Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[Peter; 15:59]
how did the MIT lecture on BARF go?

[Tony; 16:06]
everyone’s super happy and gets to go home with money who doesn’t love that

[Tony; 16:07]
oh right may the fourth be with you…at least 10 students have said that to me today, eye roll

Tony sets his phone down and stares at the passing scenery from the quiet of his car. 

Then sighs, because…

Because he ended up running away. 

That’s what he’s good at, that’s what people say he’s good at and who is he to disappoint… frankly, he does enough of that whether he lifts a finger or not.

And on that list of endless disappointments, you could now add killing people’s children.

Staring down at the crumbled up photo of Charles Spencer in his lap, Tony sighs heavily and rests his head against his fist.  

God the giant migraine that’s taking refuge behind his eye sockets is a bitch. And with every pothole the idiot driver hits, it intensifies, like a fucking… curse or something. Or maybe karma for Charles Spencer. 

“Where’d you get your license?” Tony mutters. “The back parking lot of a crackhouse?”

“What was that sir?”

“Nothing,” he groans, “keep your eyes on the road…”

There was some afterparty with the faculty he’d been invited to, but if he has to hear one more professor’s bogus proposal, he’s going to lose his shit. 

All Tony knows is that needs to get home, now. 

Who’s going to avenge my son, Stark? He’s dead. And I blame you.

The echoes of that conversation still rings in his ears. Loudly.

He hadn’t been able to get a single word in. Probably best he hadn’t. It wasn’t his place to. Not with a grieving mother. 

Even if she had pulled a gun on him like he suspected she had been about to (or some other form of weapon), he probably would’ve let her.

[Tony; 16:10]
can I see you when I land? 

[Peter; 16:10]
yes

[Peter; 16:15]
you don’t like star wars?

[Tony; 16:18]
i like it just fine but after hearing the same thing repeatedly…gets tiring

Doing the demo was one thing—he’s usually very good at those. Reading the teleprompter, improv with a few jokes, interact with the crowd, be charming and hot and very Tony Stark™—people typically love it. The brand, anyway. Not really him, but that’s whatever.

The thing is: doing a demo that revealed his personal crap that he’d been shoveling under piles of sarcasm, money, and alcohol… 

It was rough. 

But the demo went okay, he didn’t barf (hah… so funny) on stage and he managed to get through the entire thing.

Up until Miriam Sharpe. 

[Tony; 16:21]
tell me about your day, kinda tired of mine 

[Peter; 16:21]
i mean it kind of involves star wars…

Fucking hell.

Tony sighs, but… he’s smiling, now, at least. 

[Tony; 16:23]
ugh nerd

[Tony; 16:25]
I’ll accept it because it’s you and my need to be distracted by someone pretty (you) is high 

[Peter; 16:26]
well you can’t say I didn’t warn you

[Peter; 16:27]
here’s a picture of the meeting I had earlier

Attached is an image of… Peter’s employees, Tony assumes. Or really fucking large kindergartners. Everyone’s dressed up as various Star Wars characters.

Looks like really…cheap costumes from party city, but Tony keeps that bit to himself. 

He doesn’t feel like coming off as more of an asshole than he already is. Not today.

He figures he’s wracked up enough bad karma from killing people’s kids and all. Doesn’t need to fuck around the only good thing in his life, right now.

[Peter; 16:28]
i’m chewbacca

Ah. Cute.

[Tony; 16:31]
who’s the killjoy not dressed up? let me guess toby from hr?

[Tony; 16:32]
you look as beautiful as ever honey, seriously, consider me wooed, now why don’t you ever wear something like that when we’re together? brings out your eyes

He’s teasing.

Mostly.

[Peter; 16:33]
well considering your text earlier abt may the 4th I took off the costume and then threw it out the window

Tony laughs. 

[Tony; 16:35]
you didn’t 

[Tony; 16:36]
you’re too funny, I’ve missed you 

Seriously, after having spent an entire day around either stuck ups or people trying to ride his dick, he needs… Peter. Desperately.

[Tony; 16:37]
I’ll probably see you in about an hour…your place or mine?

The answer comes insanely fast.

[Peter; 16:38]
yours

[Peter; 16:39]
there may or may not have been a star wars party-ish at my place yesterday lol its a wreck

[Peter; 16:40]
i didn’t even get to be the party and yet am stuck w cleanup lol 

[Tony; 16:43]
should’ve told me sooner dear, would’ve sent someone over to clean up the place 

That ‘someone’ is usually either one of his suits,  or an actual maid. Though lately…he’d been using the suits more for cleanup purposes than… actual hero-ing.

He much prefers doing that than going on secret ops and playing spies with Rogers and the patriotic gang. 

Speaking of which—he briefly wonders how that had gone or… was going, he supposes. He doesn’t keep tabs on their shenanigans. Not anymore. 

He’s been too focused on getting through the demo and, of course, seeing Peter, the fucking light of his life and literally his only reason to get up in the morning. 

Right now, that’s what keeps him going through all this… nonsense. 

[Peter; 16:44]
that’s okay, I prefer your bed

[Peter; 16:45]
i mean your place

[Peter; 16:45]
autocorrect

Hah.

[Tony; 16:46]
yeah bc ‘place’ and ‘bed’ sound so similar 

[Tony; 16:46]
I prefer my ‘place’ better with you in it 

[Peter; 16:48]
I can be in your ‘place’ when you arrive

Thank god.

[Tony; 16:51]
finally speaking my language…hopefully in that cute furry costume of yours? 

[Peter; 16:52]
hah… funny

[Peter; 16:53]
wait is this a joke or not

[Peter; 16:54]
because I really did throw it

Wait, he'd been serious?

Tony winces, now feeling mildly guilty for having been so… bitter.

In his defense, he didn’t know Peter was a Star Wars. But, also, he should’ve totally deduced that.

[Tony; 16:58]
honey I was teasing you didn’t have to throw it 

[Tony; 16:59]
whatever you look better without anything on anyway, I’ll replace it for you eventually  

He means that.

[Peter; 17:01]
it was super old and went to a lotttt of comic-cons, probably smelled wack too lol its ok

[Peter; 17:02]
it was not ‘tony stark’ caliber i would not have shown up to your place in that….

Tony smiles. Of course he does.

[Tony; 17:05]
oh yeah? and what’s ‘tony stark’ caliber? please say you 

[Peter; 17:06]
hmmmmmmmmm

[Peter; 17:07]
ill say yes just because I miss you and you’ve had a long day

[Peter; 17:07]
but you and I both know you’re waaaaaay out of my league

How ironic. 

Ever since he had the pleasure of knowing one Peter Parker, Tony had done everything in his power not to fuck it up. Even if fucking things up comes very, very naturally to him. 

Because Peter is kind, and smart, and devoted and sweet, and—

And Tony firmly believes that Peter Parker is the one who is way out of his league.

[Tony; 17:08]
how dare you what kind of nonsense talk is this? I’m going to have to fix this the second I’m back I’ve left you alone for too long

[Peter; 17:08]
wow 🫢

[Peter; 17:09]
how will you fix that, mr. stark?

Wow indeed.

[Tony; 17:11]
well it looks like you’re just gonna have to wait around and see, sweetheart 

[Peter; 17:13]
alright, I’ll wait in your ‘place’

Cute.

Tony almost texts back ‘good boy’.

Almost.

"Tony...have you seen the news?"

"I just got back, Rhodey. Can’t this wait? Haven't even had the time to have a drink, much less watch the news," Tony mutters, stepping out of the elevator and into the Stark Tower penthouse.

"I gotta go but...check it out. Not good."

Great. When someone tells you to turn on the news, when is it ever good? 

Tony really doesn’t want to, he just wants to see if Peter is actually in his bedroom but…fuck, it had to be serious if Rhodey sounded this fucking alarmed.

Geez.

Sighing heavily, Tony sits down on the couch as a monitor flickers to life. 

And. Well.

As it turns out, 'not good' is a massive understatement. The Lagos operation had been fucking catastrophic. More casualties than people saved. Christ.

Sharpe's words now echo in his skull with a vengeance. If there was a part of him that felt mildly offended by her, and wanting to believe that maybe, just maybe, the good they'd been doing could make up for the needless deaths, that part is now long, long gone.

Tony is suddenly all too aware of the hole in his chest, the arc reactor he refused to let go of that cost him Pepper, and the phantom aches from the battle with Ultron.

It had been...what, a year already? And yet, he could still feel it in his joints.

Fuck, and Peter’s coming. Or is he already here? Shit, Tony should've canceled. Actually, he should cancel right now, because there’s no way in hell he wants Peter to see him like this, to have to put up with him, to have to put up with anything he wants to say, and—

And nothing, because, fuck, Tony’s selfish, lonely, and he desperately needs a distraction. 

[Tony: 18:04]
I'm in the main room

[Tony: 18:04]
too lazy to move

[Tony: 18:06]
come

[Tony: 18:06]
please? 

No response. 

Well, maybe it’s for the best.

Tony should leave it alone.

(But of course, he doesn’t.)

[Tony: 18:11]
need to recharge

Huh.

Tony thought he was hallucinating when he heard a phone buzz distantly earlier, but after that last text is immediately followed by a distant buzz he recognizes (can he recognize buzzing sounds now? damn), he concludes that Peter, is, in fact, here.

And yet, he isn’t here, next to him, where he should (or maybe shouldn’t) be.

Tony groans.

Not that he ends up having to move. Right on cue, Peter emerges from the hallway with one eye closed, a severe case of bed hair and long-stretched out yawn. 

Ah.

“Sorry,” he mumbles before he reaches the couch and wraps his arms around Tony from behind, “fell asleep.”

“Like the bed, Goldilocks?” Tony teases halfheartedly as he tilts his head back, and presses a light kiss to Peter’s cheek. 

“Mhm.”

“Didn’t sleep well?” Tony asks, reaching up to brush his fingers through the mess of hair on Peter’s head.

Soft.

“You weren’t there,” he mumbles tiredly, though there was a hint of worry in his eyes that Tony recognizes as Peter’s ‘did I say that too soon’ look.

Tony has no clue why it’s there, because he himself has clearly established himself as someone extremely clingy and mildly insane, for a relationship in its infancy, anyway. It had been what, two months, now? Yeah. Two months.

