Peter’s phone was blowing up and he chose to ignore it. He was currently doing his physics homework and it was probably just Ned spamming him about some new Lego set. So the teen chose to do the responsible thing and try to ignore his phone to finish his homework. The buzzing eventually stopped, which was a relief. But that only lasted for a few minutes before constantly buzzing yet again, and Peter gave in and checked his phone. He had multiple texts- just not from Ned. They were from Tae.
Robobitch: Dearest Peter. Stephen is being an asshole about my astral projection work. I have decided to run away- would it be awful if I ran away to the Stark’s ranch?
Robobitch: You seem to be busy. I will ask Tony.
Robobitch: Tony has ‘left me on read’ .I do not know how to react. I will ask Pepper.
Robobitch: Pepper is busy. I will ask Morgan.
Robobitch: FRIDAY has informed me that Morgan does not have a cellular device.
Robobitch: Peter.
Robobitch: Peter.
Robobitch: Peter.
Robobitch: Peter.
Robobitch: Are you at the ranch? Do you have my charger there? I would hate to show up at the ranch and find that my charger is at the Queen’s apartment.
Robobitch: Peter.
Robobitch: Peter.
Robobitch: Peter, I know your phone is on all my messages are sending. Is something the matter? Is your phone on but you not near it?
Peter rolled his eyes. Tae had adopted this habit from Ned and he knew he had to answer at some point. It’s not like he could lie either, he knew Tae was being polite by even asking if he was at the ranch instead of just looking at his location. This was ridiculous and Peter begrudgingly texted back.
Dumb Spider Thing: Yeah I’m at the ranch
Dumb Spider Thing: you didn’t even need to ask- you should know my schedule.
“Yes but you told me it was polite to ask instead.” The teen almost fell out of his chair. Tae had already portaled right into his room at the Stark’s house. “So I asked and now I am here!” They smiled excitedly and closed the portal. As much as Peter liked Tae, they never failed to scare him. He watched the bot scan the room that they had already seen a few times. “You decorated.”
“Well I’m staying here more often, so I thought it would be good not to stare at blank walls.” He got up from his chair and Tae let out a metallic scoff. It sounded like metal was scraping.
“That’s absurd.” Peter was already laughing a little, bracing himself to hear something that was painfully obvious. “The walls weren’t blank. They were painted blue.”
“I can only stare at blue until it gets boring.”
“Incorrect. Blue is a fascinating color.” Peter rolled his eyes again, remembering how pushy Tae was about facts. Before he could say much more, Pepper was calling him to dinner.
Mrs. Stark was almost not surprised when Peter was followed by Tae out of his room. Mainly because she did receive the text from her, but also they had started to show up unannounced more often. “Hi Tae.”
“Good evening Pepper!” They sounded chipper and the metal tinge to their voice made Morgan giggle. “Hello Morgan Stark, age 5!” The five year old just about lost it. She loved how Tae said hello to her the first time they met and had them say it just like that every time they saw eachother, which was becoming more frequent.
Peter went to set the table without Pepper even asking and Tae quickly noticed that Tony was missing. Before they asked, the woman started talking to them. “So what was it this time?” Pepper handed Peter some plates from a cabinet. “Stephen got too bossy with you? I swear if you guys don’t work, whatever it is, I might as well have a third kid.” The woman sighed. “Seriously, Stephen’s probably worried sick about you.” The bot huffed in response. “I know I would be.”
“It’s not like he doesn’t know where I am.” Tae constructed their sentences, to make precise sense. They could only see the back of his head, but they knew Peter rolled his eyes. “I sent him a message right as I left.” The boy looked up to them from setting the table, eyes narrowed.
“And what did it say?” At this point he had two younger siblings.
“Stephen, I am running away to go live with the Starks because you are an asshole. Love Tae.” They retrieved the message with ease. Because thats what it was, easy.
“Shouldn't talk to your father that way, metal brain.” Tony seemed to appear out of thin air, almost catching them off guard. Iron Man was now old. His hair was graying and scars streaked the right side of his face. A red and gold, metallic arm replaced a fleshy one. Tae liked his prosthetic, they thought it fit him.
The bot's face scrunched up as much as it could. “He is not my father.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.” Tae sat down at the table across from Morgan. They were set on making a point. “Tony, you’re closer to my father. I’m made of Starktech which is technically yours.”
“But I dont parent you, Stephen does that.” Tony was already tired and had his own teenager to verbally spare with. He didn't need another. “Kid- do you even eat?”
