What lies behind a smile

4

Tony
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"Steve when was the last time you been on a date?"Nat asks I laugh placing my beer down.
"Wanna know what Romanoff."Steve scolds Nat smirks. I look back to Pepper's green eyes and she closes the gap between us our lips molding together though it is soon interrupted by FRIDAY.

"Boss you have a call from queen hospital." What why?

"Answer, "I say sighing.

"Hello is this Tony Stark?"A lady says sounding confused.
"The one and only, "I smirk Pepper rolls her eyes and I turn my attention back to the call.

"Well, Mr.S-stark you were on the emergency contacts of both May and Peter Parker. I'm very sorry but they were in an accident this evening."

Peter and May were in an accident, that sentence doesn't settle and I feel my mind begin to cloud.
"A-are they okay?"

"I'm very sorry to say May has passed. Peter is suffering from a broken arm and rib a concussion and a large wound in his leg but he should heal."

"I'll be right there."Fri hangs up and Pepper stands.

"Who's Peter?"Thor asks.

"He's uh he's a kid."I say "I'll be back"

"let me go," Nat said worriedly. Nat is the only one who has met Peter I nod. We rush to the hospital I'm pretty sure I've run two red lights but I don't care. Peter is alone at the hospital and just lost the last family he had, running to the front desk the woman looks at me wide-eyed.

"Peter Benjamin Parker" I practically yell. The woman gulps as she looks at me.

"Oh uh, Mr.Parker yes a-alright right this way."She stands and I follow her to the elevator.
"Is he awake?"

"Yes his left arm is broken and we found out he also has a few broken ribs but thankfully he's looking to heal soon. He has a concussion and a wound in his leg but overall he looks like he will be okay
physically" Tony turned

"And May?"Nat asks the woman sighs. "She died on the spot, it's amazing Peter is even still alive. Though we have a few questions before you go see him."

"Okay."

"Are you aware of Peter suffering from any type of mental illness? Depression or Anxiety?"

"He's been a little off lately but no why?" she sighs and walks to the front desk grabbing a file, I watch as she pulls out a paper.

"Self-harm is a common way of coping with depression, we haven't talked about it with him but the marks are too neat." I look down at the paper's images of Peters's arms and legs are there neat rows of scars along his skin. Peter was cutting himself. I don't believe it at first when I think of Peter I think of his smile how contagious his laugh is. Those smart-ass jokes I think of a happy kid who's too pure for this world. But I can't argue with what I'm seeing.

"I understand this might be very confusing."I look to Nat who has glossy eyes.
"Can w-we see him?"She nods and we are walking down the hallway and she knocks on the door and we walk in I hear quiet sobs.

"Peter, you have guests."He doesn't look up he keeps his face tucked in his knees. His body shakes as he sobs, I've never heard him cry like that. I can tell he's trying to hold it in.

"Pete" I try he looks up and his doe eyes meet mine, his face is pale and I can see the pain in his face. Quickly I wrap my arms around him not touching his ribs. He begins to sob.
"I know kid I know."He shakes his head against me loud sobs escaping him. "I'm so sorry Peter"

                   <Time skip>

  Peter played on the bed his eyes closed he had cried himself to sleep. Nat lay next to him playing with his brown curly hair, he looked so peaceful asleep. I got up and walked out of the room to the front desk remembering how the nurse wanted to talk when I got the chance.

"Monica wanted to speak with me?"

"She's right over there"I look over to the office and nod. The door opens before I even knock and I'm met with a younger woman.
"Mr.Stark please come in, Lilly this is Mr.stark" A woman with blond hair and green eyes to match shakes my hand "Evening Mr.Stark I work for CPS I'm Peters's caseworker."
Oh shit

"Evening."

"So how exactly do you know Peter?" Lilly asks an eyebrow raised.
"He's uh Pete's my intern."She nods

"So your not related?"

I shake my head "no we're just pretty close he's a good kid." She nods.

"Well Peter had lost his parents as you probably know and his aunt and uncle have also now passed. Meaning Peter has to go into the system. Unless I'm able to find any new family members or someone can foster him."

"Can he stay with me?"The words blurt out before I even think about it. I don't mind the idea of it, Pete has really grown on me and after losing his aunt and the self-harm I don't want him in a foster home.

"umm a-are you sure? Peter has some issues and dealing with teens who suffer from mental illnesses is very difficult."

"I don't like the idea of Peter living with strangers," I say. The system is no joke and the last thing I want is Peter living with some
sicko. "I have a guest room he can stay in, and I'm willing to get him all the treatment he needs," I say.

Though I have no clue how to help, it still hasn't seemed to process that Peter is dealing with that. I noticed he seemed a little off lately he just said he was tired and I didn't press it. But I should have. I should have looked closer noticed how he was acting looked for signs that he could be hurting.

"It's gonna be a lot more than just treatment Mr.Stark. it's supporting him, being patient through his meltdowns making sure he can't hurt himself and in most cases the child is suicidal. And if he tried to do that then he would have to stay at a mental hospital."

"Mental illness is very difficult to deal with are you sure you can do this?"

I nod "Yes. look I know it's not gonna be easy especially because I don't fully understand it. But I care about him so I'll do what I can to help him."Lilly sighs

"I'll get some papers for you to sign. And we will talk about treatments."I nod and look back to the doctor.
"Okay well that's settled, I'll let you get back to Peter." I nod getting up and walking back to the room. Nat is humming some Russian lullaby Peter is still asleep. I walk over to Peter and look at his arms, there are fresh scars on his arms.
what am I gonna do with this kid
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Word count 1206
date 12/21/21

Yes i changed the book title.

I'm still in shock with spiderman's no way home, it's been like 2 days and it just hasn't been processed. I won't spoil it but you need to go watch it it's amazing! So proud of Tom and the rest of the cast everyone did great.

stay safe and I hope u enjoyed this chapter.