And yet Tony has been planning to marry him for the past, yes, that’s right, two months, so. Then again, Peter doesn’t know that small detail, so. Maybe that explains the look. 

Still.

“Well I’m here now, so… wanna help me out of my clothes? Too tired and they have…bad juju on them now.”

“Bad juju?” Peter chuckles, circling the couch to find himself in front of Tony. He crouches down, and rests his hands on Tony’s knees. What a fucking sight. Almost enough to make Tony forget all the nonsense from today. But then: 

“Did something happen?” 

Ugh, does Tomy really want to get into that right now? 

Though he’s sure if he doesn’t, it’ll show on his face at some point, eventually, and it’ll ruin the mood. 

Hell.

“How do you have such smooth skin?” Tony mumbles absently. “Guess you didn’t make as many questionable decisions as I did in your youth…don’t do drugs kids, it’ll make you look like a grandma’s purse by the time you’re 30.” He chuckles, leaning back before shakes his head. “The usual happened. There’s always someone at these events who have grievances.” Raising his hand, the monitor from earlier activates out of thin air. Charles Spencer’s file opens. “Bright kid, great future…dead because of the Avengers, Ultron. Me.”

Peter turns around and ultimately sits down, eyes glued to the files—although not for long. His attention quickly shifts back to Tony, gentle hand moving up to up his cheek. Nice. Soft. Tony doesn’t deserve it. “That’s not your fault, though. But… I doubt that’s what you want to hear right now,” Peter adds, in a tone that showed he understands, perhaps a little too much.

Why?

Has his security systems failed and gotten people killed?

Tony doesn’t ask.

Peter wouldn’t have given him the chance to, anyway. He kisses Tony before he has the chance to say anything, and speaks immediately after he pulls away. “What do you want to hear?”

Good question. Tony never knows what he wants to hear…or needs to hear for that matter.

Everything always sounds wrong or off or forced or…too much.

Then again, isolate enough and you definitely become a total stranger to your own needs.

What does he want to hear right now?

“That you’ll stay the night,” Tony finally manages to say, reaching over to cup the back of Peter’s neck to draw him into another kiss, before he adds: “please?”

He doesn’t think he deserves any of this right now. Getting comfort, reassurance, sweet touches and kisses from someone as sweet as Peter, meanwhile god knows how many Miriam Sharpes were out there grieving the loss of sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and other family members… with no one to hold accountable. 

“I wasn’t planning on leaving,” Peter confesses, warm smile on his lips before he gently pecks Tony’s lips. “I’ll stay for however long you want me to.”

Move in, maybe?

Tony doesn’t say it. Adds it to the ever growing list of crazy thoughts he has about one Peter Parker.

Instead, he smiles, cupping Peter’s chin and pulling him closer to kiss him again. “Good. Haven’t had you for too long. Maybe stay the morning…I can make breakfast.”

Peter grins. “Okay,” he says, and for a usually boring word, ‘okay’ right now now sounds like a fucking melody. 

“Good answer, right answer.” 

“Still, um—” Peter pauses, “Still want me to get rid of your clothes?”

“Oh yeah,” Tony grins, kissing the corner of Peter’s mouth, “anything you do brightens up my day…including removing my clothes.”

“They’re very nice clothes,” Peter grins, his hands slowly unbuttoning Tony’s dress shirt. 

“Of course they are, they’re custom-made, they better be…but when you’re around, I prefer not being in a three-piece.” He leans in, pressing a kiss to Peter’s neck.

“What do you prefer being in, then? Me?” 

Tony’s brain frizzles out for a second, before rebooting like an old ass computer. 

He blinks, a smirk slowly curving his lips. “Damn, Parker… though you should know the answer to that by now.”

“I know… I’m being cheeky,” Peter hums, moving on to Tony’s belt, then adds, “and attempting to distract you. Is it working?”

Oh it definitely is. The day’s long forgotten. 

Any conversations he may have had are now in the farthest corners of his mind. As for the news….irrelevant. The only thing his mind can fixate on right now is Peter Parker…. and how nice his hands feel on him.

“You’re doing good honey.” Tony manages to say, pulling Peter in for another kiss. “Exceptional. Keep going.”

He does. He doesn’t make a show of it, but he still takes his sweet time getting rid of Tony’s belt, his pants, and finally his underwear. By then, Peter’s on his knees in front of him, possibly because it had been easier to remove his pants that way, or, just because he knows he looks good there.

Or maybe a bit of both.

“There,” Peter murmurs, pressing gentle kisses up Tony’s thighs.”Bad juju’s all gone.”

God. Tony is so…incredibly fond. “Someone looks cozy there, how much did you miss me, hmm?”

“Am I allowed to say a lot?” Peter asks, soft smile on his lips as his hands move up and down Tony’s thighs, gently massaging the skin.

This is probably better than an orgasm. Tony never realizes just how much his body hurts or how stressed he is until Peter works that ‘Parker magic’ of his with his smooth, nimble fingers.

Case in point: it takes everything in Tony not to moan as Peter gently moves his hands over his skin. 

“You’re allowed to say anything you want.” Tony whispers, groaning as he leans back against the couch. “Fuck that feels good…I missed you too by the way, in case that wasn’t clear.”

“It was, but… I like to hear it.”

Tony reaches down, placing a hand on one of Peter’s. “Keep going and I’m definitely gonna get hard.” 

Peter does not stop. “Is there a problem with that?”

“No honey,” Tony pauses, “nothing wrong with that at all…I just…” he sighs, gently cupping Peter’s chin, “I do 10 wrongs for every right I try to do. You’re the only thing I haven’t completely fucked up, somehow, just don’t wanna fuck this up…”

“By getting hard?” Peter says, playfully. “I’m kidding,” he quickly adds, before he begins pressing soft kisses on Tony’s thigh. “You won’t mess things up. I promise.” 

Tony gives him a knowing look, but doesn't say anything. He can’t. To think he’s been so touch starved that something like a simple massage and a few kisses is successfully taking him apart… “You sound very sure, confidence is a hot look on you.”

Peter chuckles. “Oh but I am very, very sure.”

Tony raises a brow. What did that feel like, having confidence in the fact that he wouldn’t mess things up. “Then maybe…you should come here and give me a kiss.”

“Just maybe?” Peter teases, though he easily, happily complies.

Tony cups the back of his neck, melting into the kiss. An embarrassing, small moan may have even sounded from his throat but he’d deny it. Easily, he drags Peter into his lap, but then:

“I’m way overdressed now,” Peter mumbles against his lips, pulling away to get rid of his shirt. “Maybe all clothes have bad juju…”

Tony laughs, and helps him get rid of the damn thing before tugging at the waistband of his pants impatiently. “Oh I definitely agree, this is what I’ve been saying. I think you should walk around naked all the time, it would definitely bring in good juju.”

“Naked all the time huh…” Peter smiles, gently moving his hand up and down Tony’s chest. “What about if someone comes in?”

“I’d ban everyone from the building.” Tony points out with a grin, leaning in to kiss Peter’s neck. “I can do that, they have to listen to me. Just say the word honey…”

Peter chuckles. “Don’t people work here? Maybe you need a place to live that doesn’t also house a multinational company.”

“There’s such a thing?” Tony smirks, pulling Peter in for a soft kiss. “There’s the compound but it doesn’t exactly scream ‘home’. We could also do this at your place…”

“My place is very lame compared to this,” Peter points out, before he begins peppering Tony’s face with kisses. “Very below your tax bracket.”

Tony hums, nearly distracted by the kisses. Nearly.

“Don’t be modest, I’ve done my research. Not a bad place. Wouldn’t mind living there…bit cramped but hey, means we just have to be closer. I’m not opposed. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to hide it from me. What, do you have a sex dungeon you’re embarrassed about? I’m very open minded.”

Peter laughs. Throws his head back kinda laugh. Cute. “I do not have a sex dungeon… I have been called way too vanilla for that.”

“Color me shocked… I’d say you were somewhere in between….like mocha.” It makes sense, in his head. “I like mocha. It was the drink you stole from me.” 

Peter grins. “I thought it was a salted caramel triple espresso latte.”

“Hah, see, I was testing you. Good to know you remember.” Tony switches their positions, pushing Peter down onto the couch before getting between his legs. “I’d say we should take this to the bedroom but I’m too lazy and I might actually die if I don’t feel your skin, so…”

“You should… get rid of my pants, then. More skin for you to feel…”

Tony happily obliges, yanking the pants off with precision he lacks anywhere else.

The moment the annoying things are off, he presses himself fully against Peter, connecting their lips into a deep kiss which is eagerly returned.

Peter’s always so eager, so receptive, so hungry for him, as though Tony had hung the moon and stars and somehow created the sun, too.

Peter pulls away with a breathy moan, hands cupping Tony’s face so gently, eyes full of…

(Love?)

“You’ve had a long day…” Peter murmurs, “do you want me to take care of you? Or… you can do whatever you want to me…” 

Tony isn’t even sure if he can physically accept being taken care of. Something like that, on a day like this, would probably make him feel too much like a burden.

But he stills grins, because: “Wow, I can do whatever I want to you? But there’s so many things…” Leaning down to kiss Peter fondly, he continues, “sweetheart, you being here is you taking care of me. I’m in the mood to worship this gorgeous body of yours, that would make me feel loads better.”

Peter chuckles, as if he somehow can’t believe his body is indeed gorgeous, which is absolutely crazy to Tony, but, whatever, and then says: “then worship me, Mr. Stark.”

And oh, he does.

Peter spends the rest of the week with him. They don’t really talk about it, it just sort of happens, and, well, Tony’s not complaining.

But reality soon comes to haunt them, and Peter’s gone back to his apartment every other day now, and it… sucks. 

So when Tony finally gets a good excuse to see him (other than the all too pathetic ‘I know it’s been a day, but I already miss you’ excuse he allows himself to use only once a week), he jumps on it.

[Tony: 17:44]
I got a super boring rich people event to attend, wanna come crash it with me?

Super boring rich people event is an understatement, though. Tony debated ghosting the entire day, but, after having turned down the event Rhodey tried to drag him to months ago because he had his first date with Peter, he now feels… stupidly obligated to go, if only for Rhodey’s sake.

He does feel a little guilty for dragging Peter along (not that Peter even said yes yet), but…

[Peter: 17:45]
when?

