Two dads for one

Just a business partner

- Mr. Iron Man!

His thoughts were interrupted by a little boy's voice calling for him. Peter was racing back to him, his hands filled with what looked like Lego racing cars. Peter was almost there when one of his feet got caught on one side of the carpet and the little boy started falling, face forward to the floor and no hands available to catch himself. Tony jumped into action and quickly caught the kid before he could face-plant on the carpet.

And in that moment, with a little kid in his arm, kneeling on the softest carpet he had ever seen, soft curls tickling his face and little pieces of Lego poking his chest, Tony finally felt complete.

***

Little giggles escaped from Peter's mouth as he tried to stand on his feet again.

-Mr Iron Man, you caught me! Is it because you are a superhero? I am sure that's why. You are used to saving people all the time.

Tony laughed softly with him.

- I will always catch you Peter. Now, show me what you got!

The boy pushed himself away from Tony's chest and waved the Lego excitedly while explaining to the older man what it was.

- It's a spaceship! I made it myself. Do you like it?

Tony took the "spaceship" in his hands and studied it with attention. He could feel Peter's stare as he awaited the genius's opinion.

- Where did you get the pieces from? It kind of look like two cars smashed together.

The little boy's expression immediately changed to one of sadness.

- It is what I used to do it. We don't have Lego spaceships so I took the pieces from the Lego cars we have.

Tony was impressed that the little boy even thought of that and even more by the practical design he had given to his ship. It looked a lot like a real one but Peter seemed to believe the opposite after hearing Tony.

- It's alright. I know it's not really great anyway. And you're like, the best inventor in the world, so it's normal if you find that my ship isn't good.

Peter's voice had dropped to almost a whisper and his voice sounded like he was about to cry. Tony rapidly shook his head and put a finger under Peter's chin to force the little boy to look at him as he spoke again.

- I am very impressed Peter. Your ship is very realistic. Especially if you only used car pieces to build it. I just couldn't believe you had made that, I am pretty sure I couldn't make such a great ship.

Peter's face instantly light up at these words and he jumped in Tony's arms and quickly wrapped his arms around the man's neck. Taken aback, Tony froze, unsure how to react to the little boy's hug.

- Thank you Mr Iron Man, mumbled Peter, but I know you could do it too. Would you like me to show you how I did it?

- Of course, I would love that!

And so, the two spent the next hours looking over the different features of Peter's spaceship. The little boy even opened the encyclopaedia to show Tony what ships he used as a model for certain part and Tony asked a hundred questions to Peter about how he thought the spaceship would function if it was a real one and which features he would like to add. The older man was listening very seriously to the little boy, never interrupting him but also adding his opinion when he felt like it was needed.

***

In this moment, sitting down on the floor, his legs stretched in front of him and covered by the encyclopaedia and multiple Lego pieces, as he build a new spaceship with Peter at his side, giving directions on how to assemble the different pieces, Tony forgot everything. The rest of the world, the Avengers, Stark industries, how lonely he was, his past mistakes, his miserable childhood. All that mattered was here and now, the beautiful voice of the little boy filling his ears and the very important task at hand.