Comfortember Day Seventeen: Insomnia

Tony wandered all around the Tower, not stopping at any particular room or really going anywhere of any importance. He avoided the lab as much as he wanted to go down there and tinker. It's where he usually went when he couldn't sleep, but he promised Pepper he'd try to stay away the next time his body refused to work with him.

Eventually, Tony went to the living room and plopped down on the couch. He whipped out his phone and pulled up Google.

SEARCH: Productive things to do at 3 am

RESULTS: Sleep

Lie in bed

Drink water

Tony rolled his eyes. What kind of search results were those? So much for Google being handy. Then again, it hardly ever was. Still, there had been no harm in trying. Tony sighed and tossed his phone on the other side of the couch. Why couldn't he just be a normal person and sleep a normal eight hours?

"Boss?"

Tony grunted in response.

"Peter is sitting on a skyscraper in Queens."

Tony shot up and his eyes snapped open. It was 3:00AM, what in the world was the kid doing up that late? He had a midnight curfew when it came to patrols, especially on school nights. There were times where Tony allowed him to stay out until 1:00AM but that was a rare occurrence and only happened when the kid used his Bambi Eyes.

"Is he hurt?" Tony asked.

"He appears unharmed. Shall I get a suit ready for you and set the location?"

"Please."

Once he was in his suit and the location was blaring in his HUD, Tony wasted no time in blasting off to see just what the hell Peter was doing up at 3:00AM. He was mentally preparing a scolding for him. May was no doubt asleep so she couldn't scold the kid, and so, it was Tony's responsibility.

It only took him a few minutes to find where his Spiderling was sitting. His mask was off and he was kicking his feet back and forth, staring out at the city lights. Tony landed behind him with a heavy clank. Peter still didn't look at him. He probably sensed Tony coming from a mile away.

Tony exited his suit and strode next to Peter. He sat silently. He could feel heat radiating from Peter's suit, thankfully, considering it was one of the chillier nights this week.

"Whatcha doing out here?" Tony asked, completely forgetting his scolding speech.

Peter shrugged. "Sitting."

"Oh, ha-ha. Very clever," Tony said sarcastically. "I mean, why are you out here at three in the morning?"

"Couldn't sleep," Peter sighed. "I guess that's why you're out here."

"Yup," Tony said, popping the p. "Is there any reason why you can't sleep, Underoos? Nightmares?"

Peter shook his head. "No, no nightmares. I just can't sleep."

"How long has this been going on for?"

"It's only recently. I don't know why. It's hard to explain."

"Trust me when I say, I know that feeling all too well," Tony said with a sigh. "There are ways to handle it though. And I don't think Spider-Manning is a good idea for it."

Peter huffed and glared half-heartedly at Tony. "I wasn't really Spider-Manning. Just swinging around Queens. Nothing's really happened tonight."

"I still don't think you should go out this late at night, kid. You have a curfew for a reason."

"I know. I just...I needed something to do."

Tony nodded. He understood what he was saying, or trying to say. Insomnia was the worst. Sure, they'd fall asleep eventually but eventually wasn't good enough. Especially for Peter. He had school and other things to worry about and lack of sleep was going to mess him up.

"Did you Google ideas? I did."

Peter tossed Tony an incredulous look. Tony couldn't help but laugh. Peter's face was hilarious. It was a mix of 'what the hell?' and 'Tony Stark Googles shit?'. Tony winked at him and Peter rolled his eyes in response. The kid was finally smiling though so Tony counted that as a win.

"I did," Peter mumbled. "Nothing good popped up."

"Comes to show you should never trust Google." Tony sat back on the palms of his hands and looked back to the sky.

Peter played with his mask. "I wouldn't say never. Sometimes Google has great answers."

"Kid."

"Okay, maybe not great. But it's come up with some good ones once in a while."

"That's somewhat better."

Peter lay down on his back and placed his mask under his head as a makeshift pillow. He placed his hands on his stomach and sighed. Tony followed suit but kept his eyes on the clear sky.

They lay there in comfortable silence. It was the most at ease Tony felt since he got up from bed. Yes, he was still a little upset that Peter was outside this late but it was good to see him in one piece.