[Tony: 17:46]
uh in 14 minutes? doesn’t matter if we’re on time tho I never am…

[Peter: 17:47]
oh wow

[Peter: 17:48]
I can meet you there in 30??

There we go. Tony smiles stupidly at his phone, wondering how long Peter’s going to be able to make him do that. Maybe forever. Fuck, Tony really hopes it’s forever.

[Tony: 17:50]
perfect, ur the best sweetheart, it’s at the bougie hall on Greenpoint

Tugging at his tie with annoyance, he puts on his glasses and heads for the elevator. His mind is on Peter, and that’s it, because thinking about literally anything else just gives him a headache, now. In hindsight, he should’ve invited him sooner, but, in Tony’s defense, he had completely forgotten this stupid event existed until 30 minutes ago.

As soon as the elevator doors open to the massive garage under Stark Tower, he gets into one of his most noticeable sports cars (because why not) and speeds off. He arrives on time (yeah, it’s a thing he does, now), but does he go in? No. When Peter arrives, he wants to be there. Needs to, actually.

[Tony: 18:05]
I’ll wait for you, I’m obviously the hot one in the front 

[Peter: 18:05]
you’re always the hot one in the front 

Hah.

[Tony: 18:06]
aren’t you smooth 

[Tony: 18:06]
I’ll reward you for your troubles 

“What kind of reward?” Peter’s voice suddenly comes out of nowhere, scaring the shit out of Tony. Had he somehow arrived before him? Jesus. Eh, whatever. All that matters is that Peter is here, making those infamous sparkly eyes at him, and suddenly, all is right in the world.

(No, it really isn’t, but whatever. Sue him. Everyone else is, these days.)

“Something like this,” Tony tells him, stepping closer to wrap an arm around Peter’s waist and pull him in for a deep kiss Peter eagerly returns. He loosely wraps his arms around Tony’s neck, melting into his embrace until…

Until a very bright flash blinds them and Peter suddenly pulls away, visibly confused.

Tony has the sudden urge to blast through the crew of camera people that cut his kiss short.

“Sorry,” Tony grimaces. “Hope you don’t mind your face plastered on the news, though I could probably…threaten or bribe, or both.”

“No, it’s okay, I just…” Peter chuckles, shaking his head. “Never happened to me before.”

“Comes with the territory,” Tony gives him an apologetic look, “prepare for some dumbass headline by tomorrow. Hopefully not too embarrassing.”

Though it’s probably going to be something random like ‘ ony Stark Grabs Poor Unsuspecting Citizen and Does WHAT?!?!?!?’

Whatever.

Peter doesn’t seem to mind. He seems lost in his own bubble, smiling to himself. And then: “I can’t believe I’ll be part of the tabloids now…”

“You want to be a part of the tabloids?”

Peter’s blushing, now. “I mean. With you, yes.”

Oh.

“In that case,” Tony smirks, pulling him closer. “Let’s give them something to write about.”

He kisses Peter until he’s out of breath, and honestly forgets everyone’s watching. So does Peter, if the dazed look he’s giving is anything to go by.

They barely make it to the hour mark before they excuse themselves to the nearest fancy bathroom, where Tony spends the rest of the evening doing much better things than listening to boring, old, rich people.

The tabloids don’t end up eating him alive, shockingly enough. Everyone ships it, apparently. Whatever that means. 

(Whenever Tony searches the definition, though he concludes that he, too, very much ships it.)

Another two weeks go by before Tony has to use another bullshit excuse to text Peter. FRIDAY likes to remind him he doesn’t have to do that, but, whatever. He hasn’t seen Peter in over 24 hours, and he’s seriously going into withdrawals, so. He’ll use a bullshit excuse if he has to. 

[Tony: 20:14]
I’m stuck at a really boring avengers party, snooze fest, wanna come entertain me 

Maybe he should’ve mentioned the boring party is for his birthday, but… eh. Nah. It’s so half-assed and forced, and fuck, tense. 

Vision looks like he’s about to have a stroke, Nat’s trying to get people to play strange birthday games (he assumes she’s trying to heal her own inner child or something by doing things she never did) and Steve… eh, he doesn’t even want to think about Steve.

[Peter: 20:59]
yes

[Peter: 20:59]
where is it?

Thank fucking god.

[Tony: 21:03]
upstate…avengers compound, I can send a car to pick you up, just let me know when 

[Peter: 21:04]
i can be there in an hr??

An hour? 

Well, this serves him right for not sending the text earlier. Then again, he had been trying to be normal and wait till it had been the 24-hour mark.

God, he’s so fucking clingy.

Whatever.

[Peter: 21:05]
ill drive its ok

[Peter: 21:05]
sorry i cant be there sooner

“Dude, you’re missing out on some hilarious stories.” Rhodey sits down beside him.

Tony turns off the phone and looks over, smiling tiredly. “Oh yeah? What, the same 2 you tell over and over?”

Rhodey deadpans, punching Tony’s arm. “I’ll have you know I have great stories to tell, you just suck as a listener.”

“Yeah? How much did you drink?”

“Pfft,” Rhodey slumps in the seat, “comin’ from you? That’s rich. You talking to that guy you brought to the gala? What’s his name….uh…”

“Peter.”

“Wait wait wait…” Rhodey grins, sitting up. “You have a look.”

Shit.

“What look? I don’t have a look.”

Rhodey reaches over, poking his face. “No no I saw that look, you’re blushing, holy shit how serious is this?”

Tony shrugs, as if he hasn’t been secretly planning their wedding. “You can ask him that, if you want.” 

Because I’m too fucking scared to.

Rhodey hums. “Well at least you got somethin’ nice going on during all of this.”

Right.

A birthday party in the midst of all this chaos, all the government meetings, the phone calls, Ross…and measures being drawn up that he’d been blindsided from. 

“Hey guys, having fun?”

Tony looks away from Rhodey to find Natasha standing there, a proud smile on her face. 

“Oh yeah,” Tony snorts, “best party.”

“Is that why you’re sitting in the corner by yourself?” She gives him a look over.

Tony sighs.

“Come on,” Nat smirks, “we’re doing a round of charades, Rogers sucks. We can definitely beat him.”

Tony allows himself to get dragged off to do stupid charades. Not that it stops him from checking his phone every 5 seconds for updates from Peter. No one seems to notice though. Or if they do, they don’t mention it, so. 

Thankfully, it doesn’t look like he has to any longer. From the corner of his eye, he catches Peter awkwardly standing in the hallway, clearly forced into a conversation with… someone whose name Tony already forgot.

Immediately standing up, he walks over and waves off the security guy. 

“Hey sweetheart, don’t you look darling.” Tony leans over, kissing his cheek.

“Hi,” Peter smiles, light blush coloring his cheeks. 

Tony wraps an arm around his waist, and Peter instantly melts against him. “Wanna come say hello to the nerds? FYI, I’m the best looking one here.”

Peter laughs. “You’re the best looking one anywhere, though.”

“Bullshiiiiiiiit!” Rhodey shouts, clearly having overheard. 

Great. Now all eyes are on them.

“You didn’t tell us you were inviting someone over, Tony.” Steve stands, dapper boy-scout as ever as he walks over. “Nice to meet you, I’m Steve Rogers.” Even holds out his hand for Peter to shake it.

“Ugh, everyone knows,” Tony rolls his eyes and swats his hand away. Gently. Ish. 

Rhodey laughs, very loudly.

Natasha smiles, pulling out a chair. “Wanna join us Peter?”

“He doesn’t. He’s mine.” Tony drags Peter away from the group, to where he’d initially been sitting. The corner. “Sorry they…don’t go out much.”

Peter seems very amused, though. “What’s the party for, anyway?”

“Oh uh…just my birthday.” Tony shrugs. “Not a big deal, didn’t even remember it. Nat though has a thing for found family, since none of us actually had real ones. Or living ones. So…she likes to do events, and—”

“It’s your birthday?” 

Damn, why did Peter have to sound so sad?

“Maybe.” Tony pauses. “Kinda. Ish.”

Peter looks so devastated. “But… But I don’t have a gift.”

“You’re the gift…” Tony reaches out to take Peter’s hand, kissing his knuckles. “And you came. That’s the best thing you could’ve given me.”

Peter frowns. “But I came late… and I didn’t know…” 

“It’s okay honey…how about we celebrate by ourselves, hmm?” Tony pulls Peter down into his lap. “Would that put a pretty smile back on your face?”

Maybe not a smile but Peter is definitely bursting with color. That familiar blush is back on his face as he steadies himself by grabbing Tony’s shoulders. 

Tony may have silently heard a ‘oooh woooow…’ from Rhodey, which reminds him they had an audience. A very curious audience. Ugh.

“I… um… but what about….” Peter stammers, his face somehow turning redder by the second.

“Wanna go to my room?” Tony suggests, cupping Peter’s chin. “I have my own floor.”

“Please do.” Vision’s voice interrupts as the weirdo steps out of a wall. “That would be more appropriate.”

“Right. Coming from the guy who just came out of a wall,” Tony sighs, carefully standing up but still holding Peter’s hand, and drags him out of the room.

“Sorry…” Peter mumbles, looking so sheepish. “I could feel Captain America’s eyes on us and his disapprovement. Hopefully only of our PDA and not of me, but…”

“It’s not you, that’s just how he is.” Tony rolls his eyes, kissing Peter’s hand and leading him to his room. “Dude was iced for like, almost a century. Everything brings him near stroke.”

“Is it really okay to leave?” Peter asks, quietly, a guilty look twisting his features, “I still can’t believe it’s your birthday…. I would’ve made you something…”

“Don’t worry sweetheart, did my due diligence, mingled…plus, they just wanted an excuse to drink and party. You can get me something later.” Tony sits down, tugging Peter with him. “Relax, give me attention and I’ll be happy.”

Peter snuggles close, gently nuzzling Tony before he presses a soft, gentle kiss on his cheek. “Anything for you. Happy Birthday, Tony.”

Out of all the ‘happy birthdays’ he’s heard today, this is the sweetest one.

Peter ends up getting him a gift a week later. It’s a tiny robot. Which would have been perfect on its own already, because it’s from Peter, but it’s even better than that, because it has Peter ’s voice, and tells stupid science puns on the hour.

Yeah.

Tony’s so whipped.

And fucked, actually, because him being happy usually means something fucked up’s about to happen.

