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monaisme · 4 months ago

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Sicktember: Day 30

#30- Past Prompt of Your Choice! (2022 #17- Fainting/Syncope)

“Hey, FRIDAY!” Peter chirped as he entered into the private elevator that took him and anyone Mr. Stark deemed cool enough to the private floors. “Is Mr. Stark back in the penthouse yet or has Dr. Cho decided to punish him and keep him longer for ruining her Saturday off for making her come in to fix him up?”

AI or not, Peter was sure he could hear a smile in her response. “I am afraid Boss is still recovering in the med bay, much to his irritation, though I am certain that a visit from you would cheer him up. Shall I take you to directly to the floor?”

Peter leaned against the elevator hand rail, let his head fall back against the wall and closed his eyes, just to rest them for a minute. “That sounds great, FRIDAY, thank you.”

“You are very welcome,” the doors closed as she replied.

“Whoa,” Peter jolted and threw his arms out for balance as the elevator started its normally steady ascent. “Is something wrong with the elevator, FRIDAY?” Peter asked, “The take off is usually a little more... smooth? No offense intended or anything.”

“None taken, Peter, however your inquiry along with your physical response to the elevator’s operation has initiated an automatic system-wide analysis which has just completed. Results do indicate that all systems are running at optimal efficiency. The elevator is fine.”

“Oh? Weird.” Peter answered back, not really having the energy to be bothered by the anomaly. “Thanks for checking that out, I guess?”

But FRIDAY didn’t let it go. “I would be ignoring my additional programming if I did not suggest that the balance issue could have something to do with your obvious fatigue. As well, if you take into account yesterday’s conflict, perhaps it would be advisable to have medical personnel do a quick check up while you visit with Boss? Shall I contact Dr. Cho and make the necessary arrangements for you?”

Peter shook his head. Taking a few deep breaths was already helping him to feel steadier, “Nah, I’m all good, but thanks for thinking of me... I mean...?” Did FRIDAY actually think of him, Peter wondered, or—the elevator arrived at the med bay floor and the doors opened before him—thoughts for another day, he guessed. “Have an awesome afternoon, FRIDAY. I’ll see you later!”

“Thank you, Peter.” FRIDAY replied and the elevator doors closed behind him.

He made his way down the hall, his mind already letting go of the oddity of what had happened in favour of rehearsing what he could talk to Mr. Stark about. And like always, he prayed to whatever deity that he wouldn’t embarrass himself or bug the man anymore than Peter was sure he would.

“Hello, Mr. Stark! How are you doing this beautiful afternoon?” Peter waved big, then smiled bigger, making a mental note that the AI had been accurate in her assessment of the man in the med bay bed.

“Oh, don’t be all sunshine and puppy farts to me, Mr. Parker.” Mr. Stark scowled. “And do not get me started on the mistreatment I’ve suffered here under the guise of ��medical care’...” but apparently he had gotten started, “Can you believe that Cho has decided, in her grand omnipotence, to deny me... ME! coffee because it MAY interact with my pain meds... and the antibiotic that I’m on...”

Peter couldn’t help but stare. He knew the man had a bit of a caffeine addiction but—

Mr. Stark sighed, “... and my blood pressure medication.”

Peter snort laughed.

“Oh, you think this is funny, do you?” Mr. Stark apparently did too, as he realized his own ridiculousness, “To make matters worse, I dropped my Sudoku just before you came in here and haven’t been able to muster up the motivation to ask someone to come and pick it up for me because I’m still mad about the coffee thing.” Mr. Stark went full ham at this, smiling sweetly as he batted his eyelashes. “Peter, my dear, sweet intern, you wouldn’t happen to know someone who could help me out of this conundrum, would you?”

Peter huffed as he shook his head in amusement and leaned over to grab the book. This man was going to be the—

Peter had only blinked, he was sure. He heard the clatter of his shoulder falling into the metal frame of the bed Mr. Stark lay upon, and the man’s shouts as Peter mumbled that he was okay... he was okay... he was...

And Peter knew no more.

/-/-/

“I’m so embarrassed,” Peter grumped as he flung his arm across his pale face. “Stuck in bed because I swooned like a... like a...” Peter’s brain just couldn’t catch the words he needed.

“Relax, Pete,” Mr. Stark tried to comfort him. “I mean, if you’re going to pass out, there’s no better place than to do it than an already fully staffed med bay while you’re literally visiting little ol’ me.”

“Woulda’ stayed home if I knew this was gonna happen,” the boy muttered, then ignored Mr. Stark’s responding scowl. “It’s not fair. You’re the one who decided to play dodgeball with an alien and then break a leg in two places. I didn’t even get hurt... so not cool.”

