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[Tony drew his hand back and suddenly gave Peter a very stern look.]

Knock it off! Papa knows best, kid!

[Still, he settled back against his bed and stopped 'petting' Peter's hair. Within moments, his demeanor shifted to more serious and less pretending to be serious.]

I really hate that you're seeing me like this.

[As if he wasn't mortified already by this whole thing, when or if he realized how honest he was talking to Peter now that he was under the influence of some strong pain medication, he'd probably not talk to the young man for a month.]

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[ Peter just blinks in confusion a moment. Had-had Mr Stark just referred to himself as... Papa? That's... just how strong are those painkillers? Hopefully, Mr Stark won't even remember this conversation. ]

Don't worry about it, Mr Stark! I've seen worse.

[ He's not going to go into detail about that, but there are so many directions this day could gone in and he's just thankful it didn't. ]

[Why yes, yes he did. Makes you wonder what he thinks about and doesn't share, doesn't it?]

Now who's being dramatic?

[Still Stark, but good luck telling him that.]

Okay let's make a deal. You go get me ice cream and kahlua and I'll give you the introductions manual for the Avengers jet.

[ Maybe a little... ]

Uh.. I can get you the ice cream but you're not supposed to mix pain killers and Kahlua. Not to mention, I'm not twenty one. When I get caught, I'll get in trouble.

[ Not if. When. Because if there's one thing he can count on, it's for his luck to turn against him at every available moment. ]

[Tony hrumphs.]

How can you get in trouble if it's my alcohol? And I think I heard them say I was dehydrated. That means I'm supposed to be drinking, right?

[Best argument ever.]

Fifteen, huh? You've got a long way till twenty one. Are you going to be this strict about rules all the way up until then?

Yeah, water. Alcohol would just dehydrate you even more.

[ Or at least, so he's been told. Peter just crinkles his nose a little at that last part though. It's okay if other people do it, he just can't really ever imagine himself drinking. ]

I don't know-I mean, for one I don't even know if I can get drunk with my metabolism. And two, I don't know that my senses could handle it-just the smell almost made me dizzy.

But alcohol is more fun than water.

[That sounded just like a kid whining about not getting his dessert at the end of the meal. However, Tony couldn't argue the same way with the rest of Peter's logic, so he shrugged.]

Good. Leaves more for the rest of us- but what about other stuff? Like are you going to be the kind of guy who can break a rule here and there or are you always going to follow them? What kind of man are you going to be Peter? You have to start deciding. Don't wait and look back and just find out that way. That's no way to live life.

Trust me.

[ Whoa. This ended up being a much deeper conversation than Peter was really prepared for. Also deeper than Tony was probably equipped to have at the moment. ]

[ Still, he finds himself shrugging. ]

I don't know-I guess it just depends on the circumstances? I don't really care about the rules, I care about people getting hurt.

I decided a while ago that I'd never refuse to help someone-not again.

[Welcome to depressant drugs, Peter. It was smart not to give him more by giving him alcohol.

Whether Tony was really capable of handling this conversation or not, that answer brought the most genuine, proud smile from the older man's face as he looked at Peter- his little mentee.]

That's why you're going to be the best one of us, kid. You're going to be way, way better than me.

Now go get us ice cream.

[ Did Tony really think that highly of him? He probably wouldn't if he ever found about some of the other things that had happened but he'd just try and keep that from happening and just enjoy the time he has. ]

[ Peter just offers Tony a kind of mischievous smile. ]

Sure thing, Dad!

[ He slides off the bed and makes a beeline for the door, escaping out into the hall before giving Tony the chance to respond. ]

[Tony's mouth was open to say 'thanks, kid' before he realized what Peter had said. Dad? Had Peter really called him 'dad'? After a stunned moment, he looked up to see if Peter was waiting for a response, but was really grateful to see he wasn't- but also disappointed to see he was gone.

If Steve was still around, he'd probably talk to him about it but he wasn't. He wished he could've recorded that somehow or gotten it in writing or.. no. He wouldn't have wanted something someone else could see. It was meant just for him. And yet..

Peter just called me dad, Pepper..

Whenever Peter came back, he'd find Tony dosing quietly with a small smile on his face.]

[ Peter takes a little extra time coming back with that Ice Cream as the moment the words had been out of his mouth he'd regretted them and started imagining scenarios that probably weren't even likely. ]

[ But what if he'd just made things super awkward forever for one jibe? It was stupid and now he feels weird. He'll just... pretend it didn't happen unless it's brought up. He takes a deep breath and moves into the Medbay again, and immediately hands Tony his Ice Cream. ]

Here, Mr Stark.

