Hi all. This fills whumptober prompt 24: You're not making any sense and a bit of sensory deprivation thrown in there. This is second chapter of the His Daughter story. Enjoy!

The tablet that was too large for her hands lit up Raya's face. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she tried to read through the words. Peter watched as she talked to Tony. The smile never left her face as the stranger turned acquaintance listened with perfect ease.

"It says here the Fir is a… what's this word Daddy?"

"Symbol."

"Yeah, it's truth and forthrightness, which I'm not sure exactly what it means but I think it's good. And it can mean friendship, Mr. Stark! I think that means we're going to be friends."

She hopped onto her knees bouncing at an alarming rate toward Tony. His eyes widened and Peter fought back a smile. The enthusiasms of youth were quick but substantial. Raya was no exception. Her openness and love never failed to make him proud as not only a dad but a person.

"I, uh, think so too, kiddo." Raya leaned back and scrunched her nose apparently offended at the moniker.

"You call my Daddy that. I want a different nickname."

This time Tony leaned forward with a playful smile. He brought his finger up and tapped his chin in thought. Raya sat up straighter when she noticed him looking toward her.

"Oh, you do, do you? How about snowflake?"

"NO!"

"Sugarplum?"

"Ew…"

"Gumdrop?"

"No foods!" She burst out giggling complete with hands on knees and tears in her eyes. Like something contagious Tony's eyes caught the sparkle and gleamed at her laughter.

"How about Ray?" He said after clearing his throat.

Peter looked back down to his phone but waited for an answer without breathing. Raya leaned back into the seat and folded her hands in her lap before watching Tony with a secret deliberation. Her eyes seemed to take in some quality of him and test deep qualification in him, otherwise it was mere whimsy. After a measured moment Raya reached out her hand and waited for them to shake.

"That would be fine." She said and wouldn't let go of his hand after they were done. Raya grabbed Tony's hand more fully in hers and began playing with his palm. Her eyes traveled over the lines and scars on his hand, and her finger took the place soon after.

"It's the name my mommy called me." She said in a matter of fact tone. Tony's mouth opened along with his eyes and he froze. His eyes focused entirely on Raya, how she stared earnest at him and the way her legs swung back and forth. Finally, he swallowed, ran a hand through his hair, and reached some conclusion.

"What was her name?"

"Hannah."

"And are you sure I can call you Ray?"

"I don't think she would mind. Do you dad?"

She shrugged as she answered. Peter was surprised to find that hopeful look she would sometimes get when she was wheedling him into doing something. The little twitch in her mouth and the wide-eyed expression were enough to give her away. He responded with a tight grin. If that was what she wanted, it was nothing he would oppose. The decision was surprising is all. Nobody called her Ray since Hannah left. His daughter was nothing but protective over the nickname given to her so it meant something when a shy, smile crossed her face when Tony called her Ray again. He ignored the quick pain in his chest and smiled at them.

Raya's sniffles erupted into another cough. Her lungs rattled and Tony rushed to grab water for her. She shuddered against an unseen chill and curled into Tony's side burrowing into the man's jacket.

"I don't feel so good."

Peter no longer pretended not to be watching them. He leaned forward to observe his daughter and cursed the damned fire and everything that could hurt her. The doctor had warned of lingering damage from the smoke. Were these symptoms? Tony raised a hand and pressed it into her forehead once he loosened up at her searching for comfort from him.

"She has a slight fever." He said before pulling out his phone. "I'll call Helen and see if she can come tonight."

"It's all my fault she still has a cough. I tried to get us out of there quickly, but it wasn't fast enough."

Peter wound his arms around his sides and hunched his back over slightly. Peter had never felt so panicked when they'd been separated at first in the hospital only to feel the strongest rush of relief at seeing her tucked away, too small in the hospital bed. She was so brave in the face of all the tests and doctors. Her smile never dimmed even when she had to have a shot. It was startling to see her smile replaced by a tired frown. Raya shivered and Tony threw a blanket over her.

He reached out toward Peter. His hand hovered above his shoulder and for a moment Peter didn't care if Tony had left him all those years ago. He needed reassurance and someone to tell him it was all going to be okay. Tony retracted his hand before he touched Peter's shoulder and instead brushed a hair out of Raya's face.

"She'll be okay, Peter. You did a good job."

Maybe Peter had some lingering affects himself because he rubbed his chest trying to sooth the tightness there.

He returned to find Tony sitting on the couch facing the window overlooking the city. Peter had tucked Raya into a bed in one of the many spare bedrooms after taking pity on Tony when she fell asleep against his side. He had stood in the hallway gazing into her room, not procrastinating he told himself, until she fell asleep in the large bed. Peter closed the door was quiet as he could and stood at the end of the hall looking down to the living room where Tony was waiting.

They needed to talk. Peter wanted them to but he couldn't help all the insecurities creeping up. Strange how easy it was to slip back into old mindsets. He'd thought being a dad would shake all those old doubts but they were there, lingering until they were louder than ever. He shivered. The light at the end of the hallway urged him forward. He wanted to get this over with.

