Trigger warning ⚠️ (panic, self harm, suicidal thoughts)

Bruce walked into the lab in search for Tony, he found him curled up sobbing under one of the desks.

"Tones?" He asked cautiously, he thought he knew what happened but didn't want to assume.

"L-letter, he wrote he wrote a letter" That was al Bruce needed to hear.

"Ok breathe tones, please put it down and breathe" Bruce coaxed Tony into putting the note down and focusing on breathing. While Tony was calming down he couldn't help but wonder if he had a letter, maybe what was in it could help Bruce figure out exactly what was going through Peters head. He was able to help Tony over to the couch and pulled a blanket over him, leaving him to sleep. He exited the lab careful not to make too much noise, when he reached the hall he asked the AI a question. "Where's the letters, please Fri I need to help him"

"They are in a box on mr Parker's desk" she answered helpfully.

"Thanks Friday, and change mr Parker's name to petey" Anything to make peter feel better, maybe even a small change in the way an AI addresses him, Bruce would do it all. He headed towards the elevator and set off for Peters room, he made sure that peter was still in the living room. When he saw that he was he hurried into the room, he found the box and opened it. Inside we're many letters, more than Bruce expected to see, he put that aside for now and took the one addressed to him. He placed the lid back on and hid the box, on his way towards his lab he passed Peter. Before Peter saw that he was there Bruce could see the way his head dropped, and his eyes darkened. His fists closed tightly and his breathing stuttered, then he saw Bruce. It was as though someone flipped the switch his head sprung up, his dark eyes filled with light, his hands unclenched and he started to speak.

"Hello Bruce, how are you?" He exclaimed happily, almost too happily. It seemed as though he knew that Bruce could set through his mask so he was trying even harder to hide it. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for Bruce it made it more obvious.

"I'm pretty good, you?" He asked back, trying not to make it awkward.

"I'm doing fine" he smiled as he lied straight through his teeth. "Anyway, have a good day" Bruce returned the thought and peter skipped away. Bruce waited for a moment off to the side so it looked like he was gone. Peter turned and when he didn't see Bruce his Skip turned into a stumble and sniffles could be heard from where he was standing. This sight made Bruce's heart break even more, this kid should not have to go through this, especially one as nice and funny and accepting as him. Bruce hurried to his room, he needed to read the letter and find a way to help him.

• • •
When Bruce reached his room he closed the door and sat on his bed.

Dear Bruce,
I don't know where to start, maybe the thousands of times you healed me after I was too slow or too dumb to avoid an injury. I know you won't be able to heal me after this one but I want you to know this is not your fault, it's no ones but my own. You helped me got so long, you let me see that even though you are different people can still love you. And they do, so many people Bruce. I overheard your conversation with Tony a while ago and I didn't mean to but super hearing and all. You said that you tried to kill yourself, but the big guy spat it out, the bullet. I don't want you to ever feel that way ok? You are still here because you are meant to be, you are loved and incredible. I know hundreds of people alone who are inspired by all that you've done and all that you are going to do. So don't waste time thinking of ways you could have prevented this because I know you will be, instead use that time to create new machines, hell cure cancer. If you tried I know you could, I'll miss you Bruce but try not to miss me too much.

Peter Parker-Stark
I love you science dad

The paper fell from Bruce's hands and his body shook with sobs, his heart aches for this kid. He didn't know what to do, pain can be as prominent as a stab wound or as hidden as depression. He just didn't understand how this kid, his friend could pretend to be happy for so long with out anyone noticing. When he finally calmed down he decided to make sure he didn't look like he just broke down and go talk to Peter.

•   •   •

Peter was sick and tired and done with it all, he failed his first attempt and since then his tears hadn't stopped. Maybe they had physically but mentally there was a flood. A whirlwind of emotion rattling inside such a little space. Yet it was a big space and a small storm, or no... he didn't know. Figuring out his own thoughts was like trying to untangle millions of strings tied into a knot. Every-time he got one out, the others would tangle with it again.

When he passed Bruce those few seconds of interaction hurt him, his entire body felt like it was cracking. He stumbled into his room and shut the door. "Fri-" his voice broke, "lock this door, and stop monitoring this room" when he heard the faint click of the lock he nearly fell into the bathroom. The thoughts were blinding and loud and terrifying he couldn't breathe, he needed air. A break, something to stop the tornado reeking havoc in his mind.

He threw open the closet and grabbed the shiny thing, he didn't want to admit what it was. That made it more real, everything was already real enough. The plastic smashed leaving the shiny object vulnerable, it was picked up and slid across his skin slowly and deeply. He cried, he needed to stop but he couldn't... he needed help but he couldn't ask for it... so instead he cried. And watched as the blood dripped while he made another valley. Not one of beauty but one of pain, one that would leave scars in his head and heart.
It became too much
The shiny object fell one bounce then lay still dripping crimson onto the floor and he slumped. Hoping that when the darkness came this time it would be the end.

•   •   •

"Sir, Petey has locked his door and stopped the monitoring" Friday announced.

"Shit, can you reinstate the monitor?" The music was suddenly silent and Friday confirmed. Five minutes passed and Peters vitals were read out. It took one second for Tony to react, one minute to reach the elevator, two minutes to reach Peters room, thirty seconds to find Peter on the floor, one second to react and fall to his knees. He pulled him in and felt his heart beat. "Please don't leave me, hold on I still need you... FRIDAY GET BRUCE NOW" tears and anxiety were the only two things Tony knew for the three minutes it took Bruce to get to them. The smartest man on the Earth knew nothing except the uneven heart beat and the sounds of panicked breaths, he didn't even know if it was his kids or his own.

"Let go Tones we have to take him to Med bay" Bruce commanded softly placing a hand on Tony's, which was subconsciously gripping Peters.

"Yeah" he let his hand go limp and fall to his side.

The rest passed in a blur, until he saw Peter on the bed, laying still he started to pace back and forth. Chocking on salty tears. He reached down and felt his heartbeat. "Come back Petey please don't leave" he cried.

"Tones, you need to sit down. It's been five hours" Bruce whispered leading Tony to the chair next to Peter.

"F-five hours?" It felt like Five seconds but at the same time Five years. A short moment that passed like a decade. Or a decade that passed like a minute.

"Yeah, I'm going to give you something. You can't help him when your nearly passing out from exhaustion" Dissociation, was the medical term. Tony needed sleep now, Bruce gently pulled Tony's arm towards him and cleaned the area. He placed the syringe against his skin and injected the contents into him. A minor sedative, it would keep him asleep for a while but allow him to be woken up if need be.

Bruce turned to leave, but glanced back one more time. Time to figure out the plan, to get peter back on his feet. Help him feel okay again.