Chapter Text
Stepping into the tower again felt alien to Peter. He couldn’t remember the last time he must have been here. It must have been some time after the battle at the compound but before he went back to high school.
Even then it hadn’t really felt right being here. Without Tony it felt like the tower was missing a fundamental part of what it was. Pepper and Morgan had been there.
Meeting Morgan had an experience. Before he had even introduced himself, she already knew exactly who he was. Morgan was a wonderful combination of both Pepper and Tony. But seeing that reminder of Mr Stark had felt like Peter was being ripped it two.
However, now that he was entering it again, with Mr Stark leading the way, he realised that despite Mr Stark being alive, Peter didn’t think he belonged here anymore. Too much had changed since he had last been in this building with Tony.
Mr Stark glanced over his shoulder at him. Most likely wondering why Peter was a good three paces behind him and not showing the enthusiasm he once had when entering the building. Upon seeing Peter’s worried face, Mr Stark rushed to try and fill the silence that had formed.
“It’s not actually hugely different since you were last here. We tried selling it a while back but turns out selling a building this size is not at straight forward as I hoped. Once I was gone, Pepper said she didn’t feel like trying to sell it off again. So instead its used as somewhere we can stay when we come to the city, as well as labs for some development stuff we’re working on.” Mr Stark rambled on.
The information was washing over Peter. It had all suddenly become too overwhelming to fully comprehend. Instead he nodded along and placed a smile on his face, trying to show some interest in what he was saying.
As Mr Stark and Peter went up in the elevator, with Tony continuing to discuss the changes (or lack of) that had happened to the tower, Peter silently contemplated instead how much he had changed in that time.
The last time he had been here with Mr Stark he had been a happy, bubbly, and slightly awkward teenager. Sure, the stuff with Toomes had happened and that hadn’t been easy. But he’d coped. Kind of. Well enough at least. Sure he had panic attacks and would sometimes wake up with a shout stuck in his throat, feeling the weight of a building crashing down on his back. But he’d been ok.
Now he couldn’t even remember the last time he laughed. Or slept more than 4 hours. He was exhausted and he had no idea how he was going to try and convince Mr Stark he was ok. He could already tell he hadn’t done a good job of getting him to believe him.
As the pair of them walk into the penthouse, Tony starts to shift awkwardly, clearly finding the silence coming from Peter unsettling.
“So… Er… you hungry?” Tony hesitantly asked.
“Um, yeah. Sure.” Peter replied.
In all honestly, Peter didn’t feel that hungry. A combination of nerves and not usually having enough money to keep up with his metabolism, he often found it hard to judge if he was actually hungry anymore.
Tony spins on the spot and head toward the fridge in the kitchen, Peter trailing behind him. Flinging the fridge open, Tony starts listing off different options.
“We can do a sandwich? Or waffles? Or just reheat some soup instead?”
“Soup sounds good. Thanks.”
“Sure thing” Mr Stark beams at him. Clearly happy at a decision having been made.
“So, you good about going back into your old room? Don’t think anyone’s been in it since you were last here. Shouldn’t have changed too much either.” Mr Stark asked, seemingly thinking if too much had changed it would be too much for Peter. In all honestly though, Peter would not have found it too strange at this point. Everything else had changed.
“Yeah no that’s fine. Thanks Mr Stark.”
Peter perches himself down at a stool at the counter. Tony shuffles around getting the soup sorted. Eventually putting it in a bowl with a bread roll on the side.
Peter, now starting to honestly feel nauseous, tries to put on a calm face and start. He manages to get halfway through before he has to call it quits. Mr Starks eyebrows pinch together but seems to decide not to comment on it.
“Right. Ready to go to your room?” Mr Stark queries. Following a nod from Peter, they both head down the hallway.
As Mr Stark opens the door to what was once Peter’s old room, Peter pauses.
He had used this room frequently. Especially in the time just before the blip. There were many times when he had come over for lab days with Mr Stark only for them both to lose track of time. It led to them arranging for Peter to just stay over in this room after one too many phone calls from a very worried Aunt May.
Over time Mr Stark had added more and more things to the room. It was slowly filled with books, both fiction and non-fiction. As well as star wars posters and Legos. It had truly become Peter’s room.
Now when Mr Stark opened the door, Peter felt like he was smacked in the face with nostalgia. Of course, anything that could have been used to identify him had vanished. But everything else, as no one had stayed here much in the last 6 months, had managed to stay.
Slowly walking in, Peter felt a stinging sensation behind his eyes. Peter realised he was about to cry. Stealing himself, he took a deep breath and pushed down his feelings.
“If there’s anything you want to add or change just let me know, we can. Anything at all.” Mr Stark said anxiously.
“Thank you. I think I just may want to rest for a while. If that’s okay?”
“Yeah of course. It’s definitely been a morning and a half. If you need anything just come find me or ask Friday.”
“I will. Thanks again Mr Stark. For letting me stay.”
“No problem kid, you’re always welcome to stay, this is your home too.” And with that Mr Stark turned away and headed back down the hallway.
Peter quietly closed the door after him and slid to the floor, resting the back of his head against the wood. He shut his eyes, feeling his emotions rise up again. Taking deep breaths, he stayed like that for a while. Slowly, his breathing evened out and he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.