Archive of Our Own ^beta

Ever since Pepper had been pregnant with their daughter, she drilled into Tony’s head that when Morgan was finally brought into the world, he’d always have to support her head. So, it was only instinct he continued to do so as Morgan grew up, and when eventually Peter was brought back into his life. (With a miracle, Tony had survived the Snap. It took months for him to recover fully, though.)

They’re at the lake house, both Parker’s staying the weekend when it first happened.

Tony was deep in a conversation with Bruce on the phone, Peter sat next to him, most likely texting his friends or watching stupidly funny videos on his own phone. May sat in the kitchen, helping Pepper chop vegetables for dinner while Morgan played in the living room with Happy watching over her.

May and Pepper are talking about their kids, how each of them are doing, plans for the summer, small talk, really.

Bruce and Tony are talking science to each other, big words that no one except Peter would probably understand. Tony wouldn’t put their conversation past him. Hell, he might be eavesdropping but his phone seems to be too distracting, so maybe not.

Morgan forces a doll into Happys hands and somehow gets him to play dolls and dollhouses with her. Behind them is a sliding glass door which leads outside to the lake. The water is still and calm, reflecting the mood inside the house. The sun hangs low in the sky, but not low enough to be sunset or on the brink of dusk. If there were to be an estimate on what time it was based just off of the position of the sun in the sky, it’d be around half past four.

Suddenly, Peter drops his phone and it slides under the coffee table. “Oh- shit.” He mutters under his breath. Tony glances at him and huffs out a laugh.

Peter slides off the couch to grab his phone from underneath the table. Tony leans forward, sliding his hand across the table until it covers the corner. Once Peter grabs his phone, he shuffles back and almost hits his head on the underside of the table. He sits back on the couch and gives Tony a questioning look. He just smiles and winks at him before they both go back to doing their own thing.

It happens again, not even five hours later, but in a different way. Peter has his legs in Tony’s lap as he rests on the couch, staring at the TV screen. It’s playing a random Disney movie, he remembers seeing the title card as ‘Frozen’. Morgan had insisted on choosing, since ‘Peter always picks the boring ones!’ Tony had laughed at the kids antics, but Peter took Morgan’s opinion about Star Wars very seriously.

To say he was upset watching the first five minutes of the movie was an understatement. He then immediately stopped being offended and watched the movie. (Peter stowed away the idea to show Morgan his favourite franchise once she grew a bit older. Maybe she’d get into it then.)

They’re nearing the end of the movie now, where Anna’s hair matches the colour of the snow and ice that Arendelle has been covered in for who knows how long. Anna had only been trying to restore summer, but hell if she wasn’t going to die trying to complete her quest.

Peter had been lazily watching, head rested upon the armrest. Morgan was way more into it, making comments every chance she got.

Anna slowly limps across the ice. And then the scene quickly changes, Prince Hans is holding a sword as he stalks closer to Elsa. Morgan sits on the edge of her seat, watching intently. Anna quickly runs in front to protect her sister, however she turns into an ice statue. The sword comes down but it breaks into tiny pieces. Morgan gasps, as if she hadn’t seen this movie too many times to count.

Tony snorts and nudges Peters leg. “Bit like you, eh? You know, with all the self sacrificing shit you pull.” He shoots the teenager a smirk when he sits up slightly.

“At least I don’t turn to ice when I do it.” Peter nods his head affirmatively.

Tony sighs and shakes his head. After the movie is over, Pepper comes to snatch Morgan away to put her to bed. (Apparently she has a very early bedtime, even on weekends.) Tony and Peter stay on the couch, watching another movie. This time it’s Tangled.

(Earlier, just as Pepper was putting Morgan to bed, May had decided to get some rest too. Happy had left a while ago, though.)

Halfway through the movie, Peter yawns and feels himself falling halfway off the couch. Tony immediately reacts, pulling him back and seemingly protecting his head, which Pepper walks in on the scene. Peter smiles at Tony before conking out on the sofa. Pepper just watches with adoration, touched by the fact that her words all those years ago still have an effect on Tony, like it’s his instinct to do it. And maybe, it just is.

The last time it happens during their trip is whilst in the garage lab, because Tony could never be away from his work for too long. Tony had just sent Peter out to get some snacks from the kitchen. It was probably around two in the afternoon, they’d both had lunch, but it was pretty light. A sandwich and a few bits and bobs were enough for some people, though not everyone. Especially not a kid with a fast metabolism, burning through anything in twenty minutes.

