I am so excited to start sharing this story! I wrote it for the Irondad big bang and have been working on it for months. I hope you enjoy!

Spider

Peter stumbled through the side door of his father's tower, stepping straight into the private elevator and leaned against the wall, gripping the railing in a white knuckled grip. After taking the subway home from school and walking the five blocks home, he felt about ready to drop. "Good evening, Peter." The soft voice in the elevator greeted.

"Hi, FRIDAY." He murmured, holding his stomach and clenching his teeth. His head was spinning, the place on his upper arm radiating heat under his sleeve. Something was wrong...he'd known that from the time he'd taken his seat on the bus beside Ned after they'd left Oscorp. His friend had looked at him, reaching out and touching his shoulder while MJ sat in front of them, ignoring them both as usual.

"Pete, you okay?" He had asked, shaking him a little. "Peter?" Peter had forced himself to nod, teeth clenched together so he wouldn't throw up on his friend.

"Yeah...yeah, I'm okay. I...just...think I ate something bad."

Ned had looked pretty skeptical, which was fair, as they'd eaten the same thing...the brown-bagged sandwiches and chips with chocolate chip cookies and carrot sticks from the school cafeteria especially designed for field-trips. No one else had looked like they were about to drop...or throw up. "You sure? You want to call your dad?" He'd asked, scooting closer so they could whisper.

"Nah. He's at a meeting or something all day. I'm fine. Just...I'll go home and lay down." His friend had nodded, still not looking convinced.

"If you're sure, man." Ned had murmured, then had gone on to talk about the new Star Wars, trying to distract Peter until they'd gotten back to the school. Then he'd walked Peter to the subway station. Sometimes Happy would pick him up, but he'd had a meeting too, so Peter hadn't asked. He had started regretting that as soon as he'd started the walk back to the tower.

"Your heart rate and temperature are both elevated. Are you feeling ill?" FRIDAY asked.

"No...I'm okay…" He insisted, the elevator swimming around him. Stumbling when it came to a stop on the top floor where they lived, he gripped the railing and forced himself upright. "I'm fine." Maybe if he kept saying it, it would come true.

"Peter, you are not…" The AI started.

"Mute." He snapped, feeling a little bad. She was still kind of new...mostly he just missed JARVIS, and he knew his dad did too. Sometimes he took that out on FRIDAY when he didn't mean to. He liked Vision fine...but it wasn't the same. JARVIS had been his friend...one of very few for a long time. He still remembered those early days at Stark tower...remembered feeling so alone and so afraid. JARVIS had been his first friend. Often, when he had woken up in the middle of the night from nightmares, the AI had played soft music in the background to help him get back to sleep. Other times when his nanny had gone to her room for the night, JARVIS had read Peter various popular bedtimes stories, his melodious voice putting the boy back to sleep when nightmares of his mother woke him over and over. FRIDAY was nice too, though. She was intuitive and always kind to him. It wasn't her fault she wasn't JARVIS.

"Sorry...just...unmute. I'm sorry. I just...I'll be fine after a little while. I'm gonna go...lay down." He stumbled out of the elevator, hurrying down the hallway toward his bedroom. Thankfully no one was around. The rule was usually homework first, but he figured his dad would forgive him just this once. "Where's Dad?" He asked, shutting the door behind him and dropping his backpack in the corner before stumbling to his bed where he curled up on his side, shivering and pulling his blanket around him. He remembered that he'd had a meeting, but couldn't remember where.

"Mr. Stark is currently in a meeting with Captain Rogers, Agents Fury and Hill, and Agent Romanoff."

"Where?" He asked, feeling his hands start to shake. It was getting worse. The spider bite felt like it was burning him, and he bit back a sob. Something was wrong...even he could tell. The pain radiated out from the throbbing welt on his arm and seemed to reach every part of his body, setting him on fire.

"Mr. Stark's meeting is at SHIELD headquarters but he will be returning this evening. Would you like me to contact him and ask him to come home now?"

