Chapter Text
“STOP PETER!” Morgan yelled.
“YOU STOP FIRST!” 13 year old Peter Stark yelled back at his five year old sister.
Tony took a deep breath from the kitchen. Pepper had been gone for almost a week on a trip and Tony had already decided that this single parenting thing wasn’t for the weak of heart.
“I don’t care what you’re fighting about, but both of you cut it out right now!” Tony yelled.
“Daddy! Petey took the TV away from me when I was watching Vampirina!” Morgan said from the doorway.
Tony picked up his five year old daughter and carried her back to the living room where Peter had put on his head set and the game console was now up and running on the TV, “Peter Benjamin Stark. You’re sister was watching something first.”
“Dad! You always take her side!” Peter yelled.
Tony counted to three before responding, “I don’t. She is younger than you though and you know better. You can play your game after dinner, but right now it’s Morgan’s turn with the TV.”
Peter put his headset on the TV stand, “This is dumb. Hope you’re happy Morgan.”
Morgan smiled not understanding the sarcasm behind his words, “I am, Petey!”
Peter stomped off to his bedroom.
~
Peter wasn’t talking at dinner. Morgan filled the silence with tales of her day and of what she’d watched on the TV earlier. Peter just ignored it all.
“How long are you doing to use the silent treatment, Peter?” Tony finally asked him interrupting
Morgan’s current topic about who would win a fight Vampirina or a unicorn.
Peter just continued to eat his food in silence.
“Maybe he’s sick again.” Morgan suggested as the cause for his silence because she remembered another time that Peter had been sick and unable to communicate vocally.
“I don’t think so, Mo. It’s fine though because he’ll have to ask for dessert or he isn’t getting any.” Tony said picking up both his and Morgan’s plates from the table and taking them to the dishwasher.
“He can’t have any juice pops?” Morgan’s face expressed her horror at this thought.
~
Pepper got walked into their family cabin early the next morning. The house was trashed. It looked like Morgan had built a fort again in the living room. Blankets and pillows everywhere. Peter had left his backpack and school work all over the table in the dining room. There was even a partially eaten juice pop melted onto the table. Pepper sighed. She’d encourage the whole family to have a Saturday deep clean after she got some sleep.
Pepper checked on Peter first. He was sleeping in bed and he had kicked his comforter off per the norm. Pepper picked it up and put it over him again. She kissed the top of his head. She then moved to check on Morgan. Morgan was fine, but she watched her chest rise and fall just for a minute. She liked seeing that her world was okay.
Pepper slid into bed next to Tony and he stirred just a bit.
“We missed you.” He pulled her close.
“Missed you too!” Pepper answered cuddling next to her husband, best friend, and love of her life.
Pepper woke up to an empty bed and a note,
“Peter and I had to leave to help the Avengers.
P.S
Sorry the house is still a mess.
~TS.”
Pepper resigned herself to the fact that she’d be cleaning the house with a five year underfoot who probably missed her mom and just wanted to cuddle with her. Maybe they’d cuddle first and clean second. Yeah that sounded like a good plan.
~
By the time they got back to the new Avengers training facility after the mission both Tony and Peter were heated.
“YOU DON’T TRUST ME! YOU CAN’T KEEP BENCHING ME!” Peter yelled.
“YOU NEVER GIVE ME A REASON TO TRUST YOU!” Tony yelled back.
“You know what guys. I think we should separate and debrief on this one.” Steve told them.
“Fine. Fine.” Peter threw his hands in the air ripping off his mask and stomping off to one of the conference rooms.
“Nat? Tony or Peter?” Steve asked.
“While I do love Peter but I’ll let you calm down that hot head today.” Natasha teased following Tony to a different conference room.
~
“Peter. You know your dad trusts you.” Steve said coming into the room.
“Then why did he bench me? I could have helped! He treats me like a little kid!” Peter whined.
