's even a big green guy. But why are they here?
He wondered if he should tell Ned. The tracker indicated that Dad is now heading to Germany. Dad said he would take the jet, but at this speed, it looks like he's in his armour.
"Peter, you okay?" Ned nudged his arm whispering, "You shouldn't let Ms. Nils see that."
But it was too late, Ms. Nilsen's booming voice unexpectedly alarmed them.
"Peter Stark," she said, approaching them, shaking her head in disappointment, holding out a tray for Peter to drop his phone.
"But— but I need this. I really need this, Ms. Nils," Peter pleaded, but Ms. Nils only raised her eyebrow. Peter sighed in defeat and dropped the phone.
"You know my rule, kids. You can get it back after the school day ends," Ms. Nilsen said as she returned to the front and continued her lecture.
"What's up, dude? You know how strict she is! And you seem distracted since this morning. Is this about your Dad on his business trip?" Ned asked once Social Studies had finished, and they were now in pairs for their Science class.
Peter looked down with worry as he flipped through the pages of his textbook, "Yeah, I know... but this one's not just some ordinary business trip. He studied all night for it.'"
"About what?"
Peter whispered, "About Thermonuclear Astrophysics."
Ned's eyes widened, "The what? That's heavy stuff."
"Dad can parse several information streams at once, so it's pretty much just easy stuff to him."
"That's awesome! Your Dad is really the smartest. Oh, can I sleep over later? Oh my god, I want to see the inside of Stark Tower!" Ned exclaimed excitedly, his eyes gleaming.
"Yeah, yeah, sure Ned. I'll ask Dad later when I have my phone back."
"Oh, I'll ask my parents now," Ned said as he reached for his phone and texted them immediately.
Peter's brows knit in frustration. "Ugh, that's not fair,' he said. They still have two classes remaining before dismissal.
Ned giggled, "You should've opened your phone in this class." After a moment, he added, "We're good! They agreed!"
Happy collected them, and their first stop was Queens to gather Ned's belongings. Peter attempted to call his dad, but it was out of reach, so he texted him instead. However, he still hasn't received a reply. Dad had said Ned could sleep over anytime, but Peter still wants Dad to know if Dad's alright. They made a quick detour to Delmar's for sandwiches before heading to the Tower.
"Wow," Ned's eyes widened in amazement as he took in the grandeur of the lobby at Stark Industries. Instead of simply guiding Ned to the parking lot and the private elevator, they graciously opted to give him a tour starting from the ground floor, allowing him to soak in every detail of the impressive surroundings.
Peter chuckled at Ned's reaction, "Oh, you haven't seen anything yet," he teased.
Every member of the lobby staff warmly addressed Peter as "Mr. Stark" and extended a gracious welcome, to which Peter reciprocated with cheerful greetings.
They ascended to the glass elevator, greeted by the sight of a spiral staircase and elegant glass bridges spanning the Tower's central atrium, leading to the company's prestigious offices. The interior exuded luxury and sophistication, leaving Ned in a state of awe throughout their journey. Amidst the opulence, they glimpsed into the bustling R&D halls, where scientists and engineers bustled about, engrossed in their work.
They concluded the tour in Peter's penthouse suite, "This is so much cooler than your room in Malibu, Peter." Ned's eyes gleamed as he stepped inside.
Peter's room has undergone a tremendous transformation, now twice its original size and adorned with dark red and dark blue silhouettes that perfectly complement his favorite colors.
The ambiance is further enhanced by the expansive glass windows offering a breathtaking panoramic view of Manhattan's skyline. The ceiling, adorned with glow-in-the-dark stars, casts a mesmerizing glow at night.
At the center of it all sits a luxurious king-size bed, complete with a convenient pull-out option at the bottom, perfect for accommodating a friend during sleepovers.
There's also a sturdy bookshelf adorned with various titles, flanked by a blackboard wall waiting to be filled with ideas.
