Archive of Our Own ^beta

There were many times when Penny wished more than anything that Advil or Paracetamol or something would work for her pain. Funnily enough, she couldn’t think about any of those times because she was preoccupied with the RIGHT NOW.

She curled in on herself, her arms coming up to wrap around her abdomen with little effect. She breathed heavily in through her nose and out through her mouth, trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible in the back seat of Happy’s car.

She had somehow managed to avoid the Tower, the ever present AI, and the self proclaimed all seeing genius inside when she had trouble like this with her cramps. It irked her that she could handle stab wounds, getting shot, heck even being poisoned that one time, but it was her monthly pain that was the worst.

And despite her best efforts at evasion, it seemed her luck had run out. When Mr. Stark had texted her during school saying he needed an extra set of hands for a project he’d actually admitted to forgetting about, she could hardly refuse. As much as she wanted to. But she could handle this. Just keep breathing, right?

“Kid, what are you waiting for? Get going,” Happy’s voice snapped Penny out of her thoughts, making her realize the car had stopped moving.

“Oh, uh thanks Happy.”

“Text me later if you need a ride or if you’ll be doin’ your freaky thing to get home.”

Penny huffed a laugh, managing an eye roll, “It’s called web swinging Happy.”

“Yeah, yeah. If you make Tony wait much longer you know he’ll send a search party out.”

“Very funny,” Penny grabbed her backpack from the floor before opening the car door.

“You think I’m kidding…” Happy mumbled to himself, but not quietly enough to sneak past a certain spiderling’s super hearing.

The corners of Penny's mouth lifted in a smile before they curled into a grimace as another stab of pain twisted in her abdomen. Her hand again came up automatically to rest on her stomach but she quickly caught herself and resisted the motion. She had to be on guard if she wanted to keep Tony from fussing about something she certainly didn’t need him fussing about.

She made her way up the elevator, leaning her head against the cool glass wall but scrunching her nose when the shaking mechanics jostled her more than calmed her. She righted herself as soon as the doors opened and walked into the lab Mr. Stark was working in.

“Hey Kid,” Tony said, eyes focused on the circuitry he was putting together.

Penny sighed in relief, knowing that when Tony Stark was in the zone there wasn’t much that could break him out of it. Unfortunately she also knew he would instantly pick up on something being wrong if she didn’t immediately jump in with the enthusiasm of a “hyped up puppy on sugar” or so she had been told.

She took a steadying breath before raising her voice, “Hey Mr. Stark! Whatcha working on? Has Dum-E been helping? Did you remember to oil him today? Don’t forget to feed him,” Maybe if she started out strong she could hang back a bit and fly under the mother hen radar, or so she hoped.

“Hey Roo, I’m just working on the wiring for this thing and then I’ll show you the coding. I’d hate to find out what Pepper will-“ Tony began before he looked up and caught sight of his pale mentee. His brows immediately furrowed, causing Penny’s stomach to swoop, completely unrelated to the cramps she was dealing with.

“What’s wrong?” Penny hesitantly asked, her voice quieter than when she entered the lab.

“I feel like I should be asking you that question,” Tony raised an eyebrow that translated to “you might as well spill the beans because I’m Tony Stark and will find out whatever it is going on”.

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about. How uh, how long do you have before you need to present to the board?” Penny cursed her stuttering but wasn’t about to accept defeat so easily. She was Spider-Girl after all. However her pain seemed to slowly be ramping up once more.

Tony held her gaze a couple more long drawn out moments, just waiting for her to crack, before he huffed out a light sigh and answered her question.

“I, or rather we, need to finish the prototype tonight. I still gotta write up the report before 7am tomorrow but I can just wing that part,” Tony said with a flippant hand wave before he turned back to his work desk.

“Sounds about, mmh, right,” Penny responded, unable to hide how a particularly painful cramp caught her breath for a moment.

Tony’s head snapped back up at the sound, just missing the sight of Penny’s face twisting. Penny knew she had to act quickly so she shoved the pain to the back of her mind and rounded the lab bench to get a better view of the project.

“Pen, if somethings going on-“

“You missed a wire.”

“What?! No I didn’t!”

“Yup, right there.”

Tony groaned, seeing that he had actually missed a connecting wire.

“Can you grab me a bolt spanner please? Quarter inch.”

“Course.”

Penny was grateful to be able to get up and move, the distance allowing her to breath out a bit more harshly. And by being at the other end of the lab she was able to lay a hand gently on her stomach, trying and failing to soothe the internal aches through sheer will.

