Chapter Text
Tony paced in the hallway as he waited for Happy to pull the car around. He cleared his throat and went through his speech in his head for the 100th time in that hour. He sighed and went to turn around to pace again but tripped on something, “Tin-E! You already vacuumed this hallway! Clean something else before I recycle you for parts.”
“Don’t threaten him because you’re feeling overwhelmed.” Pepper told him coming out of their room and quickly redirecting the vacuum, “Peter wouldn’t like it.”
“Well the kid’s not here, IS HE?” Tony snapped.
Pepper raised an eyebrow, “I’m going to give you a minute to change your attitude because I know that you didn’t just raise your voice at me for no reason.”
Tony sighed as Pepper walked out of the room. He pulled out his phone and dialed Peter’s number and then hung up before he could answer. He didn’t need to be bothering the kid with his problems while he was at home.
His phone rang, lighting up the screen with a picture of Peter, “Hey bud, called you by accident.”
Peter frowned. He knew Tony’s voice. He knew that his mentor was trying to control rising panic by the way he was breathing even, “Well funny because I was just going to ask you if I could come to that event with you. I think it would be cool to see the ropes. I know it’s last minute. You think you could wait for me to swing there?”
Tony hesitated. He knew the kid was just doing this because he cared, “You have homework?”
Peter glanced at the paper due at school tomorrow that he had written three sentences of, “Done hours ago.”
“Get here quickly. I’ll have your suit ready.” Tony hung up the line.
~
Peter made it in record time and quickly changed from his Spider-Man suit to the one Tony had laying out for him on his bed, “You look frazzled.”
“That’s because we’re running late.” Tony told him, checking his watch.
Peter knew that was a lie but he was willing to play along, “Go get in the car. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Hurry. Happy hates waiting.” Tony took off for the garage.
Peter finished getting ready quickly and then went into the hallway, “Tin-E? Where are you? Tony needs you! He’s losing it fast.”
Peter finally found him locked in the bathroom, “I swear if he doesn’t start treating you nicer than I’m taking custody back.”
~
Peter opened the door to the car and slid inside.
“Finally, Peter!” Tony turned to him, “Why did you bring Tin-E?”
“You’re stressed out.” Peter tried to hand Tin-E over but Tony just looked at him like he had two heads.
“Take him back upstairs.” Tony frowned.
“No, he’s already excited about going on a car ride and I’m not going to let you disappoint him because you’re a grumpy Gus.” Peter hugged Tin-E tight.
“I’ll kill him.” Tony said looking at Pepper who was trying not to laugh.
“Tin-E?” Peter squeaked.
“You.” Tony clarified.
“Well then.” Peter scooted closer to Pepper for safety.
~
“YOU CANNOT BRING TIN-E IN!” Tony rolled his eyes as Peter started to get out of the car.
“He’ll be lonely.” Peter frowned.
“He’s a vacuum.” Tony reminded Peter.
Peter pretended to cover Tin-E’s ‘ears,’ “Be quiet! He could hear you!”
“Pepper?” Tony said, giving her a chance to fix this kid before his stress level went straight to panic attack level.
“Pete, how about we leave him here and come check on him later?”
Peter frowned at Pepper, “Okay, but I’ll come back for him if Tony starts to get panicky.”
Pepper smiled and ruffled his hair, “Deal.”
~
Tony didn’t know why he felt this way. He had given thousands of speeches but he knew that he couldn’t do this. He just wanted an out. Pepper would kill him though. Tony was backstage waiting for his intro and trying to breathe when Peter walked backstage.
“Pete, I can’t right now. I’m freaking out and I don’t want to fight.” Tony warned him.
“I know. That’s why I’m back here. Can I see your Stark Pad?” Peter held out his hand.
Tony handed it over slowly, “What do you need it for?”
Peter opened up the speech and read it, “You’re donating scholarships to all of the kids at this school?”
Tony smiled, shaking his head, “Yeah and?”
“That’s cool.” Peter looked up, “Oh, and Happy’s waiting for you in the car with Tin-E.”
“I have to give a speech!”
“Oh yeah. That’s why I need the Stark Pad. I’ve got this.” Peter smiled as he heard Tony’s name being mentioned as the guest speaker.
“Peter, no.” Tony shook his head bewildered but Peter was already heading out on stage leaving Tony standing there.
Tony watched the kid start his speech flawlessly which made sense because Peter did everything in his life at 100%. He didn’t even know how amazing he was. He started to feel his panic rise again though and realized Peter was also right. He needed to get out of here. He couldn’t be in these four walls.
~
Peter finished the speech and exited the stage while everyone cheered. He found Pepper waiting with his jacket so they could make a quick exit to check on their favorite person. Once they got outside to the garage though he realized that Happy was the only one in the car.
“Where is Tony? Is he safe?” Pepper asked.
“He’s at home. He said he was going to take his meds and rest.” Happy explained, “How did the speech go, kid?”
“I stumbled a few times but I think it went okay.” Peter smiled.
“Proud of you.” Happy told him.
Pepper squeezed his hand, “Me too.”
~
Peter made his way into the tower and found Tony asleep on the couch holding Tin-E close.
Pepper smiled, squeezing his shoulder, “He’s all talk. He loves that robot.”
“I knew it.” Peter grinned.