“Well you are thirteen and you are his kid. I can see why’d he be worried about bringing you into a fight.” Steve sat down across from him.
“He’s being unreasonable. He found out about Spider-Man and he was mad, but he said I could keep being Spider-Man, but this isn’t the same. This is him keeping me where he can keep an eye on me and I’m not doing any actually good.” Peter crossed his arms over his chest.
“I think he just wants to keep you safe.”
“Yeah right.” Peter rolled his eyes.
~
“He’s Spider-Man. He’s got a point. You shouldn’t bench him every fight.” Natasha said taking a sip from a water she grabbed from the mini fridge.
“He’s a kid. My kid. If he gets hurt that’s on me.” Tony told her.
“But we’re all there. If he’s in over his head then we pull him out of the fight until then we trust that we’ve trained him and he knows what he’s doing.”
“He’s not ready! It’s my call!” Tony said standing up and walking out to go find Peter so they could go home.
“Let’s go!” He told Peter opening up the door.
Peter rolled his eyes but stood up.
“Peter? Remember what I said?” Steve asked.
“He’s not trying to be an overbearing monster.” Peter sighed.
Tony frowned, “Wow. Thanks Rogers.”
~
Peter walked into the house and went up to his room and slammed the door.
Pepper sighed looking at Tony from where she sat with Morgan reading on the couch, “What did you do?”
“Why does everyone blame me for this? The kid’s just in a rotten mood.” Tony said.
“Petey was real mad at daddy yesterday, Mommy.” Morgan told Pepper.
“Why was Petey real mad?” Pepper looked at Tony as she asked.
Morgan still responded, “He didn’t get one juice pop.”
“Oh. That does sound terrible.” Pepper agreed.
“I’d be so sad.” Morgan nodded.
At dinner everything was calm. Pepper and Peter talked even if he was still ignoring Tony. Morgan added in her conversation. No one was yelling until both Peter and Morgan reached for the last dinner roll.
“Daddy! I wanted that piece of bread!” Morgan started to cry as Peter took it.
“Peter. Can you just let her have the bread? You can have a snack after she goes to B E D.” Tony said.
Peter just shook his head and gave her the bread, “Why not because Morgan always gets what she wants? I don’t even fit in here.”
“Peter I don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course you do.” Tony said trying not to lose his patience with his moody teenager.
“I do get lots of stuff, Petey!” Morgan agreed her eyes lighting up
“May I be excused?” Peter asked Pepper.
“I’d rather we talk this out.” Pepper said.
“I’m not talking any longer so we can sit in silence then.”
“Mo Mo? Please go play in the living room for a bit, okay?” Pepper asked.
“MOM. NO! I want to stay!” Morgan protested.
“I’m sorry, but this is a talk with just Peter, mommy and daddy. Okay?”
Morgan sighed but did as she was told.
“Peter. Just talk to us. What’s going on in that head of yours?” Pepper asked.
Peter looked down because he didn’t want them to see that he was actually more hurt than angry and stayed quiet.
“Come on, Peter. We can’t fix what we don’t know is broken.” Pepper tried again.
“Fine. You left last week and I had a decathlon meet, but Morgan also had a ballet recital. Dad went to Morgan’s ballet recital.” Peter pointed out.
“I—“ Tony started.
Pepper held up a hand to stop him so Peter could continue.
“Then I asked dad for help with homework but Morgan needed a bath.” Peter explained.
“This isn’t fair—“ Again Tony was cut off, but this time with a glare.
“Then dad was late picking me up from school because he had to pick up Morgan first. After that he missed our lab time he scheduled to make up for all of the over stuff because Morgan insisted they cuddle because she missed you. I can keep going about all of the time’s dad picked Morgan last week over me. I don’t know. It feels personal. I mean is it because I have a different biological mom?” Peter didn’t even look up as he said this because they would see the insecurity written all over his face.
“Peter. Morgan is five years old. I mean last week was outside the norm because Pepper was out of town. You know I love you both equally.” Tony said.
