there's something about you

chamomile

okay, so this is a song i like to listen to at night. it's kinda bopping. this story is an Irondad story, not starker. I can release a starker version of it if enough people want that. if you do, just comment on this.

It was three a.m. on a Tuesday and Peter Stark could not sleep. No matter how much he tossed and turned and threw pillows at his ceiling, he would not get tired. Well, no time like nighttime for a cup of tea. He clambered out of bed and grabbed a blanket from a bundle of sheets that made up his bed. It was hand-knitted by his Aunt Nat. It was a floral pattern of various herbs. It was light green and white with hints of yellow and pink. He adored that blanket. It was a wacky mixture of worn and soft that confused yet comforted his ultra-aware senses. With this blanket and his worn-out Wonder Woman pajamas, there was nothing that Peter couldn't do. Except for sleep, of course.

He meandered out of his room and into the kitchen. He instinctively grabbed the teapot off the stove and began to fill it with water from the sink. Whenever his Dad had something bothering his mind, he would always make a cup of green tea. It was his comfort drink. Peter had always found more solace in chamomile when things were on his conscience. He wasn't sure what exactly was bothering him, but he was sure some chamomile wouldn't hurt the situation. The dark kitchen felt cold and harsh, but Peter detested turning on the lights.  While the water was boiling, he gathered up a few candles of various shapes and sizes and lit them. Immediately, the room became more hospitable. Peter hummed a turn to a song whose lyrics were forgotten by Peter. The [pot started to make a very quiet whistle, which got progressively louder the longer he listened. Peter turned to flip it off, then noticed his Dad in the doorway of the kitchen. "Hey, Dad. Did I wake you up?"

"Just a bit. It's three a.m., Peter," Tony Stark crossed his arms. "What are you making?"

"Just some tea," Peter grabbed his favorite mug, a tallish white one that he had gotten from the Dollar Tree. 

"Pour me a cup of water, will you please?" Tony sat down at the kitchen bar and sighed. "Is something bothering you?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Tony gestured at the teabag that Peter was about to dunk in his trusty mug. He was called calm-chamomile. He had had enough tea in his life to know that this version was his favorite. "Well, tea first. Then talk," Peter walked back o the cabinet and grabbed some zen green tea from the tea bucket. Yes, they had a tea bucket. it was a great thing.

. . .

"-So I'm not exactly sure why I couldn't fall asleep," Peter talked to his Dad while they both sat, sipping on their individual teas.

"Well, is there anything you need to finish for school, or something you are bottling up inside?" Then, all a sudden, it hit him. He hadn't told his dad that he was gay. How could I have forgotten that?

Well, there is actually one thing, but I don't think it's a three a.m. kind of conversation." Peter became slightly nervous by the notion of telling him.

"Three a.m. is the best time to talk about things," Tony smiled. "Do you want to talk about it?" A moment passed. Then another. Then a third. Tony quirked his eyebrows.

"well, uh, you see-" Peter took a sip of his tea. He could do this. "I'm gay," He exhaled quickly. His Dad drank his tea and smiled.

"Okay," Then he started to laugh. He set down his cup and hugged Peter. "I love you no matter who you end up loving," Tony sat back. "Oh, and for the record, I'm pansexual." Peter giggled and they both drank some more tea.

So, Pete, you aren't seeing anyone are y-" Peter interrupted his Dad's questioning bu gulping down the last of his tea and standing up.

"NO way. We are not talking about this at three a.m. in the morning. I'm not going to boy gossip with you! I'm barely sixteen. I don't want to date until I actually can drive!" His Dad chuckled. Peter was so happy by the way his father had reacted to the news. "Imma sleep now."

"Night, kiddo. Love you to the moon and back."

"Love you too, Dad."

fin