I'm Just Human

Chapter Nineteen

With Steve, Rhodey, and Tony all sharing the tower's penthouse, ever since The Vulture Incident, it feels almost too much like how it used to be. Especially with Peter visiting.

It's only been one week since Peter was released from the Tower's Hospital, and since Peter's visit over to the tower for the first time since the secret was revealed.

It was nice and all, and Tony's happy that at least he's still allowed to see Peter and be around Peter, but the difference between now and what it should've been, hurts.

Peter's coming over again today, now that it's a Friday, for what should be a fun weekend filled with things to do and avoidance of the heavy topics. All Tony wants to do is hang out with his kid and build things and train and watch movies.

"You're overthinking. I can hear your brain gears spinning from here," Rhodey says, rolling his eyes. He's leaning against the kitchen counter, a tourist-y New York mug cradled in his hands, steam billowing off the top. There's two already made cups of coffee on the counter nearby.

"Shut up. I think I have every right to overthink," Tony retorts, picking his coffee and leaning against the counter opposite Rhodey.

Surprisingly, it wasn't too hard for the pair to fall back into their friendship like nothing had gotten in the way. They'd both been keeping tabs on each other, even after the fallout, so there wasn't much catchup needed. It was easy for them to remember the rhythm of their relationship.

"Sure you do," Rhodey replies. "I'm just saying, it's not necessarily. I saw how that kid looked at you, he loved you before he found out about your relations. I don't think this knowledge can really damage that love."

Tony nods with a heavy sigh, not particularly enjoying the weight on his shoulders and tightening his chest, but he doesn't even think about drinking, it's not even in his top ten coping mechanisms at this point. He's learned better. Drinking's never gotten him anywhere good.

"Morning," Steve says, voice rough with sleep. He grabs the coffee off the counter, the last of the three mugs and joins them around the counter.

"You didn't used to like coffee?" Tony points out.

Steve shrugs, taking a long draw from the mug. "After working for Shield for so long, you kind of need to like coffee."

Tony remembers Steve asking for coffee on that first day, Natasha's rolling eyes, Steve's tapping fingers on the table spelling Tony's name.

"You also know Morse Code now," Tony says, a smile touching his face. It's still off and weird and scary, but it's more at home than Tony's felt in a very long time. "Shield want you back soon?"

"I'm off. Nat's taking over for me for as long as I need."

Rhodey finishes off his coffee and offers to make breakfast for them, Steve saying he's going on a run, and Tony planning on heading down to the lab for a couple hours.

It's weird and scary, but it's home. For Tony, at least.

This is where he belongs, with Steve and Rhodey and Peter. All he's really missing is Carol to really pretend everything's back to normal.

*

Peter's quiet when he gets to the penthouse. Tony knows something's off, but he doesn't want to cross this invisible line that's drawn between them. He isn't sure if it's really his place to say anything.

"Hey, kiddo. You want something to eat? I think we have some leftover pizza from last night," Tony offers gently.

(Bags under Peter's bloodshot eyes, a healing yellowish bruise on his jaw, guilt so much guilt in his expression and weighing on his shoulders, shaking hands as he stuffs them into his pockets, a bit of dried blood above his lip.)