May had never driven so fast.

Peter had come screaming down from his bedroom into the kitchen, Michelle in tow. His face was alight with excitement and delight and everything nice, Michelle was smiling.

"What? What?" She had repeated when neither answered.

"We gotta get to the hospital. Like, now." His smiled grew even brighter, if that was even possible.

"Why? What's-" Peter was dragging her from her seat on the couch by her arm, "going on?" She directed the question at MJ.

"Peter will explain in the car, I'm sure." Michelle rolled her eyes, as Peter practically bounced down the hallway that lead to the front door.

"Woah, woah, woah, let me gather my bearings!" May protested.

"Your car keys, you mean?" Peter replied, biting his lip in anticipation and impatience.

Once she had retrieved her things, still completely unaware of anything that was happening, Peter ushered them all into the car, Michelle included.

"Shouldn't we drop Michelle off at her house, first-?"

"Nope. Just drive." Peter interrupted, and Michelle cast May a quick nod of approval.

They arrived at the hospital in record time.

Peter walked as fast as he could through the lobby to the front desk, May hurrying along behind and Michelle stopping to read a few signs absently. Maybe it was the public that made her shut off a bit. Peter wasn't sure, but he couldn't focus on that now.

"Um, hi? I'm-" Peter began, smiling innocently at the desk-lady, who looked through her half-moon glasses at him.

"Mr Parker?"

Peter nodded. "That's right."

"Follow me, sir." She replied, breaking into a smile. The sort of smile pre-school teachers wore when giving out stickers to all the good little five-year-old's. Huh, maybe that's saying something.

"O-okay." Peter mumbled, as he nearly tripped over his own feet in haste. May caught up and wrapped an arm through Peter's to steady him.

"What room?" She whispered to Peter.

"I dunno, that's why we're following the lady!" Peter exclaimed, still not able to wipe the smile off his face.

They went to the top floor in the escalator – no surprises there – and turned into a corridor labelled 'Private Clinic'. In other words; 'Expensive Rooms'. There were lots of windows up here and Peter must admit that the view was incredible.

The walked all the way down, to the last door.

Number 1.

"Now, I must ask that only Mr Parker enters. I don't want to overcrowd the room." The desk-lady stated, and May nodded.

Then she opened the door, and Peter stepped in.

He could already feel the smile freezing on his face, as his eyes took it all in. All other noises, including that of the heart monitor, beating away steadily, seemed to drown out into one long whoosh. His eyes were trained on the body in the bed, everything else was blurry and non-existent.

"Mr Stark?" He whispered.

He staggered to the bedside, collapsing into the mahogany chair that was placed there. Without even thinking, he swept up Tony's hand, being careful not to disturb the IV.

"Mr Stark?" He repeated.

The billionaire's eyelids were fluttering, just like the nurse had said when she had phoned Peter. That was always the first signs of consciousness. She had called him as soon as she had spotted it. So, they were still fluttering, like he was fighting desperately to come back.

It hurt him to see his hero like this. So broken and vulnerable, lying in a damn hospital bed. Of course, it was probably the world's best hospital bed, but it was a hospital bed all the same.

"You gonna wake up for me, or what?" Peter asked.

The eyelids stopped flickering, just for a moment. Peter grinned.

"When I was in my coma, I could hear every single world Michelle and May said. So I reckon you can hear me." Peter sighed. He rested his head on the side of the bed, staring at the heart monitor longingly.

"You know, I know what you said when you found me in the warehouse." Peter continued, "I remember you saying that you were proud of me. I wanted to thank you, but I just never knew how to say it. I guess, it's easier now, when you can't sass back at me. So I'm probably gonna tell you know." Peter took a deep breath, readying himself dramatically.

"Thank you." He said confidently, noticing how the corners of Tony's mouth twitched.

"I thought you were dead, by the way. No one told me that you survived, otherwise I probably would've come earlier." Peter didn't really know what to say, but he had to talk. That's how Michelle got him back.

"You've always been my hero, you know. Not Iron Man. Well, I mean, Iron Man's awesome and all, but Tony Stark's way cooler. You're sort of like the...dad I never had? I don't know, is that weird? Probably."

"I also remember you saying something about saving that little boy from that evil Hammer Drone thing. That's funny. I thought you would've forgotten, it wasn't really that important, you know."

The heart monitor was beginning to beep a bit faster, ad Peter cast it a confused, slightly worried look.

