Chapter Text
The vial smashed to the ground. “Fuck!”
It was Saturday, lab day with Mr Stark, and one of his stupid, over-engineered, wire-suspended shelves had just taken a hit from a rogue web grenade. The cord had snapped from the sheer force of the web launchers. His spider-sense had known. He had shot another web, this one intentional, and caught the shelving before the other bottles crashed, sending whatever was in that vial all down his arm.
The effects were instant, cooling his skin to extreme degrees. He felt a faint prickly numbness over the area as his flesh turned white.
Mr Stark was on him in a second. “Shit, FRIDAY turn on ventilators, high speed. Mind the spill kid, did you get hit?” He caught sight of the fallen shelf as well as Peter's arm. “Nice catch…” he hurriedly put a glove on before walking over. “Ethyl chloride.” He read the smashed label carefully. “Should be all right just don't breathe it in, and rinse your arm.”
Peter was already at the sink, he had worked around labs for years now, he knew how this worked. But he could feel something heavier now, his muscles ached, and his senses dulled. His enhanced hearing didn't seem quite so persistent. Tony's voice in the background became unimportant as the comforting static he'd come to know as his spider-sense dissipated.
His vision swam for a moment before returning, looking around the room he realized that his childhood nearsightedness had returned full force. More alarmingly, he could feel a familiar wheeze growing in his chest. “M-Mr Stark?” He called, interrupting whatever was being said, “what is this stuff used for?”
The band around his lungs was tightening. Did he even carry an inhaler anymore? Tony looked up from dealing with the spill. “Athletes use it for minor injuries. I think it's also…” Tony seemed to notice something was wrong. The kid was leaning against the wall with a hand on his chest. “...It's used to make pesticides,” he finished. “Kid, are you alright?”
He had FRIDAY deal with the remaining mess, rushing over to Peter. He looked smaller somehow. Tony wondered if he had misjudged how much of the stuff had actually gotten on him. It didn't look too bad. Had he breathed it in? Was it in his lungs? “Kid, talk to me.” He grabbed the teen by the shoulders. Peter looked up at him. “p-pestaside?” He said between faint gasps of air, “I'm- spider…”
Tony checked for signs of chemical overdose but none seemed to match. He didn't seem dizzy or confused, he was shaking but they didn't seem like tremors, his speech wasn't slurred. It was interrupted by short, irregular, gasping breaths. The kid wasn't getting air.
Tony led him out of the lab, an arm around his shoulders. “Come on kid, better air.” Peter seemed wobbly now, and Tony could hear a distinct wheezing from the kids chest. He put him on a bench in the hallway, trying to be calm. “All right kid, let's figure this out…”
Peter fumbled for his mentor's sleeve, pulling sharply. Tony couldn't understand. “What? What is it, kid?” Peter was making motions at his chest that might as well have been Korean sign language for all Tony could understand of them. “Can't breathe, can't breathe, I know that much. What is it? What do you need? Do you know?” His hands moved to his face in a sort of grasping gesture, his hands were starting to close up. “I don't know what that means, kid.”
Peter grew more distressed, pulling at the man's shirt. His lips were turning faintly blue. “Okay, okay… FRIDAY?” The AI flickered to life. “Give me a medical eval on Peter Parker.” The AI seemed to consider for a moment before speaking. “Sir, the boy in question at the moment does not seem to match your programmed genetic coding in regards to Peter Parker.”
Tony stopped dead. He'd had to program Cap, Banner, and Peter into his system differently, as their genetic makeup did not match the average person. It had worked every time previously, why did it have to fail now?
“I don't give a shit what he matches! Figure out what's wrong with him!” The AI buzzed faintly as Tony rambled on. “I- I mean… Is it anaphylaxis!? Is he allergic!? Is it just a fucking panic attack!?” The AI was taking too long, Peter's head had fallen between his knees. His breathing looked ragged and painful. Coughing fits would occasionally consume him. Tony sat next to him, rubbing his back firmly.
“Find every medical record you have on Peter Benjamin Parker. Now. Hold all other functions. Break into school records, pediatric clinics, everything you have. A screen appeared in front of him and one word instantly explained.
