#shout out to the time I thought I missed pete doing the spins but turns out I got it on video when I wasn't paying attention

[sylvianartist]

quick mcr doodles I crapped out + pete wentz space buns I am ILL

[lgg5989]

MavDad: Father’s Day

A/N: Happy Father’s Day to Mav and Goose. As always, please leave any ideas for stories in the comments, I would love to bring them to life!

~S

1. He Knew   |   2. Superhero   |   3. Career Day   |   4. Little League

Also on Ao3!

-----

Mav was sitting outside the CO’s office, he had been waiting weeks for this moment. He hadn’t buzzed the tower in at least a month, he did most things by the book, and he generally tried to be less of a nuisance. 

“Get in here Maverick,” came through the door. 

“Yes, sir. Thank you for seeing me, sir,” he said as he hopped up and entered the room. 

“You’ve been well behaved the last few weeks,” his CO said with a frown, “I’m almost scared to ask what I can do for you.”

“It’s Goose’s son sir, there is a Father’s day brunch at his school and I need to be there,” Mav replied, staring at the wall behind his CO to keep his composure. “Just give me 3 days leave and I’ll be back to misbehaving before you know it, sir,” he finished with a smirk. 

“Well Maverick, you have been gone 6 months, I think we can spare you for 4 days,” his CO looked at him with contempt, “but if you come back here and buzz the tower, I will keep you as the most decorated Captain in the Navy.” 

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Mav spoke quickly, before his CO could change his mind. 

“Report to the flight deck tonight, 1600 hours for a ride back home. You are dismissed,” he said. 

“Thank you, sir,” Maverick replied before rushing out of the office. 

Running to the nearest phone he called Carole, “Hey its me, they’re sending me home tonight but I will need to report back on Monday.” 

“Oh that is so great Mav, should I tell him?” she asked. 

“No, no, don't tell him. I want it to be a surprise,” he said quickly, “I need to go and pack up, I will see you tomorrow.” 

“See you then Mav, be safe,” he heard Carole call before the line went dead. 

___

Maverick jumped off the C130 and spotted Carole standing off the tarmac. He ran towards her shouting, “Are we late? What time does it start?”

“Calm down Maverick, its only 9, it doesn’t start til 10,” she replied with a smile, “Do I even get a hug?”

“You’re right, of course!” Mav exclaimed, scooping her up into a tight hug and spinning her around. 

“All right, all right!” Carole gasped out between laughs, “I missed you too Pete.” 

“Okay, let's get going, I don't want to be late,” He said after putting her down. 

Mav loaded his stuff into the car and they headed to Brad’s elementary school. 

___

They got to the school with plenty of time to spare, the principal meeting them at the doors. 

“Welcome back Mrs. Bradshaw. Captain Mitchell, we thought that you could surprise Bradley in the cafeteria,” Miss Martin said with a smile. 

“That sounds great,” Mav replied, “where do you want me?”

Miss Martin led them to a door at the back of the cafeteria, “wait here until you hear me announce that I have a special guest,” she said, “then come in, I’ll make sure that Bradley isn’t too far from you.”

“I’ll be ready,” Mav replied, watching Carole prepare her camera. 

“You really do just carry that thing around with you, don’t you,” he said, humor in his voice. 

Carole rolled her eyes at him, “I need all the pictures I can get of my baby, he won't be this young forever.” 

They could hear the kids and their fathers making their way into the cafeteria. Mav snuck a peek through the glass of the door to find Brad. He was a few tables away from the door, a frown fixed on his face, an empty seat beside him. 

Mav's heart hurt for him. How many of these same brunches did Mav attend alone after his father disappeared? He couldn’t tell you a definite number, but it was too many. 

As the principal called for attention, she thanked all the parents for coming out and their help setting up the cafeteria. Finally, she started to introduce him, “I have one last announcement before we begin!” she exclaimed, “we have a special visitor today, he has traveled all night to make it in time!” 

At that, Mav threw the door open. The entire cafeteria turned to see who could be so important to get a special announcement. 

Brad’s head shot up at the sound of the door hitting the wall. Mav gave him a brilliant smile, and opened his arms wide. Brad jumped up, not caring that his whole class was watching, and ran at Mav, throwing himself into the hug. 

The cafeteria erupted in applause for them both. Carole was snapping pictures behind them with tears in her eyes. 

Through all the commotion, all Mav could hear was Brad’s whispers, “You made it…I didn’t think you would be here…” 

It made his knees weak, this was his boy, he might not be his father, but this was his boy. 

“Of course I’m here buddy…did you think you could have a father’s day brunch and not invite your Uncle Mav?” Mav replied, tears in his eyes.

As the cafeteria settled down Mav let Bradley touch the floor again, which wasn’t a big feat considering how tall he was now. They made their way over to the table and sat down. Brad pretending that he didn’t just cry in front of the whole class, those fifth graders have a reputation to uphold. Mav could only smile at him. 

___

As Mav was about to board his plane back to BFE Brad grabbed his arm. Mav turned around surprised, “what’s wrong bud?” 

“You promise you’ll come back right?” he asked, hugging Mav tightly. 

“I promise,” Mav said to him, “but even if I don’t, I’ll always be in here,” he pulled away from the hug, patting Brad’s chest over his heart, “just like your dad is,” he finished with a sad smile. 

Brad grabbed him again tighter than before, Mav could feel warm tears on the collar of his fatigues. 

“You’re my dad too,” Brad said quietly. 

“I know buddy,” Mav said shakily, “I love you.”

“I love you too, dad,” Brad replied bravely. 

Mav boarded the plane back to BFE with a smile on his face. This had been the best leave he had ever been on.

[whitestaghere]

War, peace and love - Edmund Pevensie x reader

Hey there~ it's been a while and decided I should write something new. So here it is! Thought I should try something new so, angst with a little bit of fluff at the end. Hope you all enjoy!! ❤️✌🏻

"You are such.. AN IDIOT," Edmund pushed my shoulder making me stumble backwards, widening my eyes in shock at what he just did. "DID YOU WANT TO DIE?!"

Pushing him back I scowled at him, "I DON'T SEE WHY YOU'RE SO BOTHERED ABOUT THIS! AS FAR AS I REMEMBER IT, YOU WEREN'T BOTHERED ABOUT ME YESTERDAY?!" taking in a breath I continued, "YOU KNOW WHAT?! YOU SHOULD BE THANKING ME!!"

He pushed my limits this time. He was the cause of this heated argument, why everything had to go wrong for me.

>>> Flashback <<<

Everything was happening so fast.

Susan nearly falling to death, but thank God for Trumpkin being there. Lucy gone in search of Aslan. Edmund, Peter, Caspian and I, on the battle field alongside the narnians. It was a fight to death and victory against the Telmarines.

I reminded myself to thank Capsian, for always pushing me to work better with the sword. Hours and hours of training brought me some luck here. Apart from the fact that a Telmarine swordsman nearly took my head off. Only for Edmund to swing in just in time. He did that of course, not forgetting to glare at me and mumbling curse words under his breath.

Simply. He hated me, I hated him.

Edmund was completely against me coming on the battlefield. Saying I wouldn't be of any use and that I would run away pathetically. That making Caspian and Peter change their minds, being scared that they would put my life at risk. Then there's me, this was what I was training so hard for. I was not going to give in just like that! Not forgetting that, I wanted to prove Edmund otherwise.. and just to piss the boy off too, I managed to change the high king and prince's minds.

And where did this rivalry begin?

To be honest. I don't even know.

He just decided to pick on me, hate me. And I had enough of being weak. And in no time, I began to give him the cold shoulder too. Susan and Lucy saying it was just "a phase". I didn't care. I had enough of his attitude, looking down at me constantly and having to say something bad about everything I do.

Back to the battle.

Everything was happening so fast. Taking down one Telmarine just for another to, throws themselves at you. My legs were aching, heart beating rapidly, mind racing. Running across the field I blocked a sword swinging at Peter.

Peter signalling me to duck he blocked a swordsman, this time behind me.

Turning back to face me, he grinned, "thank you for that." The smile of his fading away just as more Telmarines headed towards us.

Nodding my head at him we continued fighting side by side. Suddenly I bumped into someone. The force pushing me off my feet. Stumbling backwards, I met the hard ground.

I whinced in pain and let out a yelp right after, feeling a much larger force on my body. Opening my eyes my heart began to speed at an inhuman pace.

Edmund.

Out of all the people it had to be him.

Eyes closed and eyebrows furrowed, he let out a groan. I widened my eyes in instant panic the second his eyes shot open, connecting his gaze with mine. If my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, I saw a hint of red tint his cheeks. But before I had time to process the situation I could hear my name being called out.

"ED! N/N! WATCH OUT!" Capsian shouted, running towards us.

Looking behind Edmund's figure a Telmarine stood holding his sword mid air, prepared to get Edmund. Immediately, I pushed Edmund off me. Picking up my sword I blocked him just in time.

A piercing pain in my side, and I get kicked back down. Letting out a shriek in pain I held the place I got stabbed. Backing up, and facing the Telmarine behind me, I tried to retrieve my discarded sword.

It was out of my reach and everything was just getting way too blurry.

"Y/N!" I could make out Edmund's figure fighting off the swordsman in front of me.

I could hear voices calling out my name, but couldn't seem to focus. But no, I couldn't give up just like this. I had to get up. Using all the energy left in my body, I grabbed my sword and continued fighting. The rest of it all going in blur, maybe it was just the pain, or for the fact that Caspian and Peter kept trying to cover for me.

But when the Telmarines began to flee and Lucy had come along with Aslan just in time to block them, exhaustion and pain decided to take over.

And the last thing I heard was someone calling my name and my vision went black.

>>> end of flashback <<<

Lucy had rushed in to the scene, acting fast with her healing cordial. The others relieved that I was fine, but all except for one. And that was Edmund.

That leaves us here. In this heated argument.

"YOU SHOULD BE THANKING ME!"

He let out an annoyed sigh, "YOU TRIED TO SACRIFICE YOUR LIFE FOR ME! AND WHAT WAS I DOING? I HAD TO SIT THEIR LIKE A COWARD!!"

Letting out a fake laugh, I rolled my eyes at him. I can't believe him, he's still so full of himself.

"That's all you care about huh? Yourself. I'm beginning to see why I hate you so much!"

At this, his eyes were filled with anger. The expression on his face, nothing but bewildered. Making his way upto me he grabbed my shoulder.

"What. did. you. say?" he said through gritted teeth boring his eyes into the side of my head.

Glaring back at him I pushed his hand off my shoulder. "You care only about yourself," I repeated in the same tone as his. Letting out a laugh of frustration he ruffled his hair.

"Really Y/N? Is that how you think of me?"

Not missing the sudden softness in his voice I raised my eyebrows in confusion. Boy does he have moodswings.

"Hmm? You think I'm selfish? That-that I care only about.. myself?" he held his index finger at his chest.

The change in his nature confused me to the fullest. Never had he ever been like this in front of me. Why is he like this all of a sudden? Maybe he's just trying to trick me and make me accept that he was right. But I couldn't grasp why is the softness in his voice breaking me?

"Y/N?" his voice was becoming a little stern. I tried to avoid his gaze. Something in me couldn't bare to look into his eyes. Placing a hand on my cheek gently, he turned me to face him.

My face began to heat up instantly, due to the close proximity and for the instant skinship.

There came the guilt. The look on his face breaking me. He looked so sad. He was hurt. And I was the reason behind it. A part of me wished I could take back the words I said. The other part of me, questioning why I'm being affected by this when he's treated me like this the entire time.

"Edmund I-"

"You think I don't care??! Well for your information, I care about my siblings, the Narnians, Caspian! Why do you think I even fought in this war, in the first place?! It's because I care! I could just leave, say I want to go home! But no! I care! I care about my parents! I care.. I care about you..." his voice cracked.

He wasn't making this any easier for me.

I was taken back by the switch in his moods, the sudden "I care about you" and I just didn't know what to say.

Not wasting a second Edmund turned around leaving the room. All I could do was watch him leave. I wanted to stop him, but I was afraid I would say something stupid and make things even worse. Sitting down I ran a hand through my hair.

"Well, that was new.."

Switching my gaze from the floor I saw Peter walking in slowly. I sighed looking away.

"You should talk to him.."

"I-I don't know Pete.."

"What do you mean you don't know?" he sat down next to me. I could feel his eyes lingering on my face.

"I don't know how to face him. I-I don't get why he's like this... and funny part is.. I-I think I hurt him," tears began to blur my vision the second I said those words. Peter wrapped an arm around my shoulder, rubbing my arm up and down gently.

"He does care you know.."

I rubbed my eyes furiously turning around to face him, "then why was he always picking on me? It didn't seem like he cared then?"

Peter let out a low breath, "Ed doesn't really tell people how he feels.. not even with us, he refuses to show his emotions. Most of the time he's cold as ice on the outside.. aaand," he dragged. "Is pretty stubborn.. I guess you could say that's how he protects himself.."

"Protects himself?" I tiled my head in confusion.

"From the world. From getting hurt. He pushes people away thinking they would hurt him. And he's always thought less about himself.."

"I would never.." I mumbled under my breath. But Peter heard it loud and clear, nodding his head "I know.."

"But he does care about you.. so much," Peter looked at me, his gaze soft. Nodding my head I let out a sigh.

"Thank you Pete."

He gave me a soft reassuring smile and gestured me to go after Edmund.

I knew what I had to do now. Running out of the room I set a pace through the Palace. Stopping here and there in order to find out if anyone had seen Edmund.

Maybe things were complicating between Edmund and I. I had to cover the hurt I felt, the feelings I had all this time but now... now I needed to clear everything, make things right between us.

Finding myself in the hall I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, eyes darting everywhere. Where had this boy gone off to?

Turning around I saw a familiar figure standing at the balcony. It didn't take me more than a second to recognise that it was him.

Lifting up my gown I ran upto him. His back was facing me, so I cleared my throat to grab his attention. Spinning around almost immediately, my eyes connected with his warm brown ones.

And without a word he turned around once again.

"Ed.."

No response.

"Ed," I walked closer to him only for him to step away from me.

"Ed please.. look at me."

He was clearly ignoring me.

"Well I hope you'll listen to what I'm about to say.." I took in a long breath, "look, I'm sorr-"

He turned around instantly cutting me off, "oh so now you're sorry?"

Trying my best not to roll my eyes at his antics I looked down at my hands. "I-I didn't know.."

"Didn't know what? Oh wait I get it! Now you think I'm pathetic huh?"

I looked back at him with disbelief. Was he really doing this? Again? He wants to stir up another argument. Unbelievable. But, I didn't have it in me to get mad at him. I wanted to sort this out, so I shook my head in an attempt to not let his words get to me.

"I didn't say that."

"Hmm.. then what are you trying to say Y/N? Tell me."

Trying my best to avoid his gaze I gulped.

"I don't need your apologies."

"Look I didn't mean what I said back there. I was just mad and stressed with the whole situation.."

He scoffed looking away.

"I just... I don't understand why you hate me so much. What did I do? Where-where did things go wrong?"

This time he looked at me raising his eyebrows. But he said nothing. He just stood there, gaze fixed on the floor with an unreadable expression.

"Ed.." his gaze still fixed on the ground.

I took a step closer to him, but he didn't budge. Just stood there. The silence was just unbearable.

Not sure what to do or say, I stood there watching him. The air surrounding us, a mixture of tension and awkwardness.

Observing his face, I realised how different he was. How tall he had gotten. How the freckles sprayed at the bridge of his nose. How soft his hair looked, my fingers tingling with an urge to brush my hands through it. How his lips were a peachy pink, almost like he had tinted it with gloss.

I hadn't noticed how much he had changed over the years. My face began to heat up for the second time that day, and I averted my gaze.

Glancing at him once again it was like a flame lit inside me. And the next second I did something that I never dreamt of doing.

My body decided to act on it's own. Mindlessly I stepped closer to him, standing on my toes I placed my hand on his face.

"Y/N?" confusion laced in his voice but I was too caught up in the moment to really respond to him.

My gaze flicked from his eyes to his lips and there you have it. I brushed my lips on his momentarily.

His body tensed in my grip, eyes wide open and pupils expanding to the fullest.

Pulling away from him I let out a shaky breath. But when I looked at Edmund and the look on his face, I widened my eyes in realisation. What have I done?! What was I thinking? How could I be such a fool?! All I could think about is how the boy in front of me could be hating me even more now. I just wanted to make things right between us, but I let my feelings take the upper hand. And now.. I expected the worse.

I turned away from him placing my hand on my lips unconsciously. Even though it was just for a second, I missed the feeling of his lips already.

Next thing I know, Edmund grabbed my arm and yanked me towards him. I was afraid of what he was going to say, what he was going to do, to meet his gaze. But instead without a word, he pulled me into a hug. Arms wrapped around my waist he pulled me closer sighing.

Something about this made me feel so comfortable in his arms. I wanted to scream. My heart thumping against my chest, I slowly hugged him back.

"I'm sorry.." he sighed.

"I'm sorry for being an idiot. For being a coward."

"You're not a coward," I mumbled.

"But I am.. I'm sorry for being so hard on you all these years. But can I just ask you something? To clarify. So that what I'm going to say next won't leave me having to run away in embarrassment?"

I hummed in response.

"D-do you like me?"

My body stiffened. Wait. Is this heading to where I think it's heading?

"I-I.."

"Because I do."

My eyes widened at this. Pulling away from his embrace I looked at him in shock. Is he being serious? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was so unbelievable, to the point that I had to pinch myself just to make sure I was not dreaming.

"You.. you what?"

"I know it's hard to believe. But I do."

"But.. you.. you"

Rubbing the nape of his neck he smiled nervously. Clearing his throat he closed his eyes.

"I didn't like it.. I didn't like you getting involved in all of this.. I didn't want you coming to narnia either, because I didn't want to risk your life. You've always tried to save me. Even when we were kids. And I could never do the same, that leading me to thinking you might consider me a coward. The others were fine with you coming along, even if I said no and I just wanted to stop you. Stop you from coming with us to battle and hurting yourself. And I let that happen."

I looked at him.

He opened his eyes gaze locking with mine he released a shaky breath, "I pushed you away, in order for you to actually give in and stay on the safe side. But that.. that made me nearly lose you.." he took a breath, "and I was scared.. so scared, that you wouldn't feel the same. Specially when you began to avoid me. It was fair of course, after what I put you through. I was afraid I'd end up getting hurt, so I wanted to brush off all feelings and instead treated you badly again."

He took my hands in his, "I don't expect you to forgive me, but I'm sorry. It was fair that you treated me that way.. but I just want you to know, that.. that.." he struggled. "ASLAN! I LIKE YOU!" he shouted. "I like you.. so so much."

I couldn't help but giggle and look in awe. I was at a loss of words. Not getting a reply from me, he sighed pulling away only for me to hold him back.

"Ed.. of course I forgive you. And I'm sorry for everything I said too. I understand how you feel.."

He smiled at me softly but that was soon replaced by a mixture of emotions, hard to explain. That's when it struck me. All this care. All this blushing and constant glances. The instant comfort I felt being in his arms. It wasn't just me being hurt over him hating on me all these years. I wanted things to be okay between us, I wanted to get closer to him. This side of him, I had never seen it before, but now it explains. What I was craving to see from him. I liked him too.

"I-I.. Ed?"

He hummed in response, eyes exploring my face.

"I like you too.." At once a smile wiped across his face. He came closer to me with our hands still intertwined together.

"Sorry I didn't get that. Could you please repeat it?" he brought his ear closer and wiggled his eyebrows teasingly.

Pushing him away and hiding my face in my hands I squealed.

Laughing he took my hands back in his and pulled me towards him. "You like me too?"

I nodded my head shyly. He chuckled moving in closer and brushing his lips against mine. Pulling away just for a second he whispered, "you would not believe how happy I am.." he leaned back in, connecting our lips together.

Wrapping my arms around his torso he cupped my face. Tilting his head Edmund smiled into the kiss. Pulling away once again he leaned his forehead against mine not before pecking my nose. I giggled.

"FINALLY!" Apparently, we had an audience. An audience of one though. "Shouldn't I be getting a little credit here?" Peter smirked. Edmund rolled his eyes. Looking at eachother we broke into a fit of giggles.

Third person's pov

And there they stood; in eachother's embrace, eyes filled with adoration and a love blossoming within them. The war replaced now with that of peace and love.

Well this turned out rather long than expected 😂 I really found this fun to write and I hope you all enjoy reading it!

Love you all, stay safe and happy holidays! ❤️

[beatlesdumpsterfire]

prompt -> everyone cowers in front of ringo's supreme power

There’s a reason why Ringo never played drum solos. If you thought it was because he simply didn’t like them, then I’m sorry, but you got fooled by a famous Beatles lie. No, Ringo didn’t play drum solos because he had stage fright, or he thought that they were too ostentatious - he refused to play them because he knew it would give him too much power. So much power, in fact, that he could cause the end of the world.

Sounds dramatic, I know, but don’t believe me? Back in the Hamburg days, after being heckled by a rambunctious crowd for over 2 hours straight to play something that could put Buddy Rich to shame, Ringo finally cracked. He ran 64th notes down his drum kit in such a rapid succession that he started to glow bright orange, as if he were on fire. Rory and the rest of the band didn’t know what to do with their glowing orb of a drummer, but they didn’t have much time to fret on it anyways because the walls of the Kaiserkeller started to rattle and crack, which made the German audience, still recovering from WW2, duck for cover with a collective yelp.

“Ringo!” Rory tried to yell over the ear-splitting noise that was coming from Ringo as his orange glow got progressively brighter. Ringo couldn’t hear him because he was in the zone. The Auto Zone. “Quit it!!”

Ringo moved from his 64th notes to smacking away at his cymbals like he was releasing the rage of a thousand years. The middle of the dance floor started to cave in, swallowing those who couldn’t move away fast enough. If you listened closely, you could hear a deep, Liverpudlian laugh coming from the pit. The only reason Ringo didn’t cause the end of the world on this occasion was because, as he was about to start balancing his twirling drumsticks on his nose, his allergies (the thing that humbles us all) got the better of him, causing him to let out a loud sneeze that rocketed him away from his set. With his senses knocked back into him, Ringo gaped at the chaos in front of him and turned to Rory, who was gaping back at him with a look on his face that could only mean Ringo was out of the band.

This is the history of The Beatles that you don’t know about. Ringo was a freelancer for a brief moment in Hamburg before John, Paul, and George found him. There had been a rumor circulating that there was something wrong with Ringo, but when the three lads saw him standing outside of a club one cold evening, lighting a cigarette in his own solitude, they just assumed that everyone else was being mean and hinting at how big his nose was.

And just like that, Pete was out and Ringo was in, because John, Paul, and George had heard that Ringo could really bring the house down. Ringo had tried to warn his new band members on multiple occasions that he suspected there was something wrong with him, but all of them insisted that he was fine and that his nose really wasn’t that big, so he had nothing to worry about. Ringo wasn’t so sure about that but, following the Incident, he had braved the drums once again and managed to keep a steady beat without causing Armageddon. Needless to say, that didn’t mean he was any less nervous about playing. Luckily, he insisted enough times that he would never do a drum solo, and John, Paul, and George listened, though they did think he was a little bit looney.

