Tony has bad memories that have haunted him but he should be alright until he is not.
Ao3 Link here
Tony smiled as he got Peter into his floats. He was going to have a fun day at the pool with his son after almost losing his life again. He was glad Fury didn’t try to recruit him for the Avengers. He wouldn’t have time to care for his son that he was already trying to keep out of the media and the Avengers. He barely had time to save the day and work for his company. Well, own a company technically. He wasn’t a CEO anymore so that gave him some more time to spend with his son when he could. Now Peter was with him for the summer while Mary was away at some conference with Richard. Peter was talking about all the fun he had with them when he went to Washington DC.
“Mom even took me to a science museum,” Peter explained to him as they walked this pull. Happy was already relaxing as was Pepper who had the day off for once. Peter continued talking as he looked at the pool smiling. Tony looked at the water and seemed to test it with his toe but something about the water seemed to make him uneasy. Which was weird since he took a shower fine. He let Peter get into the water and stayed by the edge as Pepper sat by him chatting with him when Peter splashed him with water. Tony felt his lungs tighten and he felt his breath go shallow but he just got up and said he needed a second. Pepper was concerned but she got in the pool to distract Peter. Tony walked into the other room and felt his breath still not where he should be as he saw black dots in his vision. He didn’t even really know where he was.
“Tony,” Happy asked. He knew it was Tony but he couldn’t talk as he worked on getting his breathing back but it wasn’t working.
“Breathe in,” Happy said. Tony did as he was told and Happy told him to breathe out and he followed suit. He continued following Happy’s directions until he was back in focus. Tony felt a towel around him as he looked at Happy surprised.
“The kid sent me to make sure his dad was okay,” Happy explained. Tony nodded as he walked back out only to be stopped by Happy.
“Give yourself a bit then you can go back out for a bit. Peter doesn’t need to see his dad like this yet. He doesn’t need to be grown up yet,” Happy said. Tony knew that but he also knew if Happy was sent in by Peter that Peter was already worried about him.
“I know,” Tony said. Before he could go out though, Peter and Pepper were coming in. Peter seemed concerned.
“Daddy, are you okay?” Peter asked. Tony just looked at his kid and pulled him into a hug.
“I’m fine, I just needed a moment to collect myself,” Tony said.
“We don’t have to go swimming,” Peter said. “I would rather work in the lab or build legos.” Tony knew his kid was taking him into consideration.
“I don’t want you to miss out,” Tony said.
“I want to spend time with my dad, not at the pool,” Peter told him. Tony felt his heart swell. He knew Mary had started giving Peter the option to come or not but now that he said what Tony already knew was that Peter wanted to be with his dad because he enjoyed spending time with him not because of his money or the gifts he bought his son. He enjoyed having his father in his life.
“Come here,” Tony said, pulling his kid into his arms and holding him close. Peter held him as well and hugged him and never wanted to let him go. He had to though because he felt his kid shivering from still being wet in the house.
“Go grab a shower, Roo,” Tony said. “Then we can cuddle with a blanket, some popcorn, and a movie.”
“Star Wars?” Peter asked. Tony paused before deciding to nod. He would let his kid watch Star Wars every night just for some cuddles with him. He loved his son and was proud of the young boy. Peter nodded and hurried up to get a shower as Pepper sent Tony to do so as well. Tony went to argue but Pepper wasn’t letting him play that so he did what he was told. Pepper and Rhodey were probably the only two that Tony would listen to. Tony came back out to Peter cuddled in a blanket. He joined his kid as they cuddled up to each other and he had FRIDAY turn on the movie. Peter read along with the words as they rose on the screen. He quoted most of the movie and Tony knew he could as well but he just used his son’s voice as a way to stay in the world and not fall back to that time when he was torn from his son and torn from the family he had found. Obbie had betrayed him and let him not trust anyone but with Peter he had every trust in the world. The kid was his future. He didn’t always think he would be a good father but Peter always proved him wrong and showed him that he knew what he was doing better than his own father.
