Tony was gonna kill him. Murder him in the most gruesome and terrifying ways the moment he got here.
The billionaire had to go to a meeting since Pepper couldn't attend as she had left for Singapore last night on urgent business.
It was just supposed to be a day out in the park. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. And yet, here Happy was, watching Peter Parker in the MedBay.
Dr. Helen Cho bandaged the kid's knee, all the while soothing him in hushed, gentle tones. She'd already taken care of the sprained wrist and the bruise on his other leg.
The doctor had been at her professional best, hardly blinking when her sixteen year old patient had shown up in a six year old's body.
"There you go, Peter. All done."
The few sniffles were long gone and the kid thanked the doctor with a toothy grin.
The door to the MedBay slid open, revealing none other than Tony Stark himself.
Happy was on his feet instantly. "Boss I'm so sorry, I should've b—"
"What happened, Hap?"
"I was sitting on the bench and the kid had climbed on to the top of the slide. He waved at me and then he sorta lost his footing and fell backward."
"He fell off the slide?" Panic leaked into his voice.
"It wasn't Happy's fault, Mr. Stark. Don't be mad at him."
It was then that Tony saw Peter sitting on the bed with a bandage around his right wrist and left knee and a bandaid on the right one.
He crossed the room in three strides, his eyes scanning Peter for any other possible injury.
One hand automatically wove itself into Peter's curls, gently tilting the boy's head downward and checking for any signs of bleeding. It was more instinct than anything else at this point because the rational part of him was well aware that Dr. Cho has already been thorough in her examination.
"You hurt anywhere else, Underoos?" He asked for good measure. Had Rhodey been here, he would've teased him for being an overprotective papa bear.
I'm not the kid's dad, Rhodes.
"I'm okay, Mr. Stark I promise. Besides, I've been beaten up way worse so many times."
"Not exactly comforting, kid," Tony replied although he knew that was the truth.
"He's fine, Tony. Don't you worry." Dr. Cho intervened as she approached the duo. "Rest up a bit and you're goo—"
She was interrupted by a tug on her sleeve and when she glanced at her patient, the boy beckoned her to lean in with a shy smile.
She leaned down to allow Peter to whisper in her ear, lips curving into a soft smile at whatever he'd said to her.
Tony raised a curious brow but stayed silent.
"Right, that is very important, Peter. A bit of rest with plenty of cuddles and you're golden."
With an adoring grin threatening to split his face into two, Tony shook his head at this utterly pure kid.
He slid one hand under Peter's knees and hooked the other one around his back and scooped his little bundle up, holding him to his chest.
He pressed a quick kiss to the kid's temple. "Lots of cuddles, you got it, Doc. Say bye, Pete."
Happy joined them on the way out. "Tony, I shoul—"
"Relax, Happy. Not your fault. We both know Underoos here has a knack for trouble. Besides, you heard Helen. He'll be fine."
As he walked out of the MedBay with Peter securely tucked against him, he remembered that the antidote would be ready that night.
By tomorrow morning, the kid would be back to normal.
Now as much as he was looking forward to having his adorable teenager back, he sure as hell was gonna miss... this.
True, he'd turned into a right sap and had absolutely tarnished his reputation as the stone hearted billionaire and genius; but it had been worth every second.
"FRI, what's the update?"
"I'm afraid you are still not permitted to enter the living room, Boss."
"Hope he isn't stressing his legs or that wrist? Cause if that's the case, then I'm gonna have to override protocol."
A pause.
"He's okay, Boss."
"Cool. Let me know when he's decided to let me into my own living room again." Contradictory to his words, his tone was indulgent.
That night after dinner, Peter had shooed him into his room and begged with those doe eyes to stay.
'It's a surprise, Mr. Stark. So you've gotta stay in here. I'll call you when it's ready.'
That was over an hour ago.
Tony had a pretty good idea what the kid was up to.
Maybe it was the request to use the extra pillows combined with the numerous trips the kid had made in and out of the bedrooms, dragging pillows and blankets with him, each time waving at him excitedly.
The antidote was ready and the little bottle was currently resting in his pocket, a weighing reminded indeed.
He'd promised himself that he would give it to Peter before the kid went to bed that night
Five minutes later, Peter's head popped into the doorway. "I'm ready."
"Awesome. I was thinking I'd turn into an old man before you showed up."
"Mr. Stark, you're already an old man. There's a lot of grey in your hair, you know."
"Watch it, Petey-Pie. My grey hair is a gift you've so generously bestowed upon me."
Peter giggled. "Come on!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming! Kids these days. They've got no patience at all."
Tony allowed Peter to take his hand and even closed his eyes when the kid insisted. "If break something, you'll be taking care of me, Pete."
When they reached the living room, Tony was finally allowed to opened his eyes.
The fort was cozy, just about big enough for two people. It was shaped like tent with plenty of throw cushions flanking the entrance. There were pillows on the inside as well, and Tony felt warm just by looking at it.
"Do you like it?"
He looked down at Peter who was gazing at him with those hopeful puppy eyes.
Puppy Parker. Yup, that was his new official name.
"You kidding? Love it. Especially digging that very handsome superhero guarding the entrance," Tony pointed to the Ironman plushie that Peter had placed right in front.
"He is pretty awesome," Peter agreed.
