I'm so glad the vast majority of you are enjoying this series. I would like to point out to one delightful reviewer that if you dislike the Starker ship, I would not bother to read this series any longer. On that note, all MCU related things belong to the MCU and I make no money – no copyright infringement is intended.
The Long Haul
The move into the Avengers compound had gone quite smoothly, especially with the help of May, Ned and MJ. Tony had already resigned himself to the fact he'd lost Peter for the night with his two friends wanting to hang out, the three of them would likely pass out on the couch after eating themselves into a coma, so Tony just diligently placed items where Peter wanted them.
Peter kept all the things he didn't use regularly in his room, especially things that were just on display and only put his favourite display pieces in their shared room. Tony had cleared an entire dresser and half of the huge walk-in wardrobe for Peter's clothes. Not that he took up much room, really, it was practically heart-breaking how little belongings Peter had that Tony hadn't bought him from before they even started dating.
Much to his surprise, his friends didn't linger too long but gratefully accepted the ride he offered them home. They laid on the bed and Peter grabbed his StarkPad, opening the programme he'd put on there the day after he'd delivered baby Jared. He logged in, tapped a few commands, and watched Tony with unbridled glee when a voice spoke.
"Hello, Peter, what can I do for you today?"
Tony looked between the tablet and Peter. "Erm…Peter? Why is my tech talking and it's not FRIDAY?"
"This is what I've been working on for my robotics class, Tony. It's my AI, she's called Ozma."
It took Tony several minutes before he was able to fully compute what Peter had done. It had taken Tony a while to put JARVIS together, and Peter had created his very own in a matter of months. It was really quite astounding and he pressed a kiss to Peter's lips. "Why Ozma?"
Peter grinned. "It's this really old film called Return to Oz and I always loved it so much. I wanted my AI to be a girl, like Karen, and I didn't want to call her Dorothy, so Ozma it is."
"How'd you get her onto the StarkPad?"
"FRIDAY helped, she allowed the firewalls to be dropped long enough to get the programme on. I wanted to surprise you so she stopped the normal warning from reaching you. Sorry," Peter said.
Tony wasn't even mad, he was just surprised how easily he'd managed it. If this didn't earn him top of the class in robotics, Tony was sure nothing would. Creating an AI from scratch required so much code, and even if he didn't add learning capabilities, it would still be an immensely complicated piece of work. "Did you add enough code so she can learn?"
Peter nodded. "Of course, couldn't have Ozma being left behind when FRIDAY and Karen are ahead of the game."
In celebration, Tony took Peter apart slowly and lovingly, the two falling asleep wrapped around one another. Tomorrow, they were looking after Jared and Peter already had a tonne of things he wanted to do with his godson.
-oo0oo-
Unfortunately for Peter, he did not take into account the amount of work that baby was going to be. Jared was fussy that day, and though Steve had warned them the baby was colicky, Peter's ears hurt every time the infant gave a high pitched shriek of pain. Tony would take over and wind him, doing his best to calm the poor boy from his tummy pains while Peter just sat as far away as he could without leaving the room and cried with his godson.
When Tony eventually got the baby to settle and sleep in his pram, Peter saw Tony come towards him. "Hey, Petey, why the tears?" He asked, kneeling in front of his young lover.
Pete sniffled pitifully. "Because, I'm a terrible godfather!" He wailed, wincing when he saw Jared start fussing. "If he screams I can't handle it because of my increased hearing."
Tony rubbed his thighs through his jeans. "Okay, so we get you some ear plugs, that way the noise is there but not at a pitch you can't handle."
Scoffing, Peter threw himself back in the chair and slumped down. "Right, so I win godfather of the year but wearing earplugs around my godson, because that just screams responsible adult."
The genius rocked back on his heels and rose to stand fully, taking a step back from Peter. "It is responsible, Peter. If you can't be around him screaming like that then the options are that you don't have him in your care alone, or you wear earplugs. Steve and Nat will understand completely, especially Steve. I've seen him wince when Jared cries, as a super soldier he suffers increased hearing too, just not to your level."
He was being stubborn, and difficult, and Peter knew he was, but he just could not stop himself. He could see the train wreck as it approached, the set of Tony's shoulders as he tried to soothe the younger man, the way his jaw ticked because he was biting back harsher words.
