(I'm taking a different approach to Hanahaki disease. Hanahaki but make it ✨platonic✨ lol, so yeah, this is entirely about Peter and Tony. I tried to do as much research on it as possible, hopefully I did a good job.)

Anyway, on with the story.
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Peter didn't notice it when it started, the effects were mild, an itch at the back of his throat. Then the coughing, after that were the petals and blood. He didn't understand what was happening, he felt sick, but vomiting flowers wasn't normal. This is coming from a kid who can climb on walls and heal at exponential rates.

But he soon realized what this sickness was, normally you don't google your symptoms unless you're paranoid or an extreme hypochondriac. His search led him to a Japanese myth called 'Hanahaki disease'. From what information was given. The definition was that: 'The disease in which the victim coughs up flower petals when they suffer from one-sided love.

It ends when the beloved returns their feelings (romantic love or familial), or when the victim dies. It can be cured through surgical removal, but when the infection is removed, the victim's romantic or other feelings for their love also disappear.' If anything it confused the teen. How did Peter get this illness in the first place?

Was he around someone who had it? But that made no sense, as the disease wasn't contagious. He was already dating MJ, and he loved her, but it wasn't because of her. It wasn't May, Harley, Liz, or Ned, so who was the person unknowingly causing his imminent death? That was sort of a long list. So he wrote his friends names down, including Happy just to be safe. Then he began checking with these people, spending time with them, and crossing off names.

Peter made it to the last name and wrote a giant 'X' next to it. He was at a loss, he had no idea how to deal with this, he doubted he could go see a doctor as if they'd believe this disease was real. He sighed, feeling hopeless he tried to, more so accept his fate. The teen woke up and treated the morning as if it were any other day, he got dressed, ate breakfast, went to school. Then went to the compound to work with Tony, he greeted the man with a curt smile.

"Hey bambino, I got the design specs for your new and improved web shooters." Peter stopped in his tracks, feeling a pang in his stomach, the bile rising in his throat. His mind was racing, it flipped on like a light switch. The emotions were overwhelming, Tony was the one who was unknowingly inflicting his Hanahaki disease. He couldn't hold it in, a cough broke the silence, Peter tried to cover his mouth with his sleeve.

Pulling it away and seeing blood, he cursed under his breath, but it got worse, he continued coughing. He couldn't breathe, and then it happened, he threw up. Tony jumped up, rushing to the boy's aid, helping him clean up and taking him to the med bay. That's when Peter passed out, he woke up a few hours later hooked up to an IV. Feeling weak, he glanced over to see Tony, sitting in a chair next to him. Anxiousness etched on his face.

Noticing the teen was awake, Tony breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank god. Kid, are you okay?" He asked.

Peter blinked dazily, "How long was I out for?"

"A couple hours, but what happened? If you say 'nothing' I will go scorched earth on you."

Peter sighed, he wasn't able to explain this one away, he had to come clean. "I have this illness, it's called Hanahaki disease."

Tony never took his eyes off Peter. "Friday, what are the symptoms of this disease?"

"The symptoms of the disease according to research: are summarized to be strong pain, having flowers blooming in the heart and lungs, and then throwing them up along with blood." The AI informed.

Tony checked Peter's IV fluids, "What causes it?"

The AI replied, "It's caused when the person suffers from a one-sided love. Romantic or platonic, and if I had to make a suggestion it's doubtful the feelings are romantic. So is it platonic, Peter?"

Peter spoke in a raspy tone, "Yeah, I think.. I think of you as a dad figure so to speak. It's totally okay if you don't think of me as anything other than your intern." The two sat in silence, Peter was nervous, his thoughts spiraling. He screwed up, he ruined everything, and now he was going to die because Tony saw him as nothing but merely an afterthought.

Tony took a hold of Peter's hand, "Kid. I'm... not great with feelings. But none of what you just told me is true. You're incredibly important to me, even if I don't voice it. And I'm so sorry I caused your illness."

Peter didn't want to feel hopeful, the man could be lying. "It's not your fault Mr. Stark."

"I've known you for over three years, and I didn't want to get too attached. Simply because if anything happened to you, it'd be my fault. I would never forgive myself." Tony explained.

Peter felt tears in his eyes, he gathered his strength and launched himself into his arms. Hugging the older man, "I do love you, you're my kid. I'm going to find a way to get rid of this disease okay?"

Peter nodded his head, "I love you too, Mr. Stark."

Tony chuckled shortly, "Peter, call me Tony."

Peter smiled, "Okay Tony."
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The End of Chapter 235