Anxiety - Peter Parker
Post Homecoming and Pre Infinity War.

Requested by xgood-vibesx. I hope this is okay. I know different people interpret Anxiety different ways.

Let me know what you think!

And be sure to give me some requests in the first chapter!

~TH~

"It's okay. I'm okay." Peter covered his face breathing slowly. "Everything's fine. Everyone's fine. I just need to, need to breathe. Yeah, breathe. That's not so hard."

A knock at the door caused him to jump backwards. "Peter?"

"Uh, yeah Aunt May?"

"Is everything okay?" She pushed the door open.

"Uh, yeah, yeah, everything is great! Just, uh, really excited for, uh, my internship."

May nodded with a small smile, "Then you better head down. Happy's here."

"Oh, uh, right." He grabbed his bag and sprinted out the door, only taking a moment to hug his aunt.

He wasn't really sure what was wrong with him lately. He just felt so... On edge. Ever since he had become Spider-Man his hearing had been better. But it wasn't just better hearing, it seemed like he could hear everything. And that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but lately, things had been so weird. He would be perfectly normal, then all of a sudden he couldn't breathe.

It was stupid things that set it off. Like, when Ned brought up Liz. He passed it off as embarrassment for ditching her... But that wasn't it. The same thing happened when he was in small places. He had never been claustrophobic before, why now?

He had been set off only minutes ago by a text from MJ saying: Hey loser, don't forget about the meeting for next years Homecoming.

How stupid was that? Being set off by "Homecoming."

He just... Had to take a deep breath and focus.

"Hey Happy!" He jumped in the car. "Are we heading to the Tower, or is Mr Stark completely moved out?"

"He's still there." The loyal man grumbled.

Peter, as usual, ignored Happy's annoyed mood and rambled on about, well, everything.

When they reached the Tower, Happy dropped him off.

"Go on up to the lab, he should be waiting for you."

Peter nodded vigorously, his previous ordeal forgotten.

Everything was fine until he was on the elevator.

The first ten floors were okay. But then it just kept going. He hadn't ridden the elevator alone since his fight with the Vulture. He never realized how long the trip took. And were all elevators this small?

Taking a shaky breath, he fished out his phone.

"Candy Crush. Yeah. Candy Crush fixes everything."

His hands were shaking so bad that the phone slipped from his hand. The sound of the device hitting the floor was just too much.

"Nononono," he mumbled feeling his voice catch. "Stop. Just breathe."

The elevator kept going up. He put his hands in his hair.

He was trapped. He couldn't get out. Just like- just like... He needed out. He needed out now.

The moving stopped.

The doors opened.

He needed out.

He stumbled into the lab.

"Pete?"

Oh no.

It was Mr Stark.

He couldn't let him... Couldn't let him see.

"Pete, what's wrong?"

"I ca-can't," he felt tears coming to his eyes at the sheer helplessness of it all. He couldn't breathe. He pulled at his scalp, hoping the pain would bring a feeling other than panic.

"Ok, Peter, look at me, okay? Right in the eyes."

He looked up confused, when had he fallen on his knees?

"Good, now, I want you to breathe with me."

Peter shook his head vigorously. "B-but the Vulture tried to... The building fell and I... I couldn't get out. I couldn't get out!"

"Okay, Pete, it's okay. You're out now. You're out and you're with me. Now just breathe, okay? Like this, watch, okay?"

Mr Stark took a deep breath.

Peter attempted to mimic it but only found about half the normal oxygen entering.

"Good, good, let's do it again, okay?"

He took another breath. Peter again repeated it.

After several moments, Peter felt exhausted. His breathing was back to normal, but he was embarrassed.

"Oh, Mr Stark, I-I'm sorry, I don't know what that was, I didn't mean-"

"It was an Anxiety Attack and there's absolutely no need to apologize."

"But Mr Stark-"

"Ah!" He raised a hand to silence him, "No buts. It's not something you can control. They just happen. There is absolutely no reason to feel sorry about it."

"But I'm a superhero! Stuff like this shouldn't bother me!"

Tony actually laughed, "Kid, I get them too."

"Wha-?" Peter stared in shock, "You get them? But you're Iron Man you're invincible! Nothing scares you!"

"Oh really? For someone who's not scared of anything, I sure am scared of a lot."

"Like what?" Peter challenged softly.

"Well," Tony sighed, obviously uncomfortable. "I'm afraid of dentists, like really, must they drill so loudly?"

Peter smiled.

"I'm afraid of the world running out of coffee."

Peter shook his head laughing.

"I'm afraid of the dark" His voice took on a sudden quietness. "and water," He sighed, "and losing you."

Peter stared, mouth open.

"Now your turn, what are you afraid of?"

"I, uh, well..."

"Come on Pete, it's normal to be afraid. Talking will help."

"Your promise not to tell?"

"I promise not to tell," Tony sat back and motioned for him to start talking.

"It's, it's small spaces. Being trapped. I can't... It's stupid I know."

"Absolutely not! If what you were mumbling about is anything to go off of you were trapped under a building?"

"Uh, yeah, but I got out."

Tony laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's perfectly normal Peter. There was a time where I would have an anxiety attack when people said 'New York.'"

"Homecoming," Peter mumbled.

"Its normal Pete. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

Peter nodded.

"Now, I have some update ideas for your suit." Tony stood and held out his hand. Peter took and was pulled to his feet.

"Hey, uh, Mr Stark."

"Hm?" Tony turned to look at the boy.

"Thanks."

Tony smiled, "No problem kid. Now, about those suit upgrades..."

~TH~

Still open for requests!
I might write some for myself, but at present, I don't have any plans.

Until then!

God bless,
Jamie