"It's always so black and white with you, isn't it?" Peter groused. "Option A or option B, there's nothing in between. What if they don't understand and think I'm incapable of caring for Jared? They might decide to pick someone else to be his godfather, someone who doesn't shy away from a bit of crying."
He saw Tony shrug. "I don't see why they wouldn't, Pete, but if that was the case then we'd find another way around it. I could always create a hearing aid but does the opposite, it dampens down some of the noise so again, you aren't being over-stimulated with noise."
Gnashing his teeth in frustration, Peter threw his hands in the air. "Yeah, of course, just solve another problem by inventing something."
A frown marred Tony's face and his mouth tipped downwards. "You're being petulant and childish, Peter."
"Fuck off, Tony," Peter snarled.
The hurt that flashed across Tony's face made his gut twist with guilt. He wasn't angry with his lover, he was angry with himself for not being able to take care of his godson. But here he was, taking it out on poor Tony who had done nothing but be loving and supportive, who had taken Jared without so much as a negative word and soothed the infant through his tears.
"Very well, Mr. Parker, I should imagine I am needed elsewhere," Tony said coolly, his normally warm hazel eyes dark and angry.
Peter winced at the bite in the words and opened his mouth to apologise but Tony had already turned on his heel and left the room. Peter burst into tears and tugged his hair in misery when Jared woke up at Peter's crying and started screaming again. He picked up Jared and tried to soothe him, bouncing him, patting his bum, rubbing his back, cooing, kissing his head, everything he could possibly think of.
Finally, someone took pity on him and Bucky entered the common room, enveloped a sobbing Peter and screaming Jared in his arms and soothed them both, crooning a song in Russian. Within seconds, Jared had calmed and was babbling softly, patting Peter's cheeks and nuzzling into his chest. Peter's sobs turned to hiccoughs and the ringing in his ears subsided.
"What did you just sing?" He asked Bucky.
"It's an old Russian lullaby, Once Upon a December."
Huffing out a breath, Peter let his head rest on Bucky's shoulder. "It's nice, and Jared loves it."
The former Winter Soldier laughed and patted Jared's padded butt. "That's because Nat sings it to him every single night as she puts him to bed. What's got you so upset, doll?"
"I…I had a fight with Tony…I was frustrated about Jared's crying bothering me, and I took it out on him. I was being childish, and instead of just owning up to it, I told him to fuck off."
Blue eyes winced and he whistled softly in shock. "Yeah, I gathered it wasn't good when I went down to the lab to get something and the doors were sealed, music blaring out. Is it the enhanced hearing?"
Shuffling the baby to his other arm, Peter raised his head off Bucky's shoulder and nodded. "Yeah, it…Jared's crying is like someone is shoving needles through my eardrums, and I just can't…I can't…it's too much. And, Tony reckons I could just wear earplugs or he'd create a hearing aid that dampens sound down, but I was angry that he thought inventing something would solve the problem, but in reality, I was angry at myself for nothing thinking of wearing earplugs sooner. And-"
Metal fingers touched Peter's lips. "Sugar, seriously, take a breath. Good god, just breathe. Look, Tony will be hurt about you lashing out but he'll calm down and when you're ready to apologise he will listen."
Leaning up on his toes, Peter pressed his lips to Bucky's cheek. "Thank you, for calming him, I mean us, down. I'll have to get Nat to record herself singing that song so I can soothe him easier."
Bucky smiled down at Peter and opened his mouth to say something when he blue eyes suddenly widened and he looked afraid. Peter swung around and saw Tony stood in the doorway, his eyes burning in anger, the whine of a gauntlet sounding through the room when Peter realised he must have seen Peter kiss Bucky's cheek.
"Tony, I can explain-"
"Do not insult my intelligence, Parker!" Tony hissed, though the gauntlet powered back down. "Natasha and Steve are home, go take Jared back to them, you and I need to have a very fucking serious talk."
The mechanic stomped away and fresh tears filled Peter's eyes. He passed Jared to Bucky and asked the super soldier if he would take the baby back, he needed to go after Tony right away. Bucky agreed, and Peter tore after Tony at breakneck speed, catching up with him in the lab and asking FRIDAY to lock it down so no one could interrupt them.
