Comfortember Day Eighteen: Anxiety [Coffee Shop + No Powers AU]

Peter had little options when it came to jobs. He was fourteen, in high school and had no experience with work whatsoever. He was slowly debating on whether he should drop out of high school or not so he could get a full time and not a part time job. But if he did that, his Aunt May would know and she'd be scolding him and he'd feel terrible for getting her upset.

Then again, if she found out he was attempting to get a part time job, she'd probably still get upset. After all, it was apparently her job alone to take care of things like bills and food and other such things, because she was the adult. It was an adult's job to take care of their kids.

While Peter appreciated that and perhaps would've accepted it at one time, this time he couldn't. After Uncle Ben died, things hadn't been the same. It was getting hard to pay for everything. May also worked hard enough as it is. Peter wanted to give her some slack. She deserved a break. Or two. Or five.

And so Peter went searching for a job every day after school, trying to find something that might pay decently and also go with his school schedule. He also wanted to make sure he could keep this a secret from May. Aside from the money, he felt that was the most important part. He didn't like lying to her but he had to, unfortunately.

The best thing Peter could get for a job was at a coffee shop. The pay wasn't all that great, especially because he was only part time, but the location was alright. It wasn't too far from his school so it wouldn't take him long to get there. He'd work after school and until the store closed. He figured that'd give him enough time to get home before May got back from her work.

Peter was practically vibrating his first day moreso out of nervousness than excitement. If he was being honest, he wasn't excited at all. He just wanted to get the work done and go home. It wasn't as if his boss was a jerk, he seemed understanding enough, and the job was probably the most easy going one Peter could find, but that didn't dwell his nerves.

He was nervous his handwriting might be too messy (his shaking hands didn't help), he was worried he'd drop drinks on his way to the tables, he was scared he might say the wrong thing and piss patrons off. Peter kept telling himself it was for the greater good and it was. He had to do this for Aunt May.

Peter's first couple days didn't end up too bad. There were times where he stuttered when taking orders and his writing was a little messy sometimes. Thankfully, when Peter delivered drinks, he didn't drop or spill them. When it came to putting them on the table, somehow or another Peter's hands stopped shaking.

It was pretty decent and Peter made some pretty decent tips. It might've been because he was a younger worker so people were a little more forgiving with him. Either way, he saved up any and all tips and was slowly getting the hang of things. He even had a few regulars who tipped him extra.

In reality, it wasn't a lot of money but it was a start and that's all Peter needed. A start. Of course he still hated lying

Everything was going fine.

And then Tony Stark came into the shop and Peter's anxiety shot straight through the roof again. What was a rich man like Tony Stark doing in a small coffee shop? There were much better and fancier restaurants for him to go to. Why did he have to go to the one Peter was working in?

Oh, god. What if everything went wrong? Everything was going to go wrong, he could see it now. He was going to get fired because he failed to serve someone as famous as Tony Stark.

Peter prepared himself physically and mentally. He got out his notepad and pen and kept saying a positive mantra in his head. That was all he could really do as he made his way over to Tony Stark's table. His heart was beating so hard he wondered if anyone else heard it.

Before completely getting to Tony Stark's table, Peter took a couple deep breaths, willed himself to stop shaking and tried to keep the calm mantra in his head. Then he stood next to Tony Stark's table and,

"H-h-how can I help you, s-sir?"

So much for all that preparation.

Tony Stark took his (cool) glasses off and pocketed them in his jacket. Much to Peter's surprise, Tony didn't give him an annoyed look like Peter's stuttering was a bother. He actually looked kind of easy going.

"Take a deep breath, kid. I don't bite."

And was this Tony Stark's way of teasing? Reassuring? What was this?

Instead of making a complete fool of himself, Peter took mental deep breaths. Then he nodded and got ready to write.

"O-okay, so what do you want?" Peter immediately grimaced. That sounded too forceful and rude and he was never like that before. "I mean…"

Tony raised a hand. "It's okay. I just want a coffee. Black."

"That's it?" Peter asked. "Nothing else?"

"Nothing else for now." Tony nodded.

"Okay, black coffee…"

Peter noticed Tony staring at his hands so Peter looked down and...Oh. They were shaking. Bad. Just like his first day. That was embarrassing.

"Okay! S-so, that'll be here shortly!"

