Any time now. It was almost 6:00 p.m., and they'd be showing up any minute.
Peter turned off the faucet and examined his reflection in the bathroom mirror, grinning at his blue and white AT-AT sweater. Mr. Stark was going to die. This kind of nerdy thing drove him crazy.
Ned had bought a red and gold C-3PO sweater online last week, and they both agreed to wear them on Christmas Eve and send pictures to each other.
Peter ran a comb through his hair exactly one time, knowing Tony was just going to mess it up at some point anyway. What was it with that? There was a knock at the door, and Peter felt a buzz of nerves go through him. It was Happy and Tony's first Christmas Eve at the Parkers' apartment, an attempt at a new tradition between all of their slowly integrating lives. In other words, it was groundbreaking.
"I'll get it!" Peter yelled, heading into the front room. May gave him a flustered smile as he passed her in the kitchen.
"You look adorable."
Peter smiled cheekily. "Thanks, May."
He reached for the lock, flipping it and then pulling open the door. He started to say hi, but the word died to a croak in his throat when Peter saw Tony. He stared open-mouthed for a solid five seconds at the man, who was trying to act casual in a fuzzy blue and white R2-D2 sweater.
On the outside, Peter was shocked, but inside, his heart felt like it was going to burst. Tony's cool look turned into a smug smile, revealing how proud he was of his outfit and for getting the reaction out of Peter that he did. "Merry Christmas Eve, kid." Tony swept into the room, Happy behind him in a normal suit and red tie.
"I think that's the best thing I've ever seen." Peter said. Tony came up to the teenager, giving him a smile.
"Well, you know, I've got this intern who's obsessed with Star Wars, and he made me watch all the movies…"
Peter's face went pink as Tony picked invisible lint off his shoulder. "Your sweater's not so bad, either."
Peter grinned. "Thanks. Ned's got one too."
Tony rolled his eyes fondly. "Of course he does. You nerds."
Peter had deliberately ignored the more intimate greeting Happy and May gave each other, but now that they stepped apart, Tony greeted her too. "Hi, May," he said, giving the hostess a hug.
"Hey, Tony. Glad you both could make it."
Happy gave a nod in Peter's direction, a rare smile on his face. "Hey, kid." He was always kid. Never Pete, or Peter, or anything else.
"Hi, Happy," Peter greeted. "Did you chauffeur Tony here?"
"He actually rode in the front seat, so no."
"Yeah, and it was weird, so we're never doing that again," Tony said.
The men respectfully offered their help for preparations, but May told them to go make themselves comfortable, and they settled on the couch, Peter setting up a fold-out table in the middle of the living room. As he finished, Peter's phone pinged, and he pulled it out to see May had sent him a candid photo of him and Tony smiling, wearing their sweaters.
He caught May's eye for a second before sending the picture off to Ned.
His best friend definitely wouldn't be expecting his photo to be with Iron Man. He set the picture as his lock screen and wallpaper, too.
The four of them soon set to work building gingerbread houses at the table, although some of their designs were a bit less...mainstream. "What are you building?" Peter eyed the tower of gingerbread on Tony's plate.
"A condo. More efficient, houses more people."
Peter gave him a look. "You're supposed to build a house, Mr. Stark. It's more Christmasy."
"Says the kid who's building a very Christmasy spaceship."
Peter shrugged. "Aliens can celebrate Christmas, too."
Tony scoffed. "Yeah, but what does a spaceship have to do with housing people?"
Peter threw up his hands. "Maybe alien spaceships are like residential cruise ships in the sky."
Tony reached over to steal a gumdrop off the rim of Peter's UFO. "Hey!" Peter smacked the man's hand.
Tony tilted his head unapologetically. "That's the toll for me buying you that gingerbread house kit. They're ten bucks a piece, you know." Peter shook his head, going back to making an alien out of gingerbread. "You know, I could tax you for more things. I send Happy to pick you up at school, I let you mess around in my lab, I made you two multi-million dollar suits…A gumdrop is the least you can give me, kid."