And things were alright like this for a while, through the ups and downs of their career, playing across the globe to thousands of screaming fans. Ringo never once let his guard down: there were no solos coming from him, no matter how many people wanted it.

That fateful night in Hamburg felt like another life, so much so that Ringo nearly forgot about the unusual power he contained. It wasn’t until he was pushed to the edge that he remembered he held the fate of the world in the palm of his hand, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

The year was 1969, the holiest year of them all, and Ringo was about ready to thrust his head through some drywall, he was so fed up with his bandmates. The incessant bickering over which songs made the cut on the album and which didn’t were really starting to drive him up the wall. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer was just the icing on the cake.

“We need another take on that one,” Paul announced to the band with an air of authority that Ringo wished he could strangle. They had just finished playing through their forty-seventh take and, although Paul was acting like it wasn’t his fault, it was absolutely his fault that they had to play the damn song again. For someone who acted like he was the leader of the band, Paul sure was having trouble remembering his baloney lyrics.

Without a word, John let his guitar slip out of his hands so it clunked to the ground in an amplified drop, its buzzing filling the room. John left them like that, stomping to the door and letting himself out, back to sanity. George gazed longingly at the door like he wanted to follow behind John, but he knew too well that Paul wasn’t going to let that happen. Completely unbothered by John, Paul turned to face the engineers in the sound booth and motioned in a grand gesture for them to start a new tape.

George looked across at Ringo and Ringo stared blankly back at him. He was really trying to repress everything he was feeling.

“Take 48,” George Martin nervously announced into their headphones, like he knew he was stoking a fire.

“Ringo, I’m gonna need some more umph on that drum part,” Paul turned back to Ringo with a smug look stretched across his face. “If you can handle it.”

That was it. That was freaking it. That was the line. The line’s way back there. Paul crossed that line. He crossed that line so hard it’s not even funny.

Ringo stood from his kit but, unlike John, he didn’t book it for the door. Instead, he rushed around the room, gathering every single percussion instrument he could find.

“I’ll give you umph,” he growled at Paul. In return, Paul smiled back at him because that was exactly what he wanted. In between them, George grabbed at his head. His two mates were really making him question why they were his mates in the first place.

“Take 48!” Paul called up to George Martin, spinning his finger around to motion that they start the tape. Then, he turned back to Ringo, who was staring at him with so much intensity it was a miracle Paul wasn’t sent flying backwards.

“One, two, one two three...”

Paul started to play the opening chords on his dinky little piano but Ringo wasn’t having any of that, oh no. He pounded into his snare drum so hard one of the drumsticks broke through the skin. Instead of pulling it out, Ringo left it there and grabbed a tambourine, which he proceeded to bang against his hi-hat. Paul wasn’t sure what Ringo was doing, but they had experimented enough in the past that he let it slide. George, on the other hand, was silently whispering prayers to himself as he stared at Ringo's glowing figure in horror. Ringo knew exactly what he was doing; if he did a drum solo, he could wreck their studio enough that he wouldn’t have to listen to Maxwell’s frickin Silver Hammer again. The trouble was, Ringo didn’t know when the right time was to stop.

By the time he started using two maracas as drumsticks on a timpani, Ringo began to slowly levitate. George’s whispered prayers were becoming louder from his panic. Up in the booth, it looked like the two remaining Beatles were performing an exorcism on Ringo.

“What the-” George Martin muttered. The boys must have stumbled across some new kind of street drug that really messed you up.

“Maxwell Anderson, majoring in medicine,” Paul cheerfully sang from his piano, his back turned to Ringo. Ringo started to shake in place, now suspended 5 feet above the ground, clicking castanets angrily while glaring down at Paul. George gaped as Ringo's color switched to a fiery, Kool Aid Man-red. It was bad. Paul continued to unknowingly play, but his left hand took a break to wipe some sweat from his brow. Someone must have turned up the heat, he mused to himself.

But no, it was Ringo, on the brink of causing a thermonuclear explosion. George was initially concerned for Ringo’s safety but, after seeing actual waves of heat emitted from his beige suit, George decided that his pal wasn’t worth it. He’d had some great memories with Ringo, but he could remember those later in therapy. For the meantime, he was getting the hell out of dodge, to wherever John had escaped to.

The problem was, Ringo’s power was sucking George so dry that he hardly had any energy left in him to move. It was like the goddamn relativity cadenza all over again. The more Ringo banged out the drum solo of the millenium, the more powerful he became. No one could stop him, he was a god. Ringo, god of the bongos. The most feared of them all.

Something caused Paul to finally turn around (probably Mal missing his cue to play the anvil because he was too distracted by whatever the hell Ringo was up to) and, when he did, his jaw dropped.

“Wot the fuck Ringo?” he shouted. They hadn’t agreed that Ringo could become a celestial being during their recording session. At that moment, John barged back in through the door, ready to give his half-hearted apology to Paul. That was quickly thrown in the trash when John looked up at their drummer, who now resembled a ball of fire, like the sun or something. (Even though it seems appropriate, no, unfortunately George didn’t write Here Comes the Sun about this event - that song had already been recorded at this point). John, as terrified as he was, couldn’t help but let out a loud cackle at the spectacle that was playing out in front of him. He knew that their session for Maxwell’s Silver Hammer had been bad, but he didn’t realize it was this bad, so much so that their drummer was spontaneously combusting.

“Silence, mortal!” Ringo boomed down at John, not even missing a beat on his woodblock solo.

That got John to shut up pretty fast.

“No one dares laugh at the almighty and powerful Ringo!” Ringo continued, his words practically searing through everyone’s skulls. “I can end you with the crash of a cymbal, I can tear this planet apart, piece by piece with only the sheer power of my mind!”

“Good for you, Ringo,” Paul stammered out as he tried to hide behind his piano. Paul was smart to pick up on the fact that, out of all of them, Ringo probably had the biggest score to settle with him. He really sincerely hoped that his charm would be enough to keep Ringo from smiting him but, just to be extra safe, he threw one of his famous winks Ringo’s way. Ringo, in turn, glared at Paul and pulled out a triangle.

“With a single ding on this triangle,” Ringo bellowed out, so loudly that everyone in England could hear him, “our planet will cease to exist.” He floated closer to Paul and Paul in return tried to back up, though he quickly found himself pushed against the wall. “Is that enough umph for you, Paul?” Ringo sneered back at him. Paul tried to respond that Ringo really didn’t have to do that and, actually take 14 had come out pretty good, but he found all of his words trapped in his throat. Ringo’s power was too overwhelming. Ringo seemed satisfied that he had terrified Paul so much that he finally shut his yap and, to really gloat in his glory, his hand slowly crept towards the triangle.

The closer Ringo got to hitting that triangle, the bigger he got. The image was straight out of Alice in Wonderland - in a matter of seconds, Ringo had grown too big to fit in their studio. That didn’t matter much, as the heat coming off of him helped sear away the wooden ceiling so it came crashing around him.

He’s really getting a big head, John mused to himself, though he didn’t dare make his observation out loud, which was a good decision because he would have been a goner otherwise. At this point, Ringo’s feet stretched the entire length of the studio (or, what remained of it) and his head was well above the skyline of London, where everyone could see him and scream with horror before going, “Wait, is that Ringo Starr from the Beatles?”

Ringo was only inches away from the triangle now and London had never been hotter. The ocean was starting to dry up on the coast, fields were bursting in flames at random, and children started asking their parents why they didn’t have more fans in their houses. Alongside the heat, the ground started to quiver before shaking, rattling, and rolling. Cars rocked in the street, smashing into each other, and trees and buildings started to tilt sideways, like wannabe Leaning Towers of Pisa. People were starting to panic, because nothing this exciting had ever happened in England before.

“Ringo!” George tried to call up to his mate, though he knew it was no use, considering how high up Ringo was. “Please, stop it!” John and Paul heard George’s desperate pleas over the commotion and joined in, falling to their knees and clasping their hands together, begging with all the energy they had left.

“We’ll let you have more songs on our album!” John tried.

“I’ll bring you more flowers,” George tried.

“We’ll stop recording Maxwell’s Silver Hammer for once and for all!” Paul tried without really thinking.

Ringo was a millimeter away from making contact with the triangle. But then, he stopped. And, faster than you could say “Maxwell Anderson,” the shaking and heat stopped. Ringo had almost instantly shrunk himself back down to his normal size and was no longer glowing a searing red. He calmly set the triangle down on the stool next to his kit and turned around to look at Paul, John, and George.

“Good,” was all he had to say. And, with that, he turned on his heel and strutted out of the practically demolished studio, whistling a happy tune to himself. Left behind, Paul, John, and George all tried to compose themselves.

“A new rule for the band,” Paul started slowly, “let’s not mess with Ringo.”

“Agreed,” John was quick to respond.

“Agreed,” George repeated.

[gaitwae]

Mistletoe •||• Loki x Female Reader

Tag List: @winterfrostsarmy @twhiddlestonsstuff @lucywrites02

+-+--

“Y/N, babe?” you hear your boyfriend, Jerry Allen, say. He had a sort of superpower that let him go to other realities. In his original reality, he was the quickest man alive. “Could you help me put up the Christmas lights?”

You smile and nod. “Of course! Just let me finish spiking some eggnog for Thor. Uncle Tony and Aunt Pepper will be here soon . . . I can’t believe all of the Avengers are coming.”

Jerry grins. “Well, the Avengers are practically family. After Tony basically adopted you, they totally count.” He zooms through the living room, putting up the rest of the other decorations.

“Jerry, I was fifteen when I met Tony. That was ten years ago, I don’t think that counts as adoption,” you laugh softly. You helped him string up the Christmas lights, secretly hoping that your favorite uncle’s friend, Thor, would bring someone else to the party. You mean, he was practically your best friend. He had to show up and play just a few holiday pranks.

Your quickster boyfriend shrugs. “Whatever. And, uh, put up some mistletoe. That will be interesting.”

Mistletoe? Pffft, no one was going to fall for that. You sigh, putting it up, anyway. The only person you could think of who was unfortunate enough to even accidentally stand under it would be Bruce. You giggle gently. You would bail him out if that happened.

But what if he came? Oh, goodness. You didn’t think he knew about mistletoe. Would you still kiss him, despite having a boyfriend? Despite your promise never to fulfill your secret desires?

There’s a knock at the door. Jerry speeds to open it as you finish tying up the plant to the ceiling. You hear a voice at the door, and your heart flutters against your will.

“(Y/N),” they sing. You groan, but quickly smile anyway. You loved him, and that was that.

“Tony!” you laugh, running into his arms and helping him with presents. You move to hug Pepper. She hugs back. You hug Nat and Steve and Bruce, even seeing that Clint and Bucky showed up. They did with simple handshakes — they never were ones for major affection.

When you let go, huge arms pull you into a hug. How could you have missed him? You smile widely. Thor.

“Sister Y/N! Thank you for inviting us!” Thor’s voice booms. You return the embrace, though you’re finding it hard to breath. Sister? Usually he called you ‘Lady’ or just Small One. Never ‘Sister.’ What was going on?

It seemed like Tony and Steve and Pepper noticed it, too. “Why the sudden name change?”

Thor was about to say something, but quickly shook his head. “Nothing,” he says, like you all couldn’t already tell it was a lie. The four of you glare. “I’m under oath,” he tells you, walking away into the living room.

You roll your eyes. You were seriously starting to wish Loki were here. You blush as some simple fantasies flew into your head at the mere mention of the God of Lies. Such things you’d never let Jerry find out about, much less experience with him. Things that made you melt like butter on a thousand degree knife.

You sat down, a light haze making your head spin and cracking a smile on your face. Man. When you described the trickster as a god, there really wasn’t much exaggeration. His long black hair and his bright green-blue eyes made him look so regal. His smile was dazzling. You completely agreed with his sense of humor. You rested your head on your fist.

His lips looked so soft. You almost wanted to taste them. His hair was begging to be braided. And, norns forbid, those arms of his would cuddle amazingly. You were practically dying to find out. You hummed softly and let out a lovesick sigh. I wish you were coming.

“Y/N. You okay? You’re zoning out, kiddo,” Tony chuckled. Your heart skipped and sat up, heart pounding in your chest. What if Tony found out about your more-than-a-crush crush on Loki?

“Yeah! Yeah, I’m fine.” You cleared your throat. As smart as your “uncle” was, he would probably figure out soon. You didn’t think that would really end well. He arched an eyebrow at your statement, but didn’t press much about it. “You need something?”

“Thor spilled the beans — if you wanna hear it.” He smirks and rests his hand on his knee, getting ready to stand up. “But apparently he can’t say all of it without you.”

“Tony?”

“Yeah?”

“He didn’t say anything. You just wanted to find out what I was thinking about. Didn’t you?” Tony looked somewhat shocked, to say the least. You give him an exasperated glare. He smiled and shrugged.

“Caught me, kiddo. Is Pete coming?” He looked around. You could tell he was worried. You pointed to the door, which burst open with a Spider-Man in a Christmas hat.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND HAVE A WEBBY NEW YEAR!” He set his hands at his hips and dropped the bag of presents he had. You laugh and run to hug your younger friend.

“Peter! You made it,” you smile. He takes off the mask, grinning. His eyes sparkle with his eagerness and excitement.

“Of course, I did. Had to do some last minute shopping for Mr. Stark, but all’s good.” He chuckled and rubbed his hands together. “This Christmas is gonna be so sweet!”

You roll your eyes. “Go sit down,” you laugh. You look out the door and see snow gently falling, but no Loki. You didn’t know how much you really wished he would be here until you figured he wasn’t coming. I miss you.

You looked toward where Jerry was. Thor and Tony glared at him. Nat was giving her fake smile. Bruce was fiddling with something in his hands. You felt bad for Jerry. You knew that you were a distraction from his real love, Tulip, but she was dating one of his co-workers.

“Darling, why stay with that quickster? I know who you really want, and it isn’t him. It never was.” You knew that voice. Oh no. Within a fifty mile radius, you could hear people’s thoughts without physical contact, as long as they were directed toward you. You gulped as his thoughts and mind reading powers mixed with yours.

You weren’t invited, Loki, you think back. You could tell he was amused by that statement. He knew the truth. He was in his mind, just as you were now in his. You wanted him to come, and he knew it.

“Based off of your current train of thought, love, I would say I was. Tell me that book you wanted, again?” You light up immediately.

You can’t be serious! Really? You’re coming?

“Of course I am. Are you going to tell me the title or not?” You quickly tell him the correct name of the book, getting giddy just thinking about seeing him. Your face is hot and your hands are shaking. You can almost hear his snickering and your smile falters some. There was a knock on the window.  You look. “Oh, good. Now. Open the door?” he calls, his voice muffled by the glass.

You were sure that you died. He played you. He waved through the window, and here you were, thinking that he was just on his way. You growl at him and stomp out to the door and open it. The air is cold and crisp and bites at your ears and makes your skin erupt with goosebumps. “Loki!” You shout so loud that he winces. So much for godly ears.

He turns around and grins at you. He opens his arms out for a hug, and to also take credit for such a cruel prank. You roll your eyes, punching his stomach lightly. He makes a face, but before he can truly say anything, you hug him tightly. “You’re so mean,” you whine into his shoulder, feeling him hug you back with just as much force.

He chuckled and sighs. “Am I?” he playfully mocks back. You groan, shutting your eyes. You breathe in his sweet scent. What was it? Peppermint? Ice? You didn’t care. It was Loki. “I knew you would start wondering where I was.” You play with the soft, silly strands of his raven hair. You longed to tangle your fingers in the locks.

He pulls back some. “Shall we go in? I assume you don’t quite like the cold.”

“Of course, you big silly!” You sigh and hop away. “Let’s go!” You gently take his hand and pull him. Then you stop and think: What if I get caught?

He interlaced your fingers. “Darling, I can tell you that only two people in that house know what’s really going on, and that’s Thor and Tony Stark.” He smiled. “Please. You know me better than anyone. Everybody will just think I’m playing another prank.”

You gulp and nod. Sure. Why not? You smile and gesture for him to take the lead. He starts running, not even giving you time to find footing. Before you know it, you’re sliding through the door, laughing and trying to get your hand back. “Loki! Oh, norns! Stop!” you scream with joy.

“What’s the magic word?” he dares, now picking you up. You let out a shout. He holds you like a knight would a princess, but you hope that the cold air from outside was enough of an excuse for your blush.

“Please?” That was your guess, but knowing him, it wasn’t it. He shakes his head. He thinks a sentence to you: In the end you’ll always . . . what?  “Just let me go!” you beg, kicking your legs some. You’re holding on for dear life because oh my goodness he was tall!

“If you want me to just drop you—” he tries, loosening his grip as he says it. You yelp.

“Kneel! I’ll kneel!” you say, finally giving in. He gently sets you down. You try to punch his shoulder but he catches your fist. He smirks. You roll your eyes and get on your knees. He shakes his head and makes a dramatic sigh.

“Dearest brother, has our friend Jerry Allen been informed about, ah, the current situation?” He looks over to Thor, who’s smirking. You were so confused. You gulp.

“Shall I inform our most loveliest of hosts that she’s under mistle-tong?” You blush insanely. Loki . . . ! The dumb trickster! He takes your hands and swooshed you into his arms, moving under the mistletoe, too. He’s cupping your face and bringing you closer and closer to his. You’re resisting the urge to melt, and he hasn’t even kissed you, yet.

He looks lovingly at you. For a moment, you wonder if it’s really just a dream. “Admit that you love me,” he whispers, almost begging you to confirm this.

You pull back and rest your hands on his shoulders. His other hand is on your hip. “What am I supposed to say? I wanted everyone I love here with me tonight, if possible.”

“So you are in love with me?” He smirked widely and you leant in more than you meant to. He grins. “Finally.” You blush and try to push him away some. He looked almost overjoyed. He was right: You were in love with him. Deeply. But there were so many people you didn’t want to hurt.

“I-I don’t know what you mean!” you sputter, but your arms snake around his neck. “I love Jerry.” Dumb excuse, yes, but you were trapped. Loki had caught you, quite literally. Not to mention he was digging around in your mind.

“About as much as you love my brother. Could we stop this ridiculous cat and mouse?” Loki asked. You sigh.

“Jerry knows, right?” You bite your lip, feeling Loki hold you even closer. Your noses touched. He smirks, and you resist the urge to look behind you when you hear Jerry’s soft laugh.

“Well, if he didn’t, he does now. And he seems fine with it.” You sigh. You look up at Loki, cupping his face toward yours.

“Good. Now kiss me, before I go nuts.” He happily pressed his lips to yours, holding you close. You kissed back with relief and excitement and as much love as you knew how to.

[prettybuckybaby]

we lay here for years or for hours, so long we become the flowers; chapter six

The avengers babysit, part two

part seven of single parent peter parker

masterlist

read on ao3 here

“So. Tonight, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I know I said we should tell them, but you know we don’t have to if you don’t want to? We can keep it to ourselves. We’ve been good at keeping it a secret, we can carry on doing that.”

“I know. I want to tell them. I do. Let’s just…not make a big deal out of it?”

---------------

It was Peter’s idea to do it like this, he’ll admit that. But, he’ll also admit this; telling his family is scary. He knows he doesn’t have anything to be scared of, nothing at all, but it doesn’t really get easier, if he’s being honest.

They’ve timed it well though. It’s the first movie night they’re having where everyone is there for a few weeks. Pepper hasn’t got any late-night meetings, Sam’s back from visiting his sister and nephews, Clint’s back from visiting his family, and Natasha is back from whatever mission Fury sent her on. Even Bruce and Tony have come down from the lab after not leaving for the best part of three days.

Because it’s the first time they’ve all been available at the same time in weeks, movie night has turned more into movie afternoon, which works even better for Peter’s plan.

It’s one of May’s Saturdays, technically, but she got called in last minute for an afternoon shift, and it’s movie night so she knew she wasn’t likely to see Peter until the morning anyway. He leaves for the tower at the same time that May leaves for the hospital, meaning he’s making it to the common room after everyone else. Which is perfect.

Leia’s running out the lift as soon as the doors are open.

“Uncle Tony!” She shouts as she sees him, laughing as she climbs onto the couch.

“Hello, sweetheart,” He chuckles as she climbs over his lap and settles in between him and Pepper. “What time are you going to be back, underoos?”

“I don’t know. Not too late. Should be back before Leia’s asleep.”

“You’re not joining us tonight, Pete?” Bruce asks, frowning slightly. Peter blushes, his cheeks dusted pink.

“No,”

“What is it that you’re doing, by the way?” Tony asks, settling a blanket over himself, Leia, and Pepper. “You call asking me to babysit and then refuse to give any details,”

“Oh,” Peter’s cheeks flush darker. “I, uh, I have a date,”

“A date?” Peter laughs as Tony splutters. “With who?” Peter looks down as he grins, cheeks still pink.

“With my boyfriend,” This time it’s Clint who splutters, eyes going wide.

“Boyfriend?” He asks, voice high. “Since when-” The archer is cut off by the lift door opening.

“Hey,” Harley grins as he walks into the room, straight up to Peter, seemingly oblivious to the confusion filling the room. “You ready to bounce?”

“Yeah,” Peter smiles up at him, pointedly ignoring the gasping behind him.

“Harley, honey, I thought you were seeing Brad?” Pepper asks, frowning lightly. Peter waves sheepishly.

“Hi. Brad.”

“But…you…what?” Clint stutters, eyes flicking between the two teens. “What?”

“So.” Tony coughs, looking awkward. “You two are…huh. Okay. How, uh, long?” The man frowns when Peter starts looking slightly guilty. Harley squeezes his hand gently.

“A little over two years,” The older teen replies, and then notices how uncomfortable his boyfriend is getting. “Well, this has been a blast, but we’ve got reservations to make, so we better be going,” He tugs gently on Peter’s hand as he moves them into the open lift.

“Be good, Leia,” Peter calls out, not looking at any of the others. “I love you.”

“Love you, Daddy!” She calls back, waving until the lift doors close. She turns to Tony when the doors close completely, and the mechanics start whirring. She pokes Tony’s cheek. “Juice?”

“You.” Tony narrows his eyes. “You knew about this.” His eyes narrow further when Leia’s widen, and she pouts her lips. “Stop with the puppy eyes. I’m trying to be upset with you. I thought we didn’t have secrets,”

“Juice? Please?” She pouts her lips further.

“You’re fricking adorable,” Tony sighs as he stands up. He ignores Pepper and Steve berating him for his language as he picks Leia up. “So bloody cute. I don’t understand. Where’d you get it from?” He walks them into the kitchen area, bringing a box of her drinks out and letting her pick one. “I mean, Parker isn’t cute. Parker keeps secrets,”

“Thank you, Uncle Tony,” Leia grins up at him when she picks one of the bottles out. Tony fights a smile as he puts the box back and moves back to the couch.

“Yeah,” He mumbles as he sits down, taking care to cover her with the blanket again. “Whatever, traitor,” He kisses the top of her head.

“You’re not actually mad at them, are you?” Pepper asks once they’re settled. Tony sighs when he feels everybody watching him carefully.

