Work Text:
In retrospect, Tony shouldn’t have been dumb enough to walk to a store for a coffee whilst he was waiting for Peter to finish school, but what could he say. He needed caffeine and he thought no one would be looking out for a poorly disguised billionaire.
Now he sat chained to a wall like a misbehaving animal with a splitting headache. The bare concrete floor was damp and cold. He could feel the wetness soaking into his two week old Prada suit and Tony could only scowl at the inconvenience. Did these people not know Prada wasn’t meant to be treated like this?
He pulled at the mid length chains but they were tightly secured to the wall behind him.
Tony glanced around the room, concluding he was probably in a small, decrepit basement. The room itself was empty, decorated with peeling green paint covering half way up the walls and a single bright light flickering in the centre of the ceiling.
His phone was gone along with his glasses and StarkWatch, so whoever was behind this clearly knew him enough to know his tech.
He felt bad for Pete. He’d finish school and be greeted with an empty car. At least he’d soon realise something had happened and would be planning a rescue mission before the kid even remembered to call Happy.
Tony smiled. This guy clearly didn’t factor in his clingy pseudo-son and even clingier driver.
Before he could get too cocky, the door opened and a woman stepped through.
Tony raised an eyebrow, putting on a smirk. “Sorry, lady but I’m a taken man now.”
The dark haired woman scoffed, crossing her arms in disgust. “I’m not here to sleep with you Stark.”
Tony cocked his head as he considered her. She was dressed in a grey pinstripe suit, but it was creased and oversized on her average build. He assumed she was in her forties if the bags under her eyes and wrinkles were anything to go by. Not the most threatening character Tony had ever faced, but he couldn’t underestimate her. She had successfully kidnapped him after all. “So what do you want? Money? Tech? It’s always so cliché these days.”
Her eyes narrowed, never breaking contact. “Is this your defence mechanism? Acting like you’re untouchable?”
“I am untouchable.” He said with a shit eating grin.
“You’re nothing but a fake.”
Tony smiled like it was a compliment. “That’s so kind of you. I’d be warned though, my guys will already know I’ve been taken. They’re probably on their way already.”
“I don’t care. What I have planned won’t take long.” She said with an almost sinister edge.
“And what’s that? You gonna try killing me? Trust me lady, plenty have tried before you.”
“I’m not going to kill you. I just want you to feel what I feel.”
Tony frowned, anxiety beginning to bubble, but he didn’t let it show. “And what is that? Resentment? Jealousy?”
The woman’s eyes darkened. “Loss.”
“Sorry? I’m not following.”
Instead of explaining, she pulled a photo from her back pocket and held it inches from Tony’s face. “Recognise him? You won’t. He was killed in the attacks on New York. They didn’t find his body for a week. He was looking around colleges, he was going to graduate with honors.”
Tony dropped his head, feeling a horrible sense of Deja-vu. “I'm sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t bring my son back.”
“I know, but what else can I offer you? I’m chained to your basement floor.”
“You can’t offer me anything, you can only learn.” She said cryptically.
Tony furrowed his eyebrows. “Learn?”
“You’ll see.”
The billionaire leaned back warily, watching her every move. Something about the whole situation felt off. “What game are you playing here?”
“This isn’t a game,” she bit back. “You need to know what it feels like. You have to stop running around playing God, deciding who lives and who dies for your so-called greater good. They’re someone’s daughter, someone’s son. They had families. You’ll never learn unless you feel that loss for yourself.”
Tony felt a bead of sweat run down his neck, mind wandering to Pepper. “Look, ma’am, I truly am sorry for your loss, but I don’t have a family. Whatever you have in store, I’m not going to feel what you want me to, okay? If you let me leave now, I won’t press charges, hell I’ll even throw in a few million.”
“You don’t have a child?” The woman asked as if she already knew the answer.
“I know the internet can make up some crazy stories, but I think I’d know.”
The woman raised an eyebrow, waving to someone behind the door.
Before Tony could think of any arrogant quip, a man walked in carrying a body.
A child.
“Oh god, no.” Tony choked, feeling his heart physically stop.