Like clockwork, something fucked up does happen, roughly a week later, in the form of the Sokovia Accords.

Tony doesn’t know why he ends up talking to Peter about it. 

He’s been doing his best to keep his personal life and work life separate, for once, but that could only go on for so long when there’s no actual barrier between the different aspects of his life.

Maybe it’s his fault, maybe it’s Rogers’, or maybe it’s the goddamn aliens invading the planet and ruining his entire life—but the day has come, when they’re backed into a wall. 

If Tony’s honest, the him of ten years ago would have spit on the damn thing and never would have signed. Ironically, he’s pretty sure the Steve of 10 years ago would have been the first one to sign it, and then do some stupid propaganda in his star-spangled outfit. 

But here they are, disagreeing on the goddamn accords Tony only wants to sign because he’s fucking tired and doesn’t want to waste a single brain cell on being a fugitive when there’s so much more pressing matters. Like, build a fucking armor around the planet for when (not if) fucking aliens come back, and—

“I just think right now, this might be the only option they have or they really will try to take everything by force, maybe even my suits.” Tony explains, only to be interrupted by the 10th call he’s fucking dodged in the last hour.

Groaning, he gives Peter an apologetic look, pulling out his phone to find numerous missed calls from both Secretary Douche, and, of course, Rhodey. There’s one text from him, too, exclaiming to stop ignoring the man, since everyone is apparently on ‘thin ice’.

Tony rolls his eyes. “I’m really sorry about this honey. Have to take this call.”

Peter smiles, as understanding and sweet as ever. Tony leaves hesitantly, because nothing good happens to him whenever he leaves Peter’s side. 

But he’s involved Peter too much in this already, and the poor man doesn’t need to see him lose his shit on the phone, so.

The conversation with Ross goes as expected. The man wants to know if everyone’s going to sign, as if Tony’s the one who’s supposed to know everything. Well. He usually does, but, frankly? Not this time. 

The call lasts stupidly long. By the time he returns, he can’t find Peter anywhere. This is very unlike Peter, to just leave without warning. Sure, Peter does often have random ‘emergencies’ to attend to that happen at the strangest times, but he always tells Tony before one of his disappearing acts.

But there’s no text, no note, and suddenly Tony feels like there’s no more air in his lungs, until—

Until he finally spots Peter on the balcony.

He feels like an idiot, rolls his eyes at himself and walks towards the glass doors until he realizes that Peter’s tangled up in a phone call that, by the looks of it, is very serious.

Fuck.

Tony told himself he wouldn’t do this. Investigate, figure out what the hell it’s about. Not with Peter. Not this time, but…

With everything that’s happening, his self-control is wearing thin, and if he loses Peter, he’s fucked, so…

He takes a deep breath, and does the one thing he promised himself he wouldn’t.

“Friday, I wanna hear what’s happening.”

“Invasion of privacy, no?”

Tony snorts. “Welcome to America,” he mutters, but his chest feels heavy with guilt. He ignores it, though, because his paranoia is stronger. 

Peter’s voice instanty comes into his ear piece.

“I know. I know. I’m fucked. I can’t sign them.”

Sign what? The Accords? The hell? Why would he need to sign them?

Tony frowns.

“I mean I was planning on telling him eventually but what am I supposed to do now? This’ll fuck everything up.”

Fuck what up?

“Yeah, but, this is Tony Stark we’re talking about. I’m shocked he hasn’t figured it out, actually…”

Figured out what? 

Fuck. Tony steps away from the balcony as quickly as he can, stopping and leaning back against the nearest wall, because fuck.

His tie is starting to suffocate him.

“Ned, I can’t sign them. You and I both know the UN isn’t some fortress, my identity would be either leaked or hacked within a month and then you’re in danger, so is MJ. May too—”

Identity. He said identity. 

“This whole system works because I can be on scene immediately. You think the UN can act quick enough to—”

On scene. What fucking scene? 

Tony’s going to throw up.

“I don’t know.”

Silence follows. It’s so quiet Tony’s pretty sure he can hear his own goddamn heart.

“I hope so… Maybe it really is just for the Avengers….”

Fucking hell. It’s becoming painfully clear that Tony should’ve done a full background check on Peter. Great. Fucking—

“No, Ned, I can’t. I love him. Like, love love him. I can’t.”

Tony sinks down the wall, sighing shakily. Fuck. He can’t do this. He throws out his earpiece, and makes his way down the hall and into his lab, and does the thing he should have fucking done the moment he set his eyes on Peter Parker, and investigate the shit out of him. 

The worst part out of all of this is, it doesn’t take him very long to figure out that Peter is Spider-Man.

Because of course, in the middle of all of this, he just has to be dating a fucking vigilante who from the sounds of things was going to be on Rogers’ side.

Sinking into one of the seats, he buries his face into his hands.

“He said he loves me…” he mumbles. To think he’d been oh so desperately wanting to hear those words, only to hear it under these circumstances, and not even directed at him? 

Fuck. This was so unfair.

And of course, he gets two texts from his lover-slash-secret-vigilante when he's mid-breakdown.

[Peter; 22:56]
is everything ok?

[Peter; 22:57]
im locked from the lab?

Fuck. He’s not ready. He’s so not ready. 

Setting the phone far away, he leans back, unbuttoning the first few buttons of his shirt and taking deep breaths. One after the other.

But it makes no goddamn difference. It doesn’t feel like he’s actually getting oxygen in his lungs and every exhale is sending a sharp pang through his ribs.

How could he have been so fucking stupid? 

[Tony; 23:13]
sorry honey force of habit 

[Tony; 23:13]
saw you on call, didn’t wanna interrupt, everything okay? 

[Peter; 23:14]
yeah it was just ned

[Peter; 23:15]
can I come or are you coming back?

Tony takes a deep breath and deactivates the locks. He’s not sure this is the right course of action, but whatever. He makes all the holographic monitors vanish, and types his message.

[Tony; 23:16]
you can come

Peter must’ve had his hand already on the door, because he’s in the lab not even a second later.

“Hey, I ordered us some cheeseburgers, a couple of milkshakes and some—”

Silence. Then:

“Shit.”

Tony turns to look at Peter and frowns. Following his line of sight, he then groans, because—

Fuck. 

Of course, Tony forgot to deactivate one of the screens. 

“I….” Tony sighs, slumping in his seat, “you can laugh. I must look like a real moron right now.”

Peter does not look like he’s going to laugh. On the contrary, he looks so panicked it makes Tony think he may actually never laugh again.

“W-what? Why? I…” Peter stammers, swallowing hard. “I can explain…”

Sigh.

“You can…relax. I’m not going to tell anyone, Peter.” Tony nods at a chair. “Sit down.”

Peter sits, almost too quickly. He fidgets, looks just about anywhere except Tony, and chews on his cheek so obviously it’s definitely going to give him an ulcer. 

“I was going to tell you,” Peter quickly says, finally bringing his gaze back to him. “I just…” He sighs, looking down, “things were going so good between us, I was afraid bringing up Spider-Man stuff might… I don’t know. It all seems so silly now in the grand scheme of things…”

Yeah.

It sure did.

Tony sighs. “I just wish…I knew, before today.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. It was… stupid of me not to, and now…” Peter shakes his head. “Any chance the UN can accept Spider-Man signing instead of Peter Parker?”

“They’ll have to, or…” Tony lets out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair. Rhodey’s going to have a stroke. “I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry. I’m not mad…just,” trying not to have a panic attack , “scared. Wanna come closer?” 

Peter stands up as quickly as he sat down, sheepishly making his way to Tony—kind of like a sad puppy with its tail in between its legs. “Why scared?” He asks, quietly, looking so small despite his tall frame. Honestly, he somehow sounds more scared than Tony was, if that’s even possible.

“Because I worry, because I don’t know what’s going to happen and Rogers is determined to make us fugitives.” Tony sighs, reaching over to take Peter’s hand and kiss his knuckles. “And I was blindsided. I usually am not…so if this somehow escaped me, what else has? I can’t trust anyone. Not Ross, not the Accords, not my own team…you’re all I have left Peter, so scared is…” he laughs, weakly, “an understatement.”

For now, Ross is fighting to get the Avengers to sign. Minor vigilantes or those who operated solo, like that weird guy dressed like a bat (?) in Hell’s Kitchen, are not a priority. Neither is Spider-Man, technically.

Still.

He’s hoping that by the time Ross focuses on vigilantes like Spider-Man, he’ll have filed for appeals and made the Accords better.

“You’re not…” Peter trails off, nervous. “You’re not leaving me?”

Tony frowns, deeply. “Leave you? For what? Having secrets? Honey, everyone has secrets. My dad had at least 10 and their names all somehow started with A. No I’m not leaving you…if anything, I’ve probably proven to you that you did the right thing not telling me.”

“Doesn’t feel like the right thing….” Peter sighs, tentatively placing a hand on Tony’s shoulder. Absent-mindedly, he begins massaging the area before he rests his chin on Tony’s head. “I get why you signed. I get why they wanted this. For things like what happened in Lagos…I get it. But for people like me or…or Daredevil or…fuck, even Deadpool, it’s….bad. Being able to act right away is part of why we can…save people.”

Yeah. Tony knows.

Peter continues anyway. “Heck, even with my security systems giving me an alert sometimes I can’t even…get there on time and someone is already injured. How am I supposed to help people if I have to wait for a green light from a board of people who frankly know nothing about this kind of life? This is kinda how insurance here decides who gets care or not and doctors have to beg a board of nobodies to save their patients and sometimes by the time insurance says yes it’s just too late…”

Yeah. Tony knows that, too.

“This is…” Tony pauses, “the lesser of two evils…do what they want, live to fight another day. Rogers isn’t grasping that. He never did grasp politics, but you think I want to? I never wanted any of this to begin with, but I had to because who else was? But you’re not signing that. I’ve lost enough.”

“Tony…” Peter pulls away to look at him. “I can’t…I can’t ask you to harbor a…criminal. Which is what I’ll…officially become if I don’t sign.”

“No.” Tony snaps and instantly regrets it. He gives Peter an apologetic look. “No…” he repeats, gentler this time. “I’ll do whatever is necessary. Right now, they just want the Avengers. They want us to sign at the Vienna conference. After that, I’ll start negotiations…change terms, so people like you either don’t have to sign or don’t have to reveal their identities. Spider-Man is elusive enough that they won’t come after you or other small-time vigilantes for a while,”or so Tony hopes, “I’m not risking you, Peter.”

