Teacher!Tony wrong number au - Part 5
“Shit,” Tony curses under his breath, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. He didn’t know that. How did he not know that? He hurries to say sorry, swallowing hard and hoping that he hasn’t just pushed Peter away. It’s bad enough that he’s probably made him feel worse by reminding him…
Tony hesitates before asking about his guardian, but he can’t just let something like this drop. Even if it seems like Peter would want nothing more. Tony sees red at the casual way Peter talks about being bullied. He hopes that it’s just for show, to tell Tony to back off, but if there’s even the slightest chance that is isn’t… He can’t have that.
Tony buries his face in his hands. He reads Peter’s text in a disturbingly resigned voice. One that would suggest that he’s been dealing with this for years. Tony feels his windpipe constrict at the thought. His hands begin to shake, and he can’t think clearly. Tony feels torn between running to Pepper, fetching Peter and talk to him, or just give in to panic. Tony’s brought back to himself by his phone’s buzzing. He has no idea how much time has passed, but it must have been enough to have the kid worried. When Tony sees the single word, ‘sorry’ on the screen, his heart breaks.
In the next few days Tony finds himself even more attuned to Peter than last week. The boy seems to be everywhere he goes – or is it Tony, who unconsciously follows him around? He also notices Flash more than usual, and fuck, that boy seems to be around Peter a lot. Tony never catches him bullying Peter again, however, and he can’t drag a student to the headmistress’s office just for having a mean glint in his eyes. Or at least that’s what he tells himself repeatedly…
Of course, he’d need to clear it with Peter, and he’s convinced that the boy wouldn’t let him. As it is, Tony’s dying to talk to Peter, to clear a few other things with him, too, but he knows better than to do that. For one thing, he doesn’t want that bullying shithead to notice Peter talking to a teacher for fear of him getting suspicious and taking it out on Peter. Tony knows how badly bullies want to make their victims feel helpless and despite hating himself for letting the bastard believe Peter friendless, he knows that for the moment he can’t do better.
The other reason why he resists seeking Peter out is the fact that Tony needs to figure things out himself, first. After spending so many days worrying about how he pays too much attention to the boy, ever since Monday he can’t shake of the guilt of not noticing him before. Well not him, but the bullying. At that, however, an uncomfortable sensation spreads through his system. It feels like alarm and desperation and it brings out his strongest defences. It took him years to learn and recognise the signs, but now it makes him stop and reflect. Finally, he admits that somehow it is about Peter, but for the moment that’s as far as Tony can get.
Friday afternoon he finds Peter sitting behind a wide tree at the edge of the parking lot, right next to Tony’s car. His immediate thought is that Peter’s hiding and in danger and that he’s been too late again. But then Peter notices him and greets him with an embarrassed but definitely happy smile. He says that he’s been waiting for Tony to thank him in person. Tony shakes his head in exasperation and repeats that no thanks are necessary, but he can’t help feeling warm inside at the thought that his support meant something to the kid.
Suddenly, Tony feels their silence become charged. He has no idea what brought about the change, and figuring it out would mean thinking – something that is almost impossible when his gaze is locked with Peter like this. The moment stretches on until – almost without realising it – Tony speaks.
“You are important, Peter.”
Shit, that wasn’t a thing to tell the kid when they’re standing at the furthest corner of the parking lot boring into each other’s eyes.
“Yes, like every student to every teacher,” Peter huffs and he turns away. Tony wonders if he saw disappointment on his face before the boy speaks again. “But you were the only one who noticed and cared to say anything about it. So, let me just thank you, please?” He sounds defiant and desperate at the same time and Tony finds himself answering without really thinking it through.
“I… I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that you are important to me. It’s impossible not to see what a good person and great talent you are,” and it’s impossible not to see what an abominable, truly despicable person you are, Tony Stark, he tells himself inside. “So, you see?” he wishes his voice wouldn’t sound so weak. “You have nothing to thank me for,” he finishes without adding ‘on the contrary’.
Peter flushes a deep red and tears well up in his yes. He blinks them away, gulps and then remains speechless for a few more seconds.