Peter was in the man's arms, head and limbs nodding limply in time to the man's steps. His hair had fallen back in gravity, swaying along too. There was blood trickled down his face from a cut just above his eyebrow and now it trailed into his hair as well.
He looked dead.
Tony shook his head, pressing his lips together. “ No. ”
The man dropped Peter unceremoniously to the floor and the billionaire had to pull at the limits of his chains to catch him.
He lost his balance kneeling when he took the kids full weight, caught off guard by how heavy he felt.
He quickly pulled him close and shuffled back to the wall in an attempt to put distance between Peter and the people that took him.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you.” He whispered, shakily brushing Peter’s hair back from his face and trying to ignore the streaks of blood on his hand as a result of the action. “Peter.” He murmured, gently shaking the boy’s shoulder as if he was sleeping. “Pete. Wake up.”
Tony cursed when Peter made no sign of responding, moving to tap his cheek. “Come on, Roos, nap times over.”
Peter still didn’t stir. His eyes were closed and his facial features were relaxed, giving him a childlike peacefulness. What terrified Tony was that his skin was pale and cold to the touch and his chest showed no signs of movement.
“Oh god, what have you done?” Tony whispered, tears pricking as his mind tried to process what his eyes were telling him.
“Does it hurt?” The woman asked.
The tears that threatened to fall started spilling down his cheeks and he didn’t try to stop them. “Peter.” He tried again, cupping his kid’s face gently.
A body-wracking sob escaped as he pulled Peter closer. “Pete? Come on, It’s time to wake up, buddy. You’ve gotta open your eyes now.” He pleaded, reaching for a pulse.
There was nothing.
Tony choked on another cry. His worst nightmare had come true. “ Please , Pete. Open your eyes. I’m here, baby. Come back to me.”
Peter stayed dead weight in his arms, head falling back as soon as Tony moved his hand to pull him closer.
“No.” He choked, clinging onto Peter, one arm wrapped around his back, the other cupping the back of his head so the kid’s face rested on his chest as he wept.
“No!” He screamed brokenly, keeping the boy impossibly close to him. “Don’t do this. Please don't do this Pete.” He said, pulling the kid back slightly so he could see his face, willing him to open his eyes.
It was no use. He was gone.
Tony broke down.
He cried and wailed and clung to his kid's lifeless body, murmuring soft comforts he knew fell on deaf ears.
“I’ve got you baby. You’re okay now, no one’s gonna hurt you again. I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you.”
He continued crying until his throat was raw, feeling tears run into the kids hair below his chin.
He buried his face in Peter’s soft, damp curls and let out a broken scream.
He screamed until he couldn’t anymore. Until he felt lightheaded from lack of oxygen and his vision blurred.
He was shaking now. Uncontrollably so.
Tony wished it was him that was dead. Not Peter. Never Peter.
“Now you know how it hurts.”
Tony snapped up, barely seeing her through his blurry, unfocused eyes. “You fucking monster!” He yelled, breaking into another sob and clutching Peter tighter.
“Maybe next time you’ll think twice before destroying people’s lives.” The woman said neutrally, but if Tony could see properly, he’d notice the pain in her eyes.
Tony shook his head, holding his face against the side of Peter’s, pressing a kiss to his temple. He let himself linger there, breathing in the scent of his curls. He couldn’t find comfort in it anymore. He’d lost him. The boy he swore to protect.
He’d never see him smile again. He’d never laugh with him or cry with him, or even tell him how much he loved him. Now Peter would never know.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He whispered brokenly, kissing his temple again. “I love you. I’m so sorry.”
“Do you understand now?”
Tony bit his lip until he could taste copper, looking down at his kid's lifeless body. “You killed him.” He rasped, “you killed my kid because you lost yours. You’re sick . You’re - you’re a fucking monster! I’m going to kill you. I’m gonna make sure you rot in hell for what you’ve done.”
Tony continued to sob whilst he tried to angle Peter away from her view, his parental instinct to protect still there. He wondered if it would ever go away.
“But do you understand how it feels?”
“Yes I fucking understand! Point proven okay? You’ve killed an innocent fifteen year old. You’ve killed my baby and ruined my life. Are you happy now?”
“I just needed you to understand. You can’t learn if you don’t.”