Tony is working on something . Not even he knows what it is. He thinks it’s an old project of Peters he randomly picked up and started to mess with. It looked like it had been abandoned, probably for good reason too, but it didn’t stop Tony’s curiosity.

He pokes the robot, which for some reason looks weirdly like a spider. When nothing happens, Tony pokes it again this time with a screwdriver. The robot seems to perk up and inspects the end of the metal object. Tony lets a cold shiver run down his spine as he watches it move, and prod at the screwdriver. He hates the way it moves just like a spider . He hates everything about it.

As the sound of Peters footsteps get louder, the small spider robot jumps off of the table. Tony almost screams at the display, thankfully though he holds it back. Tony feels an instinctive urge to suddenly stand up. Once he does, the robot immediately runs towards Peter.

Before Tony can stop it, it attacks the kids ankles. Peter trips over it on his next step with a yelp. Tony rushes forward to catch him and holds his head as Peter falls into his arms. He stumbles a little with the new weight, but he manages.

Unfortunately, though, the spider robot hasn’t given up. It jumps again and latches itself onto Tony’s left hand, biting and piercing his skin. Tony, in turn, bites his lip to stop from crying out at the pinching pain.

Peter pulls out of Tony’s grip and crushes the robot latched onto him with his own hand. It crumbles to metallic pieces on the wooden floor. Blood trickles down Tony’s hand, sliding down his fingers and dripping onto the now stained red wooden flooring.

Peter looks up at him. They both ignore the mass of snacks all over the place. “Where the hell did you find that?” Peter asks, a seriousness to his voice Tony’s never heard before.

Tony takes a deep breath. “Just in the lab in a pile of scraps. Why do you ask?” He inclines his head at Peter.

“Because, Mister Stark, those things are dangerous.” Peter grabs his hand that is bleeding and studies it.

“ Dangerous ? Look, kid, as long as it wasn’t radioactive I won’t be turning into Spider-Man two point o anytime soon.” Tony tries to joke, Peters not having any of it.

Peter rolls his eyes and drags Tony into the lab. “Sit.” He says, pushing him towards the rolling chair.

“Aye aye, Cap’n.” Tony salutes as he sits down in the chair, watching as Peter digs around the lab for a first aid kit. Once he finds it, he walks over. He pops it open and rummages through it, finding alcohol wipes, gauze and a roll of bandages. “You know, Pete, this is really unnecessary.”

Peters head snaps up and their eyes meet. “If I can’t say that, neither can you. So just- be quiet. Please? Thanks.” He stretches his hand out and pats Tony’s shoulder. Tony squints his eyes at Peter. Why is his hand so cold?

Tony brushes it off and focuses on Peter, who rips open the packaging for an alcohol wipe. Oh god. Even though he’s had worse things happen to him, cleaning small, insignificant cuts with those things stung like a biiiitch . Peter carefully dabbed at the weird looking bite with the alcohol wipe. It still didn’t stop it from stinging. Tony inhaled sharply, but Peter ignored him. He was often a dramatic old man.

After that, Peter continued, applying antiseptic cream, the gauze and wrapping his hand all with steady and cautious hands. Once he was done, Peter gave Tony another shoulder pat alongside a smile.

Tony stood up, stretching his legs. “Thanks, kiddo.” He returned the smile.

Peter was still sat in a chair where he’d been in front of him. Tony bent his knees slightly and dropped a light kiss to the top of Peters head. “Let’s go grab those snacks, yeah?” Tony asked, but didn’t even wait for an answer as he walked out to pick up the mess he sort of caused.

Peter followed a couple moments later, sporting the widest grin Tony had ever seen on him. Maybe he should give Peter head kisses and forehead kisses more often, if it got that much of a reaction out of the teenager. They picked up the snacks in silence and decided to retreat to the living room.

Morgan sat there, cuddled up into Peppers side. There was a blanket draped over her small body. Moana played on the TV. Silently, Peter and Tony joined the other two, getting comfy. It wasn’t long before Peter had curled up on one of Tony’s sides, almost clinging to him for comfort. Tony smiled and ruffled his hair.

Man, life couldn’t get any better than this.

And as Tony sat there, surrounded by his closest family (minus a few members), he realised he had become a sort of father even before Morgan. But of course it had started with Peter. However, Tony wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.