Starks are made of Iron.
Something he grew up with was true. He was made of Iron. He grew from his experience in the desert and yet today a little water on his face had lead him into a memory of terror. Tony kissed Peter’s forehead as his kid made a noise and said he was too old for that.
“Oh so ten year olds are too old to be kissed on the head by their dads?” Tony teased.
“Yep,” Peter said before shhhing his dad and continuing to quote along with Luke Skywalker. Tony just smiled. Yeah he was still having panic attacks from the time he was lost but now he had the life he wanted and a family that understood him. Specifically a son who wanted him in his life. If Pepper later found the two asleep after the movie was over. She never said anything but she did have FRIDAY get a picture of Tony and Peter. For a day when Tony would be down so he always knew he had his little boy to think about.
It had been curiosity – he was a scientist; who could blame him? Something had bugged him about the kid, in photos and the stories the others told; too many similarities. So he’d run tests.
But he hadn’t known what to do with the results. The kid had dusted, Tony was heartbroken, and Pepper was expecting. What good would knowing do them?
When the time came and he snapped his fingers, he planned on sharing his knowledge. But then Tony went and did something stupidly heroic.
And now, what good would it do Peter to know that Tony was his father?
Peter has a secret from Tony but maybe that secret isn't to his understanding as a rift forms between the mentor and the mentee.
Ao3 Link here
Peter Parker knew Tony only cared about himself. He had found out that Tony knew their connection since he was little but the man had said nothing. He still hadn’t told Peter, he only knew because his mother wrote him a letter for his seventeen birthday telling him and letting him know about the trust fund that was set up in his name. It was just his luck that Tony was complaining about something else he did. Like he wasn’t good enough to be Tony Stark’s son at all. He didn’t want to imagine what would happen if Tony found out himself. The funny thing was if you had told Peter three years ago, he probably would have been over the moon with joy about finding out he was the Tony Stark’s only son. Now he was just annoyed and Pepper Potts was there watching Tony reprimand him for a small lab fire that wasn’t even really his fault but he had put out nonetheless. The culprit of the fire had even tried to butt in and say something but Tony was ignoring them as he went off on Peter for being so stupid and mixing shit he wasn’t supposed to. Peter had enough though.
“You know what maybe if you wanted me around you would listen for two seconds and realize it was not my fucking fault!” Peter yelled at Tony. Pepper seemed to realize the fight was escalating between the two and dragged them to a private room to argue. Figuring she would leave them there well she talked to the real culprit.
“Look kid, this is a dangerous lab, not New York City,” Tony said. “You can’t just do what you think you can.”
“I was putting out a fire! Not the first time, might I add!” Peter had helped firefighters before. He knew fire safety better than anyone here in his mind.
“If you didn’t start the fire, why were you putting it out?” Tony asked. “FRIDAY would have got the sprinklers anyway.
“There was a fire there! I was more concerned about that than what could happen to stop it!” Peter said.
“Pete, calm down a bit,” Tony said, seeing the kid was worked up and knowing that all that pent-up emotion never did anyone good.
“I will not calm down! Why should I?!” Peter asked. Tony realized this was something bigger than the fire. Something else was bugging the kid and the kid was going to explode from his anger soon if he didn’t do something.
“Look how about you take a few breaths and we can talk about what is really bugging you,” Tony said.
“Not that you care!” Peter said. Tony flinched. He hadn’t heard Peter say that since that day he fought Toomes. Whatever was getting to Peter the source was probably connected to Spider-Man, Tony thought.
“Peter, I do care,” Tony tried but the kid was not having it as he stormed out leaving Tony alone in the room. Tony didn’t know why the kid left but something wasn’t right.
~
“Peter seems to not have any new foes that are cause for the new behavior, Boss,” FRIDAY said. Tony looked at his desk which was a mess. A picture of a toddler who he hadn’t seen in fourteen years smiling at him was his focus.
“There has to be some reason why the kid is upset? When did this start?” Tony asked.
