What lies behind a smile

24

Tony

Peter storms off and I put my head on the table. "stop acting like your my Dad, your not my anything."
That one felt like a slap to the face Went from his first I love you this morning to hating me.

"Well, I think you handled that great Tony!"Steve says.

"Oh shut it."

"Wanda, can you go check on Peter?"Pepper says. "Tony are you okay?"

"Yeah, I shouldn't have brought May up. I pushed him and he snapped."

"Look today was gonna be hard for him and wanna know what him going back to school is gonna make things a little harder. He shouldn't be lashing out at anyone but he likely is because he's grieving and he's healing right now."

"He shouldn't lash out though, "Clint says

"He's gone through so mu-"

"No, don't justify it, Tony." Clint cuts me off "you can sympathize but don't let him act however he wants."I never thought I would take advice from Clint but here I am.
"He shouldn't be getting like that, he needs to be able to talk about his emotions even if it's hard. You wanna walk on eggshells with him for the next three years, no you don't. And you were right about his aunt he needs to accept she's gone"I nod.

"So take it easy but not too easy," Nat said.

"I just feel bad because-"

"Peters gone! I walked in and his room and Friday said he left!"

"Friday can you track Peter?"I say getting up.

"yes sir, I'll track his phone."
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I pull up to the cemetery, Friday said this is where Peter is.
The moment I step out I'm hit by the cold air, it immediately attacks my bare hands and face. I hear someone crying as I walk into the cemetery. I can tell it's Peter, I keep my distance just watching him closely.

Peters sitting his knees pulled tight into his chest he crying loudly rocking himself. The snow around him is all over the place like he was kicking it. I wait a bit letting him cry, he throws himself back and begins to scream. He screams til his voice gives out but even then he keeps on yelling and theirs only his hoarse sobs. I can tell letting all that out did something for him because he eventually falls silent staring up at the sky. I decide to walk over.

"Hey, bud."I sit down next to him.

"H-how long." he inhales sharply coughing to try and clear his voice "have y-you been h-here?"

"Long enough."I stare at him and he looks... conflicted? I can't read him for once.

"I'm s-sorry."Peter cried. "I didn't me-me-mean it I'm just..."He wipes his nose sitting up. "I'm just...I don't know...mad? I'm mad at her."Peter's eyebrows raised in surprise "I'm mad at my dead aunt for dying." he laughs but I know it's not because he finds anything funny.

"I get that...when my Dad died I was mad. I was mad about how he treated me I was mad because someone took both of them from me."

"She promised that I was gonna get through this. She said that she would help me get through this and then she fucking died. And the stupid part was I did finally think things were gonna get better."We sit in quiet silence for a while Peter's sniffles are the only sound outside of traffic.

"I think I'm ready to go now."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Let's go then."I put out my hand and Peter takes it, I pull him up and we make our way back. Once we get in the car Peter takes off his big jacket digging in his pocket, I watch as he pulls out a pocket knife. He holds it out and I take it.

"I'm sorry."He mumbles avoiding my eyes, I look to his sleeves which are seeping blood.
I bite my lip holding back the urge to yell at him. I grab a towel from the back.

"Keep that in there we'll clean them when we get home."

"I'm sorry Tony. "I nod not able to acknowledge him yet.

"Okay, Peter."

We pull up and Peter and I walk into the room. "Found him, "I say walking to the kitchen.
"Peter go change into a T-shirt so I can clean them."

"I can-"

"Go change into a T-shirt so I can clean them. Was it just your arms."Peter nods walking into the hall Tessa chases after him.

"What happened."

"He fucking cut himself again, and the lashing out I can understand, and ill deal with it. But hurting himself again is where I gotta draw the line." Peter walks back with a flushed face head low.

"Peter." His brown eyes meet mine tears in them.

"You hurt yourself again and I'm sending you back to the mental hospital."Peter shakes his head a tear rolling down his cheek.

"I'm-"

"No. Sorry isn't enough, this is gonna stop or I'm sending you back do you understand me?"

"Yes sir."I clean Peter's cuts he winces when I pour the rubbing alcohol on them. I then put the gauze and bandage on the other arm. I then notice his split knuckles, they were bruising already.
"Peter what did you do to your hands?"

"I hit the concrete..."I sigh cleaning those next. Those were some of his more deep cuts.

"Go to sleep now, you have school tomorrow."

"I still have to go? I'm gonna be tired."

"Well, you shouldn't have run off!"A flash of hurt goes through his face.

"You can't miss any more school, Peter." He takes a deep breath. Wanda pulls him close. "want me to go watch Star Wars with you till you fall asleep?"

"No thank you." he wipes his face again clenching his jaw angrily im given a glare before he walks into his room slamming the door.

"DON'T SLAM MY DOORS PETER!" Wanda gives me a look.

"What?"

"He cuts himself and the first thing you do is scold him!"

"I did not-"

"Well, he seemed scared while you were cleaning his cuts and you didn't even bother to comfort him. You just sat there all pissed and let him cry!"

"I am pissed! He can't be doing that."

"Obviously but you being mad at him is just gonna make him scared to open up to you when these things happen. And I'm sure he's feeling like shit right now, then you're making it worse announcing it to us all and then threatening to send him back to the hospital."

"Wanda...Peter was also out of line at dinner. He's a good kid, he's amazing but he's getting moody recently."Clint adds.

"Peters grieving a lot right now, he's in that stage where he is gonna scream and yells and be acting out," Pepper explains. " And it's okay if we react Tony like Clint said we need to make sure he doesn't walk all over us. We're trying to help him not make this harder. Just give him some time to adjust to going back to school and everything...you can't expect him to just fall back into everything Tones. We're asking him to move on, not to mention his medication is gonna throw him off a little."

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Date 6-27-22
Word count- 1228

wooo i'm back, Peters has now entered his angst phase 🤭

Anyways have a good day/night/morning whatever time y'all are reading this, love you guys so so much!!!