Mask
Peter Parker wears a mask to keep his family safe. One would think that was the only reason he wore it, concealing his identity for the sake of his closest and dearest.
Though, in reality, there was one more reason as to why Peter hid behind his mask as Spider-Man.
After, when the world no longer is missing half of its population, he reveals his identity to the world. And still, his mask remains. And Peter gets asked, why? Why wear it, the mask, when we all know who you are now?
And he smiles, joking, "Gotta stay true to the spider-branding, don't I?"
It's far from the truth, but the press and the public accept his response, no doubts at his words.
(Some days, Peter wishes they had doubted his words, that day. Some days, he recognizes that it doesn't really matter, in the end. Some days, he'll know why he said what he said, and thinks that it did matter, that it made a difference.)
One day, after a particularly gruesome fight against his former friend turned villain, Peter says to Tony, "Do you know why I still wear the mask? Besides the practical reasons, I mean."
"No," Tony answers softly, because he knows Peter is about to open up to him, "I can't say I do."
"It's so they can't see I'm afraid. Terrified, actually. And yeah, I'll crack a joke or two-"
Tony's breath hitches when he tries to joke, "- or a hundred,"
Peter smiles.
"Or a hundred, yeah. But while I'm distracting them with my jokes and stuff... I cry, sometimes, under the mask, y'know? Because death isn't all that funny, but I gotta joke about it, right? Because if I do show weakness, they'll know, and that would make it worse, so much worse, because they'd take advantage of it. Advantage of my weakness. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"Oh, kiddo..." Tony whispers, eyes glassy and throat tight and body shaking.
He embraces Peter, and Peter falls right into him, and says, "I don't wanna be afraid anymore, Tony... I don't. But I can't help it, and I just-"
"It's okay to be afraid." he mutters, fingers playing with the curls at the nape of his neck.
And maybe Tony was right. Maybe it was okay to be afraid. And, even if it wasn't okay? Well, then he's lucky he's got Tony on his side.
("Mr. Stark...? I don't feel so good..." This is not weakness, Peter thinks.
"I-I don't know what's happening- I don't know what's-" This is not fear, Peter thinks.
"I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go," This is terror, this is panic, this is horror.
"I'm sorry." But most of all, this is acceptance.)