Chapter Text
“Wait, Uncle Happy!” Peter cries as Happy grabs the hand of one of his S.H.I.E.L.D agents and brings him onto the jet back to Tony. “Uncle Happy!”
Happy taps the earpiece in his left ear and slightly holds “Peter’s” hand tighter. “Why are you letting go, kid? Tony wants you back in an hour. We gotta go,” he says without even turning his head.
Peter tries to run up to Happy but ends up falling on his bum as the jet starts up and takes off without him in it. He holds the bag with the whole collection of Star Wars movies in it and starts to tear up as he looks around. “Help!” he whimpers as tears roll down his cheeks. “I-I’m lost!”
Despite the sun still being out, the cop car with the man that was supposed to act as security didn’t see the little boy in front of the store.
Peter stuck to what he knew and stayed in front of the store, clutching tightly to his movies. He wailed as he repeatedly looked up at the sky, in hopes of seeing the jet come back for him. Of course, this didn’t happen.
After about ten minutes of being alone, Peter’s bag of DVDs came clattering to the floor as something (or someone) crashed through the roof of the Blockbusters store. Peter let out a scream at the impact as he covered his face. He slowly lowered his arms and coughed as dust swirled around him. Being as curious as he was, he frightfully said “Hello?”
“Hello?” A seemingly more confused female voice answered after a minute.
Peter carefully picked up his bag of movies and stared into the mess. “I-I’m Peter. Peter Stark.”
“I’m Carol,” Carol called as she dusted herself off and adjusted to the light. “Where are you Peter?” She sucked in a breath as she began to dig through the rubble, thinking that the boy was somewhere there.
“I’m outside,” Peter said with a sniffle.
Carol let out a sigh as she dropped the piece of shelf that was in her hands. She cautiously made her way to the door, or rather where the door would have been, and made a puzzled face when she didn’t see anyone just out of the store.
Peter went to her and lightly tugged on her leg. “I’m lost.”
She didn’t know why, but for some odd reason, when she looked down at the adorable and innocent little boy in front of her, something clicked. Carol had the sudden urge to halt her current mission and help Peter get back home. “You’re lost?”
Peter nodded and sniffled. “Can you help me?”
“Yeah, of course. I mean, I’ll try. Here, take my hand,” Carol mumbled as she took the child’s hand. “Which way did your parents go?”
“Uncle Happy,” Peter corrected her as he pointed upwards.
“Your uncle’s gone?” Carol asked as she cocked an eyebrow.
“No, Uncle Happy went back to daddy,” Peter said.
“How did he go up?” Carol asked softly.
“In our jet.”
“Oh,” Carol said as her eyes widened slightly. “Here, why don’t we go find a payphone? Do you know your daddy or uncle’s phone number?” She began to walk with Peter as she searched for a phone.
Peter followed her and dragged the movies with him. He quietly pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Carol. “I can’t reach the phone,” he said sheepishly. “And the police didn’t help me.”
Carol squinted at the police car in the parking out and softened the look in her eyes when she looked down at Peter. “That’s okay, I’m here to help you now.” She took the slip of paper from him and went to call the number.
“Why’d you enter through the roof?” Peter blurted out.
Carol scratched her cheek and looked down at Peter as she held the phone to her ear. “Um...because...I have a jet too,” she said slowly, trying her best not to lie to the tot. “I just crashed it because a wing broke.” She bit her lip when the call went to voicemail.
“Where’d you get your suit?” Peter asked as he looked up at her.
“Um…” Carol trailed off as she listened carefully to the voicemail and who’s it was. “Hold on, Peter. Hi, Mr., uh Tony, I have Peter with me. Peter Stark. He said you guys left in a jet but without him. We’re still at the Blockbuster, so...yeah. You should come back and get him. Okay, bye.” Carol put the phone back and looked down at Peter, a reassuring look on her face. “What did you ask me before again?”
“Where did you get your suit?” Peter repeated.
“From the Kree--I mean…” Carol contemplated on whether or not she should just tell him the truth. Eventually, she decided she wouldn’t lie to the child. “Yeah, I got this from the Kree. They’re aliens.”
“Are you an alien?” Peter asked, a glint of amazement in his big puppy eyes.
“You know what, Pete, I’m not sure. I’ll get back to you on that.” Carol whipped her head around and rushed to the phone when it rang. “Hello? This is...uh, Carol. Yes, Peter’s with me. Yeah, hold on.” She gently handed the phone to Peter so he could talk to his dad.
“Pete? Pete, are you there? Are you okay?” Tony asked frantically on the other line.
“I’m here daddy,” Peter mumbled into the phone.
“Thank God. Happy only just realized that you weren’t on the jet. Don’t worry, I had him turn around. He’s on his way back to get you, just stay where you are okay?” Tony would’ve told him to go to the local police but he’d rather have Peter stay in place so Happy wouldn’t have to send a search party for him. “Be careful, alright? Yell if that lady hurts you or anything okay?”
“Okay daddy,” Peter said, practically hugging the phone at this point. “The lady’s name is Carol.”
“Alright, yeah, that’s great. I love you, Pete.”
“Love you too,” Peter said and handed the phone back to Carol when Tony hung up.
Carol took the phone and put it back before she lightly squeezed Peter’s hand. “Are you okay, bud?”
