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Peter had been in DC for a couple of days with his school, and he was starting to get an eye twitch from Flash teasing him endlessly. He knew if he called home, Tony would be on the next flight to stop it. He also knew that Tony had a bunch of meetings that Pepper was expecting him to be at. He didn’t want to be the reason that Tony wasn’t there. So he decided to do the next best thing. He made Ned agree to cover for him the evening of the third day and slipped out of the hotel. He walked to a bus stop following the GPS and paid before taking a seat.
He got off at his stop, and it just started raining. He sighed, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head to walk the few blocks to his destination. He was soaked by the time he walked into the building. He wasn’t surprised the building had a doorman and someone sitting in the lobby. He made his way over, “Hi. I’m Peter Parker. I’m trying to find James Rhodes.”
“Is he expecting you?” The man asked, not even looking up from his computer.
“Oh, no. He isn’t.”
“I can make a call, but we take security in this building very seriously.”
“I understand. I would appreciate it if you called.” Peter was hoping he was home. If not, he’d have to go back to the hotel, and he didn’t think he could mentally handle that.
Someone answered, and the man glanced at Peter before telling his name to the person he assumed was his uncle on the phone. It wasn’t long before the elevator opened and Rhodey came into the lobby, “Peter Parker. What are you doing in DC?”
Peter didn’t answer, just went and hugged his uncle, crying.
Rhodey didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around the teenager who was dripping wet from the rain, “Okay, kiddo. I’m here. We’ll figure it out. Whatever it is.”
~
Peter was now in dry clothes borrowed from Rhodey and sitting on the couch in his living room, “I came here on a school trip. One of the kids likes to mess with me, and I normally handle it, but it’s different when he’s there all the time. I couldn’t call home because Tony would miss his meetings, and it would be my fault, and I don’t want Pepper to hate me.”
“That’s a lot to break down. Does Tony know about this kid?”
Peter looked at his feet, “No. I think he suspects something, but we don’t really talk about it.”
“You live in the same home, and he doesn’t know you’re being bullied. Odd for him. I always get the impression he’s a helicopter dad.”
“He’s not my dad.” Peter snapped, glancing up, “I’m just living with him because I don’t have anyone else left. He’s just being nice. I don’t need to worry him with my problems.”
Rhodey wasn’t going to touch on that. It was rooted in deep pain and insecurity, and Tony and Peter would need to work through that, and he was confident they would. “So what do I say when I call him and tell him you’re here?”
Peter jumped to his feet, “You can’t!”
Rhodey held up a hand, “Calm down. We’re not making any decisions right now. But what do we do when the school calls him because you’re MIA?”
“It’s lights out. Ned is going to cover for me. No one will know to call him.” Peter sat back down.
“He’s my best friend, Pete. I know him better than anyone, and he would want to know you’re safe. Can we compromise with me calling him and not going into detail about why you came to my apartment?”
Peter didn’t like it but he could see Rhodey’s reasoning, “Fine but don’t tell him I was upset.”
“Peter, he’s going to know something is wrong. You didn’t just leave the trip with your school because it was all good. Trust me. I know how to talk to him.’
Peter nodded.
~
Rhodey walked away to the kitchen before taking a deep breath and calling Tony. It rang a couple of times before his friend answered.
“Honey Bear. What’s going on?”
“So I found out Peter’s in DC—“
“—Oh yeah. I meant to tell you. He’s on a school trip.” Tony was shutting things down in the lab, “I was going to call him soon to say goodnight. Wait. How do you know that? Did he call you? Is he okay?”
“He’s in my living room, but he’s okay.” Rhodey reassured, “I just thought I should call you before the school does.”
There was a pause. “What happened?” Tony’s voice was that of the protective dad.
“I think it’s something you and Peter should talk about, but I also don’t think he’s going to agree to go back to that hotel tonight. Can you call his teachers and explain he’s here? He can stay with me, and I can drive him to the hotel every morning of the trip if needed.”
“Can I talk to him?” Tony was trying to stay calm. His kid was safe with his best friend. He knew that, but he also knew Rhodey was not telling him everything.
