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“No one wants you.”
“You think your dad will want to keep you around for much longer? He’s already had to be with you until now, he will get bored or fed up soon enough and send you away.”
“Why would he want you?”
Peter sniffed, trying to keep the tears in as he entered his house. He should be used to the taunts by now but they hurt every time. They are just jealous, his teacher had told him. It still hurt. He knew what they said wasn’t true. His dad loved him. If there was one thing Peter was sure of, it was that. Poor eye sight, rubbish lungs and all. His dad had never made a secret of how much Peter meant to him. So why did Peter not tell him what was going on in school? Middle school sucked for everyone though, or so he had been told.
“Hey buddy, how was school?” his dad called from the living room doorway. Peter didn’t look up. If he looked up, his dad would see his face.
“Fine,” Peter muttered as he walked past. Usually after he got home, he would go to his dad and tell him about his day but today he just went straight to his room. He set down his bag at his desk, threw his glasses down on his bedside table and flopped onto his bed. His dad soon followed, not saying anything, just sitting quietly beside Peter.
“Are you okay Peter? What happened?” his dad rubbed his back comfortingly and Peter knew he wouldn’t be able to hide it anymore. He turned around. His dad’s eyes instantly zeroed in on his face, taking in the scrapes and bruises and split lip. His eyes narrowed in fury as his hand gripped his chin, tilting his head as he inspected his injuries.
“Who did this to you?” his dad hissed. Peter burst into tears. Within seconds, his dad had him wrapped in his arms, whispering to him soothingly as Peter sobbed into his chest. Between sobs and whines and hiccups, Peter explained what had happened, what had been happening for months. The hurtful taunts and insults, getting pushed into things and to the ground, having his books knocked out of his hands and glasses snatched. How today they had gone further because Peter had stood up to them, denying their accusations about his father. The accusations about his mum, Peter didn’t say anything about. His mum did leave him and Peter didn’t know her. He didn’t know if she would like him now. He knew she didn’t want him.
His dad though? His dad loved him more than anything. He listened to his Star Wars rants and tangents about maths even though he knew way more advanced stuff than high school calculus. He helped him with his homework and tucked him into bed at night. He encouraged his interests and hobbies even when he didn’t get them, he tried. He was his best friend. And Peter wasn’t going to let them get away with accusing his dad about anything.
“Oh kid.” His dad sighed, arms tightening around him as he pressed a kiss to his head. “Come on.” He lifted them off the bed, Peter quickly wrapping his legs around his waist and arms around his neck. His dad carried him across the hall, into his own bedroom, then into the ensuite bathroom. He set him down on the counter before getting his first aid kit and beginning the clean Peter up. He wiped away his tears and the blood, cleaning the cuts and putting a cream on the bruises. Peter got to pick a Band-Aid for the cut on his cheek. When his dad was done, he put away the kit and came to stand in front of Peter, holding his hands tightly.
“I love you, Roo,” his dad said and Peter nodded. He knew that.
“I love you too dad.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
Peter shrugged, looking down.
“You can tell me anything. You know that right?”
“I know.” He did. Its why he told his dad now. And why he felt so relieved. He knew his dad would take care of him and deal with the situation.
“I’m proud of you.”
Peter jerked his head up. It wasn’t that his dad didn’t say it often, he did. He said it for things Peter thought he didn’t deserve praise for, but he didn’t know what he had done today to earn it. His confusion must have shown as his dad smiled at him gently and began to explain.
“You stood up to them. You knew your own limits of what you could take and when they crossed them once, you acted and spoke out. And when they crossed them again, you told me. I wish you would have told me sooner but you did good today kid.”
Peter sniffed as he felt tears rise again but for another reason entirely. He shoved his face into his dad’s chest and hugged him. They stayed that way for a while, just breathing together.
“Now, what to do about those bullies. I’m going to speak to the school about it. They aren’t going to get away with any of that crap. Would you like to move class?” His dad pulled back to look at him. Peter shrugged and nodded. What he really wanted was to not see them again. And a friend. That might be nice. The other kids thought he was weird.
“Or,” his dad started and Peter looked up at him, “would you like to move to the school Ned goes to?”
Peter gasped and his heart began beating wildly. “Really? But it’s so far.”
“We can move into the house we stay at when we visit the Leeds. Next year is high school anyway and New York has good schools for people of your calibre. Ned got that place in Midtown High, didn’t he? You can join him there as well.”
The more his dad talked the more excited he got. It was what he had wanted and never known was possible. He wouldn’t have to deal with the bullies anymore and he would be with his best friend! He and Ned had been heartbroken when Ned had to move away because his dad had found better work in New York, and now they would be together again.
“Really?” he squealed. His dad laughed.
“Of course. Stark Industries should really have a branch in New York anyway. I’m guessing by your reaction that I should begin looking for an office there.”
Peter was practically vibrating on the counter and he chucked himself at his dad. “Thank you thank you thank you.” He almost started sobbing again. His dad wrapped him in a hug.
“You are very welcome. I’m sure your Uncle Rhodey will be happy as well. He will get to see you more.”
“Yeah!” Peter said excitedly, before pausing, “What about auntie Pepper?”
“You know Pep, she goes where I go. I’m sure she will love a New York office. She has always wanted to work there.” His dad reassured him. The grin returned to Peter’s face. "Though its going to be a long process trying to find an office building that meets my standards."
“We should build our own office,” Peter told him. His dad looked at him thoughtfully before grinning and suddenly picking him up. Peter squealed, clutching onto him as he spun them.
“You are absolutely right kiddo. I’m going to build a whole tower and we can live at the very top. Your uncle Rhodey and Pepper can move in if they want as well. How does that sound?”
“Amazing,” Peter said breathlessly. This whole afternoon seemed like something from a dream. An amazing, wonderful dream. “We should call them and tell them right now! And Ned!”
“Okay, Roo, how about we tell them while you have your after school snack, yeah?” His dad set him down and Peter nodded, quickly grabbing his hand as they made their way to the kitchen.
Peter was munching on an apple slice as his dad called uncle Rhodey. Soon Peter was laughing and talking excitedly with his dad and uncle, who was delighted by the idea. When Pepper came by later, they told her as well and Peter saw her eyes light up as she began talking office stuff with his dad. His conversation with Ned was peppered with ecstatic screams and rapid conversation.
“Hey, dad?” Peter said sleepily as his dad tucked him in for the night.
“Yeah, kid?” His dad sat down beside him, stroking his hair.
“Thank you for everything.”
His dad paused. Then leant down and kissed his forehead. “I would move mountains and burn the world down for you, Pete. This was nothing.”
Peter smiled. His eyes were closed and he was half way to sleep. “I love you daddy.”
“I love you too, son.”
Peter knew his dad would deal with it, and he always made the most amazing things happen. Peter couldn’t wait for the future. He had his dad with him, so he knew it was going to be awesome and that everything would be okay.