Peter looked up at her and nodded. “I’m hungry.”
Carol let out a quiet sigh as she looked around for a fast food place. She squeezed Peter’s hand softly again as she pointed to the McDonalds in the outlet. “You want to get some food there?”
Peter’s eyes lit up as he nodded. “Yeah!”
Carol chuckled. “Alright, c’mon.”
Peter skipped next to Carol happily as they made their way to the McDonalds. Once they entered the place, everyone began to eye Peter. Carol, of course, didn’t notice and instead went to order some food for her and Peter. When the cashier caught sight of Peter, though, he squinted.
“Wait, is that…” the cashier started, not even batting an eye at Carol’s outfit.
Carol cocked an eyebrow and looked from Peter to the man behind the counter. “Why’re you looking at him like that?”
“Is that Peter Stark?” The cashier asked.
“That’s me!” Peter peeped as he fished something out of his pocket. He flashed out a shiny piece of plastic that seemed to look like a credit card, which surprised Carol by a long shot.
“Oh welcome, Mr. Stark. What would you like?” The cashier asked as Peter put the card away.
“I want a Happy Meal. What do you want, Ms. Carol?” Peter asked as he looked up at her.
“Um...just some fries. Thanks.”
“I’ll get right on that, The cashier assured as he left and got their food rather quickly.
Carol looked down at Peter scratched her head. She didn’t even make eye contact with the cashier as she took the bag of food and handed him the money that was in her pocket.
“I-It’s already paid for,” the cashier stuttered.
“What? How?” Carol asked as Peter clung to her leg.
“The kid’s a Stark. He gets free food from any McDonalds as long as he presents that card.”
“Really? Wow, okay” Carol mumbled as she put the money in her pocket.
“Uppy,” Peter stated as he held onto his movies.
Carol looked down at Peter and carefully carried him with the bag of food in one of her hands.
Once they made it out of the fast food place, Carol headed back to the Blockbuster and sat at the curb with Peter still on her lap.
“Pete, who exactly is your dad?”
“Daddy’s an important man. That’s why he’s always busy,” He replied as he reached for his Happy Meal.
Carol handed him his food and stared off into the distance as she ate. “Oh.”
“You’re very nice,” Peter said with a mouthful of chicken nuggets.
Carol looked at him and laughed at the silly smile on his face. “Thanks. You’re real cute but I bet everyone says that.”
Peter giggled and offered her some of his food, which she politely declined.
When they were done eating, Carol played a couple games with Peter to pass the time. She knew she had a mission do to, but to be quite honest, she was so happy she got to spend time with Peter instead.
After about an hour, it got colder outside so Peter huddled into Carol, having treated her like an aunt at this point. “When’s Uncle Happy coming?”
“I don’t know, bud, but hopefully soon.” Carol instantly held Peter closer when the jet headed straight for them and landed exactly in front of them.
“Peter?” Happy called out when he stepped out of the jet.
“I’m with Auntie Carol!” Peter called back.
“Auntie who?” Happy asked with concern when he got closer.
“Auntie Carol,” Peter repeated as he pointed to Carol. “This is Uncle Happy,” he says to her.
“Can’t believe you forgot him,” Carol said as she shook Happy’s hand.
“Alright, say goodbye to Auntie Carol,” Happy instructed to Peter, completely ignoring Carol’s comment.
Peter frowned, his big brown puppy eyes getting teary. “Why do I gotta say bye-bye? Why can’t she come with us? She can meet daddy.”
Happy opened his mouth to explain but shut it as he eyed Carol. “You know what, you just tell him why.”
“Peter, buddy, I wish I could but I have...something important to do,” Carol explained.
Peter frowned but looked around frantically once flashing red and blue lights were in his vision.
Happy eyed the police and Carol, quickly realizing she was the lady that blasted the whole through the Blockbusters.
“Ma’am, we’re going to have to arrest you for wrecking this facility for no apparent reason,” The officer says as his partner nods in agreement.
“I don’t think so,” Happy replies as he pulls out his ID. “This woman took care of Peter Stark while he was alone and lost. I’m sure his dad, Tony Stark, would not appreciate this kind of punishment for having this lady do him a great favor.”
The officers both looked at each other frightfully before they shrugged and quickly accepted the pardon. “You’re lucky, little lady.”
“Don’t call me that,” Carol warned as Peter continued to hold onto her.
Once the cops left, Happy let out a sigh and made eye contact with Carol. “Your welcome.”
Carol just gave him a look as she turned her attention back to Peter. “I have to go, Pete. I’m sorry.”
Peter held onto Carol and cried softly. “But you’re my Auntie Carol!”
A pained expression crossed Carol’s face as she rubbed the child’s back. “I-I know but I just can’t be with you.” After a moment, Carol pulled a device out of her pocket and showed it to Peter. “Here, just take this. If you want me, just press this button and I’ll be there to talk to you or even visit you.”
Peter wiped his eyes and snatched the device from her hands. “Really?”
“Yup. Now go with Happy and say hi to your daddy for me, okay?”
“Okay!” Peter hugged Carol one last time before he pulled away, went to Happy and held his hand as they walked onto the jet.
Carol smiled softly as the jet started up and flew into the night sky. “Bye Pete.”