Peter sat down at the other end of the couch and tried to admire the view. He was painfully aware of the man how had brushed Raya's hair out of her face so gently. The silence eclipsed the beauty of the view. It was palpable between them and despite being the used to silence, Peter tore through it. His voice cracked but he turned to face Tony.

"Why did you go?"

Tony was hesitant to break his silence and it took many minutes before he sighed and answered. "I did it for your own good, you know." His words were quiet and meant kindly, but Peter froze. "I found you on the beach and I thought you were dead, Peter. I thought you were gone. The old heart almost went out at the sight. I was going to continue our internship, the mentorship despite how underprepared I was to take care of a child in any capacity. But it was you, kid, and I wanted to try."

"Then why…" He hated how shaky his voice was. He hated the way his heart was pounding. Tony turned to look at him. It was like all the years were laid out between them. Peter could see the struggle and the loneliness Tony faced. Peter's stomach turned.

"I saw the tape from Toomes's warehouse. I saw everything and your strength. Your strength it scared me… because…"

He was back in the warehouse. Cement walls were falling. The ceiling caved in and he pinned under a mountain of rock. Water trickled down the stones and dripped onto the back of his head. He tried to move but was met with pain at each twitch. Everything pressed down on him. All the disappointment and anger and loss. All he could do was scream against the blood and tears obstructing his vision. He closed his eyes and yelled as loud as he could until his throat was hoarse. His hearing was the only thing left. Its enhanced capabilities completed his cage. He could hear every falling pebble or drip of water. The racing of his heart was so loud it raged in his mind. Peter could hear it all speeding toward him unable to stop; unable to do anything but listen from his confines. He was alone. He was always alone. Peter cried and cried for someone to find him but there was no one. It was up to him to save himself.

"Stop!" Peter stood up, hands clenched. He tried to shake the remaining dregs of the memory away but they lingered against his skin and in the sour taste in the back of his mouth.

Tony didn't get to be afraid of Peter. Not after everything. Was that really the answer? It was Peter who was to blame after all. He should feel proud, he supposed. Peter had succeeded where no one else seemed to before; scaring the great Tony Stark. He almost wanted to laugh, but it all made sense. The way Tony wouldn't make eye contact with or the way he wouldn't hug Peter. He could see now he repulsed the man. What he didn't expect was the sharp pain in his chest that came with the realization. He jumped up and balled his fists together.

"Oh, I get it now and like some unwanted thing off the street you tossed me back, is that all it was? All I was? Something to waste your time with?"

"You're not making any sense." Tony said standing up too.

"No, you're not speaking a damn bit of the truth. Just say it was all for you. Don't act all high and mighty and say it was for my own good. Don't lie anymore."

"Peter, you misunderstood me." He came to stand beside Peter but Peter brushed off his hand. "I wasn't scared of you. I was scared for you. When I saw you stuck under there, I couldn't breathe, couldn't think of anything but how I failed you. But then you lifted it. You saved yourself and I knew then I could never be strong enough for you. I knew I would end up disappointing you like that day after the ferry. So, you're right, in a way, what I did was for my own sake. I wanted to save myself the embarrassment and hurt when you realized what kind of person I was."

"I-"

"Daddy?" Raya popped her head around the corner and rubbed her eye to get rid of the sleep. "I heard shouting. Are you yelling at Mr. Stark?"

Peter walked forward, ready to be away from these realizations and the burning in his chest. He scooped up Raya into his arms. Her warm weight reassured him; grounded him to her and he could breathe freely.

"No sweetheart. We were just discussing some things."

He walked down the hall and didn't look back. Raya struggled in his arms and looked back at the living room they were walking away from.

"Mom always said it was bad to yell. She said nothing ever got done that way." He tucked her in and bopped her on the nose.

"Your mom was right, Raya. But I'll tell you a secret. Sometimes a good yell makes you feel better after." Her eyes widened at the thought. "Don't try it now but sometime you can try it."

She yawned and Peter placed a kiss on her forehead. He would go back to his room and stay there while he thought and cooled down. He nodded and closed the door with one last look at his daughter sleeping already.

He turned to the hallway and the man was there. The light from the living room shine down the dark hall but was short of reaching their figures. It wasn't as cold as before and as it so often does; the darkness loosened their tongues. It allowed for an opening of raw feelings.

"Peter, I know nothing I can say will change anything but I'm sorry for being everything I hoped I wouldn't."

The words weren't everything. They wouldn't make up for what happened but it was a start. Tony pulled Peter into a hug. It was years late but the embrace was warm and Peter couldn't stop the tears from gathering in his eyes.

People were so blinded to themselves. Peter hadn't known he had the strength to escape out of the collapsed building. Tony thought he didn't have the strength to accept and give enough love to those he cared about. But there in that dark hallway, Peter realized the truth. He had seen the way Tony held his daughter and now, feeling the arms around him, he could feel a strength there waiting to be unleashed.

Hope you liked it!

Chapter title from the Pentatonix song!

Let me know what you think.