I took inspiration for the first half of this story from Tumblr, idk-bruh-20's irondad fic ideas #30, derpmallow's suggestion.

Notes:

Guys, I'm having all the feels today, because we went to see the re-release of NWH at the theater today. And we've been slowing catching my 8-year-old up on all the Marvel movies (minus a few scenes sometimes, and a couple of the less important movies) but he still hadn't seen Infinity War, Endgame, or Far From Home. So we watched all of those together this week, then NWH.
So this story (and the last one) might have turned out slightly softer than I meant for it to (this early in their relationship). I just want everyone to be together, and happy, and supported. (And not dead) Is that too much to ask? :-p

Tony had been noticing something about the kid the last couple weeks. He used to come into the lab with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. Lately, when he came in, he'd been letting his bag slide to the couch, head over to get a snack, kind of sighing as he went, slowing down a little, if anything. Tony wondered if the kid was getting tired of the internship. You know, kind of annoyed that he had to keep coming instead of doing stuff with his friends or patrolling as Spiderman. Especially on Friday afternoons. But Aunt May had been very clear that it was a condition of him continuing to be Spiderman that he spend this time with Tony each week, getting real experience that would look good on a resume, working on his suit, keeping communication open with his mentor.

He understood, but he'd be lying if he said it didn't disappoint him. He thought they'd had a pretty good thing going, and he wondered if maybe he was enjoying it more than Peter. was. He just wasn't really sure what to think of it.

That day, Peter came in, and sure enough: he plopped his backpack down, rolled his shoulders, kind of sighed, and walked over to get a snack. But this time, he turned back, like he'd forgotten something - oh, his phone - and this time Tony got a good look at his face. He had a relaxed smile on, and looked more relieved than annoyed. Huh.

When he finished eating (while scrolling through his phone) and came over to where Tony was, Tony worked up his courage (since when did he need courage when talking to anyone?) and said, "Hey, kid. I noticed you're a little lower energy when you get here lately. Anything going on?"

Peter looked confused for a minute, then laughed lightly. And then let it all out. "Oh, yeah, sorry. School's just been kind of rough lately. Finals are coming up in a few weeks; tempers are running a little high. Some kids are being a little extra obnoxious." He just sat for a minute, eyes unfocused, holding onto his water bottle. "Uh, one of my friends, MJ, her parents are getting divorced. So she's been pretty stressed, and kinda grouchy and sad, and I've been trying to help her some. And even May, that guy she's been dating that she kinda liked a lot? They just broke up earlier this week. So she's been pretty down. And there's just, uh… a lot going on." Tony's eyebrows were in his hairline. He had no idea what to do with this. Where was Pepper when he needed her?

Thankfully, the kid wasn't looking for anything from him yet, and continued. "But when I come here, Mr. Stark, it's like none of that matters for a few hours. I can just be… me. I don't have to be what anyone else needs me to be, or try to fix anything for anyone, or even pretend to be less smart than I am, which helps in some classes." He added that last part as an aside, casually, but it had Tony narrowing his eyes a bit. More about that later. "And I just love all the stuff we do here, and working with you, so I'm just… I don't know. Happy? When I get here, that is." Peter stopped, and finally glanced up at him, vulnerability in his eyes. His gaze darted away after just a few seconds. "Sorry, that was kinda a lot. I didn't mean to unload on you like that. And sorry if it seems like I've been lower energy lately. I can work on that. I think I just relax when I get here."

Peter bit his lip for a second, and then started to stand up and move around nervously, but Tony reached out and grabbed his hand. "Hey. Don't." He waited for Peter to look at him, then smiled at him. "Kid, I'm glad you feel like you can be yourself here, and glad it feels like a break for you. I'm always happy to have you, and you don't ever need to be anything specific for me. You can just be whatever you are each day, okay?"

Peter sighed in relief and grinned at him, the tension in his shoulders fading away again.

"Thanks, Mr. Stark. That means a lot. I used to be a little nervous when I came, but now… Now, I just feel good. So… yeah. What are we - what are we working on today?" He grinned, and the enthusiasm was back. And Tony's wheels were already spinning to figure out if there was anything else he could do to make the kid's non-Tower time a little less stressful, but he'd work on that later.

"Hey, kid?"

"Yeah?" Peter was elbow-deep in one of Tony's Audi R8's mid-mounted engines. Tony had insisted he needed more hands-on basic engineering work as well as all the theoretical and programming-based work they'd been doing. Peter was resistant, but he'd been getting better at it already after this week's crash course.

"Aunt May said you're good to stay late tonight, if you're up for it."

"Oh, okay. Nice!"

"The only thing is, Pepper's here, and going to be home around 6-"

"Oh. Okay. That's no big deal, Mr. Stark, I can take off before then."

"No, I'm saying, do you mind having dinner with both of us?"

Peter stopped, his head snapping up and eyes widening. "Meet… have dinner… with Pepper Potts?"

Tony snorted. "Uh, yeah? You know, my fiancée? The one who lives here? I'm really not sure how we haven't done this before, actually. You've been around for several months now. She has been pretty busy lately though…"

"Um, yeah, I guess- I mean, sure. Yes, Mr. Stark."

"You need to think about it a little more?" Tony teased.

"No, sir. I mean, no."

"Peter? You're acting a little star struck there, kiddo. You work with an actual superhero; you are a baby superhero," Peter glared at him, opening his mouth to protest. "Uh-uh-uh," he stopped him. "And you're flustered at meeting my fiancée?"

"Um, and the CEO of Stark Enterprises. Mr. Stark, you know all the amazing things she's done! She's like an icon! MJ thinks she's pretty much the coolest person to ever walk the planet.'

"MJ again, huh?" Tony asked, eyes glinting.

