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Peter’s day was going great. He got a goodnight’s sleep for the first time in a long time. May was there when he woke up, and they joked around while they ate breakfast. He got to class early and found out that Flash was absent . He’s never absent! And then Ned ran to him and told him that he has the Millennium Falcon Lego that had just released and they were going to make it that evening. Even MJ complimented him today! And he got full marks in science and math! All in all, it was a good day.
Once school was over, he made his way to Happy’s car.
“Hey Happy!” He chirped cheerfully, maybe too cheerfully, if Happy’s ‘unhappy’ grunt was anything to go by. But he knew that Happy loved him, even if he never said it aloud. So, he started chatting his ear out, telling Happy about his amazing day, when he saw a book sale.
“Can we please stop at the book sale Happy?” he pleaded, using his puppy-dog-eyes that Tony always says is a superpower in itself. And, as always, they worked.
With another grunt he stopped at the book sale and said before Peter could leave, “Just don’t get too many, because I won’t help you carry them all up to the penthouse.”
“Okay Happy!” And Peter really did mean it when he said that, but he couldn’t help it! There were so many books, some that he knew MJ and May would love, and others for him and Ned. He even found a book signed by Bruce Banner himself! Peter was appalled. Why would anyone ever give away an amazing scientific book about gamma radiation that was signed by his personal hero, second to only Tony! By the time he was done, half of the store was cleared, and Happy was helping him carry everything back to the car without much resistance after seeing his puppy-dog-eyes.
Now, Peter doesn’t really mean to use ‘the eyes’, but again, he can’t help it. Peter balanced two boxes, high enough that he couldn’t see anything (which he didn’t need to, since his spidey sense would help him avoid bumping into anything), and used his stickiness to stick onto the first box.
He made his way to the elevator by muscle memory alone, Happy collecting the other boxes and saying he’ll come to drop them off after. Greeting FRIDAY happily, he told her he wanted to go to wherever Tony was, to which FRIDAY of course agreed. The elevator dinged and Peter stepped out.
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Tony was having a stressful day. He found out that the date of when the rogues were coming back had changed, and now he had to make sure everything was perfect. Pepper had given Fury a good talking down, which he was thankful for. He had only a few hours to prepare for meeting Steve again, which was not at all enough time. Not after what he did.
So, in the end, he was fixing his hair, putting on his favorite pair of sunglasses, and waiting for the rogues to come in. Soon enough the elevator dinged, and out came the rogues. Rogers was in front, with the double spy by his side. Behind them were Sam Wilson and Clint, with Wanda and Bucky trailing behind them. Bruce and Thor were already there and briefed about the situation by Pepper, who were all standing next to him. He quickly averted his gaze when they landed on the Winter Soldier, the events of Siberia flashing through his mind.
Pepper delicately laid a hand on his arm, and he tried to calm down. Keeping his outer appearance aloof, he smiled that paparazzi smile at all of them and said, “Welcome home.”
The words tasted like ash in his mouth, but he didn’t stop, “So, most of you should know your rooms already, I haven’t touched them.”
“Tony, I just wanted to say-“ Tony knew Rogers was going to apologize, if the grimace on his face was anything to go by, but he interrupted him.
“Rogers, your room is at the end of the hall, and Bucky, you have the one across from him. It was an extra room before, but now you can fill it with whatever you would like-“
“Tony-“ Steve tried again, but it was futile.
“Wanda, yours is across from Vision’s and next to Bucky. Legolas, your room is next to Wanda’s and across from Nat’s. That everyone? Good.”
“Tony-“ This time it was Nat, a rare flash of regret in her eyes. But that didn’t make Tony stop. After hours of long discussions with Pepper and Rhodey and Happy, he stopped blaming himself. It wasn’t his fault; he didn’t betray anyone.
“Now, there are a few rules-“ The elevator dinged, and this time he paused. Did he miss someone? Then he remembered, today’s Wednesday, and he forgot to tell Peter not to come and forgot to inform Happy about the situation.
“Whose-“ Rogers was saying but stopped. Instead of seeing his curly haired intern walk out, he was met with two boxes filled with what looked like books. Peter shifted a little to the side, apparently only enough to see Tony. Barely having any time to register why the kid would be carrying two boxes filled to the brim with books, he started talking.
“Mr. Stark, Mr. Stark! I had such a good day today! First, I woke up on time and got to school early and Flash was absent today! And I got 100 on my science and math test! And then I came across a book sale with Happy and did you know that they were giving away a book that was signed by Bruce Banner ? I mean, why would someone give away a book signed by the most renowned scientist in the world! And, and-“ the kid shifted a little and lit up, “Oh, hi Uncle Rhodey!”
