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"Peter!" Everyone greeted the boy happily as he stepped into the compound. He was dressed in the smartest clothes he owned, ready for Tony's Christmas party that he was invited to. He almost squealed in excitement when Tony asked him to come, but tried his best to remain calm. The entire floor was full of Christmas decorations, so much so that Peter felt a little woozy.
Wait...he was pretty sure that Christmas decorations aren't supposed to make you feel woozy.
Oh well. It's probably nothing.
"Pete, glad you could make it." Tony smiled, wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulder as he led him further into the room. All the other Avengers were smiling at him fondly. It was no secret that Peter had won over the hearts of every single one of them. Tony tried not to feel too jealous and protective.
"Hi, Mr. Stark. Thanks for inviting me." Peter smiled back, taking a seat on the couch. He looked at the Christmas tree in front of him and his jaw dropped. It had to be at least ten feet tall. Everyone saw Peter's expression and snickered.
"How were you even able to get all the decorations on there?" He asked, still memorized by the lights and the candy canes-
Peter felt a shiver go down his spine. It's not his spider sense, right? Everything seemed fine...
"Iron Man suit isn't just for fighting bad guys, kid." Tony replied, snapping Peter back to reality.
"It's hot in here." The kid said, without really thinking. He took his jacket off just as Tony moved to open a window.
"That better?" He asked. Peter nodded. "Thanks."
"Are we gonna get started, or what?" Clint asked.
"What are we gonna do?" Peter asked.
Nat shrugged. "Music. Dance. Games. Movies. Food."
"Okay, sounds good." Peter smiled.
As the night went on, Peter tried his best to convince himself that everything was fine and that he was having fun. His spider sense was definitely not warning him about something and he definitely did not feel strange.
”It’s a weird looking Santa!” Rhodey yelled as they were all trying to guess what Natasha was drawing in a game of Christmas Pictionary.
Nat shook her head and added something else to the drawing.
”Is that a dog?” Thor asked, leaning closer.
”No clue.” Stephen mumbled.
”And I thought I was the worst drawer.” Scott said, making Peter laugh.
”Guys, it’s so obvious!” Nat whined, adding something else to the drawing.
”Yeah, maybe to you.” Pepper murmured.
”Can I give you a clue?” Nat asked, getting desperate.
”Yeah, go on then.” Tony replied.
”It’s a movie.” She said, then pointed to the drawing when everyone remained silent.
”Oh, it’s the grinch!” Steve said and Nat cheered.
”Yes! Thank you!” She exclaimed, flopping down on the couch. Everyone made a sound of realization and then laughed.
”I wanna watch the grinch now.” Bruce said.
”I don’t see why not. FRIDAY, play How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The one with Jim Carrey.” Tony said as the lights dimmed.
”I’m gonna go make some hot chocolate, anyone want any?” Wanda asked as she stood up.
Everyone put their hands up. Wanda groaned as she walked to the kitchen.
Tony moved closer to Peter on the couch and wrapped an arm around him. “You feeling okay? You’re kinda quiet.” He murmured in his ear.
No, I feel really weird and I have been all night and my spider sense keeps going off and I’m really confused and I feel like I’m gonna pass out hahahahhahaa how are you feeling?
”I’m fine. Just watching the movie, Mr. Stark.”
Tony squinted his eyes at Peter like he didn’t believe him, but let it go.
Wanda soon came back with all the hot chocolates and passed them around. Peter took his gratefully and brought it to his lips. He instantly pulled it back when he smelt it. It was like…when you smelt bleach. How it burns your nose and the back of your throat.
Peter looked up, but everyone was drinking it like it was normal. So naturally, Peter took a few sips too. He held back the need to cough at the feeling of the drink going down his throat. Something really wasn’t right. His insides felt…weird.
”This is really good, Wanda.” Scott said.
”Yeah, it’s peppermint flavored.” She smiled, taking a sip of her own.
”What?!” Peter exclaimed, bolting upright. Everyone stared at him, brows furrowed.
”Peter, what’s wrong?” Tony instantly asked, sitting up with him.
”This - This is peppermint flavored?” Peter asked, voice shaking.
”U-Uh…yeah. What’s wrong?” Wanda replied, mouth slightly agape.