Peter turned to him with a look. "I didn't give it to you. And that's all hero-y internship stuff," he argued. "You chose to mentor me."
"Oh, come now."
Happy scoffed at Tony, his hand in a bowl of Christmas-colored candy corn. "You don't even pay me to pick the kid up from school anymore. And building those suits was more of a fun hobby project than anything."
"Whose side are you on, Hap?"
Happy gave a disinterested shrug. "Just saying."
May huffed a laugh, going off into the kitchen to pour them some eggnog. Tony gave Peter a dry look. "He's only siding with you 'cause you're about to be family."
Tony and Happy froze simultaneously, and Peter stared between the two of them, eyes wide. "Wait...what did you just say?"
Tony made the 'kill it' sign, swiping a hand across his neck, and Happy cleared his throat uncomfortably. Peter took the hint and went back to icing the rim of his space gingerbread, but in his head, he was trying to wrap his head around it. Was Happy going to propose..? To May? Tonight?
May returned with the drinks, passing them out.
"Ooh, thank you," Peter said, taking a glass reverently. Tony took one too, noticing the odd look the kid gave him.
"What?"
Peter tilted his head. "I don't know why, but I saw you as not liking eggnog."
Tony's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm a little concerned how you can tell that just by looking at a person, but you're right. I don't. Just thought I'd try it again in case."
"It's delicious."
Tony set his glass down after taking a swallow, his face morphing into restrained disgust. "Yeah, no, kid. I think you're wrong about that one." Peter rolled his eyes, downing his whole glass in three goes before picking up the green frosting tube again.
He was just adding the finishing touches on the rim of his residential spaceship when Tony swooped in with a finger and knocked the gingerbread alien out of the cockpit. Peter gaped.
"What is your problem?"
"You'd be surprised how much I get asked that, actually."
Peter's face set with determination, and Tony caught it just a second too late as Peter's hand whipped out and knocked over his gingerbread condo, breaking it into two halves. It was Tony's turn to stare open-mouthed at Peter, while Peter half-gasped and half-laughed, his hand coming up to his mouth. "Oh my gosh—I honestly didn't mean to do that," he said, grinning around his surprise. "I was just trying to mess it up!"
"Sure, Parker." Like lightning, his fist snaked around to smash Peter's spaceship, sending candy and gingerbread crumbs flying.
"No!" Peter cried out in horror. Tony almost looked apologetic.
Peter stuck his finger in the frosting, smearing it on the man's cheek as Tony grabbed a handful of gumdrops and started pelting Peter in the face with them one by one. "Hey, you're cleaning up the mess!" May called as Peter took candy wreath leaves and tried sticking them to the frosting on Tony's face. He giggled as he got two leaves to stick.
Tony let out a desperate call as he took the frosting container and stuck his hand in, then grabbed at Peter's face. Peter's mouth fell open as frosting coated half his face, and Tony cackled, half a wreath still stuck to his cheek.
Happy watched the whole scene with a smile (he'd smiled more since dating May) and May shook her head next to him.
"Wow," Peter drew the word out exaggeratedly. "That was really low."
Tony pointed at him. "You destroyed my condo. That was just good old-fashioned revenge."
"Should've built it to be more structurally sound." Peter shrugged. Tony's face pinched as he jabbed Peter in the shoulder and then in the side with a hand, Peter jumping away.
"Go wash your faces," May directed, pointing them to the kitchen. They trudged to the sink together, and Peter grabbed paper towels and started clearing away the frosting on his face. Tony got to work picking leaves off his face, and then he used wet paper towel to scrub the rest of the frosting away. Peter glanced over at him with bright eyes, and Tony shot him a wry smile.
"Frosting's a good look on you."
Peter glared at him. "It also looked good on my spaceship."
Tony held up his hands. "You made your choice."
"You're seriously throwing the blame on me?"
He shrugged. "Why not?"
Peter snorted. Tony put an arm around his shoulders, making him feel like gold, and wiped at some frosting on Peter's face that he'd missed.
"There's always next year."
