a sky full of stars {Irondad - Febuwhump}

happiness can be found even in the darkest of times

Day 13 & 14 – Unfortunate & Broken Heart 

{It's been like 17 years so idk if I have to say it but Spoilers for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?? - i make a couple harry potter references throughout so??}

*

For once, the day didn't seem to hold any heaviness to it. The sky was bright, the cake made to immaculate perfection, the card and present nervously left in the center of the table.

"Happy Becoming a Stark Day, kid," Tony says, uncertainty obvious in the way he holds himself, shoulders tense and eyes wary.

Three years ago, Peter would've hid away in his room at the reminder, scolding himself for calling it his room. He would've tucked himself under his blankets, locked the door, and cried, begging May and Ben to come back.

Two years ago, Peter would've shrugged Tony off. He would've rolled his eyes, refused to have any of the cake, and ignored the gift. He would've shouldered his backpack and stalked to school, not even accepting Happy's offer for a ride.

Even last year, Peter would've squared his jaw, maybe attempted a half-smile in consideration. He wouldn't have eaten the cake, would've maybe peeked at the gift when he thought Tony wasn't looking, but would've ignored the idea of the day that stood before him.

But today's different. Three years is a long time to heal.

So, instead, he offers Tony a smile, maybe a little weary and down, but a smile nonetheless, and he sits at the table across from his guardian.

"Hey, bud," Tony murmurs, even quieter than before, but his shoulders have relaxed. "I know I'm not supposed to let you have cake for breakfast, but I figured we could go out tonight, if you want."

Peter pauses, and even quieter than Tony, even smaller, he says, "Could we maybe just have a movie night? Just us here? If not, that's okay, I don't mind going out, but I just- I-"

But Tony's face is so gentle, eyes shining. "Yeah, buddy, of course. We can watch that show you never shut up about."

Tentatively, Peter steels himself to extend the olive branch he'd been holding close to his chest for far too long. "Do you think, maybe, we could try to make meatloaf? It was- It was the only thing May could cook and I found her recipe when I was going through her things."

And Tony's eyes light up with pride, smiling softly. "Course we can, buddy."

"Can I?" Peter asks, reaching for the present. Anxiety still thrums in his veins and the remnants of grief still curl from his toes up to the pit of his stomach, and guilt still lingers in the back of his mind. But he wants to try.

Tony pushes the present and card across to Peter, still smiling so carefully like he's scared any wrong move on his part will set Peter backwards on his course to happiness.

The card is simple, a few kind words scrawled in Tony's messy handwriting about how much Peter means to him.

The gift makes tears spring to Peter's eyes. A gold chain with a locket on the end of it. When he opens it, it's the picture of Peter, Ben, and May on the beach when they went on one of their Spontaneous Sunday Stunts. They drove out to Coney Island that Sunday, not long before Everything Happened.

Peter quickly slips the gold chain around his neck, unable to tear his eyes away from the picture of Ben and May smiling at the camera, arms wrapped around Peter.

He stands suddenly, chair kicking out behind him before he can stop it, but Tony beats him to talking, voice low and apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I know it's soon and it's not my place, I just saw the picture when I was going through some of the stuff, and I figured-"