“What about the week before that? Mom was home. You told me you’d help me with my Spider-Man suit but then Morgan got a fever. AND you missed our planned movie night because you fell asleep early when you went to get Morgan ready for bed.”
“Okay. Pete. I get it. I’m not trying to pick favorites though. I mean Morgan really did get sick and Pepper couldn’t leave work because she had an important meeting. Falling asleep was an accident. I was exhausted because Morgan had been up sick all night the previous evening. I’m sorry you’re feeling like this, bud. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you’re less important.”
Peter just wiped at a tear, “Can I go?”
“Absolutely not.” Pepper told him.
“Why? I don’t want to talk about this any longer.” Peter cried.
“Tough. I need you to hear this. Dad and I love both you and Morgan the same. We don’t love you less because you have a different biological mom. We don’t mean to choose one over the other and I’m sorry that we’ve been dropping the ball a lot lately. We’ll try and do better.” Pepper squeezed his hand.
“Fine. Now can I go?” Peter begged.
“I suppose.” Pepper nodded.
Once both kids were out of the room Pepper raised a brow at Tony.
“Don’t even give me that look! Running a household with one parent while you’re gone is hard! I did the best I could.” Tony crossed his arms over his chest.
“Have we really been choosing Morgan that much?” Pepper asked face in hands.
“It’s hard because Peter is so independent that I think we forget that he’s still a kid and needs us just as much as Morgan.” Tony sighed.
“We need to do better at juggling this parenting thing on top of work, and super hero stuff.” Pepper told him.
Tony nodded in agreement.
~
Peter went to sit out on the dock that night after everyone had gone to bed. He put his feet in the water. He knew someone was approaching because of his Spidey Sense. He also knew they posed no threat for the same reason so he didn’t bother turning to see who it was.
“I’m sorry. I screwed up.” Tony said sitting down.
“Yeah. You did.” Peter agreed.
“I really do love you. I’m going to do better.”
“You say that, but the thing is…Morgan has ballet again next weekend and I have a science fair. Mom’s not in town again next weekend. How do you manage to pull off being in two places at once?” Peter tossed a stone across the water.
“I can’t. There is one of me and two of you and that makes choosing what event to go to a struggle. No matter what I choose. Someone feels left out. How do I handle this fairly, Peter? I also can’t just leave the five year old alone. I know that sucks, but it does mean I have to go with her more often because she isn’t able to take care of herself as well as you are.”
“Just sucks. You miss everything important to me.” Peter shrugged.
Tony’s heart broke a bit. He didn’t want his kid feeling like this, but he didn’t see an easy solution, “We’re working on a solution. Can you be patient with us?”
Peter shrugged, “Don’t have too much a choice, do I?”
~
Peter wasn’t surprised when no parent showed up to his science fair to see him win first place. He wasn’t surprised when no one remembered to pick him up and Ned’s mom had to drive him back to the cabin. Peter walked inside and found Tony and Morgan napping on the couch. Tony’s phone was still vibrating with an alarm that said, “PICK UP PETER!” Peter turned it off and went upstairs.
Tony woke up and checked his watch in a panic realizing he’d slept way too long, “Friday? Did Peter get home?”
“He’s home and currently on the roof.” Friday confirmed.
“Petey only goes to the roof when he’s big mad.” Morgan told him waking up.
“I know. Daddy just keeps messing up, huh?” Tony said.
“Yeah, but you’re trying. You just gotta keep trying.” Morgan said squishing his cheeks with her hands.
“Okay, Mo. I’ll keep trying. What do I do if I keep messing up though?” Tony asked the five year old.
“Call mom then. She always knows what to do.” Morgan said.
Tony nodded. The kid wasn’t wrong.
~
Peter got a text, “Come inside please. You’ll give your old man a heart attack.”
Peter considered ignoring the text but then worried his dad might be serious and went inside.
