Spider-Man fic - In A Heartbeat (gen, background het)
Title: In A Heartbeat
Author: Dimity Blue
Rating: All
Genre: Gen (background het), hurt/comfort
Characters: May, Tony, Peter, Pepper
Word Count: 2,154 words
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: May is in a car crash and it makes her face how alone Peter would be without her. Fortunately, she knows who to ask for help.
Warning: Description of a car crash.
On AO3.
In A Heartbeat
by Dimity Blue
It was weird, May later thought, how she could see it all happening but didn't believe it - like a trick shot in pool, where the cue ball hits the ten ball, which hits the nine ball, which ricochets off the side, and suddenly the fourteen ball's in the pocket, and you didn't even realise that's what the player was aiming for in the first place.
Of course, cars aren't like pool balls, but, when the crash happens, May sees it all: the angles, the ricochets, the blue car that slides into hers. May sees it coming and knows, even as she turns the wheel, that the angle's too narrow, the turn too tight for her to get out of the way. She doesn't remember the crash itself though, just the panicky fear that this is it and she'll be leaving Peter alone.
The fear's still there when she wakes to a white ceiling and voices around her. May can't - won't - leave her Peter who's lost so much already. He's not hers by blood, but he's Ben's nephew, and there was no one but some distant cousins able to take him in after Mary and Richard died. Ben had said, even in the middle of his shock and grief, that he knew she hadn't signed up for this, for helping raise someone else's child, but Ben was hers so Peter became hers too, and she's never regretted it. The baby-faced toddler with brown curls and big brown eyes has grown into a gangly teenager, but his adorable face hasn't changed much at all, and he still has the ability to tug at her heartstrings.
May can feel that tug now, feel her heart break at the thought of leaving him alone without family.
"Peter!"
Where is he? He wasn't in the car with her, May's sure of that. Where is he? Is he at school? They need to tell him she wants him. He'll come to see her.
"Peter!"
May tries to look around. She needs to see him, needs to see he's safe. Have they taken him already? Sent him to strangers who won't know how wonderfully special he is?
A hand touches hers, and a woman leans over her. May knows her. Doesn't she? It's too confusing to remember. Where's Peter? He'll know. Everyone remembers Peter. He makes friends everywhere. The woman's talking but there are too many words, too many voices, for May to understand.
"...hospital..."
Oh. May knows that word. It's where she works. Is she at work? May doesn't think so. She's lying down, and she doesn't lie down at work, not even when her feet hurt. Where's Peter?
The woman goes and a man with a goatee appears. He sits down and takes her hand in his. Is he a doctor? May doesn't think so. She's sure Peter would know, but she doesn't know where Peter is. He could be at school, he could be patrolling. May hopes he isn't patrolling. She doesn't like it. Her sunshiney Peter needs to be kept safe. But he cares so much, too much. He wants to look out for the little people.
"Peter."
The man says his name and May focusses on him. "Peter," she echoes. Does he know Peter? Of course he does. Everyone knows Peter.
The man nods. "Peter's in school," he says.
He's in school, he's safe. He's not patrolling. She can't leave him though, he'll be all alone if she does.
"You're not leaving him, May. The doctor said you'll be alright. You're in shock."
"Peter." He'll be all alone. Who will look after him and keep him safe?
"Listen to me, May," the man says. "You're going to be fine. The doctor said so."
The doctor. Hospital. She's in the hospital.
"That's right, May. The hospital. You're okay."
May frowns, the action hurting her forehead. But, one day, she may not be. She saw that with Ben; she's seen it hundreds of times with patients. One day, Peter will be left without her. She can't bear to think of him being alone. Not her Peter.
"I won't let him be alone, May. None of us will, I promise."
She stares. He promises? Who... Oh, she recognises the face. He knows Peter. Of course he does. "Tony."
"That's right." His smile widens.
No wonder she didn't recognise him. That wasn't his usual smile full of fond amusement because Peter's said something funny, nor even his public smile, all sharp edges and fake charm; this smile is a soft, caring one that's sliding into relief.
"Peter. Peter's in school." May repeats it for her own reassurance.
"He's been in school all morning. Pepper and Happy have gone to collect him."
"Pepper. Lunch." May remembers now. She'd been on her way to the restaurant.
"Yeah, you were supposed to meet her for lunch. Pep sent me to argue my way in here."
"Sorry."