"Yeah, and apparently I'll have a new step-uncle by then," Peter said more quietly, alluding to Tony's slip-up.
Tony winced. "Yeah, sorry for ruining that one, kid."
Call it his spidey sense, but from the room over, Peter could sense a nervous tension and he looked over, face wide with apprehension, Tony following his gaze. In a few seconds, Happy was down on one knee, May's hand held in his. "May..." Happy swallowed, the only sign he was nervous. "Would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Hogan?" May's eyes went wide. And then she was beaming.
"Yes. Yes!" May laughed, and then her and Happy were kissing, and Tony and Peter looked at each other, pretending to be grossed out.
"Listen, kid, if they give you the option of changing your last name, stick to Parker."
Peter laughed. "Yeah. Peter Hogan is..." He made a face. He intended to be a Parker forever. That was the name of Richard and Mary and Ben, and he wanted to keep it. As Tony came forward grinning to congratulate Happy, Peter hugged his aunt tightly. "I'm so happy for you, May."
She sighed. "I'm so happy too, Pete." She took his face in her hands. "And I want you to know that we could never replace Ben. But I know he'd want this for us. For me. He'd want us to be happy. Hah. Happy," she joked.
Peter nodded. "I know. He'd be happy."
May kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Pete."
And then May was releasing him and Tony was congratulating her, and then Peter was looking at Happy. "Hey, Happy." He smiled shyly. "So I guess we're going to be family then, huh?"
Happy gave him a real smile. "Yeah, guess we are."
Peter remembered his manners. "Congratulations," he offered, and the man nodded.
"Thanks, kid. Listen, I hope this is okay for you. I don't want to replace anyone you've had in your life." Peter shook his head quickly to reassure him.
"No, no, it's okay. I'm happy. And happy for May. She deserves to have someone," Peter said. Happy nodded, looking relieved, and Peter started to turn back toward the others.
"Hey, Peter?"
When Peter turned back to Happy, he looked serious. "I just want you to know...I'll always be there for you. And May. Whatever you need, kid."
Peter smiled, feeling warmth swell in his chest.
"Thank you." In a rare moment, Happy opened his arms, and Peter stepped forward to hug him. He would live in their apartment now, Peter realized. Or would they all move to Happy's place? But Peter had to go to school here, so...probably not. Happy would be like his uncle now…or a stand-in dad. Oddly enough though, Peter thought of Tony more as fitting that role.
When they pulled away, he caught Tony and May watching them fondly. "I think it's time for ice cream," May said, and as Happy went with her to the kitchen to serve it up, Tony came to stand next to Peter, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"How are you? You okay?"
Peter met his mentor's concerned eyes, then nodded. "Yeah. I'm really happy for them," he answered sincerely. "It'll be weird calling him 'Uncle Happy' though."
Tony laughed. "That is weird. Maybe just keep it to Happy."
"It's weird, though. Because he'll be living with us, and May's basically been my mom for my whole life, but it'd be weird to see Happy as my...dad. I mean, he'll be my legal guardian."
He felt an odd energy coming from Tony then, and he watched as his mentor looked at Happy and May in the kitchen, a little too happy for people scooping ice cream into bowls.
"Well, I don't think there's any pressure for you to see him that way, if you don't want to. You haven't known him as long as you've known May."
Peter nodded. "Yeah..." He shuffled his feet, watching Tony as he watched Happy and May, smiling lightly. "But then I also have you," he said.
Tony looked back to Peter, his expression unreadable.
May swept back into the room, passing a bowl of ice cream to Peter with chocolate syrup and a cherry. Happy brought one for Tony, and then the four of them sat on the couch, chatting and laughing late into the evening.
Peter politely collected everyone's bowls and went to the kitchen to wash them when they were finished. As he got into the zone of rinsing, soaping, scrubbing, and rinsing, he thought about Tony— who he'd thought about all night. He wondered if his mentor felt any sort of envy that Happy would be Peter's family. That he'd be a stand-in father figure for Peter.
