Chapter 14
“Hey Pete,” Tony starts a little awkwardly his second morning here, “I know you only have a couple of outfits here and you don’t really have any of your things, so I was wondering if you wanted to go back to get some stuff. If you don’t want to Pepper or I could go if you want.”
“No it’s okay, I can go.”
“Okay, want to go after breakfast? Happy will drive us.”
“Okay.”
Peter was not really looking forward to going back, but he did want his stuff. Should he grab his school bag? Would he be here that long? He was only one week into the break, so he wasn’t sure. Tony would probably be confused if he didn’t, what with exams soon and all, but he also knew he wouldn’t actually be doing any work. Might as well grab it just so Tony doesn’t ask any questions. He definitely needs some of his clothes. Peter has been wearing a sweatshirt constantly since he showed up here, having the hood up made him feel a little bit safer somehow.
Peter finishes his cereal and they head down to the garage, where Happy is waiting for them. The drive there is quiet, Peter looks out the window and watches buildings pass, although very slowly because of the traffic. Peter had never really gotten used to driving in cars until more recently. Him and May never had one, but John did just to drive to work and back. He’s only rode with John a couple of times, but every time was terrifying. John drives so fast and recklessly that Peter is honestly surprised John hadn’t crashed the car yet and killed them all. Happy, on the other hand, is very cautious, and doesn’t mind the traffic as long as he’s got good music playing.
They arrive at his apartment building and Peter goes to get out of the car, and sees Tony move to do the same. He had thought he was going in alone, “What are you doing?”
Tony turned to face him, “What? You think you can carry all your stuff down by yourself? You need these muscles,” Tony lifts his arm and flexes his bicep while smiling at him. Peter smiles and gives a small laugh before getting out of the car. Peter didn’t bring his key when he left, so they have to knock on the door to be let in. May opens the door for them and gives Peter a small smile before pulling him into a hug. Peter slowly brings his arms up to hug May back, but he really just wants to get his stuff and leave. May releases him quickly and gives him a once over before stepping back and letting them in. “I’ll go get my stuff,” Peter says before walking past May. May leads Tony into the living room and Peter can hear her offer Tony some water. He starts stuffing his clothes into a bag when he hears someone walk to his door. He turns around and sees John.
“Hey Peter,” John says.
“Hey,” Peter replies, stopping his packing to look at him.
“Why are you leaving? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Why would you leave me and May and stay somewhere else? This is your home Peter,” John says, sounding confused and hurt.
“I don’t know,” Peter replies, his mind is blank again.
“Why don’t you just stay here? You don’t need to leave you know, no one is forcing you out or anything. C’mon, it just makes sense for you to stay.”
Peter finds himself internally agreeing. He doesn’t even know why he left in the first place, it just kind of happened. Why is he leaving? John gets mad sometimes, it’s really not that big of a deal. When he thinks about it it actually doesn’t make any sense, why is he packing up his things to stay with Tony? It seems too dramatic for such a mundane fight with John. It was just a normal day and he walked out and now he’s what? Packing a bag to live with someone else for a bit? Why?
“Why don’t we just all take a breath and think for a minute, yeah? You don’t really want to go to live somewhere else, do you Peter? Why are you even leaving us?”
“I- I don’t know.”
“See. C’mon, put that bag down and let's go get some lunch, just the three of us. How does that sound?”
Peter drops the bag onto the floor before responding, “Sure. Yeah, that sounds fine.” John gets it, nothing even happened, why would he leave? He shouldn’t put that kind of pressure on Pepper and Tony for no good reason. Why was he being so selfish? Why couldn’t he just get a hold on himself and get over this nonsense?
“Alright Peter,” John gives him a smile, “Let’s go tell May.”
Peter follows John out the door and sees May sitting with Tony on the couch.
“I think we got a bit ahead of ourselves, yeah?”
“What are you talking about?” Tony asks, standing up to face them.
“I mean, what are we doing? Peter’s going to stay. Thank you for being willing to let him stay with you, but he’s good here.” John puts his arm around Peter’s shoulders and Peter stares at the ground.
“Yeah, no. I don’t think so,” Tony starts before May interrupts him.
“John, honey, I think we should let Peter stay with Tony and Pepper for a bit.”
Peter looks up at that. He is shocked that May said anything to disagree with John, he thought that was long over.
“What?” John chuckles, but Peter can feel his grip tighten, not enough to hurt, but he can feel the tension. “Come on May, let’s not work ourselves up over nothing, yeah? Peter and I were just talking about going to get some lunch. He thinks he should stay here.”
May hesitates, and Peter feels John’s grip loosen again. He can see Tony turn to look at him and he steps toward Peter before May puts her arm out to hold Tony back. Peter is only looking into May’s eyes and she turns to face him for what feels like the first time in years. She stares at him for a moment before she turns to face Tony, “Take him.”
Tony wastes no time in pushing Peter gently by the arms into his room, John’s arm falls to his side and he can see John's face harden at May as Tony guides him.