"You're as bad as the kid for apologising, you know that?"
May huffs a half-laugh. Peter apologises for everything. She's caught him apologising to their neighbour's yappy dog before now.
"And, hey, just so you know: I'll never let Peter go into the foster system. Pep and I would take him in in a heartbeat."
May swallows, blinking back the tears that are threatening to spill over. "I know."
"And talking of the kid himself..." Tony lets go of her hand and moves out of the way.
The door swings open, and there's her boy, all wild curls and big worried eyes. "May! You had a car accident?"
His hand grabs hers, and she smiles. "I'm okay, sweetie," she says. "Everything's okay now."
=====
Of course, Tony being Tony can't leave things alone, and as soon as May's released from the hospital, she finds herself whisked away to the Tower's medbay and planted in a bed there.
"Honestly, Pepper, this is unnecessary." May tries to sit up straighter and blinks at the pain from her strained muscles.
"Do you need more painkillers?" Pepper asks her, a concerned look on her face.
"No, I need to get out of here!"
Pepper smiles. "You're as bad as Peter. But he has super-fast healing."
"I wish I did." May refuses to try moving again. She's a nurse; she knows the drill. Her strained muscles and ligaments will take time to heal. She knew whiplash was painful but she'd really had no idea just how painful it was. Until now.
Pepper pats her hand. "Try to relax. This is just until the doctor's checked you over, then you'll be staying with us in the penthouse."
Before Pepper can move away, May clasps her hand. "I need to talk to you and Tony."
"What's wrong?"
May sighs. She hates this. She's always been independent and able to deal with whatever life threw her way. But this isn't about her. The accident made her realise how vulnerable her Peter is. If anything happens to her, he'll be completely alone. "It's Peter. I know you and Tony care about him. I want to talk to you both about taking guardianship of him if anything happens to me." To May's surprise, Pepper smiles widely, her face almost beaming with amusement.
"Tony and I have been talking about the same thing. We were worried about how you'd take the idea!"
"Oh my..." May sighs and half-laughs. "We're as bad as Peter for not saying anything.."
"Let me get Tony. He's had a couple of ideas."
Pepper goes off and is back within five minutes with Tony in tow. He's smiling as he raises an eyebrow at her, and says, "Great minds think alike, then."
"So Pepper said," May replies.
They sit down by May's bedside and exchange a look with each other, then Tony leans forward and says, "May, we're hoping you'll let us be named co-guardians with you now."
May blinks because she wasn't actually expecting that.
"We wouldn't change anything about Peter's living arrangements," Pepper puts in reassuringly. "Peter already spends about ten nights a month with us."
"Though if he wants to come over more, that's fine! But, this way, if anything happens, no one can argue with us." Tony's gaze holds May's as he adds, "There'd be no risk of him going into the foster care system."
"Even if you don't want us as co-guardians now, we still wouldn't let Peter go into the foster care system if anything happened to you," Pepper adds. "It's your choice, May."
May swallows down the lump in her throat. There's a streak of insecurity in Peter that's been there since he first learned - at far too early an age - parents can be taken away. She and Ben had tried their best to reassure him, but Ben's death had only made it worse. Maybe this would be a step back along that path; a reminder that it's still possible to have family, even when you think you barely have any. "I think that would be a great idea."
Tony looks pleased, his eyes crinkling up in the corners. "Excellent! You can look at the guardianship papers after lunch."
"You... have the papers already?" May fixes Tony with a stern gaze. "That was quick."
His eyes widen. "Is that my phone? I have to go take this." With that, he's off out of the door.
Pepper sighs. "What he means is we're very pleased."
May looks at her. "You realise Tony and Peter are two peas in a pod."
Pepper pats her hand and gets up. "It's a good thing they have us to sort things out for them."
=====
By the time Peter gets home from school, May's been allowed out of bed and is sitting on Tony and Pepper's very expensive couch. Pepper's had to go down to her office but Tony's on 'Aunt Hottie-sitting' duty he says and no amount of glaring will stop him grinning at her.
"I'm a fully-qualified nurse," May points out. "I'm sure I can look after myself."
Before Tony can argue - as May is sure he will - the elevator doors open and Peter comes bounding out.
"Hi, Mr. Stark! May, you're up!"