Peter rolled his eyes then looked flatly at him. "Mr. Stark. She's just my friend."

"Uh-huh," he said, smiling.

About 5:30 Tony and Peter headed up to the penthouse. Peter didn't waste any time in losing his shoes and curling up in a corner of the couch with his phone, catching up on his social media from the afternoon.

"Pete? I already ordered dinner. Um, you remember that Pepper knows who you are, right? Like both of you?"

"Oh. Yeah, I'd kinda forgotten, but I remember you mentioning it now."

"Yeah. I just wanted you to remember so you don't have to worry about eating a lot at dinner. She's been around Cap and Thor plenty; she won't blink."

"Oh, okay." Peter's eyes were unfocused like he was thinking about that.

"I'm going to change, and I'll be back down in a few."

Peter jumped up off the couch. "Oh, should I have changed, or?" He looked flustered.

"No, kid. You're fine. I just got a big grease stain here on my shirt, and I don't want to get it on Pep. You're not getting grease on my couch, are you?"

"Nope. I usually stay cleaner than you," he said with a grin.

"Little punk," Tony huffed, as he headed for his room.

He was about to re-enter the living room when he heard the elevator open. Oh, Pepper was home a little early. Great. Then he heard her noise of surprise. He imagined what she had probably walked in on, and smiled. Peter was getting quite comfortable on his couch these days, and was probably already wrapped up in a blanket or something (he got cold easily), maybe even upside down. You never knew with the Spider-kid. He had mentioned to Pepper that his protégé might be joining them tonight, but he didn't think she realized the kid had been spending quite a few evenings here already.

"Hey, Pep!" He moved quickly into the room and greeted her, giving her a kiss. "Peter, I don't think you and Pepper have officially met. But here she is, and here you are. Meet."

"Tony," Pepper rolled her eyes at his flippancy. Peter had jumped off of the couch, managing to get remarkably tangled in his blanket for someone who could move so gracefully when needed.

"Hi, um, Miss Potts. It's such an honor to meet you, ma'am."

"You too, Peter. And, please, Pepper is fine." She smiled, obviously charmed at the kid's manners and enthusiasm.

The boy had a strangled look on his face. "Good luck, Pep. I've told him he can call me Tony, but I haven't heard it yet." He clapped an affectionate hand on the kid's shoulder.

FRIDAY spoke up. "Dinner is on its way up, Boss." Peter looked relieved to have an interruption.

"Saved by the bell, huh Parker?" Tony teased, hand still on his shoulder as they moved into the kitchen to collect plates and utensils. Peter shot a disapproving look at him. Oh yeah, this was going to be a fun evening.

Pepper had much better people skills than Tony, and by the end of dinner, Peter was looking relaxed again. They were laughing and talking about some of Tony's early fails with his suit design, and then a funny story about when Peter and Ned got their arms stuck together for 20 minutes in Chemistry once.

Tony stood up, saying, "I feel like some ice cream. Pete, you want ice cream?"

"Why are you even asking?" Peter smiled at him.

"Pep, you still wanting to see that new James Bond movie? You seen it, kid?

Pepper nodded with interest, and Peter shook his head.

"So, dessert and a movie?"

Peter glanced at his watch. "I dunno, Mr. Stark, I might be cutting my curfew close."

"I already checked with May. If you want to, you can sleep in the guest room and swing home in the morning."

"Oh." His eyes were huge. "That would be really awesome, sir, but I don't have anything with me to…"

"There are spare pajamas in there too, and toothbrushes. Only if you want. It's also fine if you want to head home so you can hang out with your friends or something instead." Tony didn't want to put pressure on the kid.

"No, that sounds… nice. And I have wanted to see that movie." He seemed tentative, but happy.

Grab some cartons, then kid, and meet us back at the couch. I'll get the dishes. He had noticed Pepper had watching their whole conversation with amusement.

The movie had actually been pretty good, and the kid had stayed awake for most of it. But towards the end he had finally nodded off, and had slid sideways just a little so his shoulder was leaning against Tony. His hoodie-encased head turned towards him as well, though his chin rested on his own shoulder.

Pepper moved carefully away from Tony's other side and perched on the edge of the couch so she could get a better look at the sleeping teenager. "You've been holding out on me, Tony," she said with a smile.

He gave her a questioning look. He wasn't sure if he had seen that exact look on her face before.

"You said your internship was going well. You said you actually liked the kid, and that he'd been hanging out afterwards sometimes. You did not say that you guys were already movie-snuggle-buddies." She wasn't outwardly laughing at him, but she was definitely amused. And… impressed? Her gaze softened.

I know you've been missing this Tony. Missed having people around you who you trust and are comfortable with. Missed your movie nights with Bruce and Natasha, and even all the back and forth with the rest of the team." She put her hand on his leg, and smiled at him. "I'm glad. Glad things are going well for you and Peter, and that you have each other. Be careful with him though, okay? I can tell he thinks the world of you already, and it's a different dynamic than it would be with one of the other Avengers, or even Rhodey. He looks up to you."

"I know, Pep. I'm trying. He's a good kid. I still worry about screwing him up." He reached over and took her hand, playing with her fingers as he thought about what he was trying to say. Then he spoke again.

"You know what he told me today? He said he's happy here, and feels relaxed. That he can be himself here like he can't other places." He smiled, but it was more of a grimace.

I'm glad that he feels that way, I really am. I just worry I'm going to let him down. You know better than anyone I'm not really mentor material, Pep.

"It doesn't look like he cares about that, Tony. He's obviously picked you. You'll just have to do your best," she smiled. I have faith in you, and I think he does too.

Tony sighed, smiled softly, and nudged Peter. "Up and at 'em, bud. Time to move to an actual bed, kiddo."