Chapter 22
Tony and Pepper were shocked awake by Peter's screams echoing throughout the house.
"Oh my...Peter?" Pepper gasped scrambling to get up.
"FRIDAY?" Tony shouted as he shoved the duvet off, just about to activate his gauntlets.
"It appears Peter is having a nightmare and seems to be in great distress. He is yet to wake up. I would advise waking him, his heart rate and vitals are getting to concerning levels." She replied as Tony and Pepper raced out the room to Peter's bedroom.
They barged inside and were met with the sight of Peter's bedsheets wrapped around him, and he was tossing and turning whimpering.
"God...Peter? Honey." Pepper rushed to one side of the bed as Tony rushed to the other.
"Peter? Kid?" Tony perched on the edge of the bed and leant over Peter immediately seeing the sheen or sweet covering his head and body; "Buddy? Wake up?" He reached over to shake Peter, and was terrified to feel Peter trembling.
"Sweetie? You need to wake up." Pepper said her voice breaking with concern and panic.
Tony himself was getting frantic with worry now, because even shaking Peter didn't wake him up.
"Dad...pleasee...help...No!" Hearing Peter's small cries for help broke Tony's heart. His son was asking him for help, and he sounded so scared. So lost and so young.
"DAD!"
"Peter wake up!" Tony said grabbing him with both hands now, his eyes blown wide; "WAKE UP!"
Suddenly, Peter gasped and started, his eyes snapping open. Immediately he started looking around wildly, and tried to cower away from them.
"Hey hey it's ok honey." Pepper tried to soothe him by grabbing his hand; "You're safe."
"It's just us. Mom and dad. You're ok buddy. It was just a nightmare." Tony murmured reaching to cup Peter's face, to force him to look at him. Watching as his sleepy eyes finally locked on his and realisation set in. The nightmare wore off and finally Peter came to the present.
"D-dad?" Peter stuttered looking at him desperately; "Is that...is that really you? Is this real?"
"It's me spider baby. I'm here." Tony tried to smile at him reassuringly, but he had never seen Peter so scared. He would do anything to take that fear away.
Overcome with so much relief, Peter couldn't stop the sob that escaped. He launched forward wrapping his arms around his dad's neck, burying his head into his chest as he cried.
Immediately, Tony wrapped strong arms around Peter, looking panicked at Pepper.
"It's ok buddy. Shhhh you're ok. You're safe. I got you spider baby." Tony murmured softly pulling Peter into his lap so legs dangled over the side of the bed. He could feel Peter's body shaking, his breathing was ragged and his sobs was painful to listen to because he wanted more than anything just to help make them stop.
Pepper shifted across the bed to rub Peter's back; "Oh honey it's ok. It was just a nightmare. It wasn't real. You're safe."
Peter knew they were right. It was just a dream. But it had been so real. And the more he cried about how scared he was, the more embarrassed and humiliated he felt. Waking his parents up over some stupid nightmare, and it just made him cry more. His face turned beet red utterly mortified that his screaming had woken them up. Damn stupid clowns! Why did they scare him so much?
"I'll get you some water." Pepper said quickly heading downstairs to the kitchen.
Tony just rubbed Peter's back offering reassurance; "It's ok bud just let it all out." He hoped once Peter released all his tears he might feel better.
Finally the crying started to ease at Pepper returned with the water.
"Here honey."
Sniffling, Peter rubbed at his eyes and face slowly peeking out at his mom. He didn't want to let go of his dad, he felt safe in his arms. It was grounding him, reminding him that this was real and he was safe. But more than that he was afraid to see their faces. Worried he might see disappointment or annoyance on their faces. Because he woke them up and acted like a baby.
Pepper just smiled warmly at him, and Peter was reassured to see nothing but love and concern in her eyes. Her hand reached up to push the hair for his face, and wipe the tears away; "There's my boy's beautiful face. Here drink this. It will help." She handed him the water.
He took it, briefly lifting his head to take some small sips. He silently handed it back to her and turned to burrow back in his dad's chest, closing his eyes.