He drops his backpack on the floor, and May can see how comfortable he is here. He's perfectly at home with Tony and Pepper. She hates giving up any part of him, but he has to be safe. Nevertheless, May revels in the careful hug he gives her. "The doctor said I'm fine."
Peter looks concerned. "You've only just been released from the hospital!" He stares into her eyes, a concerned look in his. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"It's just strained tendons and muscles, honey. I'll heal."
Tony leans on the back of the couch. "I'm Aunt Hottie-sitting."
May doesn't need to turn her head to see his grin. She pats Peter's knee. "Don't worry; Pepper's here, too."
Peter laughs as Tony indignantly demands, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'd problably try to fix me with a hammer and a wrench, is what I mean," May retorts.
"Slander!" Tony replies. "Even I'm not that bad!"
"He is that bad," Peter says, "but Ms. Potts and I will protect you."
"Hey!" Tony says, even more indignantly. "No ganging up on me!"
Peter laughs again.
It isn't until after dinner that they explain their idea and show Peter the legal documents that will give Tony and Pepper the legal right to look after him. He's sitting on the couch between May and Pepper, with Tony sitting on the coffee table in front of him - literally surrounded by those who'll protect him in whatever way they can. It's not a position May would like to be in, but she's not fifteen and this isn't about her.
"Nothing has to change, sweetie," she says. "You'll still live with me, and spend whatever nights you want here at the Tower with Tony and Pepper, but this will keep you safe legally."
Finally, hesitantly, Peter asks, "Is this really what you want?"
His gaze flicks up to Tony's face, and May knows he's asking Tony. May's heart gives a little pang. She knows Peter already thinks of Tony as his father, and she's pretty sure Tony thinks of Peter like a son - though neither of them will say it out loud, not yet anyway - but these innocent-looking documents can say it for them.
"Yeah, kid," Tony says. "We're there." He puts his hand on Peter's knee, and Pepper and May put theirs on top.
Peter nods and adds his hand to the pile, and May can see the tears he's fighting. "Yes, please," he says.
Pepper, being Pepper, has it all organised, and it's all done and dusted in a surprisingly short space of time. Nothing much changes: Peter spends a few nights a week at the tower, but his smile is a bit brighter, his step a bit springier, and May sleeps a bit better knowing that, no matter what, he'll be okay.
The end
26th May 2023
Author: Dimity Blue
Rating: All
Genre: Gen (background het), hurt/comfort
Characters: May, Tony, Peter, Pepper
Word Count: 2,154 words
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: May is in a car crash and it makes her face how alone Peter would be without her. Fortunately, she knows who to ask for help.
Warning: Description of a car crash.
On AO3.
In A Heartbeat
by Dimity Blue
It was weird, May later thought, how she could see it all happening but didn't believe it - like a trick shot in pool, where the cue ball hits the ten ball, which hits the nine ball, which ricochets off the side, and suddenly the fourteen ball's in the pocket, and you didn't even realise that's what the player was aiming for in the first place.
Of course, cars aren't like pool balls, but, when the crash happens, May sees it all: the angles, the ricochets, the blue car that slides into hers. May sees it coming and knows, even as she turns the wheel, that the angle's too narrow, the turn too tight for her to get out of the way. She doesn't remember the crash itself though, just the panicky fear that this is it and she'll be leaving Peter alone.
The fear's still there when she wakes to a white ceiling and voices around her. May can't - won't - leave her Peter who's lost so much already. He's not hers by blood, but he's Ben's nephew, and there was no one but some distant cousins able to take him in after Mary and Richard died. Ben had said, even in the middle of his shock and grief, that he knew she hadn't signed up for this, for helping raise someone else's child, but Ben was hers so Peter became hers too, and she's never regretted it. The baby-faced toddler with brown curls and big brown eyes has grown into a gangly teenager, but his adorable face hasn't changed much at all, and he still has the ability to tug at her heartstrings.
May can feel that tug now, feel her heart break at the thought of leaving him alone without family.
"Peter!"
Where is he? He wasn't in the car with her, May's sure of that. Where is he? Is he at school? They need to tell him she wants him. He'll come to see her.
"Peter!"
May tries to look around. She needs to see him, needs to see he's safe. Have they taken him already? Sent him to strangers who won't know how wonderfully special he is?
A hand touches hers, and a woman leans over her. May knows her. Doesn't she? It's too confusing to remember. Where's Peter? He'll know. Everyone remembers Peter. He makes friends everywhere. The woman's talking but there are too many words, too many voices, for May to understand.
