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The coffee shop was nothing out of the ordinary. A small building tucked between two office buildings and with a sign that a few years old. Tony Stark wasn’t sure what had drawn him to the building, other than his craving for caffeine.
But he knew what kept him coming back.
As he pushed open the door, a wave of warm air and the scent of fresh pastries washed over him. Tony scanned the coffee shop for particular worker. Tony found him taking someone’s order and a small smile graced his lips. Tony took the seat that had become his usual over the last couple of weeks and waited for the staff member to approach him.
“Peter,” Tony greeted when the young adult finally came over.
“Hello,” Peter greeted, eyes flicking over Tony form. There was small, hesitant smile on his face whenever he greeted Tony and today was no different. “What would you like today?”
“The usual,” Tony said. “And to pick you brain on an equation.”
Peter’s shoulders seemed to relax and he quickly scribbled down Tony’s coffee order. “Okay, be right back.”
The first time Tony had seen the kid, Tony got the distinct impression that Peter had wanted to be anywhere else than serving him. Peter - according to the name tag pinned to his brown apron - had warily taken Tony’s order without the usual starry-eyed gaze he usually got when someone recognised him. While it was a refreshing change of pace, there was something about it that had Tony curious.
Tony tucked the interaction into the back of his mind and had drawn out his phone, opening up his notes to examine the equations he was currently working on.
Peter had returned with the same reluctant look and his coffee, carefully putting it in on the table. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Unless you know some advanced engineering,” Tony had muttered. He angled his phone, showing Peter his screen. He frowned at the action, unsure as to why he felt comfortable showing a stranger his phone screen and private material. He went to yank the phone back when Peter’s voice had him pausing.
“You need to carry the 2.”
Tony sunk back into his chair as he realised that Peter was right. Before Tony could say anything, Peter had walked away, disappearing behind the counter. Tony had come been back every day ever since.
At first, Peter had tried to avoid him. Tony would try to put the kid at ease, giving him soft smiles and talking about his work. Slowly the tense posture Peter had would ease and the words between them would flow. Peter would bring him coffee and cakes without prompting, always being Tony’s favourites like magic. Tony would stay for as long as he could, always reluctant to leave.
Peter was a bright, smart and intelligent kid. He challenged Tony in a way he hadn’t felt in a while. There was something about the ease of their conversations that had something niggling at the back of his mind. No matter how hard he tried to bring it to the front of his mind, he could never hold onto it. Instead, he left the coffee shop with questions he wasn’t sure he would get the answers too.
As Peter brought him a fresh up of coffee and a delicious smelling pastry, the tension had eased from his body. “Here you, go.”
“Thank you,” Tony said. He slid over a slip of paper with an equation he had written out last night. “What do you think of this?”
Peter’s eyes ran over the paper and Tony watched as the kid worked out the math in his head. Peter was crazy intelligent and from the small bits of information the kid had slipped out, Tony couldn’t understand why he wasn’t currently studying.
“This looks cool,” Peter said. “Clean energy, right?”
“That’s right,” Tony beamed. “Trying it out on a new line of Stark Industries products that we have in the works.”
“Wicked,” Peter grinned right back. “Sounds awesome.”
“Glad you think so, kid,” Tony said. “I’d like you to be apart of it.”
The smile slipped off Peter’s face. “What?”
“Kid,” Tony said, levelling Peter with a look. “We both know you are intelligent and from our conversations I know you have a forward way of thinking. I’m offering you an internship at Stark Industries in the R&D department.”
“No thank you,” Peter said, body tense. He looked away from Tony, taking a step back from the table.
Tony gaped. “No?”
“Anything else for today?” Peter asked.
“Yeah, an explanation as to why you are saying no,” Tony frowned. “Do you know how many people your age would kill for this opportunity?”
“Loads,” Peter said. “But I’m not one of them. Excuse me.” Peter turned, striding away.
“Peter.” Tony stood, falling Peter through the coffee shop. The few patrons in the store gazed after them, whispers following them. Tony caught up to Peter, gently gripping his shoulder. “Kid.”
“Let go,” Peter said, voice wavering as he refused to turn around.
Tony released Peter. “Why won’t you take the internship? I promise it’s a genuine offer.”
“I know it is,” Peter said, voice thick with such ache that it made Tony’s heart drop in his chest. “But I can’t. You should go and forget you ever came here.”
“Kid,” Tony croaked out.
“Please, Mr. Stark.”
It was the first time since Tony had started coming to the coffee shop that Peter had called him by his name.
Tony felt like he had been slapped.
Emotions crashed down on him in waves, grief, joy, anger, worry, love.
It was like a veil had lifted from his mind. Gone was the mystery of the coffee shop kid who knew complex equations and now standing in from of him was Peter Parker, his kid.
How had he forgotten Peter?
“Maybe,” Tony managed to bite out. “You could tell me why I have forgotten you for the past three months.”
Tony watched as Peter’s body tensed tightly. Very slowly, his kid turned around to face him, his expression not what Tony was expecting.
It was full of fear.
“You remember me?” Peter asked.
“I do,” Tony said, stepping closer to Peter. “Though I’m a little confused on the why and how part.”
Peter shook his head. “No, you shouldn’t remember. This is wrong. You have to go.”
“No,” Tony growled, gently taking Peter’s hand. “There is no way I am leaving you right now. I’m going to take a wild leap and say you had something to do with me forgetting you. That you are in some kind of trouble and there is no way in hell I am letting my kid go through that alone.”
Peter trembled in Tony’s touch. “Please. I’ll just hurt you.”
Ignoring the patrons staring at them, Tony pulled Peter into a tight hug. “You could never hurt me, kid.”
“I killed Aunt May,” Peter choked out, body trembling as he broke into sobs.
Tony swallowed thickly as he remembered and he pressed his cheek to the top of Peter’s. head. “No, that wasn’t you, Peter. It wasn’t your fault.”
Peter sobbed into Tony’s chest.
“Sir? Peter? Is everything okay?”
Tony lifted his head to find the owner looking at them worriedly.
“Peter got some bad news,” Tony lied. “I’m going to take him home.” He felt Peter shudder at the word.
“Of course,” the owner said. “If you need anything, Peter…”
“Thank you,” Tony said. “Come on, kid. I’m taking you home.”
Tony eased the hug and moved to keep one arm around Peter’s shoulder, leading him out of the shop. He kept Peter tucked into his side as he led them down the street to where his car was parked. He unlocked it, helping Peter into the front seat before jogging around to the drivers side. He locked them into the car, turning to face Peter.
Tears streamed down his kids face and Tony shoved down the list of questions he had. He reached out, gently knuckling away the tears that dripped down his cheeks.
“I’m here,” Tony promised. “And I’m not going anywhere. I love you, kid. We’re going to fix this.”
“Okay,” Peter said wetly. “Dad, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Tony soothed. “I’m here now. It’s going to be okay.”
Peter nodded, giving a small and wavering smile.
Tony had questions, but for now they could wait. Tony had his kid back and he was going to everything to make sure he never forgot his kid again.