Comfortember Day Nineteen: Walk in the Day

Tony knew he needed to get out more often. He couldn't spend all his time in his lab and when he was outside he couldn't spend all his time in his suit. It wasn't that he didn't like going outside per say. It's just that he didn't really have a reason to in his free time.

And that was what the kid was for.

Peter would come bouncing in his office and work for a while and then say he wanted to go for a walk.

"It's a sunny day, Mister Stark! Let's go walk for a bit." Is what Peter had said.

Tony said, "but it's chilly outside."

And he was right. Even if it was sunny, it was later in the year and so sunny days always had a bit of a chill to them. Tony was not a fan of the cold. There was also the fact that the kid had thermoregulation issues.

Peter replied, "It's a little chilly but I'm ready. Did you even see how I came in?"

Tony had not because he was working on some armor when the kid waltzed in. Turns out Peter was ready for the cold. He wore a cozy sweater and a warm jacket. He had gloves and he even had a scarf he wrapped out his neck.

Tony wouldn't admit it out loud, but the kid looked adorable all bundled up like that.

It took some more prodding from Peter but eventually Tony relented. He made sure to grab a warm jacket and gloves and then he and the kid went out for a walk. Tony did not like the smack of cold air that hit him when he stepped out of his building but kept it to himself for Peter's sake.

It didn't take him too long to get used to the chill but he did not like that he could see his breath whenever he exhaled. It meant snow was coming soon and he did not want to deal with snow. Especially with the Spider-kid. He wasn't ready for that yet.

Peter rambled about something or another so fast it was hard for Tony to keep up. Back when he was a kid he rambled just like that but he learned to slow down so he could at least be understood.

Tony just nodded along to whatever Peter was saying. Even if he didn't really know what was going on, he was content with just hearing the kid talk. He'd be worried if he didn't talk. That was one of Peter's signature traits. Being a chatterbox. And Tony would not have it any other way.

"Oh my god!"

Peter's shout snapped Tony back to reality and he got ready to activate his watch's gauntlet.

"What?" Tony said, looking around for any signs of danger. Everything looked fine.

Peter was staring at a candy store window with wide bright eyes. There were practically stars in his eyes. Tony lowered his hand and looked at the window to see what was so special. Then he saw it. He smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets.

There was a picture with a Spider-Man themed lollipop on it along with other lollipops based on other superheroes.

"Mister Stark, I can't believe it!" Peter stepped back from the glass and stared at Tony. "It's about time they made a Spider-Man candy! How amazing is this?!"

Tony laughed. "It's pretty amazing, kid."

"Maybe they'll get with the times and even get me, uh I mean, Spider-Man, an ice cream flavour. Like they did with you."

"One day, Pete, one day."

"Can we go in and get a Spidey candy?" Peter asked, giving Tony his lethal weapon, Bambi Eyes.

"Of course we can." Tony shrugged.

"Yes!"

Peter wasted no time in rushing into the candy store while Tony casually walked in behind him. He held back a sigh of content when he was hit with a nice wave of warmth. Thank god Peter saw the sign, now Tony had a chance to warm up a bit. As did the kid. Tony didn't miss his light trembling.

Peter looked around in awe as if he hadn't been in the store before. Maybe he hadn't. It was a rather cozy place. Not too big but not too small, just the right size. The walls had shelves full of glass jars full of different candy. There was a round bin in the centre of the store with wrapped candies inside.

While Peter went to the counter to grab Spider-Man's lollipop, Tony pulled out his wallet and got some bills ready.

"-And an Iron Man lollipop too."

"You got it," the lady at the counter said. She reached under the glass counter and pulled out an Iron Man lollipop and handed it to Peter.

Tony frowned and looked up. Peter looked over his shoulder and winked at him. Tony rolled his eyes fondly. He walked up and placed a couple bills on the counter. Peter took the two lollipops and handed Tony his and then they headed back out to the chill.

Peter unwrapped his lollipop and smiled. "It looks exactly like my mask! They did a pretty good job."

"Only the best for everyone's favourite vigilante," Tony said with a smile. "What's it taste like?"

Peter licked his lollipop a few times and hummed. Tony started on his own, savouring the strawberry flavour. Peter looked up and grinned.

"Tastes like blueberries and raspberries. Real good."

"Good. Gotta keep the Spiderling satisfied." Tony nodded in approval.

Peter raised a brow. "What would you do if I didn't like it? Sue the guys who made it?"

"Obviously."

Peter gave him a look. Tony laughed.

"I'm just kidding, Pete."

"Good, because that'd make me feel bad for the poor people who at least tried."

"You're too pure, Webs."

Peter shrugged and continued to suck on his lollipop. "Shall we continue our walk?"

Tony popped his candy in his mouth. "Why not?"

Tony still would've preferred being inside but if his kid was happy then that's all that mattered. So he continued to put up with the cold and listened to Peter ramble about something that happened in his science class.

Sometime during their walk, Tony wrapped his arm around Peter's shoulders and held him close. The kid stopped shivering when he was brought to his side.

Author's Note: A shorter one today which is fine by me.

Tbh I was starting to suffer from burn out when I got to this one because I was writing nonstop since Comfortember started, and it'd been a while since I've written this much so it was getting to me a bit. But I'm doing fine now, I think.

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

Thanks for reading!

~Kurosaki