“Of course I am,” He scoffs. “They’re horrible. Parker and Keener. Together. They’re going to be disgusting. Harley is going to corrupt my baby,”

“Tony,” Steve sighs, sounding exasperated. “Harley’s a good kid, he’s not going to corrupt-”

“Boss,” FRIDAY interrupts Steve. “Mr Keener and Mr Parker have just taken number eleven from the garage.”

“See!” The engineer groans, throwing his head backwards. “It’s already happening.” Everyone laughs as Tony moans mournfully.

---------------

Harley is watching Peter carefully. They’re in the lift, the doors having shut, and Peter’s eyes are closed as he leans against the back wall. He’d collapsed backwards as soon as the doors had shut.

“Hey.” Harley kicks his ankle delicately. Peter hums, but his eyes stay closed. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Peter clears his throat a few times. “Yeah. I mean…I don’t know. I know they’re not going to think differently of me, but you know. It’s…”

“Yeah,” Harley agrees softly. “I know. I’m proud of you, though, bubs,” Peter laughs gently. Harley grins when his eyes blink open.

“’Bubs’? Also, do not. I’m emotional, I will cry,” Harley laughs as the doors open, pulling gently on his boyfriend’s hand, leading him into the garage.

“Come on,” He walks them over towards the collection of cars Tony has at the back of the room. Peter narrows his eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you think I’m doing?” Harley grins, spinning around so he’s facing Peter and walking backwards. Peter rolls his eyes.

“These are Mr Stark’s cars,”

“Aw. I’ve heard people calling you a genius, baby, but now I’ve seen it for myself. Truly, you are unprecedented,”

“You’re so mean to me,” Peter whines, dragging his feet slightly, making Harley laugh. The older teen brings them to a stop in front of a car. “He’ll get mad,”

“If he was gonna get mad at me drivin’ his car, would he have handed me the keys?” He pulls the keys out his pocket, holding them up with a grin. Peter narrows his eyes as Harley jingles them happily. “Okay, so, technically he gave me the keys to fix her up, but I finished fixin’ her up hours ago and he hasn’t asked for the keys back yet, so. She’s all ours, baby,”

“Are you…you know what. Sure. Let’s go,” Peter laughs.

“Your carriage awaits, Spider,”

“Okay,” Peter sighs, turning to face Harley again. “I know you’re making some sort of joke, but I don’t know enough about cars to understand it.

“Uncultured,” Harley shakes his head mockingly, opening the door for Peter to get in. “This is an R8 Spyder, Spider-man,”

“Oh,” Peter nods slowly. “Clever.”

“Thank you, darlin’.” Harley grins as he gets into the car, starting her up and steering out of the garage.

---------------

They decide to walk back to the tower, taking their time and meandering through the park. Their hands are connected, swinging them gently. Peter takes a sip of the sugary iced coffee Harley bought him and sighs quietly.

“Thank you,” He mumbles, glancing up at his boyfriend. Harley hums.

“For what?”

“You know.” Peter shrugs one of his shoulders, keeping his eyes on the ground. “Agreeing to tell them. I know you weren’t sure about it but…it means a lot.”

“You were right.” Harley sighs. “We couldn’t hide forever. And honestly? I didn’t want to,” He stops walking, pulling Peter lightly to a stop beside him. He lifts Peter chin with his fingers tenderly, makes him meet his eyes. “I want to be able to cuddle with you on movie nights and kiss you whenever I want to and I don’t want to have to sneak into your bedroom every night so nobody catches us. I want to be able to love you out loud, Peter. I don’t want to have to hide it anymore because-” He takes a breath, averting his eyes for a moment. He swallows before bringing his eyes back up to meet Peter’s. “I am totally, completely, unequivocally in love with you, Peter Parker. And you mean the world to me. More than the world. The world and the sky and all of the stars in the sky and in our universe and in every other universe in every other reality. I love you beyond the limits of our knowledge.” It’s quiet for a few moments.

“Wow.”

“’Wow’?” Harley laughs, poking the dimple on Peter’s chin where he’s grinning. “Just poured my heart out to you, Parker, and all you can say is ‘wow’?”

“I love you.” Peter tells him, voice quiet but face painfully open. Sincere. “You are…you are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.” He pulls Harley in by his jacket. Their lips meet delicately.

---------------

It’s still early when the lift doors open again. Leia is still awake, singing along softly to the words to Dumbo, making Bearbear dance on Tony’s thigh. She perks up when she notices the teens coming into the room, laughing.

“Daddy! Missed you!”

“Aw,” Peter coos, bending over the back of the couch to plant a kiss on her head. “Missed you, too, bambina,”

“Missed you, Harls,”

“Yeah?” The other teen asks, where his head is sticking out of the fridge to look at her. “I missed you, too, stink,” Harley comes out of the fridge with one of Peter’s sugary drinks in his hands. He takes a swig of it before grimacing, handing it off to Peter and moving to sit down on the empty chair. “God, that is awful,”

“Why do you keep drinking it then?” Peter takes the bottle with a scowl. He’s just sat down next to Harley when Tony clears his throat.

“Pete? Why don’t you go and get Leia into her pyjamas?” He asks. Peter frowns at the tone of his voice. He glances up, frowning more when he notices Tony watching Harley. He meets Pepper’s eye, sighing when she just rolls her eyes.

“Come on then, trouble,” He sighs as he stands up, holding his hand out as Leia untangles herself from the blankets. “Let’s leave Uncle Tony to do his best impression of a protective father threatening my boyfriend,” Bucky barks out a laugh as Peter and Leia leave the room, but his expression sobers when Tony glares at him. Harley shifts when all the attention turns to him.

“Is this the part where you ask me about my intentions with your son, Mr Stark?” He asks with a smirk. The smirk widens when he sees Tony’s lips quirk.

“Never call me that again.” He says, rolling his eyes. “I get enough of it from Peter.”

“Seriously, though. You’re giving me the shovel talk?” Harley asks with a raised eyebrow. Tony opens his mouth again, before he closes it and shakes his head.

“No.” He sighs. “I trust you,”

“Aw,” Harley coos, holding a hand to his chest. “This is the greatest day of my life. Hey, guys! Guys! I’ve got Tony Stark’s approval. Wow. What a feelin’,”

“Alright, kid, don’t push it,”

“For what it’s worth, I really like him.” Harley says, serious. “And you can’t be mad about him keeping it from you, either, because that was all me,”

“He’s not mad, honey,” Pepper reassures him, sending a soft smile. Harley matches the expression. “He just doesn’t want to see either of you hurt. He cares a lot about both of you. You’re his kids,”

“Have you told May?” Natasha asks him. Harley laughs.

“You know Peter. He told her the second I asked him on a date,” Sam laughs across the room. “Then he passed out. It was a pretty eventful day,”

“He passed out?” Bucky asks, raising his eyebrow. “Why?”

“He got stabbed. Didn’t tell us,”

“How did May take it?”

“Peter passing out? Surprisingly well,” Harley smirks. “She took me out for coffee,” He tells them with a sigh. Pepper nods her head. “She said that she hadn’t seen Peter as happy since before…you know,”

“Yeah,” Tony smiles softly. “So, Pete’s happy. What about you?”

Harley looks up when he hears Leia giggling, running away from a laughing Peter.

“No! Come back here, you menace!”

“Yeah,” He smiles, looking down. “Yeah. I’m happy.”

[tomboyneedshercoffee]

Thin Ice Pt 3 || Peter Parker x Reader

Summary: The decathlon team gets snowed in and room 401 and 412 decide to play truth or dare. 

Word Count: 4.3k

Author’s note: Wowie this took a long time to write but I’m glad I finally finished it!! Hope everyone is safe and remember, if you need toilet paper, just use the shower to wipe your ass!

Warning: Swearing, teen drinking, mentions of sex, forced kiss kinda 

part one || part two || part three || part four || part five || part six || to be continued 

Cindy rummaged through her luggage as you mindlessly scrolled through Instagram, spamming through Flash’s insta-stories of the day. MJ laid down right beside you on the hotel bed, making a quick joke about how he probably buys his followers. 

You had all just eaten dinner and the chaperones had made their last rounds visiting rooms when the news of an incoming blizzard was heading straight towards the resort. It wasn’t meant to cause any damage but your whole trip itinerary would have to be pushed back a day or two depending on when the blizzard would stop.  

You were slightly glad that this storm had decided to roll through because that meant that when it cleared up, there would be hardly anyone on the slopes so you could snowboard without the fear of running into a child on skis. 

“ Found it! Who wants to go first?” Cindy asked as she pulled out her bag that was filled with various facemasks. 

You and MJ both looked up for a second before turning back to your phone screen unphased. 

“ I’ll pass. Last night you made me try it and I couldn’t wash off the pink tint. I looked like a freaking pokemon,” You shivered as MJ laughed beside you. 

Cindy got up from her spot on the floor and plopped down beside you, grabbing the phone away from your hands. 

You protested as she held the phone above her head, catching a glimpse of your case,” Seriously? A spiderman phone case? Are you and Flash a part of some creepy fangirl club?” 

MJ watched as you leaped up and snatched your phone from Cindy quickly, immediately turning it off in the process. You looked at the nightstand beside you as you laid back onto the bed, pointing to her phone that was charging. 

“ Oh so you rather me have a hello kitty one?” You teased as you lightly pushed Cindy away with your foot,” what are you twelve?” 

Cindy wasted no time and grabbed your foot and pulled you off the bed, causing you to let out a yelp. You landed on your butt as MJ peeked over the bed to make sure you were okay. Once she saw that you were fine, she just shook her head at the two of you and laid back on the bed. 

“ Hello Kitty is for all ages thank you very much,” Cindy defended as she sat down on the bed and held up a blue container,” Come on MJ. This is a collagen one from Korea and you know us Asians have great skin.” 

MJ rolled her eyes at Cindy but sat up from her spot,” Fine, as long as Y/N does it too.” 

After a minute of whining, you and MJ both found yourself sitting upright with a scented sheet mask covering your face. You continued to scroll through Instagram when Betty entered the room holding the ice bucket to her chest. 

“ Guess who I just ran into?” Betty asked excitedly as you all perked up,” and might I say, a girl might be catching feelings.”

“ What? Are you talking about Mr. Harrington?” Cindy laughed as Betty put down the ice bucket and stuck her tongue out in disgust. 

“ Gross! I mean I did see Mr. Harrington going to the jacuzzi but I’m talking about Ned! Since the chaperones already checked the rooms for lights out, he’s thinking we can all hang out in our room!” 

“ Who’s we?” MJ asked as Betty started to clean up her clothes from off the floor. 

“ Everyone in his room so Flash, Brad, Peter, and obviously Ned. What else are we gonna do all night?” Betty asked as you pointed to your face. 

“ Um hello? Facemasks and talking shit all night sounds like the perfect plan to me,” You shrugged as you turned on your phone and looked through your messages,” plus what if we get in trouble? You know Mr. Harrington will have an aneurysm if he finds four boys and four girls in one room.”  

You were already in a weird spot with Brad since this afternoon and you knew that he was the type to hold grudges. You couldn’t imagine being in a room with him and all his attitude but at the same time, you wanted to hang out with Peter. 

Betty zipped up her luggage and put it in the corner next to the other mini-fridge,” Y/N, I know you didn’t go but we almost died on our last two trips. Considering all that happened, I think us watching a movie and playing charades with a bunch of science nerds will be harmless.” 

Sometimes you envied how everyone seemed to bond over the last two trips for the decathlon team but then you remembered the falling elevator story at the Washington Monument and the droid attack at the Tower Bridge in London. While no one died, you were glad you weren’t apart of that “bonding experience” and you knew if you wanted to bond with people, you would stick to just trust falls exercises. 

“ In that case, I call dibs on Flash!” Cindy shouted as she raised her hand promptly, earning a confused look from everyone in the room,” What? Have you seen his house? Securing Flash means securing his bank account and I’m trying to financially invest in my future.” 

“ Then I call Brad!” Betty raised her hand but lowered it when she made eye contact with you,” wait nevermind. I forgot about how close you and Brad are.” 

“ First off, it’s 2020, we’re not claiming anyone,” you said as Betty rolled her eyes,” secondly, you can have him. I’m not interested in him or any guy right now.

It was half true. You couldn’t care less about Brad going out with someone, even if it was one of your best friends and the idea of you and Brad together made you feel so uncomfortable. 

You didn’t really have a crush on anyone but there was something about Peter that made you drawn to him. You didn’t know if that meant you had a crush or not but when the idea of him coming into your room and seeing you in a face mask in your pajamas made you feel embarrassed.  

Before Betty could confront you with your lie,  you all turned your heads when you heard a knock at the door. 

Your heart stopped and now you weren’t sure if you were more nervous to see Peter or Brad. 

Betty calmly made her way over to the door even though you knew she was a nervous wreck on the inside. Once you heard the boys start to come in, you took off your facemask and rubbed in whatever moisturizing element it had left. 

MJ had done the same but instead of throwing hers away, she made it into a soggy ball and threw it at Flash, who shrieked in disgust. 

“ Did we miss the sexy pillow fight?” Brad asked as he smiled at you, almost like he hadn’t gotten mad earlier. 

You decided to let whatever happened this morning slide but once you caught eyes with Peter, you felt anxious. 

“ Hey, we’re twinning!” You said as you pointed to your Harry Potter pajama shorts and Peter’s sweatpants to try and calm your nerves,” I never pegged you as a Gryfindor Pete.”

Peter looked down at his pants and chuckled lightly,” I never thought I was either.”

 He wasn’t going to lie, he wore those on purpose cause MJ had texted him that you had a similar pair in your luggage and he liked the idea of you two matching. 

“ Is that alcohol? How did you sneak that onto the trip?” Cindy asked as she grabbed the bottle from Flash’s hands,” We could get in so much trouble.”

“ Only if we get caught,” Flash said as he opened up his backpack and brought out plastic cups. 

He passed one around to Ned and Betty but when he came to Peter, he just stopped and scoffed,” Are you sure you can handle your liquor? The girls probably have some apple juice in the fridge for you to drink.”

Truth be told, Peter couldn’t handle his liquor at all but that was before he had powers. Now, he could forever say goodbye to hangovers and embarrassing drunk encounters. 

It wasn’t like he was a big drinker pre or even post-spider bite but his body operated differently than a regular teenager so instead of passing out after two shots of Remy Martin, he could easily call himself a heavyweight. 

“ I think I’ll be okay,” Peter said plainly as he practically ripped the stack of plastic cups out of Flash’s hand causing Flash to flinch. 

Peter passed one to you as you hesitantly took it from his hands. You were second-guessing everything and you weren’t sure if it was the paranoia of getting caught or the mix of alcohol amongst the group. 

Brad watched you from his seat on the ground and shook his head, letting out a tsk from his lips,” You’re not fooling anyone Y/N, you don’t drink.” 

The hell was that supposed to mean? 

Brad knew you all too well, you almost made it through high school without drinking (with the exception of your aunt’s wedding where they served champagne) and you didn’t want to ruin your streak now. 

At the same time, peer pressure was real and while no one was asking you to drink, you still felt like you almost had to. 

You shrugged and handed out your cup to Cindy so she could pour some of the Smirnoff into it,” There’s a first time for everything I guess.” 

Everyone took a seat on the ground in a circle, with Peter on your left and MJ on your right. Brad and Betty both made a toast and before you knew it, you took a sharp sip of your drink and coughed after you swallowed it. 

“ Yeah, okay that freaking sucks,” You cringed as you put your cup down beside you.

You felt better knowing that Flash and Betty both had the same reaction but you were a bit surprised how easily Peter took down the shot. Peter noticed you from the corner of his eye and pretended to shudder, even though it almost tasted like water to him.

After about a half an hour of mingling and drinking amongst yourselves, you could already feel the alcohol running through your system. You didn’t feel nauseous but if someone had asked you to spin around in a circle, it wouldn’t end pretty. 

You watched from your spot on the office chair as Brad made his way over to you, smiling wide. 

Here he goes, you thought as he sat down on the desk and looked down at you. 

“Y/N, you look mad.”

“ I’m chill but clearly something upset you this morning,” You said as Brad shrugged plainly and took another sip,” what’s been up with you? You’ve been dodging me all day.” 

From the outside, Brad looked fine like any other tipsy teenager but you knew better. There was something behind his eyes and you could literally see the gears spinning in his mind. 

“ I can’t be protective of you?” He asked as you responded with a confused mm as you took another small sip of your drink,” obviously I’m talking about you know who.”

You watched Brad’s gaze fall over to Peter, who was sitting on the bed beside MJ and Cindy deep in a conversation. You rolled your eyes and you gave Brad an unconvinced look. 

You were many things but being someone who needs protection was definitely not one of them. You knew Brad long enough to know that he had never cared about any guy being around you but for some reason, he was so threatened by Peter. 

You knew if you said it out loud, Brad would just get madder like earlier but deep down, you knew he was jealous. What made you even more upset was that this jealousy practically came out of nowhere and you and Peter only started to hang out just this morning. 

You weren’t sure if it was the alcohol or your pure frustration alone but once you opened your mouth, any chance of having a PC filter was gone,“ You don’t have to worry about Peter, he’s a good guy. I like him so do me a favor and stay in your lane.”

Before Brad even had the chance to reply, Flash grabbed the bottle off the dresser and sat down in the center of the hotel floor. 

“ Lets play something cause I’m bored as hell. How about a friendly game of spin the bottle?” Flash suggested as everyone was adamant on playing something else,” you guys are so lame, would you rather play truth or dare?” 

MJ poured herself another small amount and handed the bottle to Ned, who immediately passed the bottle away from him. 

“ That’s so cliche,” MJ groaned as she looked down at her cup before taking it all down,” but I’m in. If you don’t want to answer or do the dare, you gotta take a shot no matter what.”

You shifted in your seat and mentally cursed. You hated truth or dare and frankly, it was the dumbest game to suggest especially since you knew that most of the group wouldn’t be down to do a dare that was too risky. 

On the other hand, you were the type to always pick truth because you rather let people know your deep dark secrets than lick a toilet seat. 

After a few rounds of Flash running through the hallway in just his underwear and of MJ switching clothes with Brad, it was Betty’s turn to pick who was next. 

“ Okay, my turn... Ned,” Betty said, catching Ned off guard,” Truth or dare?”

Ned looked around and shrugged, looking visibly uncomfortable,” Truth I guess.”

“ Do you want to get back together with me?” 

You were the only one to gasp and you covered your mouth in shock when you realized no one else had the same reaction,” Sorry I- you guys dated? Since when?” 

“ Oh right I forgot to tell you, we were a couple during the Europe trip but it ended when the trip did. You really missed a lot,” Betty explained as she moved her attention back to Ned, waiting for a response. 

Ned looked at Peter who only nudged him back in response which made the situation even more awkward. Instead of answering the question, Ned took down his shot like a champ and shook his head,” I’m not falling for that one.” 

The room busted out in ooos as Betty’s face grew red. She quickly composed herself and poured herself another drink,” Your turn then.” 

Ned looked at Peter as if he was asking for permission but Peter shook his head. Peter knew Ned wanted to be a good wingman but Ned tended to take the title too seriously and go overboard. 

“ Okay then I’ll pick Peter,” Ned said as Peter’s hands started to feel even more sweaty than before,” Truth or Dare.”

If it was anyone else asking Peter, he could easily choose Truth and move on with the game but because Ned was in control and knew too much about his crush on you, he was worried that something would slip. 

“ D-Dare,” Peter stuttered as he cleared his throat, his eyes locked on Ned as if he was pleading to have a normal dare that didn’t involve you. 

Ned smiled and looked over in your direction as his plan started to come together. 

“ I dare you to kiss the prettiest girl in the room.”

The room grew silent for only a moment before it bursted out in mixed conversations. All eyes were on Peter and he could feel how hot his ears were burning from embarrassment. 

Peter tried to play it off and lifted his cup in the air,” I’m definitely not doing that.” 

Cindy groaned from her seat and sat up on her knees,” Come on Peter, it’s just a kiss. It’s not like it’s your virginity or anything.”

“Cindy!” Betty smacked Cindy’s thigh sharply as if she was a child acting up in a grocery store. 

“ Ow! I didn’t even say anything bad,” Cindy rubbed her thigh but glanced over at Peter,” I’m sorry but even if you are a virgin, that’s not a bad thing!” 

You and Betty both gave Cindy a ‘Stop Talking’ look and you turned to Peter, his face flushed by now. 

“ If he doesn’t want to do it, he shouldn’t be forced to,” Flash said as he leaned over and poured a shot out for Peter,” but just for the record, he totally would’ve kissed Y/N.”

“ N-No I wouldn’t!” Peter stammered, feeling completely mortified. 

“ You hear that Y/N,” Brad smirked as he looked between you and Peter,” Peter doesn’t think you’re pretty. I on the other hand-”

“ That’s not true!” Peter shouted over Brad as he turned to you sympathetically,” Y/N I-I do think you’re pretty!” 

“ Um, thanks Peter, you too,” you said simply as you tried to catch up to the conversation. 

If you could be honest, you felt like you were on a five-second lag thanks to how much you had been drinking and you weren’t processing what everyone was saying as well as you should’ve. You weren’t really paying any attention to the conversation until you heard the word virginity and your name. What you did notice the whole night was Brad’s small attempts to get you a bit annoyed while flirting at the same time.

Since you two had been friends for so long, you knew how he operated and whenever Brad liked someone, he would always make little jabs as if girls fell for that kind of stuff. You needed to get him alone to set him straight because you didn’t want to ruin your friendship over his small crush on you. 

You shook your head at Brad as he watched you pour yourself another shot that was almost triple of what you took earlier. 

“ What were you saying Brad? About Y/N?” Cindy asked as you looked over to Brad who only shrugged. 

“ Nothing I was just going to ask Y/N truth or dare,” Brad said as Ned shook his head. 

“ No it’s Peter’s turn, those are the rules remember?” Ned insisted as he gave Peter a quick look. 

Peter had nothing against Brad but Peter wasn’t stupid or blind either. He clearly had feelings and wasn’t going to waste any time going in for the kill. If it was any other guy then maybe Peter had a chance but Brad Davis? Not only did Brad have an advantage since you two were friends for so long but Brad was practically a clone of you. 

You both had similar interests, identical backstories, and the same sense of humor so of course Peter felt threatened. 

What was worse was that Peter could tell that Brad knew about Peter’s feelings for you so now, it was almost a competition for Brad. 

“ Oh come on, he doesn’t mind,” Brad laughed as he looked at Peter and tilted his head to the side,” do you Pete?” 

Peter only nodded as Peter took his shot and crossed his arms over his chest. You weren’t sure why you were feeling particularly bold today but when Brad asked you truth or dare, you chose dare. 

“ I dare you to do seven minutes in heaven with me in the restroom.”

You leaned back onto your hands and tilted your head to the side. If it were any other day, you would’ve passed on the offer but this was just a game to Brad. He knew you would say no and that would prompt Brad to make even more jabs towards you for being a prude. 

“ Okay Davis, I’ll bite,” You grabbed your cup and drank the whole thing before handing it to Peter,” see you guys on the other side.” 

You got up from your seat as Brad followed you closely,” Don’t wait up guys.” 

