This story is a cute one-shot in my "Of duty, love, and superheroes" universe.
It takes place in "Age of Ultron" even tho the timeline is not correct because Peter, well, was not there and I honestly don't know how old he would actually be in the cannon universe, but this is fiction of fiction and the story is here just for the fluff, so just relax and enjoy it.
You don't need to read the other story to understand this one, just know that Peter is around 11-12 and was adopted by Tony and Pepper after his last living relative died (Uncle Ben). Here, no one knows about Spiderman yet.
The party was practically over, only a few people left behind.
Tony liked these moments better. Even though he used to love partying and hosting, now, he was happy with just having a few close friends over. And this moment was perfect, strangers were gone, Peter was already asleep, and it was time to just chill with his team.
After showing the last people out, he grabbed a beer and joined with friends in the living room, who seemed to be in a deep discussion regarding Thor's hammer.
Clint was arguing that it was just a trick, that anyone could lift it up, "Ah, whosoever be worthy shall have the power" he mocked in Thor's voice. "Whatever man! It's just a trick!"
"Oh please, be my guest" laughed Thor, pointing to his hammer which was on the coffee table surrounded by empty glasses and beer bottles. Clint got up and after confirming that he was indeed allowed to lift the hammer or try to do it, positioning himself for the task.
"Oh, this is gonna be beautiful" Said Rhodes, already laughing.
"We had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up" mocked, Tony.
With a laugh, Clint tried to lift the hammer, only to fail.
Next in line is Tony. "Never on to shrine from an honest challenge" He positions himself, holding the hammer with one hand, "Its physics", he explained, looking around, lading on Thor with a smug grin, "So, if I lift it, I rule Asgard?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," answered Thor, already laughing at the failed attempt. Tony, not accepting failure, left the room with an "I'll be right back" and coming back with the Iron Man gauntlet. He failed.
Everyone laughed but refusing to quit he asked Rhodey for help, which he gave.
"Are you even lifting?" Rhodey asked, trying his hardest along with his best friend to lift the hammer using his War Machine gauntlet.
"Are you on my team?"
"Just represent, pull!" said Rhodey.
And pull they did, with all their force and their suits force but of course, the hammer didn't move an inch.
Everyone cheered for Bruce to try next. Reluctantly, he stood up and tried, trying to use all his strength, and maybe a little bit of the Hulk's as well, without actually bringing the green guy out. Part of him, though he would never admit to it, hoped to be able to at least move the damn thing, not because that meant he would be worthy of ruling Asgard but because it might mean, he would be worthy of at least trying to be loved. Remembering his conversation with Natasha, he mastered all of what's inside of him, but it might as well have been a toddler pulling because the hammer didn't even move.
After that, it was time for America's Hero. Surely, Steve Rogers was someone worthy, right? Even Thor seemed a little bit worried when Steve got a hold of his hammer but in the end, the hammer stayed in place.
Natasha was offered to try next but refused, being well aware that she definitely would not be able to.
Although everyone was a bit ashamed and frustrated, they were all still laughing and joking, especially when Thor stood up and picked up his hammer just to show off.
"All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's tricked!" joked Tony.
"You bet your ass!" agreed Clint, who still believed the must be a trick to the hammer.
"Steve," -intervened Maria, who had been laughing at the whole situation, "he said a bad language word" she accused, pointing in the direction of Tony and Clint.
Steve was about to complain to Tony when a small voice joined the conversation. "Mom will not be happy about that".
Everyone turned to see young Peter, dressed in his PJs, rubbing his fist on his eyes as if to try to rub the sleep away, standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing up?" asked Tony, who was sure had put the kid to bed at least an hour ago.
"You forgot to sign my field trip permission form for tomorrow" he answered, walking towards his father, sign form in hand.
"Why do I need to sign a form if you are coming HERE tomorrow?" Tony asked through a laugh
"I don't know but I won't be allowed in the bus if I…" Peter stopped mid-sentence when as sleepy as he was, he bumped into the coffee table on his way to his father, knocking a few bottles to the ground and…a hammer? Ashamed of his mistake, he immediately got to the floor to pick everything up and put it back in its place. The whole situation was about 3 seconds long, ending with an "I'm so sorry Mr. Thor, I hope I didn't break it"
The whole room fell silent. Peter, ashamed and now in the spotlight, closed the distance between him and Tony and stood next to him, noticing everyone's eyes still on him. His brain was going ten miles an hour, believing he did something truly wrong. He was expecting Thor to start shouting at him or his dad to scold him in front of everyone for not being careful. What he did not expect, was for everyone to shout out in laughter and cheers.
