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“Hey, Mr. Stark, can I ask you for a favor?” Peter asks from the workbench Tony had made for him, breaking the silence that had been created between the two of them as they worked in the lab.
“I’ve given you access to my entire lab, but sure,” Tony teased a little as he looked up at the spiderling that sat a little ways away from him working on a new web formula.
“Yeah, yeah,” Peter said with a roll of his eyes as he looked at the genius superhero who was looking at him with the smile that he gave everyone he cared for. Not the fake smile he used at parties and at interviews. “Can I ask you or not?” He asked, looking at his mentor brightly as he watched Tony laugh.
“I already said sure,” Tony said with an amused look on his face as he motioned for Peter to ask him what he needed to ask him with the screwdriver in his hand.
Peter laughed as he watched Tony move the screwdriver as if he were a conductor.
“All right, well, there’s this Halloween party on Friday,” Peter explained as he looked at Tony, who was looking back down at the calculations that were before him.
“Yeah?” Tony asked, letting Peter know he was still listening, which the spiderling already knew since Tony always gave him his attention when he was speaking. He always listened to Peter, even if he was talking about something random to asking him about a math problem he didn’t understand.
“I’m going with Ned and MJ,” Peter explained as he felt a bit of nervousness rise in his stomach. “And we decided to go as superheroes,” He said as he watched Tony with big eyes that looked like they belonged to an excited puppy.
“That sounds fun,” Tony said as he looked up at his spiderling who’s nervousness didn’t go unnoticed by the man of iron as Thor would call him.
“So I was wondering if I could borrow one of your suits?” He asked cocking his head to the side to look at the man before him, but he flinched a little when Tony dropped the screwdriver on the workbench with wide eyes.
“What?” Tony asked, wondering if he had heard the spider-themed hero correctly.
“Can I borrow one of your suits?” Peter asked again as he looked at the other waiting to hear what he had to say.
For a moment all was silent as Tony looked at his protégé with wide eyes wondering what he should say and what the right thing to say was.
“Peter… “ Tony started after coughing and clearing his throat a little. “Peter, you know I love you,” He started making Peter’s eyes widen a little bit of confusion as he wondered where Tony was going with this. “You’re my protégé and you’re the heir to everything I’ve made,” He said as he moved to walk around towards Peter as he tried to be a responsible parent.
“I’m the what now?” Peter asked in surprise as he watched his mentor with wide eyes wondering where he was going with this.
“And as much as I would love for you to show up at that party with your friends in one of the Iron suits so you can show up all those naysayers, I can’t let you,” Tony explained with a frown on his face as he looked at the spiderling that he was moving closer to.
“Wait, Mr. Stark… “ Peter started suddenly realizing what the other thought he was asking.
“Now don’t get me wrong, I want to give you one I really do,” Tony explained as he moved closer to Peter, wanting so badly for him to understand how he wanted to help him. “But if Pepper and your Aunt May find out you’re going to end up grounded and I’m going to end up grounded,” He said with a little laugh as he held his hands up in defense. “And I don’t think either of us wants that,” He laughed as she shook his head as he finally stood next to Peter.
“But, Mr. Stark… “ Peter tried again as he looked at the other with wide eyes.
“Now I’d be happy to help you make a costume,” Tony said with a smile a few memories of Jarvis helping him make his own Halloween costumes when he was younger filling his mind.
“Mr. Stark, I was talking about one of your business suits, not your Iron Man suits,” Peter said cutting Tony off gently as he looked at his mentor waiting to see what he would say about that.
“W-What?” Tony asked stuttering a little as he looked down at Peter with wide eyes honestly surprised at what the little spiderling had said.
“I was hoping to borrow one of your blazers and maybe a pair of your sunglasses,” Peter explained with a little shrug as he looked at Tony. “I mean don’t get me wrong wearing one of the Iron suits would be cool but Iron Man isn’t exactly my hero,” He explained with a sheepish smile.
“Iron Man’s not?” Tony said more to himself than to peter and watched as the young hero nodded at his words. “Then who is?” He asked, genuinely curious as he looked at the spiderling before him.
“It’s you, Mr. Stark,” Peter said with a bright smile as he looked at his mentor.
Before either could react Peter suddenly found himself wrapped up in Tony’s arms and held tight.
A surprised look covered Peter’s face for a moment before he relaxed into Tony’s grip and leaned into him with a smile, enjoying the hug Tony was giving him now.