irondad & spiderson oneshots

xxii. just a kid (1)

TW: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS. the next part in this series needs the trigger warning too.

Peter holds in a sad sigh when he finds out that Ned was gone today. He'd been sick off and on for about a week and it was getting harder to fake his smiles with nobody to back him up.

Flash was relentless and nobody cared enough to stop him. May had new hours so he barely saw her and Mr. Stark was always busy. To top it all off, he was still depressed as fuck.

He sits at the decathlon meet with Michelle droning on about something and Flash talking with his friends. "What's bigger, atoms or electrons?" Michelle asks. "Electrons." Flash says confidently.

"Actually it's atoms." Peter corrects, then realizes his mistake. Michelle nods at him while Flash glares. "Nobody asked you Penis. God, why don't you just jump off a bridge?" Flash snaps, annoyed.

Peter stills in his seat, the thought enthralling. He shrugs and keeps looking forward. Maybe he should. With the way life was going, nobody would kiss him. Flash sure wouldn't, he'd probably dance on his grave.

He swallows the lump in his throat, not listening to Michelle anymore. He feels tears sting his eyes and he slips his fingers under his sweatshirt sleeve, digging his nails into the recent cuts.

He feels a sharp pain and it grounds him for the moment. He takes a shaky breath and puts his hands in his pockets. As soon as the bell rings he grabs his bag off the floor and strides for the door. He's vaguely aware of someone calling his name but he ignores them.

He ponders the decision as he walks home, deciding not to ride the bus this time. It starts drizzling as he walks and he decides that he couldn't do that to May. She cared about him, he knew that.

He'd just go home and see aunt May and things would be better. She had said that morning that she had the day off so they could spend time together, maybe watch a movie.

By the time he gets to the apartment, it's pouring and he's soaked. He rushes inside and drops his bag by the door. "May? I'm home!" He calls, just wanting a hug from her.

She doesn't respond and he frowns. Where was she? He sees a yellow sticky note on the fridge and walks up to it. ~got called into work, sorry! See you tomorrow morning! -May~

He sighs heavily and drops the note in the trash. He slides to the ground and drags his legs up to his chest. Everything would be better if he was gone. May wouldn't have to work so much because she wouldn't need as much money.

Ned wouldn't have to pretend to be his friend anymore. Mr. Stark and Happy could finally get away from his annoying rambles. The decision cements in his mind and he stands up, grabbing his phone from the counter.

He slips it into his pocket and walks. It was still pouring and the sky was dark. He pulls his hood up, looking down and walking aimlessly through the city. He's glad it's raining because that means nobody can see his tears.

He doesn't know why he brought his phone. Maybe so Mr. Stark could track it and find his body. But then again, why would he care? The answer is obvious, he wouldn't.

Peter finds himself on an empty one lane bridge. He walks over to the edge, holding onto the railing and looking out. The occasional car passes but none ever stop.

He pulls his hood down and stares at the cold dark water below. He swings his legs over the edge and sits there, clutching the railing with one hand. He pulls out his phone, glad it's waterproof so he can call Mr. Stark one last time.

He sniffles and presses dial, bringing the phone up to his ear. "Hey kid, what's up?" His mentor's voice asks. He takes a shaky breath. "Is that rain? You outside kid? I know you like patrolling but I don't think people are gonna be mugging in this weather." Mr. Stark jokes.

"You're really cool." Peter says, ignoring the man's previous statements. Tony chuckles. "Thanks kid. Seriously shat's up?" He asks. "I just... I just wanted to say goodbye. Though you probably don't care." He murmurs.

He hears the man make a confused sound. "Goodbye? Where are you going? Are you okay?" He asks, concern lacing his words. "The water. And no, I don't think I'm okay." He responds, staring out at the rippling waves.

Peter hears the iron man blasters starting up but knows that he'd be gone before his mentor got there. "I'm gonna go now Mr. Stark." He says. "No! No Peter! Please stay on the phone!" The man pleads.

Peter furrows his brow. "Why? I wanna go." He says in a sad tone. "No no you don't-look, you're just a kid. You don't get what you're saying." The man says with worry evident in his tone.

"I know I'm a kid! I'm a kid that doesn't wanna be here anymore!" He yells, gripping the phone so hard he hears a crack. "Please Peter, I'm almost there. Just don't jump. Hold on for me kid." He begs.

Peter squeezes his eyes shut for a moment and hangs up. But he still hears the iron man blasters and then a metal clang. He stands up on the railing and hears running footsteps.

"Peter!" The man shouts. Peter frowns sadly. "Just let me go Mr. Stark." He says. Tony shakes his head with a sad frown, stepping forward with his arms outstretched.

"Please, just come down from there. We can talk about this. I can help you." Tony says urgently. Peter glances between his mentor and the water. "But... I don't want help." He mutters, knowing the second it leaves his lips that it's a lie.

There are tears on Tony's face now. He reaches a hand out. "Take my hand Peter. Let's go home." He says in a whispers. If not for Peter's enhanced hearing he wouldn't have heard the faint noise.

Peter sighs sadly and thinks that maybe things will get better. So he reaches for his mentor's hand. But the rail was already narrow and hard to balance on. And it was slick because of the rain.

But it's still a shock when his foot slips. Their eyes widen simultaneously and he scrambled to grab for the man. They're both yelling and then Peter's falling. "No!" Tony screams, running to the railing and trying to reach for the boy.

His wide eyes look up at the horrified billionaire before he crashed into the water. Tony cries out, calling his suit to him and diving into the water. He grabs the kid in seconds, blasting out of the water and onto the shore.

He scrambles out of his suit, checking the kid over. His eyes were closed, his lips blue and breathing ceased. He cries out in horror and starts compressions. He's sobbing and wailing for his kid to wake up, not understanding how it got this bad.

"Peter!" He screams, pounding on his chest one more time. Peter's eyes snap open and he sits up with a gasp, spluttering and puking up water. Tony quickly pulls the shivering boy into his chest, both of them crying.

"I'm sorry, i'm sorry, i'm sorry." He wails to his mentor. They both clutch each other for dear life, blubbering unintelligible words. "I got you. I got you Peter." He murmurs, his heart still pounding furiously.

They were okay. Everything was okay. Things would be okay.