Amidst this intellectual haven, his cherished toys lay scattered in a corner, reminiscent of a playful playground. The bathroom boasts a spacious walk-in closet, offering both functionality and luxury.
Against one wall, a headboard served as a canvas for an eclectic gallery of modern art frames, featuring iconic symbols from Star Wars, Star Trek, Iron Man, and other beloved elements of pop culture.
Nestled nearby, a glass cabinet proudly displayed his collection of esteemed science awards, gleaming reminders of his intellectual prowess.
Completing the ensemble, a side table held a precious picture frame capturing a moment frozen in time - Peter, standing proudly beside his father.
Ned sank into the soft bed, letting out a contented sigh, "I can just stay here forever..."
Peter lounged on his oversized bean bag, his gaze fixed on his phone still tracking his Dad.
He's somewhere at the North Atlantic now. It just stops there. Weird.
He nearly dropped his phone as the sound of his yodelling ringtone burst into the room. The goofy grin of his dad appeared on the screen, and he immediately answered,
"Dad!" Peter's eyes lit up as he transferred the video call to the screen of his computer with a single swipe, eager to see his father's face more clearly.
"Hey, kid. I just saw your text. Sorry, got caught up in the middle of something earlier. Of course, Ned can sleep over. Is he there?"
Ned sprang to his feet from the bed, moving to the bean bag beside him, dominating the screen with his presence, "I'm here Mr. Stark! Oh thank you, Stark Tower is superb! The labs are huge! Can I possibly work here someday—"
"Okay Ned, my turn now." Peter lightly pushed Ned, as if he could lift the big boy up. If he didn't stop Ned, his friend would start to ramble non-stop.
Tony laughed at the silliness of it all.
"Bye, Mr. Stark!" Ned called out cheerfully as he made his way to the kitchen, leaving them with some privacy.
Dad smiled softly, "So, how are you? How's school?" The warmth of his father's smile made him realize how much he already missed him.
"It's all good, we showed Ned around the Tower, and his reaction was priceless." Peter mimicked Ned's jaw-dropping expression from earlier, eliciting laughter from Tony. "Then, we swung by Mr. Delmar's place. He sends his regards. Dad, are you in a lab? Did you find the thing yet? Will you come back home tomorrow already?"
"I don't know yet, Pete. But surely, we're soon gonna find this thing. And yes, this is a lab. A little cramped up but we'll manage."
A lab moving in the middle of the Atlantic? Where are they staying? How big is it?
Peter's eyes narrowed as he noticed a familiar figure standing behind Dad, just having walked in, "Who's that Dad?"
Tony glanced over his shoulder, "Oh, big guy, you're here. Come on over."
The man approached Dad's side, "Peter, I want to introduce Dr. Bruce Banner."
"Hi, Dr. Banner. I'm Peter," He waved at them then his eyes lit up as recognition dawned on him, "Oh oh— I knew it. You're the scientist with outstanding research on anti-electron collisions! You're among the famous scientists pictured in one of our classrooms at Midtown Tech." Peter's excitement bubbled over, and Tony chuckled, giving Bruce a friendly tap on the shoulder while Bruce looked over at Tony impressed.
"Yeah, that's my son." Tony declared with unmistakable pride.
"Hey, Peter! I've heard a lot of great things about you from your Dad. I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about when we meet."
"Dr. Banner's gonna visit the Tower, Pete. And when we're done here, let's try that Shawarma place near the Tower."
Dr. Banner has already retreated to his section of the lab, merely observing the heartfelt exchange between father and son.
"Really?" Peter's eyes sparkled. Tony couldn't quite discern if that spark was for Banner, the prospect of Shawarma, or both.
"Yep. We'll wrap up our work here for now. I'll touch base with you tomorrow. Be safe, alright? Remember, if you need anything, just shoot me a text. I love you, kid," Tony grinned, sending a playful flying kiss to his son.
"I love you, Dad," Peter said with a forced smile, concealing his worry.