As Pepper set the glass aside, she and Tony shared concerned looks.
Tony was relieved that Peter had stopped shaking and crying. But the silence was a worry. He was usually so chatty, and this meant Peter was really upset. It had to have been one hell of a nightmare.
"Hey spider baby, want to talk about what happened?" Tony murmured softly, combing through his hair, trying to lean back and see his face. But Peter refused to lift his head, hanging onto him for dear life.
Tony was getting scared now. He gulped before asking; "Was it...clowns?"
Peter let out a shudder, and that just confirmed Tony's suspicions.
"Ok bud." Tony covered his head again and eyed the clock. It was 3am, but hell it was unlikely any of them were going to get some sleep now; "Why don't we go sit in the blanket fort and watch a movie? That sound good? Hmm?"
Peter was relieved his dad didn't encourage him to go back to sleep, and under normal circumstance he'd love to watch a movie in the fort. But the fort was a closed space, a clown could easily sneak up on them. It was a ridiculous thought, but it was all he could think about.
"Can we...can we w-watch a movie...in the living room?" Peter said his voice muffled in Tony's chest, but they still managed to work out what he said.
"Of course spider baby. Whatever you want." Tony said quickly, and pleased that he was speaking. They were getting somewhere now.
"I'll tell you what. You grab some blankets and pillows. We'll get the living room set up for you ok?"
"I'll make us some hot cocoa." Pepper said squeezing Peter's hand as she stood to leave.
Tony moved to get up and Peter panicked, clinging on to him; "Wait...Don't leave me." His heart rate picked and he feared if they left him alone something bad might happen.
Hesitating Tony gulped looking at Pepper this was the worst he had seen the kid. He was utterly petrified to be alone.
"Ok ok well let's get the hoodie for you so you don't get cold." Tony said thinking quick and nodded his head at Pepper to Peter's closet. He knew how much Peter loved it, and they both knew it was a comfort to Peter, and well he needed it right now.
"You're going to have to let me go now bud. I'm not going to go anywhere I promise." Tony murmured with a chuckle, his heart warming at how much Peter relied on him and needed him for comfort. His son still needed him. It was a relief to know, all those fears he had about Peter growing up and no longer needing him were unfounded. Peter would always need him, and Tony would be here for him.
Reluctantly, Peter unstuck himself from his dad and leant back. Shyly he ducked his head and sniffled. Not wanting to look his dad in the eye. His mom seemed not to mind about his nightmares, but he wasn't sure about his dad. All Starks seemed to be really impressive, geniuses and accomplished great things. But Peter wasn't any of that, and now he acted like a baby over some nightmare. His dad had to be ashamed of him.
"Here we go Underoos." Tony quickly pulling the MIT hoodie over his head; "That will make you feel better."
Peter pulls the sleeves down over his hands, and takes a moment to breath in his dad's scent from the hoodie. Instantly feeling some comfort.
"M'sorry."
"What for bud?" Tony asked softly carding through his messy curls.
"Being a baby." He snapped frustrated and utterly humiliated. But he couldn't help how he felt.
Pepper instantly softened grabbing Tony's shoulder; "Oh no Peter..."
"Don't talk like that bud." Tony said firmly reaching to stop Peter from wringing his hands, taking them in his own; "You have nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has nightmares. Hell I've had my fair share, especially after New York."
"Really?" Peter said dubiously.
"Yeah bud. All the time. And I still do sometimes, and they shake me up pretty good sometimes. It's only because I got Pep I can sleep at night." He sends her a warm smile before back at Peter "The point is everyone gets nightmares. It's natural. And it's human. Just because you're a superhero doesn't mean you're still not a normal person. It's ok to cry bud and just need to take a moment to be vulnerable. I've had my own moments. And as for being a baby well who cares. You're in your own home you can do whatever you want. We're not going to judge you, we're here for you buddy. For whatever you need. And well you're my spider baby and always will be no matter how old you are."
