Chapter 2
Peter woke up in a strange bed.
He had no memory of the night before for the first 10 seconds apon waking up. All peter knew was that he was in a strange bed and his head was killing him. He brought his hand up to rub at his eyes with a closed fist to try and wake himself up a little more.
Once he did that he immediately regretted it because all the memories from the night before had all came rushing back. Aunt May is dead. Aunt May is dead, is all that Peter thought.
Tears came rushing to his eyes and he got onto his elbows to raise himself up on the bed, which he now realized he was in his room at the compound that he never really uses. Whenever he would stay the night he would fall asleep somewhere else. But his room was nice, it was big. It had a really tall ceiling with baby blue walls and his bed was in the middle of the room that faced his closed bathroom door and a walk-in closet on the side along with big windows that looked out onto the field outside. His door was to the far left of the room that was closed and he had a dresser and a desk on either side of the door.
Peter looked down at his lap and saw the tears landing on his blanket. Peter looked down at his feet that were sticking out of his bed and he saw his mismatched socks on his feet. He realized that he didn’t remember anything after he left the hospital, he must have fallen asleep in the car he thought. But how did he get here, oh no did Mr. Stark carry him to his room.
Peter was broken out of his thoughts as he heard a Knock on his door “kiddo?” It was Tony. FRIDAY must have told on him.
“Come in” Peter said, voice breaking.
Tony walked into the room and looked at Peter then his face turned into something peter has never seen on his mentor before.
“How are you feeling?” Tony asked peter as he walked over to the side of the bed that Peters feet was hanging off of.
“I-I...my head really hurts” Peter said as he began to try and wipe away the tears that were in his face and still continuing to fall.
Tony looked at peter and his heart broke at the sight “come here” he said as he lifted his arms up for peter to come into. Peter immediately threw himself into Tony’s arms and turned around so that Peters head was cradled in Tony’s arm and his face pressed into his chest as he tried to silence his tears.
“It’s okay to cry you know, I’m not gonna judge you” This made peter break the dam that he had been holding in since he woke up. He cried loudly but he didn’t care because he was being held by Tony, even though the position was a bit uncomfortable for peter, the way his body was twisted, but he didn’t care as long as he was getting comfort. “I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry” peter cried out. “Hey hey it’s okay. Don’t say sorry peter” Tony began to rub his fingers along Peters head and peter seemed to stop crying just a little bit at the affection “there’s nothing to be sorry about kid” “O-okay” peter said sadly as he looked up at Tony through wet eye lashes. Tony bagan to start to shift and slowly lifted Peters head off of his arm. Peter didn’t want to move but was too embarrassed to say anything so he reluctantly got up and sat on his pillow.
Tony stood up and grabbed Peters arm “How about you go shower and I’ll go make you some breakfast?” Tony looked over at the nightstand clock it read 12:46pm “well lunch”
Peter agreed as he slowly walked over to the bathroom and opened the door walked in then closed it behind him. Tony watched as peter went into the bathroom then he walked out of Peters bedroom and made his way to the kitchen.
Once he got to the kitchen he opened the fridge and stared into it. He really needed to get more kid foods because all he had was weird foods that he knew peter wouldn’t like. He decided just to make some pancakes for the kid.
As he got all the ingredients out he hears FRIDAYS voice speak out.
“Boss. It appears peter has been staring at the shower and has not yet gotten in”
Tony stopped what he was doing and thought what the hell.
He walked into Peters bedroom and walked to the bathroom door pausing at it to knock. “Peter? Are you okay?” He waited for a response.
“Umm... yea... I’m okay... I-umm”
“Can I come in?”
“Yea”
Tony opened the door and walked in and saw peter sitting on the closed toilet seat with all his clothes still on looking disappointment.
“What’s wrong? You don’t need help to shower do you.” Tony asked jokingly but then the kid looked up at his like that was the problem then he immediately regretted saying that because what no the kid is old enough to bathe himself.
“What no! No! Mr. Stark I can- I can shower by myself I just- “ Peters face turned red then he looked at his lap and spoke softly “I don’t know how to turn on the shower”
“Oh I thought I was actually gonna have to help you shower for a second there” Tony laughed as he walked over to the shower and turned it on easily “why didn’t you just come and get me when you couldn’t get it on?” Tony turned to peter to ask him.
