Chapter Text
You could feel your hands twisting around themselves, an obvious sign of the nervousness eating you up inside. This weekend it was you and your dad hanging out in the cabin he had bought shortly after he married Pepper. Just a daddy-daughter weekend where the two of you would just hang-out, watch some movies, and just exist . At least that was the goal.
Things had gotten better between the two of you since that night in his workshop. You two actually talked . Sure, there were some spats here and there, but even that was new. Before you would just simmer in silence and live any anger you had towards him. Now it was like you were actually father and daughter and it just felt right . You felt like you could trust him to be there for you, a feeling that was not present before the Big Blow-Up , as you liked to call it. That being said, that trust did not make what you needed to say on this trip any easier on you.
Your phone buzzed in your lap. Have you told him yet? Let me know when you do.
Your dad, who was sitting on the opposite end of the couch from you, looked up with an expression that could almost be labeled as concern as you tried to discretely blink away your tears.
God, why did telling the truth have to be so hard?
You heard the sound from the TV stop as he paused Mary Poppins , one of the few movies you and Tony enjoyed in equal measure, though it just about killed the man to admit it.
“Y/N, talk to me. What’s going on? You’ve been on edge all weekend? I’m starting to think you’re hiding something from me. ” the man asked, using his “worried dad” voice.
You pulled your knees as close to your chest as you could. With the way you were sitting, your back was against the armrest of the couch and you were facing him. You laid your cheek against your knees, your face towards the TV.
“I’m fine, Dad.” Coward .
Tony let out a cross between a scoff and a disgruntled laugh. “Yeah, like I believe that. Try again, please?” he said, moving so he was in your direct line of sight. “You can tell me anything, Y/N.”
You could feel yourself getting a faraway look in your eyes, as you started absent-mindedly biting your lip. Now or never, right?
You moved so your body was facing his, feet on the ground, but refused to make eye contact with him. You had yourself hunched over, elbows resting on your knees, hands resting on your face. “Uh, do you remember the night of our big fight how you said that you would be there for me and that you love me and all of that stuff?” you mumbled, almost to yourself.
“Yeah, I remember.”
“You meant it, right? Like all of it?” You could hear yourself starting to sound teary, but you just couldn’t get the tears to stop .
“Y/N, can you look at me, please?” your dad coaxed gently, slowly guiding you to meet his gaze. “ Of course I meant it. All of it. Now, what’s going on?” He gently wiped away the tears that were trailing down your face.
“You know that friend I talk about? The one that got me to start listening to fiction podcasts?”
“Yeah, what about her?”
You took a deep breath. You got this . “What… what if we - me and her - weren’t just friends ?” you asked timidly, your eyes parting from his again. You could feel yourself pulling your knees back up again.
“You mean, you want to know what I would think if you two were dating?” he asked.
“ Yeah .”
He took a deep breath of his own. He took your hands in his and gave them a tight squeeze. “Well, I can’t say I’m thrilled -” he was cut off by a choking sob from you.
“Hey, sweetheart, just let me finish,” he said, letting go of your hands, bringing his own to cradle your face in them. “What I was trying to say is that I’m not thrilled with you dating anyone , whether they are a guy, a girl, or someone who identifies as neither. You are my baby and the thought of you dating anyone is terrifying to me. But , if this person makes you happy, then who am I to say no? I want you to be happy, Sweetheart. And quite honestly, as far as you liking girls go, I couldn’t care less. As long as you are safe and happy, I am good. Does that answer your question?”
You nodded, before launching yourself into his arms for a hug. He wrapped his arms so tightly around you that if almost felt like a rib would crack but it was nice. Even with the tears that poured down your face as you sobbed in his arms, it felt nice. You felt loved .
“Thank you,” you whispered. For loving me. For being there for me. For being the best dad you can be. For everything.
“You don’t need to thank me for anything. I love you, kid. Nothing is ever going to change that.”