Chapter Text
2 days later. Monday morning. Thers a knock on Peters bedroom door. It wakes him up. Peter watches groggily as his door is pushed open reviling Tony.
"Come on, Underoos, its time to get up. You've got school"
School? Already? Tony hadn't told him he'd be going back already. Peter stits up, sudenly a bit more awake.
"What?"
"School. You cant stay in the towerall day. It will be good for you. I've talked to the school-....."
Tony keeps talking but Peter can't hear him anymore. He looks down at his now trembling hands. Tony stops talking when he notices Peters zoned out state.
"Hey, Underoos, you still with me?"
No replie. Tony walks over to him and sits down next to him on the bed.
"Peter?"
"Peter, talk to me"
Peter knows Tonys talking but he can't decipher it. He feels like hes drowning in a crater of pillows.
"Dammit"
Tony mutters to himself. He places his hands on Peters shoulders.
"Pete, I need you to try and listen to me. I think your having an anxiety attack. i need you to take some deep breaths, alright?
Peter, in his know spiralling state, manages to process a couple words. Deap breaths? What. Why does Mr Stark want me to take deep breaths. Im not- The realisation sudenly dawns on him. Hes having an anxiety attack in front of Mr Stark. Sure, this has happened before but never this intense. His awareness of the situation does nothing to help his panic but he does try to take deep breaths. Tony notices his attempt and quietly praises him.
It takes some time but Peter manages to get his breathing steady again. Tony speaks calmly to him
"You want to tell me what that was all about, Underoos?
He says it like a question but Peter knows its not one. The thought of telling Tony whats wrong makes him feel sick. What if he thinks im week? What if he kicks me off the avengers? What if he kicks me out the tower? What if- he pushes down his worries, reminding himself Tony has been nothing but kind and patient the last couple weeks. He takes a final deal breath before responding.
"I dont want to go to school"
"Why?"
Tony knows there's a reason behind Peters words. Considering the boy once tried to go to school the day after being shot on a mission, his reson is probably a good one.
"......it's to much"
"What do you mean?"
Peter decides to just rip off the bandaid and let his words flood out like blood from a bullet wound.
"......flash is just going to be horrible to me and everyone is going to give me pity looks and I'll be behind in all my classes and school is so loud and i dont want to deal with loud right now and everyone will ask questions and-"
Peters sounds nervous, each word coming out quicker then the last. Hes not looking at Tony and dosent relise hes rambling until Tony cuts him off.
"Peter"
Peter looks up at Tony.
"I know going back is scary but it wont be as bad as you think. If flash says one thing to you, I'll get him suspended. If it's too loud you can wear ear plugs. If people ask questions remember you dont have to answer. And yeah, so you might get pity looks but people will stop eventually. And you could never be behind in class. like ever. I think its impossible for somone as smart as you"
Peter laughs slightly, Tonys words helping to ease his nerves but hes clearly still not 100%.
"I've talked to the school, you don't need to be in the whole day. You can come home any time you want."
"I still dont think im ready"
Tony sighs.
"How about you go back on Wednesday? We go school supplie shopping today. Get you everything you need. We can get you organised and look over the work you missed tomorrow and then you go back for half the day on Wednesday. Sound good?"
Peter things for a moment. He nods and moves to hug Tony, resting his head on Tonys chest.
"I think so"
Tony is slightly talken back by the hug but doesn't hesitate to reciprocate it.
"Good"
They sit like that for a couple minutes before Tony speaks.
"Hey, Peter, i got a question"
Peter looks up at Tony.
"Yeah?"
"Weren't you on meds for your anxiety? Are you still taking them?"
Peter feels his stomach drop at the question. He didn't really want to explain why his medication had stoped. Not right now at least.
"I was, yeah"
"Your not anymore?"
"No"
"Why?"
Tony started to feel worry creeping into him. He could tell by Peters lack of eye contact and hesitant spaking it as probably a touchy reason. A May reason.
"....well when May got fired we didn't have health care coverage anymore so i couldn't get my meds.... she said I didn't need them anyway"
Tony signed. Of course.
"Underoos, I've told you so many times. Anything May said was wrong. Her opinions suck. You need your meds. Im getting you back on them"
Peter didn't really know what to say. He forgot how to act when somone takes care of him. It had been a while. It takes a minute but he finally responds with a quiet "ok" and rests his head back against Tonys chest. Tony holds him close.
When Tony does finally leave, he immediately calls dr helen cho to get Peter back on his meds. He'd do anything to help his. Sorry, The boy. Definitely not his.