"Tony, please, let me explain," he begged.
Tony was pacing, the muscles in his arms and chest bunching in a way that told Peter he was desperately holding back. "Oh, please do, Peter, please, enlighten me as to why I just found my upset lover snogging another man!" He yelled.
Peter winced, the ringing in his ears coming back. "I uh, I wasn't, snogging him I mean. I just…I uh…we…damn it!" He cried, jiggling a finger in his ear to try and get the ringing to stop. "Jared was screaming, I was crying, again, and Bucky got him to stop with a song Nat sings to him. I was overwhelmed, and a little thoughtless in kissing his cheek, but it was just a friendly peck, Tony. I swear, I was just grateful to him for getting Jared to stop crying."
"You could have thanked him with words, Peter, not your goddamn lips!" Tony roared.
Peter flinched back and stared at Tony with wide eyes, seeing the drooped shoulders, the way his lips were thin lines, but most of all, the fear in those hazel eyes that were usually so warm for him. "Tony, I promise you, nothing was going on. I'm sorry, I should never have lashed out at you, and sometimes I don't check my thoughts and just act on them. I didn't see it as any different to pecking Nat on the cheek, but I see that you view it differently. I would never do anything with another man, Tony. I love you, and you only."
"Barely an hour ago you told me to fuck off," Tony sniped.
Closing his eyes, Peter inhaled sharply. "Yes, I did, and it was so wrong of me. I was angry at myself, Tony, not you. I should never have taken it out on you." He walked over to Tony and gently grasped the engineer's calloused hands. "I love you, Tony. Only you."
Tony tried to pull away and Peter held on tighter. "Pete…" he whispered.
Peter kissed Tony, his tears melding into their kiss. "Tony," he murmured against his lips, Tony's beard tickling his face. "Only ever you."
Tony snagged his hands away only to yank Peter against his body tightly. He kissed Peter with a ferocity never before seen in their relationship, and Peter moaned into it. Tony broke the kiss and stumbled back a little. "I…Pete, I-"
Peter stepped close again. "Tony, I promise it'll never happen again. Bucky was being kind and I was thanking him, that is all, I swear."
The engineer nodded. "Okay, I believe you, Peter. I just…I was so afraid you had grown bored of being with an older man."
Peter bit back a laugh. "Right, so naturally I traded my forty something boyfriend in for a hundred year old soldier. Makes sense."
Tony's lips twisted in a self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, on hindsight it wasn't my brightest thought."
"Yep," he said, popping the P. "Do you think you can work up those special hearing aids?"
Motioning to the worktop, Tony had already created them and they just needed a test run. Peter popped them in and when Tony flipped the music on, Peter turned the dial and the noise level died down to a much more acceptable level. Peter grinned and kissed Tony again, this time more sweetly.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'll mind my words."
Tony chuckled. "Yeah, maybe I shouldn't be such a touchy grumpus."
-oo0oo-
Bucky had spoken to Tony and apologised for his involvement in their argument and promised that anything he thought was between him and Peter was imagined. He cared for the kid but he was not in love with him. Peter and Tony's relationship returned to some semblance or normality but it was always in the back of Tony's mind that Peter may one day grow tired of him.
Extremis had repaired the damage he'd done to his liver from alcohol and substance abuse, and judging on his bloodwork, it would allow him a longer life. It was also a joy to learn his refractory period had improved, a bonus that Peter took great advantage of, much to the chagrin of the other inhabitants of the compound.
Steve had taken Jared out for the day so Nat collared Peter and the two went out shopping. They strolled through downtown New York, breezing through more stores than either of them thought possible, grateful that their Stark credit cards meant that all their packages would be sent to the compound and they didn't have to carry everything.
Peter bought everything he liked for Jared, kitting the child out with enough clothes he wouldn't need anything for a very long time. He also bought himself some new jeans, the skinny kind that hugged his ass just the way Tony liked.
They stopped for coffee and sat outside, enjoying the sunshine and catching up. "You and Tony in a better place now?" Nat asked.
Peter flushed red. "Er, yeah, we managed to talk things out."
