Chapter Text
Tony couldn’t say what made him do it.
There was absolutely no logical reason why he threw on a measly sweatshirt and sweatpants and headed out in the middle of what was supposed to be the most epic blizzard of the season.
There was no logical reason why, at 10pm, he took a car out of the the Tower garage and started driving.
There was no logical reason why his heart rate was through the roof and why he felt like he was losing the things he loved the most.
There was no reason why he felt like he was drifting alone in space and running out of oxygen, in danger of suffocating in silence forever.
None.
And yet, for some reason, he was shivering in front of an apartment building in Queens, willing himself to do something, anything, instead of just standing there. His arms were wrapped tight around his body as he shuddered. Thick snowflakes drifted lazily from the black sky, dusting his shoulders and hair before melting into cold water.
“Mr. Stark?” a voice asked softly.
Tony looked up and saw Peter Parker standing under the overhang of the building. The teen’s eyes were wide with concern, and they traveled up and down Tony’s ragged form before he stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“Peter?” Tony whispered.
“Yeah,” Peter nodded. He rubbed his arms with his hands and let out an involuntary shiver at the cold temperature. “What, uh...what are you doing here?”
Tony paused. What was he doing here? His breath inhaled sharply as he hugged himself tighter, and he looked at Peter with wild eyes.
“I...I don’t…” His tongue felt heavy in his mouth as he tried and willed the right words to form. “I j-just needed to...needed to s-see that you’re okay.” That felt right, and he nodded his head. “I just needed to see that you’re okay,” he repeated, his voice barely audible.
Peter thought about all the times Tony had comforted him during a panic attack and took a cautious step towards him. He reached out a hand, and when Tony didn’t flinch away, Peter let his palm touch his mentor’s shoulder.
“I’m okay, Mr. Stark,” Peter assured him, his voice calm and even.
And for some reason, Tony believed him.
He believed the boy with ruffled hair and big, brown eyes. He believed the teenager who was made of pure goodness, who helped people because it was the right thing to do. He believed the kid who would sacrifice it all if it meant saving just one person.
Including Tony himself.
“K-K-Kid,” Tony choked out, his voice cracking. He could practically feel his body split apart, but just as he was about to lose himself forever, a pair of strong arms wrapped around him, keeping him whole.
Peter Parker put everything he had into the hug to keep Tony Stark from vanishing.
“It’s okay Mr. Stark,” he soothed as the man cried into hair. “I’m right here. I’ve got you.” He repeated the phrases over and over like a prayer as he felt Tony’s heart beat wildly against his chest. Peter was shivering, but he bit his lip because this time, Tony Stark needed him.
And he was going to be there.