”Oh my God…oh my God, someone take this away from me, please.” He said, sticking the mug out for someone to grab. Tony took it instantly and put it on the coffee table.
”Peter, what’s going on? Are you okay?” Tony asked frantically. The movie somehow paused itself and the lights were back on.
”N-No, I just drank poison.” Peter said, a little bluntly, but he didn’t care. He was practically dying.
”What?!” Tony yelled.
Peter hunched over in pain, holding onto his stomach and groaning.
”I can’t…can’t breathe.” And here come the tears.
”Peter, are you allergic to peppermint?” Bruce asked.
”I-I don’t know. Don’t feel great, though. Spiders…spiders don’t like peppermint.”
Tony cursed and stood up from the couch. “Peter, I’m taking you to MedBay, okay? You’re gonna be fine.”
”O-Okay…” Peter let Tony stand him up from the couch and wrap an arm around him. They walked to the elevator as quick as they could and asked FRIDAY to take them down to MedBay.
”Get Helen. Tell her to meet us there.” Tony added.
“She’s already waiting for you, sir.” The AI replied.
”Okay, good. That’s good.” Tony took a deep breath, immediately feeling guilty because Peter was struggling to breathe himself.
”You’re gonna be fine, kid. Everything will be fine. Try and take deep breaths.” He tried his best to reassure the boy, but all he got back was a sharp glare.
”Gee, what a brilliant idea.” He wheezed. Tony was slightly shocked at the unusual rudeness coming from the boy, but he didn’t blame him either.
”’M sorry…sorry. I-I didn’t mean…” Peter whimpered, clutching his stomach tighter.
Tony cursed, willing the elevator to go faster. “It’s okay, Pete. Don’t worry just…calm down. Everything will be fine.” As soon as the doors opened, Tony took Peter’s arm and led him to where Helen stood.
”FRIDAY told me what happened. Peter, has this happened to you before?” She asked the boy as Tony sat him on the gurney.
”Y-Yeah. Had to…had to wait for the pain to stop. C-Couldn’t do much else.”
Tony shut his eyes, trying not to let that detail hurt him too much. He needed to focus.
”How long did that take?” Helen asked.
”U-Uh…I-I don’t know. I passed out after a few hours. Pain was gone when I woke up.”
”Okay, I’m going to give you some meds to help with the pain, then I’ll figure out where the problem lies. Is that okay?”
”Y-Yeah.”
A few minutes later, Peter was dosed up on meds and sedatives and barely awake. Tony took the opportunity to pull Helen to the side.
”What do you think it is?” He asked the woman.
”Well, I can’t give him a proper diagnosis since this doesn’t happen to…people with normal DNA.” Helen answered. “It just seems that peppermint makes him extremely sick.”
”Is it like…poison?” Tony asked in dread.
”It appears so, yes. He’ll be okay, though. How severe the reaction is depends on how much peppermint he consumes. If he has a lot…it- it could be fatal. He has to be careful.”
Tony glanced at the boy lying on the gurney. He looked so small. An oxygen mask was placed over his head to help him breathe better, but it looked too tight. Tony thought it was just his paranoia, besides, it was helping him breathe.
”I won’t let him die. Ever. I’ll destroy every single piece of peppermint on the planet if that’s what it takes.” Tony said, looking back at Helen.
Helen grinned. “I’m glad he has someone like you looking out for him.”
It was twenty minutes later when Peter finally woke up. Tony had been sitting by his side, hand in the boy’s hair, waiting to see those big brown eyes.
”Mis’er s’ark…” He said, then furrowed his eyebrows at the mask on his face. He reached up to take it off before Tony stopped him. “Sorry, bud. That has to stay on.”
Peter whined but dropped his hand. “‘M okay?” He asked.
Tony smiled softly. “You’re alright, kid. I said you would be, didn’t I?”
Peter hummed and slowly closed his eyes again. Tony confined to run a hand through the kid’s hair soothingly.
”Hey, Pete…next time, will you tell me about something this important? It would be nice to know that peppermint poisons your before I serve it to you on a silver platter.” Tony asked, only half joking.
”Mhm…I promise.” Peter said tiredly.
Tony would probably have to remind him of his promise when he’s less tired, but that’s fine.
Whatever it takes to keep his kid away from danger.