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Being buried under a building wasn’t exactly how Tony Stark planned on spending his afternoon but here he was. At least he was alive. Although, if he made it out of said crumbled building, Pepper may just kill him herself.
The building had once been standing tall and proud, but it hadn’t really stood a chance against a genetically altered giant lizard. Either someone was messing around with genetic splicing or Godzilla was real, and Tony took back everything he ever said about those movies. At least Tony had managed to clear the building of civilians before it had come crashing down on top of him.
Well, almost everyone else out of the building.
Tony glanced to his left, seeing Peter Parker curled up tight in the small space they had managed to cram themselves into. In the little light they had he could see that Peter’s suit was filthy but there didn’t appear to be any blood stains. It was a small relief, but Tony wouldn’t breathe easy until Peter was back on the surface. Where he could then check the kid out more thoroughly for any injuries he may be hiding.
Through his comms he could still hear the others trying to wrangle the beast, telling him that they weren’t buried that far from the surface. At least the other’s had this handled while he and Peter tried to get their selves out of the mess they were in.
“Alright kid,” Tony said, trying not to let his heart beat right out of his chest. He hated that Peter was here with him, that the kid had refused to leave his side and run like he had told him too. “Let’s put that big brain of yours to the test. How do you suppose we get out of this?”
Tony fear only increased when Peter only gave a shaky breath in response instead, seeming to curl up tighter on himself.
“Kid?” Tony tried again.
Peter let out the smallest of whimpers, body shuddering.
Tony swore under his breath. Fear ricochet throughout his body and he tried to shove it down. Panicking wasn’t going to help either of them. Grunting, Tony twisted his body as much as his suit would allow in the small space. He managed to twist himself so he was facing Peter and he reached out to place a gloved hand on Peter’s ankle.
“Talk to me, Peter,” Tony urged. He glanced around the small space but couldn’t really see anything. “What’s going on? Are you hurt?”
“No,” Peter gasped out, his voice strangled and tight.
“Okay, good, good,” Tony soothed. He squeezed Peter’s ankle as he silently commanded FRIDAY to scan the area and look for a possible way out. “Is it your senses? Overload?”
Peter gave the barest shake of his head.
“You’re tingle?” Tony asked. When Peter didn’t move, Tony swallowed around the lump in his throat. “Peter, is there a danger I’m not seeing? Talk to me kiddo, please.”
“We’re trapped,” Peter whined painfully. “We’re – we’re buried. I can’t – we can’t – we need help!” Suddenly Peter grabbed Tony’s gloved hand, squeezing it tightly.
Tony wasn’t sure if Peter realised how tightly he was squeezing, the metal of his suit bending easily under the kid’s touch. Tony winced as the metal caved around his fingers, but he didn’t dare shake Peter off, not when he was in the middle of a panic attack.
“I know. It’s okay, Underoos. Just breath,” Tony soothed, keeping his voice steady. “We’re going to be okay. I’m going to get us out of here, I promise kiddo. I’ve got you. Can you take some deep breathes for me?”
Tony coached Peter through some breathing until finally the kid started to breathe a little more evenly. His grip loosened on Tony’s hand and Tony flexed his fingers. He was probably going to need some pliers to get the glove off but that would be a problem for later.
“Alright, FRIDAY, give me some good news,” Tony said.
“I’ve scanned your surroundings,” FRIDAY’s voice floated through his ear. “I believe you are not buried too deeply. You should be able to force – “
The rest of what FRIDAY was saying was lost as Tony let out a yelp as Peter shifted into a crouch, shoving his hands on the piece of rubble above him and started to push.
“Peter!” Tony yelped, pulse beating a frantic beat beneath his skin. “Careful!”
Peter grunted, letting out a yell as the rubble moved, shifting, and lifting and, yeah, it never ceased to amaze Tony just how strong Peter was. It was rare that Tony got to see his strength in action, and this is not the scenario Tony ever wanted to witness it in.
