#starkervalentines | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

cherriontop · 5 years ago

Text

Worth the Hassle

This is my Valentine’s Day fic written for @starker-valentines and my story goes to @starkerkeyz I apologize for how late this is, but I hope you can enjoy it!

Prompt: Peter is excited for valentine's because it's his first with a BF, Tony tries to be excited but is reminded of his past failures as a BF. Peter comforts him when he finds out

I changed the prompt a little bit (mostly because of my own failure to read) Mostly Tony’s been hurt in the past and no longer likes Valentine’s Day.

Warnings: Peter’s age is unspecified, mentions of past cheating (not between Peter and Tony)

“So. . .” Peter started as he plopped down on the couch beside Tony, careful not to jostle the laptop perched in the other man’s lap. Tony doesn’t even glance up, fingers flying on the keyboard. Peter purses his lips, letting his fingers walk across Tony’s shoulder, anything to draw the man’s attention. “When are you going to ask me?”

It takes Tony a moment, but he does pause, tilting his head towards his boyfriend with an amused smile. “I can’t read your mind, princess.” He chuckles softly as Peter pouts some more, then makes a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes with a smile. “Ask you what, darlin’?”

A brilliant smile popped back onto Peter’s face, his cheeks swelling with sweetness. “Are you going to ask me to be your Valentine? It’s only two days away!” Almost immediately, the smile drops off Tony’s face, and he straightens, squaring his shoulders.

“Pete-“ he starts, avoiding the boy’s eyes. “Look, I’m sorry, but this holiday just isn’t a good day for me. Do you think that maybe we could, I don’t know, just pretend it doesn’t exist?” He scratches the back of his neck, and Peter feels his heart sink. His first Valentine’s day with a boyfriend and Tony doesn’t want to celebrate?

“Yeah, sure,” he answers, plastering on a fake smile. He doesn’t miss the way Tony’s shoulders sag a little with obvious relief. “Don’t worry about it.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the man’s head, then stood. “I’m going to go make something for dinner.”

Tony hums and returns back to his work, not even noticing Peter’s sadness.

“My first Valentine’s day with a boyfriend, and he doesn’t want to even go out for dinner,” Peter complained, dropping his head down against Ned’s sheets. His best friend was currently putting together the latest Lego Star Wars set he’d gotten, and Peter was meant to be helping him. Instead, he was sprawled on the bed, watching the ceiling as if it had all the answers to his problems.

“Did you ask him why he didn’t want to celebrate?”

Peter turned his head towards the other boy, chewing on his lip. “No, but the way he said it made it feel like it was better not to ask. But what’s so horrible about a holiday that focuses on appreciating your lover?”

“Well maybe you could ask one of his friends. There’s got to be a reason he doesn’t like it.” Ned shrugged like it was no big deal, connecting two more pieces. Peter released his lip as he pondered his friends words. Who could he ask? He didn’t want to ask Pepper because she and Tony seem to have a strained relationship. They always seemed to be dancing around one another, like they knew they were awkward but couldn’t tell anyone.

He thought briefly about asking Steve, but he and Tony had a falling out recently over Steve’s new boyfriend, Bucky. Peter wasn’t sure what the issue was, but he figured that he’d use Steve as a last resort. He didn’t want words getting to Tony that he was hitting it up with his old friend. Tony wasn’t the kind of person to ban him from seeing anyone, but Peter didn’t want to start anything unnecessary.

Rhodey seemed to be Peter’s next best option. He’d known Tony for years, so surely he would know what Tony’s deal with Valentine’s day was. And if he didn’t, he would be able to point Peter towards someone who would know.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Thanks, Ned,” Peter answered, rolling over onto his stomach to look at his friend. Ned didn’t even look up, sorting through the pieces in search for the one he needed.

“Yeah, yeah. Just come help me. I can’t build this all on my own.”

Getting Rhodey alone was a task alone, and Peter was so distracted with it he almost missed his chance. They were at some kind of event, Tony insisting that they needed to make an appearance for the press, and he’d been focused on Rhodey in the background, waiting for him to go to the bathroom. Just moments before the man did, Tony tugged on his hand, looking concerned.