When she returned to her mentor’s side, the conversation turned back to the project at hand which was a welcome distraction by both, although Penny didn’t miss the occasional looks Tony still sent her way.

As they worked, Tony decided that the sooner he figured out what was up with the kid, the sooner a solution could be found and he would have some peace of mind. He was a genius, he could crack the puzzle of Penny’s odd behavior, no problem. Wouldn’t be the first time.

So step one, he glanced at the kid a few times looking for any obvious injuries. No bruises or cuts to speak of so that was good. He was tempted to text Friday to run a scan but knew Penny would pick up on that move instantly.

So, not hurt. Maybe sick? The girl was a bit clammy looking and kept moving very stiffly. And she probably thought she was being sneaky but he saw the way her arms kept sneaking up to hold her sides before she quickly dropped them back down.

“Hey Pen, get in close here. Tell me what you think the next step should be.”

Penny wordlessly stepped right up to the counter and leaned in close to focus on the internal wiring of their project. Tony took the opportunity to gently swipe the kid’s messy curls that had fallen forward out of her face, making sure to linger a moment on her forehead, feeling for any unnatural warmth.

Penny sent a quick soft smile his way in thanks before looking back to the circuitry.

No luck, Tony thought. Penny wasn’t exceptionally warm so no fever. Maybe he just didn’t check long enough. He’d have to try again, he decided.

He let Penny step back as he continued on with the project, engaging her with questions here or there, still trying to figure out what the problem was.

After about an hour, some light cursing, and a mostly finished prototype later, the pair straightened up from their hunched position.

Penny managed to contain her hiss as the new upright angle put pressure on her back, making it feel like her organs were ready to burst through her spine. Stupid ovaries. She stayed quiet but wasn’t able to hide the way her teeth grit together and her nostrils flared. Two tell tale signs of pain that Tony easily recognized.

“Okay, enough. No more, Pen. Tell me what’s wrong,” Tony demanded.

“No,” Penny squeaked.

“Fine. Friday?” Tony raised an eyebrow looking to the ceiling.

“Hey!”

“Miss Parker is currently exhibiting several signs of pain including an antalgic gait, sweating, vocal distress -“

“Okay, okay. Enough Friday!” Penny grit out.

“Are you injured? Do we need to go to the Med Bay? Who am I kidding, of course we do. Should have gone right when you got here,” Tony mumbled, shaking his head. He stepped over to Penny and gently put an arm around her, ready to lead her downstairs but paused when she instead leaned into his side.

He carefully looked down to see her tucked right up against him, a small hand coming up to grip his shirt to keep him close.

“Pen,” Tony said softly.

“Hmm?”

“Can you please tell me what’s going on, honey?”

Penny smiled at the endearment although it was hidden by Tony’s shirt.

“Um, my stomach just hurts a bit.”

“Well why didn’t you say something? Is it the flu? I heard the flu was going around Midtown, I got an email just the other day.”

“What? No it’s not the flu, I’m not sick. You get updates from my school?”

“Of course I do.”

“Hmph,” Penny settled on, continuing to lean further and further into Mr. Stark’s warm chest. Being surrounded by her mentor’s comforting embrace felt like the best pain relief she’d had in days.

Tony frowned again at the lackluster response, deciding to bring his hand up to her forehead to check her temperature again. Just for good measure.

He brushed back her bangs and settled his hand on her cheek, his heart warming when Penny’s already heavy lidded eyes closed and she tilted her head closer.

“Pen, will you please tell me how I can help? I hate seeing you hurting.”

He wasn’t sure he would get a response when the girl was quiet a minute but he was grateful when she finally spoke up.

“Um, can we maybe just finish this project and then go upstairs. Your couch is calling my name,” Penny tried her hand at levity but it fell flat when all she got was Mr. Stark’s patented concerned look.

“I vote we skip the grueling lab portion of the evening and proceed to the couch cuddle session.”

“But we have-“

“Nuh uh, the adult is talking and what the adult says goes. Plus I’m Tony Stark, that definitely means that I get what I want.”

“Fine, fine. Whatever you say Dad,” Penny rolled her eyes. And then completely froze.

“Uh,” Tony started, “Did you just-“

“No. I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Mhmm. Sure thing, daughter.”

“Stoppp,” Penny shoved her face back into Tony’s side, effectively hiding her own smile.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Pen,” Tony said with a giant grin.