Peter trudged down to the basement, a mission in mind. He was spending the day with Tony in the lab and they were missing some sheets of metal that were apparently essential.
Peter enjoyed spending time with Tony. He wasn’t exactly sure what to call their relationship, he was cautious to call it a father/son relationship, both out of fear that Tony wouldn’t feel the same and out of caution. Everyone that he had felt that way about (His actual father, Ben) had ended up dead. He didn’t think he could handle losing another. Even the thought of it put a weight on his chest
The closest label he could think of was a mentor/protégé relationship. Tony cared for him, Peter wasn’t too self conscious as to ignore that. It was obvious through the way Tony constantly updated his suit, through the small touches and soft smiles they exchanged when they worked together.
Tony was his mentor, yes. But it was less of a ‘I’m teaching you how to be a superhero and a scientist’ and more of a ‘It started out like that but we’ve grown to actually enjoy each others company’ kind of thing.
Peter’s thoughts always went wild when he traveled down this particular rabbit hole, his anxiety and self deprecating thoughts running with the thought of ‘maybe Tony doesn’t actually like you, maybe he just tolerates you’
But on days like this, when it was all comfortable silences and light teasing, the thoughts were easy to ignore.
He entered the code and started a mental timer, if he found the sheets within 60 seconds he would make it out before FRIDAY automatically closed the door and he wouldn’t have to enter the code again. (Tony would definitely call him lazy if he could hear him right now, but Peter pushed the thought aside)
He pressed the button on his phone to turn on the flashlight and searched the dark basement.
Peter found that since the spider bite, he hated turning on the main lights. They were just so bright, especially in the tower, as all the lights were replaced monthly and always shone a blinding white colour.
He would tell Tony about it, but he knew the billionaire would go crazy and replace every lightbulb in the building- maybe even in his school, and maybe on some level tear himself up for not noticing Peter’s discomfort earlier.
He walked over to the corner of the room, eyes finding the shiny metal immediately. He turned off the flash and put his phone back in his pocket, eyes now adjusted to the darkness.
He picked up the long sheets and turned, knocking over a shovel in the process. It landed with a clatter.
And suddenly he wasn’t in the basement. Suddenly he was standing on the streets and he had just heard a gunshot. Suddenly…
Peter took a few steps back, breathing heavily.
“Okay…” He whispered to himself reassuringly. He was in Tony’s basement. He was okay.
He walked slowly towards the door, clutching the sharp edges of the metal tightly.
The door swung shut suddenly, plunging the room into further darkness.
“Shit,” Peter grumbled, switching the metal to one hand and taking out his phone. He turned on the flash and spun around, not remembering his ability to turn on the lights through FRIDAY in his panicked state.
“Peter!”
Peter stilled. That was Ben. Ben was calling for him.
He ran forward, rushing past the crowd of onlookers to reach his Uncles bleeding body.
“Ben…”
“Peter!” Ben cried again, face twisted and covered in blood. Peter pressed down on the wound desperately
“Stay with me- hey. Hey!” He called frantically “Stay with me, Ben please”
Ben’s hands grasped onto his tightly, stopping him from moving away (As if he was going to)
“Help me…Peter,”
Peter let out a sob, hunching over Ben’s body.
“Peter…Pe-“
“-ter! Peter!” Tony’s voice cut in.
Peter cried out from his spot on the floor, gasping for air. Tony’s hand found a place on his shoulder and gripped tightly.
“You’re safe, kid. You’re home, it’s okay” He reassured him, getting on his knees.
Peter brought up his knee and rested his head atop it, taking deep breathes.
“I’m gonna put the sheets away and then I’ll come back, okay?” Tony said lowly, pulling Peter’s fingers away from where they were digging into the metal. Peter nodded and closed his eyes.
He was in Tony’s basement. He was okay. He noted vaguely that the lights were on, but dim. Maybe he had reacted badly when Tony switched on the lights?
More important things to focus on, Parker.
Peter looked up as Tony came back, now empty handed. He rested a hand on his shoulder and sat down.
Peter breathed in deeply. He was safe. He breathed out. Tony was here. He was okay
“Sorry,” Peter said, a gravel to his voice “I don’t know where that came from”
The shame was sinking in now. Him and Tony cared for each other. Yes. But they had never talked about stuff like this, Tony didn’t even know he went through stuff like this.
“Don’t be, the day was too calm anyway” Tony teased him lightly. Peter tried a small smile and dipped his head towards the ground, still fighting to control his breathing.
“Deep breathes,” Tony murmured “I’m right here. You’ve got this”
Peter nodded, bringing his knees to his chest and crossing his arms atop of them.
“Was I screaming?” Peter asked, noticing the ache in his throat. Tony nodded sympathetically
“Yeah, kid. Your throat probably feels like shit right about now, huh?”
Peter chuckled and hummed an affirmative. He saw Tony exaggerating his breathes out of the corner of his eye and turned towards him slightly, trying to match the pacing. Tony smiled at him and nodded, surprising Peter with how well he was dealing with a 15 year old having a panic attack in his house.
Tony got to his feet after Peter’s breathing was regular once more, groaning softly as his knee clicked. Peter grinned up at him cheekily, though it was much smaller than usual.
Tony pointed a finger at him, “Not a word” He opened his hand and offered it to Peter, “C’mon, let’s get some water in you”
Peter took the hand offered and pulled himself up. He noted the pain from where the metal had cut into his fingers but ignored it. He didn’t want to worry Tony.
Tony put an arm around his waist as they walked, admittedly, supporting most of his weight. Peter felt drained, and knew on some level that Tony wouldn’t mind helping him along.
When they got to the kitchen, Peter immediately sat down and leaned his forehead on the table. Tony chuckled softly and filled a glass with tap water.
Peter lifted his head just enough so he could meet Tony’s eyes “Can I have a coke?”
“No,”
Peter huffed and drank the water, relishing in the cold sensation he felt running down his throat.
“Couldn’t get that from coke” Tony mumbled smugly, sipping on a mug of coffee that he had made for himself.
Peter glared at him, though they both knew there was no heat behind it.
Tony sat down beside him, so close that their knees were bumping against each other. Peter sighed
“We can go back to the lab now, if you want. I’m fine”
Tony shook his head “You’re tired, Pete. We can work on it another day”
“Then what will we do?” Peter asked, confused.
“Sit here. Or watch a movie, or read a book, or we can go back to the lab if you want to, kid. It’s up to you”
“Can we just sit here?” Peter asked almost timidly, “I don’t really feel like doing anything”
Tony nodded “Sure, kiddo. Anything you want”