Kid, tell me what happened: The Sequel

A little party never hurt nobody

A ten year old Peter Stark couldn’t help but smile as he unpacked his backpack on his desk, eager to be home for two reasons. One, the boy missed his dad a lot, and couldn’t wait to ask his dad about his day and two, Peter aced his math quiz, getting the top score in his class with a hundred and four, and he couldn’t wait to show his dad the score. 

So the ten year old grabbed his math quiz and raced over to his dad where he assumed to be in the living room working on something. Peter spoke, “Dad?”

Peter received no reply as Tony continued to tinker with whatever he was doing. Unsure if his father had heard him or not, Peter started again, “Dad?”

Still no reply, Peter tapped the Avenger on his shoulder as he spoke, “Dad?”

Tony dropped his tool and it immediately clanged to the floor as he swiveled around angrily, “What Peter? What? What? What? What do you possibly want now?” He huffed, “Can’t you see that I’m working on something, can’t you bother someone else? Just shut up and leave me alone, God you’re so annoying!”

Peter stepped back as his face fell, mumbling a low apology as he walked back to his bedroom, quiz long forgotten. Water pricked the ten year old’s eyes as he shut the door behind him while placing his quiz back on his desk. He wiped at his eyes, angry at himself for making his dad upset and provoking the man to say all that hurtful stuff about him. Peter sniffled as tears spilled silently down his face as he buried his head in his hands, he didn’t mean to bother his dad or make him upset, all the boy wanted was to make his dad proud of him. Peter hiccuped, all he did was make things worse. 

Peter couldn’t help but start crying at the idea that he made his dad upset. His dad was his best friend, Tony was never mean or short with him. Tony was always loving and caring and gentle and sweet and patient, always treating Peter like he was an adult and not just an ignorant child. And for Peter to make the man upset, what if Tony wouldn’t forgive him? Peter knew he was being irrational, but the younger Stark couldn’t help but think of that. 

He had never been called annoying before, and the fact that it was the person that he loved and trusted the most made Peter feel three thousand times worse as the tears refused to falter. Peter sniffled again as he buried his head in his hands, tears continuing to fall. He felt so hurt and betrayed to the point where his head and chest began to hurt, but the ten year old knew better than to ask his dad to help him feel better. 

Peter could do what his father wanted. He could be quiet and leave Tony alone, he was a good kid, he knew how to listen. He just wished he didn’t have to, as his thoughts began to wander and drift, making the boy think that perhaps he was an annoying burden on the people around him. Peter exhaled waterily, wishing that someone would just hug him and make him feel better. 

To try and change his mood a little bit, the still-crying ten year old boy decided to start his homework, despite the fact that his father’s harsh words were still playing in his head on repeat. Peter forced the words aside as he started working on his math problems. 

Despite his attempt to clear his head, Peter couldn’t focus on the problems in front of him. He couldn’t stop crying and feeling sad, and his mind refused to think of anything that wasn’t about what his father had said. 

As if right on cue, there was a light knock on his door. Peter knew who it was but didn’t say anything as he continued to work out his calculations for division. 

Just as Peter expected, Tony walked inside Peter’s room, standing next to Peter as the genius, billionaire, philanthropist said, “Pete, you okay?”

Peter said nothing as he kept his head pressed against the smooth of his desk, chocolate-colored irises flickering up to meet his dad’s for a moment before gluing them back to his homework.