Tony saw red. “Fuck you! This isn’t a fucking lesson, this is his life! You’ve taken that from him. God, you've taken everything from him.”
“Just like you took everything from mine.”
Tony shook his head furiously. “You killed him. A child. He’s never gonna graduate high school, or go to college, or fall in love. You’ve taken everything from him. You took him from me and for what?! Revenge?!”
“You should have signed the Accords when you had the chance.” The woman replied tightly.
“I did! For that exact reason!” He yelled, eyes returning to Peter’s lifeless frame. “Oh god, what have you done?”
Before she could reply the door broke down falling inwards into the room and barely missing Tony and Peter on the floor.
The threatening glare of War Machine’s eyes shone through the cloud of dust, but Tony felt no relief in their rescue. It was too late.
He stepped into the room, scanning it until he found the woman standing in the corner of the room. “Hands where I can see them!” He yelled, sound coming out somewhat metallic through the mask.
She quickly complied, raising her arms up. “I’m not armed.”
Tony couldn’t care if she was. He looked down to Peter’s pale face, knowing he’d do anything to see those baby browns one last time.
“Tony? Is Peter okay?” Rhodey asked above him, and all Tony could do was shake his head and dissolve into tears again.
“She killed him! S-She killed my kid.” He cried, burying his face in the nape of Peter’s neck.
Rhodey's eyes widened, spinning back to the woman and firing up his repulsor. “Do you want to do the honours or shall I?”
“Wait!” Tony heard the woman protest.
“Why should I? You didn’t show Peter any mercy.” Rhodey snapped back angrily.
“He’s not dead!”
“Yes he is!” Tony yelled and Rhodey pointed the repulsor at her head.
“I gave him haloperidol. It’s an anti-psychotic but with the right dosage it induces catalepsy. It slows the person's breathing and heart rate down to unnoticeable, giving the appearance that they're dead.”
The billionaire's breath caught in his throat. “What?”
“I just wanted you to understand, nothing more. I could never kill him.” The woman insisted.
“He’s alive?” Tony repeated, because as much as he wanted to call out the fact that the woman was completely off-the-hinges-psycho, the only thing that mattered was that Peter might not be dead.
“He’ll wake up in a few hours. He’s okay.”
“You’re lying.” Rhodey retorted.
“I’m not. Check his pulse and keep it here.”
Tony glared disbelievingly, but did as she said.
He waited almost a minute before a small strong beat fluttered under his fingers.
The billionaire choked on a sob, sagging forward in relief.
“I told you. He’s going to be fine, I swear.”
Tony felt light headed from the whirlwind of emotions rushing through him. “He’ll recover?” He managed to ask.
“Fully. It’s just the effects of the drug, it’ll wear off.”
Tony bit his lip, resting his forehead on Peter’s. “Is he in any pain?”
“It’ll feel like he’s sleeping.”
The billionaire clenched his eyes closed, feeling himself begin to cry again. He hadn’t lost him.
“Remember, I never got that. I never got to hold my boy again. I didn’t get a second chance of loving him. Don’t waste it.” She said, trying to ignore the repulsor inches from her face.
“What do you want to do with her?” Rhodey asked.
“Let her go.” He whispered.
“What?”
“She… she didn’t hurt him.”
“But what she put you through is unforgivable.”
“And she has to go through that every day, Rhodey. She lost her son in the battle of New York. That’s punishment enough.”
Rhodey huffed, giving Tony an incredulous look, but let down his hand.
The woman took one last look at father and son before heading for the door.
“Lady?” Tony said, stopping her in her tracks. “You ever go near my kid again, I promise you you won't be walking away from it.”
The woman glanced at Peter, giving a short nod and making for the door.
Tony felt instantly more at ease with her gone, letting himself sag whilst Rhodey kneeled down to undo the cuffs.
“How do you know she was telling the truth?” He asked.
Tony sighed in the comfort his wrists were free again. “As someone who thought they’d lost their kid for the space of fifteen minutes, I know I couldn’t inflict that pain on anyone no matter how much they deserved it.”
“Yeah, but some people are bitter and twisted.”
“His heart beats there, Rhodey. I can feel it. We need to get him to medbay now.”
