Friendly Neighborhood Birthday Man

In Security: Part 1

It was late morning, noon, really.

Tony woke up with a yawn and a stretch. Peter was still passed out in Tony's bed.
Coffee would be necessary. Tony went into the kitchen to start a pot.

"Hey, Tony! Can I use your shower?"
Tony heard. Peter must have woken up.

"You don't have to ask. Make yourself at home." Tony called from the kitchen to the bedroom. He started to enter, hoping to join in but Peter had closed the door.

Tony tried not to feel shut out or offended. Things had been an emotional rollercoaster with Peter lately. High highs and low lows.
Lovemaking and crying.

The tolls of a relationship.

Things had moved quickly for sure. The two heroes had known each other for the better part of 7 years and shared battles and losses.

They were close as friends, which made the romance come easy, but there was still plenty to learn about each other.

Patiently, Tony waited for Peter to exit.

When Peter entered the kitchen to meet Tony, he was fully dressed. There was a contrast. Tony looked casual, wearing only lounge pants.

"Tony, look, I'm sorry about last night. We were having a great time, and I had to ruin it. I'm so sorry." Peter was still a good 15 feet away from Tony.
Tony took a step forward to close the distance, but Peter stayed put.

"You wanna talk about it?" Tony was concerned.

Peter crossed his arm across his chest and seemed to turn away. He looked down at the floor, avoiding Tony's eyes. Everything about his body language seemed uncomfortable.

"Um...Definitely. I do. Believe me, I do. I just..." Peter's voice broke. "I don't know how." Peter used his other hand to cover his face.

Tony was at a loss. He had never been good at this part of the relationship. He and Peter had been so close and gotten along so well. What happened?

"If you don't want to talk, you wanna just sit with me for a minute?"

Peter's eyes were red again. He was crying alright. He nodded.

Tony reclined on the couch. Peter sat next to him with his head on Tony's shoulder, but he felt stiff. There was a time when Peter would have done anything for this kind of closeness with Tony Stark.

"What's got you down, Peter?"

Tony was reluctant to bring up their previous talk. He wanted Peter to do all of the talking.

"What made you cry?" A tactic Tony had once learned. Don't ask why instead, ask 'what made you....'

Peter shifted and placed his hand on Tony's abs, but the touch didn't feel loving. Peter still felt stoic.

"Peter, I don't want to force you to talk," He sensed that he was getting impatient and took a deep breath. "Okay, Peter." he tried to soften his voice, "I'm going to put on a little TV, and when you can think of the words or what to say, just tell me, okay?"

"I'm scared," Peter admitted.

"You're scared? Of what? What does my tough guy spider have to be scared of?" Tony ran his fingers through Peter's hair.

"I have so much baggage. And I'm so...weird. And I'm afraid you'll leave me." Peter's voice was emotionless and monotone. He was numb.

"Kid, I got baggage to spare. And you still love me, don't you?"

Peter nodded.

"Peter, I don't think any of that stuff is 'weird.' I'm not going to leave you. In fact, I want this to work so badly that I desperately wish you'd tell me what's wrong, Peter! Please." Tony could feel his impatience spark. Not the right response. It certainly wouldn't make Peter more likely to open up.