Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 786

Unexpected Meeting

Tony rubbed his temple, cursing himself for drinking as much as he had the night before. He was such an idiot, but he'd forgotten that the first teacher-parent conferences of the year were today.

Though… that wasn't to say that he would have stayed sober even if he had remembered.

He really should have just asked Pepper or Rhodey to go in his place; they were looking after Peter so much at the moment that they could probably claim custody.

The thought only made his head hurt more, so he pushed it away. He knew neither of them ever would.

Tony though… Tony had to pull himself together.

"Mr Stark?"

Tony looked up and blinked. He could practically feel the blood draining from his face as he found himself face to face with the guy that had taken him home the night before.

Recognition flashed in—what even was his name, god, Tony was the worst—his eyes and he nodded his head to the classroom for Tony to join him.

There was an awkward silence as the two of them took their seats.

"So, you're Peter's father?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I am. I uh. I don't want you to get the wrong impression of who I am as a parent by judging me on the way I behaved last night—and the way I run out this morning."

"Mr Stark—"

"I'm going through a lot at the moment and—yeah, you don't need to know about any of this. Can we just… how's Pete doing? Is he struggling in any of his classes?"

"No, not at all. He's actually a really smart kid, and he has a lot of friends. He's one of the happiest in class, so regardless of how you spend your evenings, Mr Stark, I have no doubt that Peter is happy at home. You… you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You told me, uh, last night about—"

"Right. I uh did, didn't I? You'd think for a lawyer that I'd know how to hold my tongue, wouldn't you?" Tony asked, shaking his head at himself. He tried to pull himself together. "Is there anything I should be working on more at home with him?"

"He seems to particularly enjoy science, which, if I'm to believe him—and I do—you already do quite a lot of science experiments at home."

Tony nodded, an honest smile tilting his lips. "Yeah, he uh. He really likes robotics. We built a robot arm together. Pete named him DUM-E."

"I honestly don't have much else to discuss with you, Mr Stark. Peter is a happy, very intelligent child, and he's an absolute joy to teach. Regardless of what you're going through, you're doing a great job with him. Try not to be so hard on yourself. Only you have the power to make it right, and… well. Give yourself some time, okay?"

Tony nodded and swallowed hard, the grief rising up in him so fast it took him by surprise. It really shouldn't have; he knew that despite his lack of relationship with his parents, losing them was bound to have an effect.

He just… wished he could control himself better.

"Mr Stark—Tony—I know that last night wasn't ideal, but… if you ever want to get together, I wouldn't be averse. I know finding out that I'm your son's teacher might be a dealbreaker for you but… I enjoyed last night. I liked you very much."

"I. Maybe not right now?" Tony offered. "I'm not saying no, because I enjoyed it too. I just… I need to get my head on straight again and I'm not in a place to be dating right now."

"Of course."

Tony took the offered hand and shook it firmly, smiling.

"Oh, and Tony?"

"Hmm?"

"My name is Steve. Steve Rogers."

"Ahhh. Right."

…

"Hi."

Steve smiled at him. "Hi."

"So, I uh. I was hoping that maybe I could take you up on your offer?" Tony asked, feeling oddly shy.

He wasn't usually shy—he was a lawyer, he couldn't afford to be shy—but there was just something about Steve that made him feel like a school kid telling his crush that he like-liked them.

Steve's eyes widened a little and he nodded. "I'd really like that, Tony. You're doing better now?"

"I… yeah. It's still a work in progress, but I'm not at the stage of getting drunk and picking up strangers in a bar so…"

Steve snorted. "You know, I can't say I regret that stage."

"Uh… no, me neither." Tony was pretty sure he already had an addiction to Steve's smiles. "So. Friday night? I'll pick you up at seven?"

Steve nodded. "That sounds great, Tony."

…

Spoiler alert: It was.

Written For:

Amber's Attic: 28. (word) Addiction

Elizabeth's Empire: 29. meet ugly

Liza Loves: 7. Hey we hooked up last night and it turns out you are my child's teacher

Bex's Basement: 3. Write about someone getting drunk

Scamander's Case: 15. Grief

Film Festival: 10. Losing a parent

Marvel Appreciation: 7. Daredevil 1: Lawyer

Lyric Alley: 10. You have the power to make it right

TV Spree: 8. Setting: School

EnTitled: 3. Write about the aftermath of a death