“Well, maybe, maybe not, right? Only time will tell.”

Peter huffed in frustration. Could he be any more of an irritant?

“Relax, kid. They’re called aliens for a reason so who knows what mysterious diseases those things were potentially carrying. We’ll hang out while we wait for Dr. Cho to get May’s permission to come and grab a blood sample and do your work up, and then when it all comes back as Peter-normal, you can tell me you told me so and then abandon me for the amazing world beyond those med bay doors.”

Peter almost felt bad for Mr. Stark as he said that, stuck in bed with his leg casted and propped up with way too many pillows, and then, “Unless you do actually have some exotic alien disease and then I’ll be thinking of you while I sell off all of your video games so I can rent me a new intern.”

Peter rolled his head to look over to his mentor and glared. “I remember when I respected you, Mr. Stark,” then Peter sighed. “But it’s fine. I think May’s helping in surgery today, though so it may be a bit. And if I’m going to be stuck here, I may as well catch a nap.” Peter shifted onto his side, punched at his pillow, yanked his blanket up over his shoulder and closed his eyes. Yup, Peter thought to himself, a nap sounded perfect.

/-/-/

Peter couldn’t have been sleeping long when he woke to the sound of yelling and chaos. His eyes automatically flew to the bed next to him, afraid that something had gone wrong with Mr. Stark while he’d rested, but no—even Mr. Stark had propped himself up on his elbows and was staring beyond him to the hallway with the same confused look as Peter.

“Wha’s happenin’?” Peter asked, still groggy.

Mr. Stark looked over to him and shook his head, “I’m pretty sure I just watched Clint being rolled down the hallway on a gurney with Nat following behind screaming something about Clint playing with bows and arrows inside the house like a six year old, and the next time he picked up his kit, he’s going to find straws and suction cups instead? Ugh.” Mr. Stark ran a hand down his exhausted face. “I hate translating Russian. It always sounds a little clunky to me, but oh, well.”

Peter’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You caught all of that... but... wait! You speak Russian, too?”

“Well, yeah.” Mr. Stark seemed to revel in Peter’s confusion. “What? Like it’s hard?”

Peter’s soul left his body for a moment. “Um, did you just quote...?”

Mr. Stark laughed, “Kid, there are depths to me that you’ll never know...”

And Peter believed him. In fact, Peter loved that he was getting to see the real Tony Stark, not just the man who put on an act in front of all the celebrity reporters and dickhead politicians who were forever calling him out for one stupid thing or another. Granted, Peter was still confused as to how someone as cool as Mr. Stark could even tolerate hanging around with someone as, well, Peter-like as him, but it was all good. Peter had some pretty amazing acting skills, too, even if he said so himself. He could make like he wasn’t terrified that Mr. Stark would call him out as a fraud and ban him from the tower, or that he wasn’t okay after being bullied and beaten at school every day, or exhausted from the nightmares of Ben- or the Vulture- or the both of them, or that his stomach wasn’t trying to eat itself from the ever-constant hunger because it was his fault that money was too tight and Ben was dead...

Yup, Peter could hide his true self and all his imperfections easily enough...

But Peter caught himself before he drifted too far off and chuckled back at Mr. Stark’s reply, “I’m getting that.”

Dr. Cho rushed past their door.

“Oh.” Peter looked back over to Mr. Stark. “I think I’ll be waiting a while to get that blood work done, hey?”

Mr. Stark nodded and settled back into his pillows, “We suspected as much... unless something changes, so you might as well settle in, bud. Cho got what she needed from May and said she’d pop by when you woke up, but it would seem her attention has been diverted to elsewhere for the time being.”

Peter just smiled. “I guess but,” Peter caught sight of the clock on the wall. “Gosh. It’s getting late and I told Aunt May that I’d be home early to get my homework done.” Peter tossed back the blanket still covering his legs and swung himself around to sit on the edge facing Mr. Stark. “I promised to text her and everything.”

“Kid,” Mr. Stark sat back up again, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Why don’t you relax, and we’ll get one of the nurses in here to take care of things. I mean, Cho will be heartbroken that someone else got to play with her favourite patient, but at least we can make sure you’re alright before you leave. How does that sound?”

Peter gnawed at his lip. “It’s Sunday night, Mr. Stark. Aunt May has a standing order from my favourite Thai place on Sunday night... even if she’s working, and besides, I really do have a load of homework waiting for me that I should have done yesterday before...” Peter trailed off and his eyes fell onto Mr. Stark’s leg.