Peter stood up from the toilet seat as he started taking off his socks “I um I just- I don’t know”
“It’s fine peter I’m not mad I just want you to come to me if you need something”
“Okay. Thank you” Peter said as he started to undo his jeans button and zipper as he waited for tony to walk out so he could take his pants off.
Once Tony was gone peter took all his clothes off then got into the shower and put his head under the warm water. He looked around for some soap and found a really expensive looking bottle of shampoo that he poured a little bit onto his hand before rubbing it into his hair. He rinced it out and then cleaned off his body with another expensive looking body wash that smelt like honey. It reminded peter of May because she would always smell like honey and he then started to cry in the shower. He thought to himself how pathetic I’m crying in the shower because my body wash smells like honey. Peter then looked down at his feet that were black underneath from running to the hospital with no shoes. Ew he thought as he lifted his leg up to clean it off but he lost his blalance and almost fell back but caught himself at the last second. He then sat down in the shower and cleaned off his feet the best he could.
Once peter was done he got out of the shower and grabbed a towel and rapped it around himself. He had to admit he did feel a lot better after the shower.
He opened his bathroom door and walked into his bedroom only to realize that he had no clothes here. He had clothes at the tower but not here. Peter was about to go back into the bathroom to put back on his dirty clothes but he thought better of that and decided not to. He was gonna sit on his bed and wait for clothes to appear when he remembered what Tony said to him if he needed anything. Well he needed clothes but he also needed a hug. But he needed clothes more so he hesitantly looked up to FRIDAY.
“Um I don’t have any clothes” peter said then shook his head when he realized how stupid he sounded.
“Would you like me to get Boss for you?”
“Yes please” peter responded.
Peter awkwardly stood there and waited for Tony to come.
Tony cane less than a minute later and knocked on the door.
“Come in” Peter said as he tightened the towel that was rapped around him.
“What’s up” tony responded. Oh so FRIDAY didn’t tell him. This is awkward peter thought.
Tony just stood there and watched peter shift from foot to foot as he chewed on the end of the towel.
“I don’t have any other clothes” peter said then looked up at Tony.
“Shit... oops I mean shucks” tony corrected himself “I really shouldn’t sware in front of you kid, bad habits and all”
Peter continued to chew on the end of the towel as tony began to walk into Peters closet that was empty then over to the dresser that was also empty.
“Okay...umm” Tony seemed to be in thought for a second.
“Come with me” Tony walked out of the room and into the hallway then turned for peter to follow him.
“Where are we going?” Peter asked kinda scared tony was gonna take him clothes shopping in nothing but a towel.
“To my room. I have some clothes I’ll give you until I get you some” tony said as he walked to his bedroom then opened the door and walked in. Peter stopped at the door way not really wanting to go in because he’s never been in there before. “How about this and this?” Tony said holding up track pants that looked small but probably still too big for peter and a long sleeve sweater that still looked new.
Peter walked into the room and took both in his hands trying to hold onto the towel without it falling off. “Thank you Mr. Stark” peter said then looked up at Tony not really knowing where to change.
“Ok kid that’s the smallest clothes I’ve got. If it doesn’t fit we’ll just tie it and my underwear won’t fit you so umm just go commando” Tony walked to the bedroom door then turned back to peter “ you can change in the bathroom I’ll be in the kitchen when your done”
“Okay thank you” Peter said not really liking the fact that he was gonna have no underwear on but whatever he was starting to get cold.
Peter quickly changed then walked into the kitchen. “It kinda fits” peter said quietly and looked down at himself.
Tony turned to the quiet voice and it hurt him to see peter who was always so happy and talking so loudly non stop all the time, he always had a hard time getting a word in over Peters constant rambling but he guessed it’ll take a little long to get that peter back. “It looks good. Pancakes?” Tony held a plate out to peter who climbed up onto one of the chairs.
“Thank you” peter said trying to force a smile that tony could see right through. “But I’m not that hungry”
“You have to eat something peter. Just a few bites” tony said knowing once peter ate a little he’d realize how hungry he actually is.