"I have similar memory, maybe just from a different point of view." Peter whispered.

And that's when it happened.

It was just a quiet murmur, but Peter had excellent hearing.

"That wass'you?" Tony slurred, blinking open his eyes sleepily.

"Mr Stark!" Peter nearly squealed in delight.

'Woah, woah, le'ss be calm, now." Tony grinned.

Peter threw himself over Tony, squeezing himself into his mentor's chest. He was laughing and crying at the same time, which only increased as Tony weakly reciprocated the hug.

"I love you, kid." He whispered into Peter's shoulder. Peter laughed, wiping his eyes as he pulled away.

"I think you're a bit loopy, Mr Stark." Peter grinned, but his heart was nearly exploding with joy.

"But I love you too. Even with only one arm."

"Jesus, kid, it's Tony. Tony."

...

Two Weeks Later...

...

"Thanks." Michelle said, smirking.

"No problem." Peter replied, giving her a knowing look. Every part of him wanted to hold her hand again. To be able to feel that connection again with her, but-

"Yeah, no problemo!" Ned called from directly behind Peter. Peter cringed internally.

"This was Peter's idea, not yours, Leeds." Michelle drawled, rolling her eyes as her two friends fist-pumped.

"No, I'm pretty sure it was your idea, Jones. And anyway, who would want to walk home all by their lonesome, when they can walk home with two of the coolest dudes in the galax-ay!" Ned screeched loudly, and a few passers-by turned to stare.

They stood outside MJ's front door. She was leaning against the flyer-wire, eyebrows raised in typical Michelle fashion. Peter was fiddling with his jacket zipper and Ned was bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Ned, what is wrong with you?" Peter asked, turning to stare at his best friend, eyes wide.

"Coffee." Was all he said. Peter let out a bark of laughter.

"This is your doing." He said, his attention back on Michelle, of whom shrugged impassively.

"She gave me three!" Ned stated proudly. Peter gaped.

"You trying to kill him?" Peter asked Michelle jokingly.

"Nah, but he'll be going into shock in a few minutes." MJ reached for the handle and pulled open the door. Peter spluttered out an unamused laugh.

She gave them both one more of her signature looks, then stepped over the threshold. Peter stepped forward quickly, before he could stop himself, reaching out an arm.

She stopped walking when his fingers brushed across her forearm. She turned around, looking at him in surprise.

"Um...bye, MJ." Peter mumbled, looking down at his hand, as he pulled it back to his body, blushing deeply.

"I'll see you tomorrow, dork." Michelle said, bemused but quite obviously flattered.

No.

Peter nodded, stepping out of her house quickly. She smiled, and both were unable to tear their gazes away. Eventually, she shut the door, leaving Peter standing next to a hyper Ned, feeling like something had just snapped.

"Woah, okay, I think I need a nap, Peter." Ned exclaimed, pupil dilating. Peter grinned, leading him back down the street, one hand with a firm grip around Ned's arm.

"Your apartment is only, like, a two-minute walk away from here, right?" Peter asked once they reached the end of the street.

Ned nodded, and Peter checked the time on his watch briefly.

"Okay, well I'm gonna leave you here. Don't go on any roads, you'll probably die." Peter said, letting his friend go.

"Wait, where you-where you going?" Ned asked innocently.

"The tower." Peter replied, casting Ned a small – slightly sad – smile. Ned didn't notice the fear in his friend's eyes.

When he arrived at the Avenger's Compound, it was very silent, leaving him with an eerie feeling.

He took the elevator – after signing in at the front desk – to the penthouse floor. He counted each ding as the elevator reached another level, anticipation and fear churning in his belly.

Once the doors parted with a whir, his hands were shaking. But he walked out into the common room with as much confidence as he could muster.

Because, there, stood every Avenger. Alive and well.

They all stopped chatting when they noticed Peter's arrival, most of them sending him comforting smiles. Shuri's face brightened and she gave him an enthusiastic wave, too. Natasha gave him a formal nod, and Clint waggled his eyebrows at the teen.

Tony was the only one to walk toward the boy, giving him a loose embrace around the shoulders.

"Hey, kid." He patted Peter on the back with his prosthetic arm lazily, but his smile spoke more than his words.

"Hi...Tony." Peter emphasized mockingly, and Tony pretended to ignore him.

