Woah three post in a week! It's funny how much work you can get done when you have literally no life...
*Warning this is very unedited
Enjoy!
Tony:
''Okay you got your phone?'' Tony asked for what had to be the third time since they'd left the compound.
''Yep, I just can't get this stupid curl to stay put.'' Peter huffed in annoyance.
''It looks cute just leave it alone and it'll be fine,'' Tony promised, then when Peter only seemed to get more nervous, he added, ''You're okay bud. Just have fun. And if something goes wrong, or you just don't feel ready call or text me okay?''
Peter nodded. ''Sorry, I don't know why I'm so nervous.''
Tony didn't know either. The kid's anxiety levels were constantly off the wall, and it was honestly concerning. Although he was apparently newly known to freak out over nothing when it came to his kid. ''I think it's safe to blame the fact that it's your first date,'' he concluded after a moment of thinking.
''Yeah, I should get in there, Mj's waiting.'
''Yeah, here I'll get the door. Alright, love you bud. Have fun.''
''Love you too,'' Peter replied nervously before shutting the car door and heading towards the restaurant.
...
Peter:
Ok, I can do this, it's just Mj. We've been best friends for a while now, it's okay. You just gotta not do anything embarrassing for one-night Peter, he told himself as he walked through the restaurant doors. He nose instantly picked up on the familiar smell of rice and noodles.
When May was alive, she had taken him here quite often. They would always sit on the wooden chairs in the left corner. The wall beside them a rustic brown, and they were always welcomed by the bright orange overhanging lanterns that seemed to float above them while they ate.
Of course, he never thought of it when him and May ate there, but this restaurant was perfect for a romantic date.
''Hey, Peter!'' Mj called from a table, thankfully over towards the right of the restaurant. Sitting in his old spot would have brought too many memories back. ''You gonna say hi to me?''
''Hmm?'' Peter looked up from the chair he had just settled into and met Mj's eyes for the first time.
''Are you going to say hi to me. It's been like two minutes already and you haven't even looked at me.''
''Sorry, I was just thinking. Um H-hi. How are you?''
''Fine, you?''
Peter cringed silently at that question. He wanted to say fine, he wanted to be fine but every little voice inside his head was telling him he was the exact opposite.
It didn't make sense. He could act totally fine when he was with Tony, or Pepper or the avengers right? Why was this so hard.
''Hey, Peter. Hello? Earth to loser.''
''I'm sorry,'' he whispered.
Mj furrowed her brow and leaned in, resting her arms on the table. ''Hey, what's going on? You're acting weirder than usual.''
This was it. He had to tell her. ''May's dead,'' he huffed, his voice cracking slightly as he faced Mj, this time with red rimmed eyes.
''Peter, I don't even know what to, I'm, I'm so sorry.''
''I'm sorry if, if you feel like I've been blowing you off, it's not because I don't like you, or don't want to talk to you, things have just been... Hard to say the least.''
''I bet. I can't even imagine...''
''You don't want too,'' he mumbled.
''I'm sorry Peter,'' she said again.
He gave her a small watery smile and picked up a menu. ''You know what you want?''
''I, Peter are you... sure you want to do this?''
No.
''Yeah. Of course. Do you know what you want?''
''I was thinking of just getting an order of the Pad Thai,'' she replied with much uncertainty.
''Cool, I'll get the same.'' He told her, and a minute later he told the male waiter, whom he noted had a comforting scent of cologne that for some reason momentarily calmed his nerves. He didn't get a chance to look up at him before he was walking away with a small slip of paper displaying their order. He did however sneak a glance at his nametag, which read Harley in bold blue lettering.
Mj started talking about school, and Peter shifted his gaze back towards her. They continued to talk more about random things until the food arrived. By then the tension seemed to have mostly melted away and they were able to eat peacefully, while cracking jokes here and there.
Despite his nagging anxiety from the beginning, they managed to have some fun and catch up, as they hadn't seen each other since school ended.
All was great. Until it wasn't.