“Before all the real fun started? Sorry, Pete. There was no planning for this, but Aunt May already knows you’re here, right? We can always call and cancel your order for today if you’re worried about it—plus you know we’ll feed you here. And besides all that, what do you think she’d say if she knew you left before getting you checked out after passing out?”

Peter gulped, “Wait. Aunt May knows that I—?” he couldn’t even say the word. He was already such a pain in the ass. She was going to worry and—

Mr. Stark shifted his body as much as he could to face Peter, “Buddy? You knew this, remember? Cho called May about the blood work? She was waiting for you to wake up?” He looked concerned, “I was going to sell your video games?”

Peter tried to think back, felt his cheeks heat as the memories of their conversations came back to him. “oh.” His breathing picked up a little. “Sorry. I do remember...” He ran his free hand through his hair as he tried to calm down. “I think I’m just losing track ‘cuz of the nap.”

“Hey, Petey?” Peter missed his mentor inconspicuously press the call button for the nurse’s desk lying at his side. “What’s going on in that head of yours? Is something up? You’re worrying me a little.”

“I just—” Gosh, he was feeling weak—jittery—from that scare. “I don’t want to be a bother to anyone so I’m gonna go—” Peter slid off the side of the bed, kept a steadying hand on the mattress while he waited for the worst of the shakiness to pass. “I’m so sorry.”

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”

Peter exhaled hard. “You have no idea, Mr. Stark. I’ll get out of your hair now—I’ll see you on...” Peter let go of the railing, took a step and—

/-/-/

“Whoops!” A pair of strong arms caught Peter under the arms as his knees buckled and his eyes rolled back and fell shut. “I gotcha,’ kid.”

Tony fell back into the bed in relief. “Holy shit, Cap! I don’t know where you came from, but nice catch!”

“Thanks,” Steve shifted, then crouched to bring an arm up under Peter’s knees to lift him more comfortably, “The nurses were a little busy keeping Nat from murdering Clint so when I heard the call button, I figured I’d come and see if I could help with whatever you needed,” Steve looked down at the kid in his arms, “I guess I could.” Steve looked over his shoulder at the rumpled med bay bed. “Do I even bother trying to guess where I should be placing him?”

Tony let out an almost hysterical laugh. “Oh, the grey hairs this kid is gonna give me!” He gestured toward the bed, ��Yes. That is exactly where he is supposed to be... and where he’d better stay! Geez! I have half a mind to get you to find some restraints for him.”

Ignoring Tony’s rant for the moment, Steve did some fancy manoeuvring and managed to get Peter back on the bed and nestled safely under the covers. “There. Now, how’s about I go and find an actual nurse for you instead?” Steve turned back to face Tony. “They may have a better plan of action than yours.”

Tony snorted. “I’m sure.”

Steve simply smiled. “I’ll do that then,” Steve reached out and gave Tony’s shoulder a supportive squeeze. “Is there anything I can help with that you need?”

“If you’d have asked me an hour ago, I’d have gotten you to pick up my Sudoku and then none of us would be in this mess, but now? I’m good.” Tony replied, his standard bravado in play. “But thanks for asking.”

Steve stared for second, then leaned to scoop the puzzle book up off the floor. Tossing it casually onto Tony’s bed, Steve nodded, “Done. I’ll get a nurse in here right away then.”

“Perfect.”

Steve made to leave the room when Tony grabbed his arm, “Steve?”

“Yeah?”

The facade was gone for this briefest of moments, “Really. Thanks for catching the kid. He’s...”

Steve just nodded, suddenly getting what should have been so obvious for witnessing all of their interactions. “He’s your kid.”

“Yeah,” A look of relief passed across Tony’s face as his teammate and friend got it. “He is.”

/-/-/

“Ugh.” Peter shifted a little, trying to get comfortable in his bed, but had no luck. He shifted a little more, finally making his way up onto his left side, only to find himself tangled into an—

“Wha—?” Peter fell onto his back as he fought and failed to sort out the leads attached to his hospital gowned body.

“Wha- is right.” Mr. Stark piped up from the next bed over. “And I’d stop messing with all those wires or Dr. Cho is going to have some very choice words for you.”

Peter froze, closed his eyes, and then dropped his hands to his side in defeat. “Ugh.”

“As eloquent as ever, I see,” Mr. Stark teased, “but seriously, kid. Stay still. I’ve already hit the call button again and I’m guaranteed that this time an actually medical person will show up.”

And if Peter wasn’t already confused, “What does that even mean?”

Mr. Stark chuckled quietly, “That means I have blackmail material for a future date, now hush and be a good patient. I think I hear someone coming.”

