Chapter 9
Peter spent the day in bed, angry. Well, he was angry until he didn’t have any more anger to give and he became just plain sad. He was curled up under the covers, blinking away yet another set of tears, not for any particular reason. He didn’t sleep, his head was too full to let him rest, but by the afternoon his stomach was begging for some food.
Peter didn’t emerge from his room until close to four o’clock. He pushed his door open, his bare feet dragging on the cold floor.
Peter nearly jumped out of his skin when he was met with Pepper standing quietly in the hallway.
She had sympathy in her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I brought you some soup. I thought you might want to eat.”
Peter accepted the offer. “You read my mind.”
Pepper stepped past Peter not asking him for an invitation into the room. She entered anyway, placing the bowl on the side table next to Peters bed.
It was dark in the room, so Pepper addressed FRIDAY. “Friday, day mode.”
The blinds on Peters windows raised, and the room became bright.
Pepper turned around to face Peter.
“Can we talk?”
Peter shrugged, and Pepper took a seat on the edge of Peters bed. He followed suit, taking a seat beside her.
“Ms. Potts if this is about what I said to Mr. Stark earlier I-“
Pepper shook her head. “That’s not why I’m here. Though I do think you owe Tony an apology...it’s not my place to ask you to do that.”
Peter nodded, he was grateful that she hadn’t come to lecture him.
“I’m being honest when I tell you I don’t know what you’re going through, Peter, but I know that it’s hard.”
Peter shrugged again, as if it was no big deal to him.
She continued, “When I first met Tony he was a piece of work.”
Peter chuckled, and Pepper looked at him honestly.
“I’m serious! It was like taking care of a child. He acts like a toddler sometimes, Peter, really.”
Peter couldn’t help but laugh, Peppers tone held some humour, but she still had a point to get across.
“What I mean is that he had some serious growing up to do, and it was hard for us for a long time. He threw a lot of temper tantrums, but he figured it out, he found his purpose. He made a hell of a lot of mistakes along the way, but he’s come very far.”
Peter nodded, understanding, yet still unsure of what Pepper was trying to get across.
“His purpose is you, Peter. You’re the reason he’s trying so hard to stay grown up.”
Peter felt guilty then, he didn’t think he was a reason for anybody to try anything.
“You might not want to hear it, but Tony has given up a lot for you.” Pepper looked him in the eyes, and he felt the familiar sting of tears.
“There was this one time when he brought me strawberries, even though I’m allergic to them.” Pepper said, giving Peter a pointed look. He found himself confused.
“What?” He asked, and she chuckled.
“He’s trying, Peter. He’s giving you a home and a family, and as much love as he can possibly give even though you don’t want those things. All of that..it’s your strawberries.”
Out of all the things Pepper had said to Peter, this made the most clear sense.
“Look, Peter, all I’m saying is he deserves a second chance. He’s not giving you all this for no reason. He really cares about you.”
Pepper stood up, offering Peter a smile. “You two will figure it out.”
“Thanks Ms. Potts.” Peter said sincerely.
“Of course.” And with that, she left him alone with his soup.
+
Peter woke up to a thud outside his door, not having meant to fall asleep.
He glanced at the clock beside his bed, it read 9:52, and he got up.
Peter dragged his feet to the door, his bedroom light was still on. There was a box sitting outside the door, and Peter recognized it.
He picked it up, pulling it inside his room with him and shutting the door. He placed it on his bed.
The box had Mays writing printed on the front.
Peters Stuff.
Peter pulled the top off, revealing a slightly damaged note beneath. He picked it up, and his hands started to tremble.
Tony,
Here’s that box of Peters stuff I promised you. I didn’t bother with the boring stuff (birth certificate and all that), I figured you’d be able to get that via some fancy Stark technology.
This box, to me, is most of Peters childhood accomplishments and memories. I hope it helps you to learn a bit about him.
Keep our kid safe.
Love, May Parker
Peter watched as a wet tear fell from his eye into the crumpled paper. He placed it beside the box on his bed, and took a seat.
He pulled a few things out of the box, his first grade P.E. class ‘ribbon of participation’, a photo of him and his fifth grade class on their fifth grade graduation day, a framed photo of Peter and his parents. Peter sniffled weakly, and he pulled out a drawing labelled Stark Expo 2010 in May’s loopy handwriting. It was a messy crayon drawing of iron man, standing behind a small stick figure. The stick figure had Peters name above it’s head, and Peter figured it was suppose to be him.
At the bottom of the box Peter found a shopping list, only it was facts about Peter, not groceries. This one wasn’t in Mays handwriting.
Birthday - August 10th, 2001
Best friends - Ned Leeds & Michelle Jones
The asshole kid that bullies him - Flash Thompson
School - Midtown School Of Science & Technology
He likes lego?
Doesn’t like when I call his aunt attractive.
Smarter than he looks
Peter chuckled despite the tears that landed on his cheeks, and he read the note over again. He couldn’t identify Tony’s handwriting but it was easy to tell it was his. It was too chaotic and sharp to be Pepper’s, and he knew it wasn’t May’s.