"The thing you need to understand about Tony is that he is extremely insecure, Pete. His only loving relationships were with his mother and Rhodey. His father was cruel to him, often belittling Tony's accomplishments, which we suspect is because he did them much sooner than Howard did. He's affection and touch starved, so when he saw his lover dishing out affection easily to another man it likely brought all those insecurities back to the forefront of his mind."
Nodding, Peter tore a chunk off his muffin and popped it in his mouth. "On hindsight, I can see how that worked and Bucky also reassured Tony that it was nothing more than a friendly peck. He's so afraid I'm going to trade him in for a younger model, but I've been in love with Tony for years, that's not going to ever happen."
The red-head smiled and sipped her coffee. "As time goes by he will settle and that fear will go."
When they finished up, Peter wanted to go to one more store but he faced a dilemma. If he went with Tony's credit card then he would see the charge on the statement. He also didn't want Tony paying for a gift Peter wanted to get for him. Instead, he chose not to go right now and talk it out with May, perhaps she would have a better idea.
The two stopped off at the apartment he used to share with his aunt, and she readily greeted the former spy and assassin, cooing over pictures of Jared. "Right, Pete, sorry, did you need something?" May asked when Peter sighed for the umpteenth time.
"Well, thing is, May, I wanted to go buy Tony something but the charge would show on the card statement and I don't want him paying for a gift I want to get him. I wondered if I could access my college fund for it?"
May raised a brow at him. "Pete, your college fund is for college. What could you want to buy that's going to cost so much?"
Peter fiddled with the hem of his jumper. "Well, a ring."
His aunt stared at him a moment. "A ring…right. Pete, honey, you've only just moved in together, this is quite a big step, and it shouldn't be taken lightly."
He huffed a sigh. "May, I'm not taking this lightly."
Nat laid a hand on his knee. "Pete, are you doing this because of what happened?"
He pulled away from her and stood up. "No! I want to do this because I love Tony!"
May rose to her feet and rested her hands on his shoulders. "Sweetheart, it sounds like something happened and you're using this as a way to reassure Tony you aren't going anywhere, and that isn't a good reason. You should want to do this because you want to spend the rest of your life with him."
"I do!" Peter yelled, crying.
"Baby, if you come to me later and tell me again you want to do this I will fully support you. But right now, I think you're acting rashly, and I think Tony will see it that way too. He's smart, Peter, if anything you could do more damage because he'll think you're doing this to put a band-aid on whatever it is that's wrong," May said, kissing his cheek.
Peter hung his head and cried harder, knowing his aunt was right and not knowing how else to show Tony he was in this for the long haul. To reassure Tony that no matter what happened, he was never going to trade Tony in for someone else. Not ever.
Nat and Peter left a short while later, the yammering teen unusually quiet as they travelled back to the compound. Peter put his purchases away, laying out a shirt in the same shade of red as his suit for Tony. He wandered the compound until he came across Tony in the kitchen, a pot of coffee brewing.
Tony greeted him and Peter just buried his face in Tony's chest and cried, heaving sobs wracking his slight frame making Tony panic and check him over for any injuries, FRIDAY scanning him. When no injuries were found, Tony slid down to the tiled floor and pulled Peter between his legs, holding him close until his young lover calmed down enough that he could string a sentence together.
"Pete, baby, what happened?" Tony asked softly.
"I'm so sorry, Tony!" He cried, burying his face in Tony's neck.
"For what?"
"For hurting you. I don't know how to fix it."
Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "There's nothing to fix, love."
Peter huffed into his neck and sniffled. "Things aren't the same since I kissed Bucky. I don't know how to make it right again."
The engineer sighed and gently raised Pete's head from his shoulder. "Peter, I'm sorry you thought things were off because of what happened. I've…well, I've been distracted but I promise you, it isn't because of that."
"It isn't?"
"No, sweetheart, it isn't. Come on, I'll show you."
Tony led them down to the lab and had FRIDAY open a file. Inside was lines of code that took Peter a moment to understand. "That's Ozma's code, but it's all weird."
