One Life

Mildstone

You weren't having the best of days. Like at all.

Pepper had a cold. Which today was really rough for her and Tony made her go back to bed this morning.
So it's been up to Tony today.
Which wasn't the smartest thing on his part.

"Come on Y/n." Tony spoke in desperation of exhaustion.
You shook your head sitting on the steps.
"Please?" He spoke as you crossed your arms.
It wasn't til after lunch you noticed pepper wasn't around. It wasn't that you were afraid of Tony. You just felt extra vulnerable and sensitive and wanted pepper.

"I'll read you a story?" Tony spoke knowing you love books so much.
You looked at the floor thinking.
"Can I pick it?" You asked curiously making him nod. "Of course. Only if you come join me on couch." He spoke as you kept thinking.
He just wanted you downstairs so pepper could rest.
"Okay!" You spoke with a smile as you ran up the stairs. "Quietly!" He hollered slightly as you disappeared.

Tony rubbed his face slightly as he made his way to the kitchen. He opened the the cabinet and pulled out a glass.
He then made his way to sink filling his glass up with water.
He could hear you running down the steps and into the livingroom.
"Did you find one?" He hollered slightly as he took a drink turning around.
You ran into the kitchen holding a few different books.
"Yea!" You spoke excitedly.

You made your way to the livingroom and set them on the couch. You climbed on the couch as Tony made his way in.

"Alright. Which one first?" He asked sitting down as he set his cup down.
You moved the books around and pulled out a larger one.
"Dis one." You spoke smiling as you handed it to him upside down.
"Llama. Llama. Red Pajama." He spoke as he studied it a bit.
"What's a llama?" You asked as you looked at the book. "It's one of those." He spoke pointing to the llama. "What do they do?" You asked looking up at him. He smiled slightly at your curiosity. "They spit. A lot." He spoke making you say Ew.
He chuckled then opened the book clearing his throat.

"Llama llama. Red pajama. Reads a story with his mama. Mama llama kisses baby's hair. Mama llama goes downstairs."
Tony read pretty slowly so you could follow along and look at the pictures.
"What's a mama?" You asked making Tony pause a moment. "Well." He started as he thought of a way to go about this. "Mama is another name for a mommy." He spoke as he turned the page. "What's a mommy?" You asked looking at the new pictures of the book. Tony scratched the back of his neck slightly. "Well." He spoke as you looked up at him. "Everyone has a mommy and daddy." He spoke softly. You squinted your eyes slightly thinking.
"Very one?" You asked curiously. "Well almost everyone. Sometimes. Some people don't have a mommy. And sometimes someone don't have a daddy. And then sometimes someone doesn't have either." He spoke in a way he hoped you'd understand.
You looked away thinking a moment.
He took that as a sign to keep reading.

"Mama llamas at the kitchen sink. Baby llama wants a drink. Mama llama said she be right up. Mama hears the kitchen phone."

He read slowly as he studied the photos as well.

"Do I have a mommy and daddy?" You asked curiously looking up at him.
Tony looked up from the book then over to you as you looked up at him.
He sighed closing the book.
"Um. Why don't we just read a different book." He spoke softly.
You looked away feeling confused as you tugged your ear slightly tearing up. "Hey it's okay." He spoke.
"I just think we should -."
"I don't have a mommy or daddy do I?" You asked softly leaning against the couch tearing up.
"Nonononono.. don't cry." He spoke putting the book down and kneeling in the floor as you covered your eyes. "You do. You do I promise." He spoke at an attempt to calm you down. Your crying spells were endless and painful for him to watch. And that was the last thing he wanted.
"Really?" You asked softly as you looked up at him.
He nodded. "Yes." He spoke as you sniffled. "Are you my daddy?" You asked making him kind of freeze a moment.
Him and Pepper haven't really had this conversation yet. Or they did and he doesn't remember.
He searched his brain quickly for a response. He was so lost in your brownish blue eyes that he just couldn't hurt you or your feelings.
He slowly smiled. "Yeah. I can be anything you want me to be." he spoke as you sniffled.