“No” Peter said then he crossed his arms in protest. Tony didn’t understand why peter was not eating. Yeah sure when his parents died he didn’t anything for days but also no one forced him to do anything because no one cared and peter has someone who cares about him.
Tony grabbed the plate of pancakes and grabbed another plate and put one pancake on it then sat next to peter and started to eat his pancake. He didn’t say anything but he did notice the kid lean into him a little bit.
Cute. Tony thought. Tony started to cut up his pancake and shove big pieces into his mouth thinking that maybe if peter sees him eat, he will eat as well. But no such luck because peter just sat there with his arms crossed staring straight ahead at nothing in particular.
“Kid. Eat.” Tony pleaded with peter.
Peter uncrossed his arms stood up almost knocking the stool over and stomped away before he got to the end of the hall and turned around “I’m not hungry and I’m not eating” he told Tony before stomping away to his room.
Tony turned back to his pancakes and went to take another bite but realized he wasn’t hungry, he wasn’t even hungry before he was just eating to get peter to eat something. So much for that. Tony thought about what he should do now because clearly he doesn’t know how to handle kids. The only kid tony had ever been around was peter and he was always so well behaved so he didn’t really have to deal with too much. He would get the kid every Tuesday’s and Thursday’s after school until about 9pm then send him back over to May. Sometimes peter would sleep over on the weekends but even then peter was always well behaved and he never had any problems with him, he would always listen and do what he was told. But now, well that’s a different story but he can’t really blame him.
Tony got up off the stool and began to slowly follow peter to his room. Trying to take his time because he didn’t really know what to say to peter.
Once he got to the room he was about to knock on the door when he heard quiet crying.
“Peter? Can I come in?” Tony asked through the door.
He heard sniffing then waited a bit. He was about to walk in when the door opened up to reveal peter with red eyes and puffy red cheeks. He looked even younger then he did just ten minutes ago. Peter looked up at him and brought his hand to his mouth to bite his nails. Tony looked down at him and watched him bring his hand up to his mouth to bite his nails and he thought if he had ever see him do that before or maybe it’s a new habit that peter picked up on in the last day or so.
“Kid” tony said brokenly then grabbed Peters cheeks with his hands and gently brushed away his tears although more seemed to fall and they didn’t stop. Tony could tell peter was trying to hold in the sound that he was gonna make so tony softy told him not to.
“Peter it’s ok to cry” this seemed to break the dam peter was holding and he brought peter into his chest and wrapped his arms around him. He could feel the tears wetting his shirt instantly but didn’t mind.
Tony tried to lead peter over to the bed to sit down but the kid didn’t move so he dragged peter to the bed and gently pushed him down at the same time as he sat down so he could be beside peter on the bed. Peter cried loudly into his chest and his arms wrapped around Tony’s torso.
“I-I’m sorry for-for yelling at you” peter tried to say between sobs not even removing this face from Tony’s chest.
“It’s okay peter” tony said as he rubbed his hand up and down on Peters back “I just want you to eat. You’re gonna make yourself sick if you don’t eat anything buddy”
Peter stopped crying for a second and went completely still and tony thought he was done crying but then peter started crying even louder and hugged tony even tighter as if he was gonna disappear.
“I just miss May so much” saying her name hurt peter so much.
“I know. I know peter but it’ll get easier” tony said to peter continuing to rub his back up and down.
“No-no it won’t! I’ll-I’m never gonna be happy again” peter said brokenly as he tried to stop himself from crying by trying to muffle his sobs against Tony’s chest.
Tony’s heart broke and he hugged peter even harder trying to think about what he could say to peter to make him feel better. “Peter listen to me.” Tony said then decided to pull peter away from his chest so he could look at him in the eyes so he knows he’s listening. He grabbed peter by the shoulders and pulled him away from his chest then held him at arms length. Peters face looked so sad and tired.
“The thing about grief peter, is that it never does go away. But I promise you that it does get easier. It becomes bearable. It is also another form of love because you have so much love for your aunt that she will never leave you, she is always gonna be in your heart and you know that she loves you so much, no matter what and she’ll always be here. I will too” tony said then mentally gave himself a pat on the back for his good speech.<\p>
“You-you promise?” Peter asked hesitantly.
