#beingastark

[kalkoenvsneoklak]

Genuinely thinking of rewriting Being A Stark. I've loved writing the story so much, but rereading it makes me realize that there are a lot of things I would have done differently, now, years later. Might be working on that in the coming months...

Damn Marvel's Spider-Man 2, for kicking me right back into this fandom after I finally reached a healthy point in my fandom life.

[kalkoenvsneoklak]

The tower is dark when Tony arrives back. There’s a quinjet on the landing platform, the sunlight is shining brightly onto his skin – a stark contrast in comparison to the cold he felt back in Siberia – and the inside of the penthouse is clearly darkened.

That makes Tony frown; he thought Peter was here? Or does that mean that he’s still asleep? Why would he still be sleeping? It’s almost past noon, Peter’s usually awake around nine?

“FRIDAY, light?” he asks, and immediately the daylight passes right back through the windows and Tony can finally see where he’s walking again.

“Welcome back, sir.”

“Where’s Peter?” he asks.

“He’s in the living room, currently asleep on the couch,” FRIDAY tells him. Tony nods, walking through his workshop and quickly checking if everything is still alright here. Then he moves out, takes the elevator up, and walks straight into the living room. So Peter’s on the couch, Tony isn’t going to wake him just yet. There’s a talk they’re going to have here, and Tony knows it’s not going to be a pleasant one. Too much crap has happened – so much that even Tony can’t really think much about it.

(He did, back in the quinjet; he put in the coordinates to New York, and then put FRIDAY on the wheel as he took a moment to have his inner panic attack. It wasn’t pleasant, and it still hurts his chest to think about it – though that could be the shield-shaped bruise he’s gotten onto his torso now.

Coming across a certain Wakandan Prince carrying a bound Helmut Zemo back to his own aircraft, they came to an understanding. Tony would take the quinjet, and T’Challa promised to take Steve and Barnes along with them. At least that way Tony knew that Steve would safely find his way out.)

Heading to the kitchenette, Tony takes all he needs to prepare his hot coco. It’s what his mother made for him whenever he wasn’t feeling well, and he knows Peter isn’t going to feel well after this. The way the kid looks up at Steve, watching him with such adoration. He’s going to take it really hard.

Tony promised to do his best and bring him back here. He failed. He’s the one who pushed him away.

His eyes sting when the memory of a video image comes back into mind, and he shakes his head, holding back a sob. No, not now. Not here. He needs to hold it together, at least until he’s told his story to Peter.

On his way to the kitchenette, he comes across Peter’s phone on the counter. It’s vibrating, a vaguely familiar tune indicating that he’s getting a phone call. Tony takes the phone into his hand, but doesn’t pick up.

Steve’s name is written on the screen. Tony shivers, shaking his head. Of course Steve would try and call up Peter to tell him he’s not coming back. It’s the least he can do.

The phone call stops, and all Tony can then see is a picture he’s only seen shortly in passing. Peter never really likes to show it, uneasy to talk about it. And even now it feels slightly like he’s invading his privacy, but Tony still finds himself staring at the picture in the background.

It’s Peter and Gwen. It must have been winter, since they’re both wearing bonnets. Peter is smiling at the camera, without the ghosts in his eyes. Without the trouble Tony keeps on seeing in him when he looks at him. Peter is happy, with Gwen’s hand on his one cheek and her lips against his other.

She was so young… poor girl, Tony thinks to himself. They had been dealing with Ultron back when it happened, so they weren’t in New York. To imagine, had Tony not created such a mess, they might have been able to save her.

Then, taking another quick look at the picture, Tony is reminded of a lazy Sunday morning a few weeks back. Steve slept in for once, and it came to the rare point where Tony was awake before him. Tony had pulled out his cellphone and woke Steve up by kissing him on the cheek, exactly at the same time that he took a picture. It had been a good one, and it’s still, currently, saved onto his phone.

Best to just put the phone down, he realizes. Peter is not going to like him going through his stuff. Tony sighs and lets it go, finally heading to the kitchenette and preparing the hot Coco.

Once it’s finished, he takes the two mugs and makes his way to the couches.

“Peter, are you awake?” he asks. “Listen, I made some hot coco. There’s something we need to talk about.”