“Are you…are you sure?”

Tony cups Peter’s cheek. “I am…I love you, Peter. I’m going to protect you, no matter the cost.”

Peter’s breath hitches, small gasp leaving his lips. “Really?” He asks, and he seems genuinely shocked, though, then again, it is technically the first time Tony has said the big L word. 

This is so not how he had planned for this to happen, but, whatever.

“I love you,” Peter quickly adds, as though his mouth would burn if he didn’t say it now.

I know.

Though, Tony doesn’t say that. He’s not proud of his eavesdropping. 

“Yes really,” Tony assures him, gently pressing his lips against Peter’s. “I wouldn’t say otherwise.”

“So…” Peter pauses, “we’ll…be okay? You and me.”

“Why wouldn’t we? Sure, I have some…feelings about this being kept from me, but it’s not like I ever asked or investigated, so I don’t really get to be upset. Look at me, all mature.” Tony resists the urge to roll his eyes. “Anyway, I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess.”

Peter shakes his head. “I wasn’t dragged anywhere. I…I want to be here. With you. Through this.”

“I don’t even want to be here, you’re brave for that.” Tony smiles, tiredly. “If it wasn’t for the fact that my dad was a founder of SHIELD and all this was some…legacy, I never would’ve chosen this life.” 

“Really?” Peter seems…shocked. Why? Then again, it’s not like this is something they often discussed. Tony tried to keep his Avenger life away from Peter—partially because of what happened with Pepper, also partially because he originally thought Peter was just a civilian.

Turns out, he had been a superhero for longer than he had.

A better one at that.

A more super one.

Figures.

“Thought I couldn’t disappoint the old man,” Tony continues, taking Peter’s hand, “did enough of that while he was alive, couldn’t keep doing it in death. He also never stopped yammering about Rogers, so I had something to prove.”

Maybe he still does.

“Well…I think you have proven yourself alright,” Peter chuckles, kissing Tony’s forehead. “Iron Man’s the best Avenger. My favourite. But I might be a little biased.”

“You are biased. As far as some people are concerned, I might as well be Jeff Bezos in a suit of armor.”

“Ew…” Peter laughs, shaking his head. “Plenty of people are still thirsting for you, though. You should see the Tiktok edits… Jeff Bezos has none of those.”

“Oh yes I know about those.” Tony rolls his eyes, pressing a kiss to Peter’s cheek. “And are you ‘thirsting’ for me? That’s all I care about.”

Peter grins, loosely wrapping his arms around his neck. “Yes, I am ‘thirsting’ for you. Like, all the time.” 

“Wow, all the time.” Tony repeats in a whisper, kissing Peter’s jaw. Then his neck. Then he goes back to his lips, and figures that, maybe that’s enough talking for the day.

Peter seems to agree.

Shit goes from bad to worse. The Accords by themselves were cursed enough, but no, Tony should’ve known something even more fucked up would happen on signing day. Did he expect the fucking Winter Soldier to come and bomb the UN? No. But at this point, it really feels like he should have.

To make matters worse, of course half the Avengers are stupidly missing and Rogers has officially become a goddamn fugitive, which is just great. Ross even did his stupid ‘you’ve got 24 hours’ speech that oddly resembles what a comic villain would say (Peter’s words, but Tony agrees), and now, well.

Well, now, Tony’s got to go to fucking Germany to arrest his stupid teammates.

Peter doesn’t like it. Tony can tell. What he likes even less, is that Peter wants to come.

“Absolutely not.” Tony answers, because, uh, yeah, fuck no. “I’m not letting you expose yourself.”

Because what would happen then? Peter would likely be noticed, Ross would investigate Spider-Man and that fucker is persistent and then Tony would most definitely lose Peter—

“But your team is really understaffed, and—”

“And nothing.” Tony interrupts, walking over to Peter and taking his hands in his own. “What if you get hurt? Or something happens? If you want to come with me to Germany as…you, I guess I can accept that but as Spider-Man? That worries me.”

This is already pushing it. If the right people start asking the right kind of questions, Peter as himself would be under risk.

Peter frowns. “And what am I supposed to do, stay in a hotel room while you go and try to arrest half your team?”

Yes! 

It takes everything in Tony not to blurt that out because he knows it’s going to come off wrong, frustrated and desperate. Because sane people don’t want to lock away their partners but he’s not sane and never has been and never will be when it’s about Peter.

“What’s my alternative? Endanger you and put you on Ross’s radar?”

“I don’t care about that!” Peter shouts, then averts his gaze, and adds, more gently: “I just… I don’t know, I have a really, really bad feeling about this. I have this… sixth sense, spidey sense or whatever and it’s going haywire right now…”

If this had been any other situation, Tony would’ve had a field day with this tidbit of information, but right now…

“I care,” Tony tells him, “because this is ruining enough lives as it is…you have a company, a public image, are you sure you want to risk that?”

“Yes.” 

Peter didn’t even hesitate.

Wow. 

“What are you scared is going to happen?” Tony steps closer, gently cupping Peter’s cheeks. “You know I can handle myself.”

“I know you can but I just… I can’t shake this feeling, it’s a bad one, and I just…” Peter swallows hard, placing his hands on Tony’s. “Please let me come.”

There really is no slipping out of this one.

“Okay.” Tony resigns, sighing heavily. “But you do everything I say…I can’t have you getting hurt.”

“Okay,” Peter nods, wrapping his arms around Tony to pull him into a tight hug. “Okay.”

Tony doesn’t say anything. If those…tingly senses are telling Peter something, who is he to argue? Even though he really, really wanted to. Not for a second does Tony expect Steve or anyone on his side to go down easily, and Peter might be used to fighting mad scientists and crazy villains, but a team of Avengers? Fuck.

Tony hates this. But…

“We’re leaving in 10 minutes,” he finally says, kissing Peter’s neck and pulling back, just enough to look at him. “Be careful, I know you’re strong and experienced…but Cap’s got people ready to swing for him.”

Tony on the other hand…the only people he knows for sure on his side are Rhodey, and, well, Peter.

He tries not to focus on the fact that it really feels like the longer this goes on, the smaller his group would become.

“The doctors say he shattered L4 through S1.”

Tony can’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. Everything sounds warbled. None of this feels real. None of this should be real.

“Extreme laceration of the spinal cord…” Tony continues, swallowing hard, “probably some form of paralysis.”

His best friend is paralyzed and it’s his fault. There’s no sugarcoating this. There’s no avoiding it. His best friend, a decorated soldier, was no longer going to be able to do the things he’d been doing that gave him a purpose.

Looking at Peter, he can barely find it in himself to reach out. There’s a bruise forming on his lover’s cheek. Because of him. This is his fault, all of it. 

What happened to Rhodey is much worse, though, and he hates himself for being relieved; it's Rhodey who got the worst of it, and not Peter.

What a piece of shit he’s become.

Tony sighs, then adds: “You were right to be worried.”

Peter gives him a worried look. “I still am.”

“Well it’s not over. I have to find those idiots and bring them back.”

“What about Natasha?” Peter asks, letting out a frustrated groan. “I can’t believe she just…let them go. Betrayed you like that. I…I’m so…angry.”

Tony knows he should be too. But at this point, he’s so used to people walking out or preferring someone else over him that…it’s not really personal. Natasha aligns herself with whatever cause she believes in or sees succeeding and Tony’s too numb to try and unravel her thought process regarding this. Plus…

“I expected it. I’m not going after her anyway,” Tony carries on, “Ross wants the other two, Barnes specifically and I don’t even…understand why they’re doing this. I’ll have to…head to the Raft, see if I can get anything.”

Peter nods. “Okay. When are we leaving?”

“Uh, when am I leaving,” Tony holds up a hand to stop Peter before he can argue, “I’m not taking you to a high level maximum security prison underwater where Ross monitors when people shit. Plus, I need someone here to stay with Rhodey…I can’t leave him alone.”

“Tony…” Peter honestly looks like Tony has just asked him to plan his funeral. “Please.”

Tony gives him an apologetic look, stepping close and gently cupping his cheeks before pressing his forehead against Peter’s. “Not this time honey…you said you’d listen, so I’m asking you to please…stay behind. I’m not taking you anywhere near Ross. Look after Rhodey, I’ll call you.”

“I’m staying only if you promise you’re coming back here after the Raft.”

“I’ll do my best.” 

Peter frowns and pulls away. “No, Tony— If you have to go anywhere after the Raft, you have to take me.”

Fuck no. 

In no shape or form is Tony going to drag Peter with him anywhere after that disaster in the airport. 

Still, he says: “If I say yes, will you stop looking at me like I kicked your dog?”

Peter looks hesitant, but he finally says yes and nods.

Thank god.

“Wanna give me a kiss?” Tony smiles. “I really am sorry for dragging you into all of this…”

Peter doesn’t move. “You didn’t say yes.”

Tony loves how observant Peter is and he always has. 

But then there are times he wishes Peter wouldn’t see as much as he does. It makes it very difficult to be…sneaky. Not even. Everything Tony does and has been doing has been for the sake of keeping Peter as far from politics and Ross as possible. 

Taking Peter anywhere with him is a huge risk and he was proven right thanks to the shitshow at the airport.

“You’re turning down my kiss?” Tony deadpans, hoping to mildly lighten the mood before he has to leave and deal with things that he’s definitely not qualified to deal with. “Fine, yes, sure, now kiss me.”

Peter still doesn’t move. Jeez. “You don’t sound like you mean it.”

Tony groans, sighing heavily. “Boy you’re stubborn…I will come back.”

“Promise?”

Great. Now on the long list of things that makes him a piece of shit, breaking promises (probably) is going to be added.

“Yes…” Tony reaches for Peter’s hand. “Now please…come closer.”

“I’m sorry…” Peter murmurs, moving closer to bury his face in Tony’s neck. “I’m just…so scared. I can’t lose you. I…I can’t.”

And I can’t lose you.

Tony wraps his arms around him, holding him tightly. “Don’t be…I’ll fix this. I have to. You’re not going to lose me Peter…fighting aliens in the middle of New York I’d argue was more dangerous.”

Peter remains silent, initially. But then… “That doesn’t make me feel better. You nearly died then.”

