Chapter Text
The first time that Tony sees Peter Parker, it’s late in the afternoon in the fourth floor corridor after a board meeting that Pepper had bullied him into attending. The boy is really a sight for sore eyes with the setting sun spinning gold over his brown hair and pale cheeks. He’s wearing a white lab coat with an ID badge clipped to the breast and holding an armful of files, eyes unfocused and deep in thought. Tony’s appreciative once-over brings him to scuffed-up sneakers and really, he looks way too young to be one of SI’s scientists. Tony doesn’t realize he’s actually stopped dead to check this boy out until the kid meets his eyes, promptly blushes a lovely shade of pink and drops his files like the heroine of some trashy romance.
“Oh no, sorry,” the kid mutters, perhaps to Tony - there’s no one else in this stretch of corridor just now - perhaps just to himself.
Tony walks closer, looks down his nose to watch the boy hurriedly pick up his files on one knee, get to his feet with a whoosh of breath, and then jerk back slightly, eyes widening in surprise at Tony’s sudden proximity. The blush deepens and spreads.
“Sir. Mr Stark, sir,” he says with a deferential little nod. Tony quirks his lip in amusement, delighted that he’s found at least one perk of his advanced age if now pretty young things will call him ‘Mr Stark, sir’ in that tone of voice. Tony is generally a ‘call me Tony’ sort of guy with everyone and anyone, but let’s face it, that’s hot, and it doesn’t cost a cent.
So he cocks his head at the badge on the boy’s chest and says, “You look a little young to be working for me, Mr Parker.”
“I’m, I’m an intern, sir. I go to NYU, I’m a freshman. Bio-chem.” Parker then looks rather embarrassed at his own babbling and bites his lip.
Tony tears his eyes away from Parker’s mouth and says sort of on autopilot, “Since when do we hire undergrads? We don’t have unpaid internships of the coffee-making and file-filing variety. I don’t like wasting anyone’s time.”
“I was hired because I submitted an idea, I’ve got this formula I’m working on with Dr Cho, sir.”
“A young prodigy, are you?” Tony is mildly more interested than he was before, though biochem isn’t really his area. “Is that what you got there?”
Parker looks briefly stunned by Tony’s interest, freezing up in a deer in headlights manner. Then he jumps back into movement, pulling papers out of his arms to show Tony, babbling excitedly about some sort of high tensile strength string based on spider webs. It really is a most ingenious idea with any number of useful applications and Tony makes a mental note to consider how the thing would help his robotics ideas. He does eventually have to cut the boy off from his word spew with a practiced, “That’s impressive stuff, Mr Parker. Keep up the good work.”
He pairs it with an easy smile and a clap on the shoulder, then puts on his sunglasses and continues on his way. Something makes him glance back before he turns the corner, to find Parker leaning against the wall hugging his files and looking dazed, one hand clasped to the shoulder Tony just patted. Tony smiles, utterly lifted out of the bad mood the board meeting had put him in as he heads up to his penthouse.
On the subway home, Peter still feels the adrenaline coursing through him from the earlier encounter, which has been all he’s been able to think about since then. He’s been working at SI for two and a half months already, and the excitement of the first few days had long since died down, since he realized that even in SI’s NYC headquarters there’s like sixty floors packed with SI employees and the chances that he’s ever going to see Tony Stark is really low. He still can barely believe that Mr Stark stopped in the hall to talk to him and is kicking himself over acting like an idiot. He texts Ned on his cracked iPhone:
Peter: the most AMAZING thing happened to me just now!!!
Peter: I saw Tony Stark in the hall at Stark Tower
A typing bubble quickly appeared from the other side.
Ned: wow that’s some good luck
Ned: what was he like in person? short?
Peter: wtf no? taller than me anyway
Ned: Everyone’s taller than you
Peter: shut up. Mr Stark said my research is impressive :D :D ;D
Ned: he talked to you? Dude! how?
Peter: idk. He said I looked young to work here.
Ned: Did u get a selfie? Did you ask him how he trims his beard?
Peter: no and no?? I don’t want him to think I’m a groupie
Ned: that probably counts as trade secrets anyway
Ned: congrats P. You’ve peaked in life and in your lifelong obsession with a billionaire twice your age ;)
Peter grins, so absorbed in his phone he almost misses his stop. He decides to text Michelle too and tell her about it, even though he already knows she’s going to tease him mercilessly. He feels inclined to indulge in this giddy feeling for as long as possible, as he doubts he’ll see Mr Stark again until he’s graduated and possibly landed a real job at SI and does enough cool work that Mr Stark hears about him. He does regret just a little bit not asking Mr Stark for a selfie, however much of an idiot that would make him look, because he would absolutely, if not completely unashamedly, wank to that for years.
