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“I can’t go to school today.” Peter flopped onto his dad’s bed.
Tony glanced over from where he was currently tying the tie around his neck, “Why not?”
“I’m sick.” Peter shrugged, “I have a headache and my throat is sore.”
Tony walked over, putting his hand against the teenager’s forehead, “You don’t feel warm.”
“But dad—“ Peter protested, “You said I could always come to you if I don’t feel good and I don’t need to go to school sick.”
Tony had told Peter that once, when he had to pick him up from school because he had gone in despite feeling awful. He hadn’t wanted Tony to miss his meetings, “Fine. You can stay home. I need to go into the office still for a bit, but I’ll call and check on you in between meetings. If you’re sick, you are resting. You are not going to patrol or go to the lab. Do we understand each other?”
“Yes.” Peter rolled his eyes.
“I’m going to ignore the eye roll because I don’t have time to deal with your teenage attitude.” Tony moved to his bathroom, closing the door.
~
“Why aren’t you in bed?” Tony asked while video chatting with Peter between meetings.
“I’m lying on the couch. I’m not having a wild party. Chill. You act like you don’t believe me, even though I did what you asked.”
“Honestly, I don’t believe you.” Tony saw Pepper motioning to him, “Because you hate missing school. You normally go even when you are sick, so it would take something severe for you to actually ask to stay home sick. You don’t have a fever. You seem fine. It leaves a lot of questions, Roo.” Tony held up a finger to Pepper, who just shook her head with a soft smile on her face, knowing he was talking with his son.
Peter got a weird look on his face, “Go. I can tell you’re busy.”
“Pete—“ But the call disconnected. Tony wanted to head home and talk to his kid, but he had to get to one more meeting, so he sent off a text telling him to get his butt in bed.
~
Tony walked into the tower a bit after lunch, which is later than he wanted to get home. He went to Peter’s room and found the kid reading a book in bed, “Feeling better?”
Peter just flipped a badge, “You don’t even believe me, so don’t pretend to care.”
Tony sat down on Peter’s bed, “Just talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
Peter put his book down and hugged his knees to his chest, “Can’t you just go with it? Why do we need to talk this to death? It’s one day of missed school. I’m an honors student. I get straight A’s.”
“I’d still like to understand. You aren’t in trouble. I just want you to be honest with me about what’s going on.”
Peter shrugged but didn’t answer.
“Okay. I’m going to make lunch. Did you eat?”
“I ate a sandwich.” Peter picked up his book, “But thanks.”
Good to see his manners were still intact.” Tony walked out of the teenagers' room.
~
Tony was in the lab later that night when Peter wandered down, “Hi, Roo. How you feeling?”
“My stomach hurts.” Peter came over, and Tony opened his arms for a hug.
Tony felt the kid’s forehead again. He wasn’t warm. “Did you eat something weird? Or not enough today?”
Peter shook his head against his chest, “Just hurts.”
“Okay. “Want to go lie on the couch and watch a movie?” Tony ran his fingers through Peter’s curls. The boy leaned into the touch.
“Just want you.” Peter tightened his grip on Tony’s shirt.
Ahhh. I’ve been gone too much. “I’ve been gone a lot more than normal, huh? Maybe this weekend we should spend some time in the lab together.”
Peter glanced at his dad, “I would love that.”
“It must be tough having me as a dad sometimes. You must feel like you have to share with the whole world at times.” Tony hoped Peter would open up. He wanted to make sure he understood he was his top priority.
“I love you as a dad, but sometimes you being Tony Stark can feel like a lot.” Peter grabbed a wrench from the table to fidget with, “It’s like you’re here, but you’re not. There are weeks I feel like we barely see each other. We communicate by text more than anything lately.
Tony felt the air punched from his lungs, “You’re right. I’m sorry. I think I got used to you being so good about everything that I forgot that you still need me to be present in your life. I haven’t been a very good dad lately, and I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say that. You’re the best dad ever.” Peter set the wrench down again with a clunk, “You always leave breakfast and lunch in the fridge for me for school. You text me every day to remind me to do homework and tell me where you are. You tell me you love me way too much. You have the impossible job of being a parent, a superhero, and someone huge in the community on top of Stark Industries. I’m not mad at you. I just miss you.”
Tony pulled his kid in for another hug, kissing the top of his head, “We’re going to have time for us every week here on out. No more pretending to be sick because you miss me.”
Peter gave a watery laugh, “Didn’t work anyway.”
Tony shook his head, “No, not very well. You really do need to go to bed, though. It’s late.”
“Okay. Love you.” Peter said while moving to go upstairs.
“Love you more,” Tony told him.