Tony winces. Right, not a very good example. “Well now I have something worth coming back to.” 

Peter lifts his head up, a soft smile finally curving his lips. “You mean that?”

“Wouldn’t say it otherwise.” Tony cups Peter’s cheeks, kissing him again and again. 

He tries not to think too much about how Peter’s smile is gone by the time he leaves.

The Raft isn’t what Tony expected, despite knowing what it was. Nothing could’ve really prepared him for seeing half his team either collared or in straitjackets, or both. 

None of them look at him, not really. It’s a miracle he manages to get through to Sam to get the information he needs to go fix this goddamn mess.

He doesn’t tell Ross a damn thing, because there’s no time, and frankly, he wouldn’t understand. 

When he goes back on that chopper and tells Friday to set the coordinates for Siberia, all he can think about is the solemn look on Peter’s face and how convinced he’d been that something would go wrong. 

He remembers his promise, but breaks it anyway. From the sound of things, from what Sam told him, this wasn’t a fight he wanted to drag Peter to.

Supersoldiers, Zemo, Hydra? Too much.

Peter might never forgive him, but Tony would rather have a Peter who can’t forgive him than a Peter who’s no longer alive to forgive him anyway.

Tony’s never been more glad he’s broken a promise to someone he loves.

Because if one thing is certain, it’s that Peter should not be here, not in the middle of this mess, not in the middle of a fight to the death with Rogers and the guy who killed his parents.

Frankly, Tony doesn’t give a shit that Barnes hadn’t been in control. Steve knew, and Steve said nothing. To think he’d called that man friend once. 

He’s my friend.

So was I.

The words echo in his mind as he fights, and the image of his mom being choked to death haunts him to the point where he can see nothing else.

He knows he should retreat, knows that if he wants to see Peter again, he needs to stop, but his body feels like a puppet who’s controlled by something other than him, and he’s defenseless.

He honestly might as well be defenseless, frankly, with how Steve rams his shield in his arc reactor and leaves him for dead. Pieces of his suit are missing, half of him is exposed and god, freezing to death so isn’t the way he wanted to go but…

His mind, at least, gives him the small mercy of hallucinating Peter hovered over him. Not sure why he decides to see him worried instead of smiling, but, hey. Beggars can’t be choosers, right?

“It’s nice to see you,” Tony whispers, “You hear about your life flashing before your eyes and all that,” he mumbles, his speech becoming more and more slurred, “but all I see is you. God, I’ve been so stupid…I should’ve let myself be insane and ask you to marry me, even if you would’ve said no… “

Small mercies don’t last very long, apparently, because everything goes black, and Tony’s pretty sure he just died.

Surprisingly enough, he didn’t die. 

But there’s way too much pain, not to mention everything’s too bright and too loud. He doesn’t even have to open his eyes to know he’s in a hospital, thanks to the stench of disinfectant and sick people. And the damn beeping. 

How long has he been here? And how the fuck had he been located in Siberia? Was it Rogers? Guilt ate him alive? 

Tony rolls his eyes. Inwardly, anyway. He has to open his eyes, first. He debates about it for a long while, and when he finally caves in, the first thing he sees is the blob of brown, soft hair next to his hip.

Guilt instantly consumes him, now, because… Shit. Peter.

“You don’t look comfortable,” he whispers, tentatively reaching towards him to run a hand through his hair.

Does he even deserve to anymore?

To think he’d get this luxury again, seeing Peter, he didn’t expect this, but he’s going to enjoy it for as long as possible.

“Huh…? Tony…?” Peter’s voice is sleepy, muffled. He’s half asleep, staring at Tony like…he’s not sure what he’s staring at. Tony can literally see the gears turning in his head as he registers what’s happening.

“You’re awake!” Peter finally gasps, suddenly sitting up, making the chair squeak horribly against the floors.

Tony winces, reaching for Peter’s hand. “Yeah…I am…somehow. What the hell happened? How’d I get here?”

Peter looks away. Uh oh. “I, uh… hacked FRIDAY.”

“You did what?” Tony sits up and immediately regrets it. Grunting, he leans back against the flat pillows.

“You didn’t call me,” Peter tells him, jaw clenched. “I thought… I don’t know, something bad happened at the Raft. Only to then find out you were in Siberia… I came as fast as I could.”

Tony wants to yell, Tony wants to lose his goddamn mind and say there’s a reason he didn’t fucking call. Shit, what if Peter had never told him he hacked FRIDAY? What if he never realized? God, the chaos that would’ve ensued. 

And Rogers. Oh god— 

“What if they’d still been there?” Tony snaps, the chilling realization hitting him. “Peter,” his voice cracks, “ Peter, what if they’d still been there? God I…” he sighs shakily, running a hand down his face. “There was no time, I had to…none of this was supposed to happen, he killed them. Barnes…I… “

Fuck. He can’t breathe. And the thought of Barnes laying a hand on Peter the way he did with his mom, a hand around Peter’s neck, suffocating the life out of him—

“What happened?” Peter asks, “Who died? I didn’t…I didn’t see anyone. Unless you mean those people in those creepy pods…”

Right. Peter hadn’t been aware of anything that went down, including the nonsense with Zemo.

“Zemo he uh…god, weird fucking guy,” Tony starts quietly, inhaling deeply to ground himself and dispel the image of Peter’s broken body that his brain insists on hurting him with. He needs to stop thinking about it because the last thing he wants is an argument right now. 

“They thought the guy wanted to use super soldiers but he wanted them dead,” Tony continues, “including Cap and Barnes. I fell for it. He wanted us to fight each other and that’s what I did. Helped him destroy whatever was left of the team.” Tony pauses, swallowing hard. “And all he had to do was show me what happened the night my parents got in an accident. Barnes got to them. Winter Soldier, whatever.”

Peter looks even more devastated now. “Oh, Tony…I’m so sorry, I…” 

‘I wish I had been there’ remains unsaid, but it’s very obvious it was burning his tongue. Tony’s not sure what difference it would’ve made, aside from Peter seeing a side of him he didn’t really…want acknowledged. If anything, Peter not seeing that is the only reason he can actually look at him right now. 

And Peter being there would’ve only been a distraction. If either Rogers or Barnes laid a finger on Peter, Tony’s not sure what he would’ve done, or how differently that fight would’ve ended.

“Don’t be,” Tony whispers after he realizes he’s been silent and zoned out for too long, “you have nothing to be sorry for. I fucked up, paid the price — that’s the way I see this. I’m just sorry that…you had to get this involved and deal with…” me, “all of this.”

Peter shakes his head. “I’ve dealt with much worse than Zemo, supersoldiers and other vigilantes.” 

Ah, yes, Tony knows. The hours and hours of footage he had managed to recover and for some reason decided to go through left him… shaken and convinced he needs to create the best fucking suit imaginable for Peter. 

And after today, after knowing Peter hacked FRIDAY and there was nothing stopping him from doing it again, Tony realizes he needs to implement measures.

“This is…” Peter continues, quietly, “the worst part is seeing you hurt.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Come here...” Tony pats the spot on the bed next to him. 

Peter doesn’t need to be told twice; though he’s very careful as he climbs in the dingy hospital bed next to Tony. 

Wrapping his arms tightly around him, Tony holds Peter close as he kisses the side of his head. Everything else begins to fade into the background and despite the circumstances, he wishes he could stay like this forever. 

“So, uh. How much of my nonsense did you hear….back in Siberia?” He’s a bit reluctant to know, not knowing the extent of what he said but he’s 100% positive he made a certain confession.

Peter blushes. Ah. “...All of it?” 

Fuck. Okay, well on the bright side, Peter had chosen to stay, that counted for something? 

“I see. Okay well….you can either choose to ignore all of it, won’t blame you or…”

“I… don’t want to ignore it,” Peter says, quietly. Expectantly. “I, um. Wouldn’t have said no…”

Tony’s heart stops. If he had more energy, he probably would’ve had a more physical reaction too. But all the sensations he’s grown very used to having around Peter hit him all at once. 

Like the fireworks he had in his head that went off the first time he saw him and decided to ruin that Jessie person’s chances and take Peter for himself. The butterflies and the flutters and the fact that everything somehow looked brighter and sparklier (?) when Peter was around. 

Wouldn’t have said no….

He heard that right, he definitely did and this was definitely in response to the marriage thing. Tony can’t believe if he’d gotten over himself and summed up the courage to ask Peter how serious they were and taken initiative, he might’ve actually…proposed sooner. 

Tony can hear the blood rushing in his ears, he knows he’s flustered and it’s embarrassing that those simple words and their implication can elicit a reaction like this out of him, but it’s Peter and Peter can get pretty much any reaction out of him.

Is he still breathing?

He must look like such a fool right now, mouth hanging open and just staring at Peter. 

Say something!

“You’re amazing…” Those words are all Tony manages to whisper, his voice cracking oddly because of the stupid lump forming in his throat. He fondly cups Peter’s cheek, “you know I love you, right?” 

Despite his flaws, despite how horrible he can be and despite all the baggage that comes with him, Tony knows he can love fierce and hard and that’s one of his only redeeming qualities and he prays that Peter knows and feels this because—

“I do,” Peter smiles, “but I like being reminded.”

And just like that, Tony’s mind goes silent because if there’s one superpower that Peter has that Tony has grown very addicted to it’s how effortlessly he can silence Tony’s mind. 

And how loved Peter makes him feel.

“Then….how ‘bout I remind you for the rest of our lives?” Tony asks, his heart once again nearly giving out as if Peter hadn’t said he wouldn’t say no just a minute ago.

Peter’s soft smile turns into the most beautiful grin he has ever seen and Tony feels immediate relief. “Deal,” he says, like agreeing to marry him is the easiest decision he’s ever had to make.

And Tony almost feels guilty. He’s happy, but happy doesn’t even begin to cover it. Here’s someone willingly and voluntarily agreeing to hitch their wagon to his for…the rest of eternity. But even so, that small part of Tony that has always felt he unintentionally manipulates the people around him decides to slither around in the back of his mind. 

Does Peter know what he’s getting into? Does he actually want this or is he saying it because of the heightened stressor of the situation? Tony knows how misconceiving he can be, it’s unfair to Peter and—

And nothing. Fuck. He needs to stop doing this.

“No takebacks.” Tony points out quietly, hoping that his tone comes off lighthearted despite the dark tracks his train of thought went on. “So be sure…”

Though he supposed there were ‘takebacks’: divorce.

