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Tony started noticing something was up with Peter when the boy was seven. He was coughing more than usual and his breath was a little wheezy. Tony just assumed it was a nervous tick, but he soon became unsure. It was when Peter stopped being so energetic and stopped running everywhere when the man knew for certain that there was something wrong.
He asked Peter about it one night, when he was tucking him into bed, but the boy just shrugged it off. Tony left it, knowing that if something was truly wrong, then his son would come to him about it.
That was until he got a call from his school.
"Tony Stark speaking." He answered.
"Hello, Mr. Stark. This is Bayshore School. I'm calling in regard of your son, Peter. He had an incident in gym." The woman on the other line greeted. Tony shot upright in his chair in panic.
"What happened? Is he okay?" He asked, feeling his heart racing and his mind filling with hundreds of different scenarios.
"Yes, he's doing okay now. His class was running on the track and he ended up fainting." She explained. Tony was already walking through the house, signaling Happy to start the car.
"I see." Tony started. "But he's fine now?"
"He hasn't done any damage, no. But he's not feeling too well and has asked us to contact you."
Okay...he can work with that. He got into the front seat of the Audi and Happy got into the driver seat, driving toward the school. "Do you think there was a cause to his fainting?" He asked.
"At first we thought he just overworked himself, but after the checkup, we have a suspicion that Peter may have asthma. Were you aware of this? As it's not on his school records." The woman replied.
Tony felt his stomach drop and everything suddenly started falling into place. Peter's coughing, his wheezing. His lack of energy.
"Oh my God...no, I didn't. It is possibility, though." Tony sighed, starting to pick at his jacket nervously. "I'll be there to pick up Peter in ten minutes."
"Okay. Thank you, Mr. Stark." The woman said, then hung up.
As Tony promised, he came rushing into the doors of Peter's school, ten minutes later. He made his way to reception and then was pointed in the direction of the school nurse. He thanked the man in reception and hurried to find his son.
He opened the doors, and there Peter was, sitting on a chair with his head hung low. Tony signed Peter out before walking over to him.
"Hey, buddy. Are you doing okay?" He asked, crouching down in front of him and placing a comforting hand on his leg. Peter looked up, his expression was sad. He nodded and looked back down. Tony looked around him, in search of Peter's school bag. He soon found it under the chair and pulled it out.
"Why aren't you wearing your glasses, bud? You know you can hardly see without them." Tony asked with a frown, rummaging through Peter's bag to find them. He finally did, and placed them on his son's face, also giving his cheek a loving stroke.
"Sorry." The boy squeaked, adjusting the glasses. Tony flung Peter's backpack over his own shoulder and stood up. He stuck a hand out for his son to take before making their way out of the school.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Tony asked him as they got into the back of the car. Happy started driving off as soon as they plugged their seatbelts in. "The school said you fainted. Is there anything you want to tell me?" He asked, tucking a curl behind Peter's ear.
"No." The boy murmured.
Tony sighed and adjusted himself so his body was facing Peter. "Peter...please don't lie to me, okay? I just want to make sure you're okay and have everything you need." Peter finally looked at his Dad, the sad expression never wavering.
"I...I just ran for too long. That's all." He sniffed. Tony didn't buy it, especially because of what the nurse told him.
"Okay...here's what's going to happen." He started. "We're going to get back to the compound, and give Uncle Bruce a visit. He's going to do a small checkup on you to see if everything's okay in there." He said as he pressed a finger to where Peter's lungs would be.
"What?" Peter said, his expression soon turning anxious.
"Pete...the school told me you could have asthma. Why didn't you tell me that something felt wrong? I could've helped you, and it wouldn't have been so bad." He explained, voice laced with sincerity.
"I already knew." Peter replied, looking at his lap. Tony furrowed his eyebrows.
"You...knew you had asthma? And you didn't say anything?" Tony asked, trying not to get too angry.
