You know when you're sick and you still have to go to school because you behind? Today was one of those days. Peter woke up to a splitting headache and an extreme sensitivity to light.
"Mr. Stark, can I borrow some sunglasses?" Peter was sitting at the table, a long night of lab work behind him. His head was in his hands and he couldn't bring himself to eat the poptart and blueberries in front of him.
Tony looked up from his coffee to see the boy clutching is temple in obvious pain. "You OK, underoos?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a headache and the light hurts my eyes." Peter looked up at Tony for a moment before grimacing and turning away.
"Yeah, kid. You can borrow my glasses. Do you have your noice candling earphones?" Tony knew better than to ask him to stay home. He had been raving about his test in chemistry and English and the project he'd been working on was due today. The kid was to hardworking to the point where he sacrificed his own safety for others and their expectations.
Tony grabbed the case from in the cabinet and tossed it to Peter. Peter grabbed the case just in time, despite the piercing headache.
"Thanks, Mr. Stark." Peter stood up and walked out of the compound. Tony just watched him leave.
"Friday, keep a tab on Peter's phone and if any alert goes up at the school let me know."
"What do you mean, sir." FRIDAYS voice echoed through the room.
"I mean keep an alert for anything that could show Peter's having a panic attack or a sensory overload."
"Will do, sir. If anything happens, you will get an immediate alert."
"Thanks, FRIDAY." Tony went back to sipping this coffee. He worried about that kid and was willing to bet that he'd have to intervene at some point today.
************
School was just as crappy as Peter has expected. Instead, of acing his tests like he would have, Peter barely completed them before the bell rang. He only had two more hours to get through. He entered his experimental physicals class and joined Ned in the back of the room. His sunglasses were pushed all the way up his nose and he covered his eyes with his arms. Ned patted his back reassuringly. The lights were turned off for the projects the class would be sharing.
Cindy and Abe went first presenting on wave particle duality. There presentation was short and sweet with an obvious A+.
Unfortunately the teacher required that all presenters be given the utmost respect, so Peter was forced to look up and couldn't wear is glasses. it wasn't too bad, because the lights were still off.
Flash sauntered up to the front with his presentation of the Big Bang theory. The boy's loud voice hurt Peter's ears and he flinched. Flash began his presentation, a video he had animated.
The room filled with a bright light and an explosion like a bomb. Peter had an instant to think'h shit' before he was on the ground. His body contorted into the fetal position and he shuffled for the soundproof earphones. The glasses were still on his desk and the ringing and pounding made it impossible to sit up. Ned helped him get the earphones on as the class crowded around the pale boy. After securing the earphones, Ned grabbed for the glasses.
"What's wrong with Peter, Ned? Cindy, turn the lights on. Abby, go get the nurse." Both girls started to do what the teacher said before Ned stopped them. "No, don't. He's having a reaction to the light and sound. Keep the lights off and everyone quiet down. Someone grab the stark glasses."
"What glasses? What do you mena about a seniors overload. I've never heard about that before. Is it even real?" Flash didn't seem to get the memo about the noice because he still yelled.
Ned ran back to the desk and searched for the glasses. They were hidden under one of Peter's notebooks so it took him a minute. Finding them, he put them on Peter and tried to calm him down.
Before he could say anything though, the glasses lit up. A small hologram appeared in front of Peter and the glow from it illuminated the room.
"Hey, kid. What's going on and why is everything so dark." Ned picked up the glasses when Peter didn't respond and put them on, looking at the billionaire.
"Mr. Stark. Peter's having a sensory overload and its bad."
Tony's eyes narrowed. "What room are you in?" The hologram began to bounce as the man began running. The mechanical whir in the background told Ned that he was coming to the school.
Second floor, room 231. Were the middle room facing the courtyard with," Ned looked over at the window, "physic equations on the window."
"I'm on my way. Could you open the window if possible?" Ned looked at the teacher who shook his head.
"I'm sorry, sir. We can't."
"Ok. Tell the teacher I'll pay for it and to clear away from the window." Ned's eyes widened as he looked at his class.
"Everybody get away from the window now!" The class ran away, some fleeing into the hall. Flash surprisingly grabbed one of Peter's arms and helped Ned drag him away. The class watched from the hallway as the window blew in and the Iron Man suit appeared. It hovered above the floor as Tony stepped out. He searched the room before running into the hall. The panic on his face was evident as he spotted Peter curled up on the floor.
"Peter!" Tony's voice was quiet but the urgency was present. he grabbed the boy and turned, immediately making his way back to the suit. The boy and the man both disappeared leaving a destroyed classroom and a room full of kids in the hallway with the rest of the school slowly coming out of their classrooms to investigate.
"What the hell just happened?'"
Flash turned to Ned and so did the rest of the school. Ned wanted to curse Peter for coming into school in that condition and leaving him behind, but he really couldn't blame the boy. But, boy, did his best friend owe him one.
