#mervore

“Do I even want to know?” Came the exhausted sigh from his friend. “Probably not, love you honey bear I’ll see you when I land.” He grins exaggeratedly blowing kisses before hanging up. He turns his attention to the small thing in the sink clasping his hands together. “Alright good news, you have a tank now so no bowls and cups.”

He pulled up the stool he had stolen from the other plane section taking a seat. The boy really was something to marvel at. He never really thought mermaids would exist then again Peter wasn’t exactly that. Tentacles kept moving, the boy grasping lightly onto one obviously using it as a comfort. He didn’t blame the kid, it had to be hard with everything that had happened.

He didn’t exactly get a response, just a small chittering that obviously meant something to Peter. So, he clasps his hands together putting what he hoped was a comforting smile on. “If you’re all cozy here then I guess I’ll just ah- go in the other room and let you chill here.” He stands grabbing the stool. He should’ve guessed that the small thing would be nervous around him. Peter had literally been inside of him not even an hour ago.

“No! no please- “the boy whimpers, which chittering noise following his words. He glances back his heart melting when he saw small hands reaching out and up to him, tentacles withering in distress. “Woah, woah easy there buddy I’ll stay.” He scoots the stool closer instead, offering a hand to the small thing.

A weird sensation washes over him as cool tentacles grasp as his fingers, wrapping around them as the kid nuzzled closer to him, letting a shaky sigh out. Who knew octopus hybrids were touchy feely. “See? I’m here kiddo and I’m on your side.” He soothes as he runs a finger down the boy’s back. A quiet content hum comes from the boy, so he continues the motion.

“I know this whole thing hasn’t been fun for you, but on the bright side you were warm.”

A small giggle draws from Peter, Tony chuckling with him. That was good then, playful banter and such. “And wiggly, very very wiggly. It was the weirdest noodles I’ve ever had.” He teases, lightly poking the boy’s side. More giggling came from the small thing, the grip tightening on his fingers.

“You’re really something else kid. Very brave that’s for sure, thank you for not wrecking complete havoc on my insides.”

“Y-you were just keeping me safe from those bad men.” Peter speaks. Tony couldn’t help but be in awe of that, how could he not be? Sure, super humans and such existed bit the fact that a very small hybrid child did was extraordinary. “I was, but still, you didn’t know that did you? You just thought I was being a dick.” He points out, stroking the boys back again.

Peter shrugs, small hands gripping onto a finger along with the soft blue tentacles. “It wasn’t that but...it um...it was warm and soft. Just a little scary cause I really didn’t wanna die.” Oh man. This kid was going to destroy him, wasn’t he?

He uses his only free finger to gently tilt the boy’s head up. “Peter, kid, I never would’ve done that if I knew it wasn’t safe. The whole point was to get you out safely, I was in control the whole time.” The soft brown eyes widen slightly before they scrunch up, tears pooling up in them. His heart squeezed at the look he was getting, his fingers curling more around the boy protectively.

“Easy there kiddo, it’s alright. You’re alright.” After a second he lifts the boy up, bring the small body to his chest. Sure, ruining a 5,000-dollar suit wasn’t great but the way tiny hands clutches onto the fabric as the small thing started sobbing trumped that. “You’re safe with me, I promise. Inside and out as unbelievable as it sounds.”

More whimpering sobs, tentacles gripping onto the fabric rather than his hand at his point. “I’ve gotcha, no more scary things.” He promises softly. The next hours were soothing Peter, occasionally dunking the boy to keep him from drying out as he slept. He had only tried setting the boy down once and it hadn’t really gone well so he just gave up letting the small thing rest.

When they were about ten minutes out, he called Rhodey again realizing he didn’t exactly have anything to put the boy in to get him to the tank. “Hey honey bear, update on the tank?” He asks, stroking peter’s back as the boy slept. “Tony, you told me to get, and I quote, ‘like a huge one’ so it’s barely even filled.”

Tony curses under his breath looking down at the little troublemaker himself. HE guessed he could have Rhodey grab a bowl or something while they waited. “Right right, shit...ah I’ll improvised, but we should be coming in around...well I mean like 30 minutes at this point.” He says with a small sigh. He’d wake peter up to let him get mentally prepared to meet another human.

“Alright, I’ll see you then, but you totally owe me an explanation.”

“Honey bear I never said I wasn’t going to give you one- but seriously I’ll tell you everything when I land.” They exchange their goodbyes before Tony hangs up, lightly nudging the boy’s side. “Peter, Peeete, come on kiddo we have a slight problem.”

He chuckles when all he gets is a whine, the grip tightening on his suit. “You can go back to sleep once we get this taken care of how about that?” it was a little bargain at least. He needed to figure out how to get Peter in the tower without A. being seen, and B. without drying out. Annoyed chittering was the response, a blearily looking face peering up at him.

