Toddler!Peter who will only fall asleep at night if he's near Tony, crying every time they try to close his bedroom door.
Eventually they realize it's because he's afraid of the dark and he likes the light of Tony's arc reactor. He often falls asleep with his head on Tony's shoulder and his tiny fingers running up and down the glow, hand too small to cover it all.
Pepper offers to get him a night light but Tony insists he'll make him one, a model arc reactor of his own. If the project gets postponed a few weeks, well, nobody complains. And if Peter learns to take out the batteries and crawl back into his parents' bed at night, well, Tony always knew his kid was as smart as he was cuddlesome.
"It's for you," he points awkwardly at the plain blue envelope, held closed with a Darth Vader sticker.
"It's not my birthday kid." He snaps the protective face shield back down as he picks up his soldering iron, sparks flying as he gets back to work.
"I know that I, uh. It's from, it's for. It's yours. I gotta go, see you later Mr. Stark!" Peter hikes his backpack up tighter as he skips out of the lab.
Tony grunts in acknowledgement without looking up, eyes focused on the searing metal in front of him.
* * *
"Tony? I thought you were gonna have dinner with me after Peter left," Pepper saunters down into the workspace in a flattering pair of jeans and baby blue blouse.
"I was. I am. He left like five minutes ago," Tony waves at her without taking his eyes from the computer he's typing on.
"Happy drove him home two hours ago. Come, have a nice sit down meal with me." Pepper wraps her arms around his shoulders from behind, kissing the top of his head.
"I can have a sit down meal. I'm sitting right now, bring the carbonara down here and it'll be a proper date," Tony replies.
"Yeah, you me and your computer. How romantic. Tony, come upstairs- what's this?"
Tony glances up to see her holding a blue envelope.
"Uh, it's the kids."
Pepper flips it around, "it says To Mr. Stark From Peter on the back."
Tony just shrugs and goes back to typing on his computer.
The delicate glue of the sticker is undone under Pepper's sharp nails as she opens up the envelope and pulls something from inside.
"It's illegal to open someone else's mail y'know," Tony teases.
"Tony this- god you are such an asshole!" Pepper smacks Tony on the back of the head with the envelope.
"Ow! What the- what did I do now! I was just joking about the carbonara thing... mostly."
Tony finally meets Pepper's eyes of scorn. She tosses something in front of him with a huff.
"Tony, he even used a Darth Vader sticker. Do you know how adorably geeky and topical that is? You have got to start paying more attention to the living breathing people in front of you instead of your machines. Dinner is ready, please come upstairs."
Tony watches her leave as the clack of her heels fade away with every step. He's not sure what Darth Vader has to do with missing dinner, but he's quick to get up and start to follow.
He pauses before he makes it out the door, turning to finish the last line of code before he forgets the function. He pushes something off of his keyboard to type and press save.
Tony can't remember the last time he looked up from his work long enough to consume solid food. He's so ready to carb-load with some Italian food, turning away from the computer and blue envelope.
Tony's eyebrows furrow. Hm. Darth Vader sticker.
Tony turns back around and picks up the envelope from beside his keyboard.
This must be what the kid was yapping about earlier. Tony sticks his hand inside and finds a card, pulling it out.
"Father's Day it is," the front says in bold lettering with a picture of Yoda crudely hand-drawn with a sharpie and green highlighter. Tony flips it open, "celebrate you we must" is written in the middle of the page.
Below is a message in smaller writing; "Thank you for everything Mr. Stark, we wouldn't be here without you!" with a blob of sharpie that looks suspiciously like it's scribbled out a small heart, then signed "From Peter, Dum-E and U" each name written in their own unique handwriting.
"Friday, what day is it?"
"It is Sunday June 16th, also celebrated as Father's Day in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the UK."
Hm.
Tony stands there and stares at the card for longer than he'd ever admit before looking up at Dum-E.
"You help with this?" he asks, pointing at the card.
Dum-E chirps happily, twirling his claw around.
"Your hand writing's terrible."
* * *
Peter enters the lab slowly, an unsureness to him that's out of character.