''You know, the fourth of July is coming up. I don't usually like to participate in the celebration of a country whose current president is the world's biggest asshole but, hey. Anyways, my friend Betty is having like a huge bonfire party at her house.''
Bonfire, bonfire, bonfire.
''She said I could invite anyone I want; I just have to let her know so she can get enough food. You know, to roast, in the fire.''
Fire, fire, fire.
''It was super fun last year, there was like fire everywhere.'''
That was it. That's all it took, before the previously somewhat calm Peter had completely lost it. His hands began shaking and his throat ran dry. His heart began beating faster than ever, thumping harshly against his chest, causing it too ache.
''Peter, are you okay?''
He attempted to draw in a breath, but his chest remained heavy as the air only thickened causing him to choke. ''Crap, this can't be happening,'' he whispered, stumbling to his feet.
''Peter woah, what's happening are you okay? Should I, should I call someone?''
''And if something goes wrong, or you just don't feel ready call or text me okay?''
Tony! He needed to call Tony. He could do that right? Reaching his shaky hand into his back pocket, he managed to pull out his phone and set it on the table. At this point his whole body was shaking, and it was becoming harder and harder to get any air to his lungs.
Okay, maybe not.
Thankfully, Mj seemed to notice his trouble and grabbed the phone herself. ''Who do I, who do I call Peter?''
''T-tony,'' he grunted. To make matters worse, whatever was cooking in the kitchens was starting to burn. The smell of smoke-filled Peter's nose and suddenly he was back at the building. Just like in the dream, fire surrounded everything, and the smell of ash and smoke was overwhelming. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he felt himself slam into the ground.
''Tony Stark?'' She questioned in surprise.
''Yes!'' Peter cried, leaning back against the wall as hot tears ran down his face, only vaguely aware of who was speaking.
Mj clearly wanted to question more, but it was obviously not the time. She ignored the odd looks strangers were giving them and clicked on Tony's contact.
...
Tony:
Tony practically jumped straight up into the air when the phone rang. The second he saw it was Peter he accepted and held it up to his ear anxiously.
''Mr. Stark?''
''Mj?'' He asked confused, then worried. If she was calling instead of Peter, then it certainly couldn't be good.
''Hey, um Peter wanted me to call you. I don't what happened, but I think he's having a panic attack.'' Mj explained, calmer now that she could recognize what was happening.
Tony shut his eyes and sucked in a breath of air, preparing to talk to the poor kid out of yet another one of these panic attacks. ''Okay, just stay calm, can you put him on the phone?'' Tony requested, already heading for his car. He stopped when he reached the lab, giving the suit a tempted look. He could certainly get there faster if he flew... however getting back may be an issue.
He contemplated giving Happy a call, asking him to meet him at the restaurant, but he didn't want to have to wait for Happy to get there either.
''Yeah just a sec, hey Peter, I've got Stark on the phone, can you talk to him?''
''T-tony?'' Peter's voice was small and broken.
''Hey, kiddo I need you to listen to me okay?'' Tony spoke calmly to Peter but cursed under his breath before making a last-minute decision to use the suit. He quickly left the lab, charging up the steps and entering the lounge.
''Tony I can't breathe.'' he whimpered pathetically through the phone. '' I can't breathe, I don't know what's wrong, I need, I need help.''
''I know buddy, I'm gonna help you but you have to listen okay? Just ignore everything else right now and focus on my voice. ''Can you tell me what color Mj's shirt is?''
Bruce, Wanda, and Clint were the only ones in the lounge.
''She's, she's wearing a dress. It's, blue, with um red flowers.''
''Yeah? Now how many chairs are at your table?'' Tony continued, before muting himself. He then shouted for one of them to meet him at the restaurant with a car so he could go help Peter. With that he launched himself through the window, unmuted himself and began heading straight towards the restaurant.
''Four,'' Peter answered shakily.
''Okay good, can you name three things you can physically feel?''
''The floor beneath me, my jeans, and my heart beating really fast.''
The kid was on the floor? ''We're working on that bud. Tell me two things you can see.''
''I can see, pine trees outside the window.''
''Okay, good anything else?''
''Harley.''
''What was that?''
