Chapter Text
"Read this."
Tony looks up at Pepper who, despite her tone, looks rather happy as she sits down on the couch in the common room. He sets down his empty glass of orange juice - it is completely okay to drink orange juice in the afternoon, okay - and he looks down at the tablet in his hands.
Stark's New Intern Steals the Spotlight!
Cutest Duo on the Carpet!
"The media is eating him up," Pepper says, though she sounds happy when she says it. She can see it in Tony's eyes that this is good, he's finally happy after all the shit that's gone down in the company and their divorce and the alien invasion. After all the shit that Tony's gone through, she knows it's all worth it at this point, to see him smiling over tabloid headlines about Peter from the Gala last night.
Tony continues to look through them all.
Stark's Youngest Date Seen EVER Steals the Hearts of the Media!
READ ALL ABOUT IT: Tony Stark and Intern Peter Parker Share Adorable Moment Talking About Some POSSIBLY Future Plans for Stark Industries
And Tony's all-time favorite one:
Watch Out Manhattan, Stark Junior is On the Rise
"He looks happy," Tony grins, and Pepper just smiles softly at him. "Oh, look!" Tony literally grabs an interview from the tablet and pulls it up in front of them. The title reads: "Peter Parker is the CUTEST Face of the Night."
The reported, Hanna West, is on the screen along with the red carpet and the Expo is just right in the background of the many people attending the Gala.
"We're here tonight, LIVE, at the Stark Expo, the main site for this year's Gala in support of MIT's Science and Engineering. Tonight it looks to be a full house as everyone starts to come in. The Iron Patriot has arrived looking lavish in his suit and - Oh, look! Tony Stark himself has arrived in his very one Stark Car. But, it seems he's not alone tonight?"
The cameraman pans over, faces and bodies blurring as the lens finds Tony with his back towards the carpet helping a very flustered looking Peter out of the vehicle. Happy arrives to catch the keys to the car and drives it off as the two make their way into the crowd. Tony knows almost, if not all the reporters on site that night, so he gets swallowed up leaving Peter to glance around nervously before being beckoned over by Hanna, who seems happy to have snatched up this new kid before anyone else could get their hands on him.
"So, you're this new intern the media has been raving about all these weeks," She says, getting Peter to glance at her awkwardly. "What's your name, intern?"
Peter noticably gulps and looks around nervously, which makes Tony smile small as he watches the video. Pepper can't help but chuckle at how his eyes keep looking all over the place. He's just as cute kid.
"I- I- Uh, I'm P-Peter," he stammers after a few seconds, which makes even Hanna laugh. "Peter Parker."
"Well Peter, what brings you to tonight's event?" She asks, moving the microphone from herself over to Peter who stiffens as he glance over his shoulder.
"T-The Stark Car did, but I think Mr. Happy has taken off with it to somewhere," He looks back to her to see she's smiling and he lets out a nervous chuckle.
Hanna notes onto Peter's awkwardness quickly, a good habit to have as a reporter out on the carpet. She thinks fast to change the subject to a more specific question, much to Tony's delight.
"You arrived with Tony Stark, yeah? What's it like being his intern?" She asks, and that gets Peter to grin almost instantly, his hands still fiddle with the front of his coat, though.
"Mr. Stark is amazing. I think we've spent more hours in the lab together then I've been to school all week. It's amazing, having him at a mentor and to show me all sorts of new ways to upgrade my own projects and inventions," Peter gushes, and Hanna seems to have fallen quickly for his young charm. "Mr. Stark is has made such a huge impact on my life, I feel so thankful just to even get a call from him."
"Means you two are close then?" She quiries, but that's when Tony himself sneaks into from behind Peter just before scaring the daylights out of him on camera. Peter, even with company, doesn't hesitate to whine and pout like a big baby.
"Can't take us anywhere," Tony laughs out loud as he throws his arm around Peter, the young boy beaming at his side.
"Oh, I have a meeting to get to but," Pepper looks over at Tony, who is still watching the video and scrolling through even more articles on the tablet. "I'll see you for dinner," she sighs contently, getting up and leaning over to kiss Tony's temple before she takes off.
Tony Breaks the Internet By Bringing His Son to the Gala! His SON!
Tony Stark and Peter Parker Share Heartfelt Moment Talking About Science Things We Can't Understand
Tony smiles as pulls out his own phone to see a text from Peter himself. A quick, short, to the point 'i'll be at the tower in 20min, mr. stark.' He just can't get enough of the kid.