He set a bowl off to the side and moved on to the next. Tony was the closest thing Peter had to a dad. The thought made his hand slip, and the bowl he was washing clattered in the sink. "Sorry!" he called, blushing. The others hardly reacted, they were so busy talking about engagement parties and wedding dates and how much money Mr. Stark was going to throw at them for it all. Without hesitation, Happy pointed out that Tony would be his best man, which Tony happily accepted. And then Happy called to Peter from the couch.
"Hey, Pete. How would you like to be a groomsman?"
Guess 'Pete' was on Happy's official list of names he called him, now. Peter looked up and smiled, dish towel swiping around the rim of a bowl. "I'd love to."
Happy nodded, smiling, and May beamed at her fiancé, kissing him on the cheek. She went off into listing a couple of nurses she worked with that she wanted as bridesmaids, and Peter felt a small worm of guilt that May didn't have anyone closer to her to be there for her. Her social time had largely been taken up by raising Peter, and she didn't have any family left...
But now she had Happy, he told himself. And Tony, in a way. They were all a family, just in a different way.
When Peter finished with the bowls and stashed them in the cupboard, he stood in the kitchen for a minute, watching everyone talk. Happy made a snarky jab at Tony, and then Tony swatted at him, making him laugh. Peter was going to go join them again, but something in him stopped him. He wanted some alone time. Time to...think everything through. He slipped down the hall and back to his room, but it felt too small in there and too much like him being a pouty teenager. His eyes were drawn to the window, and then suddenly he knew where he wanted to go.
He flipped the latches on his window and slid it open, and then slipped on his Spider-Man mask as a precaution before climbing out and scaling the wall to the roof.
It was his peaceful place. No one could reach him here unless they bothered to find the building's roof access door or could fly, which meant it was basically restricted to maintenance workers and superheroes. He walked across and sat a couple yards from the edge, taking off his mask and staring out at the city. At night, everything seemed a bit clearer. The deep blue of the sky brought out the lights and made Peter feel safe. He couldn't really explain it.
He was no closer to explaining his feelings toward the two men now in his life. He was trying not to make it too difficult, or get worked up about it, but he had to sort it out in his head. He couldn't move on until he knew.
Tony was gradually becoming…more. He had been for a little while now, over the afternooons in the lab, and movie nights, and all the times he'd been there for Peter when he got hurt. He showed he really cared.
But Happy would be Peter's legal guardian after he married May. But he was more like an uncle than anything. Would it be an insult to Happy for Peter to be closer to Tony? He didn't think so, but then Happy hadn't been family before now.
But what if Tony didn't really want to be that for Peter like he wanted him to be? What if he was expecting Happy to take over that role? He'd slowly slip out of his life.
Peter took a deep breath, the exhale pluming out into the air. It was insane that all of this had come from Tony showing up out of nowhere at his apartment a couple years ago. Peter took out his phone, catching sight of the picture of him and Tony in their sweaters, smiling, and he felt something prick in his chest.
He remembered he needed to text Ned the news.
May and Happy are getting married!
He typed it out and hit send, completely bewildered by it all. This was his life. His aunt was marrying Tony Stark's driver. Peter was Mr. Stark's mentee, and...maybe more. He shook away that thought.
His best friend still hadn't responded to the picture he'd sent earlier, and Peter figured he was busy with family. He clicked the lock on his phone and put it back in his pocket, then sat, getting lost in his tumbling thoughts again.
He was brought out of them as he heard a familiar sound.
Iron Man landed beside him on the roof, and Peter felt all the unsettled emotions in him churn again. He watched as the suit dissolved from around Tony, returning to the housing unit on his chest. He walked over and sat next to Peter on the cement. To his surprise, the man pulled out a scarf and started wrapping it around Peter's neck. "It's freezing out here," he commented.
The gesture only made Peter's heart hurt more. "Thanks," he said when Tony was finished, cheeks pink from the cold and from...more.
Tony gave him a small smile. "Hey, kid."
"Hey," Peter greeted.
"Are you still okay?"
Peter nodded halfheartedly. "Yeah. I'm just...thinking about everything."
