So Tony was on his way to Boston to pick up Peter from MIT, which had been a last minute thing, that Peter wasn’t really aware of. It all happened after Peter’s flight last week was cancelled and Peter, not having insurance, had to heartbreakingly call may and tell her that he wasn’t able to call. If Tony had known, he’d of course buy Peter a new ticket, but both May and Peter had failed to tell him that Peter was about to spend Christmas on an empty campus, without his friends. Ned had left to visit his mom’s family and MJ had gone back home to New York to see her family during the holidays. Peter had lied to her and told her, that his flight had been rescheduled for another day, because he knew she’d stay behind for him if she knew the truth.
Tony had only found out about Peter’s soon too be lonely Christmas, because he had called May asking to speak with the kid, as he was not picking up his phone. Tony had meant no harm. He was just calling to wish the Parkers a merry Christmas, but when May told him that Peter wasn’t around at the moment, he knew something was up. Tony argued, asking why Peter would not be home, it was Christmas after all, to which May answered that Peter was out fighting crime. Tony knew that was a straight up lie, as he hadn’t been notified of Peter’s suit being activated, but he acted as though he didn’t know and said he’d call back later. Then he tracked Peter’s phone, finding that the kid was actually still in Boston. And that’s when he decided to go get the kid himself. On the way, he’d called May and made her fess up.
MIT stood in it’s usual glory with the dome-like building towering over the rest of the campus. By then, Tony called Peter again. The phone rang for a while, before a groggy voice hummed into the microphone.
“You sound like you’re in lack of Christmas spirit,” Tony snorted. “Why don’t you come out in front of the main building?”
“Mr. Stark?” Peter asked, suddenly sounding a bit more awake. “What do you mean? Why-“
“Just do it, kid.”
Then Tony had hung up and stepped outside, so Peter would be able to see his face. The confusion written all over Peter’s face was priceless, and the smile when Tony spread out his arms invitingly was even better. Peter had picked up in speed during the last 30 feet and jumped into Tony’s arms.
“Mr. Stark!” Peter laughed in surprise. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home with Pepper and Morgan and the team?”
“Shouldn’t you be home with May?”
“My flight got cancelled.” Peter said, not sounding so sad about it anymore. “Mr. Stark! What the hell?!”
Tony laughed.
“Alright, now get into the car. We can talk on the way.”
Peter didn’t shut up for the rest of the ride. He told Tony about how he’d lied to MJ and Ned and how disappointed he’d been when the flight got cancelled and he just rambled on and on, and Tony didn’t say a word about him already having heard the story once.
“Hey, how’d you even know that I was still in Boston?” Peter asked turning his head to look at Tony
“May’s a terrible liar. Runs in the family, I guess,” Tony smirked. “As soon as I figured out you weren’t home, I tracked your phone.”
“And you’re the one talking about lack of privacy,” Peter huffed.
“Try living with a seven year old and you’d understand.”
Peter laughed and changed the music to The Best of Nickelback, which both he and Tony screamed along to.
Usually a ride between MIT and May’s apartment would be 3,5 hours long, but Tony managed to almost cut 40 minutes off. Tony honked, not bothering to walk up the seven flights of stairs. Peter stepped out of the car and looked up when May’s face became visible in the window. He smiled at May’s surprised expression and he hugged her when she came running down the stairs.
“Tony came and picked me up,” Peter mumbled into her shoulder.
“I knew he was up to something,” She chuckled.
“Come on… Steve’s cooking. Don’t wanna be late for that.” Tony opened the door for May. She thanked him and got into the car. Peter got in the back seat.
As soon as the Parkers stepped into the common room of the compound, they were met with the amazing smell of Steve’s greatly cooked turkey. May put an arm around Peter and kissed his head.
“I’m glad you’re home,” She said.
“Me too,” He smiled.
They went saying hi to everyone. Pepper, Morgan, Happy and Rhodey were decorating Christmas cookies around a circular table. Clint, Scott and Nat were on the couch chatting and sipping wine. Steve, Bruce and Vision had taken over the kitchen. Thor was watching from a safe distance, sipping a beer. Wanda, Vis and Sam had a conversation about some new criminals in town, and Bucky had taken a seat by the Christmas tree to admire the decorations.
“Peter!” Called Morgan and ran to him hugging him for dear life.
“Hi!” He laughed.
After showing enough interest in her cookies, he was able to distract her with some crayons and he went to take a seat next to Bucky.
“Long time since I’ve last spent Christmas with so many people,” He said. “It used to just be me and May.”
“Yeah…” Bucky said. “I don’t have the biggest record either. Steve tried a few years ago, but I didn’t want to risk anything.”
“Every day is progress.” Peter said and Bucky smiled warmly.
“It is.”
Peter then went to the kitchen, smiling as Steve wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
“It’s good to see you, Peter.”
“You too Captain.” Peter said. “Hey, where’s strange?”
“He went through a portal to get some stuff,” Banner said.
“Oh.”
Peter then took a seat on another couch beside May and Tony. They talked a bit about Peter’s college, Spiderman, jobs and stuff like that. It was a good time. Peter actually wasn’t sure if he’d ever felt so happy before. It almost made him want to cry.
It was almost dinner time when Stephen opened a portal in the middle of the room.
“Just in time.” Tony said. “Let’s eat.”
And so they did. Peter felt so safe in this environment that he didn’t bother to watch what he was eating. He just ate as much as he wanted and as much as he could. And he drank whatever was served, no matter if it was alcoholic or not. He noticed that he was getting a bit whoozy, but he didn’t think much of it and kept going through the rest of the night even after May told him she’d go back home but come again the next day.
He didn’t think too much of what he’d eaten and drunk before he found himself throwing up in the bathroom only 15 minutes after he had gone to bed.
“Friday?” He asked softly.
“Yes, Peter?”
“Please get Tony.
“Right away.”
Peter barely noticed the door opening before Tony sat behind him and felt his forehead. Then the man chuckled a bit.
“You’re gonna be okay. You just had a bit too much.”
“It hurts…”
“Alcohol poisoning will do that to you.” Tony went to get Peter a glass of water, some coke and some chips. Peter only took a few before being nauseous again.
“I can’t… They make me dizzy…” He said and pushed Tony’s hand away.
“You’ll be dizzy either way. If you get something in your system it’ll at least be faster.”
Tony had to coax Peter through the next three hours. Peter started crying halfway through after both being dizzy and tired, but not being able to sleep. Tony had been sitting behind him the entire time, resting his head on Peter’s shoulder, shushing him and kissing his temple when it got bad. At 6 AM Peter was able to get up and go to bed again. Tony let him have a bucket by the bed, just in case. When Peter had woken at 3 PM, the gifts had already been given because Morgan was impatient, but Tony had brought Peter’s to his room.
“I thought May was coming?” He asked tiredly.
“She was, but I called her and told her not to. You were asleep so I said I’d look after you and drive you home when you feel better.”
Peter nodded a bit and closed his eyes.
“Thank you Mr. Stark.”
“No problem. Do you regret it?”
Peter shook his head.
“No, I had a good time.”