It was two months after he lost Peter and Stark wasn't taking it that well, he would lock himself in the lab and fiddle with useless holograms. He couldn't bring himself to the fact that Peter was gone forever, he believed it was his fault even when everyone else told him it wasn't.
Pepper came in and wrapped her arms around Tony, "It wasn't your fault" she reassured him.
He hung his head, "I was supposed to protect the kid, then I just go and end up killing him!" He banged his fists on the desk. He stood up and moved away from Pepper trying to hide the tears, he wiped his eyes and leaned against a table near the door.
"You didn't kill him, Tony" Pepper went to hold his hand but he moved away.
"When the kid got snapped I felt lost, but that was only for five years. This is for the rest of my life." Tony took a breather then continued, "If I would've just told that kid that I was proud of him in the beginning then maybe- maybe he would still be here" Tony couldn't hold back anymore and he began to cry.
Pepper held on to his shoulder, "Tony, you can't undo the inevitable" she smiled at him but he turned away.
He let the words sit in his head for a while, Pepper left reminding him to be home for dinner.
"It's all my fault!" Stark bellowed smashing the small desk lamp against the wall.
"No it's not, Mr. Stark" a familial voice called out.
Tony span around in his chair, "PETER?" He began breathing heavily.
"Mr. Stark?" The voice called out again.
Tony pushed his hair back then stood up, "Peter?"
"Mr. Stark!" The voice started chanting.
Tony's eyes wondered the room until they fixed on a dim, transparent Peter, Tony's eyes bulged out of his head shocked by the sight. He stumbled forward towards Peter then stopped, "You're not real, are you?"
The figure shook its head, it then disappeared and Tony was alone again.
"I guess the kid meant more to me than I thought"