"...hospital..."
Oh. May knows that word. It's where she works. Is she at work? May doesn't think so. She's lying down, and she doesn't lie down at work, not even when her feet hurt. Where's Peter?
The woman goes and a man with a goatee appears. He sits down and takes her hand in his. Is he a doctor? May doesn't think so. She's sure Peter would know, but she doesn't know where Peter is. He could be at school, he could be patrolling. May hopes he isn't patrolling. She doesn't like it. Her sunshiney Peter needs to be kept safe. But he cares so much, too much. He wants to look out for the little people.
"Peter."
The man says his name and May focusses on him. "Peter," she echoes. Does he know Peter? Of course he does. Everyone knows Peter.
The man nods. "Peter's in school," he says.
He's in school, he's safe. He's not patrolling. She can't leave him though, he'll be all alone if she does.
"You're not leaving him, May. The doctor said you'll be alright. You're in shock."
"Peter." He'll be all alone. Who will look after him and keep him safe?
"Listen to me, May," the man says. "You're going to be fine. The doctor said so."
The doctor. Hospital. She's in the hospital.
"That's right, May. The hospital. You're okay."
May frowns, the action hurting her forehead. But, one day, she may not be. She saw that with Ben; she's seen it hundreds of times with patients. One day, Peter will be left without her. She can't bear to think of him being alone. Not her Peter.
"I won't let him be alone, May. None of us will, I promise."
She stares. He promises? Who... Oh, she recognises the face. He knows Peter. Of course he does. "Tony."
"That's right." His smile widens.
No wonder she didn't recognise him. That wasn't his usual smile full of fond amusement because Peter's said something funny, nor even his public smile, all sharp edges and fake charm; this smile is a soft, caring one that's sliding into relief.
"Peter. Peter's in school." May repeats it for her own reassurance.
"He's been in school all morning. Pepper and Happy have gone to collect him."
"Pepper. Lunch." May remembers now. She'd been on her way to the restaurant.
"Yeah, you were supposed to meet her for lunch. Pep sent me to argue my way in here."
"Sorry."
"You're as bad as the kid for apologising, you know that?"
May huffs a half-laugh. Peter apologises for everything. She's caught him apologising to their neighbour's yappy dog before now.
"And, hey, just so you know: I'll never let Peter go into the foster system. Pep and I would take him in in a heartbeat."
May swallows, blinking back the tears that are threatening to spill over. "I know."
"And talking of the kid himself..." Tony lets go of her hand and moves out of the way.
The door swings open, and there's her boy, all wild curls and big worried eyes. "May! You had a car accident?"
His hand grabs hers, and she smiles. "I'm okay, sweetie," she says. "Everything's okay now."
=====
Of course, Tony being Tony can't leave things alone, and as soon as May's released from the hospital, she finds herself whisked away to the Tower's medbay and planted in a bed there.
"Honestly, Pepper, this is unnecessary." May tries to sit up straighter and blinks at the pain from her strained muscles.
"Do you need more painkillers?" Pepper asks her, a concerned look on her face.
"No, I need to get out of here!"
Pepper smiles. "You're as bad as Peter. But he has super-fast healing."
"I wish I did." May refuses to try moving again. She's a nurse; she knows the drill. Her strained muscles and ligaments will take time to heal. She knew whiplash was painful but she'd really had no idea just how painful it was. Until now.
Pepper pats her hand. "Try to relax. This is just until the doctor's checked you over, then you'll be staying with us in the penthouse."
Before Pepper can move away, May clasps her hand. "I need to talk to you and Tony."
"What's wrong?"
May sighs. She hates this. She's always been independent and able to deal with whatever life threw her way. But this isn't about her. The accident made her realise how vulnerable her Peter is. If anything happens to her, he'll be completely alone. "It's Peter. I know you and Tony care about him. I want to talk to you both about taking guardianship of him if anything happens to me." To May's surprise, Pepper smiles widely, her face almost beaming with amusement.
"Tony and I have been talking about the same thing. We were worried about how you'd take the idea!"
"Oh my..." May sighs and half-laughs. "We're as bad as Peter for not saying anything.."
"Let me get Tony. He's had a couple of ideas."
Pepper goes off and is back within five minutes with Tony in tow. He's smiling as he raises an eyebrow at her, and says, "Great minds think alike, then."