“Hold on,” Tony said, shifting into position beside Peter. He got his hands under the same piece of rubble and started to push too. With a little help of his thrusters, the piece shifted and moved until they moved it enough to form a hole.
“Good job kid,” Tony beamed from behind his mask. “Alright, you first. Up you go.”
Peter hesitated for a beat before he was scrambling through the hole disappearing out of sight. When he gave the okay that he was clear, Tony blasted himself out of the hole, landing back up on the ground away from the rubble.
“Underoos,” Tony called, scanning the crumbled building.
Peter was by his side in a second and Tony grabbed him, pulling him into a quick hug. He longed to be out of his suit, to see Peter’s face and make sure that he was okay. But they were out in the public.
“Come on, Tower,” Tony ordered.
“No, I can still help,” Peter said but Tony could hear the waver in his voice and his posture was hunched and closed, clearly not wanting to be outside any more than Tony wanted to be.
“You’re benched,” Tony said, his voice stern. He opened his arms, gesturing for Peter to come closer. “We both are. Come here.”
Peter reluctantly stepped into his arms and wrapped his arms around Tony’s neck. When Peter was secured, Tony blasted off into the air, heading straight for the tower. It didn’t take long before he was landing on the balcony and releasing Peter. He called back the suit (and the glove took a little longer but thankfully gave way) and when he was in full civilian clothing once more, he put a hand on Peter’s shoulder and directed him inside.
When they were safe from any prying eyes. Tony gently tugged the mask off Peter’s face.
Peter was pale, eyes rimmed red. His curls were matted with sweat and grim. There was a bruise forming on his cheek and a small cut by his temple with blood smearing across his face from the wound. Tear were welling in his eyes, and he sniffed loudly.
“I’m sorry.”
Tony heart gave a painful lurch at the sight. “Oh Pete. You have nothing to be sorry for. Come here.”
Peter was in his arms in an instant, burying his face into Tony’s shoulder. Tony wrapped his arms around Peter, smoothing his palm up and down his spine. As he held Peter, giving Peter quiet reassurance, he couldn’t figure out what had set Peter off.
It wasn’t the first time the kid had been in a fight. Not the first time he had come across something on this scale either. Everything had been fine. Peter had been talking constantly through the comms, practically live streaming everything he was doing for the team. It wasn’t until the building collapsed –
Tony mentally cursed himself and bit the inside of his cheek.
The building collapse. How could he have forgotten that this wasn’t the first time that Peter had been trapped under a building.
It had been with great reluctance that Peter had eventually explained to Tony what had gone down with the Vulture and how he had come to crash Tony’s plane on the beach. How Peter had thought that he had found the Vulture and trapped him, only for it to be the other way round. How Adrian Toomes had set his wings on the pillars, collapsing the building right down on Peter.
“I’m Spiderman, without the suit,” Peter had said in a small voice. “You were right.”
Tony mentally shook those thoughts away. He swallowed thickly, pulling Peter tighter into his arms. “I’m so proud of you.”
Peter shuddered, giving a loud sniff. “I panicked.”
“We all panic, Pete. That’s nothing to be ashamed about. And you got us out,” Tony said. “I am so proud of you.”
Peter pulled back slightly, blinking wetly at Tony. “Thank you.”
“Any time,” Tony promised him.
“Boss, the hybrid has been contained,” FRIDAY voice interrupted the moment.
Tony grinned at Peter. “See. We do all the hard work so they can just round it up at the last minute.”
Peter gave a small, wet laugh, but it was enough to make Tony relax with relief. He patted Peter shoulder and gently started guiding him further into the living space.
“Come on kiddo. Let’s get cleaned up and then I think you need some Star War’s therapy.”
“Thanks, Mr. Stark,” Peter said, giving Tony a shy smile. “For everything.”
Tony smiled, soft and paternal. “Anything for you Peter. Any time.”
Tony would always feel guilty for taking the suit from Peter, from leaving him vulnerable like that, but he was so proud of the kid, and it was a privilege to work alongside him.