Don't Leave Me Here - Starker

14

Tony raced to the lab once they arrived home, wanting to look over Peter's suit again before he went out. With a quick kiss to the forehead, he'd left Peter alone for the time being. Even Roo had followed him to the lab.

Peter, still feeling exhausted, decided to take a nap instead, and flipped the tv on. He curled up with his blanket on the couch, falling asleep just moments later.

Tony, who had become distracted by the suprisingly loud snoring from Roo, was doing his best to concentrate. However when DUM-E wandered off to fuss over the puppy, he decided Roo was clearly a distraction to everyone. Tony gently picked him up, and made his way up the stairs.

Tony smiled seeing Peter's sleeping form, the Star Wars movie now forgotten on the tv. With another glance, he could see the pained look etched into Peter's face. Certainly another nightmare. He maneuvered the still sleeping Roo, to lie next to the other, who immediately grasped onto him.

He sat down in front of the pair, brushing his fingers through Peter's curls, hoping to ease whatever dreams were racing through his mind.

Tony's heart ached seeing the younger this way. While being a hero was a gift, it came with its ugly side too. Past mistakes, stress, doubt, the world on his shoulders. Peter wore his heart on his sleeve, and carried it all with him. But what Tony would give to take that burden from the other.

After a few minutes, Peter's scrunched face seemed to relax, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Roo woke up when he was pulled even closer to the younger, staring directly at Tony.

"You take care of Pete, yeah?" He whispered, softly petting the pup.

Roo huffed before settling back into Peter's arms.

"Yeah, you're a good boy, little bug."

Tony wanted to stay with them, lie on the couch and not bother with the rest of the world. But Peter would wake up eventually, ready to take on the city. If his suit wasn't finished, that couldn't happen. And Tony would be damned if he disappointed the other.

So with reluctance, he pulled himself from the floor, pressed a kiss to Peter's curls, and made his way back down the stairs.

•

Around eight that evening, Tony was satisfied with the status of Peter's suit. He spun away from the desk rubbing his eyes, exhausted from the lack of sleep and staring at screens for the last few hours.

Peter would have to run a few tests to ensure everything was ready, but he should be able to take it out that night. He'd made the 'Training Wheels' protocol accessible to him too, since he'd despised it so much, however Tony was going to let the younger figure that out on his own.

When his stomach had become loud enough for Friday to voice her concern, Tony finally pulled himself out of the chair. He asked her to order in Thai food for the pair, while he made his way out of the lab.

He saw both Peter and Roo still sleeping soundly on the couch, and while he knew the younger needed it, Tony wanted to make sure he could sleep through the night.

"C'mon Roo." Tony mumbled, shuffling the puppy into his arms. "Let's go outside, stretch the little paws of yours."

Roo was dead weight in his arms, clearly not amused with being pulled from the warm couch. Tony sat him on the floor, but when the door opened and he saw the birds flutter off, Roo was reenergized. He raced out the door, shortly after crashing into the fence.

Tony cringed, laughing at the puppy as he continued playing like nothing had happened. He shook his head, leaving the door open, heading back to Peter.