Peter clenched his jaw as Brad gave a thumbs up to Flash who was whooping in celebration. 

Once the bathroom door had shut, Flash nudged Betty and stuck his tongue out,“ They’re gonna get down and dirty-”

“ Shut the hell up, Flash!” Peter didn’t even realize he had said it out loud until he noticed that everyone was staring at him. 

Peter’s face flushed a deep red and sighed deeply before grabbing his phone and got up from his seat,” It’s late. I’m going to bed.” 

Everyone watched as Peter practically stomped out of the room and was fuming from head to toe. 

Once you were in the bathroom, you sat up on the counter and looked up at Brad, who just locked the door. 

“ I know what you’re doing Brad,” You said as Brad leaned against the counter next to you,” you’ve done this move before on Katelyn Gomez at the homecoming after-party. I’m not stupid.”

Brad smiled innocently as he ran his fingers through his hair,” I have no idea what you’re talking about. Can’t I just have some quiet time with my girl?”

You let out a dry laugh and shook your head, you really couldn’t believe what was happening. You heard the main hotel room door slam shut which made you turn your head to the door. You didn’t hear anything follow up so you turned your attention back to Brad. 

“ That’s my point, I’m not your girl,” You motioned between the two of you with your hand,” this is not a thing and will never be a thing.”

Brad acted shocked and placed a hand over his heart as if he was in pain,” Why do you love breaking my heart?” 

“ You’re my best friend Brad which is why this can never happen. I mean come on, my mom used to bathe us in the same tub when we were younger!” You exclaimed as Brad shooed your hand away. 

“ Okay fine, we have history but there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m not asking you to marry me I’m just asking for a chance,” Brad sighed as he moved over and leaned closer to you,” are you really saying that you don’t have feelings for me?”

You looked down at Brad’s hand and back up to his face. Brad looked at you longingly with puppy dog eyes but you were smart and you knew better than to fall for it. 

“ I have feelings for you... but not the kind you have for me. I love you Brad but as a friend. I trust you more than anyone else I know and I like being a part of your life,” You watched as Brad nodded softly,” our friendship is so important to me and I don’t want to ruin it.” 

For the first time ever, it was like you had left Brad speechless. You could tell how hurt he was and it made your heartache. Brad was never someone to take things so seriously, especially if it was with a girl. Brad could be rude at times and a little too sarcastic for your liking but so were you. 

“ I’m sorry,” you said, trying to interrupt the silence between the two of you. 

Brad shook his head and bit his lip, a habit that he had been doing since he was six whenever he was nervous,” You don’t have to apologize. I’ve been a dick to you lately and I’m sorry...Can I ask you for something? It’s okay if you say no.”

You nodded and squeezed Brad’s hand,” Yeah, anything.”

“ I know you want us to be friends and I respect that but...do you think I could kiss you?”

You tensed up as you shifted against the counter,” I don’t know Brad..”

“ I’m not asking to make out, I’m just asking for a quick peck on the cheek,” Brad stammered as you nervously bit the inside of your cheek,” pretty please?” 

You thought things over in your head but all you could think about was Peter. What would he say if he found out? You shook your head and tried to get Peter out of your head, why would Peter care? Better yet, why were you thinking of Peter right now?

“ Okay, but only if it’s a cheek kiss.”

“ Deal...okay can you close your eyes?” Brad asked as you rolled your eyes but did so anyone. 

You sat there with your eyes closed and shook your head,” You’re so weird Davis.”

After a few seconds, you felt Brad move off the counter and scooted between your legs. You felt him place his hands next to your thighs and leaned closer to you,” Ready?”

“ Whatever man just do it. God this is so weird,” you mumbled as you heard Brad count down from 5 to 1. 

When he got to you, you expected to feel his lips press up against yours but when you felt his lips against yours, you opened your eyes in shock and pushed him away with your hands. 

“ What the hell Brad! You said it was a cheek kiss!” You shouted as you wiped your lips with the back of your hand. 

“ I-I’m sorry” Brad backed away from you and rushed for the door handle,” I’m going to go.” 

Brad didn’t even look at you as walked out of the door, leaving you alone in the bathroom. You couldn’t believe your best friend just kissed you and you were somewhat thankful you felt nothing but disgust from it. 

Peter. You rubbed the sides of your temple in frustration as you thought of what would happen if Peter found out. Your heart sunk as you thought of why you didn’t want Peter to know what had happened between you and Brad. 

Damn it, you had a crush on Peter. And you were pretty sure he felt the same way. 

@holland-in-disguise @yeahimcrying @greatpizzascissorstaco @mysticalbanshee @weyheyavengers @infinityflamesworld  @fandom-fangirl22    @peterparkoure @crumpets-are-better-with-jam​

[polaroid15]

Febuwhump Day 1: Mind Control

It’s heeeeeere! 

Summary: The one where Parker luck is proven to be the worst luck. But hey, at least he's got the best family in the world to help him through it all.

Read at https://archiveofourown.org/works/29138196/chapters/71533821

Love you guys!!  Thanks for joining me on this journey! 

---

Chapter One

Peter doesn’t realize that something has gone terribly wrong until the last alien hits the ground.

At first he’s excited, body thrumming with adrenaline as he sidesteps over their victory. The fight had been, for lack of a better term, a satisfying study break. He takes a moment to stretch out the tightness in his back and shoulders, relishing in the cold air as his heart rate calms.

Satisfied, he sweeps his eyes across their small battlefield in search of a familiar flash of red and gold. Though the fight had started on the ground, they’ve ended up on the rooftop of some ritzy skyscraper, the city stretched far beneath them and painted gold in the dark light of the moon.

Aside from all the alien guts, it’s not a bad view.

“Tony?”

The man had called him just over an hour earlier asking for his help in scrambling up a couple of rouge aliens from their last big mission. Being close by and more than ready to assist his hero, Peter had been in his suit and by Tony’s side in a matter of minutes, hardly believing his luck. Somehow, despite everything they’ve been through, he still managed to get nervous every time he fought alongside his hero.

To his relief, however, the fight went off without a hitch. Unlike their normal brand, neither sustained any injuries, ‘finishing off the fight with flare’, as Tony would say.

But where is he now?

“Tony?” Peter calls again, slipping off his mask and looking around with enthusiasm. “Where’d you go?”

His voice carries and dies in silence.

“Hello?”

Confused and a little unnerved, Peter spins on his heels in a full 360 and debates putting his mask back on to ask Karen for Tony’s location. It’s out of character for Tony to vanish like this, and it makes his stomach tighten in worry.

“Mr. Stark!”

“Here.”

Peter jumps and turns towards the noise, feeling relief leak into his limbs. “Oh. H-hey man. There you are.”

Tony doesn’t say anything, stiff as a board and levitating a few feet off the ground. There’s a chunk of metal missing from his helmet, ripped clean through so his right eye and nose are showing.

“You’re mask-”

“Peter Parker?”

“What? Yeah Tony. Are- are you okay? You look a little off. Did one of the aliens hurt-”

But there is no ‘you’, because before Peter can finish his sentence, Tony is flying towards him at an alarming speed, repulsors glowing bright. Startled, Peter jumps out of the way and shouts in alarm. “Tony! What the-”

A fiery blast of hot energy hits the ground between his feet. Yelling out once more, Peter scrambles back, hands raised in frantic defense at the sudden rush of heat. “Tony! Stop! What are you doing?”

He doesn’t get an answer. As Tony progresses forward, Peter tries desperately to connect with the man, but his eyes are as blank and empty as the night sky behind him. It’s then that it all comes together, and Peter feels his heart stutter in his chest.

“Oh- oh no. Did you breathe in any gas? Oh God. You did, didn’t you?”

Another blast of energy is fired towards him. It barely misses his shoulder and the material of his suit begins to smoke. Not good. So not good. The aliens were known to produce an aerial toxin that triggers the brain to be particularly inclined to violence. Someone would kill their own family if exposed to it.

And right now, Peter is the only target.

Just his luck.

“Snap out of it Mr. Stark! Wake up!”

Peter feels his heel catch on uneven cement and he stumbles, falling hard on his butt and using the momentum to scramble backwards on his hands and feet. The fear hits him now. He feels it in the sharp sting on the back of his tongue and the inability to fully breathe, his spider-sense screaming and making his head spin. He moves to pull on his mask and realizes in detached wonder that he no longer has it in his hand.

“Peter Parker,” Tony says again, his voice monotonous and void of everything Peter is used to. It’s chilling, and Peter lifts a shaky hand in warning.

“D-don’t come any closer!”

But Tony does. Without blinking an eye, he closes the distance between them and encloses his gauntleted hand around Peter’s outstretched wrist. Before Peter can comprehend the pain, his web shooter sparks with electricity as the gadget breaks under pressure. He screams as his wrist snaps along with the mechanism and arcs his foot up in a reflexive kick. It hits Tony in the abdomen and succeeds in forcing the man to let go, pushing him back a couple steps.

Breathing heavily, Peter scrambles away, broken wrist pinned to his chest protectively. He can feel Tony following him closely and gasps when his metal fingers close around his shoulder, halting his escape.

Peter uses his remaining web shooter to fire a web at Tony’s oncoming fist, pulling the force of it off course so it slams into the concrete at their feet. It breaks like ice around the impact and the shock of knowing it had been directed at him leaves him weak.

“Tony please-”

Undeterred, Tony swings his arm with the web out to the side, throwing Peter off his balance. As he stumbles, Tony uses his other hand to throw a hard punch into the boy’s ribs. He hears them crack but hardly feels the pain, tears welling in his eyes.

“This- this isn’t you. Look at me-”

Peter gasps as his undamaged wrist is pinned against the roof, the metal crushed just like the first. As he screams, Tony finds his eyes, staring blankly and completely unaffected by Peter’s pain.

“It’s me. It’s- It’s Peter. This isn’t you! Fight it!”

The panic and fear in his body has made him numb. When Tony closes his hand around Peter’s throat, he can barely blink, let alone fight it away. The very real possibility that he’s about to die races through him like lightning.

“T-Tony. Mr. Stark.”

The pressure on his throat increases as the man lifts him off the ground. Peter manages to lift his hands to the vice grip, fingers curling around Tony’s in an attempt to relieve the strain. It makes his wrists shoot in pain and for a moment, all he can see are stars.

When his vision clears, he’s hanging by Tony’s hand over a 100 story drop. The city swarms like an anthill beneath them and Peter tightens his hold against Tony’s. His web shooters are shattered.

If Tony drops him, he will die.

“Tony,” Peter chokes. With every ounce of being he can muster, he searches Tony’s eyes. Just as before, they hold no resemblance to the man Peter knows. His hero. His friend.

His family.

“Don’t drop me.”

The grip tightens so dramatically that Peter thinks his neck will be crushed before he even gets the chance to fall. Despite the pain, he refuses to break his eye contact with his mentor. They glimmer against Peter’s reflection, glassy and distant.

“Not your fault,” he chokes. It’s hard to speak around the vice grip and nearly impossible to pull together sentences through the thick fog in his head. But he tries, even when his vision tunnels. It’s important. “I- I- forgive you. Don’t- don’t blame yourself, okay?”

He needs Tony to understand. This could be his last chance, and more than ever, despite hanging above certain death, he knows it to be true.

“I l-love you.”

There’s a flicker of recognition in Tony’s eyes. A glimmer of himself that almost has Peter believing that it’s over, that they’ll be okay.

But then Tony drops him.

He doesn’t have the breath to scream.

Though Tony disappears quickly from his view, Peter keeps the man’s face in his mind as the ground races up to meet him. It fills his eyes with tears, the injustice of it all.

Tony will never forgive himself.

And Peter is going to die.

The wind rips through him viciously as he plummets. He’s fallen through this same skyline countless times and can hardly believe it’s his last.

He closes his eyes and sees May’s face beside Tony’s. Ned and MJ’s, too.

Though he’s never prayed before in his life, the words come to him now.

Help them be safe. Help them be okay.

He wants to be brave. He wants it more than anything.

Eyelids dark, it’s impossible to tell how close he is to the ground. The sounds of traffic draw closer, he thinks he hears a scream.

The impact is jarring.

It hits him all at once, stealing his air and lighting every broken bone on fire. For one soul wrenching second, he thinks the pain of it is his last conscious thought. That just like that, his short sixteen years have expired into dust.

Then he feels metal arms under his shoulders and thighs, hears through the static the distant roar of repulsors. Swears and sobs echo through it all in a delirious cocktail of grief, and Peter comes to the realization quite slowly that he hasn’t died after all.

“Tony?” It’s weak and breathless, like he’s just hopped off the world’s fastest roller coaster. With the last of his energy, his eyelids separate and he sees Tony’s face, covered in tears and unmistakable horror.

He had caught him.

“Tony-”

They crescent their journey on the top of a different, much shorter building. Peter feels himself being laid on his back and for some reason beyond his current comprehension, can’t find the strength to move from it.

Above him, Tony has his head in his hands. He’s shaking and Peter tries to reach out towards him, to show him he’s alright, but all he can do is twitch his fingers.

“Nice- nice catch.”

Tony’s shoulders still, going dangerously quiet. Peter watches with blurred vision as his face appears from behind his hands, the eye Peter can see bloodshot and brimming with an emotion he’s too tired to fully recognize.

“Pete-”

“Not your fault,” Peter breathes, exhausted. He closes his eyes and almost can’t find the strength to open them again. His body feels like the plane he had crashed in Coney Island.

“It is my fault,” Tony says. There’s tension and remorse coloring his voice, which tremors violently. “Christ, Peter. I hurt you.”

“You- you saved me.”

“No!”

“You always save me.”

“Peter-”

“S’okay.” He tries for a smile, but it must look like a grimace because Tony stifles another noise of regret. “I’m okay. I promise.”

“Oh kid-”

With a rush of vertigo, Peter feels himself being pulled up into Tony’s arms. It’s only until he feels the warmth of Tony’s skin that he realizes he’s removed himself from his suit. It’s nice, familiar, and the last of Peter’s resolve vanishes like smoke.

His hero.

His friend.

And in some ways, his father.

If he hadn’t known it before, he sure as hell knows it now.

“I love you too, kiddo,” Tony whispers, and Peter feels their hug tighten, as if it’s the man’s sole intention of never letting go.

And maybe, Peter thinks, it is.

[imanativeofswlondondahling]

Becoming A Stark? (28)- Peter Parker x Stark!femReader

Word Count: 3395

Warnings: swearing, IW emotional trauma, the usual.

Author Note: There is some dialog from Infinity War used in this chapter. I don’t own it, but also there’s new stuff after it so don’t skip it. This is the final chapter. There will be a sequel that I’m not sure when will be posted but it will be coming. If you want to be tagged when it’s posted, let me know! Thank you for reading all of this and giving me so much love on my fist PP story. Let me know what you think of the finale.

Chapter One || Previous Chapter || Master List

“Mom have you seen my jacket?” You ask as you walk from the living room back into the kitchen. You’re already dressed in ripped jeans, galaxy converse, and a grey AC/DC shirt.

“Which jacket?” Pepper asks as she stirs the eggs she’s cooking for you.

“My denim one? I wore it yesterday? Or maybe it was the day before?”

“Have you checked your room?”

“I looked there when I was getting ready. I didn’t see it.” Instead of being dressed for the office, Pepper is wearing running gear. “Are you going into the office today?”

“In a little bit. Your dad wants to go to the park for a run first.”

“Dad running? Since when?”

“I think your birthday is making him feel O-L-D.” Pepper teases as Tony walks down the stairs.

“I can still spell even if I’m getting old.” Tony responds. In his hand he’s holding your Rolling Stones jacket. “You left this on the stairs kiddo.”

“Oh, right! I meant to take it up last night.” You shrug it over your shoulders before sitting down at the food that Pepper made for you.

“What’s with the pep in your step today?”

“Field trip. I don’t have to be at school today.”

“Field trip?” Your dad asks as he sits down next to you. “Where to?”

“MoMA. My art class is going.”

“Ah so you and the young Parker are getting out of school to go look at art. How sweet.” Your dad says with a teasing tone remembering how Peter ended up in your art class after switching in in the second six weeks. “With how much it cost for you to go to that school, I would think you would spend more time at school than on field trips.”

“It’s educational. I promise.”

“Sure it is.”

“What your dad is trying to say is have fun.” Pepper says with a laugh. “He and I are going to go so can you lock up when you leave with Happy?” You nod. “Perfect. Have fun, love you, see you after school.”

“Love you kiddo.” Your dad kisses the top of your head. Pepper places a kiss behind him. You munch on your toast as they walk towards the door. Today should be a fairly normal day, apart from the field trip.

“Slow down, slow down. I’ll spell it out for you.” Tony tries to get Pepper to listen as he tries to explain his dream from last night while they walk through the park together.

“You’re totally rambling.”

“No I’m not.” Tony throws back in his own defense.

“You lost me.”

“Look, you know how you’re having a dream, and in the dream you gotta pee.” Tony ties his jacket around his shoulders as he says this.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. And then you’re like ‘Oh my God. There’s no bathrooms. What am I gonna do? Oh, someone’s watching.’”

“Right.”

“‘Oh, I’m gonna go in my pants.’”

“And then you wake up and in real life you actually have to pee.” Pepper catches his drift.

“Yes.” Tony’s hand waves in agreement.

“Yeah. Everybody has that.”

“Right that’s the point I’m trying to make. Apropos of that, last night I dreamt we had a kid.”

“We have a kid. Y/N.” Pepper points out with a smile.

“No like a baby.” Tony explains. “It was so real. We named him after your eccentric uncle. Uh what was his name? Morgan! Morgan.”

“Right. So when you woke up…”

“Naturally.”

“...and thought we were…”

“Expecting.”

“Yeah.”

“Yes?”

“No.” Pepper smiles at him as she says it.

“I had a dream about it. It was so real.”

“If you wanted to have another kid, you wouldn’t have done that.” Pepper unties the sweater and taps on the nanoparticle home.

“I’m glad you brought this up, ‘cause it’s nothing. It’s just a housing unit for nanoparticles.”

“You’re not helping your case, okay?”

“No, this is detachable. It’s not a…”

“You don’t need that. Y/N didn’t need you to get that. I didn’t need you to get that. Your family needs you to put them first sometimes ok?”

“I know. I had the surgery. I’m just trying to protect us and future usses and that’s it. Just in case there’s a monster in the closet. Instead of, you know…”

“Shirts.”

“You know me so well.”

“God.”

“You finish all my sentences.”

“You should have shirts in your closet.”

“Yeah, you know what there should be? No more surprises. We’re going to have a nice dinner tonight. Hear all about Y/N’s field trip. Show off this Harry Winston. Right?” Pepper chuckles at his antics. “And we should have no more surprises. Ever. I should promise you.”

“Yes.”

“I will.” Tony leans in to kiss Pepper. “Thank you.”

“Tony Stark?” Pepper pulls away at the sound of someone calling Tony’s name. Tony on the other hand can only roll his eyes because this was exactly the kind of thing he was talking about. “I’m Doctor Stephen Strange. I need you to come with me.” Pepper grabs Tony’s hand at this. “Oh and uh congratulations on the wedding, by the way.”

“I’m sorry, are you giving out tickets to something?”

“We need your help. It’s not overselling it to say that the fate of the universe is at stake.”

“And who’s we?”

“Hey Tony.” Bruce appears by Stephen’s side, shocking both Tony and Pepper after so much time without him.

“Bruce.”

“Pepper.”

“Hi.”

“Oh.”

“Are you ok?” Tony asks as Bruce falls into hugging him. What has happened while he was away?

“Ready for this field trip?” Peter asks as he sits down next to you on the bus.

“I’m always ready. Getting out of school for the day? Hell yeah.” You nudge your boyfriend’s shoulder. “Are you ready to see MoMA?”

“I guess so. I haven’t been since Ben died so…” Peter trails off.

“Babe, you haven’t been to MoMA since then? Why?”

“Ben really liked seeing the new exhibits and he would take me with him when he went. It just felt wrong to go without him.” Peter explains as the bus takes off from MSST and heads towards MoMA. “But there’s a first time to do stuff since you lose people I guess.”

“It’s going to be fine. I’ll be with you the whole time.” You say as you take his hand in yours. Peter leans forward on the seat in front of you so he can look in your direction.

“Well that will make everything better.” Suddenly the hairs on Peter’s arm stand straight up.

“What?” 

“Something’s wrong.” Peter mumbles. “Spidey senses are off the wall.” His voice is no louder than a whisper.

“Something like a giant donut spaceship floating over NYC seem off enough?” You say pointing towards the window beside him. He turns to look and the recognition on his face tells you all you need to know. Looks like Peter may not be on the field trip after all.

“Can you and Ned create a distraction?”

“Of course. But you’ll be safe?”

“Always am.” He kisses you on the lips really quick before you tap Ned on the shoulder. Ned spins around to look at you. 

“Guy in the chair needs to distract everyone with me.” You say quickly, but as Ned turns he sees the ship out the window.

“Holy shit.” He then turns towards the back of the bus and yells, “We’re all gonna die! There’s a spaceship!” You follow him towards the back of the bus as people start calling out asking what’s going on. But your eyes catch Peter’s one more time before he opens the emergency exit window with his web shooter. While everyone else is watching the spaceship, your eyes are trailing out the back of the bus as Peter jumps off the bridge. You know he’ll web himself to safety, but it makes your stomach fall to your toes every time.

Peter swings into the park where he sees a big angry alien… if he had to guess, swinging a sword/ax at Tony. So he does the one thing he knows how to do, he grabs it. “Hey man. What’s up Mr. Stark?” 

“Kid where did you come from?”

“Field trip, to MoMA.” Peter screams as he’s thrown in the other direction. “Uh what is this guy’s problem Mr. Stark?”

“Uh he’s from space. He came here to steal a necklace from a wizard.” As the alien throws cars around and Tony tries to laser him, Peter webs the car and swings it back at the alien. Which might just make him more angry, but that’s half the fun. Right as the alien swings his ax down again, a red object zooms by. “Kid that’s the wizard, get on it.”

“On it!” Swinging across New York, he finally grabs the wizard when a blue light grabs the wizard and pulls them both up towards the sky. “Uh, Mr. Stark, I’m being beamed up.”

“Hang on kid!” Wong traps the alien in an icy tundra, slicing off the hand that reaches up towards them. “Wong you’re invited to my wedding.” Tony shouts before jetting off to rescue his daughter’s boyfriend, who happens to be climbing up the side of the alien spaceship. “Give me a little juice FRIDAY. Unlock 17:A.” His boots morph together to form one big foot thruster. “Pete you gotta let go. I’m gonna catch you.” He says over the comms to Peter.

“But you said save the wizard.” Peter pulls his mask off as he says, “I can’t breathe.”

“We’re too high up. You’re running out of air.” If your boyfriend dies in space, you might kill your dad, so he’s going to do everything he can to save the kid.

“Yeah, that makes sense.” Peter’s hands slip from the ship as he runs out of air. But the Iron Spider suit Tony had been working on arrives just in time to grab hold of Peter and save him from falling back to Earth. Instead he just hits the ship a time or two before having air to breathe again. Peter grabs a hold of the ship and stands back up. “Mr. Stark, it smells like a new car in here!”

