Is a parent supposed to come?
When Peter managed to persuade Tony to attend one of his academic decathlon competitions, he knew he had a mission on his hands. He had a well-laid plan in mind to make sure his adoptive father would be present at that important event.
The first step was to get past security without setting off any alarms. Peter crept stealthily through the crowd, keeping his head down and avoiding drawing attention to himself. He knew that Tony's presence could generate some commotion, and he preferred to remain unnoticed.
The second step was to find the perfect spot from where he could observe Peter without being seen by other prying eyes. Tony looked for a strategic corner in the stands, making sure he had a clear view of the stage where the competition would take place. He was determined not to stand in the way of his son's success, even if it meant staying in the background.
What Tony didn't know, however, was that this day would be memorable for all the wrong reasons. As he proudly watched Peter from his hiding place, he realized that his son was about to shine in a completely unexpected way. An unforeseen incident would trigger a series of events that would test Peter's courage and determination, turning the competition into a true test of his skills.
Tony watched in fascination as Peter's hand glowed on the paper in front of him, solving the equation that the presenter had posed in the final round of the Math competition. Despite the distance between them, he could sense the concentration etched on the boy's face, mirroring the same expression he always had when they worked together in the lab.
"You're getting there, Pete," Tony whispered softly and, almost instantly, as if his words had given the final push, Peter pressed the buzzer with his hand and, with a charming smile, gave his answer.
"Correct," the announcer announced, sparking cheers and applause from half the audience as Peter was hugged by the rest of the team in celebration for winning that round. Tony smiled, holding back the urge to stand up and shout how proud he was of his son.
Once the euphoria died down, everyone returned to their seats and the scientific part began. This time, it was trivia with a buzzer in front of each participant and a timer counting down the seconds for them to give their answer. Tony kept his eyes fixed on Peter and every now and then the boy would throw him a shy smile and Tony would respond with a reassuring thumbs-up gesture.
The presenter asked the next question as Tony's phone rang in his pocket, but this time he ignored it. His eyes were fixed on Peter, but something in his expression made her shiver. The twinkle in his boy's eyes was gone and his face was pale, drenched in sweat. The competition seemed to have taken its toll on Peter, and his body was struggling with the stress.
Tony's heart raced and a sense of dread came over him. He couldn't take his eyes off his son, and his father's instinct told him something was terribly wrong. The sudden rumble that echoed through the place only added to his anxiety.
Voices of concern rose in the air as everyone around him tried to figure out what had happened. Tony rose from his seat with determination, hurrying through the crowd to Peter's side.
Tony didn't waste another second and ran toward the stage, pushing aside the students surrounding his son with determination. "Move aside," he ordered in a firm voice, gently pushing a small blonde-haired girl out of the way to make way for Peter. There was a professor and the presenter kneeling next to him, but Tony pushed them away decisively, making it clear that he would not allow his son to be a spectacle.
Carefully, Tony knelt beside Peter, his gaze full of concern and determination. He ignored the shocked looks and murmuring voices around him. All that mattered at that moment was his son and his well-being.
"Peter, are you sure you're okay?" asked Tony, his voice full of anxiety as he examined his son for any signs of injury or discomfort. Peter was struggling to keep his eyes open, his face pale and drenched with sweat.
"Peter!" murmured Tony, gently tapping his opposite cheek and sliding his fingers through the boy's curls. It was only a few seconds before Peter opened his eyes again, and Tony felt a momentary relief that his son was more conscious.
The relief, however, was quickly replaced by a new wave of concern as he noticed the pained expression on Peter's face. His eyes reflected discomfort and fear, and Tony inwardly cursed himself for not having arrived sooner to prevent something like this from happening.
"Are you okay, Peter?" asked Tony in a strained voice, gently holding the boy's cheek. Peter nodded weakly, but it was obvious he was in pain. Tony could see the effort his son was making...to stay strong, but he also knew he needed medical help immediately.
"M'ster S'ark? Blurry eyes looked up at him and Tony could see the confusion etched on the boy's face and it was then that he saw at least a little color return to his skin.
"Give him some space," Tony barked to the rest of the members of Peter's group, who quickly moved away from the pair. Peter watched his group walk away, trying to understand how he had ended up in that situation.
Tony took Peter to a secluded corner, away from the curious stares and bustle of the place. He leaned the boy against the wall, holding him carefully as he assessed his condition. Although worry still weighed heavily on his chest, he tried to remain calm and give Peter the reassurance he needed.
"Peter, kiddo, look at me. Eyes here." The brown eyes followed his instructions and Tony smiled as their gazes met. "Hey, buddy."
