Now look at you
Tony tapped his fingers along the beat to the steering wheel, feeling on cloud nine since he was finally getting to see Peter after not seeing him for five days.
It was hard with Peter living his own life but Tony was grateful that he still lived close by so he could see him occasionally. Usually it was everyday or at least every other day but Peter’s been studying for his upcoming exams and so he’s been locked up in his room in his apartment all day.
Tony parked his car outside the gym and got out, walking in through the back door and immediately knowing where to go.
He was a bit surprised when Peter texted him that he was going to the gym today, since Fridays were usually the days Peter came over to have dinner with him alone. But Tony was dying to see his kid so he insisted on going to the gym to see him.
He pushed open the door and saw Peter standing in front of a truck tire, his back to him.
“I didn’t know I walked into the buff competition training room. My bad.”
Peter turned around and smiled when he saw his dad standing there. “Hey, dad.”
“Hey, Pete.” He walked over to hug him but Peter hesitated.
“I’m all sweaty, dad.”
“I don’t care. I want to hug my youngest son. Come here.” Peter wasn’t that sweaty anyways. Tony hugged him tightly, not having to worry about crushing his tiny, fragile body like when he was younger.
Once Tony pulled away, Peter went and grabbed a water bottle, sitting on the bench and taking a sip. “What’s up?”
Tony leaned against the weight rack. “Nothing. The house is pretty quiet these days, nothing much going on.
Peter took another sip then grabbed a towel to wipe his face. “Yeah.” He chuckled. “I’m sure you miss Morgan and I screaming and running around.”
Tony shrugged. “Actually I do. You guys were cute. I mean, she still is, you, not so much.” He joked, making sure Peter understood he was being sarcastic. As Peter got older, it was easier for him to understand sarcasm but he still didn’t know how to decipher sarcasm at times.
Thankfully Peter understood this time. “Ha. Ha.”
“Tell me what’s new with you. I haven’t seen you for like five months.”
“Dad. It’s been five days.” Peter stood up and walked over to the truck tire. Tony shifted his body to face him. “And nothing new. I’ve been studying my ass off. I want to get a 95% on my exam so my 90% average doesn’t drop but I don’t know if I will. Electromagnetism is kicking me in the ass.”
Tony always suggested helping Peter out but he’s just as stubborn as he was when he was a child and won’t listen to Tony. “You know, my offer still stands if you want my help.”
“My exam is Monday. It’s too late for that.”
“It’s Friday. It’s not too late, Pete.”
Peter groaned and squatted down to grab ahold of the tire. “Just drop it, dad. I came here to work out. And if you came here to get on my ass about studying with you, then you can go.”
“Hey. Watch it.”
Peter looked up at him. “Sorry.”
Although he’s now twenty four years old, he still has that same, guilty look on his face that he did when he was a child. God, Tony misses his cuddly and clingy boy. He’d pay anything to go back in time to when Peter was fourteen and spend just one more day with him.
He chuckled, unable to help himself.
Peter looked up at him. “What?”
“You just looked exactly how you did when you were younger just there.”
Peter looked down, slightly embarrassed of his dad bringing up past memories of himself. He knew he was a brat, obviously not at the time, but a few years later, he realized how hard he was on his dad and knew that he was definitely the reason for most of the grey hairs his dad is getting.
He smiled weakly. “Well, let’s just hope I don’t start acting like that again.”
“Don’t say that. I didn’t mind, your cuteness made up for the sleep deprivation.”
Peter chuckled like he didn’t truly believe his father. He bent further down and lifted up the tire, flipping it back over. Tony was impressed but not surprised. Peter started working out about two years ago and uses it as an outlet. It’s good for him.
He’s proud of him and how far he’s come, the bottles have been dropped a long time ago, same with the pacifiers and although the bed wetting took a bit longer to stop, Tony knows Peter isn’t wetting the bed anymore. Well, at least he isn’t from what Peter’s told him. As for the thumb sucking, Tony sees him chew on his thumb during the day sometimes and bite his fingernails but he’s not needing his thumb to fall asleep. Not that Tony knows of.