Peter placed the items back in the box, he covered it up and placed it beside his bed.
“Friday, tell Mr. Stark thank you.”
“You got it, Peter.”
Peter got himself ready for bed, as he had deemed it appropriate to go to sleep even though he’d just woken up.
He thought about Tony as he brushed his teeth, and he started to feel bad. Peter looked at himself in the mirror, his lack if sleep prominent in the bags below his eyes. Peter thought about how he had acted as if he’d rather be anywhere but here.
He spat a mouthful of toothpaste into the sink, and looked up into his tired eyes.
He’d made it seem like Tony was the last person on earth he would want to spend any time with, like he was being confined to jail by being offered a place to live at the compound.
Peter dragged his feet back to his bed, flipping off the bathroom light.
“Friday, sleep mode.”
The lights shut off as Peter threw himself into his bed.
He laid on his back, staring up at the dark ceiling. He made patterns out of the dots, and traced the light that poured in through the window.
Peter tossed and turned, trying and trying again to fall asleep, and failing. He couldn’t get the look of Tony’s face after Peter said those things out of his head.
When it was close to one in the morning, Peter pulled that note out again. He read it again and again until he couldn’t quite see it because his eyes were all blurry.
He tried to read it again, but he was distracted by the hot tears that slid across his face, dripping off his nose and onto his pillow. Maybe it was the note, or how sick Peter had become of crying, but something pushed him to go to Tony.
Peter pulled himself out of bed, staggering to the door.
“Friday, night mode.”
The room lit up with a dim amber glow, and Peter pulled his door open. He sniffled his way across the compound. The only thing in Peters mind was how awful he had been to his mentor. It could have been the lack of sleep the night before, but Peter had all these words crashing through his head and he wanted to spit them all at Tony. It was a series of apologizes and explanations, and it didn’t make proper sense in Peters head.
When Peter came to Tony’s bedroom door, he hesitated. Peter didn’t want to wake him or Pepper, maybe it could wait until the morning.
Peter was considering fleeing the scene when the door swung open.
Tony looked just ask tired and awake as Peter.
“I-“
“Friday notified me that you were outside the door.” Tony explained.
“Oh.”
Peter stood for a moment, attempting to get his thoughts in order.
Tony waited patiently, his eyes forgiving.
“It’s my strawberries.” Peter said, and he immediately shook his head, that didn’t make sense.
“What’s your strawberries?”
Peter motioned to the dark hallway surrounding him.
“All this. The compound, the-my family...the love.”
Tony raised an eyebrow. “English, Parker.”
“You brought Pepper strawberries even though she didn’t want them..well, she was allergic, whatever, not the point I’m trying to make. You did something out of love, because you love her, and she rejected it because she didn’t want it.”
Tony nodded slowly, starting to understand where Peter was trying to go.
“You gave me strawberries- a home, a family, a life, and I rejected it because I didn’t want it. But I do.”
“Okay.”
“I want the strawberri-er, the home, family, and the love.”
Peter took a step back. “I really don’t want to wake Ms. Potts, can we go to the lounge or something?”
“Sure, kid.”
Tony pulled the door shut behind him and fell into step beside Peter.
“I saw the box that May gave you, and I guess I realized that you have been trying. I’ve been really ungrateful Mr. Stark.”
“It’s okay, Pete.”
Peter shook his head, “No. it’s not.” He stopped, turning to look at Tony.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Stark. I said some really mean things, I was really insensitive.”
“It’s okay Peter. I’m sorry too, for thinking that I could tell you what to do.”
“I think sometimes you do know better than me.”
Tony caught a hint of a smile on Peters lips, and he felt relieved that Peter was already trying to make a small joke.
“I think you’re right kid. I think sometimes I should step back and listen to you, though.”
Peter continued walking, leading them into the lounge of the compound.
“C’mere.” Tony said, and Peter was unable to protest as strong arms engulfed him in a hug.
“Really, Peter, I’m sorry. There are better ways I could have handled the situation.”
Peter shrugged, his cheek was pressed into Tony’s shoulder.
“We’re both still learning.”
Tony pulled away, looking at Peter. “You seriously need to get some sleep, kid.”
Peter nodded, feeling the sudden urge to yawn, as if on cue.
“Sit down, I’ll be right back.”
Peter did as he was told, taking a seat on the couch and waiting patiently for Tony.
Tony returned with a blanket and a few pillows. He place the pillows on the couch and took a seat beside Peter, handing him the blanket. Peter arranged himself accordingly, his head just barely against Tony’s leg.
Tony placed his hand on Peters head, gently combing the curls that lay there.
“You’re gonna get uncomfortable Mr. Stark.” Peter mumbled, his voice already relatively sleep-heavy.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Peter hummed his acknowledgment, his eyes already shut and content.
Tony combed his fingers through Peters hair for close to twenty minutes before Peter fell asleep, and Tony sat quietly.
He finally felt content, no more worry in his heart, no more hurt, or pain.
“I’m really glad you came into my life, kid.” Tony said, and Peter would have smiled, had he been awake to hear it.