Whoa whoa whoa whoa I loved that recent ffh scenario,,, mind continuing? Like,, what would happen once Tony found out??
So Iâm picturing after Peter sorts Mysterio out and the big fight is over, Tony decided itâs time to put on his father figure hat and have a proper chat with the kid who is clearly struggling.
And with Peterâs behaviour, not to mention his body language, Tony decides itâs probably for the best if he digs some answers out of the kid.
He knows Peter is definitely the kind of person to bottle all his issues up and ignore them + the problems theyâre causing him. So of course, when he finally manages to get the kid to murmur something about shitty things happening in his childhood, Tony jumps on that.
He plays the relatability card and forces himself to open up a bit about his father, which Peter appreciates but doesnât cling onto like Tony would have hoped.
He runs through a checklist in his mind, trying to figure out what problem Mysterio churned up and how he can help the kid to fight through it. He doesnât even stop to consider the fact that maybe May doesnât even know about it.
So, when Peter hesitantly says, âI - I had this friend...â before pausing, running a hand over his face and whispering, âplease donât tell May?â Tony feels his stomach bottom out with anxiety.
âNot unless youâre in harms way, kiddo,â he promises. (Himself and May had a thorough discussion on communication and had agreed that neither of them had to divulge whatever Peter tells them in confidence unless it means Peter is in danger or someone else is.)
âSo, the friend - he was like, the first real friend I had. I was really young, and stupid -â Tony frowns. âBut he was older, and cooler, and he was one of the only people at school who didnât think I was weird.â
Tony doesnât like where this is going, because thereâs already a defined power imbalance the kid is basing things from.
âMay and Ben were glad I had someone in my corner for the first time, you know? So they were happy letting us hang out at the apartment. He was - he was old enough to be responsible for me if they went out, and we were close enough that it didnât really feel like he was babysitting me.â Peter shifts around uncomfortably and Tonyâs unease only grows as he continues talking. âSo he - he wanted to do stuff, like... adult stuff.â
Tony grinds his teeth together and watches Peter flush red and turn to face the window of the jet.
âAnd I didnât really stop him, or at least, I didnât try hard enough to.â
There is a heavy silence in which Peter studiously avoids his eyes and rubs at his nose absentmindedly.
âYou never told May or Ben?â Tony asks carefully. Peter shakes his head, looking guilty.
âBut we - I stopped hanging out with him, afterwards. They asked about it, and I kind of just... shrugged it off. They never pushed me for an answer.â
Tony can imagine why, based on how shut-down Peter is now, he can only assume May and Ben gave up on forcing an answer from him in this state of mind.
âCâmere,â he says, gesturing for the kid to take the seat across from him. Peter does, thankfully. âThis is not your fault. You do not blame yourself for this, okay?â
âNo, I mean it, kid. Nothing that happened was within your control. You were too young, and you cannot carry the blame like this.â
Peter looks at the carpeting of the jet, shifting his feet about and playing with the hem of his sweatshirt.
âKay,â he says softly in response. Tony reaches out slowly and rests one palm over the kidâs fidgety hands.
âIâm always here,â he says. He isnât well-versed, and he only bases his choice of words on what he wishes his own father had said to him when he was this age. But it seems to work, because Peter cracks a weak smile and meets his eyes.
âI know,â he mumbles.
