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Peter stumbles happily into Tony's lab, a big smile on his face. He tosses his bag onto a chair and zips it open so he can take his notebooks out. He digs through his bag and starts taking things out one by one.
"Today was so fun at school, Tony!" Peter exclaims excitedly. "I did well on my tests, MJ sat with me and Ned at lunch, Flash didn't really bother me much and I--"
When he turns around, he's startled.
It's as if he's only just now walked into this room, taking in the darkness and shadows. He shivers a little at the mood, feeling . . . scared, almost?
From far away he sees Tony's silhouette, the man hunched over his desk, seeming to stare down at it in a concentrated manner. He seems to want to be unbothered. But maybe not. Peter can't completely tell.
The boy is frozen in place, staring and unmoving at his mentor who sits about fifteen feet away from him. At first he doesn't really know how to approach this whole situation.
And then he does the only way he knows how.
He acts like himself.
"H-Hey, Tony." Peter takes a step forward. "Are you alright?"
"Go away, kid." Tony's voice croaks, thick with so many different emotions. "We'll have lab time tomorrow."
Peter moves so he's right in front of Tony's desk and now he notices the tears that fill his mentors eyes and fall down his cheeks. His hair is messed up and his face is puffy and tired looking.
Sucking in a gasp, the boy reaches a hand out to the mans that rests on his papers. As soon as his fingertips meet Tony's hand Peter's father figure retracts his hands, looking away.
"I-I'm sorry. I just--"
"Peter." Tony says more firmly this time. "Please, just-just go. I want to be alone right now, kiddie."
"Why?" Peter questions, awkwardly beginning to play with his hands. "What's going on? Is something wrong with the Avengers or something?"
"Kid, please, I--" But then his voice is cut off by sudden sobs that take over his whole body.
He quickly stands up, facing away from his kid in embarrassment as cries practically roll off of his tongue. Tony wraps his arms around his middle, desperately attempting to calm himself down.
"Dad? Hey, are you okay?" Peter is about to reach his hand out once more but quickly pulls it away. "Is it something I can help with?"
"It's nothing." Tony answers sharply. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying. It's stupid. You can go now, kid."
"It's not stupid if it's making you upset." Peter states, shifting his eight from foot to foot. "That's what you always tell me."
"Tesoro, please--"
"I know today was your mother's birthday." The boy tells him, his voice hushed. "Pepper told me. Is that what's wrong, Mr. Stark? Do you miss your mom?"
Trying not to let out another cry at the mention of Maria, Tony covers his mouth, squeezing his eyes shut painfully tight. His hands shake when he desperately starts wiping his tears away, with no success.
"It's okay, you know?" Peter takes a step forward and places a hand on Tony's shoulder. "It's okay to miss her. It's normal. You haven't seen her in a while. I bet it's been difficult without her. I mean, I know how I feel about my parents being dead and I didn't have as many memories as you did with yours."
Tony breathes a shaky breath out before he finally decides to respond. "She would have loved you so much, Pete. She always wanted me to grow up and have kids and get married and stuff. She wanted me to be happy."
"I wish I could have met her. She probably would have been a good grandma." Peter whispers, pulling his hand back when Tony turns back around. "Just like she was a good mom."
"Yeah." Tony agrees, going out to ruffle Peters hair. "Thanks, kid. I love you."
"Love you too, Dad."
"How about I go make us some food?"
"You? Make us food?"
"It'll be Italian food, don't worry."
"Thank Thor and Loki."
"I think I'll make tuscan chicken. That's what your grandma used to always make for me when I was sick, it was my favourite."
"Sounds great, Dad!"
"Have you ever had Italian hot chocolate?"
"What makes it Italian?"
"Just wait and see. It's the best. You'll never want to have any other kind of hot chocolate ever again."