The Invention Left By A Little Stark | Book 2

6) The Family Promise

Peter kept his head down for most of the dinner.

Now that it had been brought up, he couldn't stop thinking about what he was supposed to do for your birthday. He knew what he wanted to do, but actually doing it would be the issue.

He barely touched his food, merely playing with the fork and pretending to eat. It was like the room was muted for him. He could make out shapes and vague sounds, but his only focus was the very loud circle of thoughts inside his head.

He was mindlessly tapping his fork against the plate when a hand on his arm startled him.

"Sorry, kiddo." Ben said, offering him a kind smile. "You okay?"

Peter stared up at him blankly as he slowly regained his senses. By the look on his uncle's face, a few had been trying to talk to him for quite some time.

"Sorry, what?" The boy questioned quietly. "Do I have sauce on my face again?"

"No, no, you're all good." Ben assured him. "You're just a bit quiet tonight, Pete."

"Oh..." He looked down. "Sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. What's up?"

"Nothing. I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" May asked, a concerned frown clouding her features. "It's not like you."

Peter forced a smile and nodded. "I'm fine, just really tired today."

"Hey." Ben moved his chair so it was beside his nephew and leaned down to see his face more clearly. "I know when you're lying."

"I don't wanna make a fuss."

"You're never a fuss. Talk to me, buddy."

Peter finally looked back up and saw Ben smiling at him. However, all that came to his mind was your own smile. He remembered a rough day at school in which you'd done everything humanly possible to cheer him up. You had said almost the exact same words to him then as Ben was now.

You told him to cry it out.

Remembering your gentle tone and comforting touch, it made him tear up again. His bottom lip began to quiver as he looked at Ben almost pleadingly.

"It's okay." Ben said, opening his arms for a hug. "Come on."

That was all it took for Peter to throw his arms around his uncle and begin crying silently into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"You're alright." Ben said, rubbing his back soothingly as he shared a worried look with May. "Why didn't you say something earlier, Pete?"

"It's supposed to be a nice meal and I didn't want to ruin it by being upset and I can't tell you what's wrong because I thought it'd make Mr. Stark mad."

Even though his words were muffled, Pepper glared at Tony once she heard them, thinking he might have said something to make Peter feel that way.

"What did you do to him?" She asked.

Tony's jaw dropped. "Nothing!"

"Tony-"

"Hey, I'm innocent and just as worried as everyone else, I'll have you know. I too noticed the child was being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal. I thought he was just tired like he said."

"Excuse me." Karen's voice spoke up.

Peter separated from Ben to look at his watch as it lit up.

"Do I have permission to explain, Peter?" She asked.

The boy hesitated but soon realized there was no point in hiding anything. Sooner or later everyone would figure out why he was withdrawn.