Thread: Iron Mom and Spider-Son WHO: Pepper Potts-Stark, Peter Parker (May Parker cameo) WHERE: May and Peter’s apartment WHEN: Backdated to Pepper getting out of the hospital. WHAT: Reuniting after Pepper got hurt. RATING: PG STATUS: Completed via gdoc.
Pepper had one thing on her mind when she woke up in her hospital bed. That one thing? Getting to her husband and children. She turned to her phone, discovered the demon was gone, and demanded Tony pick her up. It took longer than she liked to get cleared, but eventually she was home with the love of her life and their little girl. However, once she had ample time with them, she wanted to see Peter so she headed next door to May’s apartment.
“Pepper!” May exclaimed on opening the door. She hugged her friend tightly before calling out for Peter. “Peter, get your butt in here!” She then quietly slipped into the kitchen to give Pepper time with their kid.
Peter's hearing wasn't like, super sonic or anything. But it was slightly more enhanced than others. So on hearing May cheerfully say Mrs. Stark's name, Peter got to his feet and all but sprinted into the hallway. He was about to pounce her in a hug when he remembered she had been really badly hurt. Skidding to a stop, he stumbled into the wall before straightening himself with a huge grin. "You're okay!"
“Oooh, be careful!” She exclaimed. “And I’m good as new,” she promised. “Now get over here.” She held her arms out, inviting him in for a big hug. “How are you, honey? I’m so happy to see you!”
"Oh, I'm fine, you know that!" He was bouncing on the balls of his feet. "I'm good!" Of course she'd see the black eye and the scrapes, but, well…it was a demon. Not many of them had come out completely unscathed. "Morgan's fine, well, I guess you know that already, and May is good but you saw her, in that case I've got no news."
She brushed her fingers gently against his black eye and made a “tsk” sound. Damn demon. “Come, sit down.” She took his arm and led him to the couch. “Thank you for looking out for Morgan while I was in the hospital,” she said. “I’m really proud of you.”
He would sit anywhere if she needed it. Peter had been pretty damn scared when Not-Mom-2 was so hurt she had to be taken out. Not that he'd say it. Well, unless asked. He was a kid who was pretty in touch with his feelings. "I needed a break from demon patrol, I had to color with her. What else would I do?" His voice was light and teasing. Honestly, spending time with Morgan and helping her to be less scared was never something Peter needed to be praised for.
Pepper wrapped an arm around his shoulders and drew him close to her. She could imagine, after everything he’d been through, her little episode only added to his stress, which she hated. “Tony had Dee’s squirrels bring me a lot of those pictures,” she told him. “I woke up to a very colorful room.” She leaned in and pressed a kiss against his cheek. “I’m sorry I worried everyone, sweetheart.”
"Twinkle really wanted to help. I think she was mostly mad she couldn't protect Dee from the demon so she jumped in to help that way." Was it a little weird sometimes that he was starting to pick up squirrel body language? Sometimes. But just like he liked Cher and any other best friend Dee might find, he liked her squirrel best friends, too.
Pepper couldn’t say she could tell the squirrels apart so she only nodded. “Poor thing,” she said. “It is horrible when you can just sit back and wait.” She knew from experience waiting on her superhero husband to come home from some mission or another.
Peter flushed a little at that. He knew she didn't mean to guilt trip him, but he also knew how hard it always was for May, and her, too. "You know we'll always try. And it isn't like you always sit around at home, you know," he replied, giving her a scolding look with a tiny smile attached.
It was true. She’d gone out as Rescue a few times since arriving in their new world, but she needed to protect Morgan. She chuckled and playfully swatted his arm. “You all are rubbing off on me,” she replied. “Anyway, tell me, how’s school? I know you probably only got a few days in with all this madness. Do we need to call Angie? Or has she already worked it out with your professors?”
Grinning, Peter dodged her swat. She wasn't quite as good at it as May yet. May had had way more practice. "Now I know you've been sick. School doesn't start for us till middle of September. I've got orientation in two weeks. I think maybe Julia knew she had to get rid of that thing before my first day or I'd riot." He wasn't nervous about the classes. After all, he was that weirdo who genuinely loved school. But it was a big change and even though he'd still live at the Station, he'd feel really disconnected.
“I’m used to them starting in August,” Pepper replied. “I’m glad you didn’t miss any. I know you are excited.” She reached over and ran her hand through his hair. “I have so much work to catch up on,” she admitted. “It makes me tired just thinking about it!”
"The high schoolers all did." It was definitely still weird thinking how he wasn't going to school with a lot of his friends anymore. But apparently Dee liked talking about her college boyfriend so he had that going for him? "Yeah, I'm just glad Ms. Smith was able to get us all excused. I may not need my job but I do really like it. And other people need theirs way more." Fortunately the world didn't shut down if two ice cream shop employees didn't show up for a week but still!
She nodded. “I like the free ice cream perks,” she teased. “You’ll bring me some butter pecan after your next shift, won’t you?” She shot him a teasing smile.
Peter pretended to think hard. "I guess I can probably manage that. Since it's you and all." After all, he needed her. For now, anyway. Not a thought he enjoyed.
“I do like perks just for being me,” she teased. If she knew his thoughts, she’d hug him, but since she didn’t, she merely kept running her fingers through his hair. She remembered thinking of Tony and the children as she stared down the demon before it attacked her. She was so grateful to see her family again after that. “I love you, honey. I am so happy we’re all here together.”
For so long it had just been Peter and Ben and May. And then it had just been he and May. And Peter couldn't pretend he didn't love this huge found family they'd found themselves in. He knew Tony and Pepper both considered him as much theirs as May did. And so many close friends and his baby sister. And his aunt was happy and if there was a God, Peter sent up a prayer that he wouldn't ever have to leave this place again. "Love you, too. Guess you just have to not get attacked by anything else now, right??"
Pepper tilted her head back and laughed. “I’ll do my best, Pete.”