He hoped and wished that his father was just simply there as Tony Stark, their consultant, rather than as Iron Man. Because whenever Dad carried his Iron Man persona, trouble inevitably followed, forcing him into battles against villains and endangering his life. Peter wasn't sure if he could bear that uncertainty anymore.
After the call, Tony Stark couldn't resist teasing Banner by playfully prodding him with a miniature electrical prod, curious if he could coax out his alter-ego.
However, his antics were abruptly interrupted when Steve Rogers stormed in, visibly displeased, and put a stop to Tony's pranks.
They grew tense during a heated argument, delving into what SHIELD might be concealing from them. Eventually, Rogers took charge, issuing directives to refocus on their mission at hand.
"He waltzes in here, barking orders as if we're soldiers under his command. News flash, old man— we're not. The guy's got zero chill. Who does he even think he is?" he said under his breath, unaware that Banner was also within earshot on the other side of the lab.
Contempt and disbelief flooded Tony as he reflected on his past. Ever since he was a kid, all he had heard from Howard was how he had helped Captain America, how great the Captain was, and how he hadn't gotten the chance to help save him, as if they had been really close. The constant adulation from his father irritated Tony to his core, and he grew up with a disdain for the soldier.
Surprise, surprise, Dad. He isn't that great.
"That's the guy my dad never shut up about?" Tony quipped, his tone tinged with sarcasm as he meticulously rearranged the patterns of equations on his screen, "Wondering if they shouldn't have kept him on ice,"
"The guy's not wrong about Loki. He does have the jump on us," Bruce stated as Tony approached the monitor nearby.
"What he's got is an ACME dynamite kit. It's gonna blow up in his face, and I'm gonna be there when it does."
Bruce smirked, attempting to divert the conversation, "I didn't get a chance to say earlier, your little genius is really impressive. For him to understand my research at that age is incredible."
Tony smirked proudly. Peter has a knack for worming his way into everyone's heart, "That's my boy. My little wunderkind. I've always said we're big fans of your work. I'm sure he'll be ecstatic to have you around the Tower."
With a skeptical glance, Bruce asked, "He didn't know I'm the Hulk?"
"Oh, he will. That kid finds ways to know stuff. Stubborn little fella."
Bruce chuckled knowingly, "Seems obvious where he got that from."
"Hey, I've read all about your accident. That much gamma exposure should have killed you."
"So you're saying that the Hulk... the other guy... saved my life? That's nice. Saved it for what?"
"I guess we'll find out," Tony said with a knowing smile, as they delved deeper into solving equations and formulating algorithms, edging closer to pinpointing the Tesseract's location.
"So, where is he now?" Ned asked, setting down their lunch trays at the table.
"Looks like he's coming back here in New York," Peter said between bites of his cheeseburger.
Dad wrapped up his work early, so they must've already located the cube.
"Dude, that's really so cool how you managed to hack JARVIS."
"Not even close, Ned. I just added some snippets of codes. I couldn't really get in deeper. Too many protocols, it will alert Dad."
They continued eating their lunch until his phone buzzed with a call from Happy. Peter's eyebrows knitted in confusion. It was the first time Happy had called during lunch.
Peter shrugged, thinking Happy might have accidentally called again. He tucked his phone in his back pocket. However, this time the phone kept vibrating persistently, so he eventually answered the call.
"Peter, meet me out in five minutes. We need to get you out of here."
What? Peter glanced at the wall clock and confirmed that it was still half past noon, "Happy, it's still our lunchtime. We're not allowed to go out for half-day. You can—"
He was cut off by a deafening blast emanating from the Tower. All heads turned towards the windows. They could see the Tower just a distance away.
Conversation erupted among the students, and the teachers' expressions shifted to alarm.
"I'll be at our parking spot. Bring Ned with you." the call ended.
Peter's gaze shifted to the tracker. Dad had already reached the Tower. He's back.
