Captain America had been out of the compound for a while now, providing Bucky with some much needed support in Wakanda. Bucky had been getting increasingly better for a while, and after some thought and a long conversation with Steve he decided he was ready to go back to the Avengers compound and see everyone again.
//
Peter was a mess, and it was excruciatingly apparent to everyone around him, Tony knew, MJ and Ned knew, Aunt May knew, everyone knew. He'd been a bad week for a couple different reasons, it was all things that he was familiar with; bad nights on patrol, name calling, school work piling up, the list goes on and on, but it was just too much all at once. Peter had been in a constant state of stress and anxiety and he was more then ready to have a weekend getaway at the compound.
He wordlessly hopped into Happy's car and melted into the comfort of the seats and the low hum of the car, they had some small talk here and there but neither of them were especially chatty today. Happy seemed a little more enthusiastic them normal though, Peter figured he'd just been excited for him and May's upcoming date night.
The second Peter stepped into the elevator he was greeted with F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s cheery, yet robotic, tone, "Hello, Mr. Parker, would you like me to take you to the main room? Tony has a surprise for you."
"What's the surprise?" He asked as F.R.I.D.A.Y. had already started to send the elevator up to the right floor.
"Boss told me I'm under strict orders to not say a word, sorry Mr. Parker."
"I thought I told you to call me Peter, Fri". He said just as the elevator dinged, the doors opened up, and he was met with 2 new faces holding 2 gift boxes. Tony shot him a welcoming look and pointed at Captain America, as if to show that he's definitely there and Peter isn't just hallucinating.
"Hey kid, I'm Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, and heres Bucky... also known as Bucky." Awkward silence lingered in the air as the 4 of them traded looks, Peter's heart rate picked up a little. Steve reminded him of Skip, they had the same haircut, the same eyes, practically the same name, Peter knew they weren't the same, and that he was safe now but he felt his stomach writhe the slightest bit at Captain America.
"Hi, roger that Captain America, and hey Bucky, are you friends with Captain America?"
"Yea, we've been friends since before he got shot with the serum, fell down in the plane together, I'm Steve's right hand man that time forgot." Bucky said while giving Steve an elbow to rub in that he got all the glory, and left Bucky with crumbs of attention, not that he was really complaining though.
"Anyways, we got you these, I hope you like them? Tony didn't give us much to go off of for a gift, we had to guess for the most part." Steve said looking and sounding more nervous then Peter thought Captain America was capable of. Peter wordlessly took the 2 boxes that were being handed to him and peeled off the wrapping paper.
The first box contained the same comics that Skip(Steven- his name was Steven his name wasnt Skip it was Steven) had gotten Peter as a present for being so good. It made his already gut wrenching feeling get even worse, he tried to hide it as best he could, turning his look of shock horror into a look of shock admiration. Peter turned to open the second box, hoping that it'd lift his mood and give him a good distraction from the comics, of course, that wasn't what happened, Parker luck made sure of it.
There was a book on Albert Einstein and all of his different contributions to the science world. Einstein, Ski- Steven, Comic books, Einstein, Steven, Comic books. He needed to get out. He needed to leave he was being cornered. The walls were closing in, his vision was blacking out and getting replaced with memories of the past, he needed to leave he needed to go, he needed to run, and get to a safe place he needed to go, so he did.
He ran, and ran, and ran, and he fell once or twice, and he found himself in Tony's lab, only him and Tony can enter the lab its safe, its away, he's safe. F.R.I.D.A.Y. asked him how she could be of assistance, and told him that the 3 of them were heading to Peters location.
"Fri... please don't let Captain America in please, F.R.I.D.A.Y. please promise me he won't come, in I can't do this, Fri please."
"Ok, Peter, only Tony will be coming down." Peter let out a very shallow breath of relief as he saw the one and only, Tony Stark, walking into his lab.
"Hey, Pete, you ok kiddo?" Peter solemnly shook his head no, figuring that there was no use in lying after everything that happened.
"Can I touch you? I'm just gonna hold your hand to my chest so you can feel my breathing, nothing else." Peter nodded this time, offering his hand to Tony and trying to take in deep breathes to match his mentors, he felt himself getting calmer and more relaxed the longer they sat there.
"Can I come sit a little closer, Underoos?"
"Y-yea... can I have a hug Tony, m sorry about everything I just-" Tony cut Peter off of his ramble by pulling him into a hug and letting him cry on his shoulder, trying to provide as much fatherly support as he was physically capable of giving.
"Do you wanna talk about what happened back there kid? I know it was a panic attack, ask Rhodey or Pepper, I've had my share of them. Don't feel afraid to talk to me Peter I'm here for you." He said pulling Peter a little closer into the hug.
"When I was a kid, I had a friend uhm... Steven... he made me do things I didn't want to do, and, Captain America, just reminded me of him a lot which is stupid in hindsight, because all they have in common is their looks and their name", he snuck a glance at Tony who was waiting for him to finish the story. "The gifts Captain America got me, they're the same as what Steven would get me, normally I'm not this stupid but its been a long week and I couldn't take it anymore... 'm sorry."
"Peter Parker, stop apologizing, nothing you did was wrong you felt unsafe so you left, I'm proud of you for leaving instead of forcing yourself to sit through it for us. I'm sorry you had to go through that, I can't change the past but I'm here to make your present and your future as good as it can be, your triggers are not stupid, and I'm sure Ste- Captain America is just waiting for the moment when he can apologize to you."
"You can call him S-Steve, it's ok, I'm ok now, I can hear his name it's ok. What do I say to him, sorry for freaking out you reminded me of a stronger version of the guy that took my childhood away and the gifts you gave me only made that feeling stronger?" Peter gave out a little chuckle, laughing at how he reacted, and how he'd probably given The Captain America, Steve Rogers himself, a heart attack.
"No, don't say any of that, thats horrible kid, no offense. You got nothing to apologize for, let Steve and Bucky do all the talking, you did nothing wrong Squirt, I promise." Tony paused for a moment and Peter let out another chuckle at how harsh Tony was, and a nod. "Get onto your feet, c'mon, the super soldier that saved America is waiting for you a couple rooms over."
Peter took Tony's out reached hand and pulled him into one last hug letting his tears flow freely just a moment longer before wiping them off and trying to prepare himself to properly meet Steve Rogers. Every step he took made him feel a little calmer, and a little more nervous for what Steve would say to him, Tony gave Peter's shoulders a fatherly squeeze as they stepped out of the lab floor and got face to face with Captains America and Bucky for a second time today.
"Peter, are you ok, I'm so sorry I didn't realize that was going to happen, can I hug you, do you even want a hug, will you forgive me, are you ok? Why aren't you saying anything- is it because of Bucky because I swear this was all me he had nothing to do with it- Peter?" Peter had just been staring, shell shocked that Steve Rogers is apologizing to him.
"Yea, Steve, you're good, don't worry just no more comic books, or Einstein references, please."
"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Could we watch the original Star Wars trilogy? Me and Tony have been talking about it for a while?" Peter sat down on the couch after hearing the resounding chorus of yesses.
Star wars is the perfect post panic attack treat, Peter thinks to himself while Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Bucky get situated around him with blankets and popcorn.