It's Wednesday, his usual day for coming over to Tony's workshop. He hasn't heard anything from Tony since Sunday, not that he usually does. Still, the quietness has unnerved him. He's not sure what he was even expecting from his mentor; silence is probably the nicest response he could hope for after embarrassing himself like that.
"Hi Mr. Stark," he greets once he spots the older man sitting next to a complicated tangle of wires.
"Hey kid, can you go to the computer and run the command I have open for me?"
"Sure thing!" Peter says as he dumps his backpack onto the floor and jogs over.
The two get into an easy rhythm and Peter's practically forgotten why he was nervous in the first place when, "hey grab us some sodas will you," Mr. Stark asks him.
Peter walks up to the fridge in the corner of the room when he notices something new.
In the center of the silver metal lies a single piece of paper, stuck to the refrigerator with a plain magnet seemingly scrapped from some old hardware in the lab.
Tony has his Father's Day card displayed like some dorky parent whose kid got a half-decent report card, showcased on a fridge like a toddler's finger painted masterpiece.
It makes Peter so happy he can't wipe the stupid grin off his face the entire time he's grabbing sodas and delivering one to Tony.
The older hums a thanks without looking away from his project, but as Peter turns away Tony's own face contorts into a pleased smile all of his own.
The two share identical smiles all afternoon, hidden behind soda cans and computer screens.
I commissioned @kelslk-art for a stevetony art piece based off of my fanfic on AO3. She completely captured the tender, sweetness of the scene, and the unconditional love expressed between the two men.
Here Steve and Tony are cuddling after their first time making love. Steve is wearing a pair of Tony’s undies, which is why they’re are a bit small on him XD
Thank you Kelsey for this gorgeous work. I love it so much.
The fanfic can be found here! It is super fluffy and a little smutty! XD so if that’s your style go check it out! http://archiveofourown.org/works/7156343/chapters/16248011
hydra agent trying literally every way of commanding bucky to kill: ASSET! TAKE OUT STARK.
bucky, releasing agent’s lapels: mission accepted, the asset will take out tony stark
hydra agent, relieved: Oh thank god….
bucky, already out the door:
hydra agent, suddenly: OH FUCK NO. ASSET GET BACK HERE!
bucky, later: *sifting through a stack of menus while checking sniper angles, muttering to self* this one has ambience…but this one keeps him safe…both are mission critical…
johnny spreading kisses all over peter’s face. peter kissing johnny’s knuckles. a forehead kiss. johnny sitting on peter’s lap. shutting each other up with a kiss JUST FUCKING KISS!!
I actually wrote a one-shot for once. I know, groundbreaking. I can finally write again YAYYYYYYY <333 🎉🎉🎉
I think you guys will like this @archerinthevents @hurtspideyparker @that-bookpuff @crimsonjaws @twomanyfandomshelp @itzzkaylaaa @luluisoff @smarterthantonystark @erodottir idk who else 😭
Anyways:
This work contains implied/mentioned self-harm. This work is about depression. This work does not resolve any of these things, and Peter doesn't get a hug. Read at your own risk <3
This work came into existence from me listening to mirrors demo by overtonight throwaways, and also because I feel like this a lot lmao. INFLICTING MY PAIN ON OETER PARKER COREEEEE
If you want me to continue this and to have Peter get a hug shout at me ig lmao. It's also on my Ao3, I_am_Peter_Parker, so check it out if you want to download this!
Without further ado, the one-shot. Enjoy!
Peter hasn't been feeling good lately. It's not a physical thing- he would know, whether it was his powers or something else wrong with him. So why does he feel so horrible?
Peter doesn't want to get out of bed. Peter doesn't want to look in the mirror. Peter doesn't want to shower. Peter, for the first time in a very long time, doesn't want to go on patrol or help Tony in the lab.
He doesn't understand. He has amazing friends and family. Spider-Man isn't the reason for this, he loves being Spider-Man. He shouldn't feel like this. Peter hasn't felt depressed since-
…
Since before he got his powers. When he was still helpless and a weak kid whose only weapon was his tongue. And even then, that always just made it worse.