Tony sniffed from the cold. "That's…good."
Peter snorted, his lip turning up. He stared out at the city again.
"But you're happy, right? You know, about..." Tony trailed off.
Peter nodded. "Oh, yeah. Of course."
"Good, because that's what I told Happy and May."
Peter smiled, and then it turned into a grimace. "Thanks. I'm sorry I ran off."
"Hey, you don't have to apologize to me."
Peter felt something in him sink further. Was that Tony's way of telling him he had no responsibility over him? That he was passing the torch pn to Happy? Or was that just him trying to make Peter feel better?
"So...what're you stewing about? It must be pretty big to make you stop talking," Tony joked, and Peter gave him a small push.
"It is, thank you very much."
"Care to tell me?"
Peter's chest ached, now. Why was he asking? Did he really care? Was he trying to help Peter, or was he just trying to fix him for Happy and May? "I don't know what to think about..." Peter bit his lip.
"About..?"
Peter took a sharp breath. "You," he admitted.
From the way Tony shuffled next to him, he guessed he was surprised. "Me? Well I'm an open book for you, Pete. What do you want to know?"
The man's openness almost made it harder. "It's…I don't know what you mean to be to me," Peter tried to explain.
"To you? Like what I…" He could tell Tony was a little confused.
"You're like a dad to me." The words were so sudden and bold, Peter almost wished he could take them back. Almost. "Whether that's what you wanted or not," Peter continued a lot more nervously. "But I don't want to offend Happy if I don't go to him like I go to you...But I don't even know if you want me like that. Or–if you see me like that. I just..." Peter stared at the cement beneath him, chest tight.
He felt Tony's hand rest on his shoulder. "Peter, I'm honored you see me that way."
Peter felt his face wince, began bracing himself for the killing blow.
"I'm sorry..." he mumbled.
"Hey." Tony's hand tightened on his shoulder, getting his attention. "Of course it's okay with me. And I know Happy will be okay with it too. He knows how you and me are." Peter felt marginally better, but still confused. Was this a cop-out, or..? He turned to Tony with knit eyebrows, and the man let out a resolute breath. "You're like my son. I hope you know that," Tony said quietly.
All of the doubt that still stirred through Peter was dissolved with those few words. His eyes looked to Tony's, and they were kind. "I hoped," he said softly.
"You'll always have me, kid." Tony said fervently. "And you have Happy too. So…you've got both of us. But the way I see it, this is the universe making up for Richard and Ben."
That hit Peter hard. He felt his eyes go warm with tears. He didn't have any words to say, then, but Tony didn't expect him to.
"C'mere, kiddo." Peter turned and was pulled into Tony's arms. He wrapped his arms around the man's middle, his head resting on his shoulder. Tony held him tightly, his hand settling gently on Peter's hair.
"Thank you," Peter whispered.
Tony knew just what he meant. "You'll always have me, Pete."
He said the words gently, but Peter could hear the solemnity beneath the surface. They made him feel secure in the universe. He nodded, burrowing his head into Tony's collarbone. "I love you," he said quietly, and he could both hear and feel Tony's heartbeat pick up speed.
He rubbed his back with a hand. "I love you, kid." They stayed that way until Peter was shivering with cold and Tony's face was near frozen, and then Tony helped him to his feet and flew them in the suit back to the ground. As they walked back up to their apartment, he kept an arm around his shoulders. "You know Happy cares about you a lot, right?"
Peter was surprised at the sudden divulgence. "Well, yeah, I mean...I know he's a bigger softie than he looks." A mischievous smile crept onto Peter's face. "One time he was over watching Downton Abbey with May and I caught him crying," Peter said, and Tony laughed.
"Exactly. He feels more than he says. Just...know that he's going to take good care of May. And you."
Peter nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks."
"You know, he actually talked to me about you when he told me he was going to propose to her. He wanted to make sure it was okay with you."
Peter raised his eyebrows. "That's thoughtful."
Tony nodded. "Yeah. He wants to make sure you don't feel like he's replacing anyone. You know."
