Tumbling Down
Peter was being crushed. Tons of cement weighed down on him. He tried to lift the heavy weight, screaming as his ribs cracked and sharp stones dug into his back. Tears streamed down his face as he choked on the dust he was breathing in. Water poured from a burst pipe somewhere above him and he couldn’t breathe, he was going to die because it was too heavy and he couldn’t get out and he couldn’t breathe and-
Peter woke up gasping, struggling to bring air into his lungs as he panicked. He was sweating, and the sheets were tangled around his legs. He tried to kick them off, feeling too confined but they wouldn’t come off and he felt trapped and he just wanted Tony, he wanted his Dad-
Suddenly, light from the hallway flooded his room as Tony rushed in, looking disheveled. This wasn’t uncommon. Tony had been helping him deal with nightmares even before the adoption.
“Hey kiddo,” Tony started, kneeling beside him. “You need to breathe. Can you breathe for me?”
Peter shook his head rapidly, trying to pull air into his lungs. Tony grabbed his hand and put it on his chest next to the arc reactor.
“We’re gonna breathe together, alright? Feel how my chest is moving?” Tony asked as he moved to sit on the side of the bed. “Try and copy me.” Tony breathed in deeply, exaggerating his breathing for Peter to copy.
Peter tried to take in some air, choking on his sobs a few times, but managing to feel like he wasn’t going to suffocate at least. Tony rubbed his back, trying to help him calm down. Peter leaned closer and pressed his face into his Dad’s chest, taking stuttering breaths.
“Alright kiddie, there you go. You’re safe, nothing’s going to happen to you.” Tony said, pulling Peter closer to him. “You feeling a little better now?”
“Yeah,” Peter whispered, relaxing as his chest began to loosen. “Thank you. And ‘m sorry for waking you up,” he mumbled, face pressed to Tony’s shirt.
“Don’t ever feel sorry,” Tony said, wrapping his kid in a hug. He rested his chin on Peter’s head.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Peter shook his head, but opened his mouth to speak anyway.
“It was just the thing from homecoming,” he began, feeling himself beginning to shake. “I couldn’t get out after he collapsed the warehouse on me, and it was so heavy. I couldn’t get it off, or breathe and I felt like I was going to die-“ he broke off with a sob, snaking his arms around his dad and pressing his face above the arc reactor. Tony didn’t hesitate to pull him closer, rubbing soothing circles on Peter’s back.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright Pete. You’re okay. You don’t have to talk about it anymore if you don’t want,” Tony whispered. He moved to stand up, and Peter whimpered, grabbing onto his Dad’s shirt.
“Please don’t go.” He sounded pitiful and scared, and Tony could see tears welling up in his eyes from the faint glow of the arc reactor and the soft light from the hallway.
“I’m not going anywhere kiddo. I’ll stay here as long as you want.” He sat down with his back against the headboard and opened his arms. Peter fell against him, feeling safer with Tony there. He knew that Tony wouldn’t leave until Peter was asleep again, and he’d be back if Peter had another nightmare. Peter pressed his face into his Dad’s chest, letting out a huff as he closed his eyes to attempt sleeping again.
“Goodnight, Peter,” Tony whispered, pressing a kiss to his son’s hairline.
“G’night, Dad,” the teen mumbled, already slipping back into unconsciousness.
Peter slept soundly through the rest of the night.