Rhodey nodded, going to pick Peter up from out of Tony’s arms.
His friend clearly realised his mistake when Tony violently flinched back, cowering from him and covering the kid from Rhodey’s vision.
The colonel immediately backed off with his hands up. “Sorry. Sorry, that was dumb. You’ve got him.”
Tony stayed curled around Peter until his breathing slowed, feeling the sudden panic die down. his overwhelming need to protect began to cloud with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. That was…”
“Instinct. I should have known.”
Tony gave him an awkward half smile before struggling to his feet with a teenager in his arms.
“Let me know if you need help.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got him.” He replied a little too quickly, reorganising Peter so he could carry him like an overgrown toddler.
Tony knew it was stupid, but he didn’t want anyone near Peter right now. He had to keep him safe.
“Follow me. Happy should be a few minutes out, he followed me to the location in a car.” Rhodey explained, making his way to the front of the abandoned house.
He spotted Tony’s gadgets sitting on the side as they made their way out, picking them up for him.
Tony gave a grateful smile before turning his attention back to Peter. “You’re okay, kiddo. I’ve got you. I’m gonna get you home.” He murmured, kissing the top of the kid’s head.
“Put the watch on him. I need to see his vitals.” Tony said as soon as they broke into the cold night air. He didn’t realise how humid it had been in that basement.
Rhodey followed his instructions, exiting the suit and strapping the watch to the kids wrist whilst Tony one handedly put his glasses back on.
“Stats Fri.”
“Heartbeat detected at 10 bpm. Blood oxygen levels are critically low.” The AI answered quickly.
“But he’s stable?”
“He appears to be.”
Tony allowed himself to breathe a little easier. “Okay. How far out is Happy?”
“28 seconds away.” Friday responded, relieving a little more of the billionaire’s tension.
True to her word, the car pulled into the deserted street moments later, speeding down the street faster than he’d ever seen Happy go.
It came to a screeching halt in front of them and the driver quickly jumped out. “I’m here!” He announced, taking stock of the three of them, eyes instantly falling on Peter. Tony could see the blood draining from his face. “Oh my god. Is he-“
“He’s alive. We need to get back to the tower.” Tony quickly cut in, nodding at the car door.
Happy was too shocked by the scene in front of him to question Tony further, opening the door without a word.
“I’ll meet you there.” Rhodey said from behind, stepping back into his suit and shooting off into the dark sky.
“Do you want me to hold him?” Happy asked as Tony shuffled around trying to figure out how best to fit the two through the door.
“No. I’ve got him.” He repeated, placing his hand protectively on the back of Peter’s head. Tony managed to slide them both in, falling back when their weight pulled him off balance, but they were finally in the safety of the car.
Gently, he rearranged Peter so he sat across his lap, head resting on the man’s chest as he held him close.
Wasting no time, Happy closed the door behind him and slid into the driver's side, starting the engine immediately.
In any other situation, Tony would have probably watched out the window to get a bearing on where he was, or ask for updates on what he’d missed, but none of that mattered right now. All that mattered was the child in his arms.
“Are you sure he’s okay?” Happy asked, glancing between Peter and the road in his rear view mirror.
Tony nodded, brushing back strands of curls covering his forehead. “They drugged him to make him appear-“
“Dead?”
Tony gritted his teeth, giving another pained nod.
“Jesus. Why would someone do that? How did they even get their hands on Peter.”
“I don’t know how. All I know is some psycho who lost her son wanted some shitty revenge.”
“She tried to kill him?”
“No, she wanted me to know what it felt like to lose a kid.” Tony explained, feeling panic rising thinking back to the last torturous hour of his life.
Happy paled. “Jesus. You thought he was dead.”
“Of course I did. Look at him, he’s hardly breathing.”
“For how long?”
“Long enough,” he grumbled. “Until Rhodey burst in.”
“It took us two hours to find you.” Happy pointed out.
“Yeah, but I expect I was unconscious for at least half the time.” He replied shorter than Happy deserved. He knew he was just concerned about his friend, but Tony wasn’t in the mood to make conversation. He just wanted to focus on Peter. “Friday, have Helen on standby when we get back.”
“She has already been informed, boss.” The AI replied dutifully.