He then preceded to make his rounds, unable to contain his jittery excitement as he shook Steve's hand. He smiled guiltily when he greeted Bucky and Wanda didn't say much when he gave her a small, awkward hug. Sam called him an asshole, but Peter was sure it was how he welcomed everyone. Right?

T'Challa eyed him warily, bowing his head at the teen. Peter went to give Shuri a high-five, but she dabbed out of it at the last second. He gave her a playful punch on the arm and heard T'Challa cough from somewhere behind him. He blushed.

Next was Clint and Nat, and that went as you would expect. Bruce was next, and Peter couldn't help but notice the faint green lines on his neck. Peter wasn't surprised; he was terrified and excited too, which really is a terrible mix. Didn't do too well with your stomach contents and not bringing them up.

Ant-Man...Scott Pang or something? Peter wasn't sure. Anyway, he pulled Peter into a hug, much to his surprise, whispering something about 'bug-bros'. The Wasp gave him a high-five. Doctor Strange smiled curtly at him and Peter decided not to press it. Captain Marvel, a new addition to the team, gave him a sweet smile and hug.

Sharon Carter was sort of sitting in the corner, seemingly forgotten by the group. He didn't say hi, but gave her a confused, slightly concerned wave from a distance.

Valkyrie was busy taking a swig from her vodka bottle, to pay Peter much heed, so he moved on.

"Ah, Boy of Spiders! Quite spiffing to see you again, Peter Stark-son!" Came Thor's booming voice from next to Peter, quite obviously very drunk. Maybe he sniffed some of that vodka Valkyrie was downing.

"Oh, I'm not Mr Stark's son-!" But he was cut off as Thor brought him into a bone-crushing hug, Mjolnir digging into his back uncomfortably.

When the god pulled away, he gave Peter a small.

"Ah, Peter Parker! Wonderful to see you again!" He repeated, and Peter let out a small laugh.

"Uh, yeah, you too, Mr Thor, sir." He muttered.

A glass materialised in Thor's hand, and he took another swig, finishing it in one gulp. He then turned to Valkyrie, throwing out a hand as he was about to say something, but his mighty hammer came tumbling from his grip.

Instinctively, Peter leant down and grabbed it, handing it back to the Son of Odin.

The room fell deadly silent, every eye turned to stare at Peter in wonder and shock.

And it was silent like this for a good few minutes, Thor's face the most surprised and whip-lashed out of them all, like he had suddenly sobered up. Maybe he had. Tony wasn't smiling or looking shocked. He was just looking at Peter, like he'd known it all along.

"Okay, well, let's get started, shall we?" Captain America coughed out, then the outbursts and laughs began. Peter felt heat creeping up his neck, but he grinned sheepishly.

"Now that the final asset has arrived, after dropping his dearly beloved back-"

"Mr Stark!" Peter exclaimed, outraged.

"-home, so very kindly, we can get down to business." Tony finished, anyway. The racket died down and everyone turned to listen respectfully. Tony was holding something behind his back.

"Peter? You're gonna need this." He said, everyone parting a way for the billionaire to get to the teenager.

Once he was in front of Peter, he let himself look deeply into Peter's eyes for a moment. Peter gave him a knowing look back, hoping Tony wouldn't feel too guilty if anything happened.

Then his mentor held out his hands, the Iron Spider suit gripped in his trembling fingers. Peter took it from him, the soft material under his fingers feeling light. Peter had to fight down the urge to let out a short cry to get out all of his emotions.

Then Tony knelt, hands gripping Peter's upper-arms tightly and eyes drilling into the boys. The kid's eyes...they were so alight with emotion and happiness and...life. He couldn't bare to ever see that change. But here he was, bringing a sixteen-year-old kid into an inter-galactic war, that he was almost certain to never walk away from.

Peter Parker chewed his lip, water biting at his eyes. Waiting, waiting, dreading but anticipating Tony Stark's next words.

He waited-

He wished-

And-

And then-

He opened his mouth-

And said-

"You ready for your next mission?" 

--

THE END

--

Sequel Name: hysteria || peter parker (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

--

So, this is the end, my lovelies.

And yes, this does lead into Infinity War, just all the Avengers are together and happy.

Firstly, I have to thank all of you for reading this, voting on this, commenting on this...you've truly made writing and creating this a wonderful and journey and all that sentimental stuff. Just know that i love ya's.

The intro to the second book in the series will be coming out soon, I cannot say exactly when. I will post a notice on my account when it's up. 

Thank you all, again. 

I love you.

LuvForStydia xoxo