Once Peter comes into view, Tony frowns. There he lies, his son, deeply asleep on the couch. The one thing standing out immediately being the massive black eye he’s sporting. Only then does Tony notice the bruises on Peter’s arms, the paleness in his face. The mess that his hair has become.

“PETER PARKER?” he almost shouts, mostly trying to just wake Peter up. It works; the teenager startles and drops out of the couch, tangled into the blanket.

“Dad? You’re back already?!” Peter calls back, trying to get out from his own trap on the ground. Tony just stands there, holding the two mugs into his hands and frowning down at his son, who is looking like somebody has been using him as a personal punching bag.

“Peter Parker, why are you bruised all over?” he asks, using his serious tone. Peter swallows nervously, standing up at last. Wearing only a t-shirt, he fails at trying to hide the bruises on his arms away.

“It’s, uh- I was- uh…” but then Peter’s eyes go wide, quickly looking around Tony in search for something. “Dad, where’s Steve?”

Tony doesn’t answer. Instead, he puts his brains to work. Thinking back of Peter’s phone, the familiar tune of his ringtone. He was sure that he heard it before, and now he remembers. On the plane. On their way to Berlin.

“FRIDAY, where’s the Spider-Man suit currently located?” Tony asks, ignoring Peter’s question.

“The suit is currently underneath the couch Master Parker had been utilizing,” FRIDAY answers.

“Dad, tell me, please!”

Tony ignores him. He drops the mugs down on the coffee table and kneels down on the ground. Ignoring the pain in his left shoulder as he leans on it, he reaches underneath the couch and finds there the familiar fabric of the suit he’s been working on with Peter.

“Peter, why do you have the suit?” he asks but another part of him knows the answer. It’s so obvious. The way the kid’s voice seemed to sound familiar, no matter how much he tries to shield it away. The way they’re the same height, age, have the same sense of humor. The fact that Peter was there when Gwen Stacy died. The web-shooters…

The way it was obvious for Tony that the kid didn’t want to fight Steve. Because Peter wouldn’t want to do it, yet he still did it because Tony asked…

The ringtone…

“Dad, where’s Steve?” Peter keeps on begging, tears clear in his eyes. But all Tony can see is red from anger; how could he not have seen this before? Had he known, he would never have pulled Peter into this. This whole fight; it shouldn’t have been with Peter. The fact that he just asked his son to practically fight against his other idol – his other father-figure…

What does that make of him?

“Why do you have the suit?!” he bites at Peter, but then he sees Peter’s face again as if for the first time. Eyes red from the tears, Peter stands there, bruised and broken, begging Tony for an answer. He wants to know where Steve is, he’s begging here, and all Tony can do is snap at him. All he can do is being a horrible father; again.

And Peter flinches a bit when Tony stands up, dropping the suit back onto the ground. Then, after a few seconds, Tony opens up his arms and immediately, Peter practically jumps into them. With his face pressed against Tony’s shoulder, he sobs it out, letting go of the tears and the uncertainty.

Of course, this causes for Tony to let out his own tears, as well.

“I’m so sorry, Peter. Steve… it was all my fault,” Tony admits. Peter doesn’t answer. But what can he say?

Putting his hand behind Peter’s head, he pulls him even closer.

“But we’re going to be fine; it’s going to be okay,” Tony assures him, even though he doesn’t really believe it himself. The idea of having to go on without Steve grounding him just feels like agony.

But he supposes that’s what it’s like, being a dad. It’s all about pretending to think everything will sort itself out. And maybe, if he thinks it for long enough, he might even believe it.

I made this comic ages ago and decided to give it a color up. I wasn’t good at backgrounds then, and I’m still not good at it now, so obviously I gave up with it halfway. This was made even before I wrote out the chapter, so there are some differences between the two. 

In Being a Stark, Peter finds out that Tony Stark is his biological father and he tries to get to know him better. This particular scene is from chapter 26 of the story, right after Civil War where Tony has just returned from Siberia, still hearbroken about Steve’s betrayal, only to find a surprise about Peter back at home. 

The story has superhusbands, and is thus Superfamily, and has a happy end despite the many heartbreaks I’ve put these characters through. 

I’m not a comic book artist. It’s not perfect, I didn’t have a definite drawing style, back then so it kind of looks like shit sometimes, but I remember that I put a lot of time in it back then, so it’s still kind of precious to me. 