What's that noise?
His heart began to thud loudly in his chest. There's something definitely wrong. He realized they needed to act fast.
"Come on, Ned." They hurried down to their classrooms to get their bags.
Ned's confusion was evident as he asked, "Peter, where are we going? We're not supposed to go out."
Despite Ned's inquiry, Peter remained preoccupied with tracking his dad, completely oblivious to those around him as they headed towards the front doors.
He stopped short, his heart racing as he watched his dad plummetting down, free falling from the Tower. Panic surged through Peter as he frantically confirmed the horrifying sight on the 3D view.
"No! He's falling!"
With a surge of adrenaline, he bolted out the door, desperate to see the Tower in time.
As the doors swung open, a sudden, thunderous blast of bright blue beam erupted from the Tower, piercing the sky, and giving birth to a swirling space vortex like a portal to another dimension.
Peter and Ned stood frozen in shock as alien creatures emerged in chariots, their otherworldly presence looming before all of Manhattan. Among it, Iron Man unleashed a hail of blaster beams, his suit gleaming in the chaos.
The ear-splitting alarm reverberated throughout the entire school, jolting everyone into action. Through the speakers, the Principal's urgent voice instructed the entire school to evacuate immediately.
All students were briefed on the procedure before. It was understood that everyone should gather in the Gym until transportation arrangements could be made for everyone to leave school safely. The teachers tried to remain as calm as possible as they guided students towards the awaiting yellow buses.
"Peter! Hop in, quickly!" He glanced over to find Happy waving from the Rolls Royce, parked in front. They dashed into the car without a second thought. "Your Dad called earlier saying we need to get out of Midtown."
"What was that?" Peter asked as they buckled up their seatbelts.
"We don't know."
"Boss." Happy picked up the call before it had a chance to ring again.
"Swear to God, Happy. Don't tell me you lost my kid again."
"He's here, boss."
"Good. Avoid the Tower and head upstate. I'll call in later. Take care of my kid."
The call ended before Happy could even get a word in and Peter barely had time to cut in.
Dad must be busy fighting.
Peter glanced out the window. People were scrambling, and there were fires in the direction from which the panicked crowd was fleeing.
They were a good distance from the school now, but still a few blocks away from the Tower. Ahead, there was a growing traffic jam leading out of the city.
And then, right before their eyes, they saw it: the flying aliens cruising by in their flying chariots, blasting everything in sight with their weapons, sending cars flying.
"Get down!" Happy yelled, but before they knew it, their car took the hit. Peter and Ned screamed in terror as the car veered off, slamming into the building with a deafening crash.
Peter glanced up, a bit shaky, and quickly began checking Ned for any injuries. Thankfully, they both seemed to be okay. Turning their attention to the driver's side, they spotted Happy out cold, blood pooling at the side of his head.
Happy must've hit his head hard.
Peter quickly glanced at his backpack and rummaged around for his glue prototype. With Ned lending a hand, he gently leaned Happy's head to the side. Despite his hands shaking a bit, Peter managed to smother his medical glue to Happy's cut, stopping the bleeding completely.
"Peter, we need to get out of here," Ned whispered nervously, peering out the window.
There are civilians knocked out left and right. There's also a ginormous alien sea monster now flying overhead swimming in the air. They can't even believe it in their own eyes, a Leviathan, a creature straight out of a myth, but nope, it's happening right in front of them.
"But we can't let Happy here alone." Peter tried to shake and wake Happy up but it was to no avail. "Happy, please..." He whispered almost tearful.
"We're gonna die here if we're gonna stay here!" Ned yelled, spotting an alien wielding an energy rifle headed their way.
Peter's eyes widened in sheer panic as they scrambled to the other side of the car, putting as much distance as possible between them and the extraterrestrial threat.
I'm sorry, Happy.
They sprinted with all their might, but Peter's lungs betrayed him at last. He staggered to a stop, hands clutching his knees as he gasped for air.
