irondadmadlads on Tumblr Irondad prompts #60
Don't Stop
Tony and Pepper had been at SI-Malibu for nearly a week, ironing out some details of a partnership with some local tech companies. Usually the lack of lab time would give Peter extra time to hang out with his friends, or get in some extra patrols, or catch up on homework. But Ned was also out of town this weekend, and he'd already been out 3-4 hours that Saturday morning, without much going on. Peter really wanted to keep working on an upgrade he was trying to put together for his suit. It just took a lot of repetitive coding, and coding still wasn't his strong point. Plus it was sometimes hard to focus with Mr. Stark being his chaotic self, and lately he'd been chaotic more than focused lately. Which was lots of fun, but didn't help Peter make much progress on his project.
He'd asked Tony if it would be okay if he came in while they were gone to work on his project, and his mentor had finally decided it was fine, as long as he promised to only work on that project, and didn't work with any of the chemicals, machinery, or anything else dangerous. And of course, FRIDAY would be babysitting him. So around lunchtime he'd gone to the Tower, and scanned his card in the lobby, half expecting to be turned away. He almost never used his access card, since he usually came in through the garage with either Happy or Tony. But it lit up green, with the weekend security just giving him half-curious glances, and he made his way to the executive elevator. He saw one look at him more sharply, and half stand up like they meant to stop him, but when FRIDAY greeted him quietly and opened the doors for him, they aborted any attempt at interference.
"Hey, FRI. How's it going?" he let a big breath out in relief that he didn't realize he was holding.
"How's what going, Peter?"
"I don't know. Just… things?"
"Things are fine. It has been very quiet lately with Boss out of town."
"Yeah, I'll bet," Peter said with a smile, knowing exactly how easily his mentor could liven up any space he was in.
The work was monotonous more than difficult, and Peter found his mind wandering as he worked in the lab by himself. Tony usually had his music playing pretty loudly, though he dropped the volume when Peter was there. Both as a nod to his heightened senses, and so they could communicate better. Peter thought about turning some music on, but couldn't decide what to listen to.
Still, he found himself thinking about a Glee episode he'd been watching the night before, and started humming to himself, then without paying attention, started singing along with the music in his head.
"Woo hoo, Nobody knows it. When I was down, I was duh duh… " Peter didn't quite know all the words, but he was getting more enthusiastic as he went, singing both parts of the duet while he typed, pausing sometimes if he needed to concentrate for a moment.
"Woo hoo, Nobody knows it (Nobody kno-o-ows... it). Right from the start, I gave you my heart, Oh-oh I give you my heart."
He got really into it as he hit the next stanza, "So don't go breaking my heart, " but then paused as something he was looking at didn't make sense in the code.
Suddenly, just a few yards behind him, a pleasant tenor startled him, singing the next line, right on key, "I won't go breaking your heart! "
Peter yelped and instinctively jumped sideways off his stool, spinning around and landing in a defensive crouch at the unexpected threat.
"Sheesh, Underoos, I thought you'd hear me coming a mile away. Or that your Peter-tingle would warn you I was here," Tony teased, eyes warm and full of amusement.
Peter stood up wearily, adrenaline still coursing through his system. "Please don't call it that, Mr. Stark. And it only works on things that might be threats, which apparently you're not. Plus, I was being kinda loud, I guess…" His face flamed in embarrassment when he remembered exactly why he hadn't heard his mentor enter the room, and he scrubbed at the back of his neck, sitting down heavily on the stool.
"Besides, I thought you were in California! When did you get back? And why didn't FRIDAY tell me?"
Tony stepped in and slung a companionable arm around his shoulders and gave him an apologetic squeeze for the scare. "I have no idea why she didn't mention it to you. We've been home for about an hour, and she notified me when you entered the building. I just finished getting cleaned up and came down to see what you were up to. But apparently I forgot my concert ticket," he teased, releasing the boy and tousling his hair as he chuckled.
Peter groaned and turned to bury his face in his arms on the desk. He was never going to live this down.
"You know, FRIDAY has more music than just my lab playlists. You don't have to provide your own music just because I'm gone," the man continued, waking up his holo-table and pulling up a project.
"I know," Peter sighed. "I wasn't really paying attention, and at first the silence was kind of nice."
"Play that song, FRI," Tony said absentmindedly.
"Which version, Boss?"
He looked up, affronted. "What do you mean, which version? THE version. The original from '76."
FRIDAY started the track, and Tony started humming along with the opening lines. When a young Elton John started the duet, Peter rolled his eyes. "Mr. Stark, this is not the version I was singing."
"Nonsense, Pete. Sing along." His mentor was already doing just that, giving it plenty of oomph. Peter smiled and shook his head, then tentatively joined in.
Twenty minutes later when Pepper Potts poked her head in the lab, curious about the abnormal music choices, she was met with the sight of her fiancé and his young protégé working back to back, belting out "Streetlights, people, Livin' just to find emotion, Hidin', somewhere in the ni-i-ight!" she just backed out quietly.
"FRIDAY, you're getting all this, right?" she said, eyes shining.
"Absolutely," the satisfied AI replied.
