Finding Home (Part Two)

Tony was reluctant to relinquish Peter to his aunt, but he no longer had a say in the matter, it seemed. The teenager was resolute in his decision to resign, and any attempt to change his mind resulted only in heavy silence.

Stark was less than pleased. He really didn't want to have to tell the rest of the team that their youngest and newest member was already calling it quits. Peter was a bit naive, and a little annoying at times, but the kid had a good heart. He was the kind of positivity the other Avengers needed.

Now, though, the boy looked twice his age. He looked like he'd been to hell and back—and perhaps he very well had.

"If something changes, you know where to find me," Tony said as Peter got out of his car in front of May's apartment building.

The teenager just grunted out something unpleasant in response, his face a blank mask that betrayed nothing.

Stark felt guilty once again, and he debated on whether he should push his argument further. Ultimately, though, the billionaire just waved goodbye as Peter slowly made his way into the apartment building. The teen didn't even look back once.

—

Back at Stark Tower, Tony was faced with a problem he hadn't anticipated. Pepper was back from her business trip overseas, and boy oh boy was there a lot he had to catch her up on.

"It's good to see you back," he said casually, nodding to her. "How'd it go?"

Pepper set her suitcases down in the doorway, her expression growing weary. "Well, the flight was delayed for over five hours, and some annoying little kid was kicking the back of my seat the entire ride home." She sighs deeply and runs a hand across her face, "The trip went well, though, if that's what you're asking about. Business is back to normal... for the most part, and we've been getting more and more clients."

Tony smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good. Glad to hear everything's going smoothly."

Pepper nodded, then gave him a pointed look. "It must've worked, then? You got the kid back?"

Tony felt his breath hitch in his throat at the mention of Peter. He hadn't been prepared for this conversation so soon. "I did," he replied hesitantly.

"And how are the others doing?"

Tony was glad for the subject change, he'd have to tell Pepper about the boy's resignation eventually, but maybe not tonight. "They're all... recovering. Some took harder hits than others, all are back with their families now, though."

"What about Thor and his people?" Pepper questioned, raising an eyebrow. "They seemed to be the largest group affected by... everything."

Tony nodded slowly, recalling the news he'd heard shortly after returning from Titan. "Most of them are back," he answered. "Though they are searching for a new planet to relocate to."

Pepper seemed satisfied with this answer. She cared for the other Avengers more than even Tony did. He hasn't even seen Thor since after the Snap, now over five years ago. Stark wondered where the god was now, where his people went. He wondered if the Asgardian would even be willing to help Earth in the future, after everything that he'd been through.

He'd lost the most out of everyone, after all. At least Tony got Peter back. At least the ones he cared about weren't dead.

"You should talk to Steve," Pepper said, pulling Tony back from his thoughts. "Tell him that everything worked out."

The two had worked together in finding a way to reverse the affects of the Snap, but Tony had been avoiding Steve at all possible opportunities. There was still quite a bit that needed to be sorted out between the two superheroes, but neither knew how to start the conversation.

"He's a busy guy," Tony replied, moving to carry Pepper's suitcases to their room. "I don't want to bother him unnecessarily."

The woman was not pleased with his response. "Tony," she said in a warning tone. "You can't keep acting like this."

"Like what?" The billionaire asked innocently.

"Like a child." Pepper took the suitcases herself, a frown etched across her tired features. "You need to stop ignoring your problems."

"I do not ignore my problems," Tony said defensively, trailing after her. "I've just... been busy."

Pepper looked unconvinced, but decided to let the issue go for the time being. "So Peter's back," she said, changing the subject. "How is he handling... everything?"

Tony suddenly wished they had stayed on the topic of him and Steve. This conversation wasn't supposed to come so soon. "Not well," he sighed.

Pepper set her suitcases down on their bed. She rose an eyebrow at the billionaire, crossing her arms. "You did tell him, didn't you? About his friends?"

Pepper had tried to tell Tony that the teen would probably be upset about the loss of his friends, but Stark assumed the boy would understand. He wasn't very good at comforting people.

"I did," he replied carefully.

"And?" Pepper prompted.

"He... he was quite angry," Tony admitted. "He said that we could've done more to bring them back."

Pepper seemed to process this for a moment. She had grown rather fond of the kid, despite only seeing him a handful of times. "Could you have?" She asked hesitantly.

Tony sighed exasperatedly and ran a hand through his hair. "I... I'm not sure, anymore. We assumed that only certain people could be brought back—that not everyone would be strong enough to endure whatever was in the Stone—but perhaps there could've been another way to... save them."

Pepper nodded slowly. "So he's back with his aunt, then?"

"Yes," Tony replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "I'm sure she'll be happy to have him back."

"And he's still... he's still willing to work with the others?" Pepper asks quietly, almost as if she doesn't want to hear the answer.

"He was very angry when we spoke," Tony answered vaguely. "He needs time to calm down."

"So he's taking a break?" Pepper guessed.

"Of sorts."

"Tony," Pepper said in her warning voice.

The billionaire bit his lip and shook his head solemnly. "He resigned, Pepper."

The woman's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to quell an oncoming headache. "He quit, Pepper. He doesn't want to be an Avenger anymore."

"Wha—are you sure?" Pepper uncrossed her arms and began to pace around their bedroom. "You didn't actually let him resign, right?"

"What was I supposed to do?" Tony said in an exasperated tone. "He wasn't exactly in the mood to negotiate."

"Do you know how the press is going to take this?" Pepper asked, her voice growing louder. "Do you know what rumors are going to start if the media hears about this?!" She exclaims, looking distraught.

"We'll keep it under wraps for as long as we can," Tony tried to reassure her. "Maybe he'll change his mind," he added, though he didn't quite believe his own words.

"You need to fix this," Pepper said, shaking her head. "Before anyone finds out—including the other Avengers."

"He wouldn't even look at me, Pepper," Tony responded, his gaze falling to the floor. "He... he was devastated."

"He needs time," Pepper agreed. "But then you have to talk him out of this."

The billionaire nodded, though he didn't know if the kid would ever be willing to speak to him again.

"The boy's lost a lot," Pepper continued, putting a hand on Tony's shoulder. "He needs someone to look out for him."

"He has his aunt," Stark pointed out.

"She might be able to help him a little, but you and I both know that he needs a strong father figure in his life."

Tony thought back to a time when he'd wanted to start a family with a Pepper. Things had changed drastically since then. "I'll do what I can," he eventually conceded.

Pepper smiled kindly, her eyes tired. "What would you ever do without me? Without my great advice, you probably wouldn't even leave this place."

It was meant as a joke, but Tony hadn't felt like laughing very much, as of late. "Probably not," he agreed half heartedly.

Pepper kissed him softly, then started unpacking her suitcases. Tony decided to go down to his lab, a quite place where he could think.

He needed to do some of that. He needed to figure out how to help Peter. He needed to figure out how to help himself.