Work Text:
“So can I?” Peter asked sitting on the kitchen island.
“Borrow my car?” Tony shook his head, “Don’t even think about it. You’ve had your license a week.”
“But you taught me how to drive.” Peter argued.
“The answer is no.” Tony said again.
“But—“
“—Peter.” Tony sighed, “Let it go.”
Peter grumbled as he walked away and slammed his bedroom door. He wasn’t sure why everyone loved his dad. As far as he was concerned Tony Stark was a pain in the ass.
~
“Peter? Dinner is ready.” Steve knocked on his door.
“Not hungry.” He heard Peter call out.
“I’m coming in.” Steve pushed the door open, “I don’t believe for one second you aren’t hungry. I heard you and dad got into a bit of a fight. Would this happen to be the reason you’re not hungry?”
“Papa, he’s unreasonable.” Peter turned over in his bed to look at his other father.
“He just wants you to be safe. I don’t think he’s ready to give you the keys by yourself just yet. I’ll talk to him though.” Steve sat down next to Peter, “But how about we go eat because I hear your stomach.”
“Fine. But if he annoys me I’m leaving.” Peter got up from his bed.
“Should be an interesting meal then.” Steve remarked.
~
“Papa. You said you’d talk to him.” Peter reminded as he ate his salad.
“Talk to me?” Tony looked at his husband.
“Right now, Pete?” Steve rolled his eyes.
“Why wait?” Peter shrugged.
“I think we should reconsider Peter being able to drive himself—“ Steve started.
“—I’m not.” Tony stood up and put his plate in the sink, “He isn’t ready.”
“The DMV disagrees with you.” Peter stood up.
“Peter I taught you a long time ago that if my no is no then you won’t change it by going to someone else. In fact it makes me a lot less likely to say yes.”
“But I didn’t.” Peter argued, “He offered.”
“And you pushed.” Tony reminded, “This is a more firm no now. You are not taking my car to school tomorrow.”
“But—“
“No. Ask again and you’re grounded.” Tony warned.
“Dad! This isn’t fair!” Peter snapped.
“Grounded.” Tony said.
“I didn’t ask again! Papa!” Peter turned to Steve.
“I’m not getting in the middle of this anymore than I already have. You both need to take a beat and breathe.” Steve took a bite of his salad.
“I’m not breathing the same air as him!” Peter told his Papa.
“Interesting. Could become difficult seeing as you’re grounded and we live in the same place.” Tony told his teenager.
“I’m done with him.” Peter got up and they heard his bedroom door slam minutes later.
“Really, Babe?” Steve raised an eyebrow, “You needed to die on this hill tonight?”
“I’m not ready to give him the keys to my car.” Tony said in a calmer tone, “I’ve been protecting him his whole life.”
“He’s got his license so at some point you’re going to have to trust him enough to say yes.” Steve told his husband.
“I’m not ready.” Tony said with a raised tone.
Steve gave a gentle tug into his arms, “Same side.”
“Is that what you were thinking when you told Peter you’d change my mind?” Tony teased.
“That is not what I said. I said I’d talk to you.” Steve rolled his eyes.
“It’s fine. You can make it up to me later. I have some things in mind.” Tony wiggled his eyebrows.
“Can’t wait.” Steve said against his husbands lips before leaning in for a kiss.
~
Peter woke up early for school as normal. He ate breakfast in a quiet penthouse, “Friday? Where are Dad and Papa?”
“They got called away for Avenger business.” Friday supplied.
Peter nodded. He figured Happy would be coming to take him to school then. He finished getting ready though and Happy still hadn’t texted him. He tried calling but it went to voicemail.
He texted his dad and his papa but got no response. Peter sighed. He knew he would get in trouble for what he was about to do but he would also get in trouble if he skipped school. It was really a no win situation. He made his way to the garage and grabbed the keys to his dad’s most reasonable SUV that he had learned to drive in. It was some kind of Range Rover but Peter didn’t want to know what kind because then he’d think about how expensive it was.
Peter turned the key and turned the car on, “Dad’s gonna kill me.” He checked his mirrors and adjusted his seat. He was soon pulling out of the garage.
~
Tony walked into the penthouse hours later, “I’m going to shower before I go pick up Peter from school.”
“Who took Peter to school?” Steve frowned.
“My phone died but we told Happy, right?” Tony was now frowning too as he headed toward his son’s room to see if he had stayed home from school.
“No. I think we were in a rush. We didn’t even have time to charge our phones let alone make plans for transportation for a teenager that can drive.” Steve rolled his eyes.
