I'm Just Human

Chapter Two

"Please, Dad. I wouldn't be asking if I didn't have to," Tony pleads. Peter, at only a year old, chokes on a sob, Bambi eyes sending pleading stares to his father who paces the small living room.

Peter's sick. Badly sick from what Tony can tell. Tony doesn't have any health insurance and he doesn't have the money for rent, let alone for doctor's bills right now.

"If you had just gotten rid of the baby, this never would've happened," Howard replies condescendingly over the phone.

"He's my kid. I couldn't just abandon him!"

"He wouldn't have been your responsibility if you hadn't gotten so attached. If you left that whore to take care of him by herself, you never would've ended up with him," he tsks, obviously rolling his eyes.

"She's dead," Tony growls. "Don't call her a whore... I just need a little bit of money. Peter's really sick and I'm worried about this being something bigger than just a cold. It's either I get evicted for not having rent money or Peter suffers. I need the money."

"I have better things to do than listen to you whine about your poor life choices," Howard drawls, shuffling paper on the other end. "It's your fault you're in this situation, so you have to find a way to solve your problems."

"Dad-"

The phone beeps, signalling the end of the phone call before Tony could finish his sentence.

Tony growls in annoyance and throws his cellphone at the chair, watching it bounce harmlessly onto the cushion. Peter whimpers, bottom lip trembling as more tears spill down his pale cheeks.

The teenager scoops his baby up into his arms, running his fingers through Peter's bouncy curls soothingly.

"It's okay, buddy. It's okay. Daddy's got you. Everything's going to be okay. You'll feel better soon," Tony reassures half-heartedly. He doesn't know if that's true. Even if he takes Peter to the doctor, they won't have enough money for rent and they'll get evicted. If he doesn't, Peter's going to continue to suffer through whatever he has, but they'll have a roof over their head.

There's a loud knock on the door and it swings open before Tony can open his mouth.

Carol stalks in, shoulders tense and chin held high. She pushes her blonde hair over her shoulder and drops an envelope onto the table.

"What is that?" Tony says, making sure Peter's head stays against his shoulder as he turns. Peter's tears have slowed now that he's in his dad's arms, but his little shoulders are still trembling.

"Money. It'll cover the next three months of your rent. Take Peter to the doctors," Carol says, anger radiating from behind her eyes.

"I can't take that from you," Tony immediately argues, pressing a kiss to his kid's temple when he lets out a whine from the back of his throat.

"I can't let you suffer like this. You look like you haven't slept in days and you've been skipping your classes in favour of working while Rhodey babysits Peter. You need to take him to the doctors."

"This is a loan?" Tony questions, narrowing his eyes when Carol sighs heavily.

"It's a gift, Tony. I was saving up for a car, but a friend of mine is giving me her old one for super cheap. I don't need the money, you do," Carol says as though she's talking to a child.

"I can't just take this from you," Tony says, but he knows he has to. The collar of his old shirt is damp from Peter's tears and he needs the financial aid.