Peter is Tony's biological son.

Lotsa angsty fluff

Also this one is pretty long. It's like twice the size of the ones I've written already.

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In hindsight, it was probably stupid to go back in the burning building.

On one hand, the building was on the verge of collapse, the structural integrity bound to fail any minute.

On the other hand, there was a woman left in there.

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Peter pulled the woman's arm over his shoulder, helping her toward a window.

Flames crackled around them, and his lungs were filling rapidly with smoke. He pushed her out, willing onlookers reaching to pull her away from the heat.

Peter pulled back, turning to scan the interior to make sure there was no one left.

When he turned back, though, the window was blocked by a wall of flame. He jerked away, protecting his face with his arm.

"Karen! Find the quickest way out of here!"

Her voice replied in seconds. "Initiating scan. Scan complete. The quickest route is highlighted in your vision."

A blue line popped up, Peter immediately following it.

"How long until it goes down?"

"You have twenty seven seconds before the structure fails, and you will be crushed," she informed him, sounding less cheery.

"Great."

He was so close to the open air. So close. He could see the natural light when the building collapsed.

It happened too fast for him to process what happened.

In a blur of noise, flashing light, pain, and finally darkness.

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When Peter opened his eyes, it was completely still. There was a small pocket of air around his face, but everything else was trapped.

His mind flashed through visions of the warehouse.

Trapped. Crushed. Laughter.

Help me. Please. Someone.

Peter gasped for breath, the pressure on his lungs seeming to increase. In his panic, the walls seemed to be closing in.

Pain shot through him when he tried to move.

Please. Help me.

"Peter, your vitals are fluctuating. Would you like me to call Tony Stark?"

Peter nearly sobbed in relief as he heard the sound of his AI.

"...yes...please- call dad..."

"Placing call."

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Tony was in the living room with the team, watching a movie when Peter called.

"Incoming call from Peter Stark." Friday's cheerful voice announced.

Tony paused the movie. "Answer it."

When the call connected, everyone could hear the rasping breaths of the teenager.

"Pete? You okay?" Tony asked quickly.

"...dad- I can't- I can't breathe, please dad..."

Tony shot up. "Friday, get me his vitals. Peter, what happened?"

"Was... was chasing a guy. Big guy. Wings. Broke the building... really hurts...please..."

Tony called his suit, the rest of the team following him as he raced toward Peter's location.

"Were you in the building?"

Peter groaned weakly. " 'M. Hurts."

"Pete, answer me. Were you in the building?"

"...yeah...really hurts dad..."

"Where does it hurt, buddy?"

Peter's eyes fluttered shut. " 'm tired."

"Peter! Don't go to sleep! I need you to stay awake, talk to me! Where is the building?"

" 'm sorry... really hurts."

"No! Peter!"

Tony cursed. "Guys, he isn't answering! Friday, tell Bruce to get the med bay ready!"

"Already done, sir."

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When they reached the building, they had to push through crowds of onlookers.

One woman pointed forward. "Save him! He's over there, by the metal framework! Hurry!"

Tony landed on the rubble, searching the rubble. "Friday scan. Find him."

"To your left, sir. Although he is pinned by several slabs of rock. It will take precision to get him out without further damage."

Tony got to work, following her quiet instructions.

He nearly sobbed when he saw his kid.

Peter was barely breathing, his head and torso covered in blood, and burns. His leg was at an odd angle, and his wrist was backward.

He was still, and silent.

When Tony finally got the rest of the debris off of him, he gently picked up his son, carrying away from the ruins.

Everyone was silent when they came into view.

The limp body of Queen's hero, cradled gently in the arms of Iron Man.

Steve stepped forward. "Go. Take him to Bruce. We can handle things here."

Tony didn't hesitate.

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Hurts.

Cold.

Noise.

Voices.

Help me.

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Tony listened silently to what Bruce was saying.

He didn't talk. Not since he had received the news that Peter might not wake up.

Pepper tried to talk to him.

Rhodey tried to talk to him.

Steve tried to talk to him.

He didn't talk unless he absolutely had to.

He didn't sleep, or eat.

Just sat. Waiting.

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"Pete? I don't know if you can hear me. Bruce said you- you might not wake up. At all. I can't lose you. I can't. You're my kid. My kid. I'm so scared of losing you. Losing you would kill me. Please, please, wake up. I need you. I need you to be okay."

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Cold.

So cold.

Help me.

Pain.

Crazed laughter.

Screams.

Pain.

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Movement.

Bright lights.

Voices.

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"-don't know if-"

"-say that!"

"-sorry, Tony-"

"-please, you have to-"

"-nothing I can-"

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Tony sat by Peter's bed. His face was in his hands. His heart was on the ground.

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"Tony, you need to sleep." Pepper said gently.

He shook his head resolutely. "Can't."

She sighed. "You need to sleep. What would Peter say?"

A jolt of anger forced him to his feet. "Nothing, Pep! Because he's in a coma!"

She blinked, her face softening. "Tony. You can't do this forever. Look, what if we brought a cot in here, so you could stay with him? You have to stay healthy. He's going to need you."

Tony sank back down in the chair. "If he wakes up."

