Chapter Text
(Peter's POV)
I wake up screaming, in a cold sweat, trapped in my blankets. I gasp for breath as I slowly realize that I am back in my room at the Avengers compound not trapped under tons of rubble from the building the Vulture dropped on me. I throw off the covers not wanting to feel constricted and look over at my clock.
4:35 A.M. almost two hours before I would have to get up for school, but there is no way I'm going back to sleep now.
I get up and slowly change out of my Storm Trooper onesie into a shirt with the periodic table on it that proclaims "I wear this shirt periodically" and sweatpants. I brush my teeth, run a comb through my hair, and head down to the kitchen. I just can't shake the feeling of being trapped.
After I reach the kitchen, I begin to make myself a breakfast fit for a king, in my opinion anyway. I toast a whole mega pack of cherry jolly rancher pop-tarts, nook two sausage biscuits, and poor myself a large glass of milk to sip on until the coffee is ready. I sit down at the table in the kitchen, have Friday start playing an old episode of Tom and Jerry, and dig in.
As I'm starting on my seventh pop-tart Natasha walks into the room. She smirks and says, "Looks delicious and nutritious." I can tell she's joking about the second part, but she was being honest about the first part because she comes over and snatches a pop-tart. As she chews she watches Tom try to catch Jerry on the TV along with me. "Couldn't sleep?" She asks.
I nod, and continue to eat on my feast. The company is nice, but I really don't feel like talking. She seems to understand that so she simply pulls up a chair next to me, poors us both a cup of coffee, and settles down to watch the simple cartoon with me. I picked it because I didn't want to have to think. I just wanted to relax without having thoughts racing through my head.
After three episodes she gets a phone call and apologizes before having to leave. Her leaving brings back the feeling of being crushed. I am tired and have enough time to take a nap before going to school, but I fight it because I know sleep will only bring back more painful memories and that damn building crushing me over and over again, trapping me until I can't breathe. No, I can't go back to sleep. Not now. I just don't want to go back there.
The other Avengers all trickle in throughout the morning casting worried glances at me. When Mr. Stark sees the dark circles under my eyes, he comes over to talk to me. "What's wrong, kiddo?" He asks in a jovial tone, but I can tell that he is truly concerned.
"Just couldn't sleep." I mutter.
The worried expression on his face disappears, and he begins to rub my shoulder. "Well if there is anything I can do to help you sleep or if you just want to talk. I'm always here for you." I nod, and he smiles. I can't tell him about the nightmares. None of the other Avengers have nightmares. I'm already the youngest, the kid, the rookie, I can't seem even weaker by letting them know I have nightmares. It will just confirm that I am the weakest. I can't tell him. Even though it would make me feel better to, I can't.
"I'm good for now. Thanks." I say back in as much of a cheerful tone as I can muster.
He slaps me on the back, and I hide my flinch as he says. "Alright then, kiddo, Happy's waiting outside to take you to school. You don't want to keep him waiting." He says as he hands me my backpack and sack lunch. I stand up and head out of the room as Mr. Stark calls out. " See you later!" and I wave back in response.
All throughout the day, I just can't shake the the feeling of being crushed and slowly suffocated. I don't know how much longer I can go on like this, but I don't know what to do.