Suddenly, Peter finally remembers to breath in-sucking in huge gasp of air and letting it go almost just as quickly and then proceeding to not breathe again as he stares, face whiter then Tony's probably ever seen it and eyes filled with unshed tears as he just swallows.

What did Tony mean by 'the last time'? He wants to ask but his throat feels raw and somehow swollen-it's like all the words and questions had gotten stuck and now he can't get them out. He's not gonna go back to not talking at all, is he? That can't happen, right? He'd made so much progress but seeing him again.

He just wasn't ready. Not for that. He's not sure if he'd ever have been ready. Why in the Hell would the multiverse want to do this to him again? He takes in another sharp breath of air, he's falling apart and part of him wonders if Skip even cares that he's having a massive panic attack right in front of him because of what he did. But he didn't care when Peter had cried and tried to tell him no before-why should he care now?

But Skip had been his friend, how could he not care at all? Another breath and his teeth chatter as all he does and is nod at Tony, still not trusting himself to move and words still lodged painfully in his throat.