“Don’t start.” Tony warned, “We both know why I feel the way I do.”
“If I might interrupt—Peter did call Happy and reach out to the two of you before driving himself to school.” Friday supplied the information.
“He’s dead.” Tony said firmly.
“Tony. Friday said he called and texted. There wasn’t much else he could do.” Steve reminded.
“He could have respected that I said no.” Tony snapped.
“I think you should take some time to think on this before Peter gets home because you’re too close to this situation.” Steve headed down the hall, “You coming to shower or what?”
Tony wanted to be mad but a shower did sound good—The company made it seem better.
~
Peter came into the penthouse prepared for a fight, “Before you start yelling at me—“
“—I’m not.” Tony patted the seat of the couch next to him, “Papa convinced me we dropped the ball on this and it was our fault. You tried to reach out first rather than just doing your own thing. I appreciate that.”
Peter smiled, “Okay. So I can tell you about my first time driving on my own then and you won’t lose it?”
“You scratched the car?”
“Geeze, no.” Peter laughed, “I drove the speed limit and got to school safely and the car is fine. But we should have worked on parking more. I had to adjust into the parking space like 48 times.”
Tony laughed, “You didn’t.”
“I promise you.” Peter leaned against his dad while laying on the couch telling him about his day, “You can hack into the parking lot cameras and check.”
Tony rolled his eyes, “Now I have to pull up the cameras.”
“I was joking!”
“Joking about what?” Steve asked coming into the room.
“I’m about to pull a video of Peter trying to park.” Tony told his husband grinning.
“Tony, be kind.” Steve sat down on the other side of Peter stretching out on the couch, “How bad was it though, Pete?”
“We practiced parking in the garage downstairs—Not a parking lot. How bad do you think it was?” Peter shivered.
Steve passed him a blanket, “I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”
“We’re about to find out.” Tony put the feed to the TV rather than his phone.
Steve was the last one to laugh even Peter was laughing at his parking job, “Oh Bub. We’ll practice more. I promise.”
“But I can drive tomorrow, right?” Peter looked between his parents.
“Babe?” Steve looked at Tony.
“You’d better not come home with even a scratch.”
“I won’t scratch the car! I promise.”
“Cars can be replaced. I meant no scratches on you.” Tony ruffled his hair.
Peter finally understood. His dad wasn’t worried about him wrecking the cars. He was worried about him. That’s why he had been so firm about not having him drive alone. Peter regretted thinking his dad was a pain in the ass. He actually really loved him.
~
Peter got out to his car and realized it had been snowing for a while. He frowned. Maybe he should call one of his dads. They hadn’t reached out to him though so they must not be worried about him driving home in this weather.
Peter turned the car on and started the heat before clearing off the car fully. He sat in the heated car for a bit before decided he was just going to take this slow and steady and get home safely.
Peter was coming up on a red light. He pressed the brakes lightly but the car wasn’t stopping. Peter freaked out and turned the wheel aiming to hit the curb to stop but instead a car had gone into the lane and he smashed into their front end. He felt his whole body start to shake. He knew he needed to react but he was freaking out. He grabbed his phone and pressed the button to get Friday’s attention, “Fri. Can Dad.”
“Pete? We just noticed the weather. Tell me you’re in the garage safe?”
“Dad?” Peter’s voice cracked, “I need you.”
“Pete. Buddy. Tell me what’s going on?”
“I crashed into another car. I’m so sorry. The car wouldn’t stop.” Peter started to cry. He could see the person getting out of the other car and he seemed more than a little upset.
“Okay, breathe. Are you safe? Did you turn on your hazards?” Tony asked.
“I’m okay. But no I just called you.” Peter wiped at the tears on his face.
“We’re coming to you. Put on your hazards and get out of the car safely if you can. The police are already heading your way I’m sure. You have the insurance card I gave you, right? They’ll need that.”
Peter nodded, “I do.”
“Good. Now out of the car. You don’t know what was damaged.” Tony told him again.
Peter stepped out of the car and immediately the other man walked over, “I’m so sorry. My car wouldn’t stop.”
“So you decided to throw yourself into a new lane without even looking?” The man snapped, “You shouldn’t even be on the roads. Do you even have your license?”
“Yes sir. I do.” Peter nodded.
“Where are your parents? They never should have let you drive in this. It was reckless on their part. You clearly need more practice.” The man said, “I bet you don’t even have insurance and that means you’ll be paying for my car out of pocket. I hope your parents make good money.”
“But sir—“ Peter tried to explain he had insurance.