The next time Tony speaks to Helen Cho, he remembers the boy and asks her, “I hear you got an intern. Kid by the name of, uh…Parker?”
“Oh yes, Peter!” Dr Cho brightens up. “Such a wonderful young man, so bright…”
Tony has rarely heard Dr Cho speak of anyone with such unreserved pleasure and it tickles at him. He vaguely recalls the boy, looking achingly young even for his presumably-eighteen years, so bright eyed and pink in the face. He finds himself saying, “Well if this Peter is as great as all that, I’m mad that you’ve been keeping him to yourself. Send him over to my lab two days a week. I could use some help that I don’t want to donate to the trash pile.”
Dr Cho rolls her eyes, but agrees fairly good-naturedly.
Peter: guys. guysssss helppppp it’s an emergency
Ned: what kind
MJ: I call got a hot date emergency
Peter: my boss just told me Mr Stark wants me to be his lab assistant tmr. and possibly regularly in the future.
MJ: I was right
Ned: DUDE
Peter: what do I do what do I do??
Ned: say yes? Duh
Peter: yeah but how will I function as a human being
MJ: wear clothes that would cover it if u get a hardon
Ned: sound
MJ: not that it will be much use except for common decency
MJ: ur the worst at hiding crushes
Peter: that was three years ago :(
Ned: at least like, get it out of your system before you have to see him
MJ: he means masturbate
Peter: I got that. Yeah. thx.
Peter turns up at Tony’s lab on Wednesday, and Tony’s already forgotten he asked for the boy. He’s worked all through the night on his new project, the heavy metal is blasting and he’s covered in motor oil when JARVIS dims the music and says, “Sorry to interrupt you, sir, but your new intern has been knocking at the door.”
“Oh, new intern! Let him in, J.”
Peter’s hair looks carefully combed into place. He’s wearing a dark blue button up tucked into light grey slacks and shiny black dress shoes. It makes Tony aware, if not self-conscious, that he probably has shadows under his eyes and his hair sticking all over the place and stains on his t-shirt and jeans. Peter still looks just as star-struck as last time Tony saw him, though.
“Nice to have you here, Mr Parker. I’d shake your hand, but I don’t want to get lube on you.”
Yeah, alright, he does it on purpose and it’s childish and inappropriate for an engaged man, but whatever - Peter blushes so prettily.
“Dr Cho said you asked for me? I’m, I’m so honored, sir. Uh, what can I do for you?”
Because Tony’s a dick, and also he’s desperately in need of it, he says, “Right now you can get me some coffee.”
MJ: How’d u do with daddy stark
Peter: I totally functioned [thumbs up]
Peter: it was so hard
Peter: don’t make the joke ^
MJ: u do any dropping things and bending over
MJ: your ass is an asset to New York you know
Peter: I’m such a professional I swear I only spent like 0.5% of the time staring at him when he’s not looking
Peter: hes so hot :(((( and just sort of flirty as a person I will die
MJ: poor gay baby you need to get laid. We’re going out tonight.
Peter: MJ no ive got a group project
MJ: overruled nerd
Dr Cho was right - Peter is a joy to be around. It’s not just that he’s clearly talented and has ideas way beyond the level of a biochem undergrad, or that he’s a far better assistant than Tony’s bots, or that he quickly learns when to provide Tony with coffee without being asked like an absolute angel. Tony is aware that he has a bucketload of issues amongst which narcissism and self-esteem issues feature prominently. He likes his ego stroked. It’s undeniably nice to watch Peter blush and get flustered when Tony is close, catch him looking when he thinks Tony is unaware, look at his big doe eyes that all but hold pulsating hearts. He’s happy and eager and sweet and never stops calling Tony ‘Mr Stark, sir’ long after Tony’s started inventing him nicknames. Sure, Peter hardly has the monopoly on hero-worshipping or crushing on Tony Stark, it’s just there’s something about it. Peter’s feelings seem so pure and unselfish it makes it all the better. He lifts Tony’s mood when he’s around, so much that Tony closely tracks the progress of Peter’s work with Dr Cho and steals him full time the moment their project wraps up. Other things in Tony’s life are going to shit so quickly and completely it’s nice to have one person who thinks the world of him.