Peter was quiet for a moment. Tony suddenly pointed a finger at him. "I know you—don't overthink it; I'm not trying to pass you on to Happy, I'm merely reassuring you. You're still my kid." Peter felt a flush of warmth go through him, and Tony looked down at him, almost surprised at what he'd said himself. "Gosh, you bring out the worst in me."
Peter laughed. "Most people would call that the best," he corrected.
Tony waved a hand. "Whatever."
They reached the Parkers' apartment door and Tony reached for the handle, but then stopped. "You know what? Why don't we leave the two newly engaged lovebirds and go back to the tower?"
Peter tilted his head, face curious. "You'd drive me back, too?"
Tony shrugged. "Or you can stay the night, if you want."
"Oh. I mean…sure. I don't have school tomorrow. Or for the next two weeks. So yeah. That works," he said a little awkwardly.
Tony smiled. "Okay. Let's go." He started back down the hall, Peter following after him.
They found Tony's fancy car parked outside and climbed in, Tony pulling out onto the street as Peter thought about how easily they decided things together. In less than thirty seconds, Peter had agreed to spend the night at the tower. In less than ten minutes, Tony had cleared up all of Peter's doubts on the roof. Tony just got Peter on a level he was constantly surprised by.
A few minutes into the drive, the man glanced over at him. "You're quiet again. You make me worried when you're quiet."
Peter smiled at his reasoning. "I'm just thinking. But it's helpful thinking, not unhelpful thinking."
Tony tilted his head. "Good. See, you're learning."
Peter rolled his eyes. "Like you only think helpfully, dad-"
The word broke off in Peter's throat, his face morphing into some kind of horror. It was just his luck that they came up to a red light, and Tony slowed the car to a stop before he turned to Peter, expression soft and serious.
"Pete, you can call me whatever you want."
Peter was hesitant. "Really? Because I know what you said up there on the roof but it still feels like a breach of something."
"I can't tell you you're like a son to me and then forbid you from calling me that."
Peter conceded quietly. The ride lapsed into quiet again, the only sounds coming from the car and the streets, and a low hum of music from the radio. Peter expected it to be an awkward silence, but it wasn't. It was peaceful. They were just like that. They knew when to talk, and when not to. At least, Peter mostly did. And Tony knew when to ask him more questions, and when to let things go.
"You know, you're a natural at it. At this mentor thing," Peter told him shyly.
Tony looked at him in genuine surprise. "Are you serious? I've been known to barely be able to take care of myself, let alone a younger, more fragile human being."
"That was in the past, though. And I haven't died yet, even as a superhero, so I'd say you're doing alright."
Tony was unexpectedly touched by Peter's words. "Thanks, Pete," he said, voice low. Peter's phone pinged, then, and he took it out, grinning at the sweater photo Ned had sent him from his house. Along with it was a reply to Peter's picture of him and Tony.
HOLY CRAP, PETER TONY STARK IS WEARING A STAR WARS SWEATER
Peter laughed.
"That Ned?"
He nodded. "Yeah. May took a picture of us in our sweaters, and Ned's dying over it."
The man smiled. "You should send it to me."
"Oh. Okay." Peter felt really special in that moment as he texted their picture to Tony, and Tony's phone buzzed in his pocket.
"Listen, if Ned wants to check out the tower sometime, he can."
Peter gaped at him. "You know he would die, right? Like quite possibly actually, literally die."
Tony chuckled. "Sounds like he needs to see it, then. Ask him when he can and then clear it with me, and you're good."
Peter smiled giddily. "Thank you. He's going to pass out when he sees you, though, just warning you."
Tony shrugged like it was no concern. "I've got a MedBay for that."
Peter texted Ned the news.
Tony says you can come see the tower sometime!
It took less than five seconds for his phone to ping frenetically with Ned's overexcited responses.
NO WAY
DUDE NO WAY!
PETER ARE U JOKING WITH ME BC IF U ARE ILL KILL U EVEN THO UR SPIDER MAN AND COULD TOTALLY KILL ME FIRST
Peter smiled to himself.
