Many of us know that Tony did not have a nice childhood with his father who is remembered as the great Howard Stark, a legend for many but a bad memory for his son in his life.
Since Tony was little he always saw his father drink a lot of liquor, get aggressive and sometimes he would simply vent that anger on him. I also took away his toys and stuffed animals because he said he should grow up when he was barely 4 years old and also when he had nightmares, he would wake up with tears and go to his parents' room to seek the comfort of his mother but his father always woke him up and returned him to his room telling him
«We Starks are made of iron! Stop crying over stupid things, Anthony, grow up once and for all!»
And I left him in the dark crying in silence
His adolescence was not so bad nor so good but he always received scolding from his father for his irresponsibility because sometimes he had to bail him out of trouble when he was very drunk (he was between 15-17 years old) but for Tony that was not his problem because he knew very well that his father only got him out of trouble so that his great heir of his company would not get lost and of course they always had fights about it.
When his parents died, Tony just didn't cry... He remembered very well what his father had been telling him since he was a child. He was simply devastated but never shed a single tear.
Currently he was now recognized for being a hero, Iron Man the Tin Man and not only that he also had a beautiful girlfriend who is now his beautiful fiancée and he loves her very madly, Pepper taught him what love as a couple is like but not only was he also the tutor of a 14-year-old teenager, he found him wandering in the garbage and not only looking for food but also technological objects because God the child was a genius and with superpowers because that child was Spider-man.
Tony simply took him in and of course gave him food, clothing, a place to sleep comfortably and new technological items (and not the garbage he called them). At first Pepper didn't take it very well but when she saw how Tony enjoyed the boy's company she accepted and fell in love with the curly teenager.
Of course, sometimes Pepper told Tony that he had become a father and that always ended in arguments or sometimes not.
"We're not going to start this again Pep" replied Tony who was serious.
"Tony I'm serious, every time you're with Peter you don't see that you're just his guardian or mentor, you really treat him like your son and he sees you as a father," replied Pepper, who was crossing her arms, "you know because of how much it happened in his life."
"Pep, love of my life, my pretty blonde has me in love every day of my life... I know very well what he went through but I also... I am afraid of failing to be like my father that has always been my fear and now that the child is there it increases more, I am not his father I only protect him and guide him so that he does not make mistakes like I did..." He sat on the bed and tried to take a breath
Pepper approached him "Tony calmly breathe" she grabbed his hands "listen to me Tony inhale and exhale slowly"
Tony heard his fiancé's voice and obeyed her words while the air went to his lungs. They stayed like that for a few moments until Tony got up.
"I'm going to the laboratory" he spoke as he walked away from Pep.
"Tony you can't-"
"Pepper, I'm fine, thank you for your concern, but I want to be alone." Tony said that and left the room.
Pepper simply let out a frustrated sigh. "Friday, keep me informed if anything happens with Tony while he's in the lab." She looked at the ceiling.
"Sure boss"
•
Tony is sitting in his swivel chair while he was focused on fixing the Spidey suit, he was giving it some upgrades and adding new protocols to keep him informed when he goes out on his night patrols.
Out of nowhere the AC/DC music stopped making Tony look at the ceiling angrily.
"Friday I told you about turning off my music-"
"I inform you that young Peter is distressed, according to my reports, he is going through a nightmare. My recommendations are that you go see him, boss," I spoke Friday.
Tony got up quickly to go to the exit of the laboratory and walk at a hurried pace to quickly get to Peter's room. When he entered, his heart hurt to see him moving restlessly between the sheets.
Very carefully he approached him "hey Peter, boy it's just a dream, wake up" Tony whispered to him while wiping the sweat from his forehead "wake up little buddy open those eyes" Tony said a little upset
Peter let out pitiful moans until after a few moments he opened his eyes suddenly, sitting up in bed trying to remove the sheets that were tangled in the bed.
"Easy, easy, I'll help you with that." Tony slowly approached the teenager, helping to remove the sheets. "Ready."
Peter let out a sob as he hugged himself, Tony's heart hurt twice as much because now he saw that energetic teenager with a positive attitude now looking so weak and so young because he is still a child.
"Come here kiddo" Tony pulled him towards him, settling him down and trying to calm his cries "shh shh calm down nothing happened it was just a bad taste nightmare"
"It was from the day I was with that family," Peter murmured between sobs.
'Family?'
"Wait, you had a family before you lived here?"
"Well, they took me in for about 3 months but it was torture because... that man sometimes..." Peter couldn't finish because he started crying.
Tony didn't prefer to hear that but he also didn't prefer to think about what he could really see happen.
"Don't worry, you're okay, that's already happened, it'll never happen again, kid, you're okay here." Tony began stroking his sticky curls.
"Feeling his hands on my body was very disgusting," Peter said now with his face hidden in Tony's shirt.
"Shh shh don't say anything else, forget about it, it's not going to happen Petey... I'm here and I won't let anything happen to you"
"I know dad..." Peter murmured.