Peter: i don’t know what to do
Peter: like I get how famous ppl are just ppl too and I know him as a person now
Peter: but he’s just so brilliant. So smart and snarky and perfect
Peter: and I think I’m catching real feelings for him
Peter: that’s so bad right
Ned: isn’t he married :/
Peter: engaged. I’ve met his fiancee/CEO of freaking Stark Industries
Peter: she’s super nice and also terrifying
Peter: they go great together
Ned: yeah that’s not great…for u i mean
Ned: maybe you shouldn’t work directly with him, for your own sanity
Peter: I can’t imagine giving this up
Peter: this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me
Peter: I’ll just deal with it like a big boy
When Pepper finally breaks up with him, for good this time - because Tony absolutely does not deserve her - he retreats to his lab and sits there in the dark drinking whiskey out of the bottle. He’s not sure how long he’s been there when suddenly the door opens and the light is turned on and Peter walks in, goes to his work station, and then does a double take when he sees Tony just sitting there without a word.
“Mr Stark?”
“What do you want?” Tony says, his voice too rough, too thick.
“I- I just forgot-”
“I don’t care, get out.”
“Okay.” Peter obediently turns to leave at once.
Eyes narrowing, Tony licks his lips and says, “Actually.”
Peter stops and turns to look at him.
“Actually, come over here and get on your knees for me.” Waving perhaps a little too wildly, Tony points to the floor between his legs.
His eyesight’s not the greatest right now, but he sees Peter Parker go absolutely still for a moment. Then he says, “Mr Stark, I don’t-“ and Tony isn’t in the mood for any of that.
“Either go away or come here. Your call.”
There’s barely even a moment’s hesitation before Peter drops his backpack, comes to Tony, and folds to his knees exactly where Tony told him to. He’s got an expressive face, Peter, and he looks somewhat excited and somewhat worried.
“Just to check,” Tony says, after another big gulp of whiskey, “You wanna be here, right?”
Peter nods at once. “Yes, sir.”
“Why do you want to be here?”
“I…um.”
“Does it make your dick hard?”
Peter blushes, flicking a glance down himself that makes it clear he’s hard right now even though his hoodie’s long enough Tony can’t see it. Tony hooks a finger under Peter’s chin and tips it up until he’s gazing into the boy’s warm brown eyes.
“I got good news for you, Peter. I ain’t got a girlfriend anymore.” He spreads his arms wide in demonstration. “I’m a free man. You can look. You can touch. You want me, Peter? What do you want to do to me?”
Peter’s eyelashes flutter in reaction to the news. He looks at Tony with clear longing, his face soft and kind.
“I’d really like to make you feel better, sir.”
“Yeah? How do you want to do that?”
“Do you…want to talk about it?”
Tony barely refrains from spluttering on his whiskey and shoots Peter an incredulous look.
“You think I got you to kneel between my legs because I want to talk?”
Peter is mortified. He’s excited and elated from just the position he’s in - a position he’s only dreamed of being in since he was old enough to crush on his idol - but he’s so concerned about him and this surely isn’t the moment to be indulging his own fantasies. Mr Stark looks a mess, his eyes bloodshot and clothes rumpled, and Peter can tell from his voice that he’s way past comfortably drunk and will certainly wake up with a sledgehammer attacking his head the next morning.
“I’ll do anything you want if you tell me to,” Peter says, heart racing at his own honesty, “but I’m not sure that will actually make you feel better, right now.”
There’s silence and Peter doesn’t quite dare look up to see how Mr Stark is receiving this, scared that Mr Stark might want him to get out now Peter’s indicated he doesn’t want to give him sex. (When he does, oh, so badly.)
Mr Stark says, “Alright, talk then.”
Peter is momentarily thrown, but then he gets it. It’s surely hard to talk about, whatever’s gone so wrong between him and Ms Potts, and Peter’s got to start the conversation here. He hesitates briefly, wonders if he should get up now, but honestly he likes it so much that just being on his knees for Mr Stark has him half hard. His mind is on his admiration for the man, how much he, well, loves him, if he could be allowed to say so when he doesn’t even know him that well. He thinks that might be a nice thing to hear about, when Mr Stark’s obviously hurting. So Peter tells Mr Stark about how he’d become a fan after Mr Stark started turning around Stark Industries from a weapons manufacturer to a pioneer of the future. He tells him about the talks and interviews he’s watched and what he thought about them. He tells him how it’s been his dream for a long time to work at SI.
Somehow, it’s helpful. After a while, Mr Stark clearly relaxes, even responds to Peter’s words with comments or corrections or teasing. He begins playing with Peter’s hair, and doesn’t seem to mind that Peter’s head is on his thigh. The floor is hard and Peter’s legs are falling asleep, but it feels so good, he doesn’t want to move.
