Chapter Text
Tony’s home for the first time since Adam took in the twins. They haven’t spoken to him yet, they simply stare at him from around corners or across the dinner table with wide hazel-green eyes. He’s not sure how to get them to trust him, not when they don’t trust anyone but family - the family they've known for months, not the stranger in their midst.
“Play something for me,” Faith tells him, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm and distracting him from his thoughts.
“What do you want?” he asks, automatically leading her to the piano. He'd been self-conscious when he'd first played in front of his siblings, memories of being rapped on the knuckles in the forefront of his mind, but it had gradually become something of a comfort to both them and him.
“The one you used to play Parker when she couldn't sleep.”
Tony sits down at the piano and Faith settles in beside him. He runs his fingers along the keys without playing any, just getting a feel for sitting there again. It's been months since he's touched a piano. As much as he loves college and his frat, his love of piano isn't really something he feels comfortable indulging. Although, he has been tempted to pick up guitar.
Finally, he begins to play 'Sweet Child of Mine', remembering how he'd first played it for Parker not too long after she joined them because he thought she should know she had her own warm safe place with them.
He closes his eyes, losing himself in the familiarity of the motions and the comfort of Faith, of family, at his side. It's only after the last notes fade that he realises he's been humming along. Faith meets his sheepish smile with a grin and pats his knee before getting up.
A moment later, Alec approaches, cautious and slow.
“How did you play it without any notes?” Alec asks him. Tony shrugs.
“I guess I played it so often I don't need any.”
Alec is silent then and Tony copies him, because he isn't sure where Alec is going with this or what he wants and Tony doesn't want to spoil whatever progress they've made.
“Can you teach me?”
“Sure,” Tony says, unable to withhold his grin. “Come on.”
Alec scrambles onto the seat next to him, ducking under Tony's arm so that it rests across his shoulders, and places his hands next to Tony's on the keys.