How could Peter be so stupid?
How could Peter lose it?
How could Peter lose his Dad’s watch?
Well, technically, he did not lose it. No. Someone stole it.
*
Peter ripped off his worn out shirt, ready to head to the broken showers. As he waited in line he realised that he was still wearing his dad’s watch. He turned his wrist to see the entire watch. It was a simple watch with a worn out brown leather strap and a silver body. He had no idea if it still showed the accurate time, but he wore it for the comfort it brought.
He opened his gym locker and gingerly placed the time tool inside. He closed the locker and sprinted back to the line up.
Peter roughly scrubbed his scalp with shampoo, and rinsed the soap suds off his body. A realisation came to him like a slap on the face.
WAIT! Did I lock my gym locker?
He barely winced as a shampoo sud fell into his eye. Peter shook his head violently to remove the rest of the shampoo, and ran out of the shower stall. With his body covered by a smelly towel, he sprinted with wet feet to his locker.
To his horror, his gym locker door was open. He looked inside and made a sound that sounded like a gasp and a sob at the same time as he realised his watch was missing.
Shoving his body into his clothes, Peter ripped everything inside his locker looking for the watch. After it came out empty, he went on all fours and looked underneath benches for his watch.
“What are you doing Penis?” Flash sneered but curiosity slipped into his voice.
Peter ignored Flash and continued to search. With Ned’s help they both confirmed that the watch was stolen.
*
Peter clenched his hands as he rode on the subway to go to Tony’s place for a lab day.
It's stupid. It’s stupid. It’s stupid. Peter kept on repeating the words in his head. It’s just a watch. A stupid little watch.
But, it did not feel stupid.
*
Tony turned around in his chair to see a very pale Peter walking in the lab.
“Hey Pete!” Tony greeted him happily, “How's my favourite super baby?” Tony expected Peter to say ‘I’m not a super baby!’ but instead was greeted with a grunt.
Tony got up and walked to Peter, his eyebrows furrowed, “What's wrong Pete?” Tony guided Peter’s chin so he had to make eye contact with him. The man could not help realise that the teenager kept on holding his right wrist, and if he remembered correctly, Peter always wore a watch or a bracelet or something on that wrist.
“It’s nothing Mr Stark,” Peter mumbled.
“Nah nah nah!” Tony wagged a finger next to Peter’s face, “You're lying. Now why the glum face.”
Tony expected Peter to wave him off but instead he saw Peter biting his bottom lip and his doe eyes glassy.
Whoa, today is full of surprises I guess.
“Mr Stark!” Peter cried and Tony quickly grabbed him into a hug. He weaved one hand through Peter’s messy curls, while the other rubbed his back. Peter buried his face deep into Tony’s chest, with his arms wrapped around the man’s abdomen.
“What is it Kid?” Tony asked softly.
“Someone stole my watch in the gym while I took a shower!” Peter cried out, burying himself deeper in the man's clothes.
Tony was confused. “Um, we can always get you another watch Pete.”
Peter pulled away from the hug and looked up at Tony. He shook his head, “No… you see the watch,” Peter sniffed, “was my dad’s watch. After his…… accident, I took his watch from the dresser and… wore it ever since.”
Tony’s face softened. Peter’s hand went to his wrist and was greeted with a bare wrist. He was so used to the weight the watch brought, now that he was not wearing it, it felt as if his arm was weightless.
Tony cupped Peter's cheeks, his face painted with concern, “Oh Petey.”
Peter continued to ramble on and on his words covered by his sobs.
It was getting harder and harder to breathe. The walls were caving in and all the sounds were underwater. Peter breathed harder and harder until his ribs screamed in protest. Tonys realised that Peter was having a panic attack and quickly went into action.
He grabbed Peter’s hand and put it on his chest and grabbed the boy's other hand and put it on Peter’s chest.
“Can you feel the rhythm of my breathing? ” Tony asked as he took exaggerated breaths, Peter quickly nodded, “Now try to match your breaths to mine.”
Peter slowly started to match his breath to the mentor’s. His breathing slowed down to a steady pace.
“You ok?” Tony asked, raising an eyebrow. Peter nodded.
Tony led them both to a couch in the lab. Peter snuggled into Tony’s side.
“I know it is hard to lose something that important. But… a watch is not your dad. Your dad is the person who wipes away your snot. Your dad is the person who bandages your scraped knees. Your dad is the person who helps you with your homework. Your dad is the true hero.”
I wanna be that person. Tony added quietly.
Peter looked at Tony and gave a watery smile, “Thanks Mr. Stark.”
“Anytime Pete, anytime.”
*
One Week Later
Peter went into Tony’s lab, excited for all the tinkering they will do.
“Guess what Pete? I got you a gift!” Tony showed Peter a small box.
Peter’s eyes brightened, “Thanks Mr Stark! You didn’t have to!” Peter said as Tony handed him the box. The man waved off the comment.
Peter opened it and gasped when he saw a watch, identical to his dad’s watch.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Tony quickly said and carefully took the watch out of the box. “Look at this,” Tony double pressed the crown and a holographic photo appeared. Peter gasped as he scrolled through them all. They were photos of him and his dad, mom, Uncle Ben and Aunt May.
Peter looked at Tony with awe.
“I had May send the photos,” Tony said, scratching the back of his neck, “there is umm one more photo left bud.”
Peter scrolled one last time and let fat tears run down his face. It was a photo of him and Tony.
In the picture, Peter was sticking upside down on the ceiling with his homework webbed on the ceiling too. Tony was on a couch taking the selfie. They both had wide smiles and were doing the peace sign.
Peter looked at Tony teary eyed. Before the man could say anything Peter hugged the man and stuck (literally stuck) to him. Tony only hesitated a moment before hugging him back.
“Thank you,” Peter mumbled.
“Any time Pete,” Great now I’m crying too, “Any time.”