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Peter Parker is Spider-man and has been for about a year and a half now.
Even before he was Spider-man he didn’t get sick very often and when he did it was short lived. After gaining his super powers, that ‘rarely’ turned into a ‘never’ so Peter was shocked when he woke up one morning with a fever, sore throat, and a splitting headache.
“Don’t worry May, I’ll be better by the end of the day this is just some cold” Peter told his Aunt who, after figuring out Peter was sick, insisted he stay home from school.
“I told you to wear a coat over your suit when you went out for patrol last night but you never listen to me” Aunt May huffs. She was right, it was winter and last night had been particularly cold.
“May what would people think if they saw spiderman swinging around wearing a jacket so he doesn’t get the sniffles”
May ignored his remark. “You’re staying home from school and don’t even think about going on patrol tonight. Focus on getting better” May then left for work before he could reply, leaving Peter to protest that he was fine to the closed front door.
–
What surprised Peter more than being sick was that his cold didn’t go away after a day like he had expected. In fact, he felt way worse the second day. Aunt May had left for work before he had even woken up so she didn’t know he was still sick. Peter was too embarrassed to call the principal himself so with great difficulty he forced himself to go to school.
School was hell. Usually Peter didn’t mind school, like the true nerd he was, but today was grueling. Peter had almost forgotten that he had promised Mr. Stark he would come to the Avengers compound after his classes were done. He considered canceling, he really did, but he didn’t want his mentor to think he was avoiding him.
After everything with The Vulture, Tony had been much more present in Peter's daily life. The two often texted or called and Tony invited Peter over to the compound anytime the kid was free. It felt like Peter's family was growing to include Mr. Stark and even Pepper. He loved that feeling and Peter was beginning to see Tony as a dad, not that he would tell him that.
After an internal debate, Peter decided not to cancel his plans with Tony.
–
It took Peter longer than usual to arrive at the Avenger Compound. Usually he just swings in his spider-man suit before changing a few blocks away and walking the rest of the distance. Today, he was too exhausted to swing and had to take public transportation the whole way. By the time he arrived he was over an hour late.
When he finally made his way into Tony’s lab he felt beaten down.
Tony was in the middle of tinkering with something on the worktable when he saw Peter. “Hey Pete, you were so late that I didn’t think you were coming kid—whoa you look like dead”
Peter huffs softly and rolls his eyes “Thanks, you look nice too”
Tony ignores Peter's snarky comment, his expression revealing his worry “Seriously Pete are you ok?”
Peter sets down his backpack and takes a seat next to Tony. “I’m fine Mr. Stark, just tired”
“I’ve seen you tired and this is not that”
Peter hums and rubs his eyes, trying to keep the embarrassment from his voice. “I’ve kinda got a cold I guess…”
Tony’s expression turned even more concerned. “I didn’t know that could happen”
“Me either”
“Maybe you should go lay down, the lab can wait”
Peter shook his head, which caused his vision to blur slightly. “I’m fine” he says with a grimace, rubbing his temple.
Tony’s brows remained furrowed. “Ya not, not fooling me come on kid” Without waiting for a reply Tony grabbed Peter's arm and began gently dragging him back to the elevator.
Peter whined in protest but didn’t pull his arm away. Tony’s warm hand was a comforting heat against his chilled, clammy arm.
The two rode the elevator to Tony’s penthouse with Peter repeating that ‘he was fine’ the entire way. Tony, naturally, ignored him.
Once they got upstairs, Tony led Peter over to the couch. Once Peter sat down, Tony spoke, “Are you the type of sick where you feel hot or cold?”
“Cold” Peter answered honestly and was rewarded with Tony throwing a blanket over his head.
“Hungry?” Tony asked next
“A little…but my throat hurts when I eat…”
“F.R.I. what do I do?” Tony asked, seeming a little out of his depths.
The AI answered quickly. “Perhaps something soft and easy to eat without causing much irritation like a smoothie”
“Smoothie sound good, kid?”
Peter nodded in response, buddled in the blanket that smelled like Mr. Stark. He found the scent very comforting.
It didn’t take long for Tony to make Peter his smoothie but by the time he brought it over, Peter was already nodding off.
“Whoa kid don’t fall asleep on me, you still need to take these” Tony opened his fist that wasn’t holding the smoothie to reveal two small pills.
Peter groaned but reached out and took the pills and the smoothie from Tony's hand. With a sip of the smoothie, he swallowed both pills.
“Hopfully those work to ease the pain…” Tony sighed softly as he sat down next to Peter on the couch.
Just as Tony finished his sentence, Peter snuggled up against the older man's side. Usually, Peter would be embarrassed to be affectionate with his mentor but he was feeling groggy and was craving Tony’s warm presence. Tony stiffed for a split second before relaxing. He then slowly wrapped his arm around Peter, rubbing the teen's shoulder. This caused Peter to smile and melt into the touch, his eyes closing.
“F.R.I turn off the lights” Tony whispered as he gently pressed his forehead against Peter's brown hair.
The AI didn’t reply but the lights dimmed until the two were shrouded in a comfortable darkness.
Tony silently traced circles on Peter's shoulders and eventually down his back as the two closed their eyes. It was the most comfortable either had felt in months.
When Peter woke up he felt as healthy as a horse, blinking blearily as he glanced around. He was surprised to find himself cuddled against Tony, who was still fast asleep with a hand in Peter's hair.
Before Peter could be embarrassed he was laughing softly and pulling out his phone to snap a picture of his sleeping mentor.
Peter couldn’t help but think that being sick wasn't that bad.