“Okay, kid, let’s get some of your things packed up, okay?” Tony shuts the bedroom door behind them before he grabs a bag and starts shoving clothes in. Peter just stands still for a second before he moves to gather his school supplies.
They make quick work of getting the things he needs before going back to the living room to leave. “Peter, what are we doing? Why is he leaving?” John looks from Peter to May. Tony tries to keep him moving to the front door, gently pushing his back forward. Peter feels like his legs don’t work and he slows down. John addresses Tony for the first time that day, “Stark, you can’t just take him.”
“I’m not. May told me to and she’s his guardian. Let’s go Pete,” he tries to keep him moving out. Peter can hear in his voice that he’s holding back his anger.
May walks past John and steps in front of Peter, “I love you, Peter.”
“I love you May,” Peter responds. He had thought about leaving so many times, and felt such anger towards May that he’s surprised when he starts crying. He doesn’t want to leave her, not really. He’s been with her for most of his life, he doesn’t know how to live without her. He knows he’s not leaving forever, but he just wants to cling onto her and never let go, he wants to drag her out of the apartment with him. He tackles her into a hug as the tears start to fall down his face, and May starts crying too. She squeezes him tight before letting go after a few seconds. “Okay. Okay,” she takes a steadying breath, “I’ll talk to you soon, okay Peter?”
“I love you,” is all Peter can say back.
“I love you too honey, now go with Tony, okay? I’ll see you soon.”
Tony takes this as his cue to continue guiding Peter out the door, Peter looks back at May and sees John standing behind her shoulder, the familiar look of anger back on his face directed at Peter. His footsteps stop abruptly and Tony turns to follow his gaze. Peter can tell the moment he sees John’s expression because he stops trying to guide Peter and freezes for a second. Tony steps in front of Peter before speaking, “I don’t know what’s been going on here, but I am not letting Peter anywhere near you again. I’ve noticed him changing for months now, and I thought he was just stressed about school, but now I don’t think that was the case at all. I think that this was you,” Tony points his finger at John and John takes a small step back. Tony’s voice doesn’t raise, it stays the same volume, but the tone he uses causes chills to go up Peter’s spine, and it must for John too because the angry look vanishes from his face almost immediately. “I think that you and your actions caused Peter to change. I don’t know much about what has gone on here since you moved in, but from what I do know it hasn’t been good. I mean, how could you do that to anyone, let alone a kid? Peter doesn’t deserve any of this and if I can help it you are never going to get to see Peter ever again,” Peter can see May from around Tony’s back. There are silent tears flowing down her face and she looks devastated. “I’m taking Peter with me - I don’t care what you have to say,” Tony’s voice rises very slightly as John opens his mouth to argue, “I don’t care one bit. You are despicable and I hope I never have to see your face again,” Tony finishes in a low voice before going back to guiding Peter to the door.
As soon as Peter steps into the stairwell he realizes how exhausted he is. He’s wearing his backpack on his back and has a garbage bag full of clothes in his arms. He’s glad Tony came up with him, and not only because he really did need his muscles to help him carry his things. His thoughts go back to May as he descends. He is glad that she looked devastated. He hopes that May finally cares about how John treated Peter for so long. Hopes she finally realizes that she stayed, and Peter was trapped with nowhere else to go. He still loves her, but he wishes she would have taken him away from John. He guesses she just kind of did, telling Tony to take him, but he knows if it wasn’t for Tony he would still be there. Tony is really the one who got him out.
Tony is keeping a quick pace to the car, and when they reach the outside Peter feels strange. He’s walked out of these doors so many times before, and he’s surprised that this time doesn’t feel any different. He doesn’t know what he was expecting, but it was something. This time wasn’t like all of the others. He’s leaving, like leaving leaving. Not just to spend the day at school, or for the night to sleepover at Ned’s. He doesn’t know when he’ll be back, he doesn’t really feel anything at that thought, just tired. The second Peter closes his door Tony pulls him into a hug. It’s then that he realizes he hasn’t stopped crying. “It’s okay Peter. We’re out. You’re out. It’s okay.” Happy pulls out and gives Peter concerned glances every couple of seconds in the rearview mirror before completely focusing on the road. Tony keeps talking, but Peter’s brain has gone blank again, and he can’t make out what Tony is saying. When Tony finally releases him Peter just stares at the back of Happy’s seat. “Kid?” Peter thinks he sounds concerned but he can’t really tell. Tony gently turns Peter’s face towards himself, and stares into his eyes. “It’s okay Peter, you’re going to be okay. You’re not there anymore, you’re here. You’re here with me.”
Peter looks into Tony’s eyes at that. How could he have forgotten? Tony will take care of him, he knows that. He knows that he doesn’t want to live in that apartment with John. He feels so safe with Tony. Peter feels his eyes well up with more tears but he gives Tony a small smile, “Thank you,” Peter says quietly.
“Anytime Peter,” Tony replies, giving him a small smile of his own. “Anytime.”