[kalkoenvsneoklak]

Tony and Steve lose a bet, and they have to pay for it. Only, not with money...

NEW BEING A STARK TIMESTAMP IS UP

“No way. Nu-uh, we are not doing that!”

It’s another eventful day in the tower. Granted, most of the Avengers have moved back to the compound, but it seems like it’s still their base for chilling on some occasions, which is why the penthouse is now currently filled with almost every member of the team, along with Peter, Harry and Johnny, who are holding their glasses of coke in their hands while they watch at what’s happening.

They’re smirking. Tony just knows it.

“No takebacks, a bet is a bet, and you lost it, so now you have to pay up.”

“Yeah, I would gladly pay up, how much do you want from me?” Tony mutters, pulling out his wallet from his back pocket. He doesn’t carry a lot of cash on him, but he’s got his cheques, which he can quickly write one of for him.

“We don’t want money,” Clint says, grin wide on his face. The others are laughing as well. Natasha is leaning against the counter, standing next to Bucky, who has his arm wrapped over her shoulder. They’re slowly becoming more and more affectionate, though they’re still keeping it subtle.

“We’re not doing the other thing, either!”

It’s simple. They were given a challenge. A damn hard one, too. The rules were clear; he and Steve were to have at least a whole month without being caught having sex. It sounded so easy, too. Just make FRIDAY warn them up when somebody would come near, not doing it in special places in public, and just to be safe, only do it when there’s nobody home or when everybody’s sleeping.

Though they both had hoped that Peter wouldn’t betray them like that. Sadly, it seemed like he came home one day without warning them. And just as FRIDAY was warning them about his arrival, he’d already heard it. He’d already seen it, too. It’s not that hard if you’re trying to be risky and are going for some good make-out in the kitchen.

But yeah, their clothes were mostly off, and with Tony’s hand around Steve’s junk being the way Peter found them, it was obvious that they lost.

The worst part, he feels like FRIDAY had purposely not told them about Peter climbing up the building.

So now they have to pay. The problem is, the Avengers had never really told them how they were going to do that. They had just agreed not to be caught, or they’d had to do something in return that would no doubt be awkward for them.

“Yes, you are.”

“Guys, you can’t be serious,” Steve interjects with red cheeks. Yeah, he feels pretty embarrassed about it all, but that’s Steve for you. The only thing that makes this mostly horrible for Tony is the fact that their slightly sex-averse son had to find them in that position. And that after the whole demisexual-discussion they’ve had to completely understand how their son really worked.

“Why not?” Sam asks, poking Scott in the side who gets out a laugh as well.

“Because- uh… we’re public figures and- uh… it could make people wonder if they could take us seriously…”

Clint shakes his head, rolling his eyes. “Nu-uh, I think it would be great if the people would humanize us more, if anything.”

“Besides, do you think they’re taking you seriously with the ‘couple of the year’ thing going on?” Rhodey asks.

“The year is almost over,” Tony grunts back. “After that we’ll nominate Winterwidow over there.” Tony points at Natasha and Bucky, who are giving him a very unimpressed look.

“If you do that, nobody will ever find your body after we're through with you," Natasha says while looking at her nails.

Tony shudders, and so does Steve. The pair quickly give each other a look. Are they going to give in that easily? Are they surrendering just like that, without fighting for their dignity? Sure, it’s their own fault for going for a risky place to do their shit, but… Fuck this shit…

“Alright, fine,” Tony mutters. But still, Steve doesn’t seem on board.

“No,” he says sternly, putting his hands on his hips. Clint just snorts.

“Oh, dear Cap, I’m afraid you don’t really have a choice,” he says. Sam then holds up his phone, pointing it towards them. Tony there reads what seems like an email, confirming their sign-up. Shit, they already arranged it?

“Yeah, you are on next week. Better prepare something good,” Sam says. Then he, Clint and Scott start walking towards the elevator. But right as they pass Peter, Scott puts a hand on Peter’s shoulder.

“Oh, and you’re up, too.”

“Wha- ME?! I didn’t do anything!” Peter says, jumping off his chair and stuttering through his words.

“You’re a snitch, and nobody likes snitches,” he says with a wink. Then the three walk out of the room, followed by Bucky who hurries after them. That little team there is just full of evil plans, and Tony’s sure he doesn’t want any part of that.

