Hey guys! Let's continue the story. This chapter is gonna be all Tony and Bruce, I know you love them :) Enjoy!
Thank you for your kind support!
Disclaimer: no, I don't own Marvel. I wish.
It's Saturday morning and Tony walks into the kitchen to whip up Peter's favorite breakfast: waffles. It has become sort of a tradition of theirs since he made them the very first time for the kid. Tony winces as he recalls that morning. The morning after the first night that Peter spent in the penthouse, the morning after that terrible night when Peter went after the man who had hit May. And the morning when Tony offered the boy to stay, but he declined and went back into his cold warehouse instead. Yeah, Tony hopes waffles won't remind him of all that trouble forever. Waffles should remind him of lazy mornings and breakfasts with Peter. They should indicate the beginning of yet another perfect day with the kid, when Peter doesn't have school and Tony doesn't have SI and they can spend some time together down in the lab or just on the couch. Just like today. Because today is Saturday and they have the whole weekend ahead of them, two long days just for themselves. It's gonna be perfect.
Because Tony wants it to be perfect so much. He had a busy week, tons of boring and long meetings, dull SI stuff that he would have rather skipped to be with the kid instead. He feels guilty for missing some breakfasts and dinners and not being here when Peter got home from school. He knows Peter is a teenager and he doesn't need babysitting all the time. Hell, he doesn't need babysitting at all, he's smart and a superhero, he can really take care of himself. Plus, he was all alone for months and he survived, so no, he doesn't need anyone to look after him.
On the other hand, that's exactly the reason why Tony feels so bad for not spending more time with the kid. Peter was alone far longer than he should have and the man doesn't want him to feel alone anymore.
And there's another reason, too. When Tony told Peter he worried that he wouldn't be good at this family stuff, he thought of his own father who had been absent during most of Tony's childhood. It's not that Howard was the father of the year when he was home but still. He should have been there for his son but he wasn't and that made Tony feel awful. And he definitely doesn't want Peter to feel that way. Ever.
So he's going to make up for the missed meals and a nice breakfast will be waiting for the kid when he wakes up. Then lab time or whatever Peter wants.
"Boss, Dr. Banner is on his way up here," Friday announces unexpectedly.
"Oh… okay, he can join us for breakfast," Tony decides, stirring the batter.
Just a minute later, the elevator doors open. "Good morning, Tony," Bruce greets walking in. "I hope you don't mind me dropping in without warning."
"Actually, there was a warning," Tony smirks. "Friday has just told me you're coming, I could have ordered her to stop the elevator, if you weren't welcome here."
"Thanks, I guess?" Bruce answers hesitantly and takes a seat by the table.
"Coffee?" Tony offers and when the scientist nods, he pours him a cup. "So what brings you up here, Bruce? You're staying for breakfast, right?"
"I could, yeah, thanks, Tony," Bruce replies clutching his coffee mug. "I just… wanted to tell you that I'm going back to India for a while."
"You don't like your nice lab at the Tower anymore, doctor?" Tony grins but he knows the answer even before Bruce opens his mouth to reply.
"I think I could be-"
"More useful there, yeah, I get it," he smiles at his friend warmly. Tony knows this guy too well and he knows he's a good man. One of the best people he's ever met. "Sure, go, Bruce if that's what you want. Just don't lose your phone, okay? I mean we're fine now, but the world might need saving anytime and then we're going to need you, too."
"Don't you mean the Hulk?" Bruce grins.
"Well yeah, the Hulk is really good at smashing enemies, you know, that always comes in handy. And then you can patch up all of us."
"Right," the scientist laughs. "Speaking of patching up… how's my latest patient?"
"Sleeping. You know, it's Saturday, he usually sleeps in at weekends," Tony explains, cooking the first waffles.
"And his new living circumstances… how is it all working out?" Bruce asks, focusing on his mug. As if he's doesn't dare to look directly at Tony.
"Well, we're both still alive and relatively sane, so it's okay, I guess," Tony shrugs, waving the spatula in his hand. Seeing Bruce furrowing his brow, he rolls his eyes. "It's… well, it's not all sunshine and roses but it will never be, I guess. It's fine, as much as it can be. I mean he did run away once but he wasn't thinking. It's better now, really."
"He did what? He ran away?" Bruce stuns.
Tony carefully places the first warm waffles on a plate. "Yeah, he was hiding in that creepy warehouse he had been staying before. Turned out the changes in his life were good but too much and overwhelming. I tried to make him understand he's not alone anymore and he can always tell me if there's something wrong. I hope he knows that," he says, involuntarily glancing at the closed door of Peter's bedroom.
"Well, that makes sense. I mean one day he's a homeless orphan and the next day he's living here with you," Bruce muses.
"Yeah, I know I can be a bit much sometimes," Tony grins. "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not perfect. I mean not all the time. On a serious note, I try to keep a low profile and take it really slow. I don't want to involve more people than necessary. And I keep throwing NDAs to everyone we meet. Right now only you, Pepper, Happy and Barton know that Peter's here and I'd like to keep it that way. I want to give the kid enough time to get used to his new life. Then we'll see."
"Yeah, that makes sense," Bruce agrees. "And for the record, I think what you're doing is incredible. I mean taking in Peter… you did the right thing."
"Honestly? I'm still not sure if that's the best for the kid. I mean I'm pretty sure I'm not a perfect guardian or parent or whatever…" Tony explains, looking over at Peter's door again. "But at least he's safe and sound here and not freezing and starving on the streets, so that's something," he shrugs, focusing on the waffle maker in an attempt to hide his doubts.
"It's more than something," Bruce replies giving him an assuring smile. "You should give yourself more credit, Tony. I mean knowing how confident you are all the time, usually much more confident than you should be, it's kind of strange how uncertain you become when it comes to Peter."
Tony snorts concentrating on cooking the waffles. That way, it's easier to talk about this. "Of course I am uncertain. Because it's not all about me anymore, Bruce, I am responsible for him, too and I really don't want to fuck this up. The kid wouldn't deserve that. But I honestly don't know if I can do this. I mean I want to, of course I want to help him, I want to make him happy, I want to give him the childhood he deserves, as much as it's possible after all the shit that happened to him. But what if I can't, Bruce? What if I screw up?" he asks, looking at his friend with fear evident in his wide eyes.
But to his utter confusion, the scientist gives him yet another warm smile. "Just look at you, Tony. Here you are making breakfast for Peter and talking about how much you want to make him happy. You're doing great, trust me. Do you remember what you just said? That you want to take it slow? Well, I think that's a wonderful idea. Take it slow, Tony. One day at a time. Don't mull over the future yet. I think everything's going to be fine on the long term, too, but it's easier if you always focus on today. You worry about what will happen to Peter tomorrow but you shouldn't forget that he's here today, too. Help him today; be there for him today, that's enough."
Tony lowers his head and lets out a small laugh. Then his eyes shoot up at Bruce. "Man, do you really need to go to India? I'm gonna miss you so much."
Bruce chuckles and drinks up his coffee. Tony refills his cup without a word and then places the pot on the table.
"Alright, I'm gonna wake up the kid now. I hope you're prepared. That little nerd won't let you leave until you two write an essay together on gamma rays or something."
This is where the previous chapter ended, remember? And Tony has absolutely no idea what Peter was doing in the last few days.
I hope you liked it.
Thank you for reading!