Ahead, more aliens approached, their numbers multiplying. Were they even heading in the right direction anymore? Peter couldn't discern. Fear gripped him. They were facing imminent death. In their panicked flight, they abandoned everything in the car. There's no way to contact Dad.
Ned pleaded desperately, his voice trembling with fear. "Peter, please, come on!"
Just as a blast threatened to hit them, a shield materialized, its protective barrier stemming from the figure clad in the colors of the American flag.
"Get out of here kids!" The man shouted urgently as he grappled with dozens of aliens advancing towards them.
"Captain America," Peter said, his eyes widening with recognition, the names of heroes from the tablet files jumping out at him.
They stood there in silent awe for a fleeting moment before the weight of reality crashed down on them, and Ned had to practically drag Peter away.
They stealthily hid at the side of a yellow taxi catching their breath.
The deafening roar of thunder echoed through the air, jolting them from their senses. There, against the backdrop of the city skyline, stood Thor, hurling a blinding bolt of lightning toward the wormhole that held the alien invaders at bay.
Amidst the chaos, the ground trembled beneath their feet as the Hulk leaped from a towering building, his immense strength propelling him forward with earth-shattering force. With a thunderous crash, he descended upon a horde of Chitauri, each blow pulverizing their ranks as if they were mere insects before him.
As the flying chariots whizzed by, Peter caught sight of Natasha, battling her way through the chaos. Meanwhile, Hawkeye, wielding his bow with precision, struck his targets with unerring accuracy, each arrow finding its mark without the slightest error.
And then, a sense of relief washed over Peter as he recognized the familiar wheezing sound of thrusters— the unmistakable symphony indicating the arrival of Iron Man, his father, blasting away aliens with precision before soaring towards the gaping mouth of the Leviathan, reminiscent of the biblical tale of Jonah. With a calculated strike, Iron Man tore through its innards, leaving the beast vanquished in its wake.
Peter and Ned stood in awe, their mouths agape.
They are in the middle of the World's Mightiest Heroes singlehandedly fighting and defending the Earth from its invaders.
Tony shook his head, trying to clear the haze from a slight knock he'd received during his descent down the street, fresh from tearing through the insides of a hard-shelled Chitauri Leviathan.
An overwhelming sigh escaped his lips as he surveyed the scene, a small band of Chitauri closing in on him, their energy rifles at the ready. He gritted his teeth against the throbbing in his head as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Sir, I've completed a comprehensive scan of the area. Our sensors have pinpointed Peter's location just two blocks away from our current position."
The monitor showed heat signatures from Peter and Ned hiding from chitauris.
"Shit!" Tony paled, why is my kid in here? He'd just checked Happy and Peter's phone trackers moments ago— they were fine.
Goddamn it! That was minutes ago. Why the fuck is this always happening, Peter getting caught up in the middle of the fight! They must be scared as hell right now.
The Chitauri began firing at him, prompting him to swiftly fly and dart towards Peter's location.
"Stark! Stark, you hearing me? We have a missile headed straight for the city. The payload will wipe out Midtown." Fury's urgent tone echoed through the comms.
"Fucking shit, Fury! My son is still here in Midtown! How long?"
"Three minutes, at best."
Terror overtook Tony. Shit. He's out of time. It's too late. He can't fly out Peter in time,
"JARVIS, put everything we got into the thrusters!"
"I just did, Sir."
Tony switched to the Avenger's comms,
"Somebody get to my kid just a block outside Grand Central!" Tony commanded as he left the street.
"We're on it, Stark," Rogers replied.
The thunderous roar of the repulsors jolted Peter's attention, his head swivelling instinctively toward the source. There, he witnessed Iron Man blazing through the sky with unmatched speed.
Where is Dad going at that speed?
He caught sight of a few Chitauri approaching from his periphery, "Ned!" Peter swiftly maneuvered himself and Ned just in time before a blast struck them.
