The first time it happens Tony feels the blood drain from his face and his heart stop beating. They're sitting on the couch, sharing a blanket, a movie droning on in the background, and Tony feels Peter slowly leaning his weight against his shoulder, quickly falling asleep.
He looks at the kid and realizes just how lucky he is to have him in his life and the phrase just kind of slips out, "I love you, kid."
Peter shifts and grumbles, confused eyes peeking out at the inventor. "Did you say someth'ng M'ster St'rk?"
"Just go to sleep Bud," the mechanic replies, realizing with an all consuming relief that his little slip up had been in Italian.
"M'kay," the kid mumbles, burrowing further into the blankets.
It becomes something of a habit after that.
"You're my world."
"I love you."
"You are the best thing to ever happen to me."
"There is nothing I could have possibly done to deserve you."
"You are the stars kid, the sun and the stars."
"You're brilliant, Peter, you're going to blow them all away."
And more, all said in the most comfortable times, all said in Italian. Peter would look at him after he would say his piece, his brow furrowed, his head tilted like a puppy, and smile gently. He never said a word.
Then, one day, it all comes screeching to a halt.
Tony is messing around with one of his gauntlets, screwdriver in hand and covered in grease, just as he liked it. Peter is doing something similar to his web shooters, in a more orderly manner. Peter's phone rings, he picks it up.
"I'll be home in an hour or two," he says. "No, it's okay, I can pick up the milk."
The one second it takes for Tony to realize that Peter just spoke Italian feels like an eternity. The screwdriver clangs to the floor, his hands freeze where they are.
The billionaire whips around to face his protege, eyes wide. "You speak Italian," he says lamely.
"Yeah, May's gramma was Italian and always made her speak it so it's more her first language than English is," Peter explains, "I thought you knew that."
"N-no, I didn't."
"Oh. O-oh..." Peter's eyes widen as he puts the pieces together in his head. All the times Tony had randomly spouted an incredibly affectionate affirmation hadn't really been for his ears. Both the pair's cheeks burn, before Peter decides that it was ridiculous to feel so embarrassed. Then, "I love you too."