[Tony opens his eyes when he hears the door open and lifts an eyebrow when he sees only one bowl. What the hell did that mean?]

Thanks. Worried about your girlish figure?

[He accepts the bowl and takes a bite. It's less fun now that it's not being shared, but he's not about to let this go to waste.]

Please tell me your opinion on ice cream isn't the same as alcohol or we're going to need to have a serious conversation on your idea of fun.

What? I-Oh.

[ He remembers making a bowl for himself but apparently had forgotten to grab it on the way back. Whoops. ]

N-no! I love ice cream-I just... uh... not... hungry?

[ He offers, not really wanting to admit he'd just forgotten it. ]

Alright. Just so long as you're okay.

[He takes another bite. It'd be a lot better with kahlua.]

So I had another idea for your next suit. I haven't perfected it, but maybe you can look at the schematics of it for me. It's a device around your collar that will react if there's sudden pressure- like if someone's trying to choke you- and expand a few inches preventing them from being able to cut off your oxygen. However, it needs to be completely maleable the rest of the time so it doesn't encumber you. Although I guess I neck brace as a protection feature isn't a bad thing either..

[ Wait. He actually bought that? ...How high was he? ]

I-I mean I don't usually let anyone close enough to choke me-it's a nice precaution but I'm not that fragile?

[No, but he was trying to be ~over~ it. But you're Peter so give him a few minutes and the topic will circle around again.

Although not looking nearly as impressed as he'd hoped in his latest idea for Peter's suit visibly deflated his mood. He set the ice cream aside with a roll of his eyes.]

Alright, what's going on? The truth this time. You usually get excited if I suggest added a toothbrush to that thing.

[ Now he really wishes he hadn't left the ice cream in the kitchen. Then he could at least stuff ice cream in his face to avoid the question. ]

Y-Yeah well dental hygiene is important.

[ He offers with that slight squeak that sometimes comes out when he feels a bit nervous. ]

Also, I left my ice cream on the counter.

[Tony raised that eyebrow again and stared at Peter long and hard.]

Peter.

I really did forget, Mr Stark!

[ It was probably mostly melted by now. ]

I just got to thinking- [ Over thinking. ] -and completely forgot to grab my bowl. It's kinda bothering me so I'm gonna go take care of it.

[ Sorry, Mr Stark, he's not ready to have a full heart to heart-especially when Tony is currently being treated for a head injury. ]

[There's some hurt on Tony's face when Peter straight up refuses to talk to him. He'd thought they were closer than that, but he just nods and gestures towards the door.]

Fine.

[One moment he's dad and the next Peter won't even tell him what's bothering him. Why did kids have to be so frustrating! He didn't wait for Peter to fully leave before he rolled over to his side facing the opposite direction and pulled the blanket around him tighter. He might not be as loopy as he was before, but he was high enough to sulk like a teenager.]

[ Once Peter's outside the room he just lets out a sigh-now he'd only made things more awkward. Maybe if he hadn't freaked out then everything would be fine. ]

[ He does goes off to the kitchen to clean up the mostly melted ice cream and then finds himself wandering back to the Medbay after having spent a little time upside down in the room he'd been given to stay in. ]

[As Peter is entering the room, Astro, a little servant robot Tony had made that vaguely resembled Wall E, was on its way out of the room. Inside, Tony was just finishing dressing in a dressing gown and silk pajama bottoms and slippers. In one hand was a brass and walnut walking cane, that he cautiously used to get to his feet.]

I asked Rhodey if I could borrow the legs braces I made for him, but he told me no. Can you believe that? Guess we're all a bunch of prickly asses around here.

[He turned around and looked Peter over thoughtfully.]

If you're done pretending you're not hungry, you're welcome to join Pepper and I for dinner. She promises Vision didn't cook it.

[ Peter glances up and glad to see that Tony already looks much better-even if he is in pajamas. His eyes fall on the cane and then move back up to Tony. ]

Well... he kinda needs them to walk, Mr Stark.

[ He offers stepping a little further into the room and trying to decide if he wants to risk an awkward dinner. Maybe Pepper being there would keep it from getting too awkward? He really can't afford to skip meals due to his metabolism. ]

Uh...

[ His traitor stomach decides to growl loudly at the idea of food. ]

S-Sounds good!

[ How does one accept a dinner invitation from Tony Stark? Was that too casual? ]

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