“Happy trails, kid. FRIDAY send him home.”

“Yep.” A parachute deploys and pulls Peter off the ship.

“Oh come on!” As Tony cuts into the side of the ship, FRIDAY alerts him of something else.

“Boss incoming call from Miss Potts.”

“Tony are you alright? What’s going on?”

“Yeah I’m fine. I just think we might have to push our 8:30 res.”

“Why?”

“Just ‘cause I’ll probably not make it back for a while.”

“Tell me you’re not on that ship.”

“Yeah.”

“God, no, please tell me you’re not on the ship.”

“Honey, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

“Come back here Tony. I swear to God. I will take Y/N and I will leave for good. No more surprises. You promised.”

“Pep.”

“Come back here right now.” Static starts to crackle. “Come back.”

“Boss we’re losing her.”

“I’m going too…” Pepper’s voice breaks off as the call drops. While Tony is dealing with this call, Peter is climbing up his webs, back onto the ship he had been told not to be on. 

All he can mutter is “I should have stayed on the bus,” as the doors shut on the ship.

The ship is no longer in the sky. You watched it fly away. But you don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, because now you can’t get a hold of your dad or Peter. So you call the one person who has always had to be in the same position as you- you call your mom.

“Y/N? Are you ok?”

“Mom tell me Dad didn’t do something stupid and get on that ship.” Your school group is starting to walk into the first exhibit hall, but you need reassurance right now, not art pieces. Pepper doesn’t say anything for a moment, trying to figure out how to tell you that your dad is on that ship. “He’s on that ship isn’t he?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? Why would he be stupid enough to get on an alien space ship?”

“Because he’s stupid enough to think that saving the world falls on his shoulders and his alone.”

“I think Peter might have been stupid enough to think that too.” You say as soon as you know your class is out of hearing range.

“What?”

“I’ve tried calling him and he’s not picking up.”

“I thought he was on the field trip with you?”

“He was until he saw an alien ship in the sky. Then he decided that he needed to be a superhero. And now he won’t pick up the phone and he always picks up the phone, even when he’s in his suit.” You voice the concerns you’re having. “And my calls to Dad aren’t going through either which makes me think that Peter is with him.”

“He wouldn’t be stupid enough to take a fifteen year old with him on a space ship.” Pepper tries to reassure you.

“But just because he doesn’t take Peter doesn’t mean that Peter isn’t stupid enough to follow him.”

“Sounds like we both need to date smarter men.”

“They’re book smart. I’m just not sure if they’re life smart.”

“I think I’d agree with that.”

“But we also love them too much to let them go.”

“That’s also true.” Pepper doesn’t comment on the fact that you just admitted that you love Peter. “But I also know that your dad will do anything to keep Peter safe if he’s with him. So you just focus on your school trip and at the end of the day, they’ll all come home safe.” Pepper’s promise doesn’t hold much truth to it, but you know your mom is trying to calm you more than anything. “I’m going to send Happy to pick you up from the museum and bring you to SI.”

“Right now?”

“No, but he’ll be there to pick you up when everyone heads back to school.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll just head back to school and then he can pick me up from school. But Mom, if you hear from Dad, can you tell him I love him?”

“He knows you love him.”

“But I didn’t say it to him this morning and if something happens to him…” You feel the tears welling in your eyes.

“Nothing is going to happen to him. He knows you love him.”

“You don’t know that. Every time he walks out the door to play Avenger, he could leave and not come back. He could die out there today. And I couldn’t take the two seconds it would have taken to tell him I loved him this morning.” The tears drizzle down your face as you mutter the words you feel in your soul. Out of the corner of your eye you see Ned waiting by the door leading to the next exhibit area. You wipe the tears from your cheeks. “So just if you hear from him tell him ok, Mom?”

“I will. Now just for now, don’t think about all of this. Just focus on the field trip and I’ll see you after it ok? Everything is going to be ok.”

“Mom? I love you.”

“I love you too Y/N. So much.” You hang up the phone and Ned walks over.

“Everything alright?”

“No, but the universe doesn’t usually ask me before it makes it’s decisions.”

“Have you heard from Peter?” You shake your head. 

“I can’t get a hold of him or my dad. My mom said my dad is on that donut that flew out of the sky, which makes me think if I can’t get a hold of Peter…”

“He’s on it too.” Ned finishes your thought. “Peter’s in space with Iron Man. That’s so cool.” Ned mumbles but then sees your face. “Ok, not the point right now. What’s our plan?”

“We don’t have one. We’re not Avengers. We just wait around until the rest of them hopefully show up.” And you do what you hope is the next best step, you text your aunt- SOS.

N:Don’t worry. Avengers are on it. Focus on school. 

Why does everyone think you’ll be able to focus on anything when your dad and boyfriend disappeared on an alien spaceship? 

Y:you all think i’m going to be able to focus on learning when my dad and boyfriend have just gone missing? that’s the stupidest thing i’ve ever heard of coming from two of the smartest women i know.

N:I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but this isn’t on your shoulders. The Avengers will take care of this fight. I promise you, we’ll get them back. Anyway we have to.

“Anything?” Ned asks quietly, as your tour guide goes on pointing out different pieces of art. You shake your head.

“Apparently it’s an Avenger problem, not a me problem, according to Aunt Nat.”

“It’s still cool that you can just text Avengers.”

“Ned, my dad is literally an Avenger. It loses the coolness factor when your dad leaves on missions and you don’t know if he’ll come back alive or not.”

“That’s true I guess.” He looks at the art piece next to you. “But still you get to text the Black Widow! Isn’t that cool?”

“She’s just my Aunt Nat. I’ve hung out with her watching horror movies and talking about crushes. It feels different than saying I text the Black Widow.” You glance over at the statue, trying to take it in so you can write your report when you get home.

“They could have tried to put at least one blemish on it.” MJ mutters and you nod in agreement.

“Uh, Y/N?”

“Ned?” You turn from MJ to see Ned staring at his hand. It’s turning to dust in front of his eyes. “Ned, what’s happening?”

“I think something’s wrong.” His other hand starts to turn into dust and you don’t understand. 

“What is happening?”

“Something that can’t be good.” MJ says and you turn to see her hands turning to dust as well. “Y/N, something is wrong. Really wrong.” Your friends are turning to dust in front of your eyes. You can’t stop it, you can’t figure out what’s wrong. So you do the one thing you know to do when something is wrong- you call your mom.

“Y/N? Please tell me you’re not turning to dust too?”

“Mom, I don’t get what’s happening.”

“I don’t know either. But something isn’t right.” Your mom sounds stressed and worried at the same time you lift a hand to run through your hair and that’s when you see it. Your hand is disappearing before your eyes.

“Mom. Mom, I’m scared. My hand, it’s going.”

“Y/N, everything is going to be alright. It’s going to be ok.” Pepper doesn’t tell you that she has tears streaming down her cheeks. She needs to stay calm for you. You’re the one fading into nothing. She can stay calm for you in this moment. 

“Mom, Mom. I don’t want to go. Please. I don’t know what’s happening. Mom, please make it stop.” Pepper closes her eyes as she listens to your pleads.

“It’s going to be alright sweetheart. Everything is going to be ok.” You watch in horror as Ned fades into nothing but a pile of dust.

“Mom, Ned’s gone. MJ’s seconds away from going. I don’t want to go too. Please make it stop.”

“Everything is going to be alright baby. Just breathe. Everything is going to be ok.” Pepper lies to you.

“Mom, I love you. Tell Dad I love him too. I don’t want to go. Tell him that. I never wanted to go. Having you two as parents was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Your eyes look in horror as MJ turns into dust too.

“We feel the same about you.”

“I love you. I love you so much Mom. I’m sorry. I don’t want to go. I love you.”

“We love you too.” Pepper knows she only has seconds left with you so she wants to make sure you know this before it’s too late.

“I love yo-”

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[halothenthehorns]

All in the Family

Chapter 139: Draco's Detour

James immediately forgot his next course of action, but in his defense, he landed in paradise.

He never would have dreamed to even ask the book for something as fantastic as being dumped in the twins' joke shop, but he knew that's exactly where they were. He didn't even need to read the brilliant sign that glowed mirror like in the window, nor the empty cobble bricks of Diagon Alley beyond, no, the evidence was in every product label in sight!

Anti Gravity Hats– "Ruin a gentleman's day by making his hat fly away!"- to the Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs, his heart thrilled in delight to take in this place, imagining the floor packed with people of all ages here for a good laugh in such troubled times.

The eight of them were making enough sounds of delight for a whole crowd as is, there just was not something for somebody to love in here. In his hasty need to rush over and check out those Extendable Ears in person though, he actually passed Regulus scrutinizing a bottle of Magical Moustache Miracle Stubble Grow and forced himself to pause by the little spinning rack of potions before Peter or Sirius came over here.

Counting Quidditch statistics slowly in his head to make sure he didn't look like he was changing directions to punch the welp, he was minorly confident he'd achieved at least this when Regulus looked up and only scowled rather than drawing his wand upon him coming closer.

"If you're here to apologize-"

"I'm not," Potter said steadily.

Regulus glared up, cursing puberty more than anything Potter was so much taller than him and opened his mouth to give in detail how rude it was to continue interrupting people, still, before that look Sirius had given him flashed across his mind and he started chewing on his cheek as he thought through and replayed the scene in his head again.

It helped, to give his brother Potter's hazel eyes, remind himself it wasn't Sirius who may be actively hating him, but if he started shouting now Sirius may come over and just do the same. It wasn't a secret he'd back Potter first, he'd taken the diatribe for the man before after all.

Regulus looked beyond annoyed at him still, but surprisingly closed his mouth and just glared at him rather than continued shouting, already a good sign as far as James was concerned, but he leaned in close to make sure Regulus' little superiority complex wouldn't miss a word. "Listen, whatever problem you have with me, I hope you got it out of your system, but if not then you should know I'm not just going to stand there and let you shout at me like your bloody parents do to Sirius, nor will I tolerate you giving him hell he doesn't deserve. He's been through enough, we all bloody have while dealing with this."

"I, I didn't, I'm not-" Regulus spluttered in indignation, but James just kept glowering and watched with interest as he stopped after a moment and looked genuinely guilty now as he looked back towards Padfoot. "I don't want to be like them," he finally muttered, a note of defiance still clear in his voice as he continued to meet his eyes. "You're still an arrogant arse."

"I've been recently informed of that by my own kid thank you," James agreed, starting to lose that resolve not to hang Regulus up by his pants for at least this chapter, but Harry's face flashed across his mind and he held his hand still. "Anything else you'd like to say? Best get it out now."

At first James thought he wasn't going to answer, he was chewing on his tongue for some reason it seemed, but then he said in a very even voice, "you interrupt your mates. A lot. I don't know about the other two as much, but Peter especially. It annoys the shit out of me."

'What's it to you?' The insulted brush off was on the tip of James's tongue in outrage, but he quickly bit that off as he kept looking at Sirius' brother. If Padfoot was really going to try and start involving this kid in his life then he should probably get used to it now, and it was long obvious Regulus and Peter were good friends already. It seemed ridiculous to think at this rate that would just vanish when they got back out of this.

Instead he replayed the last conversation he'd had with Wormtail in his head looking to deny this, and felt just a tad guilty he hadn't actually heard a word, but that wasn't interrupting. He thought back farther, but he'd barely spoken to Peter, really talked to him since back during the third book now, if not longer. He and Sirius did have a tendency to talk to each other and only passively involve Remus and Peter when they butted in when the two got going. It wasn't something he'd ever consciously thought of, he and Sirius had far too much fun shouting over each other and getting the other to laugh harder next.

Alice was right though, trying to get the others to laugh this off was helping no one. He tried to make an effort right then to tell himself to watch that in the future.

He wanted to ask Regulus point blank his real question, but decided if he admitted to knowing of the levels of real abuse the Black parents had done to their eldest he would in fact not be able to stop himself hitting the nearest one in retaliation, so he was glad when Regulus seemed satisfied he'd not only said his peace but James had nothing to lob back and walked off.

Longbottom finally found the book and was reading about the youngest Malfoy. James glared out the window and listened with livid frustration this young Death Eater strolling around Borgin and Burkes with a 'mission' Snape had to help his mother with she had so little faith in, and his son was now actively trying to get involved. He refused himself a look at Evans to see if she was glaring at him for that being his fault too, because he couldn't deny he would be doing the same thing if given the chance, to thwart any kind of coming attack on his school.

Sirius appeared at his elbow just like always, smiling with such ease it made the entire thing worth it even if James still felt more agitated than ever for every Black but Sirius. He was already vowing in his head to give him paperwork to change that on his next birthday.

"So I heard you and Moony had some fun," Sirius lightly quipped, eyes resting on the rest of the bottles. It was still pretty funny to him to think about, mostly because neither party had any idea of the joke beforehand. He wished he'd caught the whole thing on camera just to laugh at their faces when it happened.

"Eh?" James looked at him in confusion, and Sirius was quick to elaborate on a convenient lie his eyes had landed on.

"Sorry about it Prongs, I doused him before we swapped, got distracted, didn't think whatever he did would fall on you," he smirked.

"You passed Moony a love potion?" James didn't seem suspicious so much as just unamused for once.

"Yep," Sirius remorselessly lied. "Was going to give Pete some Babbling Brew too, but I got caught too soon." James would laugh it off later when Remus finally got over his secret and they told him the rest.

"Well it didn't work quite right," James shrugged as he turned away and went over to look at some of the Invisibility Cloaks they had for sale, though none even came close to his, he was curious enough to see these knock offs. "He just made a pass at me, wasn't exactly all over you though."

"More of those wonky effects on werewolves I suppose," Sirius shrugged as he followed, and James didn't ask any further questions. Sirius still wasn't sure what the point of all this was and ditched Prongs as he got enamored by the Demon Box and nipped behind the counter for a bit of parchment and quill, hoping if he gave Remus this it would help him relax more.

James was more annoyed than he'd let on as Sirius came back shoving a bit of parchment into his pocket like he wouldn't notice something was obviously still going on, but he worked enough out for himself that it was clearly Remus who didn't want to tell. Sirius was just backing him on that, and if it was a gay thing he'd respect it and let Moony come to him when he wanted to, though he wished he knew how Sirius had figured it out so he could assure the same. Maybe he was entirely off the mark though and it was still something else, Padfoot was right about one thing, Remus was ever reluctant to share anything. He still wasn't sure what they'd done to so endear them he'd shared his werewolf secret all those years ago but was grateful for whatever that was and let the whole thing go.

Regardless, the two lost their heads when they found the Skiving Snackboxes and shamelessly shoved a box each into their bags.

[headfulloffantasies]

Haunted Destiny

What if the magic of Rapunzel’s tear had not worked? Eugene is dead, and someone is haunting Rapunzel.

Link- Ao3

Rated-G

Major Character Death (Eugene, off screen/ pre-fic)

Chapter 1

It happened like this: Mother’s knife slid between Eugene’s ribs. Rapunzel bartered her life for Eugene’s. She opened her lips to sing and he asked her to wait. A shard of mirror sliced through the golden magic hair. Mother fell from the tower window, reduced to dust. Rapunzel cried out, but there was nothing to be done. Her hair was gone, shorn short by the man dying before her. They said their good-byes. Eugene called Rapunzel his new dream.

Eugene died.

And though Rapunzel wept, and sang her healing song, the magic was gone. Eugene was gone.

Rapunzel didn’t immediately leave her tower. The secret stairs waited, the door unlocked, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave just yet. She’d only descended those stairs once. To bury Eugene at first light the day after he died.  The dirt at the edge of the pond was soft enough to dig. Rapunzel threaded flowers through his hair and made a cross for a marker. She painstakingly carved the Corona sun into the wood and painted his name in blue like his vest.

Rapunzel looked up at the path that led to the city. It pulled at her. Her new life, her parents, the kingdom.

Her new dream was dead, and Rapunzel needed time before she could face the rest of her life. The next day she woke to the sun streaming through the window and she knew. Today was the day. Time to go.

Rapunzel packed slowly. She’d lived here for eighteen years. Though she’d hated parts of it, it was home. She needed things. Her paints, her books, her frying pan. She packed them into Eugene’s satchel, the one thing of his she’d let herself keep.

Rapunzel gathered Pascal onto her shoulder. His scales turned a dull shade of blue.

“Me too, buddy. But it’s time to go,” she said. She turned to the stairs.

A crash startled Rapunzel. She whipped around. A ceramic bowl lay in shattered pieces on the floor.

Rapunzel cast her eyes about, but she didn’t see any reason for the bowl to have fallen.

“That was weird,” she mumbled to Pascal. Rapunzel turned back to the stairs. The door, a little wood trapdoor set into the floor, creaked.

“The wind?” Rapunzel muttered.

The door slammed shut.

Rapunzel jumped. “Not the wind!” Rapunzel clutched at Pascal. “What is it?”

Cold like frost crept up the back of her neck. Rapunzel dashed for the trapdoor. She yanked on the handle, but it didn’t budge. Something tickled the hairs on her arms.

“The door is stuck!” Rapunzel grunted, throwing her weight against it. Pascal leaped from her shoulder and tried pulling with her.

Something moved in the corner of Rapunzel’s vision. She snapped her head up. A pale figure flickered in the center of the room. Nearly transparent, it was impossible to make out any features.

“A ghost!” Rapunzel screamed. She tripped and fell back, her hand colliding with the broken bowl. She hissed as the shards cut into her palm. The ghost vanished and reappeared an instant later, close enough to touch.

“Back off!” Rapunzel swung her uninjured fist. It passed through the apparition like air. The ghost faded like mist with a sigh.

Rapunzel cradled her bloody hand to her chest, breathing hard. She stood and spun, searching for the ghost. It seemed to have disappeared for now. Rapunzel’s heartrate doubled.

“It’s trapping us here, Pascal,” she whispered. The thought hit her like a sledgehammer. “It must be Mother’s ghost. She doesn’t want me to leave.” Rapunzel’s breaths hitched into hiccups. Tears ran down her face.

“I’m going!” She shouted to the empty tower. “You can’t stop me anymore!”

Nothing answered.

The cut on Rapunzel’s hand was deeper than she’d thought. It took ages to stop bleeding. Finally, she bound it tight and approached the trapdoor again. She tugged and strained, but it didn’t budge. The sun was dying crimson on the horizon when Rapunzel finally gave up. Panting and worn out, she trudged up to her bedroom.

“We’ll find some rope tomorrow,” Rapunzel promised Pascal. “I’ll tear up the bedsheets if I have to. But it’s too dark to travel right now. We’ll start in the morning.”

Rapunzel fell into exhausted sleep immediately. She dreamed of rolling green fields, swirling sunbeams, and laughter. She danced in the town square again, whirling from partner to partner. Every time she changed hands, she looked into their face and felt disappointment cloying her stomach. Rapunzel turned her head, searching the clapping and laughing crowds for a face she could not name. Brown hair, brown eyes. Every flash of blue drew her, but it was never who she was looking for. The spinning was making her dizzy. Rapunzel closed her eyes.

“Blondie,” a voice sighed in her ear. Rapunzel opened her eyes and woke up.

“Eugene,” Rapunzel whispered into the grey dawn. Tears spilled down her cheeks. Her heart ached. How long would she feel this? How long was it going to hurt before she could look back and smile at the dream they’d shared? How long until it stopped feeling like the blade Mother wielded had pierced Rapunzel’s heart?

Pascal chirped on the pillow beside her. His tail flicked away the tear that had trailed down her cheek.

Rapunzel gave him a watery smile. “Thank you, Pascal.” She sat up and stretched. “We’re getting out of here today. Let’s go.”

Rapunzel ended up tearing the sheets. She knotted the linens together and tossed one end out the window, leaning out to measure how far. The makeshift rope didn’t quite reach the grass, but it was close enough to jump the last bit.

Rapunzel secured the rope on the hook above the window and gave it a tug.

“Ready Pascal?” Rapunzel brushed her new bangs out of her face. The little chameleon let out an excited chirp.

“Here we go!” Rapunzel leaped out the window. The soaring air rushed through her hair and lungs. It was almost as good as the first time. The sheets slid through Rapunzel’s fingers. The grass came up to meet them. Rapunzel tightened her grip and slowed their descent. The last five feet or so ended in open air. Rapunzel held her breath and let go.

Rapunzel’s feet hit the ground hard. Something in her left ankle gave with a stomach churning pop. Rapunzel cried out as she hit the grass, her legs giving out under her. She lay still for a second gasping on pain. She gritted her teeth and pulled herself to sitting. Her ankle didn’t look broken. She tried flexing it. A spasm of pain lanced up her calf. Rapunzel hissed. It was definitely sprained.

“Great,” Rapunzel mumbled. How was she supposed to walk through the woods on a sprained ankle? She glanced back up at the tower. There was no way she could pull herself back up the rope. Maybe she could make it to the stairs, but then what? The door was barred by the ghost. A shudder ran through Rapunzel. She wasn’t staying here. She had to get away from the ghost of Mother.

With a wince, Rapunzel pulled herself to her feet. She tested her injured foot. It hurt, but she could limp on it. Rapunzel gathered Pascal onto her shoulder and set her sights on the cave beyond the meadow. If she could make it to the woods, she could fashion a crutch out of a tree branch.

The sun crested the tops of the trees and fell on the fresh turned earth beside the pond. Rapunzel’s heart sank. She knew deep down she was never coming back here. Time to say good-bye.

Rapunzel knelt beside the marker she’d made.

“Eugene Fitzherbert,” Rapunzel ran her fingers over the letters.

Tears splashed down her face. Through the haze, she suddenly noticed a pale form standing behind the grave.

Rapunzel leaped to her feet, her ankle protesting.

“What do you want?” She asked, her voice shaking.

The ghost did not answer. In the sunlight, Rapunzel could see the green meadow right through its form. It stepped closer.

“I’m leaving, Mother,” Rapunzel lifted her chin defiantly. “You can’t stop me.”

The pale figure’s fingers closed over the cross. Red hot rage spiked through Rapunzel.

“Get away from there!” She yelled. “You already killed him, you don’t get to touch this place.”

The figure flickered and vanished. Rapunzel let out a wobbly breath. Her head was spinning with adrenaline and emotion. She quickly dried her eyes.

Casting one last long look at the grave, Rapunzel clutched her satchel strap and hobbled towards the cave entrance.

It took all day to limp into Corona. At last the bridge to the island was in view. Rapunzel leaned heavily on the crutch she’d made. The sun striking the parapets of the castle glowed like a jewel. She sighed happily. She’d been so excited the first time she’d been here. Pulling Eugene along the bridge, prancing around Maximus, spinning in the sunshine. It had been the perfect day.

Getting to the castle was easy. Convincing the guards that she was the Lost Princess was another thing. Well aware of her disheveled hair, crutch, and dirty dress, Rapunzel still thought they could at least listen to her.

“Fellas, I’ve walked a long way today,” Rapunzel explained with a winning smile. “And I just want to see the King and Queen. They’ll know it’s me.”

The guard on the left, Stan, shared a glance with his partner, Pete.

“I have proof!” Rapunzel dug into her satchel and produced the missing crown. The mustached guard’s jaw dropped. Rapunzel felt a twinge of pride that at last they believed her.