Peter’s attention turned to the door as Dr. Cho walked into the room. She smiled over at Mr. Stark quickly before turning her attention to him. “Mr. Parker,” she addressed him as warmly as she usually did when he was an unfortunate occupant of the medical floor, “We have two matters of business to address and then we can get down to business, okay?”

Peter nodded dumbly. What did that even mean?

“Perfect,” she grabbed a stool from the corner of the room and rolled it up to Peter’s bedside. “Now, the most important matter to discuss— Did you know how much of a jerk your Aunt’s boss is?”

Mr. Stark barked a laugh even as Peter blinked in confusion, and then sighed. “Yeah, I do.” Peter groaned as he asked, “Did he even let you talk to her? Sometimes he won’t even get messages to her until the end of her shift, and by then it’s too late, so why even bother, you know?”

Dr. Cho took hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze, “Well, I can tell you that I did speak with her... and you shouldn’t have issue with that everagain either, so you are aware.” The glint in her eye told him that something big had gone down behind the scenes. “And while she knows what’s going on, she’s apparently working the surgery unit today and can’t be pulled away.”

Peter was clear enough that he remembered that much and nodded. “I know.” Sometimes, being the kid of someone in the healthcare industry meant sacrifice.

“But she asked me to tell you that she loves you and that you are to listen to what the doctor tells you.”

Peter smiled shyly, “Okay.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Dr. Cho pulled her hand away, patting it gently, then tapped at something on the screen of the tablet she produced from her lab coat pocket. “The second point of discussion is simple semantics,” she looked over Peter to Mr. Stark. “While May Parker cannot be here in person, she is asking that you act in her stead, Tony. She trusts that you’ll be able to make the appropriate decisions on her behalf and expects to have a serious discussion about becoming official co-parents in the coming days.”

Now it was Mr. Stark’s turn to be confused. “What?”

Dr. Cho simply looked at him and grinned big, “Congratulations, Tony. It’s a boy.”

Peter found it funnier than it probably was in actuality, given that Dr. Cho almost never joked with him and he was still way too tired to be dealing with anything, so slapping a hand over his mouth to muffle his snickering seemed the best solution.

Mr. Stark glared and waggled a finger at him from his own bed. “Keep it up, Petey. I’m pretty sure she just said I’m the boss of you, and you know what that means, don’t you?”

Peter didn’t know how to answer.

“Brussel sprouts, kid. You get nothing but brussel sprouts while your under my roof.”

Peter giggled again, which seemed to be Mr. Stark’s goal judging from the satisfied smile he was wearing.

To Dr. Cho, Mr. Stark replied, “Fine. I accept... even if it means extra visits with the scary aunt.” He shifted in his own bed, “I see that tablet there. Do I need to sign something?”

Dr. Cho was up and walking around to Mr. Stark in a flash, even as she explained things to Peter. “Now, it’s pretty obvious that we went ahead and did that blood draw and a general assessment while you were unconscious. I’m sorry about that,” she didn’t sound at all apologetic. “But—” Mr. Stark signed off with a flourish as she spoke, “with it being your second episode, I had to make the call, so—”

“So.” Mr. Stark repeated as he handed back the tablet, “Tell us, Dr. Cho. What’s going on with the illustrious Peter Parker over here?”

Peter knew that her smile was supposed to be disarming, but that didn’t stop the feeling of dread when her heard her say, “Some of your blood work results were a little confusing. Would you be willing to fill in some information for me?”

/-/-/

He should have said ‘no.’

But Penis Parker, cry baby, imposter hero, killer of uncles and parasite to every person who’d decided he was falsely worth something, well, he doesn’t say no, now does he?

Stupid- stupid- stupid.

And how hard would it have been, really? He was fifteen, and allowed to have a say in his medical care, right? He should have asked to wait until Aunt May was available and then, with her work schedule, and everything else going on in the world, she would have forgotten about it entirely—eventually—or at least until a time when Peter Parker could figure out a way to be less pathetic.

“Come on, Pete.” Mr. Stark tried coaxing him out from under the blankets he’d shoved over his head as the questions from Dr. Cho had became more and more invasive.

(“Are you getting enough to eat, Peter?” Dr. Cho asked as she looked at his blood test results. “There are some significant deficiencies being flagged here and I’m concerned.”)

“Peter, please.” Tony was sounding frustrated.

(“Do you have issues with eating in general, Peter?” Dr. Cho asked as she requested Peter lower the hospital gown, only to reveal his protruding ribs. )

“We need to talk about this, buddy.” he pleaded, then cussed, “Damned leg!”

(“Is your aunt aware that this is such an extreme issue, Peter?” Dr. Cho almost accused.)

“And no one’s in trouble, I promise. You said that May doesn’t know, and we believe you, but we need to make a plan to fix this, is all!”