Peter shouldn't feel like this.
He sits up in his bed, rubbing his face with a long breath out. He doesn't want to get up. But he has to. He doesn't want Tony or May to worry, not to mention any of the other various Avengers who could notice-
Tap tap tap.
Speak of the devil. Peter still needs a shower. Peter doesn't want to talk to anyone right now.
"Hello? Earth to Spider-Kid. If you're asleep I'm going to spray you with water." Tony's voice comes through the door. Tony is lying. Tony wouldn't spray Peter with water. Tony would feel bad.
Peter makes a suffered noise in his throat that he's sure Tony can't hear as he pushes his blanket off of him and swings his legs off of the bed, smiling so Tony will hear it in his voice.
"Coming, Mr. Stark!" He's sure he sounds right. He's done this before.
He walks over to the door, yawning- he isn't sure why, he woke up an hour ago, he shouldn't be lethargic- as he opens it and smiles at Tony. Tony gives him a curious look but doesn't question it.
"Hey, kid. I was wondering where you were, Steve's making breakfast. You coming?" Tony says with that lilt in his voice he gets when he's overthinking something. Peter notices.
"Yeah, of course Mr. Stark! I'll be right there, I just need a shower first. Leave some for me!" Peter says cheerfully, like always. But normally he means it. And normally he doesn't have to bite back the fact that he thinks he stinks.
Tony raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment on whatever it is he's thinking. Peter half wishes he would. The other half needs him to ignore it.
"Alright, Underoos, I'll make sure Clint doesn't eat it all. No promises on there being any coffee left." He says with a wink before he turns around to go back to the kitchen, Peter presumes. Peter closes the door and sighs.
Time for a shower.
Peter uneventfully takes off his clothes and throws them in the hamper by his closet before entering the bathroom. He can't help looking in the mirror.
His hair is greasy. His lower eyelids are a bit dark, and his eyes aren't open enough for the usual reflection to be there. He makes a face. He looks horrible.
He lets out a long-suffering breath and checks to make sure the towel is on the bar on the wall before turning on the shower. A bit hot, but nothing scorching. Normally he'd love to shower, but right now he doesn't like being in his skin.
Eugh, he really is depressed, isn't he? What a hero, huh?
He steps into the shower. He hates the water. He hates standing in it. He tilts his head back to let it soak his hair, and it takes a bit because his hair is just slightly curly and has a lot of volume even when it's as short as it is now. He should probably get another haircut.
And like would always happen before, now that he's in the water, and he's used to it again, it feels nice. He hates that he doesn't want to shower. He hates feeling like this.
He pumps a generous amount of shampoo onto his hand to lather his hair. The first wash is always gross. It's more noticeable now that he's overly conscious of the fact that he exists. After a while the first run of soap has all rinsed out. It gave him far too much time to think.
He puts a few more pumps of shampoo onto his hand for the second wash, really getting it in there now that the initial grime is out. It's not so bad. And once again, after a while, the soap washes away, down his back and into the drain. He wonders what it would be like to do that.
He puts more shampoo on his hand- because who needs body wash when shampoo does the same thing?- and scrubs down his neck and shoulders, then his arms. There used to be scars there, but his powers took them away. He wonders how his powers would act if he started doing that again.
He moves onto his chest and torso, then everything else. The time passes both too slowly and too quickly. Time is weird when his mind is acting like this. He steps out of the shower and grabs the towel from the bar on the wall, drying off. Face, then hair, then shoulders, arms, torso, privates, legs, feet. All clean.
He throws the towel in the hamper as he leaves the bathroom before digging through his clean clothes basket for a cool outfit. Even when his mind is like this, he likes to look nice. It makes him feel a little better.
Once he's properly clothed, he clips on his webshooters and heads to the kitchen to eat, remembering to put on a tired but happy face as he heads to the counter to grab his share of the food, and hopefully the coffee. Peter loves coffee.
"Hey, Mr. Stark! Hey Mr. Rogers and Mr. Barton and-"
"We get it, kid. Hi to everyone." Natasha replies warmly with that slight smile she has whenever Peter is doing something endearing, which is often.
