Hi all!

Thank you so much for the love! I am so glad you guys are enjoying this story! I am having a good time writing it! I think you will all enjoy this chapter and I look forward to hearing what you guys think.

My apologies for any mistakes and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 8 – Good News

"That, uh, that looks like a really big needle," Peter said, his voice wobbling.

Stephen looked up from the syringe he had been filling and arched a brow at Peter. "You fling yourself from a web, thousands of feet above the ground on a daily basis and this scares you?"

"It's a big needle!" Peter protested with big wide eyes.

Stephen smothered his smile and continued filling the syringe. "It will be over before you know it."

"Isn't there, like, a tablet I could take instead?" Peter asked, his hands twisting in his lap.

"Sorry, Peter," Stephen said, giving the teenager a sympathetic smile. "In order to keep your core temperature up, the does you require can only be administrated this way."

Peter sighed, shoulder's dropping. "Stupid DNA."

Stephen moved towards Peter, offering him a smile. "Are you ready?"

Peter very reluctantly offered his arm. He had already pulled down the collar of his long sleeve shirt to bare his arm. He squeezed his eyes shut, turning his head. "Just do it, please."

With practiced ease, Stephen administrated the drugs that would keep Peter's core temperature up. It was over in 30 seconds and as Stephen disposed of the needle, Peter still had his eyes squeezed shut.

"It's done," Stephen smirked. "Do you need a lollipop?"

Peter eyes snapped open, and he looked down at his arm. The small mark the needle had made had already healed over, leaving no trace. Peter looked to Stephen, his mouth agape.

"I didn't feel anything!"

"Because I am the best," Stephen winked.

"Do you really have a lollipop?" Peter asked as he yanked up his shirt and jumped off the medbay bed.

"No," Stephen said. At Peter's pout he quickly amended. "Tony did buy you some donuts though. You can have them."

"Awesome!" Peter beamed. "And thank you. For the shot. I know you and Mr. Stark worked really hard on figuring this out. I really appreciate it."

"Any time," Stephen said. He opened a portal onto Tony's personal floor and then wrapped an arm around Peter's shoulder. He ushered him through, the portal closing quickly behind them. "That shot should last you three months, but we will monitor to make sure."

"Wait, I only have to have the one?" Peter asked.

"One a year, if my calculations are correct," Stephen said. "But it will depend on how long the cool weather hangs around."

"Wicked!"

Stephen chuckled and unwound his arm from Peter's shoulder. The teenager bounded over to the donuts that Tony's had left out. Tony was on the lower floors, working on something for Stark Industries. He had also spent the morning on the phone to Midtown High School of Science and Technology, getting Peter a spot. Stephen hadn't heard how that had gone down but he assumed Tony had gotten what he wanted. He usually did.

"Do you have any homework today?" Stephen asked as he watched Peter pick a donut from the box.

"Just English homework," Peter shrugged.

"Would you like to do some yoga with me?" Stephen asked.

Peter perked up and nodded furiously. He quickly swallowed the rest of his donut, Stephen fearing that he may choke. "Yes please!"

"Go change. I'll meet you in the living room," Stephen said. He smiled as Peter quickly bounded out of the room and headed towards the living room to clear a space for them.

I could get used to this, Tony thought as he took in the scene before him.

Peter and Stephen were in the living room, both in a meditative pose. Stephen had a light sheen of sweat on his brow while Peter looked relaxed and calm. As Tony took a step closer, Peter's eyes snapped open, and he grinned.

"Hi Mr. Stark!"

Stephen slowly blinked open his eyes, lips lifting into a smile. "Tony."

"Hey you two." Tony drifted over to them, flopping down on the couch, and stretching out. "How's the yoga going?"

"Peter makes me feel old," Stephen grumbled playfully.

"You're not old," Peter quickly defended. "You're awesome. My powers put me at an advantage."

Stephen's smile was fond. "So does your age."

"You look pretty good to me," Tony said, eyes drifting over Stephen's figure. His brain finally caught up to what his mouth had said, and he fought the urge to flush.

Stephen's sharp eyes widened with surprise, mouthing parting slightly. He looked just as surprised as Tony felt. Tony didn't blame him. They flirted and snarked at one another but neither had been as blunt as Tony had just been. The way Stephen's face morphed from surprise to something flirty had Tony thinking maybe he should have been blunt sooner.

Out the corner of his eye, Tony caught Peter looking between the two of them. If Tony was reading the kid's expression correctly, it looked as if Peter was delighted by the turn of events.

"Then again," Tony tested carefully. "You always do."

Stephen's eyes raked over Tony, his flirty smirk deepening.

"Uh – should I leave the room?" Peter asked with a cheeky grin.

"Only if you don't want to hear my good news," Tony said, quickly jumping onto a new line of topic. As much as he would love to pin Stephen to the yoga mat he was sitting on, he did not want to scar Peter. He enjoyed the kid living with him.

Peter perked up like a puppy. "What good news?"

"I got you an interview with Midtown," Tony grinned.

Peter jaw dropped opened.

"Before you get too excited." Tony held up a hand to pause Peter. "You'll have to take a test so they can determine where you are and if you could keep up with the course load."

