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“You squint any harder and you’re going to get wrinkles.”
Tony Stark turned towards the voice, blinking away the thoughts that had taken his mind elsewhere.
May Parker was staring at him with amusement over the rim of her wine glass. Her cheeks were rosy, a smirk playing on her lips. By her look she had been trying to get his attention for a while.
“Nature wouldn’t dare mess with this perfection,” Tony quipped back.
May snorted. “I think she already did.”
“Rude,” Tony mock pouted.
May took a sip of her wine before lowering her glass back to the table. “I am assuming that the thousand yard stare you have been directing at my nephew means he’s gotten himself into some trouble.”
Tony chuckled, shaking his head. “No, no trouble.”
“But more concern that usual,” May pointed out. “He hasn’t developed any more super powers has he? Because the ones he had now are enough.”
“No, no more powers,” Tony assured May. “I don’t think either of us could handle that.”
Both looked over towards the other side of the room where Peter was curled up on the couch, playing on his phone. The evening had been a get together of superheroes and while normally Peter would be hopping from one foot to the other, the kid had mostly put himself on the couch, out of the way and had been glued to his phone.
It was one of the few things that Tony had noticed about Peter lately. While his kid was usually rambling at a speed that even Tony couldn’t sometimes keep up with, he had become more withdrawn, spending their labs sessions mostly in silence. Tony noticed how the enthusiasm in his voice had become more monotone of late and Tony had to try extra hard to catch the kids eyes.
Tony had wracked his brain to figure out if he had done something to offend the kid. He poured over the last interactions, even going as far as asking FRIDAY to record their lab sessions together so he could review them later. Tony analysed their conversations but couldn’t find anything that had upset Peter.
His thoughts had moved on to maybe something had happened at school.
“Our decathlon team made it to the next round,” Peter had said one afternoon when Tony had asked about it.
“And are you happy about that?” Tony had asked carefully.
Peter twirled a pen around and around and around his fingers. “Of course. It’s great news. Mr. Harris thinks we have a real chance of taking the title this year.”
“And everything okay with Ted?”
“Ned,” Peter had corrected. “And yeah. He got a new hat the other day.”
“Maybe he could wear it to the tower one day,” Tony had suggested.
Peter had lit up at that. “Ned would die.”
Tony had probed a little more but Peter hadn’t revealed anything that Tony felt he needed to worry about. With no leads there, Tony was stuck on what could be going on with Peter. He had checked with the other Avengers. While they didn’t interact with the kid as much as Tony did, they all loved Peter once they had gotten over their initial shock of who was under the mask. They hadn’t seemed to notice anything different with Peter, leaving Tony baffled.
“So why do you have a worried look on your face?” May asked. “Seriously, is Peter in some kind of trouble?”
“I’m not sure,” Tony admitted. “I know it’s not the villainous kind. That I’m sure of. But, something is different about Peter.”
May sat ups straighter. “Different how?”
“Just little things with his behaviour,” Tony said, trying not to worry too much.
“Like what?” May asked, unable to keep the worry from her voice.
Tony rubbed at his chin. “Eye contact for one. Peter hasn’t been making it as often. And I had gotten used to his ramblings but now I miss them. He doesn’t go on tangents that often anymore.”
May relaxed back into her chair, a small smile of relief creeping across her features. “Peter’s probably feeling more comfortable with you so he’s probably unmasking his autistic habits.”
Tony blinked. “Peter has autism?”
This time, it was May’s turn to blink. “You didn’t know?”
Tony shook his head.
“Ah,” May said. “Peter probably forgot to tell you. He said he was going to tell you.” She smiled fondly. “He forgets to pass on a few things when he’s not trying as hard to mask that he’s autistic.”
“I had no idea,” Tony said softly as he gazed at Peter.
Tony jumped when May’s hand enveloped his, squeezing it gently. “Tony, Peter didn’t intentionally forget to tell you. He was nervous and after many melt downs, he finally felt comfortable to tell you. Which is why you have started to see him unmasking in front of you.”
May smile was soft and fond. “He loves you, Tony. So much.”
“I love him too,” Tony said, warmth blooming under his skin. “And I hate that he ever felt nervous to tell me.”
“It’s a big thing for Peter,” May said. “It drains him trying so hard to fit in but he feels comfortable to be himself with you.”
“It’s an honour,” Tony said seriously.
May squeezed his hand again. “It is.” She released Tony’s hand and reached for her wine again. “Go. Join him. He won’t mind.”
Tony sent May a grateful look and he quickly stood, moving to join Peter on the couch. The couch cushion sunk under his weight as he took a seat and he smiled as Peter automatically leaned into his side.
“Thanks,” Peter said quietly, not lifting his eyes from his phone. “For understanding.”
It took Tony a moment to realise that Peter had heard his conversation with May from across the room.
“Of course, Kid,” Tony said, fondness sweeping through him. “As if I could be anything else. It’s who you are. And I love you for all the parts that make up all of you.”
Peter glanced at Tony, giving is a quick smile. “Love you too, dad.”
Tony’s heart tripped in his chest and he grinned back widely. As Peter settled against him, he pulled out his own phone and brought up a secure browser.
“What are you doing?” Peter asked, glancing at Tony again.
“Researching,” Tony said. “So I can understand and help accommodate anything you need.”
“Oh,” Peter blinked, cheeks going pink.
Tony grinned at the adorable look and he settled in, diving into his research. Tony would do anything for his kid and he wanted Peter to have a safe place to come to. Tony would be there for Peter, and he would learn everything he could so he could make sure that Perter felt loved and safe.