Pepper rested her hand on his shoulder. "He will. We have to have faith in our boy."

Tony rubbed his hand over his face. "Okay. Fine. I'll sleep."

She nodded. "I'll get them to bring a bed."

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Tony was woken by sobbing.

He shot up, eyes scanning the room.

They settled on Pepper and Bruce, leaning over Peter's bed.

Bruce was working frantically, while Pepper sat by, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The monitor was flatlining.

Tony gripped Peter's limp hand in his own, terror squeezing his heart.

"Please, Pete. Please. I can't lose you."

Bruce waved his hand at Tony. "Get back. Now." He had the paddles of a defibrillator in his hands, and he rubbed them together, and set them on Peter's chest.

Peter's back arched as the shock jolted through his body, but the monitor stayed the same.

Bruce tried again.

And again.

Finally, on the fourth try, the monitor started again.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

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Peter opened his eyes slowly.

He wasn't in horrible pain, which surprised him.

The room was dim.

Pepper was on the chair beside his bed, holding his hand. His fingers twitched in her grasp.

When she saw his eyes open, she started crying, silent tears that she couldn't stop. "Tony!"

Peter saw movement in the corner of his eye. He turned his head to see Tony sitting up, then standing and moving toward Pepper.

"What happened Pep?"

She gestured soundlessly at Peter.

"...dad?" Peter mumbled. His mouth was dry, reducing his words to a croak.

Tony turned slowly, his eyes full of...disbelief. And... hope.

His eyes met Peter's, and they stared at each other for several seconds.

Then Tony moved forward, pulling Peter into his arms.

Peter gripped Tony's shirt in his hands, trying to stifle his sobs.

"Oh Pete," Tony whispered. His eyes filled with tears. "Oh Pete."

They rocked back and forth, neither of them wanting to let go.

Tony rubbed circles on Peter's back, the motion soothing.

Peter buried his face in Tony's shirt. "Don't- don't let go- please don't let me go..."

Tony pulled his son closer. "I'm not going to. I'm never letting you go again."

Peter didn't relax his tight grip, and Tony didn't mind in the least.

Tony tried to lean back, to see Peter's face, but realized it was hopeless when Peter just mumbled something and held on tighter.

He rubbed Peter's back while attempting to move to a comfortable position.

"Pete? Hey buddy. I need you to let go for a minute, and then you can squeeze me to death if you want."

Peter shook his head.

"Pete, I need to get to a comfortable position, then I can hold you again, okay? Just for a minute."

Peter slowly relinquished his hold, watching as Tony leaned back against the headboard of the bed, and held his arms out again.

Peter didn't hesitate to wrap his arms back around his dad, sinking into the hug with a sigh.

He was asleep when Bruce came in. The scientist froze when he saw the two.

"Tony, what are you doing?"

Tony put a finger to his lips. "Be quiet. He just fell asleep."

Bruce hurried to the monitor. "You mean he woke up?"

Tony nodded, trying not to move. "Yeah. About half an hour ago."

Bruce checked his vitals. "I can't believe it. With damage that severe, i didn't know if he was going to wake up at all. Hes been in a coma for three months! Was he lucid?"

Tony glanced down to make sure Peter was still asleep before answering. "Yeah. He was scared, but he definitely knew what was going on. Seemed to remember everything."

Bruce rubbed his eyes. "Wow. You've got one strong kid there."

Tony smiled slightly. "Yeah. I know."

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Crushed.

Pain.

Cold.

Wet.

Help.

The stone was cold under his hands, the sharp edges breaking skin. His arms trembled under the weight of the metal, and he gasped for breath.

He screamed, but no one came. No one helped. No one heard.

Please, pleasehelpmepleasesomeone.

His frantic plea raced through his thoughts, and his mind rang with the words.

"If you're nothing without the suit..."

"Shouldn't have it..."

"Peter..."

Screams.

Pain.

So much pain...

"Peter!"

Cold.

So heavy. So heavy.

"Peter!"

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Peter shot up, gasping for breath. He felt someone grab his arm, and instinctively lashed out, shoving the figure away from him, and pushing himself to his feet.

He promptly fell, his knees buckling under him.

His mind was whirling, searching for an escape.

Flames, roaring fire, crackling, so hot.

Screaming, sobbing.

Can't get out, gonna die gonna die gonna die!

Get out get out get out

Someone help me please...

"Peter!"

His mind snapped back to the present, eyes focusing.

Tony was crouched in front of him, hands on Peter shoulders.

"-okay, it's okay. You're not there. You're safe. You're with me."

Peter threw himself forward, sobbing into Tony's shoulder.

"I was back, I was there I couldn't get out I was so scared-"

Tony cut him off with a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"I know. But you're here. Take a deep breath, okay?"

Peter nodded shakily.

When he was somewhat calmer, Tony  helped him to his feet, and back to the hospital bed.

"Think you can get back to sleep?"

Peter wiped his eyes. "I don't know. Maybe."

Tony leaned back against the pillows, resuming his position.

Peter curled up against him,resting his head on Tony's chest, and listening to the steady sound of his heart beating.

"Good night bud."

Peter hummed, already falling asleep.