As they glanced over, Thor and Captain America were already in the thick of battle.
Thor, wielding his electrifying hammer, Mjolnir, swiftly dispatched the aliens with bolts of lightning, while Captain America expertly defended their position, repelling any foes who dared to come too close. Working seamlessly together, they efficiently subdued the alien threat in a matter of seconds.
"Stark, these things are still coming!" The captain's voice rang out as though addressing someone directly, "But you do know that's a one-way trip?"
Peter stood up and approached them, his brow furrowed in confusion.
That doesn't sound right at all.
Dad can't be doing that. Dad can't do that...
"Captain, Sir, is that my Dad? Can- Can I talk to him?" Peter's voice quivered with emotion. The Captain removed his earpiece and handed it to Peter, a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes.
Peter looked up, spotting Iron Man in the distance. Despite the gap between them, he could see every detail clearly. The figure of Iron Man gradually approached, clutching a missile tightly to his back.
"Dad..."
"Peter..." Tony's voice broke, the weight of his unspoken words hung heavy in the air.
"Dad, please... don't do it. Please, Dad," Peter pleaded, tears brimming in his eyes, his throat tight with emotion. "You can't leave me alone again, Dad. Please. I don't want to lose you too."
Iron Man soared past them at full speed, ascending into the wormhole,
"Peter, listen... it's alright. You're not going to lose me, remember? Remember what I told you? Feel your heart, I'm always there, I'll always be with you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me, kid. I love you... I love you more than words can express."
Peter's knees buckled beneath him as he gazed up toward the sky, his heart wrenching in his chest as Iron Man vanished through the portal.
"No! Dad! Please, don't go... Come back!" Peter's anguished cry resounded through the air, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Ned's heart ached witnessing his best friend, Peter, helpless. With a trembling hand, he reached out to embrace Peter, who was now on his knees.
As he did, the earpiece slipped from Peter's ear and clattered to the ground.
Captain America retrieved it. Together, they watched in astonishment as the Chitauri soldiers and Leviathans keeled over, their bodies convulsing before finally collapsing, all in unison.
The Avengers anxiously awaited Iron Man's return, clinging to hope that he would emerge unscathed. As the looming threat of the supernova drew nearer, Thor and Cap locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them before Thor nodded solemnly to Cap.
Steve's gaze fell upon Peter, his expression spoke of a realization. He had been mistaken in his belief that Tony Stark lacked the capacity for self-sacrifice. A brief moment of reflection passed as he wrestled with the weight of his admission. With a heavy heart, he spoke the words he knew he would come to regret, his voice laden with emotion, "Close it."
"Please don't! Don't! Let's wait a few minutes more! Dad will come through!"
In a voice barely above a whisper, Peter pleaded with them, his eyes filled with tears. But it was too late, Natasha had already powered down the Tesseract, emitting a deafening blast as the wormhole rapidly closed.
"I'm sorry, Peter," Cap said apologetically.
Peter's chest tightened, fresh tears glistening in his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to accept it. It felt as though life itself was slipping away from him.
Dad, please. Please come back...
"Son of a gun!" Cap's gaze held disbelief as Iron Man's figure plummeted before them, his repulsors failing him, leaving him to fall endlessly.
"He's not slowing down," Thor exclaimed as he swung his hammer to climb, but before he could take off, Hulk swiftly intercepted Iron Man mid-air, causing a crash and sending them sliding down the building to land near Thor.
Peter's eyes widened in shock as they sprinted towards his dad. Thor forcefully removed Dad's helmet, revealing his face. Disbelief flooded Peter's mind. Just as he was about to feel relief, he noticed his dad's stillness. Panic gripped Peter's chest as he realized his father wasn't breathing.
"Dad... Dad, wake up! JARVIS, read vitals!" but there's only silence from JARVIS, no response.
Suddenly, the thunderous roar of the Hulk jolted Tony awake, Tony's eyes snapping open as he gasped for breath, heart pounding, "What the hell! What just happened?"