“Come here!” Pete the guard snatched Rapunzel’s arm in a vice grip. “You’re under arrest for the theft of the crown jewels.”

“What? No,” Rapunzel’s spirit dropped in dismay. Stan yanked the crown from her grasp.

Pete frog marched Rapunzel down the cold stone steps to the dungeons. “Please,” Rapunzel begged. “I’m telling the truth. I’ve been in a tower for eighteen years. I’m the Lost Princess.”

“Sure you are,” Pete growled. He shoved Rapunzel into a dank cell. “And I’m the Queen of Geneva.”

The cell door slammed shut. Rapunzel sank onto the damp bench that served as a cot. Pascal wiggled out of his hiding spot under her collar to chirp at Rapunzel.

“How did this go so wrong?” Rapunzel asked. “I thought… I thought they’d welcome me. I thought they’d love me.” Rapunzel pulled her knees up to her chest. “I was wrong. I was naïve, Pascal.” She turned to her little green friend. “Do you think… do you think my parents gave up on me? It’s been so long, maybe they think the princess is gone for good.”

Rapunzel fell into a fitful sleep. She kept hearing a voice calling for her, but every time she turned around, no one was there.

Rapunzel woke with a start. Nighttime whispered through her tiny barred window. Something had woken her. A noise. There it was again. A scraping of metal on stone. Rapunzel sat up. The cell door swung open.

Rapunzel gasped. The torch light was faint down here, but she could just make out a white figure at the bars. Rapunzel whimpered and curled in on herself.

“Go away,” she whispered. The ghost vanished.

The door remained open. Hesitantly, Rapunzel stood and poked her head out. Pascal chirped on her shoulder. She glanced down. A worried frown tugged the corners of her friend’s mouth.

“I know,” Rapunzel whispered. “There’s got to be guards around here somewhere, right? But if we can sneak passed them-,”

A scream cut her off. “Ghost!”

Rapunzel cringed. Heavy boots thundered down the long stone hallway. A pair of guards hurtled passed her cell, too intent on the shriek still emanating from out of sight to notice Rapunzel was no longer secure.

Rapunzel crouched in the dark corner of her cell until their footsteps receded.

“C’mon,” Rapunzel tucked Pascal into the crook of her neck and slipped out of the cell. She made to limp away from the screaming, but an approaching glow of torchlight illuminated the hallway from that direction. Stomping footsteps brought the light closer. Rapunzel scrambled to stay ahead of the light. She frantically scoured the hall for a door, a corner, anywhere she could escape the chasing guards. The wailing grew louder.

At last Rapunzel came to a fork in the hallway. The yelling came from the left, the right was dark and quiet. She dove to the right just as the torch caught up to her. Three guards whirled passed, heading to the left.

Rapunzel panted and slid to the ground, taking the pressure off her ankle. The voices around the corner grew louder. Rapunzel held her breath and listened.

“Shut up, Stan!”

“Tell us what happened.”

“What did you see?”

The screaming finally died into blubbering. Through the panicked sobs, Rapunzel heard Stan stammer, “A ghost! It attacked me. Flew out of the rafters. Flew through the wall!”

Muttering accompanied Stan’s account.

“I saw it!” Stan yelled, making Rapunzel jump. “White as bone and floating. It didn’t have a face.”

Rapunzel shuddered. Mother’s ghost had indeed followed her, it seemed. She had to get out here. Rapunzel groped her way along the stone hallway. Eventually, limping, she came to a set of stairs leading up. Rapunzel followed them, her bare feet silent on the steps. A massive door sat at the top of the stairs. Praying it wasn’t locked, Rapunzel tried the latch. It opened under her hand.

Rapunzel crept out into pale moonlight.  Her feet sank into lush carpet. A long corridor spread before her, lined with white doors to the right and soaring windows to the left. Rapunzel looked down at Pascal. He shrugged. She’d just have to try the doors until one let her outside. She couldn’t stay in the castle any longer.

Rapunzel’s hands shook as she tried the first door. It was locked. She opted for the next one. Locked. Every door was barred. Rapunzel’s heart pounded. Each passing second was a chance for the guards to discover her missing. Finally, Rapunzel tried the last door in the corridor. The latch gave. She slid inside with a sigh of relief.

The ceilings of the room soared. A balcony window let an ocean of moonlight bathe the room. Rapunzel hobbled towards the balcony. Maybe there would be some ivy to climb down. Her eye caught on the center piece of the room. A baby basinet. Curiosity piqued; Rapunzel tip toed closer. A purple blanket draped over the crib, emblazoned with the sun of Corona. A tiny rattle lay in the crib. Rapunzel plucked it up with shaking fingers.

This was mine, the realisation hit. Rapunzel stood in the Lost Princess’ room.

“Who’s there?” The voice startled Rapunzel. She dropped the rattle. It clattered against the marble floor.

“I’m sorry,” Rapunzel stuttered. “I’m, uh, I’m lost. I didn’t mean to-,”

Out of the shadow stepped a huge man in a robe of flowing purple. On his head, a crown winked in the moonlight.

Rapunzel gasped. “You’re the King.”              The King frowned under his mustache.

Rapunzel dropped into a curtsy to hide the expression on her face. Her father. She was facing her father.

“Come here,” a match struck and the King held up a candle. “Let me see you.”

Rapunzel limped forward. She kept her eyes respectfully downwards.

“What are you doing here?” He asked. His voice was gruff, but Rapunzel noted the lack of anger.

She took a deep breath. Now or never. Rapunzel lifted her head. “I’m the Lost Princess.”

The frown darkened to a scowl. “Young lady-,”

“My name is Rapunzel,” she interrupted. “Eighteen years ago, a woman named Gothel stole me away. I’ve been in a tower ever since. She stole me because I had the power of a magic flower. But,” Rapunzel stumbled over her explanation. “I don’t anymore. Eugene, my… my friend, he cut my hair to save me. He saved my life,” she whispered the last phrase to herself.

Rapunzel watched the King’s face. He remained frozen, with his lips parted, staring at her. Suddenly the candlestick dropped from his grasp. Rapunzel flinched as it hit the marble floor.

“Can it be?” The King reached out for Rapunzel. “Is it really you?”

He cupped Rapunzel’s chin and lifted her face. A breathless laugh escaped the King. “You have your mother’s eyes.”

Tears flooded the King’s eyes. He wrapped Rapunzel in a crushing hug. She clung back, her heart soaring. This was all she ever wanted. Years of dreaming. With a pang, Rapunzel wished Eugene could see this. He had sacrificed himself for this moment.

The King pulled back. “Come with me,” he tugged her hand. “We have to tell your mother.”

[starshipsofstarlord]

Prompt #1 - Peter Parker

Prompt: Person A getting to go back in time and change something bad that happened in their past with Person B.

The entire facility was void despite being filled with avengers. There was one missing, and Peter couldn't stop thinking about her. He never could. 

It was like it was yesterday that they fought. Peter had told her some things he couldn’t take back. If he had never said them she wouldn’t have went to HYDRA.

That organisation was a big part of their argument. She was created in their walls, trained by their best men, and although it all gave her the ability to be a killer, she chose to take a different path. A good one.

The friendly neighbourhood Spiderman began walking through the corridor, hoping her room would be unlocked so that he could sit and contemplate regretfully on his mistakes. However it didn’t go as smoothly as he had planned, for he was interrupted.

“Psst.” Peter turned, seeing Scott poking his head out of the door of his own room. “In here kid.” He couldn’t deny that he was intrigued by his fellow bug, so he complied with the man.

As soon as he entered, Scott locked the door behind him. The teenager only frowned at the adult’s behaviour. 

“What is it?” He didn’t mean to snap, but he had plans to throw a pity party for one. It wasn’t just him that noticed the absence, but some thought of it as betrayal. Others would just pretend like she never existed.

“I know how to get (Y/N) back.” This had to be some sort of joke. Scott was known to be a clown, and he couldn’t be serious in this instance. Even Steve said it was best to just let her go.

“Sure you do.” Peter tried to reach the door, but Ant Man blocked his path. The boy stopped trying to leave when he saw the two vials in Scott’s hand. Pym Particles. “You really do.” He breathed.

It was no secret that all of those that had been erased in the snap had been regrown with the power of time travel. It had come at a cost however, Steve was now an old man and Tony was dispersed into ashes.

“The suits are in the garage, under one of Tony’s old limousines in a briefcase. Change her mind, don’t allow her to leave the compound, convince her otherwise.” He had never been more grateful for Scott than in this moment.

And there you were, fleeing the building in tears, a bag slung over your shoulder. Peter watched, peeking around the stairwell, about to make his move, but someone else took his place.

“Kid, hold up.” It was Scott, rushing to catch up with you.

You turned to face him with red eyes, and Peter’s breath hitched. You were like that because of him. The vigilante had never felt worse in his life.

“Where are you going?” It was an obvious question for the father of one to ask, but you brushed it off, having been trained to lie from the day that you had learnt to speak.

“I have to deal with something personal.” This was all three months before Peter’s present timeline. You didn’t deal with it, HYDRA probably did, blanking your mind and strengthening your wits.

“Be careful, alright?” Scott only received a nod, and then you started to walk off, exiting through the entrance.

Peter left his spot, running past Scott, refusing to let you slip through his grip again. “That kid can run fast.” The man’s words was only wind in his ear.

“(Y/N)!” He shouted, grabbing your arm and spinning you around to face him. “You can’t leave.”

“Why not, Parker?” You had never been so informal to him. Usually you used names like ‘babe’ or ‘Pete’. You used to use them anyway.

“Because I know where you’re going.” It was the only excuse he could think of, and he couldn’t dare lie to you. Not again. “They’re not going to help. Just stay, I love you and I’m a moron. I was frustrated with Flash, and I never should have taken it out on you.”

Speculating your apologising boyfriend, you noticed he wasn’t wearing the flannel he had previously had draped over his shoulders. In fact it was something very different.

“That’s not what Spiderman wears.” You had gone in the blip too, but you recognised the white and red. “You went through time for me.”

“And I’ll keep doing so until you accept that this is where you belong.”

[justanotherfanfic]

P.S. I Love You

summary: reader fell hard for peter. wanda encourages the reader to confess her feelings to him before it’s too late. little do they know....

warning: SUPER ANGST

pairings: peter parker x reader / wanda x reader (platonic) / avengers x reader (platonic)

word count: 3.8k+

a/n: THIS IS SO SAD I’M SORRY ):

THIS WAS NOT your best day. Your school presentation was not what you hoped it would be, you embarrassed yourself in front of all your friends, training was a disaster, and to make it all worse, you just heard that your crush was falling for someone who was clearly not you. It felt like the day was just a slap in the face. You were overwhelmed with how terrible the day has been.

You let out a shaky breath as you continued to hit the punching bag. You knew this was the best way to release all your stress and anxiety so you have been doing this for the past few hours. The more you punched, the angrier you got. Tears started to fall, you didn't know why but it was kind of helping. You didn't notice how intense your punching had gotten before you were interrupted.

"[Y/N]?" A voice spoke out.

You didn't need to see his face in order to know it was your best friend. You quickly wiped your tears before Peter could see.

"Yes, Peter?" You whispered then continued to punch the bag. You did not want him to see you crying. If he saw you crying he'd insist on you telling him and that won't end well for you.

"What's wrong?" He questioned with concern as he stood next to you with sweat covering his shirtless body. You avoided eye contact, not wanting it to be harder on yourself.

"Nothing." You answered as you punched the bag. You noticed that you started to punch harder and pictured her as the bag.

"[Y/N]," Peter urged. He saw your facial expression, your puffy eyes and how exhausted you looked. "We both know there's something wrong. Please, tell me. We tell each other everything."

Not this time. You thought in your head. You didn't want to admit that you had feelings for him. Every time you saw his face you saw her. You hated it.

You were both interrupted by someone clearing their throat. You and Peter turned to see Wanda with her arms crossed in front of her chest. You dropped your hands, the two of you giving her full attention. She gave the two of you a quirked eyebrow, "I need to speak with [Y/N]."

You looked at Peter before grabbing your things. As you were about to leave you felt Peter grab your hand. "You know I care. I'll always be there for you," Peter whispered to you. "I'll be in my room if you want to talk." You stared at him, not knowing what to say. He sighed then let go of your hand and walked away.

You felt chills run down your spine as you then walked to Wanda's room. Before you could sit down you heard the door shut. You jumped in surprise then relaxed on her bed.

"So, did Steve talk to you about training me?" You asked as you started to play with a stress ball she had sitting to the side of her desk. Your eyes wandered around her room, taking in all her decorations and pictures she had hung up.

"No," Wanda started. "That's not what I wanted to talk about." She sat on the corner of her bed directly in front of you. Your knees were basically touching.

"Oh?" You questioned, your eyes now focused on her. "So, what's up?"

"I need to ask you a question and I need you to be completely honest with me. No questions, just answer." Wanda spoke sternly.

"Uhh... alright?" You whispered as your heart started to race. Every single bad thing you have ever done started popping up in your head. You stealing Vision's food for the past 2 weeks, you pranking Tony every other day, you hacking into Steve's computer and creating dating profiles, you talking to Thor about-

"Why haven't you told Peter about your feelings towards him?" Wanda finally asked.

This threw you off completely. You would like to say you were shocked, but at the same time you should've known, she has the ability to read minds. You mentally slapped yourself.

"Look, it's not as easy as it seems..." You blushed. "I don't know what traditions you had in Sokovia but here in America, girls don't really say they like someone unless they're willing to take the risk of being humiliated. Today has not been my day either so, I'd rather not."

Wanda smirked, "[Y/N], I think you should tell him. Trust me."

"No, no way." You shook your head as you stood up.

"You're going to regret it, [Y/N]." Wanda continued. "At least think about it."

"That's the thing! I don't want to! Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up." You started speaking. You then thought about it, the embarrassment it would bring. "I actually think I'm going to throw up..." You gripped your stomach and hunched over her desk.

Wanda laughed lightly at your hysteria, "[Y/N] you are young and have so much to look forward to. Take this risk!" That's the thing, Wanda knew it wasn't a risk. She can read Peter's mind and see how much he loves you.

"I-I can't," You stuttered as you violently clawed at the stress ball.

Wanda tried not to laugh, biting her lip before continuing, "What if you write how you feel about him on a piece of paper like if you're talking to him?"

"So, a love letter?" You questioned as you stopped squishing the ball to death.

Wanda shrugged, "If you want to call it that."

You gave her a look, "I don't know..."

Wanda adjusted herself to face you properly, "Just say everything, pour everything out."

You thought for a moment. Maybe you should, what could go wrong? You're just letting your feelings out so you don't burst out all your emotions at anyone's face.

You slowly nodded, "I guess it's not a bad idea..."

Before the conversation could continue, FRIDAY spoke into the room. "I apologize for interrupting your conversation with Miss [L/N]. Miss Maximoff, Rogers is urging an emergency mission. You will report to the hanger immediately. Miss [L/N] and Mr. Parker will remain at the base until further notice."

Wanda looked over at you as you stood up, "Look, I want you to know that it's fine to have feelings for someone. Please don't be ashamed of your feelings. Love is a beautiful thing, embrace it!"

You smiled weakly at her and nodded. Before you left the room, you looked back at her, "Good luck on the mission, I know you'll do amazing!" You encouraged. Wanda smiled and left the area while you walked to your room.

You looked around the room before deciding to start on the letter. It's the least you can do for Wanda. You didn't know why she was urging you to express your feelings so badly, but you assumed she just wanted to have some sort of entertainment out of this. You shook your head before you started writing.

"Dear Pete," You wrote down. You shook your head and erased the two words. Too cliché. "Hey! Peter...." No. "Heeey!" Ew, no. "Penis Parker!" Ugh, he'd hate it. The eraser was your new best friend. The shards of that pink rubber were scattered all over your desk. "Yo, Peter..." NO! You sighed in frustration and laid your head down.

Focus, [Y/N]! You thought. Gather your thoughts together and relax.

You exhaled deeply as you thought about the times you spent with Peter. From the day you met, til now. You felt your heart flutter and your face flush. Wow, you really were falling for him. You were falling hard. Gosh, you hoped this would help. You opened your eyes and got a new paper. You felt your hands moving, letting your heart do the talking. It was as if it was perfect timing when FRIDAY began to speak after you closed off the letter.

"Mr. Stark is requesting you and Mr. Parker to immediately leave the base and assist the team for back up," FRIDAY spoke. You nodded to yourself and quickly started to change into your suit. Before you left, you saw the letter was still on your desk. You snatched it and shoved it into your suit before leaving.

The mission was rough. The team anticipated the HYDRA base would be smaller and contain only a few agents. Little did they know that the remainder of their base was underground. In other words, it was their second biggest base.

"Fall back!" Steve called into the comms. It was getting too chaotic. Even with you and Peter as backups, it wasn't enough.

You were all heading back when you heard Steve shout in pain. Everyone didn't notice and tried to adjust themselves in the jet. You looked out to see Steve hiding behind a bin. He was wounded, bleeding from being shot at.

"I'm going back for Steve!" You called out to the team.

"[Y/N] no!" Tony rejected.

"[Y/N] STOP!" Peter called out.

You sprinted out the Quinjet without a second thought. You went back to where Steve was last seen. Unfortunately, he wasn't there. You quickly scanned the area and found him hiding behind a tree. You sprinted as you dodged the bullets flying at you. You threw yourself to the ground and saw Steve staring at you with wide eyes.

"You should've stayed on the ship," Steve grunted.

You gave out a laugh, "And let our captain get captured by HYDRA? I don't think that will be a fun reunion."

Steve laughed before allowing you to help him up. He let some of his weight onto you but knew your body wouldn't be able to handle all of his weight so he attempted to keep most of his weight to himself.

You struggled as you tried to balance his weight onto you as bullets were raining down on the two of you. Thankfully, Steve's shield took the hits. You both struggled while getting closer to the ship. The team urged the two of you to pick up the pace as the ship began to get ready to leave.

Just as you were about to step foot on the platform, you felt a sharp pain shooting up your spin. You gasped in shock and felt your body go weak. You fell to the floor, along with Steve who was leaning against you.

"[Y/N]!" Peter cried out as the team was quick to bring the two of you into the ship and take off.

You struggled to breathe as you felt the unbearable pain all around your body. Peter pulled you deeper into the ship as everyone was scattered around.

"No no no!" Peter cried as the team tried to help you and Steve. Tony was by your side and pressed down on your wound to prevent it from bleeding out. You screeched in pain as you now began choking on the blood coming out of your mouth.

Peter began sobbing as Bruce tried his best to treat your bullet wound. Steve was fine by the time Bruce began to do an emergency surgery with the tools on the ship. Natasha was pulling her hair in anxiety as Clint set the jet to autopilot. Tony pulled Peter into his chest as Peter still held a tight grip on your hand.

"You're going to be fine!" Bruce assured as he shakily tried pulling out the bullet from your body. "Focus on Peter!"

You cried as you felt the sharp pain shooting up your spine once again. More blood began to leave your wound making the team freak out. Peter was now cupping both of your cheeks, his face near yours, "[Y/N] look at me! Yes! You're doing great, just look at me okay? We're going to be okay."

"I need bandages and towels!" You heard Bruce shout. Everyone scrambled to their feet and tried to collect anything that could help. You knew the wound had damaged something inside of you. You were all hours away from the base, you weren't going to make it. You accepted your fate.

You stared into Peter's eyes. The same beautiful eyes you met all those months ago. The same eyes you fell in love with. The same eyes you dreamed about every night. You almost forgot how magical they were. It was as if you were being hypnotized.

You panted as you looked up at Peter. Your eyes never breaking eye contact. Your hands shook as you reached for the letter in your suit. A bloodstained paper was firm in your hands as you gave it to Peter. He held onto your hand and paper. Tears fell down his face as he shook his head.

"I I-I'm sorry," You whispered.

With that, you took your last breath. Your eyes drifted off as the team stared in horror.

"No no no!" Peter shouted. "[Y/N] open your eyes! Love, open your eyes!"

He pulled your bloody, wounded body onto his lap as he shook you. With every shake, he hoped you would miraculously wake up. Peter shouted in agony when he realized you weren't going to wake up. He lost one of the only people he truly cared for. He would never get you back. He shouted in pain as the team looked away in shame as their tears fell down their faces. Peter sobbed into your lifeless body as the team silently reflected on what just happened for the rest of the trip back to the base.

Hours went by and the team was back at the base. Workers from the infirmary tried grabbing your body from Peter's grip.

"N-No!" Peter cried as he tried to pull you closer to him.

"Peter, please..." Tony whispered as he slowly released Peter's grip from you. The workers grabbed your body from him and placed you on the table that would wheel you out.

"I'm sorry kid," Tony whispered as he had tears fall down. Peter stared at your pale, lifeless body. He didn't know what to do. It was as if there were no tears left to cry. Your body was taken to the morgue as the team stared in silence. A few moments passed when Peter silently left the area. The team stared at him in sorrow. They knew he was broken.

Peter clung onto the paper in his hand and stared down at it as he maneuvered his way to his room on the residential level. He was terrified to open it. There were endless possibilities of what that paper held. His mind rambled on as he stood at the door to his room.

"Password?" FRIDAY spoke out.

Peter froze. He felt his body tense up as his mind went blank. Peter's lips trembled as his breath shook, he was silent for a while. He couldn't say it.

"Password?" FRIDAY repeated.

Peter choked out a sob,"[Y- [Y/N]." He leaned his forehead against the door as he cried.

"Password accepted," FRIDAY responded. A click flickered and the door was open.

Peter closed the door behind him and finally threw himself on his bed. He allowed himself to fully release all the emotions his body was going through. Anger. Fear. Anxiety. Sorrow. Grief. Love. It felt like hours before he decided to calm down. He silently leaned against the frame of his head and stared out the window.

Wanda quietly walked into his room. She took in the scene and felt her mind going crazy with the emotions and thoughts running through Peter's head. Peter was staring out the window silently, eyes puffy and his chest shaking lightly from the lack of oxygen he received from sobbing a moment ago. No one knew what to say to Peter so they sent Wanda to check up on him. Since she can read minds, it would help her take the right steps on what to say.

"Hey..." Wanda whispered.

Peter looked up at her, his eyes drooping with pain. He turned around again and stared out the window, the letter in his tight grip. He still hasn't opened the letter, he wanted to hold onto a piece of you for as long as he could.

"Have you read it yet?" Wanda finally spoke.

Peter lightly shook his head.

"I think you should read it." She urged.

Peter felt tears falling, "This is the last thing she gave me. The last piece of her. She died while giving it to me. I don't think I can handle reading it, not yet."

Wanda sighed, "She had a purpose for it, Peter. Trust me."

He didn't respond, instead, he continued to stare out the window. Wanda exhaled deeply and sat on the bed with Peter. She was going to stay with Peter the whole day to make sure he was safe. She also wanted to make sure he would be fine after reading what was in that letter.

After a few hours, he finally had the courage of opening the letter. He looked at the letter in hesitation. Wanda peered up at him and waited. He sighed before opening the envelope and seeing the folded paper.

He teared up seeing your beautiful handwriting covering the entire page. Your perfume illuminated from the paper. It was as if you were still there. Peter felt his hands shake as he fixed his eyes onto the letter. He took a deep breath before starting to read.

