all you're ever gonna be is mean
Today had just been shitty.
First Peter woke up late, not that he was normally up on time, but today was later than normal and it ruined his entire morning schedule. He missed his train and it made him 10 minutes late to school and, when he arrived to school, Ned reminded him the Spanish test they had period two.
Peter actually felt he'd done really well in the test, given he had completely forgotten about it, but when Mr Garcia had called him back at the end of the day to tell him he was concerned about his test score, that glimmering hope he'd felt fizzled out fast.
"I expected a bit better than this Mr Parker."
"I'm really sorry sir."
"You will be retaking this on Friday lunch, I hope you are aware."
"Yes sir."
"Good, have a good evening Mr Parker."
That little interaction then meant that Peter had missed his train to the Tower, and with that his window to avoid Flash outside of school.
"What are you doing Penis? waiting for everyone to leave so you can set up your homeless camp?"
"No."
"Are you talking back to me Parker? You know the consequences of talking back to me..."
So really, by the time Peter got to the Tower, a bruise forming on his lower ribcage, he had really had enough of today. He walked into Avenger Tower with his head down, just wanting to get through the security and up to Tony with no problems, he felt the stares he always got and heard the gentle rumblings of people disagreeing with his presence as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his ID, scanning his way in.
"Parker, Peter, "Underoos", Level 10. Hello Peter. Boss is in the labs, I shall tell him of your arrival."
"Thanks Friday."
He got into the elevator and rode it all the way to the top, getting out and walking straight to the lab. Opening the door and dropping his bag on the small couch by the door, he huffed his way over to his work station chair groaning as he knocked over his latest project. Tony lifted his head from his own work and raised his eyebrow before focusing back on his task.
"Hey Kid. Good day?"
"It was fine." Peter spat, picking up the things he'd dropped, pulling at the injuries on his chest.
"Fine? Really?"
Peter grunted and turned from Tony to his notebook, checking some of his measurements. he wanted to make sure that, despite the downsizing, his web shooters would still hold the same amount of fluid, and shoot the same, but so far he'd kept getting the equations wrong.
Tony scoffed looking up to see the back of the kids head, irritating him further.
"Great chat Kid."
"Well maybe I just don't want to talk, thought of that?" Peter spat, spinning around and glaring at his mentor.
The two had a stare down for a few seconds before Tony spoke again.
"Do you want to go outside, fix your attitude and come back in a better mood?"
"Whatever." Peter huffed, dragging his chair across the floor before storming out to the corridor in a fit of rage.
Tony continued to work for a few moments in quiet, the only sound being his music, which for once he had at a respectable volume and the clattering of tools as they hit the ground. Quiet enough that he could hear Peter pacing in the corridor outside.
Once he'd calmed down, Peter felt the guilt churn in his chest, Tony didn't deserve to be spoken to like that just because he was having a bad day. It wasn't fair of Peter to act like that, not when Tony had done so much for him. If Peter didn't stop Tony could kick him out of the lab for good, or take away the suit again. The realisation hit him like a sucker punch to the gut and he let out a choked noise. He could lose Tony again.
"You calmed down now?" Tony asked as he stepped out of the lab, wiping his hands on a rag.
Peter looked up, eyes blurry at the man he'd come to trust with his life.
"M-Mr Stark I-"
"Pete, if you're having a bad day I'd rather you just tell me than pretend everything's fine."
"I-I know, Mr Stark, I'm sorry."
"Right. What's going on?"
"I just- today has just been really bad."
Tony watched as the boy sunk in on himself, feeling the weight of the day hit him all at once.
"I was late to school and I forgot we had our Spanish test, Ned reminded me just before it started, and I genuinely thought I did well given the circumstances, but Mr Garcia he- he said he-" Peter rambled choking on the words.
"Breathe Underoos."
"He called me back at the end of the day and- he was so disappointed in me Mr Stark, he said he's making me resit it on Friday lunch and then because of that I was late out of school and F- I uh fell? Yeah I missed my train here because I fell and my ribs really hurt, and then I got here and I kept getting odd looks coming in and then I dropped everything and- it's just been a really bad day Mr Stark."
Peter rubbed at his face, feeling the tears that had started to fall, wiping them away quickly he turned to look at Tony who stood there watching him with a soft look on his face.
"Oh Roos, why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to. I thought I'd be okay in the lab." Peter sobbed. "I'm so sorry Mr Stark, I really didn't mean it."
"It's fine Kid, I'm over it. Let's go down to Medbay okay? I want Helen to check your ribs, especially if they're still hurting you."
"But Mr Stark-"
"No buts, you're hurt. C'mon."
Peter stood there, a conflicted look on his blotchy face, as Tony put his hand on his shoulder. He soaked up the mild comfort, and before he could stop himself he was speaking again.
"Hey Mr Stark?"
"Yeah, Kid?"
"Could I maybe- uh, could I have a hug?"
The two of them stopped just off from the elevator doors, in the middle of the corridor. Tony stared at him, a funny look on his face.
"It's fine if we're not there yet, I just- when I get upset May always- don't worry actually, it's fine uhm-"
"Of course you can have a hug Pete." Tony sighed.
Peter didn't even get the opportunity to let out the breath of relief before he felt two strong arms carefully cradling around him. It was a bit awkward at first, but the comfort was instantaneous. Tony moved one hand to run his fingers through Peter's curls and Peter, in response, nuzzled his head into the man's shoulder. Tears brewing in his eyes again because he felt so irrevocably safe.
"If you have another bad day just tell me Underoos," Tony spoke softly into his ear, "I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."
Peter nodded, they stood there for a while before Peter started pulling back with a deep breath.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, now, Medbay, let's go."
"I'll be fine Mr Stark, really."
"Nu-uh, we're going, get your spider-butt in the elevator."
Peter groaned but felt the warmth of Tony's concern sitting nicely in his heart.
Today might've been shitty, tomorrow might be too, but at least he knew had Tony to lean on no matter what.