Peter smiles at her while he plates his food. He can never tell when he's hungry like this unless he's been hungry for too long, but he doesn't skimp out on food ever when he doesn't have to make it. Even depressed, the teenage hunger and love of food wins.
He pours himself some coffee- thankfully there was enough left for his mug. He adds a little bit of milk and stirs it in before moving to sit down at the table, as always, between Tony and Bruce. As soon as he takes his first bite he realizes how hungry he is- sometimes that's just how it goes.
And that's it! It was supposed to have italicized words but alas, they didn't transfer to Ao3 nor Tumblr :(
I actually wrote a one-shot for once. I know, groundbreaking. I can finally write again YAYYYYYYY <333 🎉🎉🎉
I think you guys will like this @archerinthevents @hurtspideyparker @that-bookpuff @crimsonjaws @twomanyfandomshelp @itzzkaylaaa @luluisoff @smarterthantonystark @erodottir idk who else 😭
Anyways:
This work contains implied/mentioned self-harm. This work is about depression. This work does not resolve any of these things, and Peter doesn't get a hug. Read at your own risk <3
This work came into existence from me listening to mirrors demo by overtonight throwaways, and also because I feel like this a lot lmao. INFLICTING MY PAIN ON OETER PARKER COREEEEE
If you want me to continue this and to have Peter get a hug shout at me ig lmao. It's also on my Ao3, I_am_Peter_Parker, so check it out if you want to download this!
Without further ado, the one-shot. Enjoy!
Peter hasn't been feeling good lately. It's not a physical thing- he would know, whether it was his powers or something else wrong with him. So why does he feel so horrible?
Peter doesn't want to get out of bed. Peter doesn't want to look in the mirror. Peter doesn't want to shower. Peter, for the first time in a very long time, doesn't want to go on patrol or help Tony in the lab.
He doesn't understand. He has amazing friends and family. Spider-Man isn't the reason for this, he loves being Spider-Man. He shouldn't feel like this. Peter hasn't felt depressed since-
…
Since before he got his powers. When he was still helpless and a weak kid whose only weapon was his tongue. And even then, that always just made it worse.
Peter shouldn't feel like this.
He sits up in his bed, rubbing his face with a long breath out. He doesn't want to get up. But he has to. He doesn't want Tony or May to worry, not to mention any of the other various Avengers who could notice-
Tap tap tap.
Speak of the devil. Peter still needs a shower. Peter doesn't want to talk to anyone right now.
"Hello? Earth to Spider-Kid. If you're asleep I'm going to spray you with water." Tony's voice comes through the door. Tony is lying. Tony wouldn't spray Peter with water. Tony would feel bad.
Peter makes a suffered noise in his throat that he's sure Tony can't hear as he pushes his blanket off of him and swings his legs off of the bed, smiling so Tony will hear it in his voice.
"Coming, Mr. Stark!" He's sure he sounds right. He's done this before.
He walks over to the door, yawning- he isn't sure why, he woke up an hour ago, he shouldn't be lethargic- as he opens it and smiles at Tony. Tony gives him a curious look but doesn't question it.
"Hey, kid. I was wondering where you were, Steve's making breakfast. You coming?" Tony says with that lilt in his voice he gets when he's overthinking something. Peter notices.
"Yeah, of course Mr. Stark! I'll be right there, I just need a shower first. Leave some for me!" Peter says cheerfully, like always. But normally he means it. And normally he doesn't have to bite back the fact that he thinks he stinks.
Tony raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment on whatever it is he's thinking. Peter half wishes he would. The other half needs him to ignore it.
"Alright, Underoos, I'll make sure Clint doesn't eat it all. No promises on there being any coffee left." He says with a wink before he turns around to go back to the kitchen, Peter presumes. Peter closes the door and sighs.
Time for a shower.
Peter uneventfully takes off his clothes and throws them in the hamper by his closet before entering the bathroom. He can't help looking in the mirror.
His hair is greasy. His lower eyelids are a bit dark, and his eyes aren't open enough for the usual reflection to be there. He makes a face. He looks horrible.
