"Peter?"
There is another hand on his shoulder now. And he smells... Handcream? It's familiar. And not from space.
Deep breaths. That's what the therapist had said. In and out. In and out. Slowly. In and out, in and out.
"Peter B. Parker!"
That was definitely not something that he would have heard in space.
Only May and Ned knew his middle name.
"B? Benny?"
Okay, that was Harley. Thanks Ned. He's never going to stop trying to figure it out now.
Peter opens his eyes. Ned and Harley are squatting in front of him.
He lets out a shakey breath.
"Good to see you back man. " Harley stands up.
"Now, let's get out of here." Ned stands up as well and stretches out his hand.
Peter takes it and Ned pulls him up.
"Come on loser, we're taking you home." MJ slings an arm around his shoulders, "The tower or your aunt's?"
-ooooo-
"Crap."
Bucky raises an eyebrow, "Always one for the eloquent response(,) aren't you.(?)"
Steve glares at him, "I don't know whether Tony will want to see me, or any of us. I mean, I haven't been to check in on him in almost a month. It feels selfish wanting to go and talk to him. What if he doesn't want anything to do with me? And if he doesn't I wouldn't blame him. He did so much and then..."
"You haven't done a thing about working through the guilt yet, have you?" Sam cuts Steve off with a tired sigh. They've had this discussion a million times and he was getting tired of it.
Steve pointedly stares at the ground.
"Can't you talk some sense into him?" Sam looks at the brunette, gesturing at the blonde who is staring at the ground.
Bucky snorts, "Believe me, I've tried. This punk doesn't like accepting help. He's got a guilt complex, and never stops feeling bad if he's hurt someone who he thinks didn't deserve it.
He pauses and runs his hand through his hair, moving it out of his face," Even during our army days, he'd lie awake wondering if killing the Germans was right. We're they really bad, or were they just following orders, too scared to do anything else?"
Steve tenses, and Sam knows that Bucky is right.
" "Steve. Come on man, you gotta get some help with this. It's not healthy! Trust me."
Sam is serious in a way that Bucky has rarely seen. "I'm with Bird Boy on this," he grins when Sam half heartedly swats at him. "You should see someone for this. It will help." "
"You really think so?" Steve's voice is soft, and he still refuses to meet either of his friends' eyes.
"Stevie," Bucky's tone is almost softer than Steve's, "I know it does."
-ooooo-
May starts as the front door is suddenly shoved open.
"Peter," she gasps realising who it is, "what are you doing back so early?"
She pauses, noticing the three other teenagers standing in the doorway with her nephew. They look worried, and slightly awkward. Peter looks exhausted.
"Well what are you all standing there for? Come on in, there's food in the fridge, not that you need me to tell you that."
Peter doesn't say anything as he hugs her, burying his head in her shoulder.
May immediately wraps her arms around him, gesturing for the others to get something to eat.
"Let's sit down, okay honey?"
Peter nods and they relocate to the soft couch in the living room. May sits and Peter curls up next to her, his head in her lap.
"I started thinking about it and I couldn't stop and it felt like I was back up there and -" His breathing is faster now.
"Pete, breathe with me okay. In and out." May runs her hands through the messy brown hair and feels Peter relax.
"It felt like I was gonna go again. And there was nothing I could do." He shakes his head, "I don't know what would have happened if they weren't there."
"I'm glad you've got good friends Peter. Having people who you know got your back makes everything better."
"Knowing you got my back makes everything a lot better." Peter sits up, "Thanks, for everything. I don't know what I would do without you."
"Peter," May's voice is soft.
"I'm serious Aunt May," He pulls his aunt into a hug, "I love you."
"I love you too Pete." She kisses his forehead and he settles into the couch, snug against her side.