They crawled inside and the moment Tony had settled himself comfortably against the pillows, Peter dived in and plastered himself to his mentor's side.
"Someone's a clingy brat tonight," Tony teased even as his arm wrapped itself securely around the Spiderbaby.
"Dr. Cho said it's necessary, Mr. Stark. We've gotta listen to the doctor. You've said so yourself, remember?"
"Sure do. Pete?"
"Hmm?"
"So what gave you the idea to build a pillow fort tonight?
Even though Tony couldn't see Peter's face, he could see that the tips of the kid's ears had turned pink. "Just because."
Tony didn't press it.
Better do it now, Stark.
"Kid, you've gotta take your antidote tonight before bed."
"It's already done?"
Tony jabbed Peter lightly in the side, eliciting a shriek from the boy. "I'm the greatest genius in America, Underoos. I'm hurt that you sound so surprised."
Peter didn't say anything. Tony had expected an excited 'Awesome' at least but all he received was silence.
"What's wrong, kid? I thought you'd be happy."
Peter shrugged halfheartedly. "I am. But I'm gonna sorta you know... miss this."
Furrowing his brows in confusion, Tony ran a hand through the thick mop of chestnut curls resting against his chest.
"What are you gonna miss, kid? Being tiny? Nothing will change when you're older again. I'm still the same awesome, supercool guy and you'll be the exact same adorable, geeky and grey-hair-inducing Spiderbaby."
"But you will change," Peter insisted and Tony tried not to let the hurt show on his face.
"How would I change, buddy?"
Peter bit his lip, like he was trying to get the words out and hold them back at the same time "Once I'm older again, you won't be so..."
"So what, Pete?" Tony's voice was gentler than imaginable as he tried to coax the kid. He ducked his head to get a look at Peter's face but the boy's eyes were glued to the pillow in his arms.
"So... dad-ish."
Oh bambino...
Tony Stark had decided long ago that he wasn't cut out to be anyone's dad. He wasn't exactly what one would describe as father material.
His own father had been total shit at the job and that's what had driven him to make that call. Plus his own past and his habits hadn't exactly been ideal.
But apparently, that rule hadn't applied to Peter-goddamn pure adorable-Parker.
Peter Parker, that goofball of a kid with a heart of gold and a smile that was brighter than the sun.
Somehow this kid — with his infectious smile, and his different versions of Mr. Stark, oversized sweaters and ratty converse, his constant rambling, his perpetual need to be good despite all the shit that the world had hurled at him— had squeezed through all of Tony's impenetrable defences and made himself a nice little corner right in the man's heart.
How could Tony not love this kid who looked at him like he hung the moon?
He'd ignored Happy, Rhodey and Pepper when they teased him about him acting like Peter's overprotective dad because he'd been far too terrified to admit that it was the truth. More importantly, he had been too afraid to find out if the kid felt that way or not.
He didn't think he would've been able to survive that rejection.
But now as he heard the words from the kid himself, he couldn't deny it any longer. After months of being emotionally at arms length, he owed this to Peter.
"Peter," he began, the rare usage of the boy's name sounding rather foreign on his tongue. "Look at me please?"
Peter shook his head stubbornly.
"I'll be forced to resort to drastic measures if you don't," he joked, hoping to incite some response from the suddenly silent kid.
When the Spiderbaby still didn't say anything, Tony lifted Peter into his lap, turning the kid around so that the boy was properly facing him. He tapped the six year old's chin with a finger, coaxing his eyes up.
"Peter, bambino, if you think a certain Spiderboy's age is gonna affect the way I feel about him, you get that thought out of your head right now. As you so skilfully put it, I love being dad-ish. I'd even go as far to say that it's my favourite thing to be."
The last part was whispered mock conspiratorially into Peter's hair.
Those brown orbs widened adorably. "You don't mind? You're not mad?"
"Mad? If anything, I'm crazy happy. You're my kid, Pete."
Peter's answering smile was bright enough to put the sun to shame. "You're my Mister Stark." He whispered, suddenly shy.
Call him cheesy or clichéd; but in that moment, something clicked into place.
Damn right he was.
Tony was Peter's friend, movie partner, mentor and dad, all wrapped in a gruff exterior with a warm, mushy centre.
"All yours, kiddo," he murmured in agreement.
The silence was comfortable before Peter spoke up.
"I'm ready to take the antidote."
Tony nodded even as his arms tightened around the boy. He was glad he'd asked FRIDAY to take pictures.
"Okay. Queens does need her friendly neighbourhood Spiderbaby back."
"Spiderman, Mr. Stark."
"Spiderbaby," Tony asserted teasingly.
Still grinning, he took the bottle out of his pocket and held it out to Peter. "Drink up."
The kid took the bottle from him and unscrewed the lid. He took a whiff tentatively. When he found that the odour wasn't unpleasant, he raised the bottle to his lips and drank.
"It'll take a couple of hours for the antidote to take effect. It's best to sleep through it. Might get a little ticklish."
"Kay, Mr. Stark," Peter mumbled, leaning forward into Tony's chest. "S' nice."
"Sure is."
And that's the penultimate chapter!
Really enjoyed writing this one, hope you guys liked reading it just as much. I've started writing the last one and will have it ready soon.
As always, feel free to review!