Chapter 4
“So. That’s your dad.” Skyler said once the two men had left the room.
“Let’s not be throwing the word “dad” around that loosely. That’s the man whose DNA I share.” Peter’s words still had some bite to them but Skyler ignored it, knowing he was still worked up from his fight with Tony. If you can even all it a fight seeing how Peter mostly monologued it.
“What’s our next step? Are you going back with them or am I sneaking you out the window?”
Peter sighed and then collapsed on the floor in front of her bed. Skyler slid down and pulled him to her, letting him rest his head in her lap. “I don’t know.” He admitted. “I don’t want to live with him, but I can’t go back to living on the street, not after last time.”
“And staying here is no more of an option now than it was then.” Sky added. “Dad would blow a gasket if he knew you were here.”
“So I don’t really have a choice.”
“No. But that’s the story of our lives right? Since when did we get a choice?”
Peter looked up at her, “I chose you.”
Skyler rolled her eyes at his sudden sincerity, “No you didn’t. I chose you and you just went along with it.”
“I can’t wait until I never have to leave. When we can just be together. No fosters, no dads, no overzealous cops. Just us.” And if Skyler didn’t know any better, she’d say Peter was on the verge of tears.
“One more year. One year with Tony and then you will never have to see him again.” Skyler presses a kiss into his tangle of curls. “Do you need any cash?”
Peter shook his head, “I shouldn’t take any. I haven’t found a safe place to hide it yet.”
Skyler’s phone buzzes. She checks it then swears, “You gotta go, my dad is on his way home.”
Peter leaps up, Sky quickly following. “Did you leave anything?” She asks, looking around the room for any shred of evidence that Peter had been here.
“No, I didn’t bring anything other than the clothes on my back. We’re good.”
Skyler and Peter hurry out to the front door. Tony and Simon both turn, sitting on the front steps. “Everything ok?” Tony asks tentatively.
“We gotta go, Sky’s dad is on his way. He‘ll flip if he sees me here.” Peter explains, craning his neck to watch for the battered Toyota truck.
“Maybe I should talk with him, explain-“ Tony started.
“That’s an absolutely horrible idea Tony,” Sky said, “Please leave right now.” She turned away from Tony and quickly kissed Peter, “I love you. I’ll try to swing by diner after school tomorrow.”
“Love you too.” He whispered, so softly that if Sky hadn’t been expecting it, she probably would have missed it entirely.
Peter jumps down from the steps and rushes to Simon’s car, “Let’s go!” He calls. Both men follow and they all pile into the car.
“Last chance Peter,” Simon turns from the drivers seat to face Peter, “is there anything you need to tell me about Skyler’s dad before we leave? I know you want her to be safe, so if she isn’t going to be when her dad comes home, then you need to let me know so we can protect her.”
Peter’s jaw set, “She’s safer there than she would be anywhere you’d send her.”
“That’s not an answer Peter.”
“She’ll be fine. And if we get out of here before her dad shows up, I will be too.”
Simon turned back around and started to drive. He knew something was up with Skyler’s dad, but he couldn’t prove it. And unfortunately, Peter was probably right, whatever was going on at home was most likely better treatment than a girl as pretty as Skyler would get from the foster system.
When they pull up to the tower, Tony thanked Simon and stepped out of the car. Peter starts to get out but Simon says, “Pete, hold up.”
Peter, half in the car and half out pauses, “What?
“Don’t go disappearing like that agin. If you are leaving, tell someone, or write a note ok? If something like this happens and the police need to get involved, things could get worse. You value your freedom, I get that, but if you pull stupid stunts like this than your putting whatever amount of freedom you have now at risk. Understood?”
Peter rolls his eyes and salutes, “Aye aye captain.”
“Good man, now, get inside and try not to cause too much trouble.”
Peter smirked, “Now that is something I can’t promise.”
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Tony is waiting by the front door for Peter but he breezes past him without a second glance. The elevator ride up to the penthouse is thick with tension but neither speak. The doors open and Tony realizes that he’s made yet another mistake. He should have told Pepper they were on their way back so she could have Harley and Morgan leave the living room. After their fight, Tony wanted to let Peter have some space to clear his head. Forcing introductions on him didn’t seem like a good idea. But it was too late, the ding of the elevator had caught the attention of his kids. Morgan came racing towards them the moment they set foot into the living room.