But if he ever loses Peter, he hopes he’ll be dead long before then.

“I am sure,” Peter gently nudges him with his shoulder. “I’ve been sure.”

“How long?” 

He thought he’d been crazy to get attached quickly and plan their wedding after the second date but clearly not. Knowing this…makes him feel significantly better about his confession. At least this way he knows he didn’t influence Peter or prompt him into agreeing to marry him. 

Peter shakes his head. Playfully. Hopefully. “I’m not saying.”

Tony deadpans. “You can’t do that, I’m in a hospital, I’m in pain, you have to tell me,” he leans against Peter, nudging him. “Pretty please?”

“Hmmmmmmmmm…”

That’s a long hum.

Tony nudges Peter’s shoulder again. “This is cruel and unusual punishment…you have to tell me. True love and everything.”

Peter grins and Tony’s heart swells because it’s beautiful and he didn’t think he’d see it again. “Is that what we are? True love? Maybe I could’ve woken you with true love’s kiss…”

Tony chuckles, even though it hurts his chest “You’re telling me you didn’t? And now you’re just deflecting from my question.”

“Learned from a certain someone,” Peter teases, soft, and rests his head against Tony’s shoulder. He gently takes Tony’s hand, fingers absently tracing over Tony’s palm when he says, “night 3.”

Tony’s heart does a thing again and maybe he even stops breathing.

“Wow…” he whispers, “this makes me feel less crazy about knowing on night 2.” Tony mumbles, leaning his head against Peter’s.

He wonders if that’s weird to say.

Peter gasps, covering his mouth cutely. Maybe it’s the morphine, but it really feels like an eternity before he speaks again and puts Tony’s mind at ease. “Really? You knew… just like that? Why? Why me?”

Tony’s not sure how to answer that question without it sounding just plain sad.

“You…treated me like a person.” So much for not trying to sound sad.

Tony continues, hesitantly. “For once, I actually didn’t know where this was going to go. When I’d approach people before, usually I went up to them with an act in mind and put on a show.” 

A very tedious thing to do. 

“But with you I just…” he gently takes Peter’s hand, “I dunno, you looked at me like you didn’t want anything from me or expect anything. You also didn’t look like I fucking killed your beloved family.” Tony pauses, looking down at his lap. “You smiled at me. And meant it. Do you know how rare that is? You saw me and even though I never thought I really deserved it, you treated me like I was someone…very precious to you. Someone special. So yes you, Peter, of course I knew — for once in my life someone makes me feel good, has a gorgeous smile and laughs and blushes at everything I say and I’m not supposed to fall in love? Please.”

Peter’s covering his mouth again, though for an entirely different reason this time. Are those tears in his eyes? “I’m going to cry,” he mumbles, answering Tony’s question before he has a chance to ask it.

“Oh no, is that bad? I’m sorry honey…” Tony gently cups Peter’s cheeks. “Was that too much? I feel like that was a bit much…”

“It’s not bad! It’s not… I just—” Peter swallows hard, leaning into Tony’s touch. Gosh, Tony melts. “Emotional. Haven’t properly slept in a while. Heh….” He pauses, taking a deep breath. “You’re never too much. Not for me.”

Tony smiles, pulling Peter closer to kiss him lightly. “Then maybe you should rest…can’t have my fiancé getting sick because of me. I’ve given you enough worry to last a lifetime.”

And there comes another gasp. “Say that again.”

“What….my fiancé?”

He likes saying it. And Peter seems to really like hearing it. Despite looking like he’s been run over by a train, his eyes are sparkling. “Again.”

Tony laughs, wrapping an arm around Peter’s shoulders and pulls him close, kissing the side of his head. “My fiancé, my dearest fiancé.”

That gets him the full sparkly eyes and flushed cheeks that Tony’s obsessed with. “Sounds even better than I dreamed it would. And I fantasized about this a lot.” Peter admits sheepishly.

“Wait really?” 

“Yes really,” Peter smiles sweetly, “I love you, a lot. Of course I did a ton of maladaptive daydreaming thinking of you proposing to me.”

“I doubt your ‘maladaptive daydreaming’ included being proposed to in a hospital bed…” Tony mutters, looking around the bleak place. “I’ll do another one…a better one, once we’re out. I love you and you deserve it.”

Peter rests his head on Tony’s shoulder, wrapping his arm around his waist. “I’ll do one, too.”

“Whoa…propose to me?” Tony grins, resting his cheek against Peter’s head. “Gosh, now I’m blushing.”

“Are you really?”

When is he not when Peter is around? You would think that’d be plain as day by now.

“Perhaps…what can I say, no one’s proposed to me or offered to…can’t help it if I’m feeling a bit flustered. Take the win.” 

Peter grins, looking up. “What do I win? You? ‘Cause that’s all I want.”

“Damn…you’re gonna make my heart give out, who allowed you?” Tony cups Peter’s chin, connecting their lips into a soft kiss.

To think…not even a day ago he’d been in Siberia, caught in a death match. 

But of course he’d be saved by Peter.

In every way possible, ever since their paths crossed in that cafe, Peter had been saving Tony’s life.

Tony doesn’t think that is ever going to change.

Chapter Text

Zemo’s arrested. Tony learns as soon as he gets out of the hospital (which he quickly leaves, btw, he doesn’t wait to be discharged, they’re taking too long). 

A lot has happened since then. Half of the Avengers are still in the wind, though Tony has suspicions that T’Challa may have been involved. When Ross asks (demands) to know updates, he leaves him on infinite hold. 

The next month is… busy. Between trying to get the compound back in order, making braces for Rhodey and trying to adjust to how different everything is, it leaves little time for much else.

But his priority remains the same: Peter. 

And he still owes him a proper proposal. A real one.

Rhodey has been no help in that department, shooting down most of his ideas and saying that they ‘stank’ and he could do better. 

Which was, admittedly, true.

His ideas were too big, almost like he was overcompensating. So in the end, he decided maybe a full circle moment would be nice. Something simple. 

[Tony; 17:03]
got time for dinner? I can pick you up from work like a good fiancé does 

[Peter; 17:05]
always got time for my hot fiancé 

[Tony; 17:06]
oh stop it you…I’ll be there in 5

Maybe less given the way he drives.

He’s in his car in less than 2 minutes, putting his glasses on. “FRIDAY, let me know if he replies.”

“Codependency isn’t very healthy, boss .”

Tony rolls his eyes, very easily ignoring her and swerving past the chaos of New York City until he arrives at the front of Parker Enterprises. In one piece, surprisingly.

[Tony; 17:13]
took a bit longer, get your cute ass here 

[Peter; 17:13]
almost done with my shower 

[Tony; 17:14]
you took ur phone in the shower? 

“And you call me codependent, see? We’re both fucked up.”

“Nothing to celebrate, boss.”

[Peter; 17:14]
technically, karen is the one sending these for me

[Peter; 17:14]
needed both hands to wash off all the soot 

[Tony; 17:16]
soot? some fire?  

Tony hates the pang of worry he feels, and he hates having to remind himself that the work Spider-Man does isn’t nearly as reckless as the crap he pulls. 

Though…this is Peter, he’s going to worry just watching him walk out the door for work.

[Peter; 17:16]
I’m okay, don’t worry

[Tony; 17:17]
you’re my fiancé, worrying’s in my job description 

“FRIDAY, get me all the reports on any fires Spider-Man had an appearance in for this morning. Send it to my phone.”

Sighing, he leans back. Maybe someday, they’d be so far away from all of this his biggest worry would be if Peter likes the food he made him.

[Peter; 17:17]
well im done washing everything off if you want to join…

[Peter; 17:18]
I wanna apologize for making you worry, mr stark

Tony grins. He’s definitely going to still worry but…he’s a simple man. Dangle something delicious in front of him and he’ll resort to his primitive ways.

“FRIDAY, find parking. I’ll be tied up.”

He doesn’t let her get in a snarky remark before he’s exiting the car and entering the building. He heads up in record time, undoing his tie along the way.

Despite taking less than 5 minutes, it feels like forever before he’s in the bathroom, dumping his suit jacket and shirt on the floor.

“If I ever say no to a question like that, you’ll know I’ve been replaced by an imposter.” He undes his pants, kicks them off and is on Peter in the shower in seconds, pressing him back against the wall and kissing him deeply.

“Hmm… honestly thought at first I was dealing with an imposter, considering you patiently waited outside after I mentioned I was in the shower,” Peter teases, repeatedly pecking Tony’s lips. “Like, who are you and what have you done with my fiancé?”

God that makes Tony hard. He grins, cupping Peter’s chin to kiss him again. “Sue me, I was trying to be respectful but clearly that’s super out of character for me. Next time I’ll be sure to interrupt.”

“Respectful? Damn, is tonight special or something?” Peter chuckles, until he doesn’t. Panic clearly sets in. “Wait, is it your birthday? No, that was two months ago...”

Tony smiles. “Every day is special with you.” No way in hell is he going to spoil the proposal. “Now where were we? Oh yes…” he leans in, brushing his lips against Peter’s neck. 

Apparently, that’s enough to distract Peter from asking more questions about what Tony has in store for the night. 

Tony distracts him even more when he drops to his knees and gets some of his favorite sounds out of him. 

By the end of the ‘shower’, he has lovely scratches on his arms, neck and shoulders. And of course, he’s left equally bright bruises on Peter’s thighs, hips and chest.

They’re late, but that doesn’t matter. 

Honestly, even getting dressed takes forever because Tony ends up bending Peter over his desk and—

And yeah.

He couldn’t resist. They’d been apart for…hours? Eh. Honestly, being apart from Peter for more than 15 seconds is enough to make Tony go feral.

Anyway.

Two hours later, they actually manage to get to the Ritz.

“So I know we’ve been here before…” Tony says as he parks outside. “But I was feeling nostalgic, sentimental…call it what you want, so I got us rooftop reservations.”

At Nubeluz, which closed hours ago, technically, but, who was going to say no to Tony Stark who was going to be paying them more than they normally made in a week? 

“Hope that’s okay,” Tony adds, moments before Peter laughs.

Laughs.

“Has anyone ever told you no, Tony, that’s not okay, I totally do not want to go on a romantic date again with you at the Ritz?” Peter’s grinning as he shakes his head, and grabs Tony by the tie before he pulls him closer and plants a deep kiss on his lips. Then: “It’s more than okay.”