“Sweetheart, are you alright?” He asked softly, letting his arm slide around Peter’s waist, more of a comfort than anything. “I know you’re not a big fan of these things, but it’s important I show my face for important Stark Industry events.” Peter smiles at his boyfriend, a genuine curve of his lips, and he leans close to press a kiss to Tony’s cheek.

“I know, and I’m alright,” he promised, nearly missing when Rhodey excused himself to go to the bathroom. “Just a little distracted by how much I need to use the bathroom.”

Tony barked out a laugh, his eyes glimmering with joy. “Baby, you’ve already gone twice since we got here. How much have you had to drink?” Peter rolled his eyes with a playful smile, then leaned up to kiss Tony again before he slipped away. He weaved through the crowd, trying not to spill any drinks or step on any toes, eyes zeroed in on the man entering the bathroom.

Peter didn’t realize until he was pushing the door open that the bathroom was probably not the ideal place to talk.

By then, though, it was too late and Peter really needed to talk to him. Tomorrow was Valentine’s Day, and Peter would be miserable if he didn’t know why Tony hated it so much. Peter lingered by the sinks, waiting patiently for his friend to be done. He nodded pleasantly at the other men coming and going, trying not to feel too out of place.

Finally, Rhodey came out of the stall, and if he was surprised to see Peter, he didn’t show it. “Hey, kid. Waiting for Tony?”

“No, actually, I was waiting for you. Can we talk?”

The door opened again, and Peter’s eyes darted to the man entering, making a beeline for the stall. He turned back to Rhodey, watching him wash his hands. “I don’t know if anyone ever told you this, but the men’s bathroom isn’t really the best place for a private conversation,” he admonished gently, drying his hands.

Peter’s cheeks colored, and he fought against the urge to stare at his shoes. “I-I know that, but it’s just so hard getting you alone without Tony there.”

“C’mon, kid.” Rhodey settled his hand on Peter’s shoulder, steering him out of the bathroom and towards the stairs. “Let’s go outside. It’s a lot more private out there.” Peter spares a glance back at Tony, but the man is surrounded by other people. Peter doesn’t think he’ll miss him if he’s gone for half an hour.

The evening air is cool against Peter’s cheeks, but the suit around his body keeps him warm. He mentally thanks his boyfriend for forcing him to wear it that night. Rhodey nods to people passing, and Peter just feels like a small child, trailing along after the man. They head to the well kept garden, which is thankfully empty. Rhodey finds a metal bench and sits, watching Peter expectantly.

Peter takes a seat next to the other man, his stomach suddenly tying itself in knots. What if Rhodey thought this was dumb? What if he didn’t know anything? What if there was no reason for why Tony didn’t like this Holiday? What if-

“Well?” Rhodey has no problem interrupting Peter’s thoughts, crossing his arms over his chest in a relaxed manner. Peter’s cheeks heat but he sits up straighter.

“Why doesn’t Tony like Valentine’s Day?”

Rhodey snorts, leaning back against the bench. “Kid, you brought me all the way out here to ask me that? What are we, in middle school? Why can’t you just ask Tony yourself? He doesn’t normally like to talk about his exes, but he’s so hung up over you I’m sure he wouldn’t be able to deny you a thing. Though I guess I thought the same about Pepper and here we are.”

Peter lifted his head in interest, his suspicions confirmed. “They dated?”

“Pete, they were a whirlwind of a couple. They both love each other very much, but a romantic relationship was not what they needed. I’ve never seen anyone crash and burn as much as they did. Such a shame they can barely look one another in the eye now.” Rhodey shook his head, then stretched his arms out. “They’ve gotten better, though. Working in such close proximity does that.”

Peter let it sit in his mind for a few moments before he allowed himself to speak. “Is that why Tony hates Valentine’s Day? Because he loved Pepper so much?”

Rhodey paused, mulling the question over as he stared at the different colored flowers. “Nah, I don’t think that’s the reason he hates it. There’s many reasons, and Pepper might be one of them, sure, but he wasn’t too keen on the holiday even when he was with her. And you know her, she isn’t too big on holidays, either.”

