(moodboard credit: @feral-pixiedreamgirl)
“You’re going to love the garden, Dr. Stark, you know, not to brag, but I’ve won the homeowner’s award for best garden for the last 3 years!” Pepper Potts chirps.
Tony nods politely. The house was quaint, and small. Tony couldn’t stay here all summer if he wanted to actually live in comfort. He would stay for the tour, but find other accommodations as soon as he could.
“Your home is very lovely, Missus Potts.” Tony says.
“Oh no, it’s just Miss. Potts. Unfortunately Mr. Potts died last fall.” Pepper waves her hand around nonchalantly. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude-”
“Not at all! You know I think it’s for the best. I think he would’ve wanted me to... move on.” Her eyes linger on Tony just long enough to make him uncomfortable.
“It’s just me and Peter now.” Pepper sighs, looking away. “He’s a spoiled little thing.”
“Peter?” Tony repeats, this time as a question.
“My son. Don’t worry about him, if he gives you any trouble don’t be afraid to slap him across the face. He’s a brat.” Pepper’s words drip with poison.
The air is thick with tension.
“So, um, the garden?” Tony clears his throat.
Pepper smiles, “Oh, yes! But first you must see the wine cellar!”
“And the final stop on our tour,” Pepper grins, “Is my garden! I swear I’d lose my head if I didn’t have it to retreat to when... life... gets too much.”
The garden is gorgeous, greenery growing in every nook and cranny, flowers of all shades and sizes bloom. Tony can smell the sweetness of the roses from where he’s standing.
Pepper leads Tony by the hand, pointing out different plants and how much work they were to keep them pristine.
They both turn a corner and Tony’s heart jumps into his throat.
He’s sitting there, on a lawn chair reading some trashy teen magazine, legs crossed. He’s wearing heart-shaped sunglasses and sucking on a strawberry lollipop.
“Peter!” Pepper calls over, “Come and greet our new house guest!”
Peter jumps up, adjusting his white skirt before barreling over towards Tony and Pepper. He’s at least a foot shorter than Tony.
He pulls off his sunglasses, showing them to Tony, “D’ya like ‘em? Me and MJ went to the mall yesterday, they were on sale.” Peter has big brown eyes.
“Um, yes they’re very nice.” Tony swallows thickly.
Peter nods, twirling, “And my skirt?” It lifts up high enough for Tony to almost see what’s underneath. Tony feels his face heating up and fuck he knows it’s wrong.
“It’s pretty.” He manages to say.
Pepper scoffs, “Peter, really, what about the nice khakis we bought for you last month? The neighbors might talk if you keep wearing skirts and dresses.”
“Let them talk. They’re all old losers anyways. I look really hot. Dr. Stark agrees, right?” Peter looks up at Tony. He nods dumbly.
“No, you have to say it.”
“You... look really, erm, hot.”
Peter smiles, something devious in his eyes, “See?” He sticks his tongue out at Pepper, “He thinks I’m hot.”
Pepper looks like she wants to argue, but briefly glances over to Tony. Her entire demeanor changes. “I was just saying. No need to make me out as the villain, honey.” 
Peter rolls his eyes, “Whatever.” He begins to walk off. “Just where do you think you’re going?” Pepper yells. Peter doesn’t answer.
Pepper sighs angrily and says something to Tony, who doesn’t hear her. He’s busy focusing on the nape of Peter’s neck.
Pepper taps his shoulder, “Dr. Stark? Did you hear me?”
Tony is flung back into reality, “Sorry, erm, I spaced out.”
“I asked if you were interested in renting our spare room.”
Tony thinks for a second. He thinks to the low ceilings, the cramped rooms, the nagging housewife.
He thinks about the pretty boy with curly brown hair and thick pink lips.
“I’d like some help bringing my suitcases up the stairs, if it’s not too much to ask.”
There’s a knock at Tony’s door. “C’min.” He murmurs, expecting Pepper to come in for her hourly small talk.
The doorknob twists, and the door softly creeks open, Tony hears silverwear clanging against itself.
Peter slips in the room, carrying a silver tray.
“Hey, Dr. Stark. Mom said to bring you your breakfast.” Peter says sweetly.
Tony gapes like a dying fish. “Uh, er, thank you, Peter.” He expects the brunette to leave the tray on the coffee table near the door, but he gets closer.
Peter steps closer and puts the tray in Tony’s lap. Their faces mere inches from each other. Tony knows Peter can see him blush.
“Don’t tell mom,” Peter starts, his eyes dropping down to stare at Tony’s lips. “But I ate all of your bacon.” He winks, before standing up and skipping out of the room.
Tony can’t think straight for the next hour
“I’m not going!” Tony hears Peter slam his bedroom door shut, and he hears Pepper stomp up the stairs, “Yes you are, young man!”
“No! You can’t make me! I’ll run away and you’ll never see me again- you’ll be sorry, then!” Peter yells through his door. Pepper snorts, “Be my guest, Peter! Run away! See if I’m as kind when you come crawling back!”
There’s silence. Nobody in the house moves an inch. “The bus will be here in half an hour. Pack your suitcase or so help me god.” Pepper finally sighs.
Tony pretends he didn’t hear anything when Pepper slips into his office.
“I’m awfully sorry about that, Dr. Stark, it’s just that brat gets on my nerves.”
Brat? What brat. Peter was the epitome of politeness. Pepper just was a bad mother, Tony thinks.
“Hm. Yes- er, no.” Tony mumbles, reading over files spread across his desk.
“Guess what he’s arguing about this time. I’m sending him off to a boys camp where he can learn to be a man and he’s throwing a fit.” Pepper sits on the edge of Tony’s desk, “The ladies at church whisper about him. They call him a fruit. It’s embarrassing.”
Tony hums. “Ms. Potts, really, I have work to do...”
Pepper slips off of Tony’s desk, quickly pecking his cheek, “I’ll leave you be. I’ll bring you tea once Peter is gone.”
Tony briefly smiles at Pepper. She exits the room without another word.
After a few brief seconds, there’s a knock at Tony’s door, and he holds back a groan.
“Pepper, I’d love nothing more than to sit and talk all day but I have work to do-”
The door opens, and Tony’s words get stuck in the back of his throat.
Peter stands there, tear-stained face, looking radiant, nonetheless.
“Oh. Hello, Peter.” Tony stands up, walking over and ushers to boy in. He closes the door behind him.
Peter sniffles. “Tell mom I don’t want to go.” He softly mumbles, “She likes you. She’ll do what you ask.”
Seeing the boy cry makes Tony’s heart speed up. He carefully engulfs the boy in his arms, pressing his head to his chest. “I’ll see what I can do, but you leave in half an hour.”
Tony’s body feels warm, and dizzy.
It takes him a second, but Tony thinks he might be in love.
Tony would sure love to beat the shit out of himself for admitting that.
THE BEAUTIFUL MOODBOARD WAS MADE BY @feral-pixiedreamgirl SERIOUSLY I LOVE THEIR BLOG AND THEIR MOODBOARDS GIVE THEM A FOLLOW AND SHOW UR LOVE 💕💞❤️ THEY ALSO TAKE REQS 💓💓
i couldn’t find the lolita fic i was looking for so i made my own lol
dailybridgerton
origamiaround
vaporwave
ellievsbear
tangentwithtanner
areudirty
