It Only Takes a Second

harry and peter

(A/N pt 1: Hi everyone! So sorry it's taken so long for this update to come out, but I hope that me spoiling you with a 22000 word epilogue will make up for it! Funny enough, I actually wrote most of this in the last week since school is finally out. I just wanted to pop in and give a small TW about abuse for some portions of the epilogue, but it's nothing graphic. And don't worry, 90% of this is pure fluff! Just wanted to give you a heads up before you read! I will end this epilogue with another author's note, as this is the final part of It Only Takes a Second. Until then, I hope you enjoy the chapter!)

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"Are you nervous?"

Tony gestured quickly towards Harry's leg that was bouncing up and down quickly before refocusing his eyes on the road. Only an hour into their almost four hour trip, Tony decided that Harry was going to work himself up into near hysterics by the time they arrived if they didn't talk it out now.

"A bit. I'm more excited than anything though."

While the words he spoke were calm, Tony eyed his son's bouncing leg again and decided to approach the subject a different way.

"He sounds like he's been doing alright on the phone, but he told me the other night he's been homesick. He told me he was really excited for us to visit this weekend."

Harry's body relaxed slightly into the seat. Peter had only been at college for a little over a month, but it was the longest they had gone without seeing each other since they first met, and despite the magic of technology and video chatting, he longed to see him again.

"I know he says he's been doing alright, but I just worry about him taking on so much. He sounded stressed the other night when I talked to him on the phone." Harry worried his lip between his teeth and watched out the window as the scenery flew by.

"I'm not going to say it's easy, but I think he's doing alright," Tony reassured, fondly remembering how his own phone call went with Peter the other night. The kid had excitedly rambled on about his physics lab for nearly ten minutes before Tony was able to get in a word edgewise.

Harry took in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before blowing it out slowly, and Tony tried not to make it noticeable when he stole a concerned glance at him. Unfortunately, Harry caught him and sighed again.

"I just don't want to be an extra thing that is causing him stress," Harry admitted. "Long distance is hard, and we're only a month into it. I know that things are going to get more intense as he gets farther into college, and I don't want our relationship to cause any additional stress or pressure."

Tony frowned slightly as he wondered how long Harry had been carrying those thoughts around. He knew full well that Peter had never, and would never, see his relationship with Harry as an additional burden. But convincing Harry of this would be a different challenge.

"Harry, you know that Peter doesn't see if that way, right? He went on and on the other night about how excited he was to see you and how it's exactly what he needs right now. Talking to you and being with you is something that relieves his stress, not causes it."

Harry gave him a small smile and shrugged. "I know. I know the thoughts aren't rational, but that doesn't stop me from having them. I think after I see him this weekend it'll be better."

Tony reached out and gave Harry's shoulder a small reassuring squeeze.

"Alright kiddo. But you know you can always talk to me, right? And I'm always up for a road trip whenever you want to come see him yourself. Hell, I'll even teach you how to drive and you can borrow the car for the weekend."