That was right...they'd gone to DC for the meeting while he'd been on his field trip. In the jet, it wouldn't take his dad long to come home. "No." He could wait. He didn't want his dad to miss a meeting because of him. It had happened once or twice, usually because Peter was feeling sick or had a school thing, and he always felt bad, no matter how much his dad tried to assure him it was fine. It was one thing his dad had always been good at...assuring Peter that everything was okay...that he wasn't upset with him. He'd never made Peter feel guilty for needing him. Tucking his knees against his stomach and wondering if he was going to throw up, he closed his eyes, but somehow that didn't help.

The trip to Oscorp had been so cool. He'd been practically bouncing that morning, much to his father's amusement, and had been looking forward to seeing all the cool science, even though he was sure Stark Industries had better stuff. At least, that's what his father had told him, rolling his eyes and telling Peter he could just give him a tour of their labs. Peter had declined the offer immediately, making his father chuckle and mess up his hair right before he'd run out the door, and Peter had groaned, smoothing it back down and taking off after letting his dad kiss his head. "Love you, buddy. Have fun."

"Love you, dad!" He'd called, grinning over his shoulder and jumping into the elevator. And Oscorp had been amazing! They'd gotten to tour the labs and listen to Doctor Osborne himself talk about their internship program (not that his dad would ever let him take an internship there) and the history of the company and then they'd eaten lunch. But then Peter had wandered off on his own...and that had been when his trouble had started.

In his defense, the door had been unlocked. Unlocked and full of glass cages. He'd stepped inside, glancing around to see if anyone was around. No one had been, so he'd started looking around, peering into the cages only to jump back when he found a huge spider staring back at him. "Shit...shit shit...oh...no." He'd shrieked, hurrying back toward the door, but then he'd felt the pain on his arm. Bringing his hand up and smacking his arm, he'd pulled his sleeve up and found a small welt on his arm that had only grown in the last couple of hours.

Peter must have fallen asleep, because the next time he opened his eyes, the sun was going down outside his window. Groaning, he brought a hand up to wipe his eyes, flinching when his arm throbbed. "Peter, your temperature is still rising. Are you sure you wouldn't like me to contact Mr. Stark." FRIDAY asked, sounding worried.

"No." He put a hand over his mouth, retching before jumping out of bed and hurrying to his bathroom, dropping to his knees in front of the toilet and throwing up everything he'd eaten, throat burning and stomach cramping as he vomited. He spent the next few minutes dry heaving, then flushed. Using the sink, he dragged himself to his feet, the whole room spinning around him even when he closed his eyes before he washed his mouth out as best he could.

He practically crawled back to the bed once the room finally stopped moving, ignoring FRIDAY who asked again if he was okay. "Peter? You are showing increasing signs of distress and your temperature is dangerously high." She warned, and he knew she must be close to calling his dad. Sure, he got some input, but his dad had programmed FRIDAY to alert him in certain cases, and no amount of begging and bargaining could change her mind when it got to that point.

"When's Dad coming home?" He all but sobbed, clamping a hand over his mouth when his stomach rebelled again. Barely making it to the toilet, he threw up again, gripping the toilet seat as his head throbbed and his energy seemed to drain by the second. Everything hurt, and he wanted his dad. Stumbling back to his bed once more, he curled up on his side, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Mr. Stark should be home within the next ten minutes," FRIDAY told him, her voice almost gentle, and he managed to keep himself from throwing up again for the next long, slow thirteen minutes before he finally heard his father's voice.

"Pete? Kiddo, I'm home! I brought Cap too! I know how much you love him!" Peter grabbed his headboard, putting every bit of effort into pulling himself up and doing his best to keep his balance as he stumbled to his bedroom door, listening to his father's footsteps get closer and the distant laughter of his dad's teammate and friend. "Pete?"

Peter opened his door, practically running into his father who was reaching out to knock. "Hey, Petey! How was the field...trip..." His dad trailed off, grabbing his shoulders and getting a closer look. All Peter could see was his father's blurry form leaning over him and he slouched forward, his dad's arms holding him up. "Peter?" He asked, all teasing gone from his voice.

"Dad...Dad, I don't feel good." Peter choked out, feeling tears fall from his eyes. He knew he was too old to be crying...but it hurt. Everything hurt and he was so hot!

"Woah...hey...hey buddy. What's wrong?" He sounded scared but Peter couldn't figure out why. Then his dad's hand was pressed against his forehead, his other arm wrapped firmly around his torso and holding him upright. "Holy shit...FRIDAY what's his temperature?"

