The suit mess
“Peter!” Elijah called out,from his room.
“...what did I do now?” Peter thought. “coming!” he said. Peter knew that tone very well. That was the tone his dad used when he was..well, dissapointed or angry.
Peter stepped into the room nervously,“yes,dad? You need something?”
“indeed I do,my little spider. Now sit down” Elijah patted on the chair in front of him.
Peter heistantly sat down. He felt like a kid about to be lectured on stealing candy. Ok,he was Elijah's kid,but still...he was 21 and a Superhero. Things like these felt embarassing at some point. Besides,the way his father looked at everyone including him with that judgemental gaze,it felt humbling,even scary at times.
“Now that we're both seated”,Elijah said in his calm voice,“I'd like to discuss something with you. But first you must promise me that you won't lie throughout this conversation. Remember,your father can hear the slightest irregularity in your heartbeat and see and smell sweat on your forehead before it forms. Are we ready now?”
Peter nodded.
“I'd like words, sweatheart"
“y-yes dad... we're ready”
“good”,Elijah said,“now..." He got up to get something he had placed on one of the couches. He brought a suit.
“would you care to explain this,my little spider?" Elijah asked, opening the suit.
The suit was webbed, completely webbed and damaged. It was one of Elijah's favourites. The suit,now ruined,was dark and pristine,and a gift Elijah had recieved at least 100 years ago from someone respectable.
“I'm sure you know this was my favourite suit” Elijah said,“and look at it now. How many times have I told you to not web things up without purpose?/p>
Peter looked down with guilt. Elijah lifted his chin, forcing him to make eye contact.
“I...well, I'm sorry dad...” Peter said,his voice laced with remorse and guilt.
“I know you are,my boy” Elijah said with a soft sigh,his voice softening,“I really do. I would only like to know why and how this happened. I know my sweet little spider would never do this on purpose”
Peter sighed, preparing for explanation.
“take all the time you need. But please,tell me vividly. Know this;this is partially about the suit,and more about you,your well-being”
“ok” Peter began,“so,I was working in my makeshift lab in the corner of the library. And I was making this chemical liquid,well... trying to. And umm...it was one of those that would make my webs more stronger and adhesive. So,I managed to put the liquid in my wrists and rubbed it well. Then,I tested it out in the lab,it worked. I was happy,then I went to your room to show you. You weren't there,so I waited for you. I sat down on your bed, scrolling through my phone. After a while,I checked the newsfeed. They were saying really, really bad things about me... extremely bad. So...I-”
Elijah knew where this was going
“I uhh...got really sad and angry at them. And then I lost control,then a web accidentally shot out my wrist and webbed that...that suit”
Elijah stayed silent for a few seconds. Then,he said,“and you didn't tell me? I was not in the house,you could have dialed my number and informed me of this. Peter,you are always welcome to ask for help when something goes wrong,you know that already, don't you?” he said that in his fatherly tone, leaning closer.
“I didn't want to bother you...” Peter said,his lips trembling slightly.
“We've discussed many times about this;you are not a bother,and never will be. You're my child,Peter” Elijah said, stroking Peter's hair.
“I...well,sorry” Peter said.
Elijah could smell it...that salt,that moisture,he immediately scooped Peter up in his arms.
“Well,you were forgiven long back” Elijah said, bouncing him gently. Peter wrapped his arms around Elijah's shoulders,legs around his torso.
Peter said tearily,“but the suit-”
“forget about the suit” Elijah said, giving another bounce,“it, though expensive,is replaceable. You, meanwhile,are extremely precious and intensely valuable,and irreplaceable. That suit costs 9K. You cost infinite,my sweet baby spider”
Peter buried his face in the crook of Elijah's neck.
“there there”,Elijah said, rubbing circles on Peter's back,“I don't think your friends on the ceiling won't be so happy to see you sad. They love you, don't they?"
Peter,now regressed, peeked at the tiny array of spiders in the ceiling. The Mikaelsons mansion was old. Before adopting Peter,Elijah always ensured the cobwebs and spiders on the ceiling would be dusted off. But regressed Peter seemed to like them,he called them ‘fwends’ in his headspace. So,Elijah had decided to keep them.
“They... don't wanna see me cry?” Peter asked like a toddler.
“of course they don't” Elijah said,“your tears make them cry too. They can't afford to see their precious friend sad”
Peter thought for a while,“ok...me won't cry,for f-fwends”.
“that's the spirit" Elijah said, kissing Peter's forehead tenderly.
“Now”, Elijah said, bouncing Peter again,“lets get you settled in your crib.
As Peter was settled in the crib,he pointed towards his mobile. When adopting Peter,Elijah had had a tough time with the mobiles. Rainbow Unicorn mobile? Peter wasn't happy. Cute little animal mobile? Peter wasn't happy. Flower mobile?Peter wasn't happy. Peter finally smiled when Elijah fixed a spider mobile above him.
That boy really is a spider,Elijah had thought.