I'm Just Human

Chapter One

"This place looks beautiful. How the hell can we afford this?" Carol asks, wide eyes looking around the open living room.

"Three people's salaries can surprisingly do some good," Rhodey explains, following the woman into the kitchen. "Plus, this place is crazy cheap thanks to my sister-in-law. She's a realtor so she got us a good deal."

"This is crazy," Tony agrees, keeping hold of Peter's hand. His son is now almost four years old, starting school, starting kindergarten next month.

It wasn't easy for Tony to get this far. It was a lot of effort and a lot of days where he got pretty close to giving up.

His parents still haven't spoken a word to him since he told them he was keeping Peter. They've been adamant on ignoring him until he 'comes to his senses.' He told them he couldn't care less whether they were in his life or not. He didn't care because he made his own family. He has Peter and Rhodey and Carol. What more could he want?

Obviously, it wasn't easy. It wasn't a walk in the park to get where he is now. It was a lot of work. Between Peter, school, work, and expenses, there were a lot of moments where he wondered if it was worth it to continue like he was.

But then he'd get back to his small apartment and Peter would race up to him with the biggest of smiles, one of the babysitters in tow, and it would show Tony what he was working towards. He'd do anything to give his kid a wonderful childhood.

"Daddy?" Peter squeaks, tugging on Tony's hand with his little one. "Are we going to stay here?"

"Yeah, kiddie. This our home now," Tony says, scooping his kid up into his arms. Peter immediately curls into Tony's shoulder, a little smile touching his face.

Peter grew up in a small apartment. One with only one bedroom and a small bathroom, barely enough room for both of them. One where the electricity was turned off half the time when Tony couldn't pay the bills. One where the sink was broken and there was never any hot water and the couch was worn. One where it might hold happy memories, but was never a happy place.

Rhodey grins as he makes a full spin in the kitchen, arms outstretched.

"I can't believe it! The kitchen is big enough for a whole arms width!" he exclaims happily.

Rhodey and Carol had an apartment together for the last two years of University and it was small. Not as small as Tony's, but still pretty small. It's a miracle to all of them that they get a real house with space and storage and enough bedrooms for everyone.

Technically, it's a two-bedroom house, but they've turned the office into a bedroom and there was a walk-in closet in the bigger of the bedrooms that they've converted into Peter's room.

Carol opens the fridge with a loud sigh. They've only just moved in so they have no food, barely enough furniture, and their moving truck only gets there tomorrow.

"Guess we're ordering in tonight," Tony laughs, setting Peter on the floor. The kid immediately starts running for the stairs to explore the house. "Be careful!"

"Pizza?" Rhodey suggests, pulling out his phone. Everyone nods in agreement and Carol heads off, in need of a shower and Tony goes to search for his kid to make sure he hasn't gotten himself into too much trouble.

*

After pizza, Peter is tucked into his new bed, tired but happy. And Tony heads back downstairs to where Carol has already popped open a bottle of celebratory wine.

"This is going to be good for us," Rhodey says, pride sparkling in his eyes as he lifts his glass.

"Damn straight," Carol says.