Finding family

Tony sighed as he watched the little boy swinging the colourful crayons over his colouring book.

Tony dreaded telling him the truth but he knew sooner or later he'd have to eventually. Until he had figured that out however he had something for the child. 

Mr Stark, Mr Hogan is back. 

"Thanks, Jarvis, bring them up." He noticed as the boy perked up, curious. Tony smirked at him. 

Soon the elevator pinged open and Happy strode out with Peter in tow.

"Ahh, my new intern. He said with a smile that couldn't quite reach his eyes.

"Mr Stark, it's me, Peter. I'm so glad you called me back. What I can I do? Is there a villain? Oh, is it an alien?" Peter asked excitedly but halted abruptly when Tony was holding his hand up.

"Peter, I have a very important task for you." The teen nodded eagerly.

"This is Merlin." He looked behind him to the wide eyed child. "You're good with kids, aren't you?" 

"Um, actually, I don't thi-"

"Great. I'll be back in an hour. You two have some fun." He walked over to and ruffled his hair before he walked out of the room with a wink.

Happy got out too but Peter figured he would still be watching them. 

Peter was left standing there awkwardly and he and Merlin looked at each other with wide eyes, unsure how to further proceed. 

"Are you an avenger?" Merlin asked and walked over to him carefully watching his every move.

"Umm, no? Why do you think that? Wait, do I look like an avenger?" Peter asked with a pleased smile. "Umm, I mean I'm not an avenger." 

"You are spiderman." 

"No?"

"You're a terrible liar." Merlin informed him and got back to his colouring. 

"I always wanted a pet spider. But dad never allowed it. I don't think he'd allow a cat either." 

"Why would someone want a pet spider?" Peter asked and sat down across the little boy.

"They're cute." He stated and that was that.

"You're a weird little kid. What are you colouring?" He peeked over the table to see what the kid was doing.

"It's Ironman." Merlin explained and presented his painting with a smile.

"Oh, is Ironman your favourite hero?" Secretly he hoped the kid would say spiderman.

"No, my favourite hero is my dad."

"Oh, is he an avenger?"

"Nope, my dad's a doctor." 

"Oh, that's cool. Doctors are great. Saving a lot of life's and stuff." Merlin chuckled.

"Do you always talk so much?" Peter decided not to answer that.

"So….do you want to do something. Other than drawing, that is."

"I am hungry. Come on." With his picture in his hand Merlin made his way to the kitchen not bothering to check if Peter was following him.

"Can you make pancakes?" Merlin asked while Peter looked around. He couldn't quite believe he was standing in Tony Stark's kitchen.

"Yeah, of course. I make the best pancakes." 

"Great." Merlin smiled brightly and then handed him his picture.

"Pin this on the fridge." He demanded and Peter wasn't quite sure why he was doing it.

"Higher." Peter moved the picture until it was about Tony's height.

"Perfect, now what about those pancakes?" Merlin asked as he made himself comfortable on one of the higher chairs around the kitchen island.

Peter shuffled around the kitchen in search of his needed ingredients. 

"Do you know Tony well?" 

"Only for a few months actually. And today was the first time he called me back." Merlin chuckled. "Why do you ask?" 

"I just thought you could help me on a mission. But I don't think you can." 

"Hey, I am good with missions. I could help you. What exactly is the mission?" He asked as he mixed everything in a bowl, staining himself with flour.

"I can't tell you, it's a secret mission." Merlin explained matter of factly. 

"You could tell me if you'd decide to use my help." Peter offered. Merlin looked at him closely, debating whether he could trust this teen.

"Maybe I'll tell you after I tasted the pancakes." 

"Maybe I won't give you one if you don't tell me." 

"That's blackmail. And if you'd do that I'd tell Tony you've been a very bad babysitter."

Peter pointed the pan at him he had just retrieved from the cupboard. 

"You, Merlin, are an evil mastermind." Merlin just shrugged.

As he placed the pan on the stove and waited for it to get warm he turned to Merlin again.

"So how do you know Tony?"

"He's my dad's best friend."

"And how did you know I was me. I mean spiderman?"

"Tony likes to show me what he's been working on. Your suit was among that. And a photo of you."

"And Where's your dad?"

