Whatever It Takes

Chapter Nineteen

TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter has brief mentions of self harm and suicide and also talks about mental health. It's nothing very graphic and only mentioned in regards to an evaluation Emma is asked to fill out. I wrote this based off of my own experience being diagnosed with my mental illnesses when I was 17 and had been struggling for years. If you are struggling with thoughts of self harm or suicide, please reach out. I know it's hard and it's scary as hell, but it's worth it. You have to be scared to be brave. You're strong, and I believe in you. So would Emma. I love you all :) - Hailey

Tony landed at the compound with his daughter still tucked in his arms. His mask receded to take a gulp of fresh air that felt new to his lungs. The trip to Dr. Cho's office went in a sprint that Tony could hardly remember before parting the doors, trying not to trip on boxes that were still unpacked from the gradual move and called out her name until she ran out from an office room, "Mr. Stark! Is this your daughter?" the young woman's eyes widened, observing the spider - suit clad form that lay in his arms. Tony nodded as another nurse came out, quickly yelling for a stretcher, "yes, she was on a mission her brother started and she passed out. FRIDAY diagnosed a severe anxiety attack." Tony watched as two nurses pulled out a stretcher that Tony lay Emma carefully onto and pulled her mask off with care. Her brown locks pooled out and spread about the sterile white padding. Her face was pale, and with it her lips. Even her freckles seemed a shade duller. Dr. Cho gave the nerve wracked man a reassuring smile. "We've got this, Mr. Stark, she's in good hands," she told him. Tony swallowed again, this lump bigger than the last. "I've got to go deal with the other kid, I'll be back as soon as I can."

A nurse smiled, "We'll keep you updated," and they rushed her away. Tony fiddled with the mask in his hands for a second. Dust and debris smeared the spots her speckled cheeks hid under. He could smell the sweat off of it. Finally, he handed it to a nurse who remained. "Would you mind sending her suit to the laundry room?" he asked with hardly a smile, "they'll know what to do." The nurse took the mask dirtied from chaos, a sweet grin spreading across a gracefully aging face, "of course, Mr. Stark." Tony smiled again, turned on his heel, and set off.

The man, now more tired and worn from worry than angry, turned to a balcony, taking off into the sky to search for Peter in less than a hurry. Inside the suit, he attempted to calm himself before confronting the boy. He knew Peter just wanted to do right, but when it nearly cost him, his sister, and a boat full of people their lives, he couldn't help but be disappointed. As he approached, helicopters surveyed over the area. Peter sat on the edge of a roof, mask off and held in his hands. The sun was starting to set now, and Peter couldn't care to look. Tony swooped in, sarcasm locked and loaded, "previously on Peter Screws The Pooch, I tell you to stay away from this," Peter looked behind him to the hovering suit, and then back to the scenery. "Instead, you hacked a multi-million dollar suit so you could sneak around behind my back doing the one thing I told you not to do."

"Is Emma okay?" Peter was expecting the scolding, but he didn't much care. His sister was probably in the hospital, all because she tried to help him. That's all he could think to care of at the moment. That and the passengers on the ferry. For a second, Tony put his anger aside, sighing out his nose. "She's fine," he told Peter, "she's with the doctors and nurses in the compound now. She passed out."

Peter hung his head, scared for the next answer, "what about everyone else?"

"They're fine," Tony went back to an authoritive irritation in his tone, "no thanks to you."

Peter felt a pop inside him. He knew he was in for Tony's lectures, but no thanks to him?

"No thanks to me?" Peter stood from his seat, stalking over to the hovering suit, "those weapons were out there and I tried to tell you about it but you didn't listen!" Peter cried in frustration. He stalked closer, "none of this would have happened if you had just listened to me!" The hovering suit said nothing. Peter tutted, "If you even cared you would actually be here right now." As if Tony had been planning this, the suit split open, and a firm-faced Tony Stark walked out as if the roof were a stage and he knew the floor was his. Peter's eye's widened, stepping back and feeling his words being shoved back into his mouth. "I did listen kid," his tone was softer, "who do you think called the FBI, huh? Did you know that I was the only one who believed in you?" Tony walked further, Peter stepped backward, "everyone else said I was crazy to recruit two fourteen-year-old kids-"