Unspoken Words

"Tony!" Pepper quips, hugging him tightly. 

"Tony..." Peter mumbled, letting his head roll into Tony's chest. "Can walk myself." He pushes the man away only to fall back into his mentors arms. 

Tony chuckled and grabs his arms. "I'm sure you can, kid." 

Peter nods and ignores how Tony is carrying him despite his earlier protests. He snuggles right into the man and now Tony has to ignore the warmth seizing his heart. The boy is humming and fiddling with his shirt. 

Once he has Peter situated on the couch, the kid uses the last of his energy to crawl next to Tony, resting his head in his lap. Tony smiles and lets his hands run through the boys messy curls. 

"I'm not mad at you, kiddo." Tony whispers, as to not disturb Peter. 

The teenager hums and pats Tony's chest. "Mmmm'kay." 

"I heard about Peter." 

Tony drops his arms and takes a step back, not caring about the sad look she's giving him. 

Peter Parker deserved everything, he is everything. He gave everyone a second chance, he would die for a criminal. Peter died for him, and Tony almost hated him for it. Every time Tony tried to think about Peter in disgust he found a lump in his throat and a shot glass between his fingers. Peter didn't deserve Tony's hate and he felt bad for even thinking about his kid in a negative way. Peter would haunt him forever and Tony wouldn't have it any other way.

"At least you're safe. We couldn't do it without you."

We. His biological child. His and Pepper's child. The one he didn't tell Peter about, but the kid already knew. Peter already had baby names for God's sake. Tony made a silent promise to talk Pepper into one of the names on this list. 

Tony's hands trembled as he stared at Pepper, not knowing what to say. She brought him into another hug and shushed him. 

Peter set a hand on Tony's shoulder, making him jump. He looked back at the kid's wide eyes and softened at the visible tear tracks and quivering lip. His hair was sweaty and his face was pale. He had on a big sweatshirt that would swallow him while given the chance and white basketball shorts. 

"What's wrong, kiddie?" Tony never called Peter that, but he knows it'll help. It'll break him down just enough for Tony to swoop in and fix him. 

 Peter took a shaky breath. "I k-know it's s-stupid. I sh-shouldn't h-have even bothered." He balled his fists and looked at the ground . 

Tony cupped the kid's cheeks gently and rubbed his chubby cheeks. "It's not stupid if it upsets you, Pete." 

Peter's demeanor breaks and he pushes himself into Tony's arms. The arms he carved himself a place in, the ones that would hold him no matter what. 

"I miss May." He sobs, pressing into Tony's chest. 

 "Peter would forgive you." Pepper says gently. 

Of course he would is what he wants to say, but he doesn't want to snap at her. He doesn't have the energy. 

Tony closes his eyes and tries to forget how Peter died in the place he felt safest- in Tony's arms. 

"I just don't understand... were you his dad?" Pepper swerved to his eye level and waited patiently for an answer

"So," Tony said with amusement. He swirled the drink around in his glass and sat across from Peter from the table. "I heard you called me dad." 

Peter's head snapped up so fast Tony would think he got whiplash. His face flushes and he was a stuttering mess. "I... N-No, no no! Happy- uh must have m-misheard me-"

Tony raised his eyebrows. "Who said anything about Happy?" 

Peter groaned and covered his face with his hands. "Can you die from embarrassment?"

Tony chuckled and ruffled Peter's hair, but it was swatted away. Tony watched as Peter's face returned to it's normal color and he shakily combed his hair down. 

"Stop staring at me!" Peter whines. 

Tony can't help the smile that intruding his face. "What? I can't look at my son?" 

Tony took in a sharp breath and ground his teeth painfully. "No." 

Pepper let out a relieved breath but tried to hide it. 

"But he was my son."