“But I-?” Peter can’t finish any sort of sentence. He gets a supportive pat on the shoulder from Harry, who seems to find all of this hilarious.

“It’s alright, Peter.”

“But- nobody knows me? Why would they take me?”

Everybody raises their eyebrows at him, simultaneously crossing their arms. It’s Tony who speaks up.

“Have you forgotten that you’re my son?” he asks.

“Yeah, but-“ Peter starts, before he realizes what he missed. “Oh, right…”

Yeah… so this is going to be awful…

[kalkoenvsneoklak]

New timestamp is up!!

According to Bruce, some of the ancient Norse traditions he read up on were pretty much followed through. Though when he asked Thor if it was mandatory for him and Jane to get drunk on the bridal-ale at the feast, Thor had laughed loudly and slapped him on the shoulder.

“My dear friend, we do not need a wedding to get drunk!” he calls out. “Besides, Jane cannot drink.”

“Okay, and one last thing?”

“Ask away, friend,” Thor assures Bruce.

“I rather hope this one is not real, but I read that newlyweds were escorted to bed by at least six witnesses to make sure that… uh…”

“To make sure you two would bone,” Tony interjects in his usual way. Clint and Steve, who had been drinking from their cup at that time, suddenly spit out whatever they had in their mouth. Too bad for Sam and Bucky, who get everything in their faces.

“Bone?” Thor asks, in confusion. Tony shrugs.

“You know, doing the horizontal tango. The frickle-frack. Sex?”

“Ah, you mean intercourse?” Thor asks to clarify. “No, we do that in the privacy of our bedroom, do not fear.”

Bruce lets out a relieved sigh, and the others seem just as equally relieved. Natasha holds out her hand towards Scott, who rolls his eyes and pulls out a bill and hands it to her.

“Now, my friends, enjoy the feast. Dance, eat, let go of your worries for as long as possible, alright?”

Everybody nods, and people start scattering around. Natasha and Sam go to join Sif, Hilde and Okoye, while Bucky goes to talk with T’Challa. He’s not always being a brat with the other Avengers, he can be serious sometimes, too.

Peter’s somewhere around here, dancing with Shuri. Steve caught it in the corner of his eyes. It was rather fun to watch the kid with his friend. The smile on his face had warmed Steve’s heart, and he’s sure Tony must have felt the same way.

Speaking of Tony, Steve taps him on the shoulder.

“Yes?” Tony asks, turning around with his glass of water in his hand. He had not complained about the fact that he couldn’t drink, but Steve’s still sure it can’t be easy for him to resist it like he’s doing now.

“Care for a dance?” Steve asks. Tony looks at his hand, surprise obvious on his face.

“Uh, honey, we haven’t been dancing for a while now… I’m pretty sure I’ll be stepping on your toes…”

“I don’t care,” Steve assures him. “You can step on my toes however much you want, and it won’t make me love you any less.”

Tony rolls his eyes, but then he turns to the side and hands Bruce his glass.

“Can you hold this for a moment, please?” he asks him. Bruce nods, taking it from Tony and giving him a wink. Tony rolls his eyes once again before taking Steve’s hand into his own.

“People better not film this,” Tony mutters towards him as they walk onto the dance floor. A couple of people are already dancing. Steve once again spots Peter, only this time with Wanda.

Steve doesn’t say anything in return. Instead, he puts his right hand on Tony’s back. Tony, in turn, puts his left hand on the back of Steve’s shoulder. They slowly sway along with the music, trying to get into it for a bit.

“You should have seen my drunken dances,” Tony tells him. “Rhodey once told me I was worthy of being a stripper.”

“Tony, being a stripper is not really a worthy thing,” Steve returns.

“I know.” Tony raises his head, getting his mouth close to Steve’s. He doesn’t kiss him, though. “But you would have loved me anyway, no?” he asks.

Steve laughs, making them turn before pressing Tony close to him once again. “I would love you in any form I could get you.”

Tony smiles, giving him a light kiss on the lips before resting his head on Steve’s shoulder.

“You sap,” he says.

The music keeps playing. People keep dancing. There’s fun all around, people laughing and talking and drinking. The feast is an obvious success.

And Steve is happy. Because he’s got Tony, he’s got a slowly-healthier Peter around here, and he’s got Bucky wandering around. That, in the combination of his crazy family surrounding him here?