‘Asthma.’
The world narrowed. Tony kept reading. ‘Peter B. Parker shows severe asthmatic symptoms. prescription: Albuterol rescue inhaler.’ That was all he needed to see. He pulled Peter up by the shoulders.
“Kid, inhaler? Is that what you need?” Peter managed a half nod, and a desperate tapping at the other man. “Okay, okay, do you carry one? Where is it?” He didn't have time to consider why the teen hadn't told him he was severely asthmatic. Peter didn't respond. He only looked half conscious by this point. Tony forced him to look up.
“I'm gonna go look for your bag, okay?” If Peter had an inhaler that's where it would be, right? He glanced down at the white, frost bitten, patch on his arm before standing. “Stay upright” he called out to Peter, “don't lie down, don't pass out!”
He was already through the lab doors. The ventilators roared overhead. He found the kids backpack by the table he was sitting at. He ripped the zipper open and dumped the contents out. He heard the crack of a phone screen. It didn't matter, he would buy the kid ten phones once he got some air in his lungs.
He rummaged through the pile, nothing. He desperately rifled through the bag, empty. How could the kid not carry an inhaler? “FRIDAY, how do I stop an asthma attack?” He was frantically looking around the lab for anything that might help. He had oxygen in the lab, but it wouldn't help if the kid couldn't get it in. He opened the first aid kit. FRIDAY was speaking, something about calling emergency services. “Yeah, do that,” Tony called, and then he found it, an EpiPen.
“FRIDAY? Would epinephrine open his lungs?” “Sir, I do not recommend…” “would it work!?” He didn't have time for this. “Yes, but the potential consequences would include…” He heard a thump in the hallway and was running.
“Peter!?” The kid had slumped forward on the bench, and hit his head on the wooden armrest. “Kid…” he jabbed the pen into the kid's thigh. Orange to the thigh, blue to the sky…he counted to five before pulling it away and sitting the kid back upright. “C’mon kid, breathe for me…”
The seconds seemed to stretch for hours. Tony was mentally preparing himself for CPR when suddenly, a ragged, gasping, breath tore through the teen. Tony had never been more relieved.
“There you go… fuck, you scared me…” Peter wasn't taking in anything Tony was saying. He was shaking violently, heart racing, still wheezing, adrenaline flooding his system. His stomach churned as he tried to get as much oxygen into his system as possible. His vision swam, as he only just managed to throw up over the side of the bench instead of on Mr Stark.
“Okay kid…let it out.” The kid continued to try and gasp for air causing him to choke and sputter. Tony hit him on the back repeatedly, not wanting him to aspirate. “breathe through your nose, kid.”
He half led, half carried, the teen back into the lab, the air being cleaned by now. He sat him on the floor by the green O2 wall outlet on the other side of the lab. He attached a mask and pressed it over the kid's face before turning the dial and watching the ball float up to 8LPM.
Peter gratefully held the mask to his face tightly. He was still coughing and shaking violently. He felt like he might throw up again. “Th-thank you..” He managed to whisper.
It wasn't until then that the paramedics came through the door, led by a very confused and concerned Pepper Potts. Tony was sitting on the floor as well by now,panting heavily from the stress. “You know… I really could've used your help about ten minutes ago…”
Paramedics rushed to Peter, taking his pulse and O2 levels. They were asking questions he either couldn't understand or couldn't answer. One of them started questioning Tony. Pepper pulled up security footage. Tony watched his digital self run around the lab and stick the kid with the EpiPen. It seemed a lot quicker on screen than it had felt at the time.
Emts had stripped his chest and put some sort of heart monitor on him. They asked for Aunt May's contact info. Tony gave it to them. She hadn't answered. She was probably at work Tony explained that he was an emergency contact. They set up a nebulizer, they hadn't wanted to move him to one of the portable, not as state-of-the-art, O2 machines. Perks of being a billionaire.
Someone told him they were preparing for something called a ‘rebound attack’, after the epinephrine wore off. Someone mentioned transporting him. Peter used what little strength he had to blatantly refuse and dig his heels into the ground.