"Probably working. He wanted to pick me up but Tony did, so there's probably been an emergency at the hospital." He explained and Peter didn't miss the bit of sadness in his voice.

"You can be very proud of him."

"I am. He's the best ...neurosurgeon? in the world. He won a prize yesterday." Merlin told him with pride.

"Wow, that's so cool." Peter said and poured some batter in the pan.

"Do you think Tony will be back in an hour?"

"Probably sooner. He doesn't like it when I'm alone long. But he must trust you if he allowed you to watch me." Pride surged through Peter's body at that comment and he might puffed his chest out a bit.

"Well, I helped him a few months back. Nothing big."

"Can you do anything a spider can or is it just your suit." Merlin asked and watched with eager eyes as Peter put the first pancake on a plate and slid it over to him.

"Mostly? I mean I'm still figuring it all out and the suit is great to help me but yeah. I think I do. Well obviously I can't do everything but I can climb walls so that's very cool." He smiled to himself when he noticed he had impressed the little boy.

As Peter made the last pancakes he told Merlin some of the more interesting things he had done since acquiring his powers and before they noticed the hour was over and Tony came back, joining them in the kitchen.

"I see you had fun. I have to admit I thought you'd burn something." They both looked at him offended.

He tossed something in Peter's hands and Peter thanked his spider senses that he caught it. It wouldn't do to embarrass himself in front of his new fan.

He opened the package and his widened when he saw what was inside.

"Mr Stark," 

"Don't make it a big deal." He said dismissively and shrieked in surprise when the teen hugged him.

"Thank you." Tony awkwardly clapped his shoulders and then extracted himself from the kid.

"It's only Web shooters. I have plenty of them around. Now go, your aunt is probably waiting." 

"Right, yeah, thank you. Bye, Merlin." He waved them goodbye and was greeted by Happy to escort him back home.

"Have you made a new friend?" Tony asked and washed his hands before picking pancake.

"We'll see." Merlin said and looked after Happy and Peter and Tony laughed.

"So you don't mind him watching you in the future?" Merlin wouldn't mind but he didn't like how that sounded. Something was wrong.

"Why?" Merlin asked in a serious tone.

Tony walked around the table and kneeled in front of him with sad eyes. Something is definitely wrong.

"When your dad drove to the gala yesterday, there was an accident. He's okay but he's in the hospital."

"No." Merlin denied immediately and his eyes began to sting with tears. Tony took him gently in his arms.

"He's okay and alive, I promise but he needs to be in the hospital for a bit so he can properly heal. That's why you have to stay with me for a while. Until he gets better. It won't be long I promise." Merlin swung his little arms around Tony's neck and cried against his chest.

"Can I see him?" Merlin asked through his tears.

"We'll visit him, but not today. It's already late. But maybe we can call him. Would that be okay?" Merlin nodded and simultaneously rubbed his nose clean against Tony's shirt.

Tony picked him up and carried him to his bed. He had the feeling Merlin wouldn't tonsleep alone tonight.

He tucked them in with Merlin nestled in the crook of his arm and dialed Stephen's number. It didn't take long to be picked up.

"Tony?" Merlin heard his dad say in a rough voice.

"Yeah, it's me and Merlin."

"Dad? Are you okay?"

"Yes, little one, I'm fine."

"Are you hurt?" 

"No. They gave me something against the pain but I can't move yet."

"When can you come home?" 

"Soon. I'll be home soon, don't worry about it." Merlin sniffed and nodded.

"Okay, dad, you have to sleep and heal so you can come home faster." 

"I will. Can't do anything else." Stephen joked but Merlin was still too sad to smile.

"We'll visit you." Merlin promised. "And we'll bring you pancakes."

"That'd be nice. I don't like the food here."

"I know. I love you, dad. You'll get better soon. I'll call tomorrow morning."

"I love you, too. And don't worry. I'll be fine. Only a few bruises. They'll heal fast. But until then uncle Tony will look after you, is that okay?"

"Yeah. I'll see you soon."

"Good night you two."

"Good night dad. Love you."

"Love you, too." 

Tony ended the call and tightly wrapped the blanket around Merlin. He gave him a tissue to clean his nose and then looked for another blanket for himself.

Tony gave him a goodnight kiss and they snuggled against each other and eventually fell asleep.