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Just like he had done for other countless nights, Tony placed the book down gently on the hardwood floor, gripping the edge of the bedframe as he pulled himself up, ignoring the creaks in his knees as he went. Peter didn’t stir, even as Tony lifted his arms above his head in a stretch, bones popping with a satisfying crunch.
The next bit was the tricky part, navigating his way out of the room while avoiding the Legos strewn over the floor. He still had a bruise on his heel from last week, and the shattered piece of Lego had been hidden way down in the depths of the garbage bin.
He’d made it halfway across the bedroom when Peter stirred, and he froze, muscles coiled. Praying under his breath that they weren’t in for another night of a restless child popping in and out of the living room every few minutes, he exhaled as Peter rolled in his sleep, clutching one of his stuffed animals close.
Leaving the door ajar, Tony picked up the clothes strewn across the hallway, padding softly towards the living room and laughing under his breath at what awaited him. May was sprawled out on the couch, one arm thrown over the back of it, her mouth wide open as she snored.
It was Friday night, a time where once upon a lifetime ago, Tony would be getting ready for a date or a gala dinner, enjoying the thrill of dressing up, the chase of a potential one-night stand. Now here he was, in worn cotton PJ pants and an old band T-shirt, tired from running after a child all evening.
Who could’ve guessed that the small child he’d rescued at the Stark Expo would turn out to be Peter Parker, a child who led Tony to his amazing aunt, a beautiful, generous woman who didn’t take any of his crap? Leaving the clothes in a heap by the door, Tony shut the curtains on his way to the couch.
‘What’s the matter?’ May shot up in confusion, her breathing turning into a snort.
‘Attractive,’ Tony teased, reaching out to pull aside some of the strands of hair that were stuck to her cheek from drool.
‘Oh God…Tony sorry, I’m just so tired and-’
‘Hey, it’s fine. Peter’s asleep, the Thai food is on its way, everything is good.’
‘What did I do to deserve you? What did we do?’ May told him with a sleepy smile, running her fingernails across his forearm.
Actually, Tony often wondered what he had done to deserve them. Kids had never been on the agenda, he wasn’t fond of them, wasn’t sure what to do when people at work introduced them to him, but Peter was a genius. He was damn funny too, and sweet. Dating a single mother, or aunt, had never been a consideration, but something about May had enticed him.
Not just her smoking hot looks.
‘This isn’t what you thought it would be, is it? Dating someone like me?’ May asked, mistaking his silence.
‘No, it isn’t, it’s way better,’ Tony told her, trademark grin escaping as he brought his leg up onto the couch, turning so he could face her.
‘Better? Really?’ She laughed, gesturing down at her white tank top which had stains on from Peter’s dinner earlier, her grey baggy sweatpants and bare feet with chipped nail polish toes.
‘Honey, you’re beautiful,’ he answered. He was sincere and he hoped that she understood that. He knew his reputation, knew how easy it was for him to give a woman a meaningless compliment so she would fall into bed with him. No matter how May thought she appeared, the laughter in her eyes, and the love he saw reflected in her expression when she looked at Peter were the things he found beautiful.
‘If you weren’t with me, you’d be with some pretty girl in some designer dress in one of your fancy cars. Speeding away to some elaborate charity event.’ She squealed as he poked her in the ribs.
Did the woman not realize how ridiculously attractive she was?
‘JARVIS? Play some music for me?’
He got to his feet and offered his hand down to May as the mellow notes of a saxophone filled the living room, the lights dimming to create what JARVIS obviously thought was the correct atmosphere.
‘Will you do me the honor of giving me this dance?’
May placed her hand on her chest, just below her throat as if she were scandalized, fluttering her eyelashes as she playfully considered.
‘Why Mr Stark, I thought you’d never ask.’
‘One day I’ll be able to get Peter to stop calling me that,’ Tony muttered.
‘Don’t! I think it’s cute. You know how he idolizes you,’ May told him, placing her hand in his and the other on his shoulder, allowing him to sway them in a circle in the middle of the room.
Tony breathed deeply as they revolved on the spot, contentment diffusing into his lungs and saturating every part of his body. With everything happening in the world, work, keeping the Earth safe, the Government trying to take his tech, this small apartment in Queens was his little sliver of peace.
‘Tony, you okay?’ May asked, looking up at him, resting a hand on his face.
Emotions were something he still struggled with, even around her. Trying not to force them down, he cupped the back of her hand, nodding with closed eyes.
‘I’m happy,’ he whispered after a moment. ‘Here, with you and Peter, it makes me happy.’ She would probably never understand what that meant, how after a lifetime of expectations from his father and the world, this meant everything to him. This simple, comfortable love. Something real, a family that he belonged to.
May lifted onto her tiptoes, giving him a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.
‘Come on, you promised me a dance,’ she coaxed him, resting her head on his shoulder as they continued their waltz around the living room.
The End
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