"So Pepper said," May replies.
They sit down by May's bedside and exchange a look with each other, then Tony leans forward and says, "May, we're hoping you'll let us be named co-guardians with you now."
May blinks because she wasn't actually expecting that.
"We wouldn't change anything about Peter's living arrangements," Pepper puts in reassuringly. "Peter already spends about ten nights a month with us."
"Though if he wants to come over more, that's fine! But, this way, if anything happens, no one can argue with us." Tony's gaze holds May's as he adds, "There'd be no risk of him going into the foster care system."
"Even if you don't want us as co-guardians now, we still wouldn't let Peter go into the foster care system if anything happened to you," Pepper adds. "It's your choice, May."
May swallows down the lump in her throat. There's a streak of insecurity in Peter that's been there since he first learned - at far too early an age - parents can be taken away. She and Ben had tried their best to reassure him, but Ben's death had only made it worse. Maybe this would be a step back along that path; a reminder that it's still possible to have family, even when you think you barely have any. "I think that would be a great idea."
Tony looks pleased, his eyes crinkling up in the corners. "Excellent! You can look at the guardianship papers after lunch."
"You... have the papers already?" May fixes Tony with a stern gaze. "That was quick."
His eyes widen. "Is that my phone? I have to go take this." With that, he's off out of the door.
Pepper sighs. "What he means is we're very pleased."
May looks at her. "You realise Tony and Peter are two peas in a pod."
Pepper pats her hand and gets up. "It's a good thing they have us to sort things out for them."
=====
By the time Peter gets home from school, May's been allowed out of bed and is sitting on Tony and Pepper's very expensive couch. Pepper's had to go down to her office but Tony's on 'Aunt Hottie-sitting' duty he says and no amount of glaring will stop him grinning at her.
"I'm a fully-qualified nurse," May points out. "I'm sure I can look after myself."
Before Tony can argue - as May is sure he will - the elevator doors open and Peter comes bounding out.
"Hi, Mr. Stark! May, you're up!"
He drops his backpack on the floor, and May can see how comfortable he is here. He's perfectly at home with Tony and Pepper. She hates giving up any part of him, but he has to be safe. Nevertheless, May revels in the careful hug he gives her. "The doctor said I'm fine."
Peter looks concerned. "You've only just been released from the hospital!" He stares into her eyes, a concerned look in his. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"It's just strained tendons and muscles, honey. I'll heal."
Tony leans on the back of the couch. "I'm Aunt Hottie-sitting."
May doesn't need to turn her head to see his grin. She pats Peter's knee. "Don't worry; Pepper's here, too."
Peter laughs as Tony indignantly demands, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'd problably try to fix me with a hammer and a wrench, is what I mean," May retorts.
"Slander!" Tony replies. "Even I'm not that bad!"
"He is that bad," Peter says, "but Ms. Potts and I will protect you."
"Hey!" Tony says, even more indignantly. "No ganging up on me!"
Peter laughs again.
It isn't until after dinner that they explain their idea and show Peter the legal documents that will give Tony and Pepper the legal right to look after him. He's sitting on the couch between May and Pepper, with Tony sitting on the coffee table in front of him - literally surrounded by those who'll protect him in whatever way they can. It's not a position May would like to be in, but she's not fifteen and this isn't about her.
"Nothing has to change, sweetie," she says. "You'll still live with me, and spend whatever nights you want here at the Tower with Tony and Pepper, but this will keep you safe legally."
Finally, hesitantly, Peter asks, "Is this really what you want?"
His gaze flicks up to Tony's face, and May knows he's asking Tony. May's heart gives a little pang. She knows Peter already thinks of Tony as his father, and she's pretty sure Tony thinks of Peter like a son - though neither of them will say it out loud, not yet anyway - but these innocent-looking documents can say it for them.
"Yeah, kid," Tony says. "We're there." He puts his hand on Peter's knee, and Pepper and May put theirs on top.
Peter nods and adds his hand to the pile, and May can see the tears he's fighting. "Yes, please," he says.
Pepper, being Pepper, has it all organised, and it's all done and dusted in a surprisingly short space of time. Nothing much changes: Peter spends a few nights a week at the tower, but his smile is a bit brighter, his step a bit springier, and May sleeps a bit better knowing that, no matter what, he'll be okay.
The end
26th May 2023