“Yes, I know so mean, but we have a slight issue here kid.” He says with a sigh, Peter perking up more at the comment. A nervous look dusting his feature. “Is..is it me? I don’t- please don’t leave me.” God this kid-

“No no, that’s not the issue kiddo, we’re about to land and I don’t ah...have anything to put you in, not only that the car ride there is a bit long and the tank isn’t full yet.” Tony explains gently as he smooths the boy’s hair back. Speaking of which- he cups his free hand in the water, brings back a handful of it before dumping it on the boy. Peter relaxes at the feeling, the tentacles wriggling about gleefully.

“That’s not really a problem! You can just swallow me again.” The boy chirps, looking up at him with one of the most trusting looks he had ever seen. Tony blinked in surprise trying to process what the boy had just said. “Ah...that requires me swallowing you again and I’m pretty sure you didn’t like that last time.”

“Just cause I didn’t know it was safe, and I didn’t know you Mr. Stark.” Peter points out, reaching his arms up, grasping at the man’s face. The amount of trust that was being put in him was astounding if he was being honest. He swallows thickly, not missing how the small thing following the trip he would take. God he wasn’t expecting Peter to enjoy it but...if he was being honest, it was the most efficient way of getting Peter to the tower.

“Alright-alright no need to be all mushy gushy I’ll be your personal taxi.” He stands with the boy in his hand heading to the kitchenette. Water was going to be needed for this for sure. The plane was landing, though he hadn’t noticed, bringing his hand above his face. Peter of course giggled at the comment, his tentacles wriggling about like they had a mind of their own. “Oh, you think that’s funny? That I have to do all the work and you get to relax all comfy cozy?” He grabs a water bottle, promptly chugging it so the kid wouldn’t have a terrible landing.

He chuckles when Peter squeals in delight, more giggles coming as he lowered the boy into his mouth, the odd feeling of cool tentacles hitting his tongue. It was great timing, as the first swallow came when Rhodey was stepping onto the jet just as he was getting ready to swallow the rest of the boy down.

“What- TONY!”

Tony gags slightly, startled as he swallowed the rest of peter down, a lump sliding down his throat and under his collar bone. HE wheezes slightly, grimacing when Rhodey practically flew across the space, hands pressed to his middle. “Spit him out, god what the hell!”

Tony grimaces at the movement, Peter sloshing around in his gut. “Ick- Rhodey, hey ah maybe don’t shake me when I’m full of water and a kid.” He manages to grit out, gagging slightly. Oh, that very much wasn’t a pleasant feeling. “You ate a kid! Spit him out. Now.” His friend demands, not stopping his shaking in the least.

“He’s fine! The acids are diluted and everything! Come one, just like stop.” When the man didn’t, he forced him down, pressing the man’s head against his gut. “Peter for the love of god say something I’m going to hurl if he doesn’t stop shaking me.”

“He’s not going to- ““Mr. Sir um human Mr. Stark’s friend! Um I’m fine I promise! It’s safe too, Mr. Stark promises and..and its really um not that bad.”

Rhodey fell silent before looking back to his friend in disbelief. “How the fuck- ““Language, he’s totally going to pick up on that and the last thing we need is for him to have a little potty mouth.”

“You have a kid in your stomach I’m allowed at least one fuck.” Rhodey shoots back with a frown, pulling away from the man’s middle. Tony sighs in relief as his stomach calms down a bit. Man being this hydrated sucked majorly. Tiny hands started pressing into the stomach lining, followed by tentacles, the rubbing somewhat soothing the upset organ. “Preciate’ that kid- and I know it’s a little messed up honey bear, but ah he’s fine and it’s the best I’ve got right now.”

His friend took a deep breath in, obviously trying to process everything that was happening which was understandable. “As long as I keep drinking water mini-Ursula here is fine.” He reassures as he pats his gut. “My name is Peter not Ursula Mr. Stark.” God he could practically hear the pout in the boy’s tone. “I know I know, it’s a nickname. We’ll watch the movie later.”

“That’s so…weird. You can hear him and everything?” Rhodey asks with- well Tony wasn’t sure what that expression was but it was certainly an expression. He nods and drums his fingers over his middle, chuckling when Peter squealed at the action. The odd feeling of tentacles pushing back quickly following. That was a feeling for sure. “Everything, and I can feel all the things too. Let me tell you suction cups on your stomach lining? Weirdest feeling ever, like I swear the butterfly expression is outdated, more like octopus in your stomach.”

The weight in his gut settled back down against, Peter letting an odd purring sound out as he got comfortable, no doubt taking a nap. Little shit.

“Wait- you said you needed to drink water with him inside?”

“Yep- hey woah I literally just drank a water bottle.” He complains as Rhodey brushes past him to grab another. His friend uncaps it before handing it to him. “Drink it anyway, he probably needs it.” Tony opened his mouth to argue before promptly shutting it at the look he was given. He accepts the bottle with a grimace, taking a sip. He stifles a smile at the small squeal coming from the boy at the cool liquid trickling into his space.

“I’m going I’m going- lets just get to the tower so I can spit him back up.”