"104.2 and rising, sir," FRIDAY informed them solemnly, and Tony swore under his breath, getting an arm around his shoulders.

"Okay. It's okay. Let's get you back to bed, kiddo." He murmured, all but carrying his kid to the bed. "Steve!" He called, gently laying Peter back down where he curled up on his side, not recognizing the whimpering noise that came from his own mouth. "What's wrong, Pete? What hurts?"

"Everything…'m hot." He sobbed and felt his dad run a hand through his hair, pushing it back out of his face.

"Tony? What...what happened?" He heard Steve ask, the man suddenly sounding anxious. "Peter? Tony, what's wrong with him?"

"He's got a fever...it's really high. Damn it. Get me a cold rag. Ice packs...something. Hurry!" He demanded, pulling the covers away from his kid and stroking his burning cheek with his thumb. "Pete? You with me, honey?"

"Spider...there...there was...Dad? Dad, it hurts!" He couldn't help the strangled way his voice cut off, the sob breaking through, even though he was too old to be sobbing like this. He was almost fifteen! But he couldn't help the tears still dripping down his face.

"I know, buddy. It's okay. Here." Something ice cold was laid on his head, and Peter cracked his eyes open to find a worried looking Captain America standing beside his father. "Steve? He's really hot...104...FRIDAY said it was rising. Can you get me the Tylenol? He should have some in his medicine cabinet." Peter heard Steve say something, but could barely make it out.

"It was...there...spider. Daddy…" He hadn't called his father 'daddy' in years...not since he was nine or ten, but the word slipped out as he sobbed on the bed, so hot and miserable and sick as his whole body throbbed in pain. His head was the worst...he couldn't hold a thought for more than a second, and he wanted his dad to fix it.

"I'm here, honey. A spider? What about a spider?" Peter clumsily reached for his sleeve and larger hands gently brushed his away, pulling his sleeve up and then his father was swearing again. Peter wanted to crack a joke about his language in front of Captain America, but he could barely make his mouth work.

"The room...there was a room...and spiders. Dad...spiders." As he said the words, his chest got tight, and he found himself gasping. "Dad?" Weakly bringing a hand to his chest, he tried to open his eyes again and find his Dad.

"Shit...shit shit shit!" His father was shouting, and it made his head pound. He wanted to shush him but his mouth wasn't working.

"Do you think it's an allergic reaction or…" Steve trailed off, and Peter felt him come closer.

"I don't…" His father had started off screaming but quickly lowered his voice. "I don't know, Cap. I don't...just….FRIDAY, call an ambulance!" He demanded, his hand gently prodding the swollen red mess on his son's arm. Then he was holding something to Peter's mouth. "Here, bud. Swallow these, okay?" Peter did as he was asked, drinking the water from the cup held to his mouth.

FRIDAY's response was soft and gentle. "Yes, sir. An ambulance is on its way." Peter wondered if it was possible for an AI to sound worried. He felt even worse for snapping at her earlier.

"Pete, you went to Oscorp today, right? Did anything happen?" Tony asked, putting an ice pack on top of the cold cloth on his forehead. It wasn't doing anything...he was still so hot and so cold, his whole body shaking.

"Spiders...didn't mean to…" He was suddenly so cold...shivers went up and down his spine and he whimpered, trying to curl back into a ball. "Dad?"

"I'm here. It's okay. There were spiders at Oscorp? That's where one bit you?"

"Yeah." He was so, so cold, desperately clutching for a blanket, but a huge, strong hand took his and he realized that Steve was still there. At some point, he must have closed his eyes. Steve squeezed his hand gently.

"Open your eyes, Pete." He ordered, his voice soft, and Peter obeyed, still gasping. Why was breathing so hard? Peter had to fight to keep his eyes focused on the tall blond man who was kneeling beside him. "Hey, son. Help's coming, okay? You're gonna be fine. Did I tell you that everyone's coming up this weekend? Sam too. Bet he'll take you for a ride with his falcon suit." Peter managed a smile at that.

"Can I, Dad?" He asked, playing along, not wanting his father to worry. He would be fine, right? He had to be! It was just the flu or something.