I'm not! He said it himself just now
And yeah I could totally kill u first
Then Ned again:
Congrats about Happy and May, btw!
"He's going to take you up on that offer," he told Tony simply.
The man snorted. "Bet he is."
They pulled into the tower garage, Tony parking the car in a line next to all his others and getting out. Peter followed, and they got halfway to the elevator door when Peter suddenly froze. "Crap, we didn't tell May."
Tony gave a slight shrug. "She probably hasn't noticed you left. Get used to being forgotten now, kid. Although for you, that'll probably be nice, 'cause it'll give you more time to sneak out and do dangerous stuff you're not supposed to do."
Peter dipped his head nonchalantly as he texted May. "True."
He squeaked when he felt Tony's hand muss up his hair. "That wasn't me encouraging said behavior, by the way." Tony's expression darkened.
Peter smoothed out his hair. "Seeing as Happy will be my guardian, I guess it'll be up to him and May to decide what behaviors I can and cannot participate in."
Tony's eyebrows rose. "Watch it, kid."
Peter grinned. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding."
Because that was really assuring. Tony looked at him sidelong as he pushed the elevator button. When they got in, Peter pressed the button for the penthouse floor on instinct.
When they walked out into the penthouse Peter immediately dive-bombed the couch, letting his eyes slip closed to rest for a minute.
"You tired already, kid?" Tony took off his jacket and draped it over his arm. Peter mumbled something, already a third of the way to REM. Tony watched him fondly. He was glad he was comfortable here. That he trusted Tony and the tower to keep him safe.
That would always be Tony's top priority—to keep Peter safe.
"I thought we'd have a movie night tonight, but since it's past a spider's bedtime..."
He watched with a smirk as Peter's eyes shot open and he pushed himself to a sitting position, blinking away sleep from his heavy eyes. "No, no...we should do it," Peter assured, and Tony gave him an eyebrow, unconvinced. "I'm good! I'll stay awake. I was just resting."
Tony snorted, watching as the kid gave everything in him to keep his eyes open. He started down the hall to his room.
"Alright, kid. Five minutes to change and brush your teeth and then it's movie time." The kid had to get ready for bed before the movie, because he'd be out before the opening credits were through. And Tony knew it, but he figured he'd indulge Peter tonight. It was Christmas Eve, after all, and, well...Tony wanted to keep the kid close. He knew how much Peter liked to cuddle but held himself back because he didn't want to make Tony uncomfortable. So tonight, he would let the kid cuddle till he passed out. When Tony returned with his pajamas on and his teeth brushed, Peter was already there, sitting cross-legged on the couch in Star Wars pajamas, scrolling through movie options. Tony felt a rush of warmth at the domestic scene. Here they were, on Christmas Eve, him and his kid, watching a movie in their pajamas. He would choose to be here over anything. He settled into the couch by Peter, who set the remote aside after picking Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
The opening credits rolled, and Peter kept a polite distance until Tony reached an arm up to rest on the top of the couch, and the kid took that as some kind of invitation. Peter sank into Tony's side with a happy sigh, and Tony welcomed the contact with an arm around the kid's shoulder.
To his credit, Peter made it all the way through the credits and through almost a third of the movie before Tony could feel his deep, even breaths that meant he was asleep. He whispered to Friday to stop the movie, and she did, leaving the room in a peaceful, glowing silence. Nothing but the Christmas tree Peter had practically forced him to put up kept the room lit up. Now, the kid's slack face was resting against Tony's chest and he had his arms tucked in close. He looked very comfortable.
Tony held him there, a love heavier than anything he'd ever felt weighing in his chest. He wanted to stay in that moment, the way his life looked at its best.
He stretched as far as he dared to grab the edge of the blanket laying on the couch, and he pulled it over them. Peter seemed to relax even more into the warmth, letting out a sleepy sigh. Tony watched him with soft eyes, and his heart felt warm in his chest. Peter may not have technically been his kid, but he was in every way that counted. He was going to help the universe give Peter the life he deserved. He was going to help make it up to him.