“Was that cool?”
Tony clapped his hands. “Very cool. You’re getting strong. I think you have your brother beat.”
Peter chuckled. “It was hilarious, I went over to his house the other day and we went down to his basement and you know he has that boxing ring?”
“Yeah.”
“Well he, what was that?”
Tony looked behind him. “What?”
“I don’t know, I just saw some weird car drive by. Anyways. What was I saying? Oh yeah, so we went down to his ring to fight and I flipped him over. He was so upset I’m finally able to beat him in a fight. It was crazy.”
“That sounds crazy. Put your sister in the ring with you guys, I’m sure she’ll kick both your asses.”
Peter laughed. “No. We’d go easy on her.”
“She used to kick your butt when you guys were younger.”
Peter grabbed his water and sat down on the tire. “Yeah cause I was the size of a toothpick and she was meaty. She could lift me up and I was four years older than her!”
Tony belly laughed. That was basically the truth. “Yep. I’ll never forget this one time we went to Hawaii, for your grandparents vowel renewal,” Peter nodded, a knowing look on his face. “and you guys were fighting over something, then she pushes you on the bed and climbs up on then just flips you. Of course you cried. But that was hilarious.”
Peter’s face reddens a bit but he laughs regardless. “I feel like I probably should’ve found it funny too.”
“No, you were probably tired and ready for a nap, she was just annoying you.”
Peter shrugged, not wanting to argue it. “Harley showed me that video a few days ago actually. That’s what he said he’s going to do to me but then I was the one who kicked his ass. Idiot.”
Tony stood up to walk over to Peter and ruffle his sweaty curls. “Look how the tables have turned. Alright, go shower and get dressed so we can go home and eat dinner. Moms cooking and I’m starving. You drive here? I didn’t see your car out front.”
“No. Wade dropped me off. So can I get a ride with you?” He asked, knowing what the answer would be.
“Hmmm nope. You’ll have to walk. See you at home. Kidding. Now show me to the bathroom so I can wash your sweat off my hand.”
“Rude.”
While Peter’s showering, Tony sat on the bench to text Pepper back, letting her know they’d be home in about twenty minutes.
When Peter walked out of the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist, Tony held up a picture Pepper sent him of Aiser. “Look who’s excited to see you.”
“Aww. Aiser. I’m excited to see him too.”
“Are you sleeping over tonight?”
“Uhh, I haven’t decided yet.”
“Then I’ll decide for you. You’re sleeping over. Then tomorrow I’ll cook breakfast for all of us and ask if Harley wants to join us.”
Peter grabbed another towel to scrub his hair dry. “Fine. Now turn around so I can change.”
Tony rolled his eyes but did as he’s told. “You know I’ve seen you naked more times than I can possibly count.”
Peter grabbed his underwear to get that on. “Still. That’s weird now. Okay. You can turn back around now.”
Tony did and looked back at his son. “And I don’t like the idea of you changing out here in the open. You never know who’s watching.”
Peter didn’t even look around. “Dad. Chill. No one’s even here besides you.” He sat on the bench to get on his socks and shorts then his shoes and shirt. “Ready?”
“Yep. Don’t be fooled when we go home and your mom hasn’t even started dinner yet. I think she was hoping to kidnap you for a bit longer.”
Peter grabbed his gym bag, throwing it over his shoulder. “I’m pretty sure mom does that on purpose almost every single time I come over for dinner. Which is basically like every single night.”
Tony chuckled as he held the door open for him and led him to his car. Even after all these years of Peter being out of a car seat and sitting in the front seat, Tony still feels the urge to open up the back door to buckle him in. God, he missed those days.
“So, how are you liking your Audi R8? Fast car, huh?” Tony asked as he reversed out of the parking lot and pulled out onto the road.
Peter grinned. “Oh yeah. It’s sick. Wade took it for a spin the other day and I swear now I know what you felt like in the passenger seat when I was learning how to drive.”
Tony pulled onto the short highway drive to avoid the traffic. “Where did you guys go?”
