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Tony knocked on the side of the open doorway once before walking in and sliding next to Peter where he sat on the bed, head in his hands. The kid hadn’t said a word since he’d slipped quietly into the lakehouse, asking Pepper if he could crash there for the night.
“Wanna talk about it, bud?”
Peter shook his head but started talking anyway, his voice shaking despite his best efforts. “I just- MJ and I got into this fight and I- it was so stupid, but we both got mad and-“ Peter cut himself off, his voice breaking.
Tony nodded sympathetically, wrapping an arm around Peter’s shoulders. The kid leaned towards him, blinking back tears.
“It’s not stupid, kid.”
Despite his best efforts, tears started to slide down Peter’s cheeks. Tony held the kid steady as he shook with quiet sobs.
“I was late to pick her up after patrol, and she was annoyed, and then- and it was so dumb but I blew up, and then I just left.” Peter’s breath hitched as he rambled, his words spilling out unsteadily. “I couldn’t go back to our apartment, but it was stupid, I shouldn’t have- what if that was it, what if she wants us to break up?”
Tony shook his head, a familiar fondness rising in his chest as he softly ruffled the kid’s hair. He barely remembered what it was like to be Peter’s age, a twenty-year-old trying to figure everything out. But what he did remember, he didn’t miss.
“It’ll be alright, Pete, you guys will figure it out. And I know the whole superhero gig can put a strain on any relationship, but if she’s the right person, you can work it out. Just give it a little time and space, yeah?”
Peter nodded and they sat like that for a while, until Peter eventually calmed down enough to go to sleep. Tony smiled softly as he stepped out of the room.
“Love you, kiddo. Things will look better in the morning.”
Sure enough, MJ called Peter the next day, and Tony and Pepper exchanged knowing smiles as they listened to the both of them tried to stumble out an apology at the same time.