They let the decision wait, as they were only distressing the kid further. The wheezing had begun again, pretty soon he had a different mask on. The nebulizer filled his lungs with the medication he actually needed.
Pepper kept calling May with no success. Someone talked about transport again. The kid was not having it. “No-” he wheezed, “I- I don't want-” he had pulled the nebulizer from his face in protest. Tony pressed it back on. “Kid, save your breath. God knows you need it right now. They're not going to let you refuse unless we can get ahold of your aunt and she also agrees.” Peter was visibly panicking. Tony sighed and looked to the paramedics, “Give us a minute alone?’ The Emts looked to each other then back. “Sir, we can't just leave an underage-” Tony held a hand up for silence “give us a minute.” Being deemed an important person had many advantages.
“He's on the nebulizer. I'll make sure he stays on it. Five minutes, that's all.” They cautiously allowed this, noticing Peter's panic and the way this man seemed to calm him. They stood on the other side of the lab, refusing to leave completely. The kid tried to rip his mask off again the second they were out of earshot. True to his word, Tony pulled his hands away from the mask.
“If you're going to talk, do it through the mask. I can hear you, I promise.” Peter nodded once as Tony continued. “Now, you're underage, they're going to take you to a hospital since you can't legally refuse.” Peter was clawing at him before he could even finish talking. “Mr stark- no- please-” he wheezed slightly with every word, though it was dramatically less than before. “Different- they could- find out-”
Tony understood the concern. They could find out about his altered DNA, his spider-status. He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. He understood to some degree. When his identity was released, granted he'd put it out there himself, there had been chaos. Attacks, terrorists, drama… Peter didn't want that. Not to mention that being known to be a teenager would make him seem smaller, weaker, an easier target. Peter wasn't some billionaire philanthropist. He was a poor kid from Queens that so happened to get bitten by a radioactive spider. Of course he was worried.
God dammit, something in those giant blue puppy dog eyes convinced him to try. “Look, let me try your aunt's phone one more time. I’ll try and convince her if she picks up.” he reached for his phone but the kid stopped him, hand outstretched. “I- I have her- work number-” Tony nodded, unlocked his phone, and gave it to the kid.
Emts walked back as it began to ring. Tony excused himself, explaining the different number, and turned to leave. He needed to talk to May before the medics could. He felt bad for leaving the kid, but Pepper took his place on the floor.
On the third try, May picked up. “Hello, this is May Parker speaking.” She panicked when she realized it was Tony. “Tony!? What happened? Is Peter okay?” Tony kept his voice calm. “May… May, listen to me. Peter had an asthma attack. He didn't have an inhaler and 911 was called. He's doing okay now but they want to take him to a hospital.” May interrupted here. “Yes, yes please, go with him. I'll meet you there.” Tony could hear keys “May! If he goes to a hospital they'll do all sorts of testing, but his identity could be exposed.”
“I don't give a shit about his identity!” May was a scary woman sometimes. “May, he's doing alright now, but having his other life revealed like this could quite literally ruin his life as well as yours and any one else either of you are in heavy contact with. There's no telling what these people could see or have already seen.” May seemed to consider this. Emts yelled at him in the background, pepper only just keeping them at bay. “May, trust me. Trust Peter. I'll look out for him.”
Tony couldn't stall longer and handed the phone over. Peter's eyes burned into the device as it passed hands, like he could reach his aunt just by looking. The medic took the phone and explained the situation but fell short when May refused transport. Tony and Peter both breathed a sigh of relief, Peter’s with a short coughing fit following.
Eventually, Tony got his phone back, and the Emt relayed the transportation refusal from a legal guardian. They shared suspicious looks but said nothing.
For some reason, it was only then that Tony noticed that there were blueprints of Peter's suit on his desk, as well as the actual suit on the floor where the kids backpack was dumped out.
He pulled Pepper to the side, “get all these guys names and contact info. We need to hit ‘em all with NDAs.” Pepper nodded and pulled out a notepad. By the time the nebulizer had finished its treatment, Pepper had everyone's names and Tony had hidden anything alluding to Spider-man.