Peter didn't wait for a response before he went to put Tony Stark's order in and then go around the coffee shop for other patrons. Peter's heartbeat did start to get back to normal after he was away from Tony Stark's table and went around to his other more familiar patrons. They all looked at him with amused expressions but for some reason, it didn't make Peter feel any better. Strange.

True to Peter's word it really didn't take too long for Tony Stark's coffee to be ready. It took all his willpower not to shake so that the drink wouldn't spill all over the tray. Being stuttery and shaky and anxious was one thing, but to spill the drink on top of all that? God help him.

Peter held back a wince as he held Tony Stark's steaming hot coffee in his hand and as carefully as possible placed it on his table. There was not one spill. Peter inwardly sighed with relief.

"See, that wasn't so hard, right?" Tony said, amused.

"No, sir." Peter nodded.

"You need to gain more confidence, kid," Tony said, bluntly.

"I'll do my best," was Peter's awkward response. "N-now excuse me, I have to hand out these other drinks."

"Alright…" Tony trailed off and squinted his eyes at Peter's name tag. "Peter. Good luck."

"Th-thanks."

Peter went back to work and did his usual routine, the nervousness of Tony Star being in the coffee shop slowly dissipating even if the man was still there. His regulars looked at him normally again which helped put Peter at ease. Before it almost felt like they were silently mocking him.

During the rest of his shift he didn't fail to notice Tony Stark tossing him looks now and then. Peter almost wanted to go up and ask what the heck was going on. The man didn't ask for any more drinks or ask for snacks, so Peter had no idea why he was looking at him so much.

Was this a test of some kind? Did his boss invite Tony Stark to see how well Peter could handle his nerves? If that was the case, Peter had to give it to his boss. It was a pretty decent idea, even if he hated the feeling of being watched and having the additional pressure.

It felt like forever until Peter's shift came to an end and all his regulars walked out. He went around the table and collected his tips. He stopped nervously at Tony Stark's table. The man hadn't moved an inch.

Peter sighed. This was an exhausting test. "Is there anything I can get you before I go home?"

"Going home already?" Tony asked as if Peter hadn't been there for hours.

Peter nodded. "I can get you one last-"

"No, I'm done here." Tony stood. "Thanks, kid."

Peter was about to turn away until Tony grabbed his hand, opened his palm and handed him-

"Holy shi- crap! Fifty dollars?!"

Tony shrugged. "Yeah. It seemed like you worked hard today."

Peter frowned and looked up. "Mister Stark, I really can't accept this…"

"How old are you?"

Peter furrowed his brows. "What?"

"How old are you?"

Peter looked over his shoulder to make sure his boss wasn't looking. Then he turned back to Tony.

He tried to confidently say, "I'm sixteen."

Tony looked at him, unimpressed. "Sixteen."

Peter shifted uncomfortably. "Ye-yeah…"

Tony put his glasses on and sighed. "You wanna try that again?"

"Fourteen," Peter mumbled, staring down at his feet.

"Uh-huh, I thought so," Tony sighed. "What's a fourteen-year-old doing working? You should be in school."

Peter was not having this conversation and definitely not with Tony Stark. He tried to hand the fifty dollar bill back to him but Tony shoved his hands in his pockets. Peter pouted. Tony shook his head.

"It's really none of your business, sir," Peter said, tiredly. "So, can you just take this back?"

"I don't like being handed things."

"Oh…Well." Peter went to put the money on the table but Tony swiftly snatched his wrist.

"No. Just keep it." Tony sounded annoyed which confused Peter because he was the one who should be annoyed.

"Mister Stark-"

"Goodbye, Peter."

Tony Stark left the coffee shop before there could be any more arguments. Peter stood there dumbfounded, having no idea what the hell just happened. Either way, he couldn't keep this much money. He went to the cash register and put the fifty dollars in and kept his other normal tips.

XXX

"What is he doing here?"

Much to Peter's horror, Tony Stark was back in the coffee shop sitting where he was the day prior. By now Peter knew this wasn't a test because even his boss seemed confused at Tony Stark's reappearance.

"It's not a private coffee shop. Anyone is welcome," his boss replied. "If anything it might be good for business. Get some more big guys in here, get more money and keep this place running."

Peter frowned. "Is this place in danger?"

His boss shook his head. "No, but you never know. I'll take any customers who come in." He patted Peter's shoulder. "Now you go get him."

Peter sighed. He put his apron on and got his notepad and pen. He didn't feel as anxious this time when going to Tony Stark's table. His heart still skipped some beats and his hands still shook but it was minute.

