The Arachnoids [A Starker Rock Band AU]

9: Wary Words

Tony's gone.

That's the first thought that crosses Peter's mind when he stirs back to life after a short but good sleep. The room is empty and quiet, and it's not just the man that has vanished. His bags are gone too and the sheets Tony slept under are neatly drawn up over the mattress. If it weren't for the cologne lingering on Peter's shirt, he could've sworn it'd all been a dream. It's real, he reminds himself. It's all real.

Peter doesn't like the uneasy feeling that settles under his skin. He clamps his jaws together and blows into his cheeks, then letting the pressured air escape past his lips in a defeated sigh. He doesn't know what to do. While it's clear that something has to change for Tony, Peter wouldn't know where to even start. He does realize it's not his problem to solve, but he wants to help Tony however possible. It's idle hope, though, to think the solution might come easy.

Tony's gone, and there's no sign of him until the live performance. It physically aches Peter's chest to watch how freely Tony moves around the stage. No anxiety. No spiraling thoughts. Just Tony living through his music. The stage is Tony's home. Performing is his home.

But after thanking his Finnish fans for supporting them today... There's no trace left of where he could've gone. Tony's hiding once again.

Latvia.

Poland.

Hungary

The next few days are all the same. No sight of Tony other than soundchecks and shows. No one knows where he is. And Peter realizes, horrified, that as much as everyone's worried about Tony's behavior, they don't really care. Not truly. As long as Tony shows up to sing they seem awfully okay with it.

Austria

Italy

Spain

Peter still hasn't managed to catch a moment alone with Tony. From a distance, he can see that the man looks paler. Tired. Lonely.

France

Belgium

Germany

Peter's fed up with Tony evading everyone and he decides that he'll do everything it takes to connect to him again. He will talk to Tony. As soon as he gets the chance.

Netherlands

-

"Hey, Stark!" Peter greets the man cheerfully as he finally finds the man by himself in the large Nijmegen venue. Tony's leaning against the front barrier, looking up at the stage. "I've been thinking about your offer and I've decided to take you up on those guitar classes." Tony tenses up and he grips the front barrier so tight his knuckles turn white. Oh no.
Slowly, Tony turns around to face Peter. Tony looks straight at him but Peter can tell it takes everything the man has, to not avert his gaze. Peter's heart clenches at the knowledge that the man's been hurting so much lately, that it's a habit for him to hide everything.

"Hi, space boy." Tony sniffs once and straightens his shoulders, faking a wide grin. Peter frowns at that. Does Tony still have the feeling he has to pretend so much?
Tony continues talking before Peter has a chance to resume the conversation himself.
"Wouldn't you rather do another one of those sleepovers? 'Twas quite a messy night, huh?"

What?

"That makes it sound like we had an actual one night stand," Peter says slowly, eyebrows raised. If Tony wants to approach it like this, Peter will try to play along. Tony huffs a startled laugh at that.
"That's what happens when there's only one bed," he jokes. Tony's smile falters soon after. He casts his eyes down to the floor. "I'm really sorry about that night, though... That... Wasn't supposed to happen."