Tony was pretty much used to how much Peter acts like his namesake, but that still didn’t help the fact that he was still surprised every time he does.
(It does not help that Peter Stark reminds everyone of Peter Parker so much that they tend to be clingy when it comes to him, and nervous every time he so much as steps one inch out of their field of vision.)
Now definitely was no exception.
Peter had woken up with a headache one Saturday morning. He got up, ate breakfast at the same pace as a slug before promptly shutting himself back up in his room. No explanation given, not that anyone was surprised as he mostly liked to keep his problems to himself. (Another similarity to Peter Parker that caused everyone to worry.)
It’s later at 2pm when Tony goes to check on him after saying bye to Pepper who was going to be at a business meeting for a week.
He shouldn’t have been surprised; he should expect it by now.
(But he was, and he wasn’t.)
Peter was curled up on his bed, wearing Tony’s MIT sweater that everyone seemed to love so much it would often go missing, his Iron Man plushy in his arms and black sound-canceling headphones on with a Star Wars blanket pulled up to his chin. A can of Dr. Pepper sat on his nightstand next to a bottle of open Ibuprofen and his phone that was flipped upside down showing off his black and red Spiderman emblem sticker.
The scene was so familiar and as soon as he opened the door he was flashed back to a time where it was a 15-year-old boy instead of a 10-year-old one, causing his breath to catch and eyes to burn with tears.
Tony smiled, seeing that his son was sleeping before quickly making his escape to his bedroom, where he promptly fell onto the floor against his door.
His hand muffled the sounds of his sobs as they racked off the walls and not for the first time, he wishes that he was just a slight bit faster, and Peter Parker would still be there. Would still be with his aunt and be able to see his little baby cousin who was born 2 years ago, hang out with Happy not as a driver but as his uncle.
He wakes up a few hours later to his now 16-year-old daughter knocking on the door wondering if they were getting takeout for dinner or he was cooking.
He cleans his face and makes himself look like he didn’t just fall asleep from emotional exhaustion before going out and getting started on dinner.
Peter is feeling better than ever and back to his snarky self, arguing with Morgan over who’s turn it is to choose a dinner movie.
Tony smiles again and remembers that wishing he was the one who was dead instead of Peter, was only going to make him sad, and he should be thankful he got the chance to see his babies grow up.
And if he muffles a laugh when the 5-year-old twins get to pick the movie after using their puppy dog eyes against their two older siblings, well at least he remembers that he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the teenage boy and he is all the more thankful for the opportunity.
(Even if later, he will curse himself when something like that will happen again)