“Daddy!” She yelled as she barreled into his legs. Harley stayed put on the sofa, but paused his video game and took off his headphones. Morgan looks up at Peter.
“Are you one of Harley’s friends?” She asks.
“Oh, no. Morgan this is-“ Tony stammers out, but then Peter cuts in.
Crouching down so he’s eye level with Morgan, he extends his hand, “I’m Peter.”
Morgan, delighted to be spoken to like she’s seen so many people introduce themselves to her parents, laughs as she shakes his hand. “Hi Peter, I’m Morgan Stark.”
Tony’ heart warms and he catches Pepper’s eye from across the room. She’s smiling at the interaction, a hand pressed to her cheek. What were they so worried about? Morgan is impossible not to love. Maybe all Peter needed was to get how he was feeling off of his chest and now they are going to be able to move on as a family.
“How old are you Morgan?” Peter asked.
“I’m five!’ Morgan spreads out all five fingers on her right hand to prove her point.
“Five wow! You know, I was almost your age when your dad decided he did want to be a dad anymore and made me go live with terrible, terrible people. But it’s nice that he’s let you stay around for at least a little bit longer!” Peter says in mock enthusiasm.
The blood drains from Tony’s face. So much for moving on as a family. “Peter!” He says in shock.
Peter stands and pushes his way past Tony towards the room they set up for him last night. Behind him he could hear Morgan ask her dad what he was talking about. “You don’t want to be a dad?” Peter could hear the tremble in her voice as he turned down the hall. He knew what he did wasn’t fair to Morgan, but life wasn’t fair and the sooner Morgan learned that she couldn’t trust anyone, the better. And if it made Tony hate Peter even more, well, than everything was going according to plan. But if that was all true, why did he feel a twinge of guilt pulling at his heart?
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Surprisingly, it was Pepper that went to check on Peter ten minutes later, once Tony had calmed Morgan down and she had convinced Harley to not hold this against Peter.
“Can we talk?” Pepper said gently from the doorway. Peter looked up from where he was seated on the floor, back against the courier of his room.
“It’s your house, you are gonna do what you want no matter what I say.”
Pepper shook her head, “No, if you need some space, then I’ll give you that. Say the word and I’ll leave. But I’d rather we chat, I’ll leave the room whenever you’d like me too.”
Peter wrapped his arms around himself and Pepper was taken aback by the overwhelming urge she felt to hug him. “Fine.”
Pepper sat down on the floor across from him. “That’s not how we were planning on introducing you to Morgan.” She said mildly, without judgement.
Peter swallowed. “Is she ok?”
“Yes. A little confused, but Tony is explaining what he can to her. She’s a kid, she’ll forget by dinner. What actually matters is why you said that.”
“I didn’t do it to hurt her.”
“You wanted to hurt Tony.” It wasn’t a question.
“I’d didn’t do anything but tell the truth.” Peter said defensively.
“I know.”
“How could you have a kid with him after what he did?” Peter sharply changed the subject.
Pepper leaned back on her hands, “Because people are not the worst decision they’ve ever made. What Tony did to you was wrong. There’s no doubt about that. But he’s proved that he’s changed. He’s been a great father to Harley and Morgan. And he wants to be one for you. You just need to give him the chance.”
“I don’t owe him anything.” Peter suddenly stood up. “I want you to leave.”
Pepper stood, “ok, I will. But can I bring you something to eat? You didn’t eat last night when you came in, and you haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Pepper looked at Peter’s thin frame and wondered how many meals he’s skipped before. “Please, anything you’d like. If I don’t have the ingredients to make it, we can order out.”
“NO! Leave! You said you’d go!” Peter shouted.
“Ok, ok, I’m leaving. Let me know if you change your mind.” Pepper left, shutting the door behind her.
Peter dropped to his knees the moment she was gone. Truth be told, he was hungry. But that wasn’t anything new. Peter had been hungry for as long as he could remember. The ache in his stomach was as familiar as the pounding of his heartbeat. But he wasn’t going to take anything from the Starks. The moment he accepted their help was the moment they had power over him. And Peter refused to let anyone else take any more power away from him.