"Kid?" Tony whispered, not wanting to cause the boy any sort of discomfort. As a response, Peter's eyes fluttered but didn't open. "If you can hear me, kid, could you maybe squeeze my hand?" The man held the small boy's soft hand, but there was no movement.

Which Tony understood, as he wouldn't be all too ready to open his eyes after the procedure either.

"I'm so sorry, buddy. I'm going to fix this. I've told the police everything, and they're going to arrest Mason. Though, that's only if you make the statement for them to take as proof." Tony knows he just talking to himself, but he didn't mind.

He rather talks, than sit in silence as his body filled up with anxiety.

"This won't happen again. I promise, kid. You're going to be safe." Tony rubbed the pad of his thumb on the back of Peter's hand, his eyes not leaving the fragile body that laid within the hospital blankets. Wires littered everywhere, and a breathing mask covering a small button nose, and a pair of thin cracked lips.

The boy looked lost within the thin, heavy blanket. Tony couldn't help but see it, and he hated how he's noticing within a hospital of all places. But seeing the boy like this, wired and hospital bed-bound. Tony can see how Peter's classification suited him.

Small, frail and held a babyface. Tony couldn't help but mutter how stupid he was to have missed the signs. The drugs Peter had taken, yes took away the major mannerisms of being a Little, but it also didn't take away everything. Peter still had the baby-face, the height and build of a little.

So how had he missed it?

Science. That's why. He gets so caught up in his work and intellect, that he doesn't notice what's going on around him.

Well, that's going to change. Sure he had said it himself, that he didn't want much to change. But maybe directing his attention on other things, won't be so bad. Not now as he will soon have a little living amongst him and Pepper.

Tony, once his one on one with the police couple ended, had decided to sit with Peter until he woke up. Thinking it to be a bad idea, if the boy woke up to find two police officers at his bedside. It would cause a panic, and that's what Tony didn't want. Especially as there is a chance the boy could wake up and feel a little vulnerable, which Tony isn't going to shy away from

He did that before, and look where it got him. He isn't going to ignore Peter's needs again, not after this scare.

It wasn't long, however, when Tony was distracted from messaging Pepper about Peter's update, due to movement from the hospital bed.

First came the alarmed gasp and the pair of wide-eyes looking around, followed by movement and struggling to sit up, which quickly escalated to a hand trying to remove the mask from his face.

It was irritating him, Tony could see that. But he couldn't let the boy take something away from himself, that is helping him to breathe right now.

"Hey, kid. Shh, shh. You're alright, breathe for me, Peter. In and out." Tony didn't care that he dropped his phone on the floor in the process, probably gaining a few cracks or scratches. It didn't matter. What does matter right now, is getting Peter settled.

He didn't have time to worry about anything else.

"No, Peter. You need that on, it's to help you breathe. Come on bud, breathe with me." Tony set one of the boy's hands over his heart, himself taking exaggerated breaths to help with the process.

Peter did listen, he took breaths along with the man. And eventually calmed down, though he is still to some extent confused and a little scared. It didn't help that his head is feeling floaty and spaced out, meaning he's slipped into a semi younger mindset.

A nurse, upon hearing the commotion, had rushed inside. Though not to make Peter even more uncomfortable, it was just the one nurse. And a male. However by then, Tony had Peter calmed down. Which made things easier, as having a nurse in the young lads personal bubble wouldn't be ideal.

"He can have the mask off now, his vitals are all good." The male nurse checked the numbers and jotted them down on the clipboard, which is located at the end of all patients beds. "He'll probably still be groggy from the procedure, and tired. But apart from that, he'll be back to full health in no time." The nurse gave soft smile, directing it to Peter. Dropping it a moment later before inclining his head to Tony, gesturing wanting to talk.

Tony took the gesture as it was, and nodded his head signalling to the nurse he understood. Turning to Peter, he stood up and kissed the top of Peter's head. "I'll be back in a moment, Pete. The nurse just wants to talk to me, okay?" The man gave the boy's hand a comforting pat, before making his way around the bed and outside the room.

There was a window Tony could see into, so he could keep an eye on his intern while he talked.

"What can I do for you?" Tony asked, leaning against the wall. He didn't hold much of a strong tone, as it came out more exhausted than he looked.

"I'm not sure if you noticed, but Peter seemed to have regressed a little. So, do you think he'll still be alright with talking to the police? I know this is a serious matter for you Mr Stark, and I want Peter to be safe. But if he's in no state to answer rather serious questions, I can tell the police to return tomorrow." The nurse suggested, having all the right intentions.

Tony shook his head, leaning up from the wall. "Nah, I think it will be fine. I did see the switch in his behaviours, but thank you for making sure." Tony bowed his head in a gesture of thanks. "I missed the signs the first time, I'm not going to miss them a second. That's a promise. And as for the police, send them in. Explain Peter's predicament, but state how it's fine for them to talk to Peter. I'll make sure he understands and calm him down if he gets worked up. Like you said - " Tony closed the gap between himself and the other male, laying a hand on the other's shoulder and patting it. "This is serious and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. I can't have him going back home, he needs to be with me." Tony stated in a finalized tone.

Walking back into the hospital room, Tony gave a little wave before sitting on the side of the bed. Taking Peters hand into his. "Hey, buddy. How are you doing?" Tony asked, his tone soft and calm.

"Tired, 'ungry an' wanna get out of 'ere." The little stated just above a whisper, letting out a huff.

Tony chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair. "I know, trust me. I dislike hospitals too, but you'll be here for at least another day, buddy." The man disliked how the kid sagged in disappointment. "Hey, when this is all done. I'll treat you to whatever you want, yeah? How does that sound?" Tony gave lee-way to adopting a little excitement in his tone, opting to make the boy feel some sort of excitement.

"B-but you no wan' me," Peter stated, the week's events still playing in his head. "You no talk to me for weeks, Sir. Y-you mades me feel likes you no wan' me, a-a-and May-son is meanie an' 'urtie me." The boy sniffled, sloppily wiping his arm across his tear-filled eyes. "N-No one wan' Peter."

Shit. That stung.

"No, Peter." Tony shook his head. "I could not want such a clever, amazing little like yourself as my intern. I'll prove it to you." Tony spotted the officers at the door and gave them a hand gesture to wait a moment.

Peter had spotted them too, and he flashed a look to Tony. Scared they're here to take him away. However Tony was one step ahead of him, and so quickly dismissed the thought before it planted any over-thoughts within his head.

"They're not here to take you away if that's what you're thinking Peter," Tony smirked at the boy's reaction, perhaps wondering if he could mind read. Which he couldn't. It's just Peter can be an open book most of the time, though Tony's attention was occupied with other things to notice.

"T-then why they 'ere?" The boy asked, voice small.

"To take away Mason, and to take note of who your dealer is" Tony sighed. "You've had another batch given to you since I took your old ones away, so you should by now know who your dealer is. Right?" Tony raised a soft eyebrow, getting the answer straight away upon seeing Peter's reaction. "Just tell them the truth about the abuse, and everything you spilt to me in the hotel, and - " Tony moved a strand of hair from Peter's face. "Be a big boy, and say it for yourself. Then, Mason will go bye-bye. Okay?"

Peter nodded, hands fiddling with the blanket. "Yes, sir." He mumbled, biting his lip. "Will you stay? I wan' you too."

"Yes, I will be staying with you. I told them they could only see you if I was present, as I know you would just feel very uncomfortable without me here. You just need to tell them what Mason has done to you, and whose your dealer. Okay? Promise me you will do that?" Toy raised his pinkie finger, Peter doing the same and linking them together.

"I promise, Daddy."