Rhodey seemed to think it over some more, eyes darting over to look at Peter. “I suppose he could hate the holiday because of Megan. He was with her before Pepper, and he found her in the bed with some other guy on Valentine’s day. He wasn’t super into her, but being cheated on is pretty awful no matter what. And then there was Stephanie the year before, and she broke up with him on Valentine’s Day. And before that was Amy, who exploited him for his money during the holiday and gave him a cheap belt in exchange. I guess Tony just hasn’t had any luck with his partners on Valentine’s Day.”

Peter frowned, anger stirring in his gut. How dare these women ruin a special holiday for Tony? Peter doesn’t have much dating experience, but Tony is the sweetest and most thoughtful person he’s ever met. He can’t imagine cheating on him or taking advantage of him.

“Okay, thanks Rhodey. I know what I have to do.” Peter stood up from the bench, knowing they’d been gone long enough that Tony was probably waiting for them. Rhodey stands up, and he slings his arm around Peter’s shoulders, pulling him into his side.

“Of course. Just don’t be surprised if he doesn’t react the way you want him to. He’s only human.”

Together, they head back upstairs, and once they enter the room, they slink to opposite sides. Peter slides back up to Tony, and the man gives him a fond smile, wrapping his arm around Peter’s waist as he presses a kiss to his temple. “Where’d you go, darling?” He asked, concern laced in his voice.

Peter looks up into Tony’s deep eyes and his heart beats faster. He doesn’t know how the women looked at him like this and still managed to hurt Tony. “Just needed some fresh air.” The answer is enough for him, though, because he drops it, going back to talking to the other attendees. Peter just melts into his boyfriend’s side, a plan forming in his head.

Peter’s plan is going to shit. He’d asked Rhodey to get Tony to meet him in the park at 1, and it was only twenty minutes until one now. Peter was meant to be there first with all kinds of baked goods and gifts, but the kitchen was a mess, and all he had to say for it was a burnt pie. There was no time to start over, and even if there was, Peter had used up all the ingredients. The other dishes he’d attempted to make had gone much the same, and all he had to offer was an underbaked cupcake. Just one, though. He’d accidentally dropped all the others on the floor.

He cursed as he tossed the pie in the trash, running his messy hands through his hair. What was he going to do now? He couldn’t show up to the picnic without any food. The only option he had left was to get some takeout and pick it up on the way over. Hopefully Tony would appreciate the thought and the effort and not what Peter was actually preparing.

With his mind made up, Peter rushed to order some pizza, throwing in a side of breadsticks. Then he went for the gifts he’d bought Tony. Tony was a billionaire, which made him hard to buy for, but it was more the thought that Peter wanted to express. He’d bought a huge teddy bear, a bouquet of roses, a box of chocolate, and a nice watch because Tony refused to buy himself a new one. It was bound to break any day, and Peter wanted to be prepared so Tony wouldn’t have to go without one.

Luckily, he’d left them in the car, so he didn’t even need to pack up as he raced to pick up the pizza. Tony would be getting to the park at any moment, and Peter didn’t want to be late to the date he’d set up.

He spent longer than he’d planned to in the pizza parlor because they’d messed up his order and forgotten the breadsticks. He didn’t have time to wait for them to make them. He accepted his pizza and hurried back to his car. God, this whole plan was turning into one big disaster. He’d know better next year to plan in advance, so that he wasn’t running around at the last minute. He just hoped there would be a next year. If he didn’t woo Tony over with this flop of a Valentine’s date, Tony would still be against the holiday.

He was late to the park, and he already had three texts from Rhodey asking where he was. He threw open the backseat, and to his horror, the teddy bear toppled out, right into the puddle of mud beneath it. Peter tried to snag it before it could touch the ground, but it was too late. The entire left side was caked with mud. He couldn’t give that to Tony.

Panicked, Peter shoved it back into the car. No time to worry about it now. He grabbed the box of chocolates, lifting the lid to peek at the contents. He wanted to cry when he saw that the sun had melted every single chocolate, making a mess of the inside.

At least he had the flowers.

He grabbed the bouquet carefully, cradling them as he searched the rest of the bags for the watch. They were empty. He ground out loud, lightly banging his head against the seat. He must have left the watch at the store. God, what a disaster this was all turning out to be. How could he just present Tony with pizza and flowers? This was going to make the holiday even worse for his boyfriend. He was going to hate it.