Peter,

The first time we spoke was when you asked me where the training room was. I remember laughing because you looked lost. It was adorable. You were so confused by all the levels and would silently freak out when we would pass by any of the team members. I smiled as I gave you a tour of the base, showing you all the short cuts and the best hideouts whenever we needed time alone. It was honestly the best day of my life. You were so shy but I knew that we were going to be best friends. I felt the connection from that day.

  The second time we spoke was when Tony assigned us to train together later that week. I remember walking into the training room to see you starstruck at Natasha. You wouldn't stop stuttering! It was the funniest thing to happen, especially when she tackled you on the mat. Unfortunately, you got hurt and I had to take you to the infirmary. The whole way there, I couldn't stop staring at you. The way your eyes wandered around the base and observed all the things we passed by. You looked beautiful, I knew that I was falling for you. Even as you were getting your arm brace, the small smile you gave me made my heart flip. Who was I to let Peter Parker steal my heart? I don't regret it one bit.

When we went for our mission, we were already hanging out for a while. We were both terrified. Your hands were shaking. It was our first mission with The Avengers. I stared at your hands, the way you gripped onto your suit, your knuckles were as white as a snowflake. I wanted to hold them. I wanted to tell you that everything was going to be fine. I chose not to. Instead, I called you a snowflake to help you ease your nerves. You smiled at the nickname. That damn smile. That smile healed my nerves as if we were on any other mission.

  After that day, we started talking more than before. That mission helped us connect better. The team was happy we were getting along so well, little did they know was how hard I was falling for you. We had more missions together. We were technically forced to talk to each other by the team but it didn't feel that way. It felt like home. As weird as it sounded, I knew you were meant to be in my life. It was no coincidence.

Since that time, I started caring for you more than I did for myself. It was different. Even now, as I'm writing this my heart is flipping out of its chest. Do you see how in love I am with you? I felt like we were meant to be something more than just friends. That's the sad part, I knew there would be nothing else. I know you only want to be friends. This letter is only to help me release my feelings, to help me release the tension. Even today at the training room, I know you saw me crying. I was crying for you, Peter. Don't feel bad, now. I was crying because I know you have feelings for her. Yes, her. Don't worry. I'll always be there for you, no matter what. Peter Parker understand that I will never leave your side.

  If you're reading this, that means I suddenly had the courage to show how I truly felt. That, or something bad happened. I don't know what it is but I'm sure it was for the best. I hope this letter finds you well.

P.S. I love you Peter Parker

- [Y/N]

A cry escaped Peter's lips. He pulled the letter to his chest as he sobbed into his room. Wanda gave him a pained smile as she pulled him into her chest, stroking his hair. She waited as she felt Peter's mind racing. He continued crying and sobbing as he thought about all the moments you two had. How it was all being ripped away from him.

"She loved you, Peter," Wanda finally spoke. "Don't blame yourself for a decision she made."

Peter shook his head and felt tears falling down his cheeks, "Why didn't she tell me?"

"She was scared of your rejection." Wanda sighed.

He cried, he never felt so guilty in his entire life. He looked up at Wanda, "That's the thing. I loved her. I was head over heels for her. From the day we met, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I-I was just too scared to admit it..."

"I know," Wanda sighed. "That's why I wanted her to write you this letter. I was planning on giving it to you at the end of the day. I was hoping you two would realize your feelings for one another."

Peter covered his face and began to sob uncontrollably. Wanda sighed in sorrow, she knew exactly what Peter was feeling. Peter continued to cry at the thought of you. He knew he can't have you. He will never have you. Everything he loves always dies, he just never thought it would be you too. He fell hard for you and you never even knew.

[prettybuckybaby]

god, your mama, and me

Peter is a single father and Tony finds out.

part one of single parent peter parker

masterlist

read on ao3 here

It’s when Peter is nearly two hours late and has missed three of his phone calls when Tony really starts to worry.

It’s just, it’s not like Peter to miss lab days. In fact, in the year and a half in which Peter has been officially interning for Tony at Stark Industries, Peter hasn’t missed a single day. He comes to the tower after school on Mondays and Fridays, and spends most of the day Wednesday, when he doesn’t have any classes, there as well. And that’s a lot of days when Peter hasn’t missed the internship, so Tony doesn’t really have any idea why Peter could be missing today. And he’s not panicking. He’s not.

Except, he kind of is.

He’s known Peter for over two years now, known him from when he was a stuttering fifteen-year-old kid in his small bedroom in Queens. Now, he’s an awkward seventeen-year-old, who sleeps in a bigger room in a bigger apartment in Queens thanks to Tony, when he finally managed to get May to accept the help he was offering and get out of the shitty apartment block and into a nicer town. But his point is, he’s known Peter quite a while, and this is out of Peter’s normal behaviour.

So, sue him. Tony’s worrying.

The worry, however, ebbs away slightly when Peter finally answers the phone on Tony’s fifth attempt.

“Mr Stark?” Tony can feel how tired the kid is the moment he hears his voice.

“Underoos? You alright, kid? You sound…tired,”

“It’s been a long day, Mr Stark,”

“Sounds it. Is everything alright?” When Peter doesn’t answer right away, Tony keeps on talking. Subconsciously, he blames it on the adrenaline crash from the sudden decline in panic after hearing the kid’s voice. “You were meant to be at the lab a couple of hours ago. You never miss lab days. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Has something happened-”

“Mr Stark,” Tony can feel the eye roll through the phone and only frowns slightly at the sigh he hears. “I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”

“Where are you then, kid, becau-” Tony stops talking when he hears another voice on the other end starts talking.

“Mr Parker? Dr Garcia said you can come through now,” Tony waits until Peter finishes thanking the other person to start talking again.

“Are you in a hospital? I thought you said you weren’t hurt? Is someone else hurt? Where are you? I’m coming now.” His frown deepens when Pete sighs again.

“It’s Aunt May. Listen, now’s not a great time, Mr Stark. Can I call you back later?” Peter doesn’t wait for a response before hanging up the phone, leaving Tony frowning in his lab.

---------------

Peter’s been in the hospital since 7am. He’s been sitting around without any answers for ten and a half hours in uncomfortable plastic chairs that are making his back throb in pain. Honestly, Peter hates hospitals enough that this experience would be horrible enough were he alone. But he’s not alone. He is suffering this hell with a three-year-old. And, while Leia may be the cutest three-year-old he’s ever seen and is definitely his favourite three-year-old and has been napping for the better part of four hours on the uncomfortable plastic chairs, she’s still a three-year-old. And three-year-olds and hospital waiting rooms, Peter has discovered, are not a good mix. So much so, that it’s even more of a relief than it might have been when Doctor Garcia finally tells him that May is out of surgery and is in recovery, and they can go and see her. He picks Leia up gently when he finishes the phone call with Tony, holding his breath when she stirs in her sleep, letting out the air when she just rests her head on his shoulder and continues her nap. He carries her and the bag he packed in a rush this morning into a different white room, where his Aunt lies on a bed, wires all over the place and her skin pale. He stays quiet while Doctor Garcia talks to him, her voice quiet enough that Leia sleeps through the whole conversation. Doctor Garcia explains what happened with May; a car crash on her way home from her night shift at the same hospital they are in now, a truck driver over the limit, both alcohol and speed, driving on the wrong side of the road. May’s injured quite badly, but she’ll recover, and she should wake up in a few hours.

Peter thanks the doctor, smiling when she placed a hand on his shoulder before she leaves the room, leaving just Peter, May, and Leia, silent apart from the beeping of the machine monitoring May’s vitals.

Leia wakes up from her nap soon after Doctor Garcia leaves the room, stirring in Peter’s arms, warm brown eyes blinking up at him.

“’Addy?”

“Hi, sweetheart,” Peter whispers, kissing her forehead, smiling when she rests her head on his shoulder again. “Did you have a nice nap?” The child in his arms hums quietly smiling when Peter starts running his fingers though her hair.

“Is Aunt May ‘kay?”

“She’s going to be just fine, baby. She’s just sleeping, and Doctor Garcia said she should wake up soon.” Leia is quiet in his arms for a few moments before she looks up at him.

“Can we get her a get better card?”

“We could do that,” Peter starts, reaching down for the bag he’s placed next to the chair. “Or, we could make her an extra special one!” Leia grins up at Peter clapping her hands together when he pulls out a wad of coloured card and a pencil case filled with her crayons.

---------------

Leia and Peter sit in the room talking quietly, making a card for May and a mess of the floor, which Peter apologises profusely for whenever a nurse comes in. The nurses, a different one both times, just smile at him and tell him not to worry, and praise Leia for her artwork. It has been around forty minutes when Leia looks up at Peter and stops talking mid-sentence.

“Daddy! There’s someone at the door!” Just as she says it there is a knock, prompting Peter to turn around. His eyes widen slightly when he sees Tony standing there, small smile on his face.

“Princess, will you be okay on your own for a minute?” When Leia looks up at him, eyes wide, he is quick to continue. “I’ll just be at the door with Mr Stark. You can shout for me if you need anything, alright?” Peter waits until she nods to stand up, ruffling her hair. “I’ll just be here, sweet. You carry on with your card.” He smiles at her as he opens the door, leaning against the wall. Tony quietly makes his way into the room, eyes stilling on Leia for a moment before he looks up at Peter.  “Hey, Mr Stark,”

“Hey, kid. What happened?” Tony nods towards the bed where May is still sleeping, looking slightly less pale than she did before. Peter sighs before explaining what Doctor Garcia had told him before, keeping his voice quiet so Leia couldn’t hear him.

“But they said she should be waking up soon, so,” He finishes with a shrug. He smiles softly when Tony squeezes his shoulder, letting his hand rest there.

“And the kid?” He asks, looking across the room. “She-” Tony is cut off when the girl in question gasps, turning towards Peter.

“Da..Daddy!”

“Leia?” The teen asks, eyes running up and down, looking for injuries. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I bro…broked the cray..on,” She sniffles as she speaks, eyes filling with tears that threaten to fall. She takes a breath as she holds the crayon up for Peter to see.

“Oh, no!” He sighs heavily as he crouches down, taking the two pieces from her small hands. He looks at them for a few moments, before nodding and looking up at Leia. “I can fix this, Princess,”

“You can, Daddy?” Her eyes meet Peter’s as they widen, a hopeful look on her face. “How, Daddy?” Peter looks around the room, purposely looking at Tony before beckoning Leia closer towards him.

“Magic!” Leia gasps quietly at Peter’s words. “You remember the magic words I taught you?” Leia nods and opens her mouth to reply before Peter puts a finger over her mouth. “Ah ah ah! Not until I tell you to, otherwise it won’t work, turtlebug,” Leia nods seriously as she closes her mouth, waiting for what Peter is going to say next. “Okay. First thing, you’ve got to close your eyes. And you can’t open them until I tell you to. This is very important, Leia, to make sure it works right,”

“Okay, Daddy,” She smiles as she closes her eyes, squeezing them tightly shut. “What next?”

“Next, you’ve gotta spin around slowly, okay? Three times,” As he speaks and as Leia completes her tasks, Peter goes into his bag and pulls out a new box of crayons, replacing the broken red one with a new, whole one, before moving to crouch in front of Leia again. “Okay, now you haveta jump up and down three times as well. Super! Okay, open your eyes for the last bit, pumpkin,”

“Hi,” She giggles as they make eye contact, a smile on her face.

“Hi,” He smiles back, before lifting his hands, crayon clasped within them, up in front of them. “Okay, last bit, babe, got to get it right.” Leia takes a deep breath and nods at Peter. Peter nods back, before looking at his hands. “Okay, put your hands around mine. Good, okay. I’m going to count to three, and then we have to say the magic words together okay? And you remember what we have to do after we’ve done that, don’t you?”

“We have to blow on it. To make the magic work!”

“That’s right! Ready?” He waits for a moment before she nods her head. “Okay. One…Two…Three!”

“A’ra cebabra!” She shouts out before blowing on Peter’s hands. She waits a moment before meeting Peter’s eyes. “Did it work?”

“I don’t know, sweet. We’ll have to have a look, won’t we?” Leia nods enthusiastically, bouncing gently on her feet. She gasps, a smile growing on her face as Peter opens his hands and the crayon is in one piece. “Thank you, Daddy!”

“You’re very welcome, baby. You go and finish your card before Aunt May wakes up, yeah?”

“Okay. Love you, ‘Addy,”

“I love you, too, Princess. Off you pop,” He smiles, ruffling her hair as she grins up at him before dashing off towards her card again. Peter sighs quietly as he stands up, turning towards Tony. The older man is stood in the same position he was when they were talking, a small smile on his own face. “Mr Stark?”

“She’s yours?” Peter looks up sheepishly at his mentor, nodding slowly. “You’re really good with her,”

“Thanks,”

“I mean it.” He says, eyes flittering between the teen and his child. “How old is she?”

“Just turned three,” Peter smiles as he looks towards where she’s digging through her pencil case and pulling out a page of stickers. Tony whistles lowly.

“And you raised her yourself?”

“Well, May helped. Obviously.”

“Obviously.” Tony agrees, nodding. “Not what I meant, though,”

“What?” Peter looks up at him, confused, before his face clears. “Oh. Yeah. There were…complications. With the birth. She, uh…she didn’t make it,”

“Oh. I’m sorry, kid.” Peter shrugs, looking down at the floor. “Must be tough,”

“Just the cards we were dealt, Mr Stark,” He turns his face away and he rubs his eyes as subtly as he can. Tony is nice enough not to mention it, turning his own head away. “Anyway. I’ve got Leia. I’ve got a little bit of her with me every day.”

“And you loved her?” Peter sighs softly as he wraps his arms around himself, still not meeting Tony’s eyes.

“We were fourteen, Mr Stark. I loved her for what I knew love to be,” They stood in silence for a few moments, both unsure of what to say. “I miss her a lot.”

“Does Leia know about her?”

“Yeah,” Peter smiles softly. “There’s some pictures of her in my room and we visit her grave and I tell her stories a lot. I’m not sure Leia understands what I’m talking about, but she always asks about her,” His smile turns sad as he talks, eyes on Leia the whole time. “She’s the spitting image of her,”

“She’s beautiful, Pete,”

“Yeah,” Peter looks back up at Tony, meeting his eyes for the first time in this conversation. “Yeah, she is,” They watch Leia together in a comfortable silence, the peace only breaking when Leia speaks again.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, darling?” Peter crouches down to pick his daughter up, settling her of his waist. She giggles softly as Peter spins her around, the teen grinning down at her.

“I’m hung’y, Daddy,”

“Well, that just won’t do, will it, princess?” Leia shakes her head quickly, eyes widening and hair falling in her face. “Come on, then. Let’s see what we’ve got,” As Peter crouches down again to shuffle through his bag, Tony clears his throat.

“There’s a café across the road, kid. Go and get a proper meal. Something warm. I know you’ve not had anything proper today,” When he notices the hesitation on Peter’s face, he continues quickly. “I’ll stay with Aunt Hottie. I’ll call you if anything happens,”

“I…I don’t know, Mr Stark. I don’t want to leave her,”

“Okay, then,” Tony sighs and bumps their shoulders together softly. “I’ll take little miss to the café. Get her a proper meal, at least. You stay here with May, get some rest, and we’ll bring you something back, right, Miss Parker?” Leia giggles quietly, nodding up at Tony and smiling.

“I can’t ask you to do that, Mr Stark,” Peter sighs as he stands up again, Leia’s arms still tangled together behind his neck, legs tight around his waist.

“You’re not asking, kid. I’m offering. You need a rest, Peter. Even if it’s just ten minutes while Leia eats,” Peter hesitates for a moment, rocking Leia gently.

“Alright,” He sighs eventually. “Will you be alright with Mr Stark, Leia?” The toddler nods her head as she unwinds her limbs from her father. Peter puts her down on the floor and smiles when she walks over to Tony, tugging his hand.

“Than’ you, Mista Stark,”

“No problemo, Sweetie,” He takes her hand and grins at her, and then looks back up at Peter as they walk up to the door. “Hey, Leia? Did Daddy tell you about the time that he fell over in my lab and broke one of my robots because he saw a spider?”

“No!” Leia giggles, skipping next to the man, looking up at him with wide eyes. Tony smirks when he hears Peter huff behind him.

“Well, I’ve got lots of stories like that that I have to tell you about. Your Daddy falls over a lot, you know,”

Peter smiles as he hears Leia giggle from down the hall.

[hailing-stars]

for peter 

part 2 (read part one here) 

summary 

“Does he have to eat it at the table?” asked Happy, his eyes red and his nose runny.

“Of course he does. He’s family, and he likes sitting next to his uncle Happy.”

Buddy stopped eating long enough to put his head in the air and bark an affirmative. Chucks of chewed cake and icing sprayed out from his mouth, flying in every direction. Morgan giggled from her highchair, and Tony didn’t even try to suppress the laugh that escaped him. Nor did Pepper.

“This isn’t funny, you know I’m allergic to dogs,” said Happy, before blowing his nose inside a handkerchief.

or 

Tony’s first year as a dog dad and a dad to Morgan in snapshots 

or 

An AU where instead of being dusted Peter turns into a dog and lives that five year gap with the Starks at their lake cabin.

Read on AO3 or after the undercut 

Morgan Stark came into the world screaming, while her mother shouted curse words at her father, and the nurses tried not to laugh. Tony suspected their muffled chuckling had been directed at him. He couldn’t blame them. He was screaming, too.

Nothing had prepared him for the delivery room, and having, barely, lived through it, Tony knew there was nothing on earth or in space that could’ve. Not for Pepper’s angry shouting or her death threats or her breaking every bone in his right hand with her crushing grip, but mostly, not for the realness of the hospital, with all its beeping machines and nurses walking in and out, checking baby Stark’s progress.

Being there had made it real in a way talking about it hadn’t. They had walked into the hospital a married couple with a dog, but they would walk out with an infant.

A daughter.

A second chance Tony knew he’d never bounce back from if it crumbled to dust the same way the first chance had.

That thought had made him panic, had made the room spin and blur, and his hand slipped out of Pepper’s grip.

“Maybe I should give Rhodey a call,” he told her. The contractions had been far apart. There was still time. “Check on Buddy… maybe Rhodey can sneak him in.”

The death glare Pepper gave at the comment was answer enough and made him scurry out of the room when she ordered him to go and fetch some more ice chips. He’d been happy for the break, and after getting the cup of ice chips from a nurse, he stalled outside the door to their hospital room, his hand eventually finding his cellphone in his pocket automatically.

“Are you sure this is a dog, man?” asked Rhodey, as a way of saying hello. “He’s creepy as hell.”

Tony frowned. Only he was allowed to make fun of his dog. “You know what they say, Rhodey. Takes creepy to know creepy.”

“Mature and original,” said Rhodey. “Seriously, though, something’s wrong with him. He keeps bringing me that picture of you and Pete and barking at it.”

“He misses me.”

“He’s not eating his food.”

“That’s because you’re giving him the dog food Pepper bought,” said Tony. “He won’t eat it. You gotta cook his meals.”

Pepper meant well. She didn’t want Buddy getting sick, but what she didn’t know was Tony had been giving him regular foods behind her back. He’d yet to get sick, so Tony figured it was pretty safe. Plus, he had googled what meals were okay for dogs. He wasa genius, after all.

“I’m not cooking for a dog, Tones,” said Rhodey, then sighed. “How’s Pepper doing, anyway? When’s my niece getting here?”

“Not soon enough,” said Tony, flexing his hand. “Pep’s doing great. You know her.” Just then, he heard her shouting for him on the other side of the door. “I gotta go. Do yourself a favor and throw a couple of burgers on the grill. It’ll stop the barking. He gets cranky when he’s hungry.”  

Tony hung up before Rhodey had a chance to respond, then rejoined his wife, who continued screaming at him.

After that it’d been a blur of screaming, hand squeezing, and obscenities, that all ended when Morgan Stark arrived, wailing, covered in disgusting goo the nurses cleaned off before evaluating her. Morgan was declared a healthy baby girl, and handed back to Pepper, swaddled in a blanket and with a tiny pink cap on her head.

At some point, they might have switched rooms. Tony didn’t know. Through all that chaos, he could only focus on his daughter, on how small and perfect she was.

He was sat on the edge of Pepper’s bed, looking down at her, at Morgan, while Pepper held her against her chest. The lights were dim, and it was quiet, besides the persistent beeps of medical machinery. It was awhile before either of them spoke, and naturally, the first words belonged to Tony.

“I miss Buddy,” he said.

Pepper gave a small, tired laugh, and he let her believe he was joking. He really did want his dog. It seemed wrong, somehow, that his sister was here, and he wasn’t around to meet her. If Peter couldn’t be here, he’d at least like Buddy to be.

She passed Morgan over to him. The transfer was smooth, they were already naturals, and Morgan didn’t stir from her sleep.

“I’m crashing out,” said Pepper, her eyes were already sliding shut. “You should get some sleep, too.”

Tony cradled his daughter and looked over at the bassinet the nurses had rolled it. He couldn’t possibly put her down in there. It was too lonely, too empty, too cold. Besides, Tony had read the books. While mom was resting after doing the terrifyingly impossible, it was time for dad and daughter to bond.

“I just need a few more minutes with her,” he said. Pepper smiled with her eyes shut and gave a slow nod as she drifted off. She had no way of knowing, but he held Morgan the rest of the night.

*

There was a giant teddy bear in the backseat of Tony’s car. Also, his daughter. She was fast asleep, tucked safely away in her car seat and beneath a thin blanket as Tony drove the car up their driveway and parked.

Buddy waited for them out on the front porch. He stood up, and wagged his tail, as Tony slid out from the driver’s side door. He didn’t run or jump or bark or do any of things he usually did when he was happy and excited, like he knew and understood they had a tiny infant in the backseat to unload.

Tony unfastened the car seat and lifted his daughter out of the car, taking special care not to bump it against the car as he did.

His daughter. Three days and he still wasn’t used to it. Every time he remembered he got the same rush of happiness, followed by pangs of panic and disbelief. The universe never let him feel this happy, at least, not for very long.

Buddy watched them with a titled head as him and Pepper approached the porch. Rhodey appeared from the front door, just in them to greet them.

“There she is,” said Rhodey. He made a move for the car seat, but Tony swatted his hand away.

“Not yet,” Tony told him. “She has to meet her brother first.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“He’s being completely serious,” said Pepper. “As serious as he was about sneaking the dog in the room when I had her coming out of me.”

Rhodey made a disgruntled face. “I don’t even outrank the dog?”

“Nope,” said Tony, as he put the car seat down on the porch and began working the buttons, unlatching her, then gently picking her up while she slept.

Buddy sat. Waited. Stayed completely still until Tony brought her over to him and crouched down to show him.

“She’s here, bud. This is Morgan.”

Buddy took a couple of steps forward and put his nose near Morgan’s small body, sniffing her, but never touching her with his nose. He gave her hand a small lick, then backed up. His tail wagged faster. He looked up at Tony, lifted his nose to the air and gave a quiet bark.

“We’re so glad you approve,” said Pepper, with a laugh.