“We just went up to Ithaca for the day. Played some soccer. Then he tested out my car.” Peter shook his leg up and down to the soft AC/DC music playing in the background. “Do you think mom can make those peanut butter cookies for dessert? They’re so good.”
“If you text her now, I’m sure she will.” Tony knew Pepper was almost as excited to see Peter as he was. Of course no one would be more excited to be with his boy than Tony, but it was still a close second.
Peter pulled out his phone to send the quick text then turned up the music, drifting off into comfortable silence with his dad.
By the time they arrived at home, Peter was immediately out of the car and racing up to the house to see Aiser. Most days, Peter took Aiser to his apartment and had him there for a few days if he didn’t have classes. Aiser was his comfort item these days.
He unlocked the door and dropped his gym bag at the front. “Aiser? Aiser.” He heard the pitter patter of his feet against the hardwood floor and smiled once he saw his dog running up to him, his tail wagging happily. “Hey, buddy. I missed you. Did you miss me, huh?”
“I’d say he missed you.” Tony shut the front door behind him and locked it. “He still sleeps in your room, you know.”
“Peter. Come give me a hug. I swear you just keep growing.” Pepper pulled her son into her arms, squeezing him tightly.
“I definitely stopped growing by now, mom.” Peter kissed her cheek and walked into the kitchen to look for some food but saw Morgan sitting on the couch so he smiled and walked over to it, covering his hand over her eyes. “Guess who.”
“Some stinky boy is my guess.” Morgan pried his hands off and turned to look at him. “Ew. Your hair is even nastier than when I saw it last.” She teased.
Peter didn’t get annoyed by that comment like he knew he would have a few years ago. He was able to understand now that it was just banter. “You’re supposed to say your favourite brother. Favourite person in the world, something along those lines.”
Morgan laughed and got up to follow him into the kitchen. “So are you staying for the night?”
“Yeah. Not like it’s my choice. Dad is basically forcing me to stay.”
Tony walked up behind Peter and poked him in the side, grinning when Peter flinched away. Tony knew all his ticklish spots. “Whatever I gotta do to get you to stay. We can watch a movie together.”
Peter liked the sounds of that. Plus he’d admit that he did miss his family, especially his dad. It wasn’t common that he went five days without seeing him. That was probably the longest since… well, since getting kidnapped.
But he was over that now. As over it as he’d ever be.
It was so long ago now that it sometimes just felt like a weird dream and not actually reality.
“Sure but I wanna pick. There’s this movie I heard of, I don’t remember what it’s called but I’ll look it up later.” Peter grabbed a pack of gummies from the cupboard and jumped up on it to sit there.
“Don’t let your mom see you snacking before dinner.” Tony gestured to the Welches in his hand.
That didn’t stop Peter. “You aren’t gonna tell, are you?” He asked, a sparkle in his eyes. Tony loved him so much. Getting to watch him grow up and turn into this beautiful little man sitting in front of him was the best part of his life. He smiled back at him.
“I won’t tell.”
.
.
.
Even though Harley was staying at home with his wife tonight and not making an appearance, Tony was still grateful to spend tonight with Peter.
He made sure to get a spot next to his son on the couch and everyone seemed to know he would be taking that spot since that was always his spot for movie nights, wherever Peter was seated.
Tony looped an arm around him and Peter leaned into him as usual then took the popcorn off his lap. “Did you add extra butter?”
“Just for you.”
Peter shoved a handful in his mouth. “Thanks.”
It was so nice to have his boy back in his arms again. Of course it would never be like it was, Tony would never have to deal with sleepless nights again, Peter screaming and crying for bottles and soothers or having to change his diapers, those moments were all memories now.
But that was just a phase of life, like everything was.
The good times and the bad times were all temporary. Of course, some phases lasting longer than others.
And now, Tony couldn’t wait to experience this new phase in Peter’s life. Of course not having him living at home under the same roof anymore was quite difficult and although Tony still found that he needed Peter close by to sleep, he was getting more sleep now at not having been woken up every two hours per night.
Tony looked over at him, unable to stop his heart from bursting and thinking how lucky he was to be able to have this most perfect boy in his life to call his own.