“Peter has been acting strange according to Karen since his birthday. He has been less talkative on patrols,” FRIDAY said. Whatever was bugging the kid was something to do with his birthday. He got up and decided he needed to make a trip to Queens.
~
May was shocked, to say the least when she saw Tony. He seemed to just appear sometimes to remind her that he was a part of Peter’s life.
“Peter has been acting strange,” Tony explained to her. “I was wondering if you knew why.”
“He got a letter from Mary recently. His mom. I didn’t read it but I can give you a guess about what was said in it,” May said. Tony looked at her confused. “Richard and Mary told us that they adopted Peter from a friend when he was really little. Didn’t explain the situation but I guess she couldn’t have kids so when they got Peter they were over the moon. He was always quiet at first when I met him. Only four at the time and his hair was blonde back then. Only darkened when he was older.”
“May I see a picture,” Tony asked her. May nodded as she pulled out a scrapbook cause apparently, Mary Parker liked that type of stuff. She flipped through until she found the picture and showed Tony. Tony froze. The boy in the picture looked exactly like him.
“Where did they adopt Peter from?” Tony asked. May looked at him confused.
“California.” Of course.
“Did they ever give their friend’s name?” Tony knew he was asking a lot of questions but he had to know the missing pieces of the puzzle.
“They always mentioned an Obie or Obediah.” Of course, he would be connected to this as well.
“Do you know if Peter kept the letter?” Tony asked. May didn’t know that but that was alright. He would figure out the pieces.
“I got to go. Thanks for your time.” Tony went to leave but May stopped him.
“Did you know Peter?” She asked.
“He might have been kidnapped,” Tony said before leaving her with that to process.
~
Peter walked into his apartment to see May with two cups of tea. Peter looked at her suspiciously but she just smiled.
“Peter, we need to talk,” May said.
“Okay?” The teenager said, watching May curiously as he sat down.
“I know you have been upset since you got the letter from Mary,” May told him.
“Mom just wanted to tell me that Richard wasn’t my dad and that my birth father had a trust fund set up for me,” Peter said shrugging. May looked confused.
“Peter, did Mary ever mention that you were adopted?” May asked him. Peter looked at her confused.
“No,” Peter said. May looked down at her cup before she went out of the room coming back with a box.
“When you were little, Mary had me keep some of your stuff here to be safe,” May said, pulling out a baby blanket. Peter seemed to look at the stuff confused until May found what she wanted and pulled it out. Peter remembered that item though. It was his first stuffed animal. A platypus. He couldn’t remember where he got it, only that he took it everywhere when he was little.
“Mary said you were only holding this platypus when they got you and were speaking Italian only. Apparently, your birth father taught you Italian every day when you were little. I guess he got you the platypus or something cause you never let go of it when I first met you. Adored the thing. Mary hated it as if it was connected to some part of your life you weren’t supposed to remember,” May told him.
“My birth father?” Peter asked, confused. Why would Tony buy him a platypus stuffed animal or have kept him for four years before pushing him off on someone else? He was confused.
“I asked you where you got the name for the stuffed animal cause you called him Dee and you said uncle Dee was a platypus too,” May said. Peter smiled at that not knowing who uncle Dee was but the platypus was something he needed to see as he hugged it holding it close for a bit.
“Thanks, May,” Peter said. She just smiled at him before pulling him into a hug.
~
Peter went up to Pepper’s office nervous. He needed to talk to her but when he got there she was in a meeting with Tony who was the last person Peter wanted to see. Peter was about to leave when he saw someone walking up to him. Colonial Rhodes. He hadn’t seen him since the airport.
“AJ?” He asked. Peter looked at him confused.
“Who?” Peter asked.
“I’m sorry you just look like Tony at seventeen so I just assumed you were AJ,” Rhodey said.
“My name is Peter actually.”
“Right,” Rhodey said as Peter looked in his bag. He had decided to bring Dee with him because seeing Dee and holding him had been comforting. May had suggested sleeping with him as if it would help.