Tony nodded, burying his face in Peter’s curls. “Any time now, kiddo. If you wanna wake up.”
When they arrived outside the tower, Tony was greeted by Helen and a team of medics.
Learning from before, Happy simply opened Tony’s door and waited for the billionaire to step out, teenager still bundled in his arms.
Helen immediately rushed to them, followed by the team wheeling a gurney.
Tony felt panic rising again. He was going to have to let Peter go. He needed to. But he couldn’t.
“Tony! I got the stats from Friday. Drug induced Catalepsy?”
The billionaire nodded, holding onto Peter a little tighter.
“Okay. We can work with that. Hopefully his metabolism will have burned through the worst of it. If you could lower him onto the stretcher, we can get to work.”
Tony’s lips pressed into a line, trying to muster the courage to put Peter down, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to let him out of his sight ever again.
Helen picked up on his reluctance, giving him a sympathetic smile. “He’s going to be in safe hands. He needs treatment, Tony.”
Tony nodded. He knew this. He knew he was being ridiculous holding onto Peter like this, but the thought of him being gone was so fresh in his mind. His heart was still broken.
“You can stay with him the whole time, I promise.”
The billionaire took a deep, pressing one last kiss onto the kid’s temple and carefully laid him down.
Helen gave him a grateful smile before nodding to another nurse who began wheeling the gurney towards medbay.
Tony followed anxiously behind most of the way until Pepper appeared around a corner mid sprint.
“Oh my god, Tony!” She cried, rushing forward and throwing her arms around him.
He embraced her, feeling her shake as he hugged him tight, but he couldn’t let himself relax into it the way he always did. Not when people were prodding and poking his kid when he was so vulnerable.
“I was so worried.” She whispered, cupping his face with her hands, but he couldn’t focus on her, glancing down the corridor where the med team had disappeared.
He swallowed, finally meeting her eyes. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say. He should have said that he’s okay, that’s it’s fine, it’s all over, but none of those things were true.
“Are you hurt?”
Tony shook his head, even though he’d already self diagnosed a light concussion, but that hardly mattered.
“Where’s Peter? Friday said he was there with you.”
“They’ve taken him to medbay. I need to go, I’m sorry.” He said, pressing a chaste kiss on her cheek before breaking into a run.
He found Peter in a private room less than a minute later. He was now wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, and a heart rate monitor clipped to his index finger. There was more colour in his cheeks and the blood across his forehead had been cleaned too. His jumper was gone, revealing the electron pun T-shirt he’d stolen on his first overnight stay at the tower.
Tony almost smiled at the memory before a nurse wiped the crook of his arm, needle in hand. “Wait!”
Everyone in the room stopped, looking at the billionaire who was standing in the doorway.
“What’s that?” Tony asked, moving to stand by Peter.
“It’s just an IV line to help flush out the drug.” Helen calmly explained.
“He doesn’t like needles.”
“He won’t feel a thing, Tony.”
The man stared at the needle for a moment before nodding and brushing a hand through Peter’s hair to comfort him.
He winced as the needle was inserted, but the teen didn’t move a muscle.
“His stats are improving. He should wake up in another hour or so.” The doctor explained.
“Is there nothing else you can do?”
Helen shook her head. “We just need to wait for the drug to run its course. It shouldn’t be long now.”
Tony sighed, running a hand down his face. “Thank you.”
“I’ll leave you alone.” She said, squeezing his arm as she walked out.
Once the door closed, he pulled up the seat as close as it could get to the bed and took the kid’s hand, running his thumb in soothing circles. “I’ve got you, Pete. You’re okay. I’m here.”
He stayed like that until he heard the soft click of the door opening and the recognisable clipping of heels.
“Tony?” He heard Pepper call behind him.
He glanced over his shoulder, smiling sadly at her.
She took that as her invite, moving to stand by Tony and silently offering him the comfort he needed.
“He’s going to be okay.” Tony murmured, eyes still set on the boy laid out in front of him. He was so small. So fragile. And Tony almost lost him.
“I know. I got an update from Helen.”
Tony hummed, allowing a silence to fall on them.
Pepper pulled up a chair, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to go through… that. No one should ever know what it feels like to lose a child.”
