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Peter Parker had fallen asleep just a few minutes ago, but the sound of faint footsteps in the hall and a familiar heartbeat at his door lured him into a half-awake daze. His senses had been strange ever since that evening and he had trouble turning them down as night approached. The boy had finally managed to do more than doze off until he was now interrupted from his weak attempt of slumber.
The door to his ‘Spiderman’ room, cracked open an inch before slowly revealing a figure quietly entering the room. Normally, Peter would be more alert at this point, but he trusted the sense of familiarity that it wasn’t an intruder. His eyes were taking longer than usual to adjust and recognize whoever was peering in front of him. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.” a soft voice spoke in a whisper.
“F.R.I.D.A.Y. told me your temperature’s gone up a bit and that you’ve been tossing in you bed for a while.” the younger finally recognizes the voice as Tony’s and when he sits on the edge of his bed with the light from the hallway revealing his features, he can see him more clearly. “Wha’ time’s it?” Peter croaks, still a bit dazed and trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes then rubbing them.
“2:36” the man replies, reaching out to move a curl out of his face. “Something bothering you, bud?” he moves another to his side and the boy yawns. “Senses are all messed up... can’t sleep.” Tony thoughtfully hums. “F.R.I.D.A.Y., scan Peter Parker: health analysis.” he requests. “Scanning...” the a.i. quickly replies. “Peter seems to have caught a cold boss. Would you like me to offer you some home remedies?”
“Just give me something so I can sleep.” the boy interrupts, tiredly. “Boss?” F.R.I.D.A.Y. asks for permission. “What the kid said.” Tony approves. “Chamomile tea helps with falling asleep. There is a box in the kitchen on the top shelf next to the fridge.” the man nods. “On it. One chamomile tea coming right up!” he heads to the kitchen, retrieving the tea from where the a.i. said it would be and preparing it.
Taking Peter’s favourite mug out, he slips a teaspoon of honey in it in case his throat feels sore and quickly heads back to the room. Meanwhile, the boy had shifted into a sitting position and was blankly staring at his wardrobe opposite his bed. “Careful, it’s hot.” Tony’s reappearance pulls him out of it and he gratefully takes the cup in his hands. “Thanks.” he quietly mutters then takes a probational sip.
Peter grimaces and puts the mug down on the nightstand next to his bed. “Too hot?” the younger simply hums in reply. “Need me to get you something else in the meantime?” the boy shakes his head. “Alright...” the room is awkwardly quiet after that. “Wait, mr. Stark were you... also... awake?” Tony shrugs, nonchalantly. “I was just... finishing up some tinkering in the lab.”
“But you told me you finished before I went to bed?” Peter asks, clearly remembering the interaction in the living room. “...you should start sipping that tea now.” the man hands him the cup again. The younger notes how he’d clearly wanted to avoid the subject and decides to leave the questioning to a better time in the morning. “Sore throat? Stuffy nose?” Tony inquires when he’s done with the tea.
The boy takes a moment to think. He’s been so focused on trying to fall asleep that he hadn’t even noticed that his nose was a bit congested and mouth felt dry. “It does feel a bit better now after the tea though.” Peter adds, already starting to feel tired again. “I can bring you a humidifier?” the older suggests, already up on his feet to fetch. “M-Mr. Stark, there’s really no need-”
“And an extra pillow.” Tony decides, ignoring him.
He’s already disappeared by the the younger opens his mouth again. Peter deflates a little and settles on making himself more comfortable in bed, kicking off the duvet. He flips his pillow over to the colder side and drinks the little tea that’s left in his mug. Just then, the man returns depositing a pillow and a comforter next to him. “Thought you’d like a lighter blanket, too.” he plugs in the humidifier.
The younger gratefully takes both and finally lies back down on the mattress while Tony fiddles with the settings on the device. “There we go, all set.” he announces, sitting back on the bed. “You should be able to fall asleep in no time.” he ruffles Peter’s here who blissfully sighs in relief. “Thanks, mr. Stark.” the man hums in return and the awkward silence returns.
“Well, I’ll- I’ll leave you to it then... unless there’s something else I can do for you?” the older fiddles with the empty mug. “I-I think I’ll be okay now.” Peter pulls the cover over his shoulders. “Alright then, good night kiddo.” Tony begins the close the door. “Wait!” he abruptly opens it again. “Yeah?” the boy opens his mouth, but no words come out. “N-Nothing, sorry... goodnight mr. Stark.”
The said man stays at the entrance for a moment longer. “Do... you want me to stay until you fall asleep?” he quietly suggest, startling Peter. ‘Mr. Stark can’t read thoughts, right!?’ the younger panics momentarily. “No- I mean- Yes- No- If you want...” he tumbles through the sentence and Tony just chuckles, closing the door and sitting back down again on the bed. “You know, there’s nothing embarrassing if you do, Peter.”
“...really?”
“I’ll stay as long as you need me to.”
“...”
“I don’t mind staying up, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“...”
“Peter?”
“Thank you, mr. Stark...”
The man gently smiles, hand back in his hair, untangling his curls. The motion seems to lull Peter to sleep more than any other remedy and he closes his eyes. After a few minutes, his breathing evens out and the boy had finally fallen into a deep sleep. Tony continues to card through his hair for a little longer than places a kiss to the top of his head. “Sleep tight, little spider.”