Cinnamon and Motor Oil
Peter’s phone began to ring as him and Tony worked in the lab. It was close to eight but they had gotten permission from May for peter to stay the weekend. The young teen put down his latest robot and answered the phone.
“Yeah May?”
Tony put down his invention and turned, listening to the call. He made eye contact with peter and looked questioning. Peter shrugged in reply.
“One sec lemme put you on speaker.”
Mays voice came through the sound system on the lab, “-o I don’t think you shoul-“
“Ok you’re on.”
May sighed on the other end before continuing,” ok honey. I uh- I don’t know- are you sitting down?”
Peter frowned,” no but I can be.”
“That may be best.”
Tony stayed in his seat, confused about what could this conversation could hold. He looked at Peter, searching for any sign of recognition but the younger was equally confused.
“Ok. I’m sitting down now. What’s going on? You’re scaring me a bit.”
“It’s Skip.”
Peter immediately tensed at the name, his back going rim rod straight and his eyes wide. He said something but it was incomprehensible.
“Petey? Skip, He’s out now. He’s on parole. I just found out.”
Peter didn’t move, didn’t breathe. His vision tunneled as he digested her words. Skip. Out. His hands and body shook.
Tony was standing now, terrified about what could spark this reaction in Peter. Who was this Skip guy? Why was he in jail and what did he have to do with Pete? The older man cautiously approached the shaking teen and held his hands out, ready to catch him if need be.
“Kid? Hey look at me. What’s wrong?” When he was granted no reply, Tony turned to the sound lingering on the speakers, “May? What’s wrong? Who is this guy and why is Peter freaking out?”
“Tony I can’t explain right now just don’t let him spiral. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
With that she hung up.
Don’t let him spiral? Spiral into what? Tony tried again to talk to Peter but again the boy didn’t respond.
Peter couldn’t breath. He couldn't see. why was this happening? He had pushed
those memories down, into a dark corner here it could peak out to the light but not snuff it out. But now it was Surging through Peter with a vengeance. Peter was an eight year old kid again, scared and confused.
"Wanna play a game Einstein?”
No no no! He needed that voice out of his head.
"NO,” Peter shouted it this time and put his hand over his ears, tears freely falling down his face. Tony stood there, helpless. Was this spiraling? He didn’t know how to help if he didn't know the cause.
“ Boss! He's bleeding,” Friday brought Tony's focus back to the boy in front of him.
Peter’s nails dug deep into his palms, his super strength chasing it to break the skin.
“No no no. Pete you can’t do that ok? Look at me. Listen to my voice,” Tony reached gingerly for Peter’s hands to stop the harm but he reacted violently.
All peter could sense was being touched. The only thing going through his mind was Skip. He didn’t want Skip touching him again. His instincts kicked and Peter threw the threat across the lab. There was a loud bang and cursing that flop lower but Peter had curled in on himself even more and was lost in his head.
“We’ve played your games all night so how about we play one of mine?”
Young peter jumped up and down. Skip always had fun games, “ok! I’ll go get in my pjs!”
Peter screamed at himself to run.
“Can you do that Einstein? Just look at the pictures dammit!”
The door to the lab opened as Pepper ran in. Having been down the hall in her office, the screams curdled her blood, but it was nothing compared to the scene she walked into. Tony was sprawled out in a far corner of the lab, bleeding on top of file cabinets. Her eyes went wide and she walked towards her fiancée but stopped when she saw Peter in the corner of her eye. God. The young teen looked like a little kid. He was curled up in the fetal position in the opposite corner with crimson liquid running down his arms. He shook violently and whispered to himself. His breathing was erratic.
“Friday, what happened?”
“Mr.Parker is having a severe panic attack and reacted violently to attempts to calming him down. May Parker is on her way now but her arrival time is unknown.”
“Who’s in worse shape?”
Before the AI could respond there was a weak response from Tony,” I’m fine help the kid. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
Pepper nodded and walked quietly towards peter. He hadn’t moved from his position but his eyes were now squeezed shut and his hands had returned to his ears.
“Now remember to be a good boy and not tell anyone ok? They may not like how much fun we’re having and won’t let us do it again.”
Peter could feel tears run down his cheeks as Skip tucked him into bed, “but I didn’t have fun Skip. I don’t want to do it again. Can’t we play a different game or build legos?”
Skip seemed to get angry at Peter’s response and he shrunk under the covers.