Tony bit his lip, feeling tears pricking again. “I didn’t.”
“But you did. I can’t imagine what that must have… I’m sorry.”
“I thought… God, I thought I lost him.” Tony rasped, taking Peppers hand in his to try and ground his racing emotions.
“He’s right here. He’s safe.”
He nodded, trying to keep the tears back. It was a wonder he had any left to shed. “What time is it?”
“Almost eight.”
“I should call May.”
“I’ll do it. You should stay here with Peter.” Pepper insisted.
Tony shook his head, meeting her eyes. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask, I offered.” She pointed out, getting up and pressing a lingering kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”
Tony nodded, watching her go before turning back to Peter.
The kid’s heart rate had been slowly rising since he’d arrived at the medbay, now at 45 bpm. His blood sugar had also improved and his skin was warm to the touch again. It was a beautiful feeling.
“You know how to keep me waiting don’t you, bud?” Tony said with a faint huff, leaning forward to brush a stray curl from his forehead.
The noise the teen let out in response made Tony freeze in surprise. It was a low groan, he thought he might have imagined it at first, but then Peter’s brows were creasing and his lips twitched.
“Peter?” He asked, checking his heart rate monitor which now read 52 bpm.
Receiving another muffled moan through the oxygen mask, Tony rose to sit by Peter on the bed. “I’m here, Pete. You’re okay. Can you open your eyes from me?”
The billionaire held his breath when the kid’s eyelids fluttered open, revealing the baby browns Tony had come to love.
“There he is.” He said, voice breaking as he tried to hide another sob.
“Ms’r S’rk?” Peter slurred, glassy eyes trying to focus on the form in front of him.
“The one and only.” Tony replied, unable to wipe the smile from his face.
“Wha’ ‘append?”
“I’ll explain later. All that matters is you’re okay.”
“Mus’ be bad. I feel all weird.”
Tony frowned. “Weird how?”
“Mmm feel heavy.” He rasped, trying to grasp at the oxygen mask.
Tony quickly took his hand, lowering back onto the bed. “Sorry kid, mask stays on.”
Peter pouted, but all Tony could do was smile. His kid was awake and talking, something he thought he’d never experience again.
“Y’okay?” Peter asked, realising he’d been staring.
“I’m fine, kiddo. Don’t worry about me.”
“Y’heartbeats fast.”
“I’m old, it happens.” Tony tried to brush off.
The teen shook his head. “I know your heartbeat... Never usually this fast.”
The billionaire felt his eyes water at the admission. “I’m just happy you’re awake, that’s all.”
“Tell me, Mr Stark. Please.”
Tony shook his head, feeling drops spill down his cheeks. “Someone kidnapped us. I’m fine, kid, don’t give me that look.” He said when Peter’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. The billionaire swallowed, squeezing the kid’s hand. “But you… they drugged you, you’re fine too. It wasn’t harmful, it just… gave the appearance you were dead.”
Peter blinked in confusion. “What?”
“I’m so sorry, kid. They took you because of me.”
“I don’t understand.”
Tony sighed, trying to figure out what to say. “They wanted to teach me a lesson in what it felt like to… to lose a son.”
The kid’s eyes widened. If it wasn’t for the beeping of the monitor you’d be able to hear a pin drop.
Tony thought Peter was going to say something before he weakly tugged the man into a hug.
He accepted quickly, wrapping his arms around the kid and pulling him close - something he’d wanted to do since letting him go almost an hour ago. The feeling of Peter hugging him back almost sent him spiralling.
“God I love you, kid. I should have told you more. I need to tell you more.” He said, pulling him to arms length with firm hands on his shoulders. “I really fucking love you, Pete. I couldn’t love you more if you were my own son.”
Peter smiled fondly. “I know you love me, it’s okay.”
“No it’s fucking not okay. I thought I’d lost you. I thought I’d never get to… you just need to know I love you. You’re my family and I need you... Like a heart needs a beat.”
Tears pricked in Peter’s eyes, giving a smile that held so much emotion. “I need you too, dad.”
Tony could finally swallow the lump in his throat, pulling Peter into his arms. Right where he belonged, and right where he’d stay.