“Fuck,” Tony chuckles, cupping the back of Peter’s neck to keep him close, “sweetheart, if you kiss me like that again we’re going to miss our reservation.” But he makes no move to pull away from Peter, put distance between them or get out of the car.

Because both of them know that no one in their right mind would give away Tony Stark’s reservation. Not at this hour anyway.

Peter grins. “Oh, no,” he teases, eyeing Tony appreciatively. “Well… I see a five-course meal right here, so…”

Tony makes an odd choking/gasping sound. Oh yeah, so charming. He masks it with a masterful laugh. “Smooth, very smooth…you really know your way around me, don’t you?” He presses a teasing kiss to Peter’s lips. “I guess they can wait a bit longer…”

Peter eagerly returns the kiss, until he pulls away with a gasp, and, “wait, is it my birthday?”

“Why do you ask?” Tony laughs. “But I definitely have plans for your birthday also. Do you want it to be your birthday?”

“If I say yes, will it magically be my birthday?” Peter chuckles, checking the date on his phone. “So, not my birthday. Hm. But something feels different….”

“Well maybe it’s a special day…” Tony leans closer, pressing a kiss to Peter’s cheek, “or maybe every day is special because you’re in it, except today I’m doing something a bit more to show my appreciation for your existence.”

Peter’s eyes widen in excitement. “Like what?” He whispers, like somehow this is the latest gossip .

How cute. Tony’s so…fucking fond of him, he really doesn’t know how he contains himself. “You’ll see, sweetheart. Don’t wanna spoil it…nothing big. Just an ‘us’ day.”

Where hopefully he’ll get through his proposal without choking, embarrassing himself or being interrupted.

They actually do get out of the car at some point. Yeah. Tony has to sum up every ounce of self restraint he has for that. They’re only…15 minutes late, which isn’t the worst and, well, the restaurant is being kept open for them after hours so it doesn’t really matter. He tipped very generously ahead of time.

It’s perfect. Their table is of course on the outside patio, where they have the best view and pair that with a few mood setting candles and…everything’s going well. 

Tony allows the night to progress despite his nerves getting more rattled by the minute. Even though Peter has already said yes to marrying him, he’s still nervous. No way in hell does he want the memory of a proposal to be in fucking Siberia. So. This has to be redone. He waits until they reach dessert. It’s a challenge.

“Enjoying yourself sweetheart?” Tony asks, reaching across the table to gently take Peter’s hand. 

Peter smiles. Nods. Squeezes his hand, too, like he knows Tony needs it. “Always am when I’m with you,” he assures him, taking Tony’s hands to his lips to press a gentle kiss over his knuckles.

Tony doesn’t even know if he’s breathing anymore but a shuddered exhale escapes him and he smiles, looking down at their joined hands.

“You’ve changed my life, you know? And saved it, I don’t mean that mess in Siberia either I mean…you make me wanna eat real food in the morning and not just down a bottle of jack first thing and top that off with an espresso and a joint. I don’t think I’d be sitting here if we hadn’t met…”

He wouldn’t have even seen a point frankly.

Inhaling deeply, Tony squeezes Peter’s hand, as if to ground himself before he continues. “Rhodey asked me how serious we were a while back. I didn’t know how to answer him because I considered us serious and told him to ask you instead because I really wanted to know what you thought. But I think what he wanted to ask me was…if I love you, and why. Everyone always wants to know the why.”

Tony rolls his eyes and sips from his glass. God, he can’t stop rambling. 

“Isn’t it obvious?” He continues. “I mean to me it is anyway. You’re so… you , Peter. Everything about you. You saw something in me worth loving and saw something more than just…fuck, this I guess and… jesus, I’m not stopping, am I? Fuck. I think what I’m trying to say is that…” he clears his throat and carefully slips out of his seat to get down on one knee, “you’ve made this life the best I could have and I want to have as many years I can squeeze out and if…I’ve learned anything from the mess we see everyday, we’ll meet again. In another life, another universe, and I want every one of those with you. But… will you do me the honor of marrying me in this one?”

Tony worries, because there’s tears and the look on Peter’s face but then:

“Yes. Of course, yes,” Peter chuckles, wiping his tears away before they even dare to fall. “I can’t believe you beat me to it,” he adds, taking a red velvet box out of his pocket. “I had planned it for my birthday, actually…”

What are the odds.

“Oh sweetheart,” Tony chuckles, getting up to pull Peter into a kiss, “can I say yes now?”

Peter… pouts? “But you haven’t heard my speech…”

Ah.

“Oh you’re right, I’m sorry…” Tony nods, sitting down but still keeping a firm hold on Peter’s hand, “I’m ready for your speech.”

“Wow,” Peter chuckles again, but it’s a tad nervous. He wipes away more tears before they fall, and, “Sorry, I swear I practiced this, but it’s so real now and I just… wow. I love you. So much. Like… it’s a bit ridiculous how much. I’ve even made a list…” Peter pauses, taking out his phone and handing it over to Tony.

Holy shit. 

It’s opened in the notes app; to a very, very long note titled ‘Reasons why I love you’. Peter looks very proud of it. Meanwhile, Tony can’t imagine how someone (even Peter) could come up with that many reasons when Tony can probably list off his only good qualities with one hand. “I could honestly make a book out of it,” Peter adds. “I probably should. You know what, I will,” he grins. “Or a calendar. Though I think there’s more than 365 reasons, so…”

Tony doesn’t even have to listen to the rest of what Peter is saying, he grabs him by the tie and yanks him in for a deep kiss. “Fuck, you have no idea how much I love you….only you could find this many reasons to actually list.”

“I just thought of one more,” Peter grins, “I love when you grab me by the tie…”

So does Tony.

“Yeah? I can do it more…amongst other things. Ties are useful like that,” Tony grins, kissing Peter again. “See? Can’t ever leave me. I do things you love.”

Peter chuckles, shaking his head. “Why would I ever leave you?”

Tony has to bite back the saddest thing he could say because…he just proposed, Peter just proposed, they’re… properly engaged, and they’re going to be married. Something incredible and treasured that definitely shouldn’t be ruined by his incredibly low self esteem. 

So he smiles and pulls Peter in for a kiss. “Well now you can’t, no takebacks, remember? Wanna put the ring on me, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” Peter grins, taking the ring out of the box. “I made it, by the way. With FRIDAY’s help. I’m shocked she didn’t tell you,” he chuckles, then abruptly pauses and: “wait, did she?”

Tony chuckles, shaking his head. “She’s too traitorous for that and definitely likes you better, no she didn’t tell me.” He pauses to take his ring out of the box, which…he also made after realizing that most of the rings in store, suck. 

It easily slips onto Peter’s finger and Tony gently takes his hand, kissing his knuckles. 

“For what it’s worth, I’ll do my best to not make this marriage suck.”

“There’s no way this marriage will suck,” Peter assures him, leaning forward to gently kiss Tony. “I love you.”

Tony knows even if unintentional, he’s difficult. That sort of thing wears a person down. Especially overtime, over years. But for now, he believes Peter and pulls him in for another kiss.

“I love you. And none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t met you. I never had the notion I’d even survive this long but I actually…want to grow old with you. Maybe not too old…” he cracks a smile, “but you know.”

“Oh yeah, I’m very looking forward to seeing you with grey hairs,” Peter teases, gently running his fingers through Tony’s hair. 

Tony makes a face. God. “Ugh, why? I mean…maybe I won’t look totally awful but ugh. God forbid I look like my dad.” Even though as far as old people go, his dad didn’t look terrible. 

“You’ll look like you ,” Peter chuckles, booping Tony’s nose. “Just, you know. As a silver fox.”

Tony gasps. “Silver fox. Wow. Is that something you’d like?”

“Specifically if it’s you, yes.”

Tony’s oddly flattered. “Then…I won’t mind it as much. As long as you still find me hot.” He takes Peter's hand, pressing a kiss to it. “I don’t really want a big wedding…something private, short, sweet,” he quietly adds, “I just want to be married to you. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, me too,” Peter smiles, fond. “I first thought a Christmas wedding sounds nice, but that’s so far away and I kinda don’t wanna wait that long…”

Tony hums, nodding slowly. “How about we…do something, just so we’re legally married and then in a few months have a Christmas celebration, why not? Who’s gonna stop us?”

Peter grins. “Kinda sounds like you’re suggesting we elope, Mr. Stark.”

“Maybe I am, Mr. Parker,” Tony shrugs, smiling and leaning against the table, “would you run away with me?”

Peter leans closer, lips hovering over Tony’s. “Of course I would.”

So they do.

They run away. Who’s going to stop them? 

It only feels fitting. They don’t even finish their meal, because Tony is determined that this happens now.

It’s crazy, it’s sudden but…very them . They’ve waited this long, Tony doesn’t want to wait anymore.

So that very same night, he insists they fly out right then and there, anywhere Peter wants. Literally anywhere. 

There’s a private jet with Tony’s name on it, there’s nowhere they can’t go.

They don’t even pack, they can just buy what they need…and that’s how they end up married in Italy. Tony has a summer house in just about every major city (it’s called being prepared, thank you very much) and thank fucking god that he was because for the next few weeks, they spend their time being together in the summer villa overlooking the beach.

It’s pure bliss, so much so that Tony forgets the circumstances that led to him even proposing in the first place.

And yet, if it hadn’t been for his deluded ramblings in Siberia and Peter having followed him there, he probably would’ve danced around proposing for another couple months, maybe even a year…or more, knowing him. 

A ring would’ve remained in his pocket for an obscene amount of time as he went back and forth with trying to determine if the relationship was at that stage.

Yet now, as he awakens each morning with Peter in his arms, the wedding band glistening on Peter’s ring finger under the golden wisps of morning light filtering through the curtains in their shared bedroom, Tony understands that this is what real peace feels like. 

His life before Peter pales in comparison. 

Tony knows that despite this bubble they’ve found themselves in, the real world out there waits and it won’t be like this everyday. But they’ll have each other and in a few months time, when they have the Christmas wedding Peter’s been dreaming about, Tony’s going to be proud getting up there in front of their closest friends to declare his love for Peter. 

That will never change. 

It feels like Tony’s finally going to experience what it means to be alive, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.