"Next time you can't sleep, just swing by the Tower. FRIDAY will let you in," Tony suggested.

"I don't wanna wake you up. Or Miss Potts," Peter responded.

"Well, there's a low chance I'll be sleeping," Tony retorted. "As for Pepper, coming into the Tower wouldn't wake her up. It's not like there's blaring alarms. That's only if dumbasses try to break in or there's an attack."

Peter's face scrunched up. "But what am I supposed to do?"

"Whatever you want, kiddo." Tony shrugged. "The Tower is also your home. You have access to everything. You wanna go in the lab? Go in the lab for a bit. Wanna make something to eat or drink? Go to the kitchen. Want to try sleeping? Go to your room or if that doesn't work, try the couch. I really encourage your room though."

Peter smiled. "That's really nice, Mister Stark."

"It's what I'm here for, kid. To...try and be the best mentor I can."

And something more. He didn't want to overstep, so he kept that bit to himself. He was sure Peter knew though.

"Can we stay up here for a little longer, Mister Stark?" Peter asked. "I kinda like it up here."

"If that's what you want," Tony said. He tossed him a quick serious look. "But not too long. If you're going to sleep you need to do that inside, where it's safer and warmer and more comfortable."

"I am warm, Mister Stark. This built in heater is honestly the best," Peter hummed in content.

Tony laughed. "Well, I am a genius. Of course it's going to be the best."

Peter nudged him playfully. "Don't get too cocky now."

"Can't help it. It's in my nature."

Peter laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Please tell me you left a note to your aunt though. Just in case she wakes up and sees you're not there."

"Uh…"

"Peter Benjamin Parker."

"What? I doubt she's going to wake up before I get back!"

"Ever heard of parental instinct? That alone might wake her up."

Peter crossed his arms stubbornly. "No. You'll see."

"Sure, sure. Don't whine to me when she scolds you though."

"Weren't you supposed to do that?"

"Shush."

"Am I making Tony Stark soft?" Peter teased with a smirk.

"No," Tony denied quicker than he thought possible. "Not at all."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Tony nudged him with his foot. Peter lightly smacked his shoulder. When he went to lift his hand, he found that it wouldn't remove itself from Tony's shoulder. Tony stared awkwardly. Peter kept trying to tug his hand away.

"Oh no," Peter mumbled, almost mortified.

"Way to go, Pete," Tony teased.

Peter sat up abruptly and ended up taking Tony with him, giving him a new found headache. He held his forehead and sent a glare in Peter's direction. Peter still didn't stop trying to pull.

"What happens now?" Peter asked, nervously.

"How am I supposed to know? These are your powers," Tony replied, dryly.

"I didn't think I'd stick! It does happen now and then…"

Tony sighed. "Well, at least we have something to do until you get tired and fall asleep."

Peter brightened up, obviously missing Tony's sarcasm. "You're right! Let's do it!"

"Oh, boy…"

XXX

It took Peter far too long to remove his hand but he managed it. By then the sun was starting to come up and Peter decided to call it a night. Tony flew the kid back to his apartment and as quietly as possible opened the window for him. Peter yawned loudly and stretched his arms as far as he could.

"That was fun," he whispered.

Tony scoffed. That wasn't the word he'd use to describe the experience. After all, he had a sneaky feeling that Peter kept his hand on on purpose but didn't want to let go until he was absolutely tired. Oh well. If it got the kid to sleep, that was fine by Tony. Tony himself still wasn't too tired but he was getting there.

"Alright, you sleep now," Tony demanded, patting Peter's shoulder.

"Yup," was Peter's response. He pressed the spider emblem on his suit and it got baggy and fell to the floor. "Goodnight, Mister Stark. Or maybe I should say good morning."

Tony shrugged. "Either or. I'll see you later, Underoos."

Peter waved lazily. "You try to get some sleep soon."

Tony chuckled. "I'll do my best."

With that, Tony took off.

Author's Note: Tony searching up Google results for things to do at 3:00AM was actually inspired by a post I saw on Tumblr. Except that post was Peter on Twitter asking if someone had ideas on what to do late at night.

That's all for now. I'll see ya'll in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading!

~Kurosaki