Broken But Not Alone

Chapter 8

They both walked into Tony's house where Bruce and Natasha also lived. But she was away on a mission.

"We're back," Tony shouted as he walked into the kitchen. "You hungry Pete?"

Bruce knew Tony went to pick him up from the hospital but didn't know why and didn't know Peter would be coming back with him.

"Hey Peter, it's nice to meet you," looking at the clearly broken teen.

"You too, Dr Banner," Peter said smiling avoiding Tony's question.

"Peter?" He asked again. "You hungry?"

"No not really," he said. He could tell by Tony's face that he didn't believe him.

"Kid you gotta eat. Remember what the doctor said?" Tony asked in a really fatherly voice.

Peter sat down, "I know...I know what he said but I'm just not hungry."

"I'm going to make you something anyway," Tony turning away making sandwiches. "You want one Bruce?"

"Yeah, thanks," he sat down on the seat farthest from Peter not knowing if he wanted people near him.

Tony passed out the plates with a sandwich on each. Peter didn't eat, he didn't feel like eating, he didn't feel like doing much.

"You gotta eat kid," Tony sighed taking a bite out his own.

"I'm not hungry," Peter said quietly.

Tony finished his sandwich know Peter wasn't going to touch his. He sighed, "alright Pete how about I show you where you can sleep," getting up and taking his bag.

"You don't have to take it," Peter said trying to take his bag back.

"I want to kid, come on." Tony walked Peter to the guest room and put his bag down on the desk. "If you need anything just come get me or tell Friday you need me, I'll be straight up."

•

Tony knew Bruce would want probably answers so he took him outside knowing about Peters spidey senses. Knowing he'd hear them.

"He looks really ill are you sure he should be out of the hospital?" He asked sounding worried.

"He was only there because he collapsed earlier today."

"What, from not eating? Tony, I don't think we can help him here."

"He passed out from blood loss but I don't think the not eating thing helped. Look the doctor said he's anorexic we just have try and get food into him but not push him." Tony was worried about Peter he didn't know how to help. But he was going to try.

"Blood loss?"

"Uhh yeah, that doesn't matter. Not my thing to tell, he's okay now he got stitches."

•

Peter was just lying on the bed he felt himself falling into a hole of existential thoughts.

Everyone will leave one day Mr Stark, Dr Banner, Ned, Mj, May...Everyone he knew would end up leaving eventually one way or the other...What actually was the point in living? Just to suffer and then die?

At that point Tony walked in and closed the door Peter was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling and crying. Tony sat on the edge of Peter's bed. "Can we talk?" Peter sat up wiped his eyes and nodded.

He looked so broken, so sad and Tony hated it. He hated the empty, hollow look in his eyes the fact that his eyes were red and puffy from crying and still wet.

He hated seeing him like this he knew something was going on. He hadn't phoned Happy after his patrol every day like he used to he hadn't even phoned him in almost 2 months.

"We need to talk about what happened," he said watching the teen. "I know you don't want to but holding it in, keeping it to yourself is only going to make it worse."

"Okay," Peter said.

"Okay, why...Why did you do it?" Tony asked he didn't know what to say.

"I don't know, it uhh...it helps. I guess," Peter paused, "it helps me feel...something other than nothing. It helps after I've ha...I've had a bad day or a bad week."

Tony hated the way he said it his voice so tiny and quiet. Peter was the happiest boy he'd ever met, 'what happened to him?'

"Does May know? Because if she doesn't I will have to tell her, not now but I will have to at some point."

"Yeah she does, she has for a while."

'A while? How long has he been doing this?' Tony thought.

"I'm sorry, Mr Stark," Peter said seeing the look on his face.

"What? What are you sorry for?" Tony didn't know why he would always apologise for stuff that wasn't his fault.

"I disappointed you and I hurt you. I'm sorry, Mr Stark. I'm so sorry." He started crying Tony pulled him into his arms.

"You didn't disappoint me kid, it's not your fault. Your human you're gonna go though shit that tries to take you out. But this isn't a way to fix it." He paused as Peter pulls himself out of Tony's arms. "I care about you, I don't want to lose you kid, so if you feel like that again or worse talk to me okay?"

Peter nodded, "what do you mean you care about me?" Peter questioned.

"You always made me smile, just being around you and listening to all those voicemails you used to leave Happy. And it..it kills me that I didn't know how much you were actually suffering." 

"I'm sorry," was all he could say before falling back into Tony's arms crying again.

Peter hated that he just broke down in front of Tony. "I'm kinda tired is it okay to go to sleep now?" Peter asked wiping his eyes.

"Yeah that's fine, if you have any clothes that need washed give them to me I'll get them done," Tony said not expecting what happened next.

"Okay," Peter got off his bed, got his bag and took his pyjamas he wore to the hospital and handed him them, "sorry there's..you know...a bit of blood on them. I'm sorry."

"It's alright kid, you got any other clothes to sleep in?" Tony asked taking them out of Peters hands.

"No, their the only ones I have."

"Ok I'll be back I'll get something for you."

Tony put Peters pyjamas in the laundry basket and went into Bruces room where he put all the stuff Pepper left.

Bruce was in bed reading, "how's he doing?" He asked looking away from his book.

"Honestly not to good, he's not himself at all." He paused, "what if I can't help him?"

"You can't blame yourself, you're trying that's what matters. Don't think about the 'what ifs' that's just going to drive you insane." He said smiling.

"Thanks." Tony smiled.

Tony took Peppers cookie monster pyjamas bottoms and went into his room getting a long sleeved top out his drawer knowing Peter would prefer it and brought them into him.

"Here you go." He handed them to Peter. "They were Peppers," smiling seeing the face he was giving Tony.

"Oh sure they are," Peter joked trying to act like he was okay, he was trying to be okay.

"Don't think they'd fit me kid," Tony laughed, glad Peter was joking and smiling but he still saw pain in his eyes. "Goodnight Pete."

"Goodnight, Mr Stark."