“I wish I was who you think I am, Peter,” Mr Stark says eventually, soft and sad.
Peter’s heart lurches. He barely notices that he’s got both hands around Mr Stark’s waist.
“What do you mean?” Peter says, equally soft, the tower around them silent in late night solitude.
The whiskey bottle hits the table top with a clatter, empty. Mr Stark pats his leg and pulls Peter’s arm. “C’mere.”
Peter sits in Mr Stark’s lap and strokes at Mr Stark’s chest in what he hopes is a comforting manner, held secure in the man’s arms. Mr Stark seems to like having Peter there. He nuzzles at Peter’s throat, alcohol heavy on his breath.
“I’m not a great person. I’m selfish and alone and I always will be.”
“You won’t,” Peter promises fervently, heart breaking for him. It’s arrogant and foolish and Peter’s not even drunk, but what the hell, Mr Stark is, so Peter stupidly says, “I’ll be here. If you want. If you ever want me, I’m yours, you don’t have to be alone.”
Even drunk out of his mind, Mr Stark finds this funny. He gives a condescending little smile and says, “Baby, you’re so sweet.”
Peter hates that he isn’t being taken seriously, so even more foolishly, he says, “I love you.”
This gets a more positive reaction. Mr Stark’s gaze flickers and he holds Peter breathtakingly tightly. He kisses Peter, sloppily with too much tongue, tasting sharp with liquor. Peter moans and kisses him back as eagerly as he knows how.
“Say it again,” he murmurs against Peter’s lips.
Peter, dazed and intoxicated on the chemical cocktail his brain is making him, tells him, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Mr Stark draws in and lets out a slow breath, looking satisfied. He nods and smiles and says, “Thank you.”
Peter knows that usually, that’s not considered a good response to uh, I love you. But considering the circumstances, he’s glad to get it. He catches sight of his watch then, and shit, it’s so late. Mr Stark is looking droopy and not as upset.
“Mr Stark?” Peter gently turns the man’s cheek towards himself with his hand, because he can. “You think you want to go to bed?”
“Hm?” Mr Stark blinks. “I could go to bed. Are you coming?”
“If you, if you want me to.”
Mr Stark smiles at him. “OK, let’s go to bed.”
“Yeah. Yeah, um. Where do you live?”
Mr Stark points vaguely towards the ceiling, which is not a direction Peter understands.
“I can guide you to sir’s bedroom in the penthouse, Mr Parker.”
Peter flinches violently because he’s absolutely forgotten about JARVIS and wow, JARVIS was watching/hearing all of that, wasn’t he? He tries to put aside being deathly embarrassed for now and helps Mr Stark to his feet, relieved that although he might not be the greatest at walking in a straight line right now, at least Mr Stark is successfully staying on his feet with his arm slung over Peter’s shoulders. Peter follows JARVIS’s directions towards an elevator he’s never seen before, aided by the fact that Mr Stark knows where he’s going like he’s on autopilot. A short elevator ride later, the door opens and he’s in Tony Stark’s home. This hits Peter with another wave of surrealness, even more than the fact that he’s got a drunken, pliant Tony Stark draped over him.
Mr Stark falls onto his - unmade - bed like a sack of potatoes, not even facing the right direction, and rubs his cheek drowsily against the covers. Peter melts a little, some small sane part of him despairing of how far gone he is on a guy so very, very much out of his league.
“Mr Stark? Sir? You want me to help take your clothes off?”
“‘Kay.”
It’s difficult. And, in the moment, not sexy, just struggling with Mr Stark’s weight as he tries to get the man’s pants down with almost zero cooperation (though he’ll surely savor this moment later). But eventually he gets him down to underpants and also under the covers, pointed in the right direction, discarded clothing neatly folded on the nearest surface. It’s all worth it when Mr Stark hums contentedly and tugs Peter down, trying to spoon him. Peter huffs a laugh and goes with it, attempting to shed some of his own clothes while - who knew Mr Stark could be such a cuddle monster - he gives up after he’s gotten rid of his shoes and socks and gives in to Mr Stark’s desire to throw his arm and leg over Peter and cling.
It’s such an overwhelming night for Peter he doesn’t think he could sleep. Mr Stark soon starts snoring softly against him, occasionally shifting against him, nose buried in Peter’s hair. Peter tells himself to eternalize this moment in his memory, savor it as good as he can. Hell, he’s not sure if he’ll still have a job tomorrow once Mr Stark’s sober, but for now, he’s in bed with the man he loves.