I want to be transparent
Surprise was written all over Peter's face, who had not expected Bruce to discover his secret. Peter had kept his asthma a secret, feeling it was a weakness he didn't want his loved ones to know about.
"How did you know?" asked Peter, feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Bruce, upon discovering information about Peter's asthma that had not been previously disclosed to him, felt a mixture of surprise and some disappointment. While he understood that Peter had his reasons for keeping it a secret, he was concerned about the young man's health and well-being.
Taking a moment to get his emotions under control, Bruce took a deep breath and decided to approach the situation in a calm but direct manner. He approached Peter and looked at him seriously. Was the boy really asking him how he had known? The least he could do as an Avengers doctor was to have someone tell him everyone's history. Now Peter had flu , yes, but ...SEVERE ASTHMA was a very important part of the history somewhere. That wasn't the worst of it, was he? Tony knew? Did Fury know? Did anyone know?
"Peter, I understand that you have kept this a secret, but I am concerned about your well-being. As a doctor, I need to know all aspects of your health in order to provide you with the proper care," Bruce said in a firm but calm voice.
Peter looked down, feeling embarrassed and apologetic. "I'm sorry, Bruce. I didn't mean to worry you or make you feel disappointed," he replied in an apologetic tone.
Bruce sighed and put a comforting hand on Peter's shoulder. "I'm not mad at you, Peter. But it's important that we trust each other and share relevant information to make sure we're all safe and healthy."
Peter nodded, feeling a sense of relief to hear the understanding in Bruce's words. "I understand, Bruce. Sometimes, I worry about being a burden or that my asthma might affect my responsibilities as Spider-Man, I don't know ...I'm just afraid I'll get kicked out of the team . I don't want that Bruce, I just...," he admitted candidly. The alarms on the monitors went wild.
While Bruce and Peter were discussing asthma and how to manage it, Peter began to experience brief but intense shortness of breath. His chest tightened and he found it difficult to inhale and exhale properly. Peter quickly put his hand to his chest, trying to control the situation.
Bruce, realizing what was happening, immediately stopped talking and focused on Peter's condition. He calmly instructed Peter to sit up and lean forward to ease his breathing. Meanwhile, Helen Cho, who was present in the room, rushed over with a team of nurses, therapists and other staff and an emergency inhaler.
"Peter, take a deep breath through the spacer . You're going to be fine," Bruce said in a serene voice as Helen placed the inhaler near Peter.
"Peter, breathe with me, try to relax. You know how to do it " Bruce whispered, trying to control his own restlessness.
Peter followed the directions, inhaling the medication with determination. Gradually, his breathing began to normalize, and the tightness in his chest lessened. Bruce and Helen stayed by his side, providing support and making sure he made a full recovery.
Congratulations Bruce. How could he have missed Peter's asthma? How could he have ignored the possible triggers and symptoms? Great. Tony is going to kill him.
After Peter was stabilized and his breathing returned to normal, Bruce rushed to find Tony to inform him of what had happened. Tony, visibly confused, listened intently as Bruce explained the situation and revealed the fact that Peter had asthma, a piece of information that neither he nor Tony knew.
Surprise was plastered on Tony's face as he processed the revelation. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of concern and guilt for not knowing about Peter's condition. He wondered how he could have missed something so important in his protégé's life.
Bruce, sympathetic to Tony's confusion, tried to reassure him.
Tony, overwhelmed by the revelation and the sense of betrayal, let out a frustrated sigh. His face hardened as he processed his emotions. He stared at Bruce, with a mixture of anger and disappointment in his eyes.
"How could he do this to me, Bruce, how could Peter keep something as important as his ASTHMA from me? I have always been there for him, ready to support him in any circumstance. I feel betrayed."
Bruce, aware of the intensity of Tony's emotions, decided to choose his words carefully before responding. He knew Tony's anger was understandable, but it was also important to remember that Peter was only a teenager and perhaps had not shared his condition for fear of worrying Tony even more.
Bruce walked over to Tony, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Tony, I understand that you feel hurt and betrayed right now, but remember that Peter is just a young boy and may have been embarrassed or afraid to worry you even more."
Tony sighed, lowering his gaze for a moment. "I know I should have noticed something, Bruce. I'm always so focused on protecting him, but it seems I missed something important this time."
