Chapter Text
After a good hour, Peter stood up, and Stephen looked up from his book from across the room “One more… then I’m done for the day”
Stephen’s brow furrowed “Are you sure? We can try again in a few hours, or even tomorrow. Despite him being stuck, we aren’t in a rush”
“No, no I want to try one more time. I just… I don’t want to go home thinking about all that.”
“That's understandable” Stephen nods, and then performs the spell one more time, the portal swirling before him
“Alrightie then… See you soon”
And with that, Peter stepped through.
The waves of magic felt strong as ever, and Peter grunted in annoyance of the feeling.
Once he opened his eyes again. He realized that he was short…. Really, really, short.
“.... Oh No” His voice all but confirmed his fear. He heard Stephens snort. “I’small!” He lamented.
”You sound adorable, if that's any comfort” “Tony is babysitting you for the hot single mom a few floors down”
Peter huffed “Soor”
“Kid, i’m going to need you to enunciate a little more”
Peter just grumbled, taking stock of the kitchen he was in, noticing a bag of chips on the counter that he definitely couldn’t reach at this minuscule height.
Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try.
He reached and jumped, whining as he tried and failed.
“By the vishanti, what the hell are you doing?” Stephen groused.
“I’n hungry” Peter simply answered.
“Peter. Focus” The man snapped, causing the boy to jump
“.... s’rry” The boy replied quietly.
“... it’s fine. Just, find Tony, okay?” The man softened his voice
“M'kay!” Peter nodded to himself, trying to listen to see if he heard anyone.
“.... And now you’re babysitting? Really, Anthony? Really?”
“Hey, it’s just a favor for a friend, okay? She trusts me”
“I wouldn’t trust you with a goddamn goldfish. You’re 19, Anthony, you’re lucky I even let you live in an apartment and don’t make you live on campus!”
He followed the arguing, the walk painfully slow due to his tiny feet.
“Yeah, I am 19, so why do you think you can make me do anything?”
“Because you are a hopeless, lost cause of a child!” The other voice was raised - Peter knew that voice.
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to keep his promise concerning punching Howard in the face, given his little hands.
“If you keep up this bullshit you will never amount to anything, you hear me?!” Peter turned the corner just in time to see Howard Stark’s nostrils flare “Even if you did now I have my doubts”
Peter’s eyes looked to Tony, whose fists were clenched, but whose mouth was shut.
Howard kept on going, berating, demeaning, and Tony was just taking it.
The anger in Peter’s tiny body was practically radiating off of him, and, without much forethought, he stormed in
“SHUT UP!!!!”
Howard stopped mid sentence, eyes cast down at Peter. God, was the man really that tall?
Any fear Peter might have felt was blinded by his anger though, however irrational.
“You don’know anythin’!” Peter shouted “He’s gon’ be great! Th-the greatess!!’
Peter could feel himself trembling. Tony said nothing
“He’s gon’ ch-change the world an’ you’re jus’ gon’ be a foo’note!” The child announced
Howards nostrils flared again, looking at Tony before looking back down at Peter
“.... Of course He’s going to be great. He’s a Stark” Howard pressed. “And it will be because he finally listened-”
“NO!” Peter nearly screamed. He could feel his face heat up in anger “He’ll be better than’ou!”
“Because of m-”
“No!!!! In-In spite of you!!!!” Peter pressed, nearly screaming. He panted slightly, breaths heavy. Did getting mad always make him his tired?
Howard’s expression nearly made the kid freeze in place. It must have, in some way, because the man yanked at Peters arm so hard he cried out
“Is this all my son can get to defend himself??? A stuttering retard?!” Howard scolded, pulling the boy up more, straining his arm. Peter could feel the tears coming as he stuttered out a whimper “You name, boy” The man nearly sneered,
“P-Peter Parker” He tried not to sound scared, but he felt the panic in his chest. His breathing picking up.
“Well Peter Parker, you mother clearly doesn’t discipline you,” he pulled Peter again “I’ll have to do this myself”
Peter’s stomach dropped
But before he could be pulled further, he saw another hand grab Howard’s wrist so tight that it caused the older man to let go of Peter, who fell on his rear end and stared, sniffling and with what he totally would deny were tears of fear on his cheeks at Tony, young and strong, staring into his fathers eyes with what Peter could only read as hatred.
“Get out” Tony ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“Anth-”
“Out” He practically tossed the man’s arm out of his and stared at him
Howard had the gaul to straighten his tie and glare down at Peter before turning and leaving.
Neither of them moved until they heard a door slam, and Tony turned around, the anger in his face gone as if it was never there.
“Hey, hey” He said quietly “It’s okay” He got on one knee, reaching forward “Did he hurt you?”
Peter had the dumb idea to shake his head, while also holding his shoulder, which ached. Tony couldn’t hold back an amused snort as his hands found Peter’s waist, and picked him up.
“Let’s check that arm, underoos” Tony said quietly, resting the boy against his hip, walking out to the hall and into the kitchen.
It took Peter a solid moment before realizing what he’d been called.
The boy pulled his head from Tony’s shoulder (when had he leaned like that?) “You ‘member!” Peter announced
“Yeah, I “member”, kid” Tony replied, exasperatedly, sitting the kid on the counter “But that can wait. Where does it hurt?”
Peters brow furrowed “Wh- but I foun’ you! I’ took like, 6 tries bu-”
“Peter” Tony’s hands were on his hips, and the tot deflated a little before lifting his left arm, where there was an angry looking bruise on his arm starting to form. The look on Tony’s face was a mix of frustration and guilt. He looked over the arm carefully, holding it “... Your shoulder?”
