Hey guys! So, someone asked me in the last chapter, if I would be addressing May's funeral. And YES. I will definitely be addressing that... very soon actually... thank you for the reminder :)
Tony:
The elevator opened, and the lounge was suddenly filled with loud voices. ''TELL ME WHY''
''AINT NOTHING BUT A HEARTBREAK!'' Nat sang loudly. She wore a red lei around her neck and black shades over her eyes.
''TELL ME WHY'' The others sang.
''AINT NOTHING BUT A MISTAKE!'' Clint added, he too was wearing shades, though his were red and instead of a lei he had on a pair of bright red women's rain boots.
''TELL ME WHY'' Sang everyone.
''I NEVER WANNA HEAR YOU SAY!''
''I want it that way!'' Peter finished, grinning widely. He was sporting a pair of purple high heels, there was a tiny braid in his hair, and he was carrying an armload of books.
''And he sings too!'' Clint exclaimed, astonished by the kid's many skills.
Tony and Pepper just stared at the group from their seats on the couch, with matching looks of confusion. ''Okay... a simple hello would've done just fine.''
''What's the fun in that?'' Asked Wanda her voice coated heavily in sarcasm.
''I hope you all realize Friday has that all on video.''
''Wait what.''
''Oh, come on, you know you sounded great.'' Nat told Peter, while ruffling his hair.
''No kidding, I didn't know you could sing like that!'' Tony voiced, standing up from the couch and making his way over to Peter.
''I just sang one line; you guys are all overreacting.''
Tony just shook his head. ''That's true, why don't you sing some more for us.''
''Yeah Peter, sing another song!''
''Ugh guys stop it!''
''Come on! Please Peter!''
There were more pleas from everyone for Peter to sing again.
Peter blushed and flopped onto the couch, burring his face into one of the silky pillows. ''Ughhhhh.'' Pepper smiled and rubbed his back.
She looked up, locking eyes with Tony. ''Alright let's leave Peter alone. He doesn't have to sing if he doesn't want too.''
''Thank you!''
Tony instantly felt bad for pressuring the kid. He clearly didn't want to sing and had even asked them to stop, but they still kept going. The others must've felt the same because they kept shooting him guilty looks.
''Sorry Pete, we were just messing around, you don't have to sing if you don't want too. Right guys?''
''Yeah sorry, Peter.''
''Sorry bud.''
''It's fine guys. Why is everyone making such a big deal about everything?''
Tony opened his mouth, then closed it, thinking again about what he was going to say. The truth was, that it might not have been a big deal if it were any other kid, but Peter had gone through so much already and he didn't want to add any more to it. Tony knew from experience that even the smallest bit of stress was sometimes enough to send everything downhill.
''Um...'' Peter said, attempting to break the awkward silence that had dawned over the room. ''So... did you and Pep- Ms. Potts have a good lunch?''
''Yes, me and Pepper had a great lunch.'' Tony said.
Peter looked at Pepper with uncertainty.
''Oh, please call me Pepper!''
Peter smiled happily. He was now on a first name basis with Pepper Potts, and the avengers! Not too bad.
''Alright, you plan on explaining why you're all dressed in dollar store accessories, and singing the backstreet boys?'' Tony asked finally.
''Hey, these heels were seventy dollars!''
''Why did you buy him seventy-dollar heels?'' Tony questioned. What kind of sixteen-year-old boy walked around in seventy- dollar high heels?
''It's not my fault. He has these adorable puppy dog eyes, and it's impossible to say no to him.'' Clint replied while walking towards Tony.
''I didn't actually want you to buy them! I was kidding!''
''Are those my rain boots?'' Pepper asked.
''Ummm, maybe?'' Clint replied.
''Alright Peter what the heck is going on? Since nobody else can tell me.''
