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Pepper is dreading the upcoming conversation with Tony.
On top of the financial reports she had to prepare for the board meeting next week, it is mid-October, and somehow Tony roped her into helping plan the annual Halloween party for the Avengers and their families.
But the most unfortunate thing happened at breakfast this morning when Peter revealed something.
While Tony left the table to grab another cup of coffee, Peter pulled on her shirt to grab her attention.
“What’s up, sweetheart?”
“Pep, you know how Halloween is coming?” Peter shyly played with the hem of his shirt. He whispered, “I don’t want to be Iron Man again this year.”
Pepper kept the shock off her face as to not upset Peter, but internally, she was freaking out a bit. To say that Peter adored his father was an understatement. Peter’s admiration was one of the things Tony’s very proud of and boasted about to others.
Pepper knew that Tony hated himself for not being around for Peter’s first two years of life. It was a tragedy that Peter’s mother died in a drunk driving collision, but over the past four years, Tony made sure Peter was never left wanting or feeling abandoned.
He knew his playboy life was going to catch up to him one day, but he never expected it would be in the shape and wonderfulness that is Peter Stark.
For Peter to reveal that he didn’t want to be Iron Man for Halloween meant Pepper would have to deal with a panicking Tony.
Of course Peter had other interests other than his father and the Avengers. So, it made sense that Peter wanted to explore other costumes. However, Pepper knows Tony’s first thought will be that Peter hates him, as if a Halloween costume held all the answers.
“That’s okay Peter. Do you have any ideas what you want to be instead?” Pepper kept her voice calm and quiet as to not alert Tony and his helicopter parent instincts.
“Yeah,” Peter mumbled. “But do you think dad will be okay with it?” Pepper could barely hold back the cooing at such a question from the boy. Like his dad, Peter needed his dad’s affection and adoration.
“As if your dad wouldn’t like anything you want to do,” Pepper assured the kid. “Would it make you feel better if I talk to him about it first?”
She saw the clear relief on Peter’s face when he heard her offer. Pepper gave a small smile and said, “Don’t worry Petter. I’ll tell him this afternoon. He’ll be so excited to hear your new costume idea.”
Peter gifted her with his bright smile, and he returned to eating his waffles.
Tony noticed the smile as he returned to the table and asked, “What’s up, bub? I’m not worthy of your smile?”
“Don’t be silly dad,” was heard before Peter gave Tony a mouthful of waffle smile.
Tony laughs, “Gross, kid.”
Now Pepper may have offered to be the bearer of bad news, but she is tempted to turn back to her office as she makes her way down to Tony’s workshop.
As she makes the final steps down, Tony spots her and requests FRIDAY to lower the music volume. He puts down the tools he’s using and stands up to greet her.
“Hey Pep! You better not be bringing me more meaningless paperwork to sign. I gave you that privilege when you agreed to be CEO.”
“And I so appreciate it,” Pepper’s sarcasm bringing a smile to Tony’s face.
“Then what can I do for you honey?”
“Well,” Pepper begins. “Peter brought something to my attention this morning.”
Hearing his son’s name, Tony’s smile widens. “Oh, did he? Did he find a new Lego set he wants? Wait, don’t tell me, he wants to watch A New Hope on our movie night for the fiftieth time,” Tony groans. He loves his son and would do anything for him, but he’s pretty sure he’s seen enough Star Wars for five lifetimes.
“It’s about his costume for the Avengers’ Halloween Party.”
“What about it?”
Pepper hesitates for a few seconds before confessing, “Peter doesn’t want to wear his usual Iron Man costume.”
Tony collapses into the chair next to him, and Pepper could see confusion and worry in his eyes.
“You’re telling me Peter Stark, Iron Man’s son, doesn’t want to be Iron Man? Is he mad at me?” Tony’s mind begins reeling. “I know I had to cancel last week’s movie night because of the last minute Avengers mission, but I thought he understood.”
Tony often regrets how Iron Man and Avengers duties interfere with providing Peter with a stable life. However, that regret is alleviated by Peter’s admiration of the hero and how excited Peter gets when he gets to tell someone how his dad is an actual hero.