The words ignited an indescribable joy within Peter's heart. "Dad... You came back," he whispered, his eyes welling up with tears of joy.
Tony gently pressed a finger against Peter's heart, "Always," he whispered, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I always will, baby. No crying now, alright."
Peter couldn't help but burst into laughter, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"We won." Cap declared sincerely, and a wave of relief washed over them, painting smiles on their faces.
"Yey! Alright. Good job, Good job, guys. Have you guys ever tried Shawarma? There's a Shawarma joint about two blocks from here. My treat. I promised this kid we'll have one, once we're done."
Tony glanced over at Peter, affectionately ruffling his hair. Peter grinned, reminiscing about his dad mentioning Shawarma during their last phone call.
"We're not finished yet," Thor interrupted, his voice commanding attention. Together, they made their way to the Tower, just a block away. Thor and Cap lent a hand to Tony while Peter and Ned excitedly chattered about their heroes.
After a while, Ned's parents arrived to pick him up. Peter and Ned shared a heartfelt hug, cherishing the adventure they had just experienced, knowing it would be a memory they'd carry with them forever. Meanwhile, the Avengers assembled at the Penthouse and successfully apprehended Loki.
After retrieving the Scepter, SHIELD attempted to secure the Tesseract as well, but Tony and Thor insisted it be returned to Asgard. They then checked on Happy, who fortunately only suffered a mild concussion. It seemed the Chitauri spared those who were already incapacitated.
After averting a cataclysmic threat to humanity, Tony Stark, alongside the Avengers, emerged triumphant in safeguarding the world. Overcoming their individual differences and shortcomings, the Avengers forged an unbreakable unity, rallying together as a formidable team dedicated to the defence of Earth.
Grateful nations worldwide extend their heartfelt gratitude, finding relief in the assurance of the Avengers' unwavering protection, fostering a sense of safety and security across the globe.
"Your actions were truly noble, son of Stark. You wielded a powerful adhesive, reminiscent of my own Mjolnir. Your metal-man father must be filled with pride." Thor's grin widened as Peter recounted the tale of their unexpected trouble amidst the chaos. With a satisfied nod, Thor took a hearty bite of his shawarma.
Tony gently ran his fingers through his son's hair, a proud smile gracing his lips, "It's Iron Man, not metal-man, Point Break."
"Thank you, Mr. Thor. You can just call me Peter," Peter said with a grateful smile, taking a bite of his shawarma, "What are you all gonna do after this? Are you all going to fight together evil now?"
"I guess we'll lay low for now, little Stark," Natasha noted, gently enveloping the child with her arm, "Steve, Clint, and I still have our priorities with SHIELD."
"And Dr. Banner will be working for me, kid. At the Tower," Tony retorted.
"Oh, yeah! Cool! It's amazing how you turned into the Hulk, Dr. Banner! You went like this… and then you went like "Grrrr! Hulk smash!" Peter's impressions were spot-on, capturing the timid expression and the fierce rage perfectly, eliciting laughter from everyone.
Bruce looked down smiling, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Tony turned to Steve, surprised by the newfound respect and gratitude he felt for the old man, "Thank you for saving my son's life, Rogers. I suppose I owe you," he admitted, extending his hand for a handshake.
"Thank you, Mr. Rogers." Peter smiled.
Steve clasped Tony's hand firmly, his smile genuine. "No problem at all, Tony. You got a good kid right there."
"I hope you can visit us sometime Mr. Rogers, Natasha, Sir Clint, and Mr. Thor."
"Of course, lil guy. Who are we to miss Stark's throw-ins." Clint smirked tapping Tony's shoulders while Tony grinned, "Of course, all of you are welcome to the Tower. Even you, god of hammer. Just don't bring your god of menace brother."
"It is God of Thunder." Thor corrected, prompting Tony to raise a brow as he wiped the sauce from the corner of Peter's lips.