He lets out a long-suffering breath and checks to make sure the towel is on the bar on the wall before turning on the shower. A bit hot, but nothing scorching. Normally he'd love to shower, but right now he doesn't like being in his skin.
Eugh, he really is depressed, isn't he? What a hero, huh?
He steps into the shower. He hates the water. He hates standing in it. He tilts his head back to let it soak his hair, and it takes a bit because his hair is just slightly curly and has a lot of volume even when it's as short as it is now. He should probably get another haircut.
And like would always happen before, now that he's in the water, and he's used to it again, it feels nice. He hates that he doesn't want to shower. He hates feeling like this.
He pumps a generous amount of shampoo onto his hand to lather his hair. The first wash is always gross. It's more noticeable now that he's overly conscious of the fact that he exists. After a while the first run of soap has all rinsed out. It gave him far too much time to think.
He puts a few more pumps of shampoo onto his hand for the second wash, really getting it in there now that the initial grime is out. It's not so bad. And once again, after a while, the soap washes away, down his back and into the drain. He wonders what it would be like to do that.
He puts more shampoo on his hand- because who needs body wash when shampoo does the same thing?- and scrubs down his neck and shoulders, then his arms. There used to be scars there, but his powers took them away. He wonders how his powers would act if he started doing that again.
He moves onto his chest and torso, then everything else. The time passes both too slowly and too quickly. Time is weird when his mind is acting like this. He steps out of the shower and grabs the towel from the bar on the wall, drying off. Face, then hair, then shoulders, arms, torso, privates, legs, feet. All clean.
He throws the towel in the hamper as he leaves the bathroom before digging through his clean clothes basket for a cool outfit. Even when his mind is like this, he likes to look nice. It makes him feel a little better.
Once he's properly clothed, he clips on his webshooters and heads to the kitchen to eat, remembering to put on a tired but happy face as he heads to the counter to grab his share of the food, and hopefully the coffee. Peter loves coffee.
"Hey, Mr. Stark! Hey Mr. Rogers and Mr. Barton and-"
"We get it, kid. Hi to everyone." Natasha replies warmly with that slight smile she has whenever Peter is doing something endearing, which is often.
Peter smiles at her while he plates his food. He can never tell when he's hungry like this unless he's been hungry for too long, but he doesn't skimp out on food ever when he doesn't have to make it. Even depressed, the teenage hunger and love of food wins.
He pours himself some coffee- thankfully there was enough left for his mug. He adds a little bit of milk and stirs it in before moving to sit down at the table, as always, between Tony and Bruce. As soon as he takes his first bite he realizes how hungry he is- sometimes that's just how it goes.
And that's it! It was supposed to have italicized words but alas, they didn't transfer to Ao3 nor Tumblr :(
the twin mattress lyrics "hey man I love you, but no fucking way" dick and jason siblingisms:
Jason looking up to Dick and wanting him to stay in Gotham so they can patrol together, loving the freedom and Dick's exuberant style in contrast to Batman. Dick staying long enough for them to feel like brothers but then pulling away when Jason begins to hope they could be a team. Dick can't be in Bruce's city, can't be Bruce's ward. He needs distance from Batman more than he needs a little brother. So when Jason looks up at him with poorly hidden hope in his eyes and asks him to stay in Gotham, Dick replies "hey man I love you, but no fucking way"
Dick thinks about that conversation a lot after Jason dies.
Then we forward through the years and Red Hood is here, Jason is back. Dick wants to make up for all the time he's lost with him and how he was more focused on staying away from Bruce than he was staying near Jason. Wonders a bit if the violence in Red Hood could have been softened by an older hero's guidance and brotherly love. Wants to see if it can be softened still.
And things do get better with Jason. He stops trying to kill Batman, tolerates Tim's existence. Let's Dick tag along on patrol without the toss of a blade his way and a lack of follow-through on the threats he likes to toss out.
Except now he needs distance from Batman more than he needs a big brother. So what starts as rage and bloodied hands, snarls and insults, slowly becomes the same simple denial Dick used himself when Jason needed him—