“Listen. Why don’t you want me to have fun? We do everything you want but i have a say and it’s a no? Don’t be so selfish Peter. Not everyone thinks it feels good at first either so you’ll get used to it.”
Peter only nodded and held his bear close.
“Don’t tell anyone, ok?”
He nodded again and closed his eyes. He didn’t tell anyone. Not for a long time.
“Peter? Honey?” Peter heard a voice through the memories. One that didn’t fit. Was it skip? Was he here?
“Peter can you open your eyes?” No the voice was female. It wasn’t Skip. Peter’s muscle untensed the slightest bit.
“Honey it’s Pepper. Can you hear me? Focus on my voice. Tony is here too. He has panic attacks too.” Pepper. Ms.Potts. He’s in the lab. Not the in his old apartment. Not with him.
“Breathe in time with me, ok?” Pepper exaggerated her breathing so he could hear her. “In. Out. In. Out.”
Peter tried his best to match. He slowly let go of his face and uncurled. His heart still thundered in his ears but it was slower now. He opened his eyes slowly and look around. The shaking hero found Pepper smiling softly at peter and holding his stretched out hand.
“Hi peter. Are you better now?”
He nodded and surveyed the room. He was on the floor but Mr.Stark wasn’t there. He was standing on the other side of the room, his head low.
“Mr.Stark?”
Tony looked up slowly to reveal his face. It was covered with minor cuts and scrapes, but all Peter saw was pain.
“Oh my god.” He had thrown Mr.Stark. He had hurt him. Peter was going to be kicked out. Tony will hate him after this. He’ll take the suit and aunt May will ground him and then he can’t protect himself against-
“Peter! Hey! Baby look at me.”
He turned and saw Pepper still staring at him. She was squeezing his hands and her brow was furrowed. She looked over to Tony and motioned for him to join her and Peter, still not letting go.
Tony walked slowly towards the pair, unsure how the teen would react.
“I’m so sorry Mr.Stark. It won’t happen again.”
Tony’s emotion looked pained as Peter spoke. He shook his head and spoke, “God pete you think that’s what I’m worried about? I don’t mind that it happened I just want to know why.” He reaches Peter and I let down with Pepper. She rubbed his arm and leaned on him, “Who’s Skip?”
Peter tensed again at the name, “He was a friend of mine when I was little. Well not really a friend. I was really lonely when we first moved here and was more interested in science than play dates. I met Skip when I was 8 and he was 15. I thought he was the best. Aunt May and Ben trusted him.” Peter paused as a far off look crossed his face, “he had babysat me a couple of times before anything happened.” There was silence as Peter wandered through his mind.
“Pete? What happened?” Tony’s voice was soft and gentle as he spoke.
“One night he said we were gonna play a game. He got out magazines and asked me to help him recreate the pictures.” Peter squeezed his eyes shut.
“Oh god peter. Did he?” Pepper couldn’t bring herself to finish the phrase.
The small boy nodded and wiped a tear from his cheek, “He told me not to tell anyone. That i would enjoy it eventually. It went on for too long. I didn’t talk. I didn’t eat. I didn’t want to see Skip anymore but May just though I would become lonely again so she made me go to his house. To be alone with him.”
Pepper squeezed his hand and handed him a box of tissues from the desk behind her.
“Finally I told them. I’m not sure why I finally had the courage but I did. Skip was a minor so he his sentence wasn’t that long but,” Peter shook his head, “I didn’t even think that it would be over now. He’s out there Tony. What if I see him? What if have another panic attack in the middle of queens? What if he tried to find me?” Peters eyes darted around the room, a million possibilities and outcomes flooding his mind.
“Peter. Hey! Pete,” Tony squeezed Peter’s hands until they made eye contact.
“Yeah Mr.Stark?” Peter looked scared and small in front of Tony.
“You need to know that I won’t let anyone harmful get near you. Ever. I will protect you til die, okay? And don’t think that May, Pepper, or Happy will ever let something happen to you. We all love you kid. I know it’s not that easy to just trust someone’s word but trust me.”
The shaking in Peter’s hand had stopped. He crawled over until he was curled up on the couples lap, and soaked in everything about them. Their smell clashed and blended all at once. Tony smelled like coffee and oil. Pepper smelled like cinnamon from her perfume but her hair smelled faintly of strawberries. Everything screamed safe. No not screamed, it was a soft whisper telling him he was okay. Tony began to run his hand through Peter’s hair as Pepper hummer quietly. They stayed like that for a long time. Close and protected nothing bothering them.