"I never saw you as a father figure, Tony. Clearly, I misjudged you," Steve added, a smile playing at his lips as he realized who Tony's true Achilles' heel was. He was relieved to have been mistaken about Tony Stark, without that error in judgment, they wouldn't be here now, enjoying this moment.
"Well, that's called the element of surprise, old man." Tony quipped, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"And he's back," Steve said with a smirk, eliciting chuckles from everyone as they continued to enjoy their lunch.
The restaurant's door swung open abruptly, drawing the attention of everyone inside, including the staff, as a man strolled in, "What'd I miss?"
"Uncle Rhodes!" Peter exclaimed, rising from his seat to warmly embrace Rhodey as he approached their table.
Tony followed suit, standing up and giving his friend a firm bro hug. "You missed a lot."
As they settled back into their seats, introductions were made and stories flowed freely, each recounting their own experiences from the recent battles: the Battle of New York and Rhodey's encounter in Hong Kong.
They all gathered at Central Park the following day to bid farewell to Thor and Loki as they prepared to return to Asgard.
Thor exchanged genuine farewells, shaking hands and embracing Peter warmly.
Tony stood beside Peter, holding his hand as they watched the gods depart, their departure facilitated by the power of the Tesseract.
As they prepared to part ways, Natasha enveloped Peter in a warm hug, "I'll see you soon, little Stark," she whispered, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. Peter felt his cheeks flush with warmth at her affectionate gesture.
Tony and Steve exchanged a firm handshake with a shared understanding and mutual respect.
With a wistful smile, they waved goodbye as they dispersed in different directions, their paths diverging momentarily.
Meanwhile, Dr. Banner accompanied them back to the Tower. On that very day, Tony and Pepper began laying out their blueprint for the renovation of the Stark Tower.
"JARVIS, secure the room," Tony commanded as he strode through his dimly lit lab.
"Room secured, Sir," came the immediate reply.
Midnight hung heavy, a cover of darkness draped over his restless mind. A thousand questions clamoured for answers, haunting every moment of attempted sleep.
Whenever he dared to close his eyes, the memories flooded back—the menacing spectre of the space Armada, the ominous closing of the wormhole, the sensation of plummeting into the abyss, and the haunting image of Peter's tear-streaked face.
Tony's hand absently brushed his weary face as he reached for a glass of scotch, pouring a measure of the amber liquid. It had been a year since he last indulged in a glass of alcohol, yet the familiar burn as it slid down his throat brought a sense of calm, encouraging him to confront the shadows lurking within his troubled mind.
Perhaps now was the time to unburden himself, to seek the evasive comfort of understanding amidst the mess that surrounded him.
"Search all of the files we hacked in SHIELD. Keyword: Mary Parker."
Tony settled onto his couch as JARVIS began scouring through the vast array of SHIELD files they had hacked.
Ever since obtaining access to these files, Tony found himself tormented by questions that had lingered in the depths of his mind for years. Now, with the possibility of uncovering long-awaited answers, he felt a surge of anticipation wash over him. It was time to lay these lingering doubts to rest once and for all.
In just five minutes, JARVIS had efficiently compiled all the files. Tony's mind raced back to Fury's cryptic remarks.
As he sifted through the documents, he realized they contained information he was already familiar with. Mary's research on animal DNA lingered in his thoughts. It was a topic they had discussed extensively, yet it remained far from completion.
Then, a realization struck Tony like lightning. He rose abruptly from his seat, scanning the papers with growing urgency. Suddenly, it hit him like a ton of bricks.
That morning, he had scribbled down a formula to address the glitch. He hadn't even had the chance to run tests on it, it was merely a wild guess, hoping Mary could decipher the rest.
She didn't actually get it right, was she?
And then he found it. Though some words were redacted, Tony already knew what they concealed.
He covered his mouth with trembling hands. "Mary... what have you done?"
And thus began the first of Tony's many sleepless nights.