Chapter Text
The party Tony was currently at was an impromptu one Phil’d thrown – he’d mentioned something about it being some sort of sendoff before he, Mike, and Tony holed up in the Farm again for the next album. Tony didn’t really get it, personally, as people typically threw parties after the completion of a record, not before it’s even been started, but he’d learned not to fuss about it too much –Phil would use any excuse to hold festivities, and was unstoppable when he got into party mode. Tony had simply rolled with it as much as he could. He greeted some people and mingled a bit, before grabbing a drink and perching on the edge of a couch, sipping and counting down until an acceptable time to make an exit.
45 minutes later, Tony’s drink was gone, and he was restless.
He glanced at the clock – factoring in the time used to make small talk, he’d been at the party for about an hour and a half.
I know it’s early, Tony thought, looking wistfully at the door, but I can’t stand this anymore. I could be working on that new song. He looked back at the crowd, scanned for Phil and saw him trying to sling his arm around Mike’s shoulder, both of them laughing hysterically when Phil had to stretch up quite a bit to make up for the height difference. Tony felt a twinge of guilt. He knew they’d be upset to see him go, they’d try to get him to stay with them, try to cheer him up –
I’ll just tell them I’ve got a bad stomach, he thought. Which wasn’t untrue. He had been feeling nauseous, just not due to food. He’d always been reserved, and even though he enjoyed his friends and the band, large crowds still got to him, particularly at parties. Parties made him uneasy, and he couldn’t handle them for very long. He usually skipped out on them altogether, but he felt obligated to attend at least a few every now and then for his friends’ sake. Right now, though…it just wasn’t working for him. He had to go.
With his excuse under his belt, he started slipping on his jacket as he made to get up –
– When suddenly, a pair of black slack-covered legs stopped in front of him.
He looked up, and his heart jumped.
It was Peter.
Tony couldn’t help but stare for a few moments. Take him in. His hair, which was now longer and slicked back, a few bangs falling over his forehead. He’d filled out a bit more. Yet that was where the changes ended. The rest of him was the same, sparkling eyes and all.
“Oh,” Tony finally managed.
“Leaving already?” Peter asked, a teasing note in his voice, which was deceptively light, but Tony could tell that Peter had been staring too. Well, too bad for him, that was as much as he was going to see.
“Bad stomach,” Tony mumbled, standing up properly, surprised to feel the hot prickle of tears at his eyes. He blinked them back hurriedly. “Just got worse. Excuse me…” He began to brush past Peter but Peter easily caught him under the elbow, held fast and stopped him in his tracks.
Tony was still. If he really wanted, he could break out of Peter’s grip and be on his way…that’s what the rational part of him wanted. His head.
As for the heart?
Well…his legs didn’t seem to be working anymore, so…
“I know we haven’t seen each other in a little while – ”
An understatement, Tony thought. Since WOMAD. Three years.
“ – but I got the party memo from one of Phil’s other friends.”
“He didn’t know you’d be in town,” Tony said apologetically. Or he’d’ve made sure you didn’t show up. Or at least, didn’t come seeking me out. Getting me caught up with you again.
“Look, Tony.” Peter loosened his grip on Tony’s arm, but didn’t let go. “I know we left off on a strange note, but…I’d like to talk it out with you.” A pleading look.
His insides were doing acrobatics.
Tony blinked, his expression mild.
“Right now?” He smiled wryly, despite himself. “I thought you didn’t want me to leave early.”
“I’m here until Tuesday,” Peter said. “Sometime before then, we’ll hash things out, if you’d like. But right now? We’re at a party.” He held out his hand. “Wanna dance?”
Tony contemplated it for exactly ten seconds before he rolled his eyes and placed his hand in Peter’s.
Peter grinned, and led him back out into the crowd.