The man held up a hand, “Save it. The police are here. They’ll handle you. Hopefully give you a ticket for reckless driving.”
Peter saw his Papa’s truck pull over in a parking lot near him. He breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to handle the police alone.
Steve walked over and pulled Peter into a hug kissing the top of his head, “Dad called me. I was closer.”
“That man I hit is really mad.” Peter whispered, “He keeps snapping at me and not letting me finish what I’m saying.”
“Don’t worry, kiddo. The adult is here. I’ll handle it.” Steve hadn’t released him from his hug.
“Papa? I’m safe. I promise.” Peter told him.
Steve let go, “I was so worried when Tony called.”
“You’re the parent?” The man walked over, “What kind of reckless parenting is this? You trusted your son to drive in a snow storm when he clearly shouldn’t even have a license. I hope they take it away from you, kid.”
Steve stepped in front of Peter, “Listen. This was an accident. They happen every day. It’s why people have insurance.”
“You don’t look like they type to have coverage for this.” The man rolled his eyes, “Or the type to have money for this.”
A police officer walked over and said, “Hello, everyone. I need to take a report of what happened. You are all then welcome to exchange insurance info.”
“They probably don’t even have it.” The man said again.
Steve took off his sunglasses just a bit so the man could see the fire in his eyes. He’d seen Tony use that as a power move more than once, “Actually we have great insurance and even if we didn’t we could easily pay for this car and your new one. You trying to bully a teenager is uncalled for though. He is a child. A child who was in his first accident and we are sorry that happened but insurance will handle this. You need to calm down.”
“You’re telling me you’d have money to pay for this out of pocket. Yeah, right.” The man laughed.
“I don’t have to prove anything to you.” Steve laughed.
Peter shivered. He’d been standing out in the cold too long, “Can we give the report and go, please?”
“This is your fault and you’ll stand here as long as it takes.” The man sneered.
Steve took off his winter coat and passed it to his son, “Here. I just need you to tell the police officer what happened and then you can go sit in the truck. I already called a tow truck.”
Peter told the officer what happened and once he got the all clear he went to sit in the truck.
“I hope you aren’t planning to let him drive home.” The man rolled his eyes, “I can’t believe they didn’t give him a ticket for this.”
“This is our insurance information.” Steve passed him the car, “Write it down and then I’m leaving. You don’t get to sit there and insult my family.”
Tony chose this moment to walk over, “Whose insulting who?”
“He’s just taking our insurance info.” Steve told his husband, “I sent Peter to my truck.”
“You’re Tony Stark.” The man looked between the two men.
“I told you we have plenty of money.” Steve rolled his eyes.
“Suddenly my neck hurts.” The man winced.
“Yeah. Our lawyers will see you in court then.” Tony looked at the officer, “We’re good to go?”
“Yes, sir. Have a good day.”
~
Steve got into the truck, “Dad is going to meet us at home. I had to reassure him more than once that you are not harmed.”
“Sorry, Papa. I’m so sorry.” Peter was crying again.
Steve didn’t even put the car in drive, “Roo. Accidents happen. That man was wrong about a lot of things and how he handled that but he was right about this being our fault. We should not have let you drive home in this. It was too dangerous for a new driver. The important thing is you’re safe. We’ll practice driving in the snow another day.”
“You’re really not mad?”
“No, We were worried.” Steve reached over and ruffled his hair, “Should we go home then?”
“Yes, please.” Peter sighed in relief.
~
Peter was pulled into another hug as soon as his dad saw him, “Sorry, Dad.”
“None of that. You’re okay?”
“A little stiff but my super healing will take care of that in no time.” Peter reassured.
“Tell me if it doesn’t.”
“I will.” Peter promised, “You should have seen how Papa handled that guy. He even pulled his sunglasses down like you do.”
“Did he now?” Tony glanced at his husband.
“He was attacking our kid and implying we had no money or insurance. He deserved the full wrath of Tony Stark but you weren’t there so I stood in for you.” Steve shrugged with a slight blush on his cheeks.
“Proud of you, Babe.” Tony pulled him in for a kiss, “Way to protect what’s ours.”
“You both are gross.” Peter rolled his eyes, “I’m going to change into comfy clothes.”
Steve waited for Peter to leave the room, “That was terrifying.”
“That man?” Tony frowned.
“No, the accident. My heart was beating out of my chest until I finally pulled Peter into my arms and I could see for myself he was safe.”
“Yeah, being a parent—“
“—Is not for the weak of heart.” Steve finished.