That instantly made Peter feel better. His lips started to curl up in a small smile, and he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
"Thanks dad."
"Ok come on honey." Pepper opened her arms as Peter got off the bed with Tony's help. Peter instantly fell into her embrace. There was nothing like a hug from your parents to make you feel better.
Tony and Pepper led Peter downstairs, FRIDAY turning the lights up to a small dim for their journey. Both parents didn't fail to notice how Peter's eyes darted all around and he tensed, whenever they entered a new room, like he was waiting for something to jump out at him.
Finally they reached the living room. They had grabbed some blankets on the way down and Pepper set them on the sofa as she led Peter there.
Tony hesitated nearby; "Ok kid I'll get us some hot cocoa, how about you sit with your mom and watch some TV until I get back?"
Peter instantly snapped his head to his dad, and Tony saw the fear in his eyes. He opened his mouth to beg his dad not to go but stopped himself just in time. But Tony saw it. He softened reaching to ruffle Peter's hair.
"I'll be right back spider baby I promise. Can you keep your mom company whilst I'm gone?" Relying on Peter's primary instinct to protect others, he was pleased to see Peter set his jaw and nod firmly.
Pepper glanced at Tony conveying a silent conversation, and Pepper guided Peter back to the sofa, whilst Tony made a swift exit before Peter noticed he had left.
Peter sat down slowly, on the very edge of the sofa his eyes darting around again, biting his lip now that his dad was gone. His heart rate picked up in fear. He wanted to be in the living room because it was a bigger room, more entrances and exits. Better for escaping in case something attacked, but also meant more ways for something to get in. He had to be ready in case a clown appeared. It was silly. The dream hadn't been real and no clowns would appear, in the back of his mind Peter knew that. But in his current fear state, logic and reason went out the window. In this state, the dream felt real so it was.
Pepper eyed him concerned, cautiously reaching over to rub his back, in case she spooked him.
"Come here sweetie." Pepper murmured as she leant back, pulling her legs onto the sofa under her, and tugging him with her. He tensed for a moment before he finally leant back into her embrace.
She wrapped her arms across his front protectively, as she kissed the top of his head. Moving a hand up to caress his head; "It's safe Peter. You're safe. I promise. You're completely safe."
Finally, Peter started to relax, turning to burrow into his mom's side, relishing in the comfort and safety of her arms. Relieved, Pepper quickly used one hand to pull a blanket from the back of the sofa, and drape it over the two of them.
Then she grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Randomly flicking through the channels looking for something suitable. There wasn't much on at 3 in the morning, and she wasn't sure what Peter might want to watch to comfort him. She was about to ask FRIDAY to put on a movie when the teleshopping network came on. Peter made a murmuring sound that made her stop.
"You want to watch this Peter?" Pepper asked softly peering down at him. His face barely peeking out, but he blinked at her in agreement. When Peter was going through his clown phase, he struggled to go back to sleep after the terrifying nightmares, so often he and May would sit on the sofa just watching TV until he fell asleep. Mostly, it was May who went to sleep first, so Peter found himself just laying there in her arms watching the teleshopping network until the sun came out. He pretended to her that he did fall asleep, not wanting to worry her. But after one of these nightmares, he could never go back to sleep. That was a rough period where he barely slept. He didn't want to go back to that. He especially didn't want to put his parents through that.
A tear slipped before he could stop it. From exhaustion and frustration.
Pepper silently wiped it away tenderly caressing his cheek, before kissing his forehead; "It's ok honey."
Peter closed his eyes and leant into her touch.
Saying nothing, Pepper just hugged him, lightly rocking them as she brushed her fingers through his hair in a soothing motion. Hoping and praying it would reassure him, make him feel safe. She had been trying to be a good mom for Peter, it was new to her much like Tony. She thought she had been doing well, knowing what Peter was feeling and how to make him feel better. But she had never seen him like this before, and she didn't know what to do to make him feel better. This was all pure instinct, she just hoped after Tony spoke to May they would know what to do to help their son.