Work Text:
Peter crawled into bed after seeing the e-mail that his 8am college course was cancelled. He hadn’t read the reason why. He didn’t care. He felt like he was only half alive. The bags under his eyes were deep and dark like bruises. He had thought he would thrive in college but college was beating the shit out of him and he just wanted to go home to his family. He didn’t want to let them down though. He just had to try harder. But right now he needed sleep.
Peter woke up what felt like minutes later with a dry throat and a headache. He figured it had to be late because the sun has gone down. He grabbed his phone. He had 4 missed calls from Dad. Shit. He presses the button to call him back.
“Hey Pete.” Tony voice was soothing to Peter.
“Dad. Sorry. I was asleep.”
“All day?” Tony sat down on the couch.
“I think I’m coming down with something.” Peter cleared his dry and scratchy throat.
“Want me to drive out there?” Tony was prepared to grab his keys.
“No. It looks bad if a college student needs his dad because he gets sick.”
“You have your super cold meds?” Tony wanted Peter to need him but it sounded like he was managing.
“I have what I need.” Peter rolled his eyes.
“Okay. I’ll let you get back to resting then.”
~
Peter woke up in the middle of the night feeling even worse. He felt like his throat was on fire. He reached for his phone and texted his dad, “Changed my mind. Need you. Throat is killing me. I need a doctor.”
Tony woke up to his phone. He gave a soft smile because his baby still needed him, “I’m coming. It’ll take me a few hours. Take some Super meds and try to sleep.”
“Hurry.” Peter’s text read, “Can’t you take the suit?”
“For a sore throat? No.” Tony rolled his eyes and headed to the garage.
~
Tony let himself into Peter’s off campus apartment with his key. He found Peter asleep but he was clearly uncomfortable even in sleep. His face look distressed. Tony walked over and shook him awake gently.
Peter opened his eyes, “Dad?”
“You texted.” Tony brushed the curls out of his eyes. The kid needed a haircut. That was a problem for another day.
“Can we go home?” Peter reached for his water bottle taking a sip.
Tony grabbed the sweater on the floor and threw it at Peter who put it on, “Let’s go. Dr. Cho is on vacation but Strange is going to meet us there.”
“I love him.” Peter told his dad in a raspy voice.
~
“Strep.” Dr. Strange told them.
“Are you sure?” Tony asked, “What if it’s something worse?”
Stephen shook his head, “I do have a medical degree.”
“I know. Sorry.”
“He worries.” Peter tried to laugh but it came out pitiful.
“I know.” Dr. Strange winked at Tony.
Peter looked between the two, “Disgusting.”
Tony rolled his eyes, “What’s disgusting?”
“You’re dating him! Why can’t you date someone normal?” Peter whined.
“Ouch.” Stephen said.
“You want to choose your words more carefully? Stephen is a person with feelings.” Tony warned. He tried to keep in mind Peter had graduated high school early and even though he was in college he is still a kid.
“Sorry. I meant someone not on the Avengers team with us.”
“I’m going to get his medication. I’ll let you two talk.” Stephen squeezed Tony’s hand.
Tony waited for Stephen to leave, “I know you’re 17 and you don’t want to think about me dating but this is still my life. If I’m dating someone you need to be respectful of my choices and I expect you to treat that person with respect and kindness.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply he isn’t normal. It slipped out. But you know what I mean. You could date someone else who isn’t on our team.”
“Peter, I’m dating Stephen. I’m sorry you aren’t happy about that but I really like him. I didn’t plan to date someone on the team. It just happened.”
Peter nodded. He could tell his dad was frustrated and he didn’t feel well. He might as well just take a step back from this. It wasn’t like his dad stayed together with people long anyway. This would blow over.
~
“If he doesn’t want us together then maybe we should stop seeing each other.” Stephen said quietly in the lab aware of Peter’s hearing.
“Friday? Sound proof the lab.” Tony told the AI.
“Got it, boss.”
“He was surprised. He’ll get used to this.” Tony tugged Stephen into his arms, “Don’t get freaked out and end this because of Peter.”
“He’s your kid. He has to come first.”
“And he does. If I thought I was causing real harm with this relationship or thought Peter wouldn’t get behind this then I would end it.” Tony looked Stephen in the eye when he said this. He wanted him to know that he meant what he said.
“Okay. If you’re sure.”
~
The next evening. Peter was sitting on the couch barely awake. He had taken his medication and was just finishing the movie he had turned on before going to bed.
Dr. Strange walked out into the living room in sweats and one of Tony’s hoodies, “Oh. Sorry. I couldn’t sleep and I thought I’d come watch something.”
Peter knew his dad wanted him to be nice, “you can join me. I’m almost done and then I’m going to sleep.”
Dr. Strange sat down.
Peter felt a sneeze coming and reached out an arm to cover his mouth. All of a sudden while he sneezed the powder from the pill came out his nose and it started going back up his throat. He could feel the gritty taste of it. His eyes started watering as his throat and nose burned worse than anything he’d ever felt before.
Dr. Strange was up in seconds passing him a box of tissues, “Keep blowing your nose. I’m getting water.”
“Milk!” Peter croaked out. He needed the burning to stop.
“Milk isn’t good with that medication!” Dr, strange stressed, “I think you had an allergic reaction. No one tested this antibiotic before labeling it for you?”
Peter took the water that was offered.
Dr. Strange rubbed his back in soothing circles while Peter tried to help himself, “sip slowly. I know it probably hurts.”
“Burns.” Peter had tears running down his cheeks.
Dr. Strange stood up to go get his super Tylenol for the pain. Peter reached for his arm.
“Don’t go.” Peter mumbled out while blowing his nose, “Scared.”
“I’m right here.” Dr. Strange sat back down, “Friday. Be a dear and get Tony up. I need his help.”
Tony walked out rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, “What’s wrong?”
“Slight allergic reaction.” Dr. Strange gestured to Peter, “You think you can get his Tylenol? He’s a bit attached to me.”
Tony saw Peter had a grip on Stephen’s arm. He was probably using his stickiness to keep him there. He nodded and went to get it.
~
A couple hours later Peter was left with a still burning nose and throat but it had calmed down a lot. Stephen had gotten him a new medication for the strep as well as a steroid.
“You want to try and sleep?” Tony asked Peter.
Peter shook his head.
“It’s not going to happen again, Pete.” Tony told his son.
Peter shook his head again.
“I can come sit by you.” Stephen offered, “You have to sleep to get better.”
Peter still looked hesitant.
“I’m a doctor. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
Peter finally nodded approval.
~
By the time Stephen made it back to bed it was almost 3am. He felt Tony move closer to him and he lifted his arm so he could snuggle close.
“Thanks for taking such good care of my kid.” Tony said softly.
“Anything for you two.” Stephen closed his eyes.
~
“Dad!” Peter shook his dad awake.
“Hm. I like you better when you’re at school.” Tony mumbled.
“I think Dr. Stranger’s cloak is following me.” Peter told him.
“I told it to when I came to bed. I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Stephen mumbled face still pressed into the pillow.
“I like it.” Peter grinned.
“Go back to bed. You’re sick.” Tony told Peter, “That’s why I drove to MIT, remember?”
“Fine. I’m taking the cloak with me.”
“You’re never getting that back.” Tony told Stephen.
“Cool. So I can retired early then?” Stephen teased.
“Doesn’t that sound nice? A cabin in the middle of nowhere. No superheroes. Just us living our life.” Tony mused.
Stephen nodded, “your kid isn’t anywhere near retirement. I think we’ll be at the tower a while yet.”
“Someday though.”
“Someday.”