''Uh just the waiter his name was Harley. Sorry that doesn't really count. Can you just come get me?''
''Already on my way kiddo'' Tony assured, ''can you take a deep breath for me?''
''No, I can't breathe Tony.''
Tony let out a small sympathetic laugh. ''Yes, you can bud, you're breathing right now. If something was wrong, and you really couldn't breathe you wouldn't be able to talk to me like you are.''
''But-''
''Peter just trust me on this. You're okay. Alright, I'm landing now, be right there.''
After hanging up, he quickly retracted the suit, and sped through the front doors. It didn't take long to spot Peter, as the restaurant was quite empty and the few people that were there were all surrounding the shaking kid. 'Aw kiddo,'' he murmured, before making his way over. ''Alright, let's back up please.'' He demanded, not so kindly despite adding a please at the end.
''And who are you?'' A man with a shaggy beard and a strange looking top hat asked.
''That's Tony Stark!'' Another man remarked with wide eyes.
''I said, back up please.'' He repeated.
''What's it to you anyway?'' The man quizzed. ''You know this boy?''
He had to stop himself from answering, 'he's my son, now back up you fool.'' Because it for one they had yet to go public on him taking the kid in, and two he doubted the kid would like being called that anyway. ''I'm ironman, I protect people and this kid is clearly in distress and I can't help him until you all move. So, I'm going to say this say this one more time. Please back up before I back you up through this wall,'' he spat.
The man rolled his eyes but finally walked off, as well as the others. Not before Mj could promptly flip them off though.
''Hey, kiddo. How we doing?'' Tony asked, taking a seat next to Peter who was still on the floor.
Peter just looked up and shrugged. His face was covered in tears though.
''Thank you,'' Tony said, accepting the wad of napkins Mj handed him. ''You wanna get out of here? We can talk about it later,'' he spoke softer this time, as to not be overheard by the group of strangers who were attempting to discreetly listen in.
''What about Mj?''
Of course, it was just like Peter to worry about someone else at a time like this.
''You need a ride home?''
''As much as I would love to ride in one of your flashy cars that probably cost excessive amounts of money, that could go to something more important like say charity, I'm good. I'll take the bus back.'' She said, before giving Peter a small smile and walking out, not forgetting to flip everyone off one more time.
''I like her,'' Tony announced. ''Alright,'' he said, carefully wiping Peter's wet cheeks with a napkin. ''Let's get you out of here.''
...
Peter:
The second they were outside he felt instantly better. The air was much cooler and he was able to take a few deep breaths without any trouble.
He half expected Happy to be waiting in the car, but instead was shocked to find Bruce, Wanda, Clint and Nat all sitting in the car looking more than a bit anxious.
Peter climbed into the back seat without speaking a word, which only seemed to make them more worried. It was dark and Peter instantly felt lonely in the back of the car. But that didn't last long, as within seconds Tony was sitting next to him, wrapping his arms around his still shaky body. Peter sniffed and let himself sink into Tony's hold.
''You're okay,'' Tony whispered, letting go of Peter to move into a more comfortable position as the car started moving. ''Take your shoes off.''
Peter starred him in confusion but took his shoes off anyway.
''There you go, come here,'' Tony beckoned.
Finally getting it, Peter folded his legs up, so he was sitting on his knees and leaned into the man. He felt so much better just being held like this. But despite feeling better, he couldn't help it when the tears started rolling again.
Tony just continued to whisper soft reassuring words into his ear and rub his back gently. They sat like that for a while, Tony's arms wrapped securely around Peter and his chin resting lightly on his head.
The silence was eventually broken when Clint cleared his throat and asked if they wanted to stop anywhere before heading home. Tony replied saying that they should just head home. Clint however pressed on this time asking, ''The kid okay?''
Everyone was clearly concerned for him, and Tony was glad they cared so much. He really while Peter felt slightly guilty for worrying them, he had to admit it felt good. It felt good to have people care about him.
''He'll be okay.''
Hey! Thanks for reading this mess! Haha, hope you enjoyed, please leave a review! Stay safe and healthy everyone!