"H-hello again, Mister Stark," Peter greeted a little more confidently.

"Good to see you again, Pete," Tony said in return. "You don't seem as nervous today."

Peter resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Thanks. What can I get you, sir?"

"Well, you can stop calling me 'sir' and just call me Tony. Or Mister Stark, I guess."

"It's the right thing to do to use formalities in this business. Or any business," Peter replied, confused.

"It'll help you ease up. Trust me."

"Mister Stark is the best you will get," Peter said with a stern nod. "So, what is it today, Mister Stark?"

"Black coffee and...ah, what the hell? I'll take a bagel."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, for now."

Peter nodded, wrote the order and went to other tables.

"Oh and Peter. I noticed you didn't keep the fifty."

Peter whipped around. He rushed back to Tony's table and couldn't stop himself from glaring.

"Mister Stark, please. This isn't the place to do this! And...and how dare you spy on me like that?"

Tony shrugged. "Just trying to look out for a kid who should be in, you know, school."

"Mister Stark," Peter huffed, scowling. He didn't want to be rude and disrespectful but he felt justified this time.

"Peter."

"Why do you even care? Why does it matter to you?!"

Peter's sudden shouting made the coffee shop go silent. Even Tony looked taken aback. Peter's heart started pounding roughly like it had when he first started working here. His throat also felt clogged.

Tony Stark bothering him about this reminded him of how guilty he felt about lying to Aunt May. She was starting to get suspicious at the times Peter was starting to come home. Apparently the school had even called her a couple times. Peter just kept throwing lie after lie. It hurt.

It wasn't just May anymore either. It was Ned and MJ and his teachers. And he did lie to his boss about his age to get him in. There was no way he'd accept a fourteen-year-old but sixteen? Definitely. Peter didn't know what else to do. He just-

"Kid, breathe."

Hands firmly gripped his shoulders. Peter hadn't even realized he was on his way to his knees until Tony held him up. His breathing was also erratic. With or without Tony Stark, he should've known this was going to happen. He felt the build up of an anxiety attack from the start and he thought he conquered it but he was obviously wrong.

Tony helped Peter with an exercise that helped calm those in a state of panic. Then he was led outside and put on the bench outside the coffee shop. Peter exhaled deeply and leaned his head back.

A couple minutes passed before Tony spoke.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked, gently. "I gotta know. Why is someone so young working like this? It's not right."

"Because…" Peter started, trying to collect his thoughts. "Because my aunt and I have been having money trouble lately. I feel so bad that she has to work all the time. It's not fair that she's overworking herself. I just wanted to help."

Tony nodded silently. There was a strange look in his eyes, almost as if he understood what Peter was going through. However, he knew better. There was no way Tony Stark could understand being poor. The man grew up in wealth. He was always going to have money, unlike Peter and his aunt.

"I get it," Tony eventually said.

Peter scoffed. He knew Tony was just saying that to make him feel better.

"My best friend was in a similar position a long time ago. Way back in our college years."

Oh. So he wasn't talking about himself. Peter sat up and looked at Tony curiously.

"You asked why it matters to me. Well, when I saw you working here, it reminded me of my best friend," Tony explained. "He was also forced to work when he should've been focusing on school. It took forever for me to convince him to just let me help. Eventually he agreed and things worked out."

"It's...It's really not easy asking for money," Peter mumbled.

"I know," Tony said, softly. "But sometimes you gotta ask for help and that's okay."

Peter fiddled with his fingers. Tony was right.

"But I can't just ask for charity. Especially if it's from you."

Tony laughed. "Kid, it's not charity. I have more than enough money to help out someone in need. I can give you enough to get by until things get a little better at home."

"Mister Stark…"

"Please don't be as stubborn as Rhodey," Tony practically pleaded but Peter noticed the teasing undertone.

"I'll have to talk to my aunt about this," Peter said. "Depending on what she says…"

Tony nodded. "Alright. Let me know what happens. Better yet, take me with you while you chat."

"I don't know if that's a good idea. That might put her on edge," Peter said.

"Or it might help." Tony shrugged. "C'mon, kid. It'll be easier to do this together."

Peter sighed but nodded. "Alright."

Author's Note: Okay, so I know the ending is abrupt but it was either that or no ending at all. AKA, it'd be waaayy too long and while I'm fine with these one shots being long, I don't want them to be too long because it's part of a collection.

That's all for now. I'll see ya'll in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading!

~Kurosaki