Tony stood up and lifted him into his arms, shooting at everyone in the room " HE IS WORTHY"
Peter was so confused, looking around, everyone was laughing, except for Thor who was astonished, looking at him as if he had grown a third head.
"Oh no! It must definitely be a trick, "said Clint, standing up and trying again to lift the hammer from the place Peter had left it but to no avail.
"Give up Hawkeye," said Tony, "My kid's worthy, you're not"
After a few more seconds of cheering, everyone got back to their places on the couches around the table. Tony sat back down, bringing Peter down with him to sit on his lap. Once they were seated, Peter turned to whisper in Tony's ear, asking for an explanation. Tony, not being able to hold his laughter again, explained how everyone had tried to lift Thor's hammer but no one was able to even move it, not even Capitan America with his super strength.
"Not even the Hulk?" asked Peter, eyes big as plates.
"Not even him," said Tony.
"Peter" Thor said, "do you think you could move it again?"
Peter turned to look at his dad. Tony nodded his agreement, lightly pushing Peter up. He walked to the table and nervously looking around, lifted the hammer as if it weighed nothing. He knew everyone was staring at him, but his eyes were glued to the huge blond man staring right at him with a stern expression. Without knowing what else to do, he walked towards Thor and handed him his precious tool, realizing when Thor finally relaxed and loudly laugh, taking the hammer from the kid's hands. "You're so worthy, young Mr. Parker," he said, through shrieks of laughter.
Tony got his phone and asked Peter to do repeat his actions. "Look Pepper, "he said to the camera, "our kid's worthier that friggin Capitan America. Show him, kid, lift the damn thing" he laughed. Thor handed back the hammer to Peter, to show off to the camera. Peter, still laughing held it high and handed it back to its owner.
"Does that mean he has to go be a king now?" asked Steve, laughing.
"No, it just means he can kick all of your asses!" said Rhodey, riffling Peter hair.
"There's no way this "Clint said, standing next to Peter and holding the kid's arm up, "is the same as that" he said, pointing to Thor's arm.
Tony, still grinning, got up from his seat to pull Peter back to his lap again, planting a kiss to the side of his forehead, an action that would scare the shit out of him a few months ago but now it was the most natural thing to do. "You shouldn't send mom that video, you know?" said Peter. "It's late and you would get in trouble" he laughed.
"You're right. We'll send it tomorrow and tell her we recorded it earlier today" he winked.
"Tony," Clint continued, "you should really get your kid checked up. He may be hiding some super strength or something."
"Give up! My kid's worthier than you, end of story." He told Clint, before turning to Peter, "I knew there was a reason we kept you" he joked, to which Peter just laughed.
"So, if I'm worthy and all that…. Does that mean I can stay up? He asked, holding the hope of the world in his eyes. Anyone would think the kid was asking for world peace, not for an extension for his bedtime.
"Nope" answered Tony, emphasizing the p. "off to bed with you. It's waaaay past your bedtime."
Peter gave him a small pout and was about to argue when Natasha jumped in his defense. "Come on Stark, the kid's the new kind of Asgard," she said, looking directly at Thor, mischief in her eyes, "he damn well can stay up".
Tony, knowing Peter would be fast asleep in a matter of minutes even if he did stay, decided to give in. "Okay, you can stay… but don't tell mom" he winked again at the kid.
Everyone got back into conversation, joking once in a while about Peter being stronger than Capitan America or that he would rule over Thor. On his part, Peter sat on Tony's lap, fighting sleep and miserably losing. A few minutes after he was allowed to stay, he was completely out to the world.
Tony knew that would happen; Peter never could stay up long after bedtime. Not even in a room, full of superheroes was he able to keep his eyes open. He couldn't understand why Pepper decided to fight the kid every night to go to bed if he was going to fall asleep soon either way; is not about whether he goes to sleep or not Tony, is about discipline! She would argue, and well, Tony wasn't the most disciplined person, so he'll let her have it her way and he would uselessly fight the kid every night before taking him to bed but for tonight, he was happy with just holding him, letting Peter rest his head on his chest, rubbing circles on his arm with one arm, drink in the other and his friends having fun in the room. His life was pretty much perfect at the moment; Pepper would be arriving soon and then his whole world would be safe under the same roof and he couldn't ask for more from the universe.