''Well after the movie we went to the bookstore to pick up Wanda, you know the one with the furniture made of books. So anyways after we got there, we thought we might as well grab a few books, which ended up being more than just a few books... Then Wanda decided that she wanted to go shopping and well... this happened.'' Peter explained, gesturing to their wild outfits. ''On the way back, we were listening to music and Nat just kind of burst into song when we got in here.
Tony shook his head in amazement. There was something about this child that turned even the world's mightiest heroes into a bunch of ridiculous children. ''You're all a bunch of idiots you know that? Except Peter you're perfect. And Nat, because I don't want to die. But the rest of you are idiots.''
There was a faint ringing sound, that had everyone checking their pockets for their phones.
''It's me.'' Peter called, while walking away from the others to answer it.
''So, how did the work trip go?'' Natasha asked, walking over to Pepper. The two had bonded over the years, forming a great relationship. They kind of had to, with all those guys around. The very few girls had to stick together.
''Pretty good, the meetings went well.'' Pepper replied pulling out a large stack of papers. ''Now if you could just read over these and fill out the bottom section, then sign here, here and here.''
But Tony didn't except the papers. Pepper rolled her eyes and stood up from her spot on the couch. ''I'll set them on your desk, but I expect them to be all filled out by the end of next week!'' She called.
''Yeah, yeah.'' Tony waved his hand. ''How are you?'' He asked finally, looking at Wanda.
''I'm alright, anything you want to tell me?''
Tony stared at her confused. ''Not that I know of, no.''
''So, nobody is going to tell me why Tony suddenly has a son?''
''He's not, my son.''
''So, you kidnapped him?''
''What no! Look, his aunt just died so he's staying with me for a while. That's it.''
''For a while?''
''Well until he grows up, goes to college and moves out, yes.''
''So, he's your son.''
''No.''
''Tony you freaking adopted the kid. I'm pretty sure that legally makes him your son.''
''I just filled out some papers. It's not even official yet. There are inspections and meetings and other junk that still have to be done. I just- never mind.''
The others seemed to sense that this was for some reason a sensitive subject for Tony. So, they dropped it. The silence was broken after a few minutes when a small broken voice spoke.
''D- Tony?''
Tony turned his head to find Peter standing by the elevator. ''What's up buddy?'' He asked, not missing to the stumble over his name.
''Can I talk to you?''
Peter:
''Hello, is this... Peter Benjamen Parker?''
''Yes? Who is this?'' Peter immediately began thinking of who in the world he could've lost this time.
''This is Queens hospital calling. I'm here to inform you that while we understand the grieving process can take a long time, we do need to hear of some sort of plan.''
''Plan? Plan for what?''
''The body. We are very sorry for your loss, but we do need to discuss this.''
Peter swallowed as the now familiar feeling of nausea settled in his stomach. Those first words nearly sending him into an anxiety attack. The Body. He shuddered at the memory of his Aunt's cold milky white body lying on the hospital bed. ''Ok, well what are the options?'' He asked feeling guilty. He spent the whole day having fun when he should have been planning a funeral for his Aunt.
''I would recommend either cremation, where the body will be turned to ashes with which you can do what you choose with. People often spread them in a place the loved one enjoyed. Or if you don't want to do that, we can have the body prepared for burial.''
''Oh,'' was the only thing he could say. He leaned against his bedroom wall and slid to the ground. With the phone now on the floor, he ran his hands through his hair nervously. He had never had to plan a funeral before. Aunt May and Uncle Ben were there for his parents, and May was there for Ben's. It never even crossed his mind that he would have to do it for May, at least until he was much older.
''Hello?''
''Yeah, I'm here. Um...'' He paused to clear his throat from the sobs that were trying to escape. I can't do this, he thought. I can't do this alone. ''Can-can I call you back?''
''Of course, but you will need to come to a decision by the end of the week.''
''Ok, thank you.'' Peter replied before hanging up. What on earth was he going to do. He couldn't handle something like this alone. He needed... he needed Tony. He stood up on shaky legs, wiping his face clean of the few stray tears that had managed to flow despite his effort the fight them back.