“Great, he loves her,” said Rhodey, deadpanned. “Now let me meet my niece.”

Tony allowed Rhodey to take Morgan from his hands, and once she was safely transferred, shifted his full attention on Buddy, giving him some good pets while he blocked out all the disgusting baby talk Rhodey tormented Morgan with.

“That’s your sister,” said Tony, rubbing Buddy’s ears. “You gotta protect her.”

Buddy made a snarl that sounded offended as he backed up out of Tony’s reach. Something he interpreted as of course. Tony didn’t know if he could understand Buddy because he was starting to learn dog language, or if it was because he was just losing his mind. Probably, though, Tony thought, as he stared at his dog, after being gone for three days, it was because Buddy didn’t speak dog.

“Tony,” said Rhodey. “Is that a giant teddy bear in your car?”

“Yep.”

“Isn’t Morgan, uh, too small to appreciate it?”

“Oh, it isn’t for Morgan,” said Pepper.

“You’re joking – “

“You know what’s weird?” asked Tony, cutting him off. “Buddy doesn’t look starved and he isn’t whining for food.”

Rhodey’s eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened.

“You cooked for him, didn’t you?”

“I had to do something to stop the whining,” said Rhodey. “That dog’s just like you. Never shuts up.” He turned, and walked back inside the cabin, taking Morgan with him as he went.

“He cooked for a dog,” repeated Tony, for Pepper’s benefit. He didn’t think she was appreciating the moment as much as she could’ve been. It was always a sport to get Rhodey to do the things he claimed he wouldn’t do, one Tony liked to win.

“Good luck getting that bear out of the car,” was all Pepper said, as she followed Rhodey and Morgan inside, leaving Tony on the porch, alone with Buddy. He didn’t mind it, though. He really had missed his dog.

*

Tony’s life became something lame after bringing Morgan home, like something from a cheesy sit-com, where everything always worked out in the span of twenty-two minutes.

He decided he liked it.

The peace, the quiet, the sitting by the lake with his wife, his daughter, his dog.

He liked the midnight feedings, where he would sit with Pepper as she fed Morgan, and they would chat in low voices - learning secrets about each other they never knew existed - while Tony absentmindedly scratched Buddy between the ears. He sat between them every time Morgan screamed them all out of their dreams, wanting to be fed, or Tony’s favorite, just wanting to be held.  

He’d been afraid holding her would bring anxiety and panic, would be flashbacks to holding Peter as he drifted away. It wasn’t. It was nothing like that, and he found the only difficult part was putting her down.

Tony held her as much as possible, in his hands, or nestled against his chest in the kangaroo carrier while he did the dishes and Pepper wiped down the counter tops and Buddy licked crumbs off the floor.  

He liked that they were together, the four of them, all the time, even if it his heart still ached knowing they’d never all be together with Peter included. He wouldn’t be coming to visit on weekends. He wouldn’t ever hold Morgan. He wouldn’t be around to teach her bad puns, or tell her about his adventures as Spider-Man.

So, Tony told his stories for him. Morgan was too young to understand, but the books said they should be talking to her, anyway. He might as well tell her stories and preserve Peter’s memory at the same time. Besides, it soothed his heart the same way eating cheeseburgers in a diner with Buddy did.

To further preserve his memory, Tony took the picture of him and Pete off his nightstand, gave it a nicer frame and put it up in the kitchen, so when they were eating dinner, or cleaning up after it, Peter could be there, too. Plus, he had to get it out of Buddy’s reach. He kept stealing it and bringing it to guests as they showed up to meet baby Morgan.

She had tons of visitors during her first few weeks, but as weeks turned into months, they became fewer and fewer, until three months had passed by, which meant it was time for Pepper to return to the office. Tony’s four would be cut to three, at least during the day.

“Just stay home with us one more month,” said Tony. He sat on their bed with Morgan in his arms and with Buddy lying right by his side.  

“You know I can’t do that,” Pepper told him. She was rustling around in the closet, searching through her office clothes, hoping to find something that would fit post-pregnancy.

“A week.”

“Tony.”

“We’re gonna fall apart without you, Pep.”

She turned and walked out of the closet, a suit jacket inside a plastic clothes bag in hand. “SIis falling apart without me.” She kissed him on the forehead. “But I have complete faith in you.”

Tony looked down at his three-month-old. He was entirely sure she would be just like her mother. That one day she’d be running SI with as much grace and competence. Then he looked at Buddy and imagined him sitting up in the CEO’s office at SI, in the computer chair, staring into a screen with glasses on his face.

Somehow, the image didn’t feel completely ridiculous, or even unlikely.

*

“I’m building a time machine,” said Tony, as he wrapped his arm around Pepper. They were sitting together on the couch, sipping hot chocolate with a slight kick, and watching and listening as Morgan babbled to Buddy. “She’s getting too big. We gotta freeze time and put a stop to it.”

It was a cliché, Tony knew. He had rolled his eyes plenty of times before when he was forced to make small talk and had to listen to parents talk about how quickly kids grew up. You blink, they’d say, and you’d miss it.

Except Tony hadn’t blinked.

He had been there when Morgan laughed for the first time. It was the best sound he’d ever heard. He had been there, with his eyes wide open, when Morgan stood up for the first time. Not by herself, but by hanging onto to Buddy, who was always so gentle and allowed her to pull at his fur. He and Pepper watched and cheered when she took her first steps, neither of them surprised she was an early walker.

He’d seen it all. Every milestone, but still, he felt like he blinked. He felt like he was two seconds away from dropping her off at college. Maybe he could convince her to live at home, when the time came.

Then he remembered she was a Stark and a Potts, and already showing her stubborn independence.

He took another sip of hot chocolate. “I mean it, Pep. I’m gonna freeze time.”

“You’d get bored.”

“Of this?” asked Tony. He pressed a sloppy kiss into her cheek, leaving it wet with traces of hot chocolate. “Never.”

She made a noise of disgust and wiped her cheek off with a blanket, and Tony went back to listening and watching his daughter carry on a conversation with Buddy. She babbled. He barked back. They were communicating and Tony couldn’t understand it. A part of him was jealous. He used to be the only one who could decipher Buddy’s barks.

“So, what do you think it will be?”

Tony put his attention back on Pepper.

“Her first word,” Pepper elaborated. “Her first real word.”

“Oh, that’s easy. Definitely dad,” said Tony. “It’s clear she loves me most.”

Pepper gave a small laugh and shook her head, eventually lying it down on his chest.

He really did need that time freezing machine, if only to stretch out moments like this as long as possible. There was dread clawing at the back of his mind telling him peace wouldn’t last forever, that the universe would never really allow Tony Stark to keep his happiness.

Two days after their conversation with hot chocolate, Morgan said her first word. It was Buddy, and Tony was too proud to care that he’d been wrong.

*

All eyes were on Morgan Stark. She had just turned one, and already commanded attention just like Tony-of-the-past at a Stark Expo. She looked around, grinning at all the adults who had phone cameras pointed her way, then smashed her hand down in the purple and green cake.

She laughed and threw a chuck of icing and cake at Happy, who was sitting at the picnic table near where her highchair sat. It missed, fell to the ground, and that was when Buddy moved in, completely ready for his chance to lick it up off the grass.  

“Hey, no, I don’t think so,” yelled Tony, wagging his finger at Buddy, his tone causing the dog to look up and stare. “No chocolate for you. That stuff will kill you.”

Buddy looked at Tony, and he whined.

“Lucky for you, I thought ahead,” said Tony, tapping a small, plain white box that sat on top of the picnic table. Buddy barked, and jumped up, taking a seat next to Happy, while Tony unboxed the cake and slid it across the table for him.

Buddy didn’t waste a second. His nose and mouth went directly inside the cake.

“Let me get this straight,” said Happy. “You bought a whole cake? For the dog?”

“No,” said Pepper, sitting down next to Tony. “He drove all the way into the city, to the pet bakery, to buy a cake just for the dog.”

Tony looked back at Morgan. She was finally starting to understand the cake wasn’t just for throwing and was licking the icing she scrapped off the top from her fingers. He grinned at her, before shifting his attention back to Happy, Pepper, and Rhodey.

“I didn’t want him to feel left out,” said Tony.

Rhodey laughed at the same time Happy sneezed.

“Does he have to eat it at the table?” asked Happy, his eyes red and his nose runny.

“Of course he does. He’s family, and he likes sitting next to his uncle Happy.”

Buddy stopped eating long enough to put his head in the air and bark an affirmative. Chucks of chewed cake and icing sprayed out from his mouth, flying in every direction. Morgan giggled from her highchair, and Tony didn’t even try to suppress the laugh that escaped him. Nor did Pepper.

“This isn’t funny, you know I’m allergic to dogs,” said Happy, before blowing his nose inside a handkerchief.

“That’s not a dog, man,” said Rhodey, shaking his head.  

Tony grimaced as Happy threw the used handkerchief out on the table, and reached into his pocket, for the extra, clean one Tony knew he kept there.

He never got the chance to use it, though. Buddy saw an opportunity, and he took it. He snatched the handkerchief from Happy’s hand, jumped away from the table with it in his mouth, and ran several ran away from the table before stopping.

“Hey!” shouted Happy, turning around in his seat.

Buddy stared back at him. Wagging his tail. He dropped the handkerchief on the ground.

“Are you gonna do anything about this?” asked Happy.

“What? He just wants to play.”  

Tony could’ve warned his friend. He’d been a victim of this game Buddy liked to play too many times to count, but Tony wasn’t the type to warn his friends. Being entertained by them was so much better.

Happy stood up, and approached, but when he reached down to take his handkerchief, Buddy snatched it back off the ground and ran off with it just like before, leaving Happy in his dust. He stopped running once he got to the lake, and put the handkerchief back on the ground, wagging his tail and barking.

Happy, the fool, chased after him again, and again, while Morgan shrieked with laughter.

“Go Buddy! Go!” she shouted, bouncing in her highchair and laughing, watching them, and ignoring her demolished cake.

Tony shifted his attention back and forth between Morgan and Happy, who was still chasing his dog and shouting death threats. It was a perfect day, and more evidence that he needed a time freezing machine.

Or maybe, even, one that turned the clock backwards.

*

“Tony…”

“We can’t,” said Tony. He had Morgan in his arms, and he refused to put her down. “She can’t sleep in here all by herself.”

“She’s one, it’s time,” said Pepper. “Do you want her sleeping in our bedroom until she’s eighteen?”

Tony didn’t give her an answer. Instead, he looked down at Morgan. She was tuckered out from her birthday party. So tired, even, she’d fallen asleep in the bathtub while Tony was trying to get icing out of her hair. Probably, she’d sleep through the night and not even notice she was in a different room, but Tony would notice.

He wasn’t ready.

“What do you think is going to happen to her? We’re just right down the hall.”

“The boogey man might eat her.”

“Tony- “

“-I’m serious,” he said. “She’s too young to be on her own, Pep. Maybe when she’s two, we can discuss it.”

Pepper gave him that look. The one that told him he was being ridiculous, and the conversation was over. “Kiss your daughter goodnight, then come to bed.”

She left Morgan’s bedroom, and Tony listened to her footsteps slip down the hallway, while he stared down at Morgan. Carefully, he laid her down in the crib, but couldn’t bring himself to walk away, or even take his hand off the railing.  

A debate played in his head as he watched his daughter sleep. He was considering the most comfortable spot in her room to sleep, the floor, or sitting up, in the rocking chair by the window. Before he could figure it out, Buddy backed into the room, using all his strength to drag his giant teddy bear through the doorway.

Tony watched as he dragged it all the way to the window, before laying on top of it and giving him a solemn stare. He’d gotten it for him to replace the old, ratty bear that came with him from the Parker’s apartment. It hadn’t worked. Buddy still clung to it, still carried it around in his mouth, but he loved the giant bear, too.

He used it as a dog bed, and Tony understood, even without barking, what him dragging it in to Morgan’s bedroom meant.

“You’re gonna watch over her for me?”  

Buddy raised his head up, then laid it back down on the teddy bear’s ear, as if to say I’m not going anywhere.

Tony took his hands from the crib’s metal rails, walked across the room, crouched down, and rubbed Buddy’s ear with his right hand. “I should have known. You always have my back.”

He gave one last look into Morgan’s crib as he moved on towards his bedroom and slipped into bed next to Pepper. He didn’t sleep well, but he did sleep.

[unreachablevoice]

Moving In Is What Started It All

Summary:

With Marinette’s parents being away with work, she is left in the care of one of their supposedly family friend; who just so happened to be someone who she has always been idolizing. And throw in the fact that she is having a hard time with friendships experiencing hardships, bridges being burned, and secrets unraveling and her parents unintentionally (plus being clueless with their daughter’s suffering) throwing their daughter in a pit of misery.

Note:

This fanfic will not contain Miraculous. Though, This does still contain the concept and some of the episodes of the show just cut out the parts of Ladybug and Chat Noir.

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Chapter 2 |A Little Bonding Before The Discussion|

Narrative POV

Marinette shouted while popping her head outside their car's window, clearly being shocked by their visit to her crush's house. Her mouth was wide open, too paralyzed, shocked, and excited to even move a muscle.

"Careful honey. You'll catch flies."

Marinette was dumbfounded, she couldn't form the words she wanted to say inside her mouth. Arriving in the doorstep, their chauffeur opened the door for them and took Marinette's luggage out of the trunk. She and her parents stood there, waiting for the gates to be opened for them, while their silver car bid them goodbye and went away, and drove somewhere else.

"Gabriel, they're here," Nathalie spoke, as soon as she saw, through the camera, the two adults and one teen standing in front of the gate.

Gabriel showed a gigantic smile, excited to meet the visitors. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let them in!" he said filled with happiness, his stern demeanor somehow gone.

As Nathalie let the three in, Gabriel welcomed them while adrien stood still.

He was feeling mixed emotions, excitement, happiness, and shock. Each emotion swarmed his face too fast to even comprehend.

Both he and Marinette are clearly shocked by the sudden interactions of their family to one another. Their parents guided them to couches where they could sit and left Marinette's luggage in the hands of Nathalie, Gabriel's assistant. Not a second after Adrien sat, he looked at his father and glared at him.

"How come you didn't tell me that Marinette and her parents are going to visit?!?!" Adrien whisper-yelled, just as he pulled his father away from the adults and the teenager, and into the kitchen where they'd talk and nobody could hear.

His father shrugged, "I wanted it to be a surprise! I know you and Miss Marinette here are close, plus she won my derby hat competition right? And on top of that, her parents and I have known each other for a long time now so..."

Angered by his father's remarks and by his father's assistant who did not tell him or even gave him a clue, he stormed off back to their living room. That feeling came off ones he saw Marinette waiting in their living room, and was instead replaced by a different feeling.

I guess it's still a good thing that Father didn't tell me. I mean, if not being told means that the surprise will be something as good as this. Then, by all means, don't inform me! Adrien thought to himself as he walked back silently to his seat.

His father didn't follow him, thinking the two teens needed space to chat. So he beckoned Marinette's parents, also his assistant Nathalie, to their dining room, moving their meeting to a different room from the teens.

"H-Hey, A-Adrien! So this wuess gas—gah! I mean! S-So I guess this w-was why we both refused A-Alya's offer! Hehe..." Marinette scratched her head through muffled voices, clearly being embarrassed, while Adrien looked at her weirdly. He had one of his eyebrows up and is showing a huge uncanny looking grin. Smiling as if Marinette just made a full-on perfect sentence, as if she didn't make any mistake at all.

Adrien slowly moved and went to sit down at one of the couches. "Yeah, I guess so. B-By the way, what are you doing he--" Adrien bit his tongue before he could even finish his also awkward comment. Embarrassed by his own foolishness in front of Marinette, he scolded himself internally, hoping he could just crawl and hide into a hole somewhere. He felt a bit pissed off at himslef.

Shoot1 Great job Adrien! Now Marinette will think you're crazy and will probably be disgusted by your actions. And leave you, and don't want to be friends with you, and hate you!

While Adrien was overthinking things, Marinette, on the other hand, was also panicking. She didn't know what to do, Adrien wasn't talking and to top it all off, he looks kind of perplexed!

"A-Adrien? A-Are you okay? It kind of looks like you bit your tongue, is-is it bleeding?" Marinette asked, worry clearly being visible in her eyes. Adrien looked at her surprised.

Is-Is she worried about m-me? Shoot, she's too cute, looking all fretful. Wait–what?!?! No, I did not just say that!!

Suddenly, an idea popped on Adrien's head and he knew exactly what to do. Showing a mischievous smirk, an intention was clearly being shown. Marinette was now feeling tensed of how Adrien was acting. Slowly, Adrien moved in closer, shortening the distance between their faces until he was sitting on the same sofa and was leaning close to Marinette's face. A gulp was heard, coming from Marinette, while Adrien's face grew even closer and his smile grew even smugger.

"Then, why don't you check if it has any wounds?" Adrien commented, slightly opening his mouth and showing his tongue, teasing Marinette.

His mouth really is bleeding! Marinette thought, being shocked by the situation in front of her. "A-Adrien, your tongue! It's-It's bleeding!!! Are you alright?! Do you need a bandage or something?!?! Why don't we call your father's assistant??!!" she rambled as she panicked, looking for something that could help patch up Adrien's wound.

Adrien chuckled, "Marinette... Why don't you use your tongue to heal it? I think that would work effectively.," he smirked. Marinette's face heated up in an instant and became crimson red by what Adrien just said. The seduction in his voice added even more justice to the flirty look Adrien was giving and it made Marinette almost lose her balance and faint on the couch.

She couldn't handle the situation, her head was spinning, her pulse was getting faster, and her face was getting redder each second Adrien's breath brushed against her lips. His voice felt like a drug, a drug that could make her obey whatever he commanded her to do. And he knew exactly how to use it.

Adrien grew tired of waiting so he decided to take the matter into his own hands. His head started moving even closer, eyeing Marinette's plump, glossy lips, impatiently craving for a taste.

A series of events flashed in Marinette's head, Are we really going to do this here in Adrien's living room?!?! What would his parents think of me?!!? B-But it wouldn't hurt for just a peck, right?

Slowly, the eyes of the two teenagers closed, getting ready for the steamy situation that's going to happen between them.

But alas, their little moment had to end when a fit of laughter was heard from a distance. There in the dining room, both of their parents were laughing, having a time of their life, catching up while opening the door a bit to come out. Which made both Marinette and Adrien jump and scramble back to their own seats.

Why did I just do that??!!! Am I crazy or what??! To do that to my best friend??! Do I want her to hate me or something?! Adrien thought.

Not a moment later, their parents went out of the said room, eyeing the look on the two teenagers' faces. Looking at them uncannily, confused about why their faces were flushed. Though leaving it at that was their decision.

"By the way Miss Marinette, I forgot to tell you. The hat that you made and Adrien modeled was really magnifique, a really huge step for someone who's just an amateur. I hope you can come by my office and help me with my work from time to time." Gabriel smiled.

Marinette couldn't believe what she just heard. Did THE Gabriel Agreste just ask HER to help HIM with HIS designs? Maybe Marinette's luck is now turning for a change!

All Marinette could reply was with a shy smile and a small nod. But inside, her stomach was making summersaults, jumping, and churning. Feeling delighted that she was given such an offer. Though her little partying had to wait for Sabine, Tom, and Gabriel had to discuss with them about the whole situation.

"And Miss Marinette, we still have to discuss this whole move-in thing with Sabine and Tom here. And I believe I still haven't informed Adrien, so I think now's the best time for it."

"Oh! Um... Marinette's fine, Mister Agreste." Marinette said as she let out a small awkward chuckle.

"Well... You can call me 'Uncle Gabriel' or 'Uncle Gabe' for short since we are technically going to live together for as long as it's needed."

Marinette responded with a little nod at the end, not knowing what she should do. Gabriel Agreste just told HER to call HIM 'Uncle Gabriel'! How wonderful is that?!

While Marinette was in cloud nine, Sabine, Marinette's mother, interrupted the slight blonde and her daughter's uncanny stares and smiles at each other. "Ahem... Anyway, Sweetie, the friend that we were talking about is Gabe here, and you will be moving in with him for a while. I hope you won't cause any trouble for him, okay?" Sabine giggled as she finished her sentence, followed by a few chuckles coming from the two adults at the back.

"And you don't have to worry about your luggage anymore. Nathalie already put it in the room you're going to stay in. Right, Nath?" Tom, Marinette's father, said as he finger gunned at the prim and proper lady standing behind them all. A chuckle was all the woman could give in return to the gesture that was made to her.

"Wait–What?! So let me get this straight. Marinette is going to move in OUR house? Because her parents have work-related problems?! How come you didn't inform ME of this? I could've held a welcoming party for Pete's sake!!" Adrien said as he pouted and crossed his arms.

In return, a faint laugh was heard coming from Marinette, followed by the adults' heavy ones. Marinette's cheeks had a tint of pink and her eyes were a bit teary from the laughter, but her gaze didn't tear away from Adrien. "Haha... You don't have to worry Adrien! I found out a bit late too. Plus, you can just hold a welcome party for me some other time with Alya and Nino!"

Though her voice was soft, careful not to offend Adrien from laughing too much. Marinette thought he was cute, getting worried over something like her moving in for a while.

"Haha... It's so adorable that you're making a fuss over something like this," she added between giggles.

Shoot! What did I just say! Now Adrien's going to hate me for sure! Marinette thought nervously while still smiling, hoping no one would notice her inner turmoil.

Oblivious to what the girl was thinking in front of him, Adrien also thought she looked cute. Looking cute while laughing hard at something he said, he just couldn't resist telling it to her.

"Look who's talking. Between you and me, I think you're the cute one here."

It wasn't too long before Adrien snapped out of his daydream, his face was immediately painted a bright red and he got embarrassed at himself. Shoot, I just acted like a little kid in front of Marinette! And the worst thing is, I just told her that she's cute! What am I thinking!! Oh God, now she's going to think I'm a creep!!

"Uhh... Hehe... T-Thanks Adrien." Marinette smiled, ecstatic at the fact that Adrien just complimented her.

A clearing of the throat was heard. It came from Gabriel Agreste indicating that they should pay attention to their surroundings. "We're still here you know. Stop flirting in front of us you lovebirds, especially ME. I'll get envious." he pouts and mock-glares at the two.

The two other adults just laughed in return, finding it funny on how a grown man can get envious on something like that. While the two teens were blushing furiously at the statement that was just declared in front of them.

Why am I blushing??!! Did we really look like a couple in front of them? Adrien thought, worried if Marinette didn't like being partnered up with him. But mostly because he was happy being shipped with her.

"I-I think you're mistaken Mister Agre—err, Uncle Gabriel. W-We're not--" Marinette said right before she got interrupted by Adrien.

"Y-Yeah Father! Marinette and I are not like that! Isn't it obvious? She doesn't see me like that!" Adrien angrily mumbled the last part.

Marinette turned her head, now looking at the blonde. "What was that? I didn't quite hear."

Adrien panicked. Shaking his head furiously, hoping Marinette didn't hear what he just mumbled. "N-Nothing! Maybe you're just hearing things Marinette! Hehe..."

Marinette swore that she just heard something about being obvious, but just decided to brush it off, thinking that it may not be that important.