Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1: Tony Would Mark This Down As A Win.
At the age of 16, Peter Parker finds himself entangled in a web (baddum-ts) of challenges. May, the hardworking and devoted aunt she is, grappled with mounting bills and erratic work shifts, including an overwhelming amount of overtime at the hospital. Faced with the strain of her responsibilities, May (reluctantly) made the decision to ask Tony for help. She asked Tony if Peter would be able to live with his mentor and (not so secret) father figure, Tony Stark. This arrangement, spanning three months now, stemmed from May's recognition of not being able to provide care and life she wanted for Peter.
The decision extended beyond the lack of accommodation May could safely supply. she longed for Peter to forge deeper connections, especially after losing so many people in his short time on earth. She also wanted her nephew to have some semblance of normalcy after returning from the blip. Peter, however, made it his mission to shroud himself in an air of increasing reservation, and pulled further away from the people he loved so dearly.
Peter’s life had returned to as normal as it could. Sure, some of his classmates and the people that he had grown up with had moved on. yes, it was weird, but Peter had experienced much weirder. I mean, he was bitten by a radioactive spider that gave him powers. Nothing could get much weirder.
Well, maybe other than the fact that, even as a superhuman vigilante, Peter still suffered with normal teenage problems. He still had tests to take, club meetings to attend, and friends he made commitments to. Yeah he was Spider-Man, but he still freaked out and turned into a blushing mess when MJ smiled at him. He still got sent to detention for being tardy or (unintentionally) disrupting class and he spoke to Ned.
But there was something big that had been bothering Peter. His mind. See, Peter was always supposed to be the one saving other people. He resented being treated like a helpless kid, even when he needed it most. He knew it wasn’t healthy, and was willing to ask for assistance when it came to fighting giant spaceships and the big baddies of New York, but when it came to his personal life? That was a different story.
There had been one person that Peter had dreaded seeing return from the blip. Eugene “Flash” Thompson. Sure, he was just a typical rich kid bully who picked on others in order to feel less insecure, but this knowledge didn't help Peter escape the torment. Peter had begun to shut down more as Flash’s brutal words about his familial death toll, his “fake” internship at Stark Industries, and how Peter would never amount to much more than a bodega worker. What really hurt was the physical abuse he had to suffer through. Forced to maintain his “weak and puny” status to avoid suspicion, Peter quite literally rolled with the punches. It was beginning to take a greater toll on him, and people (mostly his friends, May, Tony, and Pepper) were starting to notice.
In her concern, May had attempted to breach the walls Peter had erected. Nothing eye opening resulted from their long-winded talks, as Peter was nothing if not a good liar. Seeking resolution through conversations with Ned and MJ also resulted in zero progress, as they had been sworn to keep their mouths shut in order to prevent the premature death of a teenaged Flash.
So, May turned to Tony. Tony and May had several discussions about what they had noticed. Eventually they came to an agreement that Tony would employ his influence as a mentor in an effort to coax Peter into opening up about the burdens he carried. The delicate dance of familial bonds and unspoken troubles continued, with both Tony and Peter treading lightly to avoid upsetting the other. .
Finally, Tony Stark sat his mentee down in the sleek, high-tech living room of the Avengers Tower. The hum of the TV surrounded them as Tony took a deep breath, concern etched across his face.
"Kid, we need to talk," Tony began, his tone serious but empathetic. Peter could feel the tension in his shoulders tightening. "I've noticed you've been keeping things to yourself, and I want you to know that you can trust me. I'm not just your mentor, you know. You're family."
“Yeah, but you’ve got a real family to worry about” Peter thought as he fidgeted, avoiding eye contact, the weight of his undisclosed burdens pulling him in on himself. “Mr Stark, I promise I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me.” Tony continued, "First, what have I said about the ‘Mr. Stark’ thing? And second, May's worried, kid. Your friends, even though they refuse to tell us what’s going on, are worried, and I’m worried. You shutting everyone out isn't helping anyone, especially not you."
Peter sighed, shoulders slumping. "It's just... I don't want to burden anyone, Tony. You've got your own family, and I don't want to add to your plate."
Tony leaned forward, his gaze piercing through Peter's defenses. His tone was stiff and factual. "Kid, you're not a burden. We're a team, A family. You are part of my family, and that means we share the load. Plus, I've been through my fair share of tough times. I get it. But keeping everything bottled up? That's a recipe for disaster."
He softened his tone, emphasizing the sincerity of his words. "You're not alone in this. Whatever you're dealing with, we'll tackle it together. I've got your back, Peter. Always."
Peter met Tony's gaze, the vulnerability in his eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and self-doubt. Tony reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Peter's shoulder. It was a silent promise of support, a reminder that sometimes, strength came from opening up rather than shutting down.
Peter, the stubborn idiot, was still stuck in the mindset that he was just another task on Tony’s list. He spoke again to try and lie his way out of the conversation.
“Thank you, Tony. I’ll try to be more open in the future, but right now, I have some homework to catch up on. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Tony smiled gently and watched as Peter excused himself. He knew that was a cop out, but he wouldn’t push any further. Sometimes, getting someone to open up takes time. Tony knew he hadn’t made a lot of progress, but any progress was good progress. Tony would mark this down as a win.