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It had been three months since the arrest happened. Three months since Peter had officially established that Tony was his Papa. It was awkward for him, to let Tony see himself like that.
Peter didn't regress much, in fact he kept it - the headspace - pretty under control, being able to fight the fuzz. Now sometimes he absolutely couldn't and sometimes he just let himself sink in, depending on the circumstances. Since the arrest, the boy had only regressed six times. Four times with Tony, and two with Aunt May. He was good at keeping it under control, he was.
Until he wasn't.
He didn't expect it. Didn't expect the kiss in his hair and the hug from behind. He stiffened, eyes widened as he tried to figure out who it was.
The arms were soft, a little small. The embrace was quick and not too long...yet it made him feel safe and small.
It was Aunt May!
He turned around quickly from his seat and smiled up at her, humming as he grabbed one of her hands. The woman looked surprised, not expecting the sudden headspace change, before she smiled. "Oh Peter I thought you heard me," She sighed a little, other hand coming to the boy's hair to try and fix the slight mess she made of it. Peter was slightly confused and tilted his head, and like always the woman knew what he wanted to ask.
"I have to go to a meeting, remember." She explained and that's when Peter frowned a little. Not because she was leaving, but because he potentially made it harder for her. He couldn't be left alone when small, May tried once and when she came back he had messed up the whole place from having a panic attack because of a knock that wasn't hers.
"No, no little one." May smiled, "You're not bothering me. I just didn't expect it..." She trailed off at the end and the boy watched her. Trying to find guidance and how he should feel at the moment. She hummed, looking at her watch before she had an idea: Tony.
"I just have to make a call to Tony. Real quick." She informed and Peter lit up. "Papa," He smiled, and she nodded. "You stay here, okay?" Peter nodded.
As she left, the boy got up from his chair and computer and grabbed the hidden things that made smaller him happier. He put on his two fuzzy socks, they were blue and white and made his feet feel better. Then there was his jacket. It wasn't that soft, in fact it kinda was made with a jean material. It just made him feel nice..Peter didn't know why he wasn't stereotypically into soft things when like this. Sure he loved them, but to fully feel comfortable, his whole surroundings couldn't be just soft. He didn't get it.
But, he didn't get a lot of things. Aunt May was one of the best people in his life. She was so kind and sweet to him, she was his family! She was the first one to know about his regression and accepted it. May was the one that gave him the nickname 'Spider,' in the first place. She was the one that used it to calm him down when it first had happened, all those years ago. And yet..he still couldn't say her name. He tried, he really did. He tried online speech therapy with May when like this. But it never worked..he could never say anything else. He could only say Papa, Thanks, Sorry..and...Daddy... It made him annoyed...feel guilty.
He huffed, and sat in his bed, grabbing his phone so he could mindlessly watch something on YouTube. His brain telling him to relax, his body telling him the same thing. So he just gave in.
A few minutes later, Aunt May came into the room and smiled, kissing his forehead. "Okay, listen to me, okay lil Spider?" The boy nodded, pausing the video. "I have to go, but Tony will be here in a few minutes. He has the key." She sighed. "Do not open the door. Not for anyone. Got it?" The boy nodded, and she smiled. "Good boy," She kissed his nose, and he giggled.
Peter followed her all the way out the door, until he was in the doorway. He waved good bye, hugging her tightly before she had to shut the door from the other side. He frowned a little when she left, the room was quiet and he felt alone. Which was natural, he guessed.
The boy decided to make himself a nice little fort in the living room. Grabbing some blankets and one of the hard wooden boards from the closet. He quickly made work, putting the board down and grabbing pillows. Lining them up carefully. He even cheated a little bit, using his webs to softly stick them together.
After he was done, he grabbed a chocolate chip granola bar, knowing that Aunt May wouldn't be happy if he was to get just candy. Peter was good at following the rules.
As he sat down in his little fort, he grabbed the remote to the television. He turned it on and played his favorite cartoon: Daniel Tiger! Sometimes Peter felt bad, he was like an eight year old when regressed, he knew how to read and write. And yet, he liked to do the most childish kiddish things. Like watching cartoons, or playing legos in a mished mashed way.
Aunt May told him that he didn't have to feel bad about that though. That kids were kids and he could like whatver he liked.
When Tony got the call from Aunt May about Peter...He was a little...not annoyed, per se, but surprised. He had planned out his schedule accordingly, but now he had to watch Peter.
He didn't hate Peter, and he didn't mind watching the small sometimes. It was simply because he had plans to work that afternoon that he had to figure something out. And he did: Bring the work with him.
So when he arrived at the apartment, opening the door with the spare keys May gave him, he had his suitcase and computer with him. When Tony pushed the door open he was instantly met with a small 'Papa!' Filling the room. His eyes widened, surprised before he smiled. "Hey Peter," He cooed softly, closing the door behind him. Tony looked around, humming before his eyes laid on Peter.
He was currently on the couch, sitting up so that his arms were on the back of it so he could lean forward. Tony smiled, putting his things down on the table before walking over to the boy.
Once he was only a few feet away, Peter hugged him, tight, and Tony could only smile. He kissed the top of his head, and ruffled his hair. Peter liked that - the hair touching - he found. "I came to watch you," He informed, and Peter looked up at him, and smiled before nodding hesitantly. "I have to work though, as well...so, can you be good for me as I do that?" He asked, and Peter, ever the people pleaser when regressed, smiled and nodded. The man rewarded him with a nose tap that made him giggle.
