Bruised But Not Broken - Irondad/spiderson

Nightmares

The booming voice echoes through the dark halls, thickening the shadows around me. My stomach twists as I realise I do not know where I am. The air feels heavy, like it is pressing down on my chest.

Then I hear it.

Stomping.

Each step grows louder, shaking the walls as it comes closer. I brace myself, heart pounding so hard it hurts.

The haze clears.

Flash.

He is on me in seconds. He shoves me to the ground and his fists start coming down, fast and relentless. Pain explodes across my face. I try to cover my head, but it does nothing.

Laughter fills the space.

I look up through blurred vision and see them standing in a circle around us. Aunt May. Mr. Stark. The Avengers. All watching. All smiling.

Happy.

I choke out a plea. "Please. Help me."

No one moves.

"You're too weak," Aunt May says, smiling wide.

"You think we'd help you?" the Avengers laugh together.

Mr. Stark looks down at me with disgust. "What makes you think you're good enough to stay in my house?"

Each word shatters something inside my chest.

I scream and shove Flash off me, scrambling to my feet. I run, legs burning, lungs screaming, but their voices follow me down endless corridors.

Weak.
Pathetic.
Unwanted.

I trip.

The darkness swallows me whole.

Tony Stark

"Aw, he's sweet," Nat says as Peter disappears into his room.

"Good kid," Banner agrees.

"All right, all right," I say, waving them off. "Go to bed, the lot of you."

Pepper slips her arm around me. "Maybe this intern thing won't be so bad."

I hum in agreement, but once she heads to bed, I stay up.

The arc reactor's blue glow lights my desk as I tinker with DUM-E. One task turns into another. Hours pass without me noticing.

Then I hear it.

A sound from across the hall.

At first I think it is laughter.

It isn't.

It is crying.

Quiet. Broken.

I hesitate only a moment before heading toward Peter's room. The door opens easily.

He is curled in on himself, clutching his pillow like it is the only thing keeping him together. Tears streak down his face.

My chest tightens.

"Hey," I say softly, sitting beside him. "What's wrong, kid?"

He does not answer.

He is still asleep.

I place a hand on his shoulder and gently shake him. He mumbles something under his breath. My name. May's.

That hits harder than I expect.

"Peter," I say gently. "Wake up."

His eyes fly open and he scrambles backward until he is pressed into the corner of the bed, breathing hard.

"Mr. Stark?" he stutters.

"Hey," I say carefully. "Bad dream?"

He nods.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shakes his head, wiping at his face. "It's stupid. It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," I say. "But we can leave it there if you want."

I stand. "Your aunt went home to sleep. She'll be back in the morning. You should try to get some rest. You've got school."

I turn to leave.

His hand grabs my sleeve.

"I don't want to be alone," he whispers, ashamed.

I nod and hold my hand out. He takes it.

"I know just the thing."

I bundle every blanket and pillow I can find onto the couch and sit beside him.

"FRIDAY," I say, "play Star Wars: A New Hope."

Peter's face lights up instantly as he curls into the blankets. I pretend not to notice.

Halfway through the movie, something thumps into my arm.

I glance down.

Peter is out cold, leaning against my shoulder, breathing slow and even. His fingers clutch my sleeve like he might drift away if he lets go.

It feels... nice.

My eyes grow heavy.

The movie blurs.

Darkness takes me.

Morning light spills across the living room.

Snickering wakes me.

I open my eyes to see Barton and Nat standing over us, grinning like idiots.

"What are you two staring at?" I mutter.

"Oh, nothing," Nat says. "Just you and your new intern looking adorable."

I look down.

Peter is still asleep, curled into my side, one arm wrapped around me.

Pepper joins them, smiling softly. Then the elevator doors open and May steps out.

"He had a rough night," I say quietly. "Bad dream."

She frowns. "I hope he slept enough. He still has school today. Internship this afternoon, though. Is it okay if he leaves his things here?"

"Yeah," I say. "That's fine."

I gently shake Peter's shoulder.

"Hey, Underoos."

He groans. "Five more minutes."

I laugh.

His eyes snap open, face flushing red when he realises where he is.

"Sorry, sir," he blurts, then freezes. "Aunt May!"

He launches himself into her arms.

"You're here."

"I'm here," she says, laughing. "But we're late."

They head for the door together.

I watch them go, already mentally clearing space in my lab.

The kid's coming back.

And this time, I'll be ready.