voidtreckerexpress | (no subject)

Who: Peter and Tony
Where: Medical Car.
When: Apple Day 22
What: Peter owes Tony an explanation and also an apology
Warnings: Language, Endgame spoilers, mentions of past abuse and trauma

Gwen's return has done wonders for Peter's mood. For the past two days he hasn't really done much of anything except lounge around in the spider hammocks and nap and try not to think about anything that might start to upset him. But Gwen came back. And seeing her adorably awesome face made him feel like maybe, just maybe things would be okay.

He's still not too sure what to think about what he was told the future was, of Tony's reassurances that it was wrong. He really, really hopes Tony wasn't lying but he also doesn't trust his past experiences with getting close to adults. He was three for five now and Mr Stark would make Four.

But he feels bad about how it all played out-he couldn't fully explain what was wrong. Part of him wanted to just blow it off though-Tony has enough to deal with, he doesn't need to be concerned about Peter's mental health. And besides, he'll bounce back. He always does.

"Hey... uh... Mr Stark? Are you here?" He pokes his head in the door, a little nervous considering their last conversation. "Um.. I'm sorry about how I've been acting? But I'm feeling better today. C-can we talk?"

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Peter lets out a breath and rubs at his face, sounding just exhausted as he thinks about it. He's still not one hundred percent sure he wants to do therapy again but he does want to actually be able to sleep-as is the best motivation he can give himself for it.

"I don't really want-I mean, I know I'll have to talk about it eventually and I just. The idea literally makes me want to web someone to the wall and hide out in a cocoon of blankets." He states, knowing that that probably isn't the healthiest reaction to such things.

"I don't think I should know the future." He admits. "If I do, then I might want to change it and then make things worse-or me knowing what's supposed to happen might change what does happen just by me knowing it-I mean if you think about it-time would be like a really sensitive thing and I don't wanna get the doctor out here all pissed at me just because I accidentally like changed a fixed point in time. And I mean, since it's me that's probably exactly what would happen so it's probably better if I don't break time and space."

Tony was quiet a moment before reaching over and patting the kid lightly on the shoulder. "I know. I get it. I've been through stuff that makes me want to do that too. But it's not going to get any better without doing some work. It's.. it's like when I had to have heart surgery and get the shards out. Remember when I had that? I didn't want to face that either. It meant having to be in recovery for months afterward and I knew it'd put an extra burden on Pepper.. but it was the right thing to do. It made my life better and this will too. Just remember you're made of tougher stuff than those desires to hide are. You can do this."

The other part had him nodding in agreement. He didn't want to tell Peter that in this situation, there wasn't anything Peter could do to change it. If he was in Tony's timeline he only had a couple hours left before he'd be gone for five years. There wasn't a way to change that even with Peter's terrible luck. However, he appreciated the kid taking time to consider things from his perspective. Tony wasn't holding this from him to be a jerk, it was a very solid reason and had nothing to do with his loyalty to Peter.

"Okay. Then I won't tell you and we'll just be satisfied with the fact that we're here now and everything works out. And you'll keep in mind that if anyone says anything to you again about the future that I haven't told you- talk to me. They probably don't have the facts quite right."

Peter just takes another breath, leaning back in his chair again. He's not still not sure he really wants to do this. It helps a little to hear that Tony knows how he feels-that it wasn't just him that tried to ignore bad things. He swallows and leans forward again, fingers pressed against his chin as his legs start to bounce with his anxiety.

"Can-can you tell her? Mrs Sarai, I mean. About what happened. Because that way she'll know but I won't have to tell her so when I get that far, she'll already know and it might make it easier, you know? For her to know just how bad it is?"

He doesn't have much to say about knowing the future. He intends to mostly ignore any future mentions of.. well, his future. Maybe they're not right, after all. And maybe he's freaked out so bad for nothing.

"Of course. I'll do anything you need me to, kid," Tony says. It was said for the current situation, but it was no hiding that it was for any other time as well. "And don't worry. She'll keep this information safe even if you two never speak of it."

He glances at the ICP. "It's almost time for dinner. You should go make up for all the work you missed for breakfast."