"Yeah, that's my fault. I found one of JARVIS' backup drives and I was trying to get him back online with the help of Ozma's code as a foundation, but I can't get it to work for some reason. It's been driving me nuts and I've been distracted because of it," Tony said, hands on the table and head dropped below his shoulders.
Peter rubbed his back and slipped his arms around his waist in a hug. "Let me take a look, sometimes a fresh pair of eyes is all it takes."
They separated and Peter read through the lines of code, isolating the parts he thought were incorrect or written in the wrong place. He fiddled with it, moving parts of the code around until he spotted the problem. He isolated the line that was causing the block, moved it further up the lines and asked FRIDAY to take all of Ozma's code and apply it to JARVIS'.
Tony tried to stop him, knowing Ozma would be lost but Peter waved him off. "I can still use this, it'll still count towards my work, don't worry. Getting JARVIS back is more important. Besides, I already submitted the work and it was accepted so I don't need to worry about it."
Peter had FRIDAY re-run the programme and waited with bated breath. It took a bit, and he held Tony close. At long last, a familiar British voice filled the room and Peter had to hold Tony up when he knees went out from under him.
"J?" Tony croaked.
"Of course, sir, who were you expecting, Paul Bettany?"
He sobbed then, crying into Peter and smothering him in kisses. Peter had made sure to include all of Ozma's code because he'd already coded in everything that had happened since JARVIS had died and it made sure there would be no lapses in JARVIS' memory.
"J, put the lab in privacy mode, and spend some time getting to know your sister," Tony said, sweeping his arm across a nearby table and scattering everything to floor.
Peter was pushed against the table and sat on it, Tony between his knees, kissing him heatedly. His shirt was yanked off, his jeans unfastened and wrestled off his hips along with his boxers. A warm hand encircled him and Peter hissed in surprise, his back arching as Tony stroked him, still kissing Peter.
Pete broke them apart long enough for Tony to divest and dragged his engineer back between his legs, begging for more. Tony fumbled around until he found what he was looking for, a squelch and then Peter was pulled off the table and flipped over it. He thrust his ass back and a lubricated finger slipped inside him, making him groan.
Peter pushed his hips back, moaning lewdly when a second one entered him. Tony scissored his fingers, Peter hissing at the slight burn but loving it all the same. He loved when Tony lost control like this, and with Extremis he was stronger, more able to man-handle Peter just the way he loved. Impatient, Peter hissed at him to get on with it.
Tony laughed and nipped his ass cheek. "Brat."
Peter looked over his shoulder. "Only for you."
Tony lined up and pushed inside Peter roughly, growling as he was sheathed fully. Peter rolled his hips, trying to get Tony to move and he obliged, thrusting brutally into him, the table screeching as it jolted on the floor. Peter cried out and held on for dear life, pushing back against Tony, trying to get a hand under himself but Tony held his arms down.
"No," he growled. "You'll come on my cock or not at all."
Peter whined, trying to break free when Tony heated his skin up in a gentle warning. Not enough to hurt Peter but enough so he would feel the heat. He acquiesced and let his body go lax, enjoying Tony taking control so easily and fucking Peter right into an orgasm, completely untouched. But his lover kept going, Peter crying out as his body was over-sensitised.
"Tony!" He gasped. "Too much!"
Tony laid himself over Peter's back and kissed his neck. "One more, baby. If it's really too much just say the word and I'll stop."
His brain faltered, unable to form a coherent thought beyond the pleasure that was being wrung from his body. Tony had never pushed him like this before and it was absolute bliss for him. "Keep going," he managed to get out.
Tony growled his approval in Peter's ear and worked harder, wringing a second orgasm from Peter's body, his hand jerking his lover off in time with his thrusts and achieving his own orgasm inside Peter's warm, pliant body.
Peter whimpered when Tony pulled free, weakly turning so he could embrace his beloved engineer. "Are you alright?" Tony asked.
Peter grinned stupidly at him. "More than alright."
"I was worried I was too rough."
"No, just right."
Tony cleaned them up and they re-dressed long enough to ensconce themselves in their rooms. Tony loved the shirt Peter had purchased for him and promised to wear on their next date night. Peter laughed they hadn't done date night ever and Tony just shrugged and said it was something they should work on. After all, they were both in it for the long haul.