Yeah, Steve’s pretty lucky, and he feels like there couldn’t be anything that could ruin this evening for them.

[kalkoenvsneoklak]

It takes a few more seconds for Peter to catch up. After that he smiles widely, taking the phone and watching his father walk back to Steve. Once the two have their arms wrapped around each other again, Peter dials Yael’s and Wade’s numbers, feeling like everything is finally back to normal.

Ah, well, as normal as it could be in this crazy family.

That’s probably how it is now, being a Stark. 

Being a Stark, now completed and to be found here

[kalkoenvsneoklak]

It’s almost expected when there’s another knock on the door. Sam and Natasha give each other a knowing look, and Barnes, too, seems to look up expectantly. Tony just sighs before putting his glass down again.

But it’s obvious who it’s going to be. Because why would Sam and Clint and Natasha be let out earlier, and he wouldn’t? Why would they keep him in longer when he’s been locked up before them? It wouldn’t be fair, after all.

So Peter isn’t surprised when Tony opens the door and Steve is standing there, in a suit and his hair slicked back. Still unshaven, he looks very much like one of those models nowadays. Peter smiles as he looks at it.

“Steve,” Tony almost whispers out. Steve simply smiles in return, a bag with presents in his hands.

“Sorry I’m late, I had to do some last-minute shopping,” he says holding up the bag.

“But- Sam said-“

“I said he did everything he could to be here. And he did!” Sam shouts in the back. A few of the others laugh. “I’ve never seen such good behavior from anybody! No wonder they let us go!”

“We did save the judge’s daughter, remember?” Clint throws in, repeating what he said earlier. Tony ignores it as he stares at Steve in front of him. Then he jumps up, grabbing Steve by the tie and pulling him towards him. Sharing a strong kiss, literally everybody in the room starts cheering and clapping, even louder than earlier. Especially the members of the Avengers all start making winning noises, while May and Pepper just stand at the sidelines with big smiles on their faces and clapping their hands. The kids look away in disgust.

“Steve Rogers, I love you so fucking much,” Peter hears Tony mutters against Steve’s lips. George protests jokingly that he needs to watch his language around the kids, but nobody listens to it as the pair kisses again and again. The bags with presents is now on the ground, Tony’s arms thrown over Steve’s shoulders while the Super Soldier holds Tony on the hips. Peter decides that it’s enough for now. He runs towards the couple and clears his throat.

“Uhm, hi there?” he tries. Steve pulls away from Tony slightly, grinning the moment he sees Peter standing there. Without fully pulling away from Tony he throws his arm over Peter’s shoulder and pulls him closer.

“Here’s my champ,” he says, kissing him on the head, very much as if Peter’s his own son. And Peter loves every minute of it. He doesn’t even mind when May, who has taken out the camera, makes a picture of them standing there. “I’m so glad to be back.”

“And we’re glad you are,” Peter says. Tony hums in agreement, simply resting his head on Steve’s shoulder with his eyes closed. This is probably the happiest Peter has ever seen Tony. It’s a good sight.

But then suddenly the others are there as well. First it’s Natasha who comes, joining in on the hug. She’s followed by Bruce, Clint, and eventually even Wanda and Sam. Rhodey slowly moves their way as well with Vision behind him to make sure he doesn’t fall. Feeling a bit like he’s squeezed to death in this group hug, Peter couldn’t imagine the night to get any better.

But it does. Because after everybody’s back to their business and May is announcing that the food will be ready in about fifteen minutes, Tony takes Peter apart and holds out his phone.

“We’ll wait until she’s here,” he says. Looking at the phone, Peter frowns.

“Who’s here?” he asks. Tony gives him an unimpressed look.

“You know who,” he says. “And that friend of yours can come, too, as long as he can watch his language around the kids.”

It takes a few more seconds for Peter to catch up. After that he smiles widely, taking the phone and watching his father walk back to Steve. Once the two have their arms wrapped around each other again, Peter dials Yael’s and Wade’s numbers, feeling like everything is finally back to normal.

Ah, well, as normal as it could be in this crazy family.

That’s probably how it is now, being a Stark.

Final chapter of Being A Stark! Story now complete. You can find it here

All art on this story will be tagged as BAS, so it’s easier to find on the page ;-)