“Tha…” he starts. “Oh,” he stops, catching himself. “Um, what do I say, then?”
“Why don’t you tell me where you are headed, and I drive you?” Tony offers, deciding to think about it all later. Seeing Peter become so emotional over a compliment makes Tony more worried about him than before. Leaving him on the sidewalk in a state like that is simply out of the question. But Tony has no idea what the right thing is to do in cases like this and it bothers him. He dreads accidentally hurting the kid. But Peter seems to cheer up at the offer, or at least Tony thinks he hears excitement in his stammered thanks.
It turns out that he’s driving Peter home. Tony adds knowing his student’s phone number and home address to the list of things to chew over later, while listening to the boy chatter about a side project he works on and how he’ll have more time this afternoon thanks to Tony driving him home. Tony’s thoughts flash to the project on which he himself intends to make some progress this weekend but then he turns his attention back to Peter.
Despite how nervous he got when Tony offered to drive him, he now seems to be completely at ease, gesticulating animatedly while explaining the chemical formula he’s working on. A warm feeling spreads in Tony’s chest, but it doesn’t chase off the churning unease that’s been lurking ever since he found Peter in the parking lot. Has he been bullied today? Is he fighting to keep his tone light right this moment? No, his abandon and enthusiasm feel genuine. Does Tony dare hope?
Peter is surprised when they pull over in front of his block.
“Oh. Oh… But I haven’t even asked you about your weekend,“ he says, face felling. “Can’t believe I talked all the way home. Sorry.”
“Hey, don’t worry, kid,” Tony hurries to reassure him. “Your project sounds much more fun than mine. I’m glad to have heard about it. Have a nice weekend, Peter.”
He expects the boy to get out, but he only shifts in his seat and looks at him with those huge brown eyes, expression bordering on fascination.
“You have a project, too? What are you working on?”
“I’m updating a program,” he tries to make it sound the most boring thing imaginable. He hopes that J.A.R.V.I.S. – who’s silently listening in the car of course – won’t get too offended.
“What sort of program?” The sheer amount of excitement in the boy’s voice makes Tony sure that a) J.A.R.V.I.S’s feelings will be all right and b) that his attempt at wrapping up the conversation has failed.
“Listen, kid, I just pulled over, here. Not exactly the best place to have a conversation,” he says, realising that he’s genuinely sorry.
“Oh, right, sure,” Peter mumbles. “Thanks for the ride, Mr Stark. Have a good weekend.” He scrambles out of the car and runs to the entrance without looking back.
Tony starts driving but doesn’t speed up. He glances back at the spot where they talked and wonders if he made the boy feel rejected. What should he have said? He actually surprised himself by telling this much to the boy, but that’s not what irks him. He’s got fool proof cover-ups for J.A.R.V.I.S., after all. He just couldn’t justify sitting in his car with a student discussing their plans for the weekend. That’s not something teachers and students do. Driving him home was questionable enough… Not to mention that it definitely counts as a breach of his vow not to be reckless. Tony touches his forehead to the steering wheel and groans. The list of things to think about later is getting out of hand.
And just then his reflections are interrupted by text alert.
“Read it for me, will you, J?” Tony asks glancing at the sensor in the rear-view mirror.
“Message from (718) 594 8983” Tony doesn’t recognise the number per se, but he’s very private about his phone number and has only one unsaved contact who texts him. The one he just dropped home.
“I didn’t mean to pry about your project. I’m sorry,” he hears in J.A.R.V.I.S.’s soft voice, so unlike Peter’s.
Tony groans. His suspicions were right. The boy took it as rejection. He’s probably sitting in his room right now, worrying about being inappropriate… Sparing only a second to be angry with himself, Tony speaks.
"Answer, please. You didn’t pry. You are welcome to ask me all about it some other time. Enjoy your week-end. Send.”
God, that boy needs to chill. And what does Tony need to do?
Thanks for all of you who follow this story :) I hope you still enjoy it.
Also, just to be clear, Pepper is the headmistress.
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