I'm Just Human

Chapter Sixteen

It was hard to convince himself not to sprint up to the floor with Peter and Steve in Shield Headquarters. He wanted to get to them as fast as he could, partly because he wanted to yell at Peter for doing something dangerous and partly because he wasn't sure he believed Steve when he said Peter was okay.

Security doesn't stop him thankfully, recognizing him almost immediately. It's not the first time he's gotten tangled up in Shield business since he's a superhero.

But he has to wait in the elevator up to the Agents Living Quarters Floor which is so high that Tony's bouncing on his toes by the time it reaches the top, aggravated by the stupid elevator music.

When it finally opens, he freezes at the scene.

Peter's curled up in the corner of the couch, a knitted blanket pulled tight around his shoulders. His feet are propped up in Nat's lap who's sitting beside him, a mug cradled in her hands. Steve is in the kitchen, dish towel tossed over one of his shoulders, washing dishes in the sink, humming along to the theme song of whatever's playing on the TV.

It looks so domestic, Tony wants to throw up.

"Parker!" Tony calls out, walking into the living room, arms crossed over his chest.

Peter jolts, eyes wide as they meet Tony's. The blanket slips around his shoulders. "Mister Stark, I'm- I'm so sorry. I didn't- I didn't mean to get caught up with Shield or anything. It was an accident. I just- I had to save my friends and- and-"

"Relax, kid, I'm not angry." That's a lie. The anger is rolling in his stomach, but he pushes it down. He's not going to shout at Peter for saving his friends. "Your dear aunt might be, though."

The teenager flinches. "You promised you wouldn't tell her."

"I won't," Tony agrees. This has been promised since they met. "You should, but I won't push you. We should just get you back to Queens before noon."

"You don't want to stay?" Natasha asks, head tipping to the side. They've met before and Nat has a knowing look on her face. "We're watching Friends reruns."

"Season Five," Steve pipes up, wandering into the living room as well. He towers higher than Tony remembers, and he pushes down the hatred for that. He used to love Steve's height and broad shoulders, but now it just makes him feel small.

"Fuck, that's the best season," Tony says, rolling his eyes. He hates how much he wants to do this. To curl up on the couch with his kid and with Steve and watch Friends. He hates how desperate he is for that kind of affection.

"Peter will call May and let her know he's safe, if that helps," Steve says. "You just drove all the way out here, Tony. Relax for a bit."

"Only if you make me a coffee. I take it-"

"I know how you take your coffee, Tony," Steve murmurs, a flicker of nostalgia racing through his eyes. "Go sit."

Nat makes room for Tony in between the two already on the couch, and Peter stretches his legs across both of them, shoulders relaxing.

"What happened?" Tony asks him, making sure none of the worry shows on his face.

"My friends were on an elevator in the Washington Monument. I had to save them. I couldn't just sit there and watch them fall," Peter explains quietly, not looking at Tony. "I didn't think I'd get in trouble for it."

"You're not in trouble," Natasha says, one hand patting Peter's leg sympathetically.

"Only because Mister Rogers took pity on me."