“I can if I want-”
“Tae you need to listen to your uncle.” Pepper set down dinner and everyone started serving themselves. Peter helped Morgan and Tae served themselves trying to be polite. Pepper had taken the habit of talking to Tae as if they were her nibling and using family language around them. Tae would never ever admit that they liked it, because they loved it. “He’s right. After dinner I’m calling your father.” Morgan giggled at the funny robot sounds Tae made while trying to explain themselves.
“Stephen is not my father! Our relationship isn’t even close to it.”
“Then please.” Tony gave them a look. “Enlighten us.” Tae’s eyes narrowed at the Starks- and especially at Peter. He just signaled them to start speaking.
“Our relationship is made up of a series of mental contracts where he allows me to live in his quarters while teaching me the rules of society and caring for my well being, and I in return, don’t give him too much grievance.” There was silence, well as silent as it could get. Morgan was still trying to eat, not really caring what this whole conversation was about. All she knew was that it was kinda funny. Peter snorted.
“Dude you just described parenting.”
“I. Did. Not!”
“Nope you totally did.” Tony laughed and Pepper tried to keep her’s in. Tae was getting increasingly frustrated with the stupid Stark family. Once the laughter died down, Tony continued. “If Stephen’s not your father, why am I your uncle.” The bot scoffed at the easily answered question.
“Peter has called me his cousin while interacting with his peers on multiple occasions. If he is my cousin then you, as his father, are my uncle.” He had opened up the gate to hell, there was no way Tae would stop talking now. “Which would make sense, you and Stephen share key personality and facial features. It’s not difficult to mistake you as brothers.”
Morgan found this absolutely fascinating. If she didn’t care about the conversation before, she sure as hell did now. “Does that mean I’m also your cousin?” Tae looked the little girl dead in the eyes.
“Yes of course.”
“What about Uncle Rhodey?” The five year old was now set on having the world record of biggest and best family. Tae had to think about this one. “Rhodey doesn’t share any specific genes with anyone so I’m not completely sure- but there is no doubt he is related to you.” Another beat of silence. Tae scoffed, what silly humans. “He spends too much time here to not be considered family. Actually maybe he spends too much time.”
“You know you spend more time here than him right?” Peter stifled a laugh while the bot stuttered out a badly constructed reply. The Starks erupted into laughter yet again. Tae tried not to laugh with them, for they were now mad at them, and still mad at Stephen.
~
Pepper wasn’t joking when she said she would call Stephen. He knew Tae was at the Starks and would come home when they pleased. Dr. Strange never saw himself as a parent. He rarely worked with children at the hospital. They were so sensitive, small, and annoying. And of course now he was stuck with one. Tae, however, wasnt a child. They knew how to take care of themself, they didnt need a babysitter. All of this didnt stop him from being disappointed when Tae portaled themself back to the sanctum. He tried not to show it. “How was dinner?”
“ ‘Ts fine.” they responded quietly. Recently they had picked up a habit of shortening their words from Peter, it almost felt out of character. “Pepper sent me home with leftovers.” They walked to the kitchen to put them away.
There was little noise exchanged between them. Stephen was sitting at the chair near the massive window, thumbing through a book, not really paying attention to the words on the page. He really didn’t know what to think. Did he need an apology from the kid? He wasn’t hurt, he knew how frustrated they got when it came to astral projection. Plus he knew where they were, he didn’t really have to do anything. But something inside him nagged at him to at least talk about how the words “running away” should be used and not in such a trivial situation.
Tae eventually walked, not portaled, up to where the main window of the sanctum was. There was an empty chair adjacent to Stephen’s but they didn’t sit down, just stood beside him. What happened, he never in a million years could predict. Tae leaned their body onto Stephen’s. It was awkward. Like a side hug with no arms and the chair got in the way so it was more of a heavy shoulder touch. “It was wrong of me to leave. I’m sorry.”
“Ah- Thank you. I appreciate the apology.” Stephen tried not to sound stunned.
“You are the only father I can remember.” Tae was never shaky when they spoke, but there was a long pause before they did. The sentiment probably just made them nervous. They tried to lean into Stephen more. “I should not take you for granted.”
The sorcerer nodded. “Good.” Tae double backs at the word. “We’re going to clean out the artifacts hall tomorrow. You can consider yourself grounded.”
Tae scoffed. “That’s absurd-“
“If you don’t watch it I’ll lock up that weird IPad thing Stark gave you.” Tae started to complain about his new found parenting authority. Stephen had to start accepting that he was a parent, and Tae was his child. That’s how they acted with eachother and obviously how they saw eachother. If Stark could do it- so could he. I mean. How difficult could it be?