So, for the next few hours, Tony was working on his computer. He had some gadget with him as well, sometimes poking at it with a screw driver. But for the most part he was programming something.
Peter did his own thing, watching cartoons, reading a few books, and coloring. It was fun! He liked it. But he also started to get a little lonely. Not that he needed attention..no no he didn't...He wasn't that. He..wasn't what Daddy used to call him when he cried. He wasn't.
He was staring at his coloring page, a dog he had colored. It took a few moments for Peter to snap out of it, the sound of the keyboard typing, is what helped him. He sat up and let out a small breath, before grabbing his dog plushie- who was named Arach- and slowly went over to Tony. He stood next to the table. He didn't need attention, but he wanted it at the moment and if Papa said no, then it's a no.
The older man took a sip of his coffee before he looked up, a brow rising. "Peter?" He stopped typing. "Is something wrong?" The boy shook his head and looked meekly at the man, who was still confused. "I know you can't ask..but you have to give me some clues, kid." Tony explained and Peter's eyes widened a little.
Right!
He pointed to the man's lap shyly. Tony looked back over to his mess of colors, paper and blankets before smiling. "Aw kid, did you get lonely?" Peter could only nod. "That's okay...Do you want to sit in my lap?" He asked, and the boy nodded again. This was new..Sure they had sat together side by side, and have even cuddled. But Peter had never sat in his lap before. It wasn’t like Peter was tall, but he certainly wasn’t the size of an actual eight year old.
He contemplated a little, before he decided to give zero fucks. Peter’s brain was thinking like a little child at the moment and it’s not like anyone but him and May knew.
The older man gently pulled the chair back with his feet. “You have to be quiet for Papa though, okay?” Peter smiled and nodded vigorously as Tony helped the boy settle on his lap. He kissed his forehead before he resumed work, the boy’s eyes staring at the computer screen.
Peter was great, he sat quietly and barely moved. His body was fully relaxed and he fiddled with his plushie from time to time. He was completely transfixed on the screen, watching Tony code and program, the words coming on the screen as he typed. Tony found that he liked the sounds of the keyboard, the keys being pressed and making that soft ‘clack,’ sound.
It made Peter smile wide, before drumming his own fingers against his own arm, and Tony found it adorable. He recognized it as stimming, and it made him smile a little that he was comfortable enough to let himself do it.
Soon enough, Tony was done and kissed the boy’s temple, “Okay kid, I’m done.” He slowly closed the suitcase. The new wrist gauntlet was for Sam and it was quite dangerous. He didn’t want small Peter to accidentally hurt himself with it. Not that Peter would mess with it, but it was just a precaution.
As he closed his computer, Peter slipped out his lap and immediately went “Papa thanks.” His voice high and rapid. “Thanks..Papa?” He tilted his head, trying to form one of the few two word sentences he could. Tony laughed and pulled his head up by grabbing his cheeks as he stood. “You’re welcome, Spider,” He cooed, letting go to ruffle his hair.
The boy nodded before he quickly grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him along. Now that he was done, they could play! He loved to play with Papa. Tony laughed a little as the boy guided him to sit down on the floor in his half fort. The kid immediately reorganizing his supplies, putting Arach down in his lap before lifting up his coloring book. He wanted to color.
Tony understood and hummed, “Hm…which page you want to do? We can color it together,” He informed, and the boy hummed a little before he flipped through the book messily before settling on a cat and dog playing together. He pointed to the dog, wanting to do that one, and Tony nodded, “Okay, I’ll do the cat, kiddo.”
They picked up one of the crayons and started to color.
By the time Aunt May was back, Peter had nearly put everything away, safe for his stuffed animal, that was currently in the crook of his arm. He was sleeping on the couch, cuddled up with Tony. The two having decided to watch a movie together. It was some cartoon movie about Zombies..Tony was also pretty sure it was a musical from the songs.
The front door gently opened, May walked in and closed the door behind her, “Hello?” She whispered, and Tony hummed, lifting a hand as if to signal he was awake.
“Hey,” She smiled, coming over to the couch, her first instinct being to kiss Peter’s forehead. “He’s asleep,” May cooed, and Tony nodded. “I hope he was no trouble..”
“No, no, not at all,” The man whispered, and May sighed, “Thank you..for coming to watch him. I know it was unexpected…I’m sorry about that. I was surprised too..” She explained and Tony shook his head. “No, not at all. It’s no burden, I just was a little surprised too. But it ended up working out, I finished my work regardless. Though I really do have to go now.”
May nodded, “I really appreciate the help.”
“I’m glad to,” Tony then slowly got up. He gently jostled the boy awake. Peter groaned, eyes opening in a half lidded way before he huffed. “Pa..a?”
“Hey kid, I have to go.” He informed and kissed his temple. “Aunt May is here.” Peter giggled before his eyes trailed to May and he extended his arms. The woman cooed before holding his hand.
“Bye bye kid, be good for your aunt.” The man ruffled his hair, and Peter with his other hand waved good bye.
Tony grabbed his computer and suitcase, before waving bye to May one last time. The woman returned the gesture before he opened the door.
Once he left, Peter hugged the woman and buried his face in her shoulder, before breathing in. Taking in her familiar scent as he started to fall back asleep. May chuckled, whispering “Tired baby,” as she settled on the couch with the boy on her lap. Letting him fall back asleep in her arms.
She pulled a blanket on him, before grabbing the remote to watch a show.