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Peter sighs, sitting up before he swings his legs out of bed. When he checks the time, it’s only two in the morning. It feels like forever has passed while time hasn’t moved either. He yawns and opens the door to his room, the light from the hallway flooding in. Thankfully it’s the weekend and Peters staying over at the Tower.
May had taken on some extra shifts and Tony offered him to stay the night after their day in the lab. Peter agreed easily then but now he finds himself restless. Usually he would go out as Spider-Man to check up on the city, clear his head. However, Peter was here in the Tower. He could go down to the lab, or watch something on the TV but he felt like doing neither.
So, as Peter steps out into the hallway, he moves towards the kitchen. There’s not much he can do with FRIDAYs watchful eye, so he settles for grabbing a can of Coke from the fridge and going out on the balcony. Despite it being early in the morning, the air is somewhat warm. Not freezing cold but not roasting hot either, a calm equilibrium. Peter pulls up a chair and watches the city lights flicker on and off.
He’s not sure how long he sits there. When Peter finally decides to go back inside, he’s had at least three cans of different sodas. And when he goes back inside, FRIDAY informs him it’s five in the morning.
“Peter, do you know what time it is?” She had said once Peter reached the fridge for another can of something. He’s pretty sure it was Sprite, though it didn’t bother him.
“No? Uhm..three maybe? Nearing four?” Peter guessed, closing the fridge with his hip and opening the can in his hand. He takes a seat at the breakfast bar.
“I regret to inform you, Mister Parker, that it is currently five o’ four in the morning and it appears Boss has awoken from a nightmare.” FRIDAY announced quietly.
Peters eyes widened and he barely had time to react before there were footsteps coming into the room. His head whipped around as Tony walked into the room, rubbing his eyes with a yawn. He paused in his step when his eyes met with Peters. It was clear, even from where Tony stood halfway across the room, that Peter hadn’t slept, eye-bags under his eyes heavy and very prominent. A can of Sprite sat in the clutches of the teenagers hand.
“Pete? What the hell are you doing up?” Tony asked as he continued walking over, Peters eyes following him. He moved to grab a cup out of one of the cupboards to make a coffee. Whenever Mister Stark awoke from nightmares, he was never able to go back to sleep. So instead, he stayed up.
Peter just shrugged in the form of an answer and sipped from his drink. Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. “You look like you haven’t slept in days , kid.” He observes, leaning against the kitchen counter as his eyes take in the sight of Peter.
“Feel l’ke it too, M’st’r St’rk.” Peter slurs and he sounds as if he’d gotten himself absolutely wasted . Tony knows it’s just the sleep deprivation, but he can’t help saying something.
“Jesus kid, knock yourself up did’ya?” The man jokes with a breathless laugh.
“Ha. Ha.” The teenager deadpans, slumping forward in his chair. “‘M tired b’ can’t sleep. Restless, ya know?” He sits up, rubbing his eyes and forcing himself to feel and act less tired.
Mister Stark turns away when the coffee machine dings, signifying that it’s done brewing. “Yeah, I know. Know it all too well, if I’m honest, Underoos.”
“Hmm.” Peter hums as the man makes his coffee, sitting down next to him when he’s done. “What was y’ur nightm’re ‘bout?” He asks and hopes it’s not an invasive question.
Tony tenses next to him and then he forces himself to breathe. “The usual.” He mumbles quietly, too quietly for anyone but Peter to hear. Beside him, the kid nods.
“I’m sorry. Um..is there a way I can help?”
For a moment, Mister Stark considers it. He then shakes his head. “Not really, kid. Wouldn’t mind some company though.”
Peter nods again, takes another sip of his Sprite and yawns. “Sure. Kinda tired, though. T’ble not best place to sleep, M’st’r Stark.”
“Don’t I know that. Come on, kid, to the couch we go.” Tony chuckles with a smile, sliding out of his seat with his cup. Peter follows his lead, flopping down on the couch next to his mentor slash father figure.
It doesn’t take long for Peter to fall asleep when Tony puts an arm around him, forcing the teenager closer. He smiles as it happens and lets himself lean into the mans touch. Shortly after, Peters eyes slip closed but he’s not fully succumbed to sleep yet.
“Goodnight, M’ster Stark.” Peter mumbles, letting the edges of sleep drag him down.
Tony smiles fondly, ruffling his hair. “G’night kid.” He whispers before pressing a kiss to Peters forehead.
And if FRIDAY takes a picture of that particular moment (Peter literally curled up against Mister Stark, who’s giving his pseudo-son some parental affection), and storing it in a folder named ‘Familial Moments with Spider-Kid’, well— no one would need to know.