Secrets And A Spider

-27-

The journey home was a long one, between my occasional doubts, and Peter being a clutz and nearly falling off multiple times, I had slowed down drastically. Until the facility came into sight. "Riley, want me to come in?" Peter asked through comms as I slowed to land. "Yeah, I need you here in case something goes wrong," I responded, letting him jump off, before landing on the balcony. As we walked inside, my suit came apart, and Peter's hand slipped into mine, giving me strength as I entered the building. "Riley?" I froze, remembering everything that had happened the last time I'd arrived home, knowing that this is how it all started the previous time.

"Pepper. I need to see him, where is he?" Tears began to form in my eyes, and I realised I was no where near as ready as I thought. Before Pepper said anything, she walked forwards and pulled me into a tight hug. "He's sleeping, please, just wait until he's awake. He.."
"Pepper, I want to, but we both know how stubborn us Starks get, if I don't see him now I may not go through with it." As we pulled apart, our eyes met and she nodded, wiping away tears. "Pete, can you just stay with Pepper for a moment, this is the part I need to do alone," I said, and Pepper looked over, only just noticing him as he hugged me tightly. "I'll be there in a single shout if you need me, okay?" He promised, rubbing my arms. I nodded, before making my way through the familiar facility.

When I reached his door, I raised my hand to the handle, before hesitating. "FRIDAY?" I spoke up.
"Yes, Miss Stark?"
"How bad has he been without me here?" I asked her, knowing she would tell me more than any human around. "This is the first time he has slept in three days, Pepper requested I administered gas as soon as he lay down." She informed, making me sigh. Finally, I opened the door, keeping quiet as I made my way over to wake him up.

"Dad? It's me, its Riley, I'm home." I gently tapped his shoulder, before leaning back to give him space. That's when he began to shake, violently throwing the covers off of the bed as he slept. He began to sweat, his body shaking as he tried to fight off an invisible demon. "Dad? Dad! Wake up! FRIDAY, get Pepper!" I tried to get closer, before holding him down with my wakandan arm to keep him safe. "Dad! I'm here, please wake up!" I began to cry, knowing that this could possibly lead to vital med care. I watched Pepper run into the room, followed by Peter, who pulled me away and wrapped his arms around my body tight. "Don't look, Riley. It's okay, alright? it's going to be o..."

"Kid?" I froze as I heard his voice, before turning around. "Riley? Oh my go.." I cut him off as I ran forwards, wrapping my arms around his neck, crying as I held on. "Hey, I'm okay. I'm okay, see?" I pulled back, seeing that I had been right. His eyes were puffy, bags below them and bloodshot. "I'm sorry, dad."
"Riley, don't, I'm the one who's sorry. I should never have done any of what I did, I was stupid and cruel. I was so busy trying to keep you safe from Barnes, that I didn't realise I was the one doing the damage. I'm so sorry, I'm sor-"
"Dad, it's okay, but only after you tell me what the hell just happened? Tell me this wasn't my fault, please." He took my hand, meeting my worried eyes, "Rile.."
"No, It's not. Tony, I'm sorry, but she needs to know, no more secrets." Pepper cut in, and I looked between them, before turning back to Peter. "Give us a minute?" I asked, he nodded, kissing my cheek, before walking out. I walked towards the bed, sitting beside my dad. I didn't say a word, not knowing what he was about to say, so instead, I took his hand and gave it a hard squeeze. "Please, no more secrets." He turned his head, his eyes teary as he sighed, before saying the words I never thought I'd hear, from a man so confident.

"I have PTSD, Rie, it comes when I'm asleep, it comes whenever I see you fighting, beside me or not, I'm afraid, alright? If anything happens, that's on me, and I can't stop it. It scares me, and I don.."
"You don't know what to do? You can't stop it, and it feels like you did something to deserve it?" I cut him off, and finally, we saw each other, truly understood one another for the first time in my life. He nodded, and I wrapped my arms around him tight, his head leaning on mine as he began to cry. "I'm sorry, I should be looking after you, I ruined your birthday, and..."
"No, don't you dare apologise, please. I don't care about my birthday, I get one every year. Dad, listen to me.." He pulled back, looking at me, "I would miss a thousand birthdays if it meant being able to make sure you're happy, I only get one dad, alright? My mum abandoned me on your doorstep as soon as I was born, and instead of sending me away like everyone thought you would, you took me in, and now it's my turn to look after you. I love you, dad." I whispered the final part, kissing his cheek, before leaving the room for him and Pepper to talk, whilst I caught up with Peter.