Peter blinked once before breaking into a lopsided grin. "Hello, M'ster S'ark."
"Do you know where you are?" asked Tony, concerned, as he held Peter against the podium. "Um," Peter muttered, struggling to regain his bearings. "Give it a minute, buddy, it'll come to you," reassured Tony, though his mind was full of questions and fears.
Meanwhile, Tony kept barking orders around him. He asked one guy to get water and a cold towel, another to lift Peter's legs to help with circulation, and even took off one of the team members' jackets to improvise a pillow for Peter's head. He sent a quick message to Happy, instructing him to meet them at the back door of the building.
"Easy, buddy," Tony muttered a few minutes later, as he helped Peter slowly sit up after lying on the cold floor for quite a while. He propped him up against the back of the podium and held a bottle of water to his lips, encouraging him to drink.
Peter took small sips, feeling the coolness of the water soothe his parched throat. Although he was still dizzy and confused, Tony's presence and care gave him a certain calmness. He knew he was in good hands and that his mentor would do all he could to help him.
Tony held the bottle for him as Peter drank, maintaining a comforting contact. "We're going to be out of here in no time, Peter. It's going to be all right."
"Little sips," Peter listened gratefully, and after a few sips, Tony handed the water bottle back to him, promising that he could have more in a few minutes.
"Sometimes his sugar gets low," said a new voice, and Tony turned to see the boy who had helped lift Peter's legs, his best friend. The boy held out a cereal bar.
"No kidding," Tony replied, taking the cereal bar gratefully. He tore the wrapper and broke off a small piece, bringing it to Peter's lips, who tasted it gratefully. Tony broke off a few more pieces of granola and handed them to Peter with his hand. This, followed by a few more sips of water, brought Peter almost back to normal. Although his skin was still a little pale and Tony could tell his forehead was still a little cold and clammy, he knew they were out of danger now. Still, he planned to take Peter to the infirmary to have him checked out by a doctor.
"God, I'm so stupid," Peter muttered, pressing himself against Tony's side as they walked to the car a few minutes later. He had adamantly refused to be carried off the stage in front of all his teammates.
Tony slipped a comforting arm around Peter's shoulders and pulled him to himself. "You're not stupid, Peter," he told him gently. "We all have hard times. The important thing is that you're okay now and that I'm here to take care of you. I promise."
Peter nodded, feeling Tony's comforting warmth beside him.
"You mean it's stupid not to sleep or eat breakfast on the day of a big academic competition?" commented Tony in a more serious tone of voice as he opened the door, allowing Peter to slip in first.
Peter grumbled, pressing his face into his mentor's chest as Tony climbed into the car. "Don't be mean."
"I'm far from mean, buddy." Tony made sure Peter was securely fastened with his seatbelt before sitting down next to him.
"It's really embarrassing. I'm sure someone was recording and Flash must be telling everyone at school by now."
"If anyone bothers you, they'll deal with me. I heard something mild from Pepper." Tony wrapped a comforting arm around Peter and hugged him as Happy started the car.
The teenager looked at him, one eyebrow raised. "Pep...how are you going to 'take care of them'?".
"I have my ways," Tony replied with an enigmatic smile, as he stroked Peter's hair gently.
"Please don't do anything drastic."
"I'm not promising anything."
"Mr. Stark!"
Tony waved his hand to reassure Peter, as he continued to hug him tenderly. "Don't worry, Peter, I'm right here with you."
Peter sighed and let himself be carried away by Tony's comforting embrace. He felt safe in his arms, knowing he had someone to confide in during difficult times.
"Thank you for being here, Mr. Stark."
Tony tightened his embrace and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "I'll always be here for you, Peter. Always. Now, get some rest, you need it."
With his eyes closed, Peter let himself be soothed and reassured by Tony's presence. Together, they continued the journey home, strengthened by their bond and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Rest, Peter," Tony whispered softly, maintaining his comforting embrace. "I'm here with you."
Peter's body relaxed even more in Tony's arms, and his breathing became slow and regular. Tony continued to gently caress his back, conveying reassurance and protection.
Minutes later, Peter murmured in a tired tone. "Thank you for coming, Mr. Stark."
Tony smiled tenderly, looking down at the boy curled up on him, eyes closed. He pressed a soft kiss to his messy curls. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world, kiddo. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
At that moment, Tony felt the bond between them grow even stronger. He knew they would be together through the happy times and the hard times, supporting each other throughout their adventures and challenges.
As the car rolled along, Tony held Peter close, promising himself that he would do everything he could to protect him and make sure he always knew he had someone to rely on.