“Hey kid,” Rhodey said, barely muffling his laughs. Tony looked around and saw that most of the teams were looking at the kid bemused, except for Natasha, who had a small smile on her face. Hm , Tony thought. He hadn’t seen a genuine smile on her face for a long time. Even Thor didn’t interrupt this time.
He shifted a bit more, and Tony guessed that he had spotted the avengers; if eyes going wide and books falling and littering the floor were any indication.
“Holy shit, you’re the avengers.” He said with awe in his voice. If he knew what happened in Siberia, his reaction would be different, Tony thought bitterly.
And then Rhodey lost it. He laughed like a maniac, the bending down, hands on hips and head thrown back sort of laugh, and seeing him made Tony chuckle too.
A few minutes later, after Rhodey let it all out, Tony said, “Kid, if you don’t close your mouth you’re going to catch flies.”
Peter snapped his mouth shut in an instant and hissed to Tony, “You didn’t tell me that the Avengers were coming!” It was quiet enough that only people with super hearing could hear, which made sense as Steve hid his smile behind his hand and Bucky's lips twitched.
The elevator dinged again, and this time Happy came out, carrying 3 more boxes filled with books on a cart which he wheeled in and set right beside Tony, “Here kid, the rest of you-“ He stopped as he saw the rogues.
“Tony, why are there war criminals in your living room?”
Tony sighed, “They were pardoned, and Fury decided to tell me just today that they were coming back.”
Happy’s face remained indifferent, “So, do you still need me? 'Cause I have an early holiday today and I already used up a lot of my time at the book sale.”
Tony replied sarcastically, “Of course you can leave, I don’t need my head of security while meeting a group of war criminals who betrayed me and then tried to kill me." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the rouges flinch. Guess he wasn’t as quiet as he thought he had been.
“Okay then, I’ll just go.” Happy made his way to the elevator while Tony just stared at him.
“Bye Happy!” the kid said, some of his enthusiasm coming back. He looked back to the rogues and said, “You know what, I’m just gonna go take these to my room.” And then his eyes caught those of Bruce, and they widened considerably.
“Oh my god you’re Bruce Banner!” Forgetting about his books, he rushed over to shake Bruce’s hand, “This is the best day of my life! I can’t believe I’m meeting you! You’re like, my personal hero; I’ve read about your work in Gamma Radiation! It was so cool!” Bruce's eyes went wide and seemed to be tearing up. Most kids only recognized him for the big guy, and not the guy inside.
“And what am I, chopped liver?” Tony joked, to alleviate the tension in the room.
“You’re my dad,” he said simply.
Tony’s heart felt like bursting. Peter saw him as a dad? “I- you- what?”
Then Peter seemed to realize what he said, and honestly, Tony didn’t think his eyes could widen any more, “No, no, no. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to say that! Well, I mean, I did mean it, but I know you don’t think of me as your son and I don’t want it to get awkward and I’m-“
“Kid,” Tony interrupted, “I would be honored if you think of me as your dad. You can call me your dad how many ever times you want, because... well, because I do think of you as my son, and-“ his voice cracked, he’s only admitted this to exactly 4 people, “and I love-“
Peter launched himself on Tony, stopping him from saying anything else. Tony instinctively wrapped his arms around him.
“So, are we there now?” he asked, sniffing a bit.
Tony chuckled, “Yeah kid, we’re there.”
He could hear Pepper whispering to Rhodey, “You owe me a twenty.”
Rhodey groaned while passing the smug CEO his money and said loudly, “Kid! You couldn’t have waited two more weeks?”
Peter chuckled wetly and Tony scoffed, offended, “You guys bet on us?!”
“Of course we did,” Pepper said, “Happy is in on it too, and I’ll get another twenty when he comes back. Oh he is so gonna regret leaving.”
“As heartwarming as this is,” Tony heard Birdbrain’s voice from behind him, “Mind telling us what the hell is happening? When did you get a kid?”
“Uh, Mr. Stark, I think we’re in a pickle now.” Peter said.
Tony saw Rogers scrunch up his face, “In a pickle? Is that a reference to pop culture of some sort? I’ve been trying to catch up to the times.”
“No grandpa, it’s a phrase,” Tony says.
Peter giggled, “Grandpa,” he started laughing harder.
“It’s not that funny,” Steve grumbles.
“Yes, it is.”
“Whatever, kid. So, where are you from?”
“Queens.”
“Oh shit, you’re Spider-Man.”
“He’s what!?” Everyone except for Tony, Nat, Pep and Rhodey yelled.
"Oops. I think we’re in an even bigger pickle now, Mr. Stark.”