(“Hold on? Are these bruises from the battle yesterday, Peter? Why do they look older than what we have noted in your file, Peter?” Dr. Cho had realized. “Is someone hurting you? At home? No? At school then?”)

“Please, Peter. All we—all I want to do is help—all I’ve ever wanted to do was help.” Mr. Stark’s voice cracked.

He’d been able to ignore the man’s pleas up until that point, and then—well, had Mr. Stark sounded almost as broken as Peter?

Peter was getting hot under the blankets.

“—If that means we’re moving you and your Aunt into the tower while we figure out the whole metabolism thing so we can guarantee you have enough, then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll pay your rent. I’ll replace your backpacks and textbooks and all that other stuff, okay? And I’ll even do the talking when we tell your Aunt everything even though you know how terrified I am of her and would rather Pepper do it.”

Peter ran a hand down his face, wiping away his tears.

“And—shit!” Mr. Stark had an epiphany. “Does that mean we need to worry about pain meds, too? Peter? Oh, shit-shit-shit-shit-shit! May really is going to kill me! How could I have not considered! Cap is the same way! Dammit all! I’m going to have to call Bruce. We’ll have to get—wait!—I’m getting ahead of myself here.” Mr. Stark took a deep breath. “Just-- we need to communicate about stuff like this. No one wants you to suffer, Roo!”

Peter froze, and his breath caught. Even the thickness of his blankets couldn’t muffle it.

Then Tony whispered a quiet, “oh,” in response. “Roo? Just hang on a minute, ‘kay?”

Peter heard Mr. Stark depress the call button and it chiming down the hallway.

Peter then heard the nurse’s footsteps come down the hallway and enter the room. “Is everything all right in here, Mr. Stark?” she inquired.

“Yes, everything is fine.” Peter could even hear his smile. “I’m just hoping we can find a way to move this bed right next to that bed, is all. The kid needs a bit of a snuggle and I’m a bit stuck, as you can see.”

She didn’t verbally reply, but Peter could hear her footsteps again as she called another staff member to assist as they navigated squeaky breaking systems and sticky wheels. Eventually, the two beds and medical equipment were repositioned as requested.

A whispered, “thank you,” from Mr. Stark, and the nurse left the room, closing the door behind her.

No one said anything for a minute or two, and then Mr. Stark cleared his throat. “So, uh, I’m going to shimmy on over a little bit, if that’s okay with you?”

Peter said nothing.

“Okay- okay- I can work with that. Don’t want to be creepy, right? And I am one hundred and fifty million percent about the consent. So—I am shimmying less than I had originally planned,” Mr. Stark was making a physical effort from the sound of it, “but I will only be shimmying to the edge of my bed.”

Peter heard some rustling.

“And there. Now, buckle up, kid, ‘cause it’s story time. I’ve been thinking about some stuff while you were sleeping, so I’m gonna tell you some things, and I hope you hear what I’m saying because I should have said this awhile ago.”

This was the moment Peter had been bracing for. It was over—no more lab days, no more suit—

And then Tony spoke. “You, Peter Parker, are a good... no, an amazing kid— and I, Tony Stark, am—” he paused, seemed to be looking for a particular word, then continued, “as invested in Peter Parker as I am in Spider-Man, if not more so... and I am so damned sorry for our rough start.

“I am embarrassed that I haven’t taken the time to get to know you well enough that you’d feel safe coming to me with things, because from what I can see of you, you deserve every good thing—and that includes having enough to eat, to be pain free—and I know I can’t control all of the Spider-Man stuff, but if you’re being bullied at school, please- please- please! Know that I revel in destroying the lives of dickheads... ask Pepper. I’m not even lying a little bit.

“And believe it or not, I know what it’s like to not want to be seen—to talk, so I’m not even gonna ask—but I’m putting my hand out here, kid, and if you’ve heard me, I’m gonna ask you to take it, please.”

He contemplated not, Peter did, but it felt cruel to ignore all that Mr. Stark had said. And he hadn’t asked if he believed him, only heard.

And Peter had heard, and maybe even hoped a little for the first time since they’d watched Uncle Ben being lowered into the ground.

Peter’s hand crept forward.

Mr. Stark’s breath caught. “I see you, Peter. I see.”

And Peter’s hand slid out from the safety of the dark, and thought that maybe... just maybe, Mr. Stark did.

#Sicktember 2024 #Day Thirty: Past Prompt of Your Choice!#2022-17-Fainting/Syncope #MCU #Irondad and Spiderson #Hurt/Comfort #Peter Parker is a mess #Tony Stark is figuring it out #tw: mental health issues #tw: depression

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