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Peter looked up at the stars and breathed in the rich clear air. Nothing like summer in the city. He thought to himself. Perching on the top of the empire state building was probably the best place for a late-night break. Peter had been contemplating turning in a touch early (3 a.m.) for one single reason:
Peter had been stressed beyond belief.
Ever since Manahil was attacked he’d taken it upon himself to protect as many people as he could. The constant late nights and hiding the bruises from his dad, (not to mention single-handedly taking up the mantle of manhattans sole protector) was starting to take its toll.
Peter took another deep breath, stole one more gaze at the stars and shot a web into the distance determined to do one more circuit before starting the trip home.
~~ 0_o ~~
Nightmares were normal, Tony was used to nightmares. The nightmares about floating through space and always being so close to the portal but not close enough; the trauma of being forced underwater, unable to breathe, the car battery in his chest shocking him with each violent splash of water; the older, more deep-rooted terror of Howard, drunk and angry, finally snapping. But tonight was a new brand of fear, one his subconscious refused to let go of. Lately, his nightmares have been about Peter, of him strapped down to a dissection table, and Tony cutting him open while he screams .
Tony sat up, his throat aching, had he been screaming? He wiped the sweat from his brow and moved to the bathroom to splash water on his face.
He heard Jarvis talking, but it was foggy, and without his permission, his body started moving to the kitchen and making up a cup of hot cocoa.
Tony didn’t know how long it had been, but when he blinked into awareness the tv was softly playing a documentary and the mug was empty. He stood up and moved to wash the mug.
“Hey, J?”
“Yes sir?”
“How’s Peter?”
“Young master Peter is asleep in his room.”
Tony nodded vaguely and started towards Peter’s room. As quietly as possible, he opened the door and stepped through. When he didn't see Peter on his bed his first thought was panic, then he remembered that Peter tended to sleep in his nest nowadays. Tony began glancing through the off-white strands looking for the familiar form of his sleeping son. His heart threatened to stop when he couldn’t find him.
“Peter!” he shouted, hoping that he’d just overlooked the boy, but no luck. “J where is he?”
“Sensors indicate he is in the left window corner.”
His eyes darted to the aforementioned corner and was struck with white-hot panic when he found it empty.
He shook his head, trying to calm down enough to think logically. Tony looked around the room for any signs of struggle “J? Go ahead and reboot the sensors, Peters not here.” he couldn't see anything that would indicate he’d been kidnapped but-
“Reboot complete. Sir, it appears that both the sensors in young Sir’s room as well as the cameras in the living room have been looped by a subroutine that I believe was placed there by Karen.
“Karen? Why would-” Tony was struck with a realization, “that little shit! He snuck out!”
~~ 0_o ~~
Peter was both glad and disappointed that nothing exciting happened on the way home. He did intervene with one altercation of a drunk guy being led home by someone he didn’t seem entirely familiar with (the unfamiliar person was also a little too sober to seem like a hookup) luckily he was able to get them both home without a fuss and was able to head home without too much of a detour.
“Karen? How’re the cameras holding?”
“It seems that the camera and sensor loops have been disabled, would you like me to reactivate them?”
Shit , Peter thought. If the camera loops have been deactivated then that means that his dad* knew he was out. Which also means he’s waiting for him. So, two options: either come in through the balcony window like he’s been doing (revealing his nightly activities in the process) or try and find some normal clothes and come up through the elevator. Let’s see how this goes.
* It also could’ve been Nat (or just about anyone else in the tower really) but his dad was the most likely culprit
“Okay Karen, go ahead and start looping footage and audio in the private garage and elevator,” Peter whispered, once Karen confirmed that the loop was in place, he snuck on the ceiling* over to the lift and got in.
“Alright Karen, loop all the cameras and take me up to the gym.” When the elevators stopped he snuck over to the locker rooms (thankful that no one was in there) taking the fastest shower known to man and changing into his spare post-workout clothes. Norns I hope this works.
~~ 0_o ~~
Tony should have expected this, he really should have. I mean, his rebellious streak was wider than the grand canyon, it’s no wonder that Peter tried to sneak out. Tony had hoped that it would be a few years before it really started but the point still stands.
After panic-calling Pepper at three in the morning, Tony thinks he knows how he’s going to handle this. The main thing, he thinks, is to make sure Peter is safe, not to punish him for doing the same things he did.
“Sir?” Jarvis said “I have detected Karen’s subroutine looping cameras in the garage. Would you like me to undo it?”
“No thanks J, just tell me where he’s headed,” let see where he goes when he thinks no one is watching.
“The young master has stopped in the gym, I cannot detect which room without rebooting the- one of the showers is being used.”