Tony simply stopped his breathing for a few seconds and saw Peter's look of fear.
Oh no...
'Control yourself, Stark, it was just a mistake, he didn't... want to?
...
I'm really your father, aren't I? When you sign those papers it's because you became a dad, right?'
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mr. Stark." Peter walked away from him while repeating his apology over and over.
"Kid, kid, calm down, it's okay... I... don't worry about it," he pulled him closer.
They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes in bed until Tony suggested they might as well head over to the couch to have some hot chocolate and watch a movie (good thing Peter was on school holidays so it was all good).
Peter went to the couch and sat on it as he asked Friday to play a random movie, then the title of Mr. Peabody & Sherman appeared on the screen.
While Tony was preparing the chocolate he began to think about some moments since he met Peter. Of course, he took good care of him from the moment he took him in, but he didn't think that he was really behaving like the teenager's father: he gave him breakfast, sometimes he went to see him at school, he helped him with his homework, they watched movies together and he always helped Peter up to his room when he was already sleepy and tucked him comfortably in his sheets.
He really was the father, he just needed to accept it, that when Pepper told him that he was a dad it was because it was true, also that dad that came out of the child's mouth is the best thing he heard, it felt strange but at the same time very good to hear it, he could really be a good father, he could try to surpass his own father.
He took two cups, filled them very carefully with the chocolate and took them to the sofa.
"So what will we see, kid?" Tony asked as he looked out with two cups of chocolate and handed one to the boy. "Careful, it's hot."
Peter nodded as he blew and took a small sip. "I told Friday to play a random movie and he played this one," he muttered.
"A talking dog and a boy? Interesting," Tony said as he settled on the other end of the couch.
Peter nodded and curled up where he was, but then Tony's arm went around his shoulders and pulled him closer.
"Mr. Stark I-"
"Listen to me first, Peter, you see, I never had a good connection with my father for the reasons you already know... but I don't want that same chain to continue with me or with you, Peter, you really are my son, you know? But I'm afraid of failing at this, but I'm willing to try with you. I want us to be father and son." He took a sip from his cup and looked at Peter, who looked at him with his eyes still red from crying a few moments ago.
"So... can you really be my dad?"
"I accept being one, boy, I just need you to confirm it. I won't pressure you, only when you're ready."
Peter put his cup on the nightstand and lunged towards Tony who caught him with one arm because the other was busy holding the cup.
"Yes I want... but" she turned away from him looking at him "Are you sure it doesn't bother you? You really know from what I called you before you can't force yourself to do that. It was my mistake after having an absurd nightmare" he murmured now putting on his sad puppy look.
Tony put his cup on the nightstand and looked at the boy again. "Peter, boy, this doesn't really bother me. I really want to be your dad. Well, I always was. I've always been since you started living here and it's not because of what you told me before. Well, I needed a little help because I'm afraid of being like my father. I always grew up with him telling me a lot about his terrible abuse, but I'm not him and I can try to be a good father to you."
"You're not like your dad, you're Tony Stark, a better person with a beautiful girlfriend and-"
"And now my sweet son..." Tony brushed away a rebellious curl, "you're my son Petey."
"If you are... you always were dad" Peter smiled.
Tony smiled and pulled Peter towards him, feeling the boy hide his face between his neck and shoulder, enjoying each other.
'You know Howard, if you left me anything in your legacy it was that I will never be like you, fuck you wherever you are'
Close your eyes
Have no fear
Tony heard that sound of music, looked at the screen and saw how the white dog began to have memories with his adopted human son.
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here
Tony looked at Peter who was now asleep on him and like a trickle of drool already running, he had to deny gracefully with a smile on his face.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Tony remembers listening to that song when he was the same age as Peter or something. He remembers before that sound was so ridiculous and he hated it so much but now it could have a nice meaning having his little spider sleeping in it.
"Sleep well Petey, daddy takes care of your dreams" and with that Tony decided to close his eyes and let himself be carried away by the peace of the room.
•
Pepper got up at 6 in the morning, on Friday she informed him that her boyfriend had taken care of the child who had had a nightmare. At that moment, he remembered that it was 2 in the morning and he didn't know any more, but he looked towards the sofa where he found the duo sleeping very comfortably, it seemed.
She smiled and looked at the ceiling whispering the following question "What happened Friday?"
"The boss finally accepted that he is the father of the spider-baby" Friday answered in a whisper but with joy in his voice apparently.
She hummed in response but very happy "make sure you take photos I need to have lots of photos for the irondad and spiderson paintings"
He approached his boys, giving his fiancé a kiss on the lips and a kiss on the forehead to the teenager who only snuggled closer to Tony. This made him let out a silent giggle and he walked away from them to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and then go to work.
"Friday also sends some photos to the others. I'm sure they were also waiting to see this moment," she said, starting to prepare her coffee.
"Photos sent boss"
Pepper nodded "thanks Fri, good girl."
....