“What’s that in your bag?” Rhodey asked him. Peter opened it up to show him the platypus. Rhodey seemed even more confused.
“It was something that I got when I was little. His name is Dee,” Peter said. Rhodey seemed even more curious about the kid.
“Have we met before?” Rhodey asked.
“Maybe,” Peter said as Tony walked out of the room looking frustrated before seeing the kid and Rhodey.
“Hey Tony,” Rhodey said. Peter just nodded. Tony looked like he wanted to tell Peter something but Pepper came out and saw the three just standing there and Peter took it as his opportunity zipping up the bag.
“Ms. Potts, I wanted to talk to you about something if you don’t mind,” Peter told her. She smiled before leading him to her office. Leaving Tony and Rhodey alone.
“That’s AJ,” Rhodey said. Tony looked at him confused. “He had AJ’s platypus and he's pretty much you all over.” Tony looked back at the door shocked at the revelation Tony just gave him.
~
“So what is the matter?” Pepper asked.
“How long have you been working for Tony?” Peter asked.
“Since ‘05,” Pepper said, confused. “Mary the PA before me had a job opportunity in New York and took it. I only met her the week she trained me but she was someone that was really nice to me. Didn’t like Tony much though.”
“Did you know AJ?” Peter asked to feel that the name in the hallway was something Rhodey called him meaning Tony might have called him. Maybe Peter wasn’t his birth name.
“AJ?” Pepper asked. That had to be a no.
“What was Mary’s last name?” Peter asked. Pepper had to think for a bit but she seemed to type on her computer and seemed surprised by the results.
“Parker,” She said before turning to Peter. “You don’t happen to know a Mary Parker.”
“Died when I was five in a plane crash,” Peter said. Pepper seemed to understand. He was living with his aunt for a reason and that was it. That was the reason why May was raising him instead of his parents.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Pepper said.
“Did my dad by chance work for SI too?” Peter asked. “Richard Parker.” He added as an afterthought. Pepper typed away before telling him that he in fact did and printing something.
“These are all the projects he worked on at the time of his employment,” She said. Peter thanked her before looking at his bag.
“Do you know anyone named Dee by chance?” Peter asked him.
“Sorry I do not,” Pepper said. Peter nodded as he thanked her before leaving Pepper alone to wonder who AJ and Dee were.
~
Tony came to May with baby pictures of Peter. Including ones of him with “Uncle Dee” giving him Dee.
“I can’t believe Mary kidnapped him,” May said.
“Mary hated me a lot when we worked together. Only a few people knew about Peter while AJ back then. I think Peter fits him better though,” Tony said. “I didn’t want him growing up in the spotlight like me.”
“Looks like you got your wish,” May told him before looking at one photo of Happy chasing a four year old Peter. Just like him to be taking care of Peter and making sure he was okay.
“His birth name is Anthony James Stark,” Tony said. “He was born in August. His mother died of childbirth.” May saw Tony stop for a moment as if remembering something important. “I spoke Italian when he was little, figuring he would pick that up and keep it going. My mom was from Italy so it was nice to speak a language that she taught me. Happy and Rhodey were like uncles to him.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get to raise him,” May said.
“It’s fine. I’m glad he had a normal life, I just wish I could have been part of it,” Tony told her.
“You mean it?” Peter asked. Tony and May turned to see Peter holding Dee in his arms.
“Hey Kid,” Tony said. Peter looked at him. “Yes I do mean it.” Peter seemed to hesitate before he walked over and gave Tony a hug. Tony pulled him in close not wanting to lose his kid again. Not after just getting him back in his arms. Everything could be figured out later as long as he could make sure his son was alright.
Peter had been using the scanners to digitise some old photos when Tony wandered in, nonchalantly glanced up at the screen and did a double take so violent he was lucky the kid hadn’t seen it.
He could admit that most of the women whose company he had enjoyed in his playboy days had blurred together in his memory, but Mary Romero had brains as well as beauty. Shit, when had he known her? A few years before Afghanistan. It had been around Christmas… 2000?