“What? Why would he need to- oh, oh no .” Tony ran a hand through his hair, he thought he could at least wait till Peter went off to school before he ran into this problem. Tony was now realizing the where Peter has been is far less important than the who he was with. He got up from the chair and started pacing. “J? Do a quick search and look up the best tips for giving your kid the talk .”
~~ 0_o ~~
Peter, now freshly dressed in a pair of leggings* and a T-shirt, bounced anxiously on the balls of his feet while he waited for the elevator to take him to the penthouse. It’s okay Peter, just say you were going out for a late-night walk and didn't want to wake him. That’ll work, right?
The elevator doors opened to a softly lit living room where his dad was sitting with two mugs of hot chocolate, his tablet, and a lethal disappointed-worried combo plastered on his face.
“Peter,” he said when he heard the door chime, “come here Tesoro.”
He moved to sit stiffly next to his dad, but was pulled into his side and had the nearby blanket draped over his lap. “So, you snuck out,” Tony said matter-of-factly, setting aside his tablet. “Where’d you go?”
He swallowed audibly and decided to stall by grabbing one of the mugs and taking a sip. “I- uh- just, went for a walk.”
Tony hummed, “well maybe next time you feel like ‘taking a walk’ at three in the morning I suggest going down to the gym.” Tony grabbed the other mug and took a sip. “Now why don't you tell me where you really went. Don’t get me wrong here Pete, you’re in trouble, but believe it or not, I was young once too-”
“Really, when was that?” he said smugly into his mug.
“You’re a little shit you know.” Tony snorted. “Anyway, I’m just saying I know what it’s like to want a little rebellious freedom. I just want you to know that my biggest priority is your safety.”
“Well, I think we both know that I’m stronger than I look.”
His dad smirked, giving him a playful glare, but it quickly melted into a bitter-sweet smile. “Dad?” Peter asked softly, “you okay?”
“Yea. yea, tessero I’m good,” he wrapped his arm around peter’s shoulders and planted a kiss on his hair. “So, I know you can take care of yourself, but that won't ever stop me from worrying about you alright? It’s my job as your dad.” Peter sipped at his drink, vaguely noting that the tv was on. “That being said. Now that I know you’re capable of sneaking out I feel it’s time we had a little, chat.”
Peter looked up at Tony, confused, until he noted his stiff, downright awkward , posture. “Y’know what,” Peter said, panicking, “I think I left a burner on in the lab-”
Tony pulled Peter in closer before he had the chance to run. “Oh no you don't Peter. If you’re old enough to sneak out in the middle of the night then you’re old enough to sit through this.” the both of them stilled, tense, as Tony gathered his thoughts.
“So, uh- first of all: condoms. I don't care who you’re with, guy or gal, wear them. STDs aren’t fun, trust me. Second of all- and I know you’d never do this but it bears being said: no means no. If someone tells you to stop, even if they're on top, it ends, alright?” Tony leaned to look into Peter’s eyes.
“O-of course!” Peter was flushed bright blue, but luckily the room was dark.
“Good,” Tony said, clearing his throat and looking away. “Now, uh, I’m not gonna sit here and describe kinks to you, you can figure that out on your own, but safewords are very important, especially if you uh- if your mouth is um- occupied.”
“ Dad!”
“What! Look- just, communication is important, make sure you always have a way to call things off alright?”
“Yea,” Peter held his mug like a lifeline, silently praying to anyone but Thor or Loki that this would end so he could go lay in his nest and die.
“Okay uh this for both guys and gals but definitely more important for guys, lube is important, not just for comfort but also safety. And some lube substitutes can corrode latex condoms so just- be careful. Oh also, use common sense and be sure to clean any toys when you’re done-”
“ Dad! I get it, really.”
Tony cleared his throat, “right- well. Uh, last thing,” thank the Norns, “for guys, you’ve got to, uh. Well that is to say you can’t- … I’ll try not to be graphic but you can’t just jump straight to the fun part with guys.” Peter felt like his ears were burning even with his cold blood. “You’ve got to, uh- stretch , whoever’s receiving. Alright?”
“Yup. condoms, consent, lube, stretching. Can I go now please?” Peter whined.
“Not yet, but we are done with that. Uh, again, I’m not mad that you snuck out, but you’re still grounded. No electronics, and no lab time for a week.”
Peter nodded, hoping to be done with this interaction as soon as possible.
“Alright, good night Peter.”
“Night,” Peter said and retreated to his room. Maybe Loki can take me to Vanahiem until the shame wears off. Peter thought as he curled up in his nest and watched the stars as he slipped off to sleep.