“Jus’ a lil’ ache” Peter reassured “It’ll be gone soon”
“... I’m sorry. He shouldn’t have even touched you”
“I’s kay, misser Stark” Peter’s sad eyes softened Tony’s expression as he let go of the tot’s arm
“... I’ll have to take your word for it” The man responded. “Now,back to the matter at hand.. How the hell-”
”Peter, peter did you find him?” Stephen’s voice finally came from Peter’s earpiece. Loud enough that Tony heard him, and stared incredulously.
“.... Kid, tell me Strange didn’t send a teenager bouncing around time”
“.... So’ry?” Peter awkwardly grinned.
Tony inhaled and grumbled, holding his hand out.
Peter didn’t even argue, he took the earpiece out, and dropped it into the adults hand, pouting.
Tony popped the piece into his ear, and, with his free hands, picked Peter up, holding him under his little toddler legs and putting the boy’s head against his shoulder
“Hey there, Miss Frizzle.” Tony greeted Stephen. Peter couldn’t hear his reply, as he started to feel weirdly exhausted. Maybe it was just the anxiety of the previous interaction with Howard Stark finally leaving his tiny body.
The adults kept talking as Tony walked, and the steadiness of his steps was starting to make Peter feel more tired, his weight leaning further into his mentor’s shoulder.
“... roos? Petey, don’t pass out on me now”
“Uh?” Peter blinked and rubbed at his eyes , tilting his glasses. “No’sleep”
“Sure, Pete”
Peter looked up at Tony, glasses tilted
“God, you’re adorable” Tony commented, fixing his glasses with his free hand. “We’re headed home, kid. I can’t carry a 16 year old when i’m in my 50s. That’s not gonna fly”
“Oh, kay!” Peter nodded. “... m’ happy I foun’ you” Peter announced “There’s lossa bouncin’ I did an’ … i’ wasn’ fun”
Stark exhaled. “Well, you found me, bud. And I’m so happy you did” the man reassured, smiling.
Peter let out a tired giggled “Y’r smile’s always th’same” he pointed out.
“Well, that’s good to know” Tony commented, grabbing something from a shelf beside them “Do you need anything before Strange takes us back? Does your arm still hurt?”
“No” Peter lied
“Pete”
“I’s only a lil!” The tot argued “I’ll be fine when we’re back”
Tony didn’t look like he was buying it
“Can we go… pease?”
Then Tony snorted a bit “peas?”
Peter just pouted. Tony laughed.
There was a knock at the door, and a voice familiar to both of them rung out “Stark? I have your spare key fabricated for your friend? Want me to leave it under the door”
Tony paused, looked down at Peter, then looked towards the door
“Uh, yeah, slide it under, thanks!”
“No problem!”
And then there was silence
“... Aas tha’ Aun’May?” Peter asked - his voice near frantic “Firs’ you know m’dad an’ now Aun’May???” Peter grabbed at Tony’s shirt and attempted to shake the man, but had no strength.
“I knew your dad?”
“You sai’ you knew Richie Park’r” Peter recalled.
“... Richie Parker is your father??” Tony seemed just as surprised as he was.
And suddenly, a portal opened.
“... We’ll talk about that later” Tony addressed, turning and putting Peter down on his feet “God, you’re so tiny”
“Shush” Peter pouted, looking at the glowing portal. “Le’s go”
“Alrightie, Petey,” Tony offered his hand “..... Thank’s for coming for me, kid”
Peter gave him a big grin - not knowing he was missing a tooth “N’problem Misser Stark!”
Tony could feel his heart melt, but he couldn’t let his sentimentality linger. He kept his hand in Peter’s and walked the two of them through.
Blinding lights and waves of magic later, Tony stuttered into his older self with a bit more grace than Peter did, funny enough. Mostly because he landed on the floor, while Peter knocked right into a sofa and fell into the cushions - back to his still adorable 16 year old self.
“Oof” Was all Peter said
“Oof to you too” Stephen responded “Good to see you, Tony”
Tony lifted up the book in his other hand “All this trouble for one dumb book, huh?”
“Well, you’re back aren’t you?”
“Yeah, because you had to use one of my kids to get me”
The men went back and forth as Peter stared from his fallen place on the couch. He was really starting to feel his exhaustion catch up with him, but he did manage a smile.
After all Tony went through, he was still a good person. That was pretty cool.
“-er?” He heard a voice call. He grumbled in response.
“He’s exhausted, let him sleep” Stephen’s voice punctuated
“He should sleep in a bed, Strange” Tony argued
“That couch is very comfortable” Strange argued back.
“Yeah, for a 40 year old who still studies like a grad student, maybe. But Spider-Baby deserves to sleep in an actual bed. Gimmie my phone, I’m calling Happy to get us. We’ll get his ass home before May chews us out”
May… what did Peter want to ask about that?
“Mm…. Misser Stark?” Peter slurred
“Hm?” Tony turned his head
“How’d y’know May?”
“I’ll tell you when you’re not half awake, okay?”
Peter weighed his options before readjusting on the couch “... kay”
He heard a chuckle, and felt someone sit by his head, a hand going into his hair
“Happy won’t be here for another 30 minutes, kid. Rest while you can”
Peter didn’t respond, as he felt sleep finally take a firm hold with Tony pushing his hand through his hair, the same way always did.
Tony smiled a bit. What worked on one kid worked on the other, so it seemed
“Thanks for coming to get me, kid” Tony’s voice was heavy with gratitude. “And for all the times you helped me. . . I can only hope I’m helping you too”
“You are” Strange confirmed from his chair at the opposite end of the study, a small, rare smile on his face
Tony returned the smile smiled at the affirmation. After all, if the Sorcerer Supreme confirms it, then it must be true.
The billionaire allowed himself to lean back and relax, content that he’d be home soon, and that everything, as always, was going to be just fine.