Chapter Text
Tony hated business trips.
He hated them with a passion. There were very few things Tony Stark could say with full-confidence that he hated, business trips were one of them.
They didn't used to be this bad, though. Sure they'd always been boring as hell, and full of snobby rich business men that never liked him to begin with, but now they were a-million times worse.
Because, you see, before, he never had to consider a certain variable in this equation, a variable that had him wrapped around his little finger,
One Peter Parker.
You see, Tony had a certain secret that very few people knew of:
He was extremely clingy with his family.
Rhodey knew, Happy knew, Pepper knew. But most of all, Peter Parker knew. He was lucky if he could walk without being carried, Peter never minded all that much, it made him feel loved, a little suffocated, but loved.
Peter was clingy too, most people had known that. It was very clear to everyone that met him that he liked to be close to his family and friends, it was part of his social anxiety.
But no one would have guessed that, Tony genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, I don't like being handed things, don't touch me- Stark would be one so openly affectionate and clingy. He had a reputation to uphold after all.
But now his clingy-ness was coming back to bite him in the ass.
He had to leave on a business trip, he had begged Pepper to let him bring Peter with, but she had apologetically explained to him that Peter still had to attend school, -to which Tony had whined like a toddler who didn't want to take a bath, much to Pepper's amusement.
Now that it was the day before he had to get on a plane to Europe for a week, he wasn't fairing well.
It was their weekly movie night, and Tony had not let Peter out of his sight all day. Peter had obviously noticed the way that Tony was essentially sticking to him, and allowed the man to hug and cuddle him to death for the rest of the night.
Tony had been carrying him for most of the day, -the kid weighed close to nothing- only allowing him to walk after Peter had explained to him that his legs work fine. Tony had pouted, but allowed his boy to use his own legs for a change.
Peter didn't really mind being carried all that much, he wasn't exactly fairing much better than Tony. He was extremely anxious about his pseudo-father leaving him for a whole week. He ended up using his sticky powers on Tony the second they collapsed on the couch to watch a movie.
Peter ended up falling asleep halfway through The Aristocats, but the spidery grip on Tony's shirt hadn't loosened in the slightest. Tony had chuckled softly, smile turning tender and gooey as he watched his boys fist clench and unclench rhythmically around his shirt in his sleep.
Peter was in his lap, face nestled into the mans collarbone with his button nose scrunched into the crook of his neck. The small huffs of his breath against his skin a blessed reminder that his pseudo-son is safe and alive in his arms. Peacefully sleeping.
Small little snuffles escaping him that Tony absolutely adored and made him melt every single time. He pulled back just enough to see his baby's face, taking in his long dark eyelashes against his rosey, freckle painted cheeks, the way his mouth was parted ever so slightly in sleep, face completely lax. He looked even younger in his sleep. And that was saying something.
The genius gave the small boy a fond, adoring look, raising a hand to glide a callused knuckle gently across his cheekbone, smiling softly as his kid leaned into the touch in his sleep, turning his face into his hand.
He slid the hand into his curls that Tony loved, and twirled the strands around his fingers. "Dormi bene, piccolo mio" He whispered.
He pressed a tender kiss to his temple, before standing and lifting the small boy into his arms, shifting him onto his hip. Peter didn't even stir, a dead weight in his father's arms.
It was times like these, he remembered how small he really is, how young he really is. How easily he fits into Tony's arms, it makes all his instincts scream 'protectprotectprotect' Instincts he didn't even know he had til he met Peter, paternal, *over*protective instincts.
Tony carried Peter to the man's own bedroom, because he's gonna be away from him for a week, he's allowed to pamper his kid a little. He gently lowered his precious cargo onto the giant soft pluch mattress, and settled him against the fluffly pillows, wrapping a huge blanket around his small frame.
He shushed him softly, making soothing sounds when Peter let out a soft whimper as Tony pulled away. -Not like he could get very far anyway, Peter was still sticking to him.
He laid down next to his son, settling him on his chest, wrapping strong arms protectively around him. Peter burrowed further into him, pressing his nose onto the billionaires neck.
Tony gave an indulgent smile, and tightened his grip on the boys waist, pulling him closer. Peter hummed in content, followed by a soft purr, -a side effect of the spider bite, did you know some spiders purr?- earning a chuckle from the genius.
He felt himself taking Peter's lead and falling asleep himself. Letting himself be comforted by the small, warm weight on his chest, and the slight vibration of his purring spider-child.
He slid his hand back into Peter's unruly brown curls, and promptly fell asleep.