keep your head up

Wait, hold on.

)

“This is a five-hour-long plane ride, we’re sitting together and you’re deathly afraid of flying” AU

      Peter’s nervousness lessened when he heard Danny be all professional on the other side. He tried to hold in his laughter, even though he made some noise. “Daniel? Yes, this is Mr. Parker. I think we have some issues to discuss.” Peter was trying so hard not to bust out laughing, but it was seriously funny to hear Danny be so business-like. To Peter, Danny had always been the jokester. 

             There was a brief moment where he said nothing except, "um," and internally panicked because oh god, he couldn't remember what project had a Mr. Parker on it, and he really didn't want to deal with any more issues today, shit--and then it clicked, and he burst out into relieved laughter. "Jesus, Peter. Sorry, Mr. Parker. I think I just had a tiny panic attack trying to figure out which client you were. Hi. I'm glad you called."

            “…..Yup, yeah. That’s definitely what I want. A friendly hug.”

            Okay, so that doesn't seem totally sincere, but Danny's just going to take him at his word and hold his arms out for a hug. "Well, bring it in then. All you ever have to do is ask."

           Peter went back to his apartment and worked on some of his science projects, trying to pass the time since all eh was thinking about was calling Danny. And ultimately, he waited a day before he decided to just call the man and face his fears. He sat against his door and dialed the number on the business card, putting the phone up to his ear. He was super anxious to talk to Danny again. He didn’t want to bother him or make him feel like he was obligated to be friends with Peter again. 

             The day that passed between their lunch and Peter's call was something of a day from hell for Danny. Between clients calling with last minute changes and his boss being a grade A asshole and--and yes, okay, worrying about Peter, because he can't just turn that big brother thing off, alright, and Peter was awfully skinny, he really hoped he had enough to eat, maybe he should have sent him home with an extra pizza, and--anyway. By the time his phone rang with a call from a number he didn't recognize, he was at his wits end, and he seriously considered not answering--as if that was ever going to happen. He couldn't even ignore calls from telemarketers. With a sigh, he picked up his phone and adopted his most professional voice, just in case it was a client. "This is Daniel."

      “Danny, I   I want you.” Peter blurted out. 

           "Um. Okay? I'm right here, Pete. What do you want? A hug?" Yes, he really is that oblivious.

         After a momentary struggle, Peter gave in and hugged onto the older boy tightly. He hadn’t let anyone in since he got there. He was young but stubborn, and he thought everyone else was going to hurt him. But Danny had somehow got through to him, and Peter never wanted to let go. He didn’t want Danny to leave him either. 

              Danny was a little bit surprised that Peter gave in as soon as he did. Surprised, but pleased. He hugged the younger boy tightly, lifting one hand to ruffle his hair. "See? It's okay," he said inanely, hoping his tone was reassuring. "You're okay."

            Peter smiled back wen Danny did and watched as he pulled a card of his pocket and put it on the table. Peter took it, excited that maybe Danny wanted to communicate more with him. But in a snap, when Danny seemed rushed, Peter felt bad for taking him away from something important. And he also felt like maybe it was a sign Danny would be bothered by him. Peter sighed and hung his head as Danny left. Maybe he should have pretended not to know who he was.

           Danny all but jogged out of the restaurant, stopping just long enough to wave at Peter through the window before taking off down the street towards his office. If he'd known that Peter was worrying about bothering him, he might have stopped to reassure him, meeting or no, but he didn't know, was too pleased at having run into Peter in the first place for it to even occur to him, so he just hurried off to his meeting, feeling decidedly more cheerful than he had before lunch.

            “You obviously don’t want to!” Peter turned away from the other boy. He was young, but he was also smart and observant. And he could tell how uncomfortable touching seemed to make Danny. Peter curled up away from Danny and continued to cry silently. He felt awful, and he just wanted it all to go away.

           He might have flinched again--was he ever going to get over that?--but even as he was cringing reflexively, he was frowning, the guilt immediate. "What? Hey, sure I do. I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable." He raked a hand through his hair, momentarily at a loss, and then took a deep breath, leaned in, and pulled the younger boy into a hug.

        And there’s that tiny little blush again — he’s cute, and he’s calling her princess, and she’s weak when it comes to cute men calling her anything other than her name, or maybe twerp. “You may be better off not faking any accent, actually. I was thinking more posh, though, in case you wanna practice before the Devil arrives.”

         "Gotchya. I'll practice my Hugh Grant. Maybe if I get good enough, we can give her a heart attack!" He's joking, obviously; though he's definitely not opposed to giving her mother as much trouble as possible. Especially with the added perk of Iris being so cute when she blushes.

      “I think it would be wonderful if you adopted an older kid..That’s probably what I would. ” Peter knew that if he would have found a loving home, he would be much happier. He would feel more loved and more worthy of it. But no one wanted the older kids..They never did. “So, um..” He realized they were both done eating, and thought Danny would probably want to get going. “I’m glad I recognized you.” 

          "Me, too, Peter." Danny's grin turned a little bit goofy with how much he meant it. "It's really good to see you again. Though it does make me feel a little old--you're, like, a grown-up now." He was about to say something else--probably something inane, about how last time he saw Peter he just wanted to pinch his little cheeks--when his cell phone beeped in his pocket, the ringtone that meant he had a meeting in ten minutes, and--"Shit. I have to get back to work. Um--you should call me, yeah?" He stood, pulling a business card from his back pocket and pushing it across the table. "The second number--I mean, you could call the first one, too, it's my office, but the second is my cell, anyway, shit, really have to go, okay, um--you should take the pizza home--and the pie, too, I forgot about the pie--you can have it though, okay, enjoy and call me, seriously." And with that, he turned and fled, still swearing under his breath because, shit, shit, shit, he was late.