"Yeah, kiddo. Long as I get to come and make sure he doesn't drop you." His dad choked out, sounding like he was crying. Why would his dad be crying? His dad almost never cried. The last time had been when Pepper had moved out, and he'd found his dad in his lab, sitting on a stool, a hand over his eyes.

"Dad?" He'd asked, hesitating in the open doorway. His father had taken a long, shuddering breath, and had tried to smile up at him.

"Hey, buddy."

"Where's Pepper going?" He'd wondered. Sometimes he called her Aunt Pepper, but lately, she and his dad had been having quiet, angry conversations that stopped as soon as he walked into a room. He'd tried asking his dad if everything was okay, but he'd usually been assured that everything was fine and that he shouldn't worry. He was always hesitant to push it...he didn't want to upset him. So he kept quiet and then one day he'd come home from school and had passed her on her way out, suitcases in hand. She'd been crying too and had barely smiled at him as she'd jumped into a car, Happy waiting by the door with a solemn frown.

"She, uh...she's gonna stay...somewhere else for a while, Pete." For a minute, he'd felt his heart clench, pain and betrayal mixing before getting another good look at his father. The man had been slumped over on the stool, eyes red and no matter how hard he was trying to smile, he had tear tracks on his face. So Peter had shrugged, pushing away his anger and hurt towards Aunt Pepper and had stepped forward, wrapping his arms tight around his dad who'd hugged him back just as hard.

"We'll be fine without her." He'd assured his dad softly, and the man had given a weak cuckle, a hand tangling in Peter's curls. "We've got each other, right?"

"We sure do, buddy."

His dad had never let Sam take him up in his wingsuit. The man usually tended toward overprotective, so he knew that it must be bad for him to agree to let Falcon take him flying. "Sam wouldn't drop…" Peter mumbled, swallowing hard and grimacing when his stomach turned, and he clamped a hand to his mouth, unable to finish that thought.

"Hang on, buddy." Immediately his dad was helping him sit up a little and turn sideways, a trash can suddenly appearing under him, and once more he was throwing up. It felt like it went on forever, Steve's hand rubbing his back while his dad held him stay upright. He opened his eyes when he was done and felt his breath catch...there was frothy red liquid in the trash can.

"Dad…" He whimpered, hands shaking as his huge eyes met his father's own terrified ones, but Steve eased him down to the bed.

"Easy, Peter. It's okay. Help's coming. It's going to be fine." Steve assured him, putting the ice pack back on his head and running a cloth over his mouth. His father still hadn't spoken and he reached out, fear a knot in his stomach, until his father caught his hand, squeezing gently and speaking in a tone Peter hadn't him use in a long time...not since he was little.

"It's okay, honey. It's going to be fine. FRIDAY?"

"The ambulance is on its way, sir." The AI told him.

"Give me his stats."

"Temperature 104.9. Dangerously elevated heart rate."

"It's rising too fast...how can his fever be rising that fast? His dad whispered, sounding lost.

"What's the ETA on that ambulance?" Steve bit out as Tony pulled Peter closer.

"Dad? Where...spider? There was…"

"I know. I know, buddy. Help is almost here." Peter closed his eyes again, ignoring whatever his dad and Steve were talking about above him. His chest felt so tight...he was still gasping for breath as his father placed a hand on his chest. "Peter?"

"Dad...I can't...it hurts…" He choked on his words, gasping and sobbing at the same time. "I can't…"

"Steve!" His dad was yelling even though he was pretty sure Steve was still in the room. Why would he need to yell?

Then there were other voices and someone was pulling him away from his dad. He tried to scream for him, but he couldn't catch his breath. Something was put over his mouth and then people were moving him and he reached out a desperate hand. "Dad! Dad!" He sobbed into the mask on his face, and then someone was holding his hand again.

"I'm here, honey. I'm right here. I'm coming with you." Peter turned his head, blinking until he found his terrified-looking father walking alongside him on the bed that was suddenly rolling, and there were other people he didn't know and he just wanted his dad. "Steve, call Helen. Ask her to come as fast as she can."

"I'll be right behind you guys."

"Peter, stay awake, okay?" But he couldn't...couldn't make himself open his eyes again, and the last thing he felt was his father's hand dropping his as his arm went limp.

Thank you for reading!