The lounge was silent when he walked in, and Peter wasn't sure if that made it easier or more awkward. ''D-Tony?'' He wasn't even sure why he stumbled over that. Maybe it was because with everything that was going on now all he wanted was reassurance from a parent. Luckily Tony didn't seem to notice. That or he was just too kind to say anything,
''What's up buddy?''
''Can I talk to you?''
''Of course.'' He answered, elbowing Steve who was closest to him. Steve got the message and cleared his throat before announcing that he was going to head to the training room if anyone wanted to join him.
Once everyone was out of the room, Tony patted the spot next to him. ''Everything okay?'' He asked once Peter was sitting.
Peter rested his elbows on his knees and laid his head in his hands. ''I don't know.''
''What's wrong?'' Tony asked, concerned. ''Hey, talk to me buddy. What's going on? Was it the phone call?''
Peter lifted his head, revealing his now tear streaked face. He nodded, still not making eye contact.
''Who called you?''
That was it. His chance to spill about everything that just happened and beg Tony to help him. Nothing was stopping him, Tony was right there, willing to listen and willing to help. Except there was one thing. Guilt. May was his aunt, she raised him since he was young. She had done everything in her power to protect him, this was his job. He had to do it alone. He didn't deserve Tony's help, just because he was too weak to handle it on his own. So, instead of telling Tony that it was the hospital that called, he lied. ''It was Mj.''
''Yeah?'' Tony asked. Peter couldn't tell if he was buying it or not.
''Yeah, she wanted to um, hang out.''
''And this is a problem how?''
Ok, he definitely wasn't buying it.
Tony:
It was obvious that the kid was lying. But why?
''I- I just.''
Tony watched as Peter struggled to think of something to say. It would've been funny if he didn't look so stressed out.
''Pete, hey, no look at me.'' Tony grabbed Peter's hands to stop him from fidgeting. '' Just cut the bs and tell me what's wrong.''
Peter looked up at Tony, his eyes glistening with tears, and took a deep breath. Tony thought for a minute that he was finally going to cave, and then, ''Mj wants to hang out tomorrow, and I don't know what to do. I said yes, but I don't think I'm ready for this.''
''For dating?''
Peter shook his head. ''For going out and pretending like everything's okay.''
''Isn't that what you just did? You literally just walked through the door an hour ago in high heels.''
Peter didn't say anything, making Tony sigh. ''I'm sorry. It's perfectly fine if you don't want to go out just yet. But if you do, I would be happy to help you get ready. I'm always happy to help you Peter. Seriously if you ever need anything don't hesitate.''
Tony could swear he saw a trace of guilt on Peter's face. But instead of confessing that it was really something else bothering him, he carried on.
''I've never actually been on a date.''
''Like I said, I'm happy to help.''
''But where would we even go?''
''Isn't she the one who asked you?''
''Right, I guess she would know, I'm- I'm going to go call her actually, so she can remind me of where we're going.''
''Yeah you do that kiddo.'' Tony mumbled to himself as Peter left the room. He sighed and kicked his legs up onto the couch. What on earth am I going to do with this kid, he thought. The kid was hurting himself by not talking about his problems and to be honest it was hurting Tony too. This kid has had such a big impact on the man's life, so much so that Tony couldn't even imagine life without him anymore. He didn't want too. A world without Peter was a world without laughter, a world without fun, a world without excitement, a world without... purpose.
He really truly loved the kid, and that was why it hurt so bad. He wanted Peter to talk to him when he had a problem. He wanted him to ask him questions, or for advice. He wanted to listen to him rant about his day at school, and all the test he Aced. He wanted him to ask for help on the ones failed too.
''Tony?''
''I want to be Peter's dad,'' he blurted, then threw a hand over his mouth. Oops.
Please leave a review if you liked, (or if you didn't, let me know what I can do better.) Next chapter will be out soon. 😉
I might also be posting a series of peter/tony oneshots, I have a bunch written if anyone is interested in reading that :)