As the laughter faded, Peter looked across the table at Tony, his heart swelling with gratitude. It had been a chaotic day, and yet here they were, surrounded by family and love. He needed to express just how much it meant to him.
“Dad,” Peter began, his voice slightly tentative. “Can we talk for a second? Just us?”
Tony tilted his head, a knowing look in his eyes. “Sure, kiddo. What’s on your mind?”
Peter stood up and motioned for Tony to follow him to the quieter corner of the kitchen. Once they were out of earshot from Morgan and Harley, Peter turned to his father, his expression serious.
“I… I just wanted to say thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For everything you’ve done today. For being there, for helping Morgan, for… just being you. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Pops.”
Tony’s heart warmed at Peter’s words. He stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Peter’s shoulder. “You don’t have to thank me, Pete. That’s what family does. I’ll always be here for you and Morgan. You two are my world.”
Peter felt a lump form in his throat. It was moments like these that reminded him of how lucky he was. “Sometimes it feels overwhelming, you know? With everything going on—the school, the rumors, the Hydra stuff. I don’t want to let you down.”
“You could never let me down,” Tony replied firmly. “You’re a kid who’s been through a lot, and you’re handling it better than most adults would. Just remember, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. I feel it too, sometimes.”
Peter looked up, surprised. “You do?”
“Of course! I’m just good at hiding it. But you know what? When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I have your Pops, you, and Morgan—my whole family. And I want you to feel you can lean on me whenever you need to.”
Peter took a deep breath, the weight on his shoulders feeling just a little lighter. “I want to be strong like you, Dad.”
“You are strong, Peter. Strength isn’t just about not feeling fear or doubt. It’s about facing those feelings head-on and still moving forward. You’ve shown that time and again. And if you ever need to hide away for a bit, you can come to me. We can watch a movie or just hang out.”
Peter’s face brightened at the idea. “Like our old movie marathons? Just the two of us?”
“Exactly. Just you and me, some popcorn, and a little bit of Iron Man on the side,” Tony said with a wink.
“Deal.” Peter smiled, feeling a swell of affection for his father. “I really appreciate it, Dad. You always know how to make things better.”
Tony pulled him into a hug, enveloping Peter in the familiar scent of machinery and cologne. “You know I love you, right? No matter what happens, we’re in this together.”
“I know,” Peter murmured, sinking into the embrace. He felt safe and protected, the world’s troubles fading away, even if just for a moment.
As they stepped back, Tony ruffled Peter’s hair playfully. “Now, let’s get back to the chaos. Morgan and Harley probably have something ridiculous planned.”
“Knowing them, they probably do,” Peter said, chuckling as he ran a hand through his hair to fix it.
They returned to the kitchen, where Morgan and Harley were deep in conversation, gesturing animatedly about something.
“...And then we’ll make a wedding cake out of ice cream!” Morgan exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Brilliant! That’s perfect for a summer party,” Harley added enthusiastically.
YOU ARE READING
His Protective Dad (Starker FF)
FanfictionA story of Peter Parker (Stark) and his sweet, dangerous yet loving dad Tony Stark. A story where a 16 yrs old boy loves his father dearly, who can do to make his son smile. But what happened when his dad found out about him (peter) getting bullied...