“Yes I promise it’ll get easier Pete-“
“No i-i mean, you’ll always be here?”
Tony’s heart just broke once again “yes peter. I promise you that”
“Okay” Peter said as he stopped crying and pushed his head back into Tony’s chest and wiped his nose and his tears on Tony’s shirt then lifted his head back up to look at tony. Tony looked down at peter, did he really just wipe his snotty nose on my shirt, this kid.
“Okay then” tony said as he clapped his hands and stood up from the bed. He turned around to look at peter who looked kinda sad again. Then tony remembered Peters clothes, well his clothes that the kid was wearing, he needed to buy him some age appropriate clothes.
“How about we go get you some new clothes? I’m sure my clothes aren’t all that comfy plus I’m sure you’ll appreciate some underwear”
Peters face flushed red then he looked as if he wanted to say something but decided not to and stood up to stand next to tony.
Once tony realized the kid was waiting for him to start walking he turned and started walking to the living room to pull out his StarkPad.
Tony and peter got to the living room and tony sat down on the couch and peter sat down right next to him practically on his lap. Tony knew that the kid had no concept of personal space but he was always just really close, not really touching except for the occasional arm touch or his leg will brush against Tony’s in the workshop. He knew that peter always liked to be close to someone and that’s because his aunt told tony that one day while he was at Peters apartment surprising him one Friday after school to take him for the weekend. He remembered how happy peter was when he saw him on the couch talking to his aunt. But the conversation came up about how peter has separation anxiety and how he always had it but it got worse after his uncle Ben died. He knew peter had separation anxiety before May even told him about it because it was kinda obvious with everything that the kids been through and how he acts in the lab sometimes, always wanting to be close to tony. He even knew it because the first couple nights peter spent at the compound he had to call his aunt to talk to her before he went to bed, two times once. Peters aunt brought the conversation up that day asking him if he noticed peter doing this stuff to which he replied to with yes and told May then May just told him that peter had separation anxiety, he honestly wished he could talk to her right now about what to do with peter because he honestly had no idea.
“So what do you say we buy you some new pyjamas to sleep in so you’re not sleeping in your clothes?” Tony looked down at peter who was playing with the string on his sweater.
“Okay that’s fine Mr. Stark” peter said quietly still not looking up at tony.
Tony opened up the StarkPad and thought about where to order kids clothes from then he thought that he has never brought anyone clothes before, not even Pepper. He always give her money to buy her own gift from himself but he’s never bought anyone clothes before, especially a kid. He never even bought his own clothes before, pepper always did that for him. Tony paused and then looked down at peter trying to think about what size he would be then he realized that the kid was looking up at him.
“What it is?” Peter asked in a small voice.<\p>
“Nothing kid. I just, Ive never bought anyone clothes before and I don’t even know your size”
Tony looked back at the screen and looked up Children’s stores.
“That’s okay Mr. Stark, I know what size I am”
peter said still looking really sad but proud because he could help.
Peter and tony ended up spending 2 hours clothes shopping for peter. At first tony wanted to get peter an Ironman onesie but peter turned red and grabbed the StarkPad from him and bought army pjs with matches top and bottoms. Tony bought peter some jeans, tops, sweaters and a pair of shoes. Cringing at some of the stuff the kid picked out. After peter fell asleep against his shoulder he decided to buy the kid the Ironman onesie just to see his face when he opened the box, and maybe he’ll get him to put it on later.
Tony stood up and held Peters head so it didn’t fall back, then he gently tried to pick peter up by putting his arms under his knees and his other arm against his back then he stood and let Peters head lean against his shoulder so it wouldn’t fall back. He walked into Peters room and gently put peter on the bed then covered him with a blanket. He looked at the clock on the nightstand table and saw that it read 4:47pm. Kind of a weird time to take a nap but he couldn’t wake peter up right now, he’s rather let him sleep as long as he can.
Tony walked out of Peters room and decided to go tinker in the lab until peter woke up.