“God, Tony, no. Peter would never hold that against you,” Pepper quickly shuts down Tony’s concerns. “I think this is just about him growing up and branching out. We both knew this day was coming. We just wish we had more time to prepare.”
Pepper walks over to him and slides her arms around his shoulders in a comforting hug. She feels his hands tighten around her waist as she rubs her hand up and down his back.
“I guess,” Tony concedes. “Now I’m gonna have to deal with Rhodey and Clint giving me shit about it. Do you know what he wants to dress up as now?”
“I didn’t ask. I figured it’s best if you’re the one to talk with him about it. Just be supportive. He was really worried about you being disappointed with him.”
Tony’s head quickly shoots up from where he was resting it on her shoulder. “Of course I’m not disappointed with him. It’s just a costume. Knowing Peter, he’s probably thought of something clever.”
Pepper steps away from him and says, “Well, I think you should go up to his room now and put him out of his misery. You know how he can overthink everything.”
Without hesitation, Tony leans in quickly to give her a kiss before jogging up the stairs.
Tony knocks on Peter’s door before opening it. He surveys the room, and his eyes zero in on the blanket covered lump on the bed.
“Huh, Peter’s not here. Well, I guess I can’t ask him if he wants to see the new Star Wars Lego set I bought him,” Tony jokes. He knows his strategy worked when he sees two large doe eyes looking at him from an opening in the blanket.
Peter looks at him for a couple more seconds and peeks his whole head out. “Lego set?”
“Peter, there you are,” Tony faux gasps. “I do have a gift for you down in my lab, but first I want to talk to you about something.”
Peter quickly weighs the value of a present and having to confess his Halloween plans. Peter knows it’s silly to think his dad is going to be mad over a costume, but he can’t help thinking it.
“Did Pepper talk to you?”
“Yeah, kiddo, she did.”
“Are you upset? I know I’m always Iron Man, but I had this great idea for another costume. But don’t worry, I can always forget about it and be Iron Man again,” Peter’s voice gets louder and faster as he tries to appease his dad.
“Peter, hey, just stop and breathe for a second. Okay?” Tony reaches out for his son, and Peter climbs into his lap. “I’m not mad or disappointed or anything other negative emotion, okay? If anything, I’m proud of you for speaking up about what you want.”
Peter looks up at his dad’s face and sees a gentle smile on his face. “You know I’ll always love Iron Man, right?”
“Of course! Who else are you gonna love? The grandpas, wannabe Katniss, I think not!” Tony jokes. He knows Peter loves all of Tony’s teammates, but no one will take his place in Peter’s life. Not even a Norse god.
Peter laughs at his jokes. Peter’s eyes twinkle with a playfulness when he says, “Well, maybe Auntie Nat.”
Tony grabs his chest in mock shock and cries out, “I’ve been betrayed by my own blood!”
Peter’s giggles continue, and Tony squeezes Peter harder in their hug.
Tony almost gave up the chance to take in his kid when Peter’s mother died. Tony worried that he would only continue the legacy that Howard left him. But after many conversations with Pepper and his fellow members, they all assured Tony they would be there to help.
Now he couldn’t imagine his life without Peter. He thought he had everything before, but Peter filled a spot in his life that Tony didn’t even know was missing a piece. Peter is his motivation to keep being an Avenger and fighting to make tomorrow’s world a little less scary.
Peter interrupts his thoughts as he says, “Do you want to know what I want to dress up as this year?”
“Let’s hear it, kid.”
“Well, I want to be Baby Yoda,” Peter pauses in uncertainty before finishing, “and I want you to be the Mandalorian.”
Of course. Only Peter would want to ensure his father doesn’t feel left out or abandoned, so he suggests a two person costume. If Tony didn’t already love Peter with his whole being, this conversation would’ve led to that.
Peter, feeling his anxiety rise, quickly continues, “It’s no Iron Man suit, but I thought you could create your own beskar armor. We can work together too!”
“Have I ever told you that you’re a genius,” Tony remarks, poking Peter’s side eliciting a giggle.
“Peter, I would be honored to be Mando to your Grogu.” Tony’s grin shows his sincerity, and Peter squeals at his response.
“Oh my god, this is going to be the best Halloween ever!”
