A few days later, Tony was ecstatic. And he couldn't even preen about it. Not yet anyway.
From Tony: no no no, the tech of Avatar wouldn't work as smoothly as in the movie.
He and Peter had fast become something akin to friends, chattering about pop culture and tech. Peter rolled his eyes.
From Peter: I'm not having this conversation with you again!
He laughed as he sent it, going back to working on his homework.
From Tony: I'm insulted! I would never redo tech arguments!
From Peter: You would if you lost the last one.
From Tony: ...okay you got me
Tony was amused. Peter was witty and amazingly smart.
From Peter: Of course, I do, you're basically wrapped around my finger now.
Oh shit. Why did he send that? Peter panicked, he hadn't flirted with this guy or even told him he swung that way! Tony laughed loudly.
From Tony: I'm flexible like that
Peter sighed in relief, he hadn't messed everything up, but he decided to change the subject really quick so he didn't end up screwing it up.
From Peter: so...I never asked how old you were.
Tony grinned, stretching out to rest his feet on the workbenches, holoscreens around him.
From Tony: 37
Peter's eyes went slightly wide, he's older and still entertaining an 18yr old.
From Peter: Wow…
From Tony: is...that a bad thing?
"Shit." Peter cursed.
From Peter: No no no! Was just shocked you're still talking to me after knowing I'm 18...most people treat me like a kid...
From Tony: I'm not like most people
From Peter: Thank god.
He responded almost instantly and Tony gave a delighted laugh.
From Tony: oh, that a good thing, huh? Lol.
From Peter: Yes. Although it is funny when people underestimate me because of my age.
From Tony: I was similar at your age. Blew people out of the water.
Peter smiled.
From Peter: That's awesome. So I have more questions, I'm nosey. Married, single, In a relationship?
He chewed on his lip a moment before hitting send.
From Tony: nose away! Lol I'm single
Peter breathed a sigh of relief, he didn't even know why.
From Peter: Same, obviously.
From Peter: Ummm what do you do?
From Tony: work with tech…
From Peter: that's enlightening.
From Tony: kind of a mix of a tech geek and a businessman. I own my own business.
From Peter: That's awesome!
Tony blinked at the casual praise, smiling widely
From Tony: thank you! My dad didn't think I'd amount to much, but I showed him.
Peter frowned; what kind of dad says that to his kid?!
From Peter: Is it bad that I might want to punch your dad for saying that?
From Peter: But I understand, my ex was kinda like that, always finding some issue with whatever I did, nothing was good enough. Hence Ned setting me up on these AWFUL blind dates.
Tony felt his heart warm that someone actually wanted to defend him.
From Tony: you'd need a time machine too, he died when I was your age lol.
From Tony: I'm glad they're your ex then.
From Peter: Yeah, I wasn't happy when they dumped me, but now, looking back, I'm better off without em.
From Peter: I'll get to working on that time machine then.
From Tony: make sure and take pictures, I'd love to have fond memories.
From Peter: Deal!
From Tony: also let me have that tech for the time machine lol.
From Peter: If you're nice, I might.
From Tony: I can be very nice.
Peter bit his lip and blushed. He wasn't even sure why he was blushing, Tony wasn't even there and was making him blush!
From Peter: Oh really? I have a feeling I should be worried about that.
From Tony: Nah, I'm very very nice;)
Peter snorted out a laugh, shaking his head.
From Peter: I'm sure you are, Tony.
Tony snickered, quite enjoying the banter
From Tony: what was that tone for? I'm a delight!
Peter laughed
From Peter: I do not have a TONE.
From Tony: lies. There was a tone. I'm hurt, dear Peter.
Peter laughed even louder
From Peter: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
He teased back, blushing. And laughing even more.
From Tony: I would hope not! I'm a frail and delicate flower.
From Peter: I'm laughing too hard to properly reply.
From Tony: rude.
From Peter: you like it.
From Tony: it's refreshing in comparison to the brown nosing.
Peter pulled a face.
From Peter: Because you own your own company?
From Tony: because everyone wants a part of it. It gets really annoying.
Peter rolled his eyes.
From Peter: Assholes. And that's why you're single?
From Peter: Sorry. Nosey.
From Tony: nosy is fine lol and kinda. More like I'm not sure who is sincere in liking me.
From Peter: well at least people DO like you. I'm hopeless.
From Tony: well they're assholes.
Peter checked his clock it was well after 1 am.
From Peter: I guess...
From Peter: Sadly, I have to go to bed, class in the morning.
From Tony: sleep well!
Peter chewed on his lip, already laying down in bed, under the covers.
From Peter: I'll...umm...talk to you tomorrow?
He hit send, pretty sure the hopefulness was dripping off that message.
From Tony: of course, I've been talking to you a week, I'm not going to ghost you.
Peter sighed in relief, he'd asked every day if he'd talk to Tony the next day. Peter just felt like tony might up and vanish.
From Peter: I know...was just checking...
From Tony: I figured.
Tony smiled at his phone, unsure of why it seemed like Peter was afraid he would leave.
From Tony: it's okay, Peter.
Peter blushed, sending one last text before putting his phone down and forcing himself to sleep.
From Peter: Night tony!
Another week and Tony was amused by Peter's new rant about sci-fi tech.
From Tony: okay so how WOULD you improve on the falcon?
From Peter: I'm not telling you! You're laughing at me!
From Peter: it's too much to text anyways.
From Tony: I am not!
From Peter: I can literally hear it over the messages.