"I can do that," Peter said quickly, his crossed legs bouncing up and down.

"I thought you might say that" Tony grinned. "You've got an interview on Friday and you'll take the test then too."

Peter jumped to his feet in a way that made Tony's knees ache just looking at him.

"I have to study!"

Tony found himself with an armful of a spider-child, hugging him tightly.

"Thanks Mr. Stark!"

"You're welcome, kiddo," Tony chuckled, patting Peter on the back. When Peter pulled back, Tony snagged his arm before he could dart off. "Bring your books out here and we'll help you study."

Peter's eyes shone brightly with an emotion that made Tony's heart clench at the sight.

"Okay," Peter's words came out breathlessly. "Be right back." When Tony released his arm, he dashed out of the room, his feet soundless as he moved.

Tony turned to look at Stephen and found the wizard already staring at him. "You up for a study session?"

Stephen rose gracefully form the floor and sauntered over to Tony. "Always. Reward system?"

Tony swallowed as Stephen sat down next to Tony, pressing their knees together. "Good be good for the kid. See what works for him."

Stephen hummed deep in his throat; Tony practically able to feel it with how close Stephen was. He could smell the usual scent of tea that the doctor had on him and the slight hint of sweat. "Tony?"

"Yes?"

"You look good too," Stephen smirked, and he leaned forward to press his lips against Tony's.

Tony's lips were slightly chapped under Stephen's. Stephen's heart pounded in his chest as Tony leaned up, twisting to kiss Stephen deeper. Their lips moved against one another sensually. There was no hesitation. They simply melted into one another in a gentle kiss that had long been brewing between them. One that Stephen was tired of denying himself and it seemed that Tony was too.

They pulled back, Stephen eyes flicking open (and when did he close them?). Tony was looking at him, a smile tugging at his lips. He looked slightly dazed and Stephen internally preened.

"Wish I had that reward system in college," Tony grinned. "Rhodey wouldn't take me up on the offer."

Stephen snorted, shaking his head lightly. "If you had that reward system, I think you would have achieved nothing in college."

"Lucky you weren't there to distract me then," Tony said.

Stephen smirked, his heart skipping in his chest. "Are you distracted now?"

"When you are around. Always," Tony said, sincerity ringing through his words.

"Me too," Stephen admitted. "More than I cared to admit."

"Regrets?" Tony asked quietly.

Stephen reached out, threading his scarred fingers with Tony's. "None. You?"

"Only that I didn't do that sooner," Tony said. He leaned forward and captured Stephen's lips in another gentle kiss. He pulled back before either could get carried away.

Movement caught Stephen's eyes and his lips twitched as he watched Peter re-enter the room with a stack of textbooks and notebooks in his arms. He was also balancing a pencil case on his head.

"Where should I set up?" Peter asked, looking between Stephen and Tony.

"Right here," Tony said, squeezing Stephen's hand gently. "We might as well be comfortable."

Tony didn't remove his hand from Stephen's as they watched Peter bring over all his things, dragging the coffee table closer so he could set up. Stephen swallowed, his hand twitching in Tony's, when Peter finally noticed that they were holding hands. Peter's gaze darted between them, a bright smile lighting up his face.

"Where do we start?" Peter asked, practically vibrating where he sat.

Stephen relaxed as Tony leaned forward and snagged a textbook. Flipping it around, the Calculus title was easily readable.

"How about here?"

Peter nodded with determination, and he grabbed a pen and a notebook. "Let's do it."

Stephen already knew that Peter was incredibly bright but watching him study only reminded him how much. What he didn't know, he absorbed like a sponge. He wrote diligent notes and asked careful questions. While many would have found the task of studying tedious, Tony made it fun and interesting.

They braked for dinner, Peter devouring his food eagerly, shooting Stephen a sheepish smile when he gave the teenager a look. Stephen cleaned up while Tony and Peter continued to study. Only when it got late did Stephen call it a night and sent Peter off to bed.

"No patrolling," Stephen added as Peter climbed off the floor. "You can tomorrow night."

Peter didn't protest. "Thanks for helping my study."

"Good night, kiddo," Tony pulled Peter into a hug. "Have a good sleep."

"You too," Peter grinned, a little to widely. He pulled away from Tony, giving Stephen a quick hug too before hurrying to his bedroom.

"Are you staying tonight?" Tony asked, turning his full attention to Stephen.

Stephen shifted at the invitation. Excitement sped up his heart rate but there was a flicker of hesitation brewing inside Stephen. A kiss was one thing. Something they could both come back from. But spending the night, it meant something to Stephen. He did not want to do something that would have him lose both Tony and Peter in his life.

"Tony," Stephen hesitated.

Stepping closer, Tony took Stephen's hand in his. "I don't want to pressure you. You can say no. But kissing you, I don't want to ever stop that. And I know this could get complicated with Peter and our line of work but I'm tired of denying that I want you."

"I want you too," Stephen said, drifting closer. "You have no idea how much."

"I look forward to finding out," Tony winked before growing serious again. "Will you stay. Just to sleep, no hinky business."

Stephen nodded before he could tell himself this was a bad idea. "I'll stay."

Tony grin had Stephen knowing that he had made the right decision.

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