Tony and Peter find themselves in the workshop over the next couple weeks making their replica suit with Tony handling any of the more dangerous tools.
Although Tony was initially disappointed with Peter opting for a different costume, this bonding time with his son would make wearing a trash bag worth it.
Tony asks Pepper to order some green face paint and calls up his contacts at Disney to ask their costume department to make Peter-sized Baby Yoda ears and a brown robe.
Because Peter deserves the best.
“You ready, kid?” Tony looks down at his green son the night of the Halloween party. They’re both in the elevator heading down to the party.
Like Peter said, it’s no match for the Iron Man suit, but his Mandalorian outfit is damn good if he says so himself.
Peter looks extra adorable wearing the oversized ears. The green face paint was a mess to deal with, but after lots of stained towels they got it to perfection.
Pepper didn’t want to intrude on a father-son moment, so she ended up choosing Wonder Woman as her own costume.
“Yep! Let’s go show these fools who have the best costumes,” Peter jokes and grabs Tony’s hand so they could walk in together.
Tony slips on his helmet, and FRIDAY’s voice greets him.
“Boss, may I say you and Peter look great tonight.”
“Thanks, Fri.”
Tony and Peter exit the elevator and head towards the common room.
It’s a sight to see all of Earth's mightiest heroes dressed up in silly costumes.
By the snack bar, Tony sees Popeye (Steve), Prince (Sam), and Gandalf (Bucky) laughing. On the couch, Daenerys (Darcy), Wednesday Addams (Nat), and Morpheus (Rhodey) are debating which movie is the scariest to watch on Halloween. Grabbing more drinks from the bar is Fabio (Thor) and one of the ghostbusters (Bruce). Wonder Woman (Pepper) and Rosie the Riveter (Jane) are walking over to the other couch.
Clint and his family haven’t arrived yet, but he hopes that Barton went with Tony’s idea to lean in on the bow and arrow and dress up as Robin Hood.
Sadly, everyone couldn’t be here tonight. T’Challa was running a country, Scott, Hope, and Cassie were with Hope’s parents, Vision and Wanda were traveling out of the country, and Doctor Strange and Wong argued they couldn't take a night off from protecting the universe.
“Mando, looking good,” shouts Nat. “And Baby Yoda, looking cute as ever.”
Peter blushes at the comment, but Tony notices the appreciation in his eyes at the acceptance of his new costume this year.
Peter, excited to show everyone his green skin and ear, runs over to Steve, Bucky, and Sam first.
Rhodey stands up from the couch and walks over to where Tony is standing.
Rhodey puts an arm around Tony’s shoulders and jokes, “I see the kid grew out of his Iron Man phase. Thank god, Peter can do so much better.”
Tony rolls his eyes and shrugs off his best friend’s arm. He can hear Rhodey’s laugh as he walks over to Pepper. By now, Peter has moved onto showing off to Nat and Darcy.
“How are you doing, Tones? Think you’ll survive?” Pepper teases him.
“Nope. Think I’m coding right now. You’re gonna have to do CPR on me,” comes Tony’s sarcastic response in an automated voice to replicate Mando’s own voice from the show.
“I’m sorry sir, but I don’t think I can take off your helmet. This is The Way,” Pepper laughs.
“I take it back. Peter is not a genius. What kind of costume doesn’t allow me to kiss my girlfriend.”
But Tony couldn’t regret this costume. Anything that he could do to make Peter happy, he’ll endure.
When Peter convinced Tony to watch this Star Wars show, he didn’t think he’d identify with any of the characters. But the more he thought about it, him and Mando were thrown into the unknown with their respective children. Either didn’t know what kind of father figure they’d become but would do anything to provide for their kids.
“Dad, come here! I want to show Auntie Nat the armor we made together. She asked if it’s bulletproof,” Peter requests.
“As if I’d do anything less,” Tony defends as he walks over to his son and friend.
“Do you think we could make the jetpack next? I’ll be careful with it,” Peter promises.
Tony ruffles the kid’s hair and says, “Maybe for your birthday.”
Tony may not have always been there for his son, but when he is, he’ll offer up the world on a platter. Even if, at that moment, the world is a jet pack.