Peter found Tony and Morgan coloring now that they were awake.
“Wanna color, Petey?” Morgan asked.
“No thanks.” Peter mumbled.
“Want to show me your prize?” Tony asked.
“How do you know I got a prize. You didn’t bother to show up.”
“Patience. Pete. I asked for patience while we find a better system. I also know you won because you’re you and you’re crazy smart.”
“Did you ask Morgan to have patience? No. You went to her event, Dad.” Peter said walking out of the room.
“Daddy?” Morgan asked looking up from her picture.
“What is it, baby?” Tony asked.
“You should call mommy now.” Morgan said before picking out a pink crayon and continuing to color.
~
The next morning at school Peter was still in a horrible mood so when Flash started teasing him about his choice of shirt Peter did the only thing a teenager on edge can do. He punched him right in the face.
“Just stay on the ground! I’m tired of you!” Peter yelled and Flash flinched.
“MR. STARK!” His science teacher pointed down the hall.
“Principle Morita?” Peter asked.
Peter received a nod in confirmation.
While he waiting in the office he kept watching the clock. Finally Principle Morita came out of his office, “Peter. Your dad is coming, but he’s stuck in traffic.”
“That’s surprising.” Peter mumbled.
Tony finally walked in a few minutes later and they both went into the office.
~
“Suspended! Peter! Suspended!” Tony yelled once they got home.
“It’s only three days!” Peter yelled back.
“A suspension is a suspension. It doesn’t matter the length. You never should have punched that kid!” Tony said.
“Yeah well. He deserved it. He’s been bullying me all year.” Peter mumbled sitting down on the couch.
“He’s been what?” Tony paused.
“Yeah. I know you’re a bit checked out on my life right now and it would appear you only come when I’m in deep trouble, but I tried to talk to you about this and you always had something come up.” Peter shrugged.
Tony sat down, “I’m sorry.”
“You keep saying that. Sorry ceases to mean anything unless there is a changed action behind the word.” Peter told him.
“Okay. You’re right.” Tony agreed pulling out his phone.
“I’m right?” Peter asked shocked that his dad hadn’t risen to the fight Peter was ready for.
“Yeah. Pull out your calendar. We need to figure out a way to make this more fair. I need to spend more time with you.” Tony explained.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Peter warned.
“I’m not. I promise. We’ll figure it out. I’ll ask Aunts and Uncles to pitch in as needed. Just tell me where you need me?” Tony asked.
Peter looked down, “I do need a couple of things.”
Tony nodded giving him permission to ask.
“Start trusting me on mission and let me fight with you. You can’t argue because that’s us spending time together!”
“I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit, but I’ll try.” Tony agreed.
“Show up at my next major school event which is a parent/teacher conference. My teacher says he doesn’t think you’ve ever made it to one. That’s just sad.”
Tony laughed, “Okay. I get it. I’ll be there, but I mean really? He’s going to say you’re an awesome student!”
“Well maybe not my science teacher…He saw me punch Flash. He may have some other things to say.” Peter warned.
“We’ll handle it.”
“Maybe come say goodnight at night?” Peter said this one more quietly. He knew Tony would take this one hard.
Tony glanced up in shock. When was the last time he’d gone to say goodnight to Peter before bed besides a casually goodnight thrown out as Peter walked down the hall while Tony read to Morgan. He couldn’t remember.
“Peter. I’m sorry. I know. I know. You need to see a changed action, but I am really sorry.” Tony pulled him in for a hug and his kid melted into him wrapping his arms around him.
“You got busy.” Peter gave him some grace.
“No. That ends now. I’m no longer too busy for you.” Tony told him.
~
That evening Tony pulled both kids into his room with him. Morgan climbed onto the big bed with a boost from her brother and Peter slid in on the other side. Both kids laid against him as he opened up one of Morgan’s story books to read to them.
Peter sighed with contentment. He didn’t feel like the odd one out tonight.