Bruce nodded sympathetically. "That's understandable, Tony, me too. FUCK! Tony, Im the MD here. As a mentor and father figure to Peter, you've done everything you can to be there for him. But we all make mistakes,Im so sorry, for real. "
Tony looked at Bruce, seeking comfort in his words. "I don't want Peter to feel like he can't trust me.But now, Bruce, he has really screwed up. What if he had died? I need to talk to him and let him know that I'm always here, even when things get tough, but this..this is - ."
"Tony, I understand your anger, but you must remember that Peter is just a teenager. Sometimes young people try to deal with their problems on their own. Maybe he thought protecting you or sparing you unnecessary worry was the best thing for you. Hey I really don't know and I'm already breaking medical confidentiality, but you're his legal guardian..."
"It's not just about me, Bruce. It's about her own health and safety. As her father figure? I have a responsibility to make sure she's safe at all times. And keeping something so important from me... I just can't accept it easily. The kid's going to hear me."
"Wait, wait Tony. I understand your feelings, Tony. But you must also consider the fact that Peter is an independent person and is entitled to his privacy. It's natural that there are things he wants to keep to himself. However you are not going to talk to him now. He has a really nasty infection , the guy just needs time off."
" I understand that, Bruce, but this goes beyond privacy. We're talking about his health, something that could have put him in danger. I can't help but wonder what else he could be hiding from me. I don't even want to think about ... you say it's severe. His treatment, the missions. Oh God. Germany! and the others. I'm going to kill him."
"You're not going to kill anyone Tony. I understand that, Tony, but you must also remember that Peter is brave and capable. I'm sure if he thought his asthma was under control and he could handle it on his own, he did it with the best of intentions. I haven't really gotten to that point, but now we're focused on creating plans and such."
Tony sighed, trying to find a balance between his frustration and his love for Peter. He knew he had to approach the situation in the right way and find a solution that would benefit them both.
"It's okay, Bruce. I understand your points. But I need to talk to Peter and make it clear that he can always trust me, even when it comes to personal and health issues. I can't change the past, but..."
" That sounds like a good plan, Tony. Peter needs to know that you will always be there for him, no matter what. Allow him to express himself and give him a chance to explain himself. Don't attack him like you know how!
"Me?"
"Yes you, you stubborn playboy."
Tony entered Peter's room with a firm step and a look of fury in his eyes. Peter, noticing his presence, became tense and nervous. He knew he had let Tony down and was prepared to face the consequences.
"What went through your head, PETER!, how could you keep something as important as your asthma from me? I've always been here for you, ready to protect you and take care of you, and you turn your back on me like this."
"Did you tell him, Bruce?"
"Sorry kid, May's not answering and he's your legal guardian."
"Great" Peter took the nebulizer Helen was handing him, as he watched Tony let out his fury. He was right and he had a right to feel that way.
"I'm sorry, Tony, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to betray you or anything. I thought I could handle it on my own and I didn't want to be a burden to you. Not be a burden to May." Peter actually cried.
"A burden? You're my responsibility, Peter! As your legal figurehead , it is my duty to look out for your welfare and safety. Keeping something as relevant as your health from me is a betrayal of our trust. PETER YOU COULD HAVE DIED ON A MISSION AND I COULD HAVE DONE NOTHING!"
"Calm down Tony." Bruce gently pushed him away from the boy's bed.
"I understand why you feel that way, Tony, but I thought I it wasok, it was fine. I've been managing asthma for a long time and I thought I could do it without worrying you unnecessarily."
"IT'S NOT ABOUT UNNECESSARY WORRY, PETER. It's about being informed and prepared for every eventuality. As Iron Man, I have learned the importance of knowing all the details before facing any situation. And you chose to DENY ME THAT INFORMATION."
"I'M SORRY, TONY. I made a ....mistake in not ....telling you, please, please. It was... kind of selfishness and I didn't ...think of the conse...quences."
Tony took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. Although he was disappointed, he also knew he had to find a solution that would strengthen his relationship with Peter rather than weaken it further.
" Peter, we need to work on our DAMN communication. I dont trust you can handle your asthma, and I need to be informed and be able to help you if necessary. I don't want ANY more lies, or hiding things from me. Do you understand? You know what would happen to me if something happens to you?"
"Okie "
"That's the way I like it, Peter. I want you to trust me and know that I will always be here for you. Our relationship is important to me and we need to strengthen it. But we need to work on honesty and openness."
"I understand, Tony. That's enough, it really hurts my chest right now . "
" Shit, sorry Underoos. Just this old man can't have news like that."
Tony walked over to Peter and hugged him, putting aside his anger and remembering that, despite everything, Peter was still a young man learning and growing.