The paramedics were reasonably unhappy, but could do nothing legally. Or maybe they just figured, this guy has advanced medical systems, AI oversight, oxygen infrastructure, emergency pharmaceuticals, and lawyers that could smoke us all. Plus, he wants NDA’s. Thinking about it that way, they were probably happy to go.
After ensuring that Peter could breathe, wasn't having any apparent heart issues, didn't bang his head too hard, wasn't extremely chemically burnt, knew his name, knew where he was, knew what had happened, and didn't in fact want to go to a hospital,they finally left. They told him to rest, told him to take care of his arm, and said if he didn't get his hands on a rescue inhaler, he ran the risk of it all happening again. Both Tony and Peter assured them that all three of these things would happen. And then they were gone.
Pepper stopped them briefly to discuss legalities. Tony found himself back on the ground next to the kid. He was breathing okay-ish by now and running his fingers over the frost bitten skin. Tony stopped his hand. “Don't, you'll only cause more damage to your cells.” he stilled his hand but was studying the mark as if it were his spider bite. Tony also inspected the frozen skin.
Peter looked up at him. “That chemical did something.” His voice was hoarse, but Tony listened intently. “My senses are dulled. I can't see as well, or hear as far.” Tony didn't know what to make of that. Peter continued to explain. “I feel… weaker. Like how I did before the bite.”
Tony examined the mark closer. “You think it kinda… disabled your spider-ness?” Peter coughed a minute before answering. “That's what it feels like.” Tony took a breath. “I’m gonna take a wild guess here, total shot in the dark, but my theory is.., you were asthmatic before the bite, and this just totally caught you off guard?”
Peter halfway managed a laugh before getting caught in yet another coughing fit. “Don’t make me laugh Mr Stark,” the coughing continued. “But you hit the nail on the head with that one.” Tony turned the oxygen back on overhead, switched the valve to a one way, and handed him the mask. “You don't have to put it back on, just… between sentences.”
Peter nodded, taking a slightly deeper breath. “Did Aunt May freak?” Tony laughed. “I'm surprised she's not banging down the doors.” The kid nodded, he looked exhausted. Tony guessed he was. “Pepper’s gonna present a bunch of NDA’s. If they saw anything, their lips are legally sealed.” Peter leaned his head against the wall. “Thanks, Mr Stark.” Tony picked up the discarded shirt and handed it back. “Anytime kid.” Peter took the shirt and pulled it over himself shakily.
Tony studied him for a moment, looking at the kid much softer than he normally would. He then remembered he was supposed to be an adult. “Alright kid, time for the million dollar question.” He waited for the kid to look up before asking, “why the Fuck, don't you carry an inhaler?”
Peter attempted a deep breath behind the O2 mask. “I haven't had a problem with it since I was bitten, and… we don't exactly have insurance so… I just never refilled my prescription…”
Tony was taken back by that, he'd never thought of the fact that someone might be physically unable to afford life saving medication. Peter, thankfully, didn't notice his newest revelation. “...realistically it's the same reason I don't wear glasses anymore, I just don't need them.”
These few sentences had already seemed to run him out of air. Tony pulled himself together, “well, I'm sending Happy out to get you one. You're not leaving without it…” He'd barely finished the sentence when a better idea struck him. “You know what? I'm just gonna put one in your suit, that way you won't forget it.”
Peter was grateful, but it took him a moment to ask what he was really thinking. “Do you think it’ll come back?” He held up the injured arm for clarity.
Tony sighed, not wanting to admit that he had no clue. “I dunno kid… we can hope?” This didn’t seem to help Peter's state of mind. Tony hated the sad puppy look in his eyes. “Hey, even if it doesn't, so what? I don't stick to walls, but that's what I have the suits for.” Peter leaned back a little too hard, hitting his head with a dull thud. “Easy kid, you already hit your head once.”
“…that's not the point.” Peter wanted to cry. “I could care less if I can climb the walls or not. I know you could put that into my suit… it's my senses. I was able to hear a woman getting mugged from miles away! …how many people get hurt without me even knowing now?” “you can't control that.” Tony spoke simply, “and I'm sure I could figure the mechanics of that out too.” This didn't seem to reassure him. “You don’t understand. I just… I know things. Before they happen, I can feel it… There are some things you can't replicate mechanically.”