From Tony: Lies. I'm amused but not laughing;)
From Peter: Sure.
From Tony: yup
From Peter: we could...I dunno talk on the phone...
From Peter: I mean so I know you're not laughing!
Peter was blushing through that whole message, he barely knew tony. He needed to chill. He was sure Tony would turn him down for a voice call anyways.
Tony laughed.
From Tony: sure. But full disclosure I did just laugh at those texts.
From Peter: See! Laughing at me! Maybe I don't want to talk to you now.
From Tony: awww, don't give me puppy eyes!
Peter ignored his message, not really ignored, he had to go to the bathroom and left Tony on read while he did it.
From Tony: rude.
From Tony: don't leave me on read.
Peter took his sweet time, leaving his phone open to Tony's messages, not realizing it looked like he'd been ignoring him.
Tony pouted at his phone.
From Tony: peeeeterrrr….
Peter's aunt stopped him on his way back to his room, wanting to talk about his day, he just wanted to get back to tony, but He humored her for a moment.
From Tony: I didn't mean to laugh at you.
From Tony: come baaaack!
From Tony: I'll buy you anything you want!
From Tony: Peter
From Tony: Peter
From Tony: Peter
Peter finally got back to his phone and checked his messages. They caused him to blush and smile that Tony cared so much.
From Peter: I wasn't ignoring you, and I can buy my own things thank you. I went to the restroom and got stopped by my aunt to talk about my day.
From Tony: Peter! Oh good, phew
From Peter: "I wouldn't ghost you"
From Tony: I didn't, you did….
From Peter: I was giving your line back to you...I mean I wouldn't ghost you either...never mind...
From Peter: do you want to talk on the phone...or...
From Tony: oh
From Tony: and yes
Peter fiddled with his phone, too nervous to call the man he was definitely crushing on. Peter bit his lip, deciding if he was going to do it or not.
Tony raised an eyebrow, smiling as he started the call. Peter jumped, he didn't scream, he didn't! as he almost dropped his phone. Peter answered the call "H-hello?" He said questioningly.
"Hey, Peter " Tony smiled.
"Hi, Tony," Peter said shyly, obviously smiling.
"See. Not laughing at you "
Peter laughed a little "We've only just said 'hi' give it time" he teased.
Tony smiled; he was adorable. "Yeah yeah."
Peter cleared his throat "So what are you doing?" He asked a bit awkwardly; he'd wanted to hear Tony's voice -which was sexy by the way- since day one but now that he had the man on the phone, he was unaware of what to talk about.
"Fiddling with a tricky bit of tech." Tony hummed, prodding the cube in his hand with a tiny screwdriver.
Peter chuckled "That sounds like it might have a chance of ending in an explosion"
"Nah, it's fine, just a little finicky" Tony smiled, liking Peter's laugh. "Tiny screws and springs and such"
"Ah." Peter said, "Did you have a good day?" He asked blushing
"As well as can be expected" Tony laughed softly. "It's gotten better in the last five minutes though"
Peter pulled a face "Why?" He asked, confused
"Because you picked up 5 minutes ago"
"Huh...Oh...oh!" Peter said with a blush "Soooo what do you have planned for tomorrow?" He asked after a pause-which was him dying from embarrassment- he changed the subject
"Probably just tinkering. Might try to talk my assistant into throwing another Christmas party here in a month or so."
"Oh, that sounds fun," Peter said, pacing his room
"You ok?"
"I'm fine," Peter said, smiling. "I pace when I talk on the phone, it's a bad habit." He said with a small laugh
"Oh, is that what you're doing?" Tony smiled.
Peter laughed again "Yeah, I am. You tinker, I pace."
"Hmm, not the worst things to do"
"Do you have your assistant plan all of your Christmas party?" He asked curiously "Because putting up Christmas decorations is pretty fun"
"Nah, I get to decorate, but last time I was left in charge of anything else j thought she would skin me" he laughed
Peter laughed "I can see that." He agreed
"Not my fault burgers apparently aren't good enough"
"Hey! I love burgers! I feel offended, you need a new assistant or less classy friends" He joked
"More like fewer associates with sticks up their asses" Tony laughed brightly
"Why do you spend time with people like that? You don't sound like you have a stuck up your ass." He said, another laugh as he plopped down on the bed, playing with a foam basketball, tossing it in the air
"Last I checked I didn't anyway" Tony snorted. "And they're business associates. Though I have a few friends there too"
Peter just hummed "I understand. There is a work Tony and a Tony Tony." He said after a moment "You should do two parties, one for friends and family and one for work." He said out loud.
"Sorry, I'm just thinking out loud." He added
Tony hummed in thought. "Has merit. An after party of sorts where I can take off my tie and shove a burger in my mouth instead of a canape"
"Sounds good, the person who thought of it's a genius." He joked.
"Of course, he is. He always is" he said seriously
Peter snorted out a laugh "If you say so"
"Of course, I do"
Peter couldn't keep the smile off his face. They talked aimlessly for the next hour and a half before Peter had to get off. "I'm sorry, I have class in the morning." He said with a yawn escaping.
"Sleep well" Tony smiled, his voice warm. "Kick ass and take names on that test "
"I definitely will!" He said with a laugh "Goodnight Tony." He said getting shy again.
"Good night Peter" Tony murmured before ending the ca, smiling softly at his phone before setting the now completed cube aside, pulling up the plans for the new stark phone. Peter sighed as well, placing his phone down and allowing himself to doze off.