“Don’t act dumb, where is Peter?” Tony’s eyes are sharp, demanding an answer.
“Tony, he should be here.” Quill couldn’t look at Tony’s face as he recounted what happened. “He was with us in the soul stone.”
Rocket clung to Groot on Quill’s right side, keeping his eyes on everyone else in his small group while Gamora was on the left.
Suddenly Dr. Strange appeared beside them, landing softly on Titan’s dusty ground.
“Where is he?” Strange gasped, looking around frantically. “Where’s Peter?”
“What do you mean where’s Peter?” Tony growled as Quill raised his hand.
“Is he here?” Strange said, eyes searching Tony’s face, something Quill himself could never do in this circumstance.
“No Strange, he’s not. What happened?”
“Everyone started vanishing so I knew you had done it.” Strange explained. “While most people were gone, me and Peter were left a little longer than most. Suddenly he started screaming Tony. He was screaming in pain before he vanished. I was ready to check him over as soon as I got back.”
Quill looked at Tony as he bit his lip. Tony’s face looked devastated, the joy in his eyes from the moment people started reappearing suddenly diffused into heartbreak.
“He could be on Wakanda, Stark.” Drax advised.
“Why would he be on Wakanda? You guys disappeared here and came back here.” Tony said.
“The stone can’t always get it right.” Strange shrugged
“I can’t leave though. What if you comes back here?” Tony was nearly pleading at this stage, desperate.
“We’ll stay here.” Quill said, speaking for all the guardians. Peter was a good kid, always a voice of optimism in the stone and loving meeting everyone. Tony met his eyes and smiled slightly.
“Tony.” Steve was surprised to see Tony back so soon. He knew how much Tony was looking forward to seeing Peter, it was all he talked about while they were working to bring them back. “What are you doing here?”
“Yeah,” Steve started. “He’s snoozing on the couch for a while, I said I’d leave him be.”
Steve hesitated for a moment before asking his next question.
“No.” Tony shook his head softly. “He didn’t. I was hoping he was here.”
“I’m sorry Tony. He’s not here.”
“I don’t understand.” Strange admitted. “He should be back. He left the stone before me.”
“I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Tony said, putting his head in his hands. Steve felt for him, he really did. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if Bucky hadn’t come back. Plus Peter was only 17. Steve didn’t know him well other than their one conversation in Germany but from the way Tony spoke, he was a good one.
Suddenly, Tony’s phone rang. Everyone’s ears perked as Tony answered quickly.
“Tony, he’s here, he’s in the compound.” Pepper tried to say into the phone over the sounds of two children screaming, May holding Morgan back as she bawled at the sound of Peter crying.
“Pep? What’s going on there?”
“Morgan can’t cope with Peter’s screaming.” Pepper looked around at the trio and her heart fell. “What’s wrong with him Tony?”
“I don’t know Pep but I’m on my way right now.” And with that Tony hung up, leaving Pepper alone with this situation.
She took Morgan out of May’s arms so the woman could go over to her nephew. She held him close to her chest as he sobbed, wrapping her arms around him and shushing him quietly.
May was exactly the type of parent Pepper would always strive to be. Loving, nurturing and supportive through thick and thin.
It only took a few hours to make it back home but it felt a few hours too long for Tony. His hands shook with trepidation as he waited to see Peter for the first time in a good seven months.
Finally they landed and before Strange could take off his seatbelt Tony was sprinting out of the Guardians ship and into the compound, ignoring FRIDAY’s greeting. He quickly pressed the button to get to the living room where Pepper said they would be.
His mouth went dry with fear as all he could hear was silence from the couch. He walked in to see a sight he wouldn’t forget.
Everyone in the room was asleep. Peter was in May’s arm, head tucked under her chin, eyes closed but tear tracks still visible. May had worry lines pressed into her forehead even in sleep. Pepper was beside them, Morgan snoring softly in her arms.
One of Peter’s eyes popped up, tracking the room before landing on Tony.
“Hi.” Tony whispered, going over to Peter so the group on the couch wouldn’t be disturbed.
“It hurt so much Mr. Stark.” Peter said softly, not looking Tony in the eye. “I could feel everyone’s bodies being pulled back together. It burned.”
“I’m so sorry Pete.” Tony said sadly. “But we’ll make sure it never happens again.”
“Thank you.” Peter whispered before snuggling into May again.
(Thanks for reading!! Please like, reblog or send me prompts please!)