Tony had to admit, the kid had a point. Tony had built himself machines. Machines that made him super. The kid… Peter had other abilities. His suit was only ever meant to enhance them. “We don't even know if they're gone yet, and you need to relax your breathing before you start wheezing like an automotive belt again…” The teen pressed the mask against his face again reluctantly. Tony was not prepared for this.
“We’ll figure it out, underoos.” Peter looked up, the comforting tone had surprised him. They sat in silence for a while before Tony realized that Peter's breathing was calm without the mask. “C’mon kid, let’s get you off the floor…” He stretched a hand out and the kid took it.
He led the kid out of the lab by the shoulders, before the kid stopped. “Do you know where my phone went? I should call aunt May.” Tony sucked in a breath. “Wait here.” He collected the bag and its scattered contents, including the smashed phone and returned to Peter.
He kept the bag over his shoulder but handed the phone over. “I’ll get you a new one. Sorry ‘bout that…” Peter pressed the power button and the screen lit up. “That's alright, still works, see?” He spun the device around to show the light of his homescreen. It was a picture of him, Ned, and MJ. Tony rolled his eyes. “You’re getting a new phone, kid.” Peter started to protest but his voice fell short. There was no point in arguing with Mr Stark once he made up his mind.
Peter called his aunt as Tony led him down the long hallways of Stark tower. He tried not to feel weird about the billionaire carrying his dollar-tree backpack, but failed. After much reassurance, he'd managed to convince Aunt May he was feeling much better now, and she didn't need to worry. He casually left out the fact that Tony had to stick him with an EpiPen as a last resort, and the fact that he’d acquired a chemical burn, and that he was unsure whether or not he was still a superhero…
May eventually agreed not to leave work early, god knows they couldn’t afford that. Instead she would stop by after work to come get him. Tony had to talk to her also, promising that he would personally tie him to a couch should he be too hard on himself.
The next few hours went reasonably well. They were in the penthouse, which Peter tried to be cool about. Happy brought him an inhaler, actually he brought several. Mr Stark really did put one in his suit, which took way less time than it should have. They ordered Thai food, Peter's favorite. He didn't know how Mr Stark had figured that out, or if it was just a lucky guess. Pepper had come in at some point and attempted to engage him in a puzzle, but given this was at the same time that tony was working on his suit, it was mostly just her doing a puzzle.
Tony wasn't surprised when the kid eventually passed out on the couch. They let his sleep while they waited for his aunt. Pepper went down to collect her when she finally got there around eleven, while Tony woke up the kid that had scared him so bad only hours ago.
That was the only time 911 had been called to the tower. And with all the fires, chemical accidents, injuries, and other incidents… that was saying something.
“Hey, kid.” No response. “Underoos.” he shoved his shoulder lightly. That got the sleep filled eyes halfway open. “Your aunt’s here.” Peter blinked up at him and yawned. “Sorry, Mr Stark… didn't mean to sleep.” Tony handed him his bag and suit back. “Here. I’ll have you a phone by tomorrow. You don’t have to come by if you're not feeling it, just shoot me a text, yeah?” Peter nodded, not fully awake.
Pepper and Aunt May walked in at that moment. “Oh, Peter…” May took him into her arms immediately. “Why did Pepper just tell me you got stuck with an EpiPen!? You left that part out!” He glared at Pepper as if she just rat him out to the cops. “And what is that on your hand?” May continued. “I’ll explain on the way home…” May waved a stern finger at him. “You’d better!” She tackled him with another hug. “I was so worried.”
May was still checking him over as she began to lead him out. Tony grabbed his shoulder “Hey,” Peter spun on his heel. “Glad you're okay, kid” Peter nodded sleep still in his eyes. “Thanks Mr Stark, for everything… especially for sticking me with a needle full of epinephrine…” Tony gave a short laugh, “anytime, kid.”
Pepper led them out, as to not upset the forehead of security on the way down. Tony was left alone with his thoughts.
“FRIDAY? What phones are the kids raving about these days?”