“Peter. Tony is on the phone.” Rhodey walked into the living room, where Peter was now lying on the couch, “He wants to talk to you.”
Peter looked like that’s the last thing he wanted to do, but he took the phone anyway, “Hi.”
“Hi, Bubba.” Tony was trying to put extra warmth into his tone. He had only been Peter’s parental figure for a few months, and he wanted Peter to trust him when he needed help. “Want to talk about it?”
“I just want to stay with Rhodey.” Peter’s voice cracked, “Please.”
“We can do that, but I need to know what I’m telling the school. Rhodey can drive you to meet the group in the morning if that’s what you want.”
“No.” Peter started crying, “I want to come home.”
Tony’s heart softened, “We can do that too. I can get you a plane ticket to come home tomorrow morning, or I can come to get you in the jet.”
“NO! Don’t come here. You don’t have to do that.” Peter sat up, but Rhodey put a calming hand on his shoulder.
“I know that, but if you need me or even want me to come, then I want to be there.”
“You can just get the plane ticket.” Peter wasn’t going to be a problem in Tony’s life.
“I’ll send the info to Rhodey for tomorrow and call the school. You may want to call Ted.” Tony teased gently.
“You know his name is Ned.” Peter knew he was just trying to lower the tension on the call.
“Pass me back to Rhodey, Roo.”
~
Peter was walking to baggage claim when he saw Happy waiting for him. He went over and hugged the man, who squeezed him right back, “Thanks for coming to get me early.”
“Always.” Happy reassured, “Let’s get your bag and get home.”
Peter waited until he saw his bag and lifted it easily. He followed Happy to the parking garage, and as soon as he was in the car, he buckled his seatbelt and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to talk.
It wasn’t long before they were parking in the garage, and Peter made his way upstairs to the penthouse. He half expected Tony to be at the office, but when he came out of the elevator, Tony was on a Zoom call at the kitchen island.
Tony glanced his way and smiled, opening his arm, and Peter took the invitation to go hug the man. Tony didn’t miss a beat in the conversation while hugging his kid and kissing the top of his head.
Pepper smiled on the screen, “I think we can finish without you. Go enjoy some time with your kid.”
Tony didn’t waste a minute before clicking the red LEAVE button, “Welcome home, Kiddo.”
Peter still had his face buried in Tony’s chest.
“You want to tell me what happened now? And why didn’t you want me to come to you when you clearly wanted me?” Tony rubbed soothing circles on Peter’s back.
Peter stayed quiet.
“I’m not mad at you. I just want to understand. Please talk to me.”
“I don’t want to be a troublemaker. I know you have a lot going on.” Peter mumbled against Tony’s chest.
Tony’s hand paused for a second until Peter gave a little whine and he kept doing the soothing circles, “You’re never trouble. You’re my kid. You are my top priority. Everything else can wait or be rearranged.”
“Pepper said you have a lot of meetings while I was supposed to be gone.” Peter pulled back to look at Tony.
“So you thought that meant you couldn’t ask me for help?” Tony’s face was puzzled, “I always want you to come to me. Interrupt a meeting I have with the president for all I care.”
“I didn’t want to bug you, but I couldn’t take it anymore, so I used Friday to help me find Rhodey’s address.”
“I’m glad you knew Rhodey would be there for you. If there is ever a day I don’t answer or you can’t come to me, I always want you to go to my best friend. I just want you to know you mean more to me than any job or work obligation.”
Peter laid his head back against Tony’s chest, “Thank you.”
~
“How’s he doing?” Rhodey asked on the phone that night when Tony called to check in.
“He’s sleeping. He hasn’t talked about why he wanted to leave but I made sure he knew I was open to him talking to me about anything.”
“You’re a good dad, Tones.”
Tony smiled, “Peter makes it easy.”
“Yeah, but you could still be a piece of shit, and you aren’t. You love that kid like a dad should.
“He’s everything to me. I would die for him.”
“I know you would. I’m just trying to say I’m proud of you.”