"I didn't...I don't want to have to carry an inhaler around with me o-or have to sit out of activities because it would be too dangerous for me. It's stupid and embarrassing. I already get bullied enough for wearing glasses. It would just get worse if they all found out I had asthma too." Peter explained, not dragging hid eyes away from his lap for one second. "That's why I didn't tell you. I'm sorry."
Tony's heart softened and all his anger washed away. "You never told me you've been having trouble with the other kids there." Actually, he still had a little anger left. But it was aimed towards whoever bullied his child. How could anyone be anything but kind to Peter Stark? He was practically an angel sent from heaven.
"'S not a big deal." The boy sniffled.
"It clearly is if it's making you feel like you have to keep important things from me."
"I knew something was wrong with me about four weeks ago and I've been fine since, I don't need a diagnosis. It's not important."
"Peter Benjamin Stark, look at me right now." Tony ordered. Peter grimaced and looked up at his father. "Anything that is to do with your health, is important. Making sure that you're okay and healthy is my top priority."
Peter blinked, unsure of what to say. But he knew no matter what he answered with, Tony was going to get his way. Because he's the adult, and Peter's the child.
"Fine. Just take me to Bruce then." Peter spat and turned away, looking out the window. Tony sighed. At least he got Peter to agree, he would talk to him about his attitude later.
It wasn't long until Bruce did a checkup on Peter, confirming he had asthma. He gave him the medication for it, plus multiple inhalers. Peter was silent the whole time, just allowing the man to poke and prod at him, whilst dreading going back to school, known as the kid with glasses and asthma.
"Thanks, Bruce." Tony said, exhaling with relief. The man smiled with a nod, before walking out.
"See? This isn't so bad." Tony tried to reassure Peter, but knew it was hopeless.
"Yes it is! You're not the one who has to carry around inhalers and medication everywhere you go!" Peter argued. Tony refrained from saying that he was going to carry them both around.
"Peter, please understand that this is to help you-"
"I know it is! Just like these stupid glasses are here to help me too!" He screamed, yanking the glasses off his face and smashing them on the ground. He instantly knew that was a stupid idea, because now he couldn't see anything.
"Hey, hey, hey." Tony said, picking the glasses up from the ground, examining the crack in them. He finally knew what this was about. It wasn't about how he didn't want to have asthma because it was 'an inconvenience'. It was because of the bullies. "Calm down, baby. Here, sit down." He said, taking Peter by the forearm and helping him sit. Peter was blinking rapidly, hating the fact that the world was blurry to him. Tony crouched down in front of it.
"What are the names of the kids who are being mean to you?" He asked. Peter sniffled.
"A-Alfie and Zack." He almost whispered. "They're meanies."
Tony chuckled slightly. "Yeah, they do sound like meanies. Can you tell me what they do?"
Peter swallowed, suddenly feeling self conscious. "They...just push me a-and call me names."
Tony tried desperately to push down his anger. "What do they call you, Pete?"
"L-Like, um...nerd a-and weak." Peter said, voice cracking as his eyes filled with tears. "They also called me a queer the other day...but I don't know what that means."
Tony grit his teeth so hard, he was sure that they would crack. He let out a few deep breaths to calm himself down before speaking again. "Baby, please don't believe the things those boys are saying. I'll explain to you what...that word means later, okay? But for now, I need to ask you something."
Peter nodded, signaling for the man to continue.
"How would you feel...about switching schools?" He asked. Tony had always hated Bayshore school. The curriculum was messed up and the teachers only cared about the money. The bullies were just another reason for Tony to pull Peter out.
The boy looked at him with wide and hopeful eyes. "Really? You can do that?"
Tony smiled. "Of course I can. Look who you're talking to."
Peter smiled back and nodded, causing Tony's smile to grow even bigger.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"Good." Tony said and stood up. "I'll find you a school that's perfect for you, kid."
"Thank you, Dad." He said, reaching out to hug the blurry figure that was his father. Which reminded him, "'M sorry for breaking my glasses..."
"That's alright. We'll get you new ones."
Peter smiled into his Dad's chest, grateful that he had a father who actually cared about him.