With that in mind, he trudged towards where he’d asked the other men to meet. His spirits were low and his nerves were curling in his stomach He was going to be added to the list of awful Valentine’s Days. He should just give up now before Tony can see how poorly everything is-

“Watch out!”

Peter barely has a second to look up before he was plowed over by an excited dog chasing a frisbee. He toppled to the side, outstretching the box of pizza but he was unable to save the flowers. He landed right on them, crushing them and the crinkly wrapping.

Two girls were by his side in an instant, helping him up. “I’m so sorry!” The girl on his left exclaimed, brushing off his shirt. The other girl was dusting off his back. “We didn’t even see you there.”

Peter wanted to cry and scream from frustration, but he just shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, I should have been paying attention.” He sighed, looking at the smushed flowers in his hand.

“Oh no! Your flowers!”

Peter glanced up at the girl when she spoke, then gave her a small smile. “Here, you can have them. They’re not much use to me anymore.” He handed over the flowers, and without even saying goodbye, he walked away. At least he had the pizza. At least he had the pizza.

Tony and Rhodey were waiting by the blanket Peter had set out. Tony was sprawled out on it, watching a couple kids play tag. Rhodey was pacing in a small circle, looking mildly annoyed. Peter glanced at his watch and winced. He was fifteen minutes late.

“Hey, guys,” he called once he was close enough. Both men turned to look at him, and Tony’s face only went more puzzled. “Thanks for bringing him here, Rhodey.” The man in question nodded, and without further pleasantries, he was gone. Tony sat up on the blanket, making room for Peter to plop down beside him. “I brought pizza. Happy Valentine’s day, even though you don’t like the holiday.”

Tony took the pizza from Peter silently, popping the lid. “Pete?” He asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Did you have a sudden urge for Hawaiian pizza?”

Peter’s mouth dropped open with surprise, and he leaned over to peek in the box. Sure enough, he spotted the pineapple lying on top. He groaned and dropped down against the blanket. “Of course it’s wrong. Why wouldn’t it be? This day truly is a disaster.” He pressed his hands over his face, not sure if he was mad, embarrassed, or sad. Possibly all three. “Absolutely nothing has gone according to plan.”

He felt more than heard Tony lay beside him, and then his hands were removed. His boyfriend’s amused eyes found his as Tony cradled his hands to his chest. “You had a plan, huh? Tell me about it.”

With a sigh, Peter rolled onto his side to face Tony, leaning up to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Well I know you’ve had a hard time with this holiday. People haven’t been that great to you. So I wanted to show you that you could enjoy the holiday. That it could be good. But nothing worked out. I was planning on cooking for you and having a nice picnic, but I can’t actually cook and everything turned out wrong. So then I ordered us pizza with breadsticks because I know you love them, but I ordered pepperoni, not Hawaiian.

“And then I got here late and I had this huge teddy bear for you that fell into the mud. And your box of chocolates all melted in the car. And even the flowers were destroyed. And I know you’re a billionaire and you don’t actually need a gift, but it’s Valentine’s Day and I’m thinking you probably have never even gotten the stereotypical gifts, which is a staple for the holiday, by the way. I just wanted to give you a reason to like this day, but I messed that one up.”

Peter had been so busy ranting that he hadn’t realized Tony had gone silent. But when he glanced up, he could see the way Tony’s eyes were misting up. “Tony?”

“You did all this for me?” The man asked, voice deep and gruff.

“Well yeah,” Peter answered, squeezing Tony’s hands. “Of course I did. You’re my boyfriend and I love you. You deserve to have someone do things for you.”

Silence settled over them for a moment before Tony murmured a “come here, baby,” and pulled Peter in for a hard kiss. Relief flooded through Peter, and he melted against Tony’s chest, finally feeling like he can relax.

“I don’t think I’ve loved anyone more than I love you right here, right now, Peter Parker,” Tony whispered against his lips, kissing him another time before he let himself continue. “I should have known things would be different with you. You’re not like any of the others. God, look at all the trouble you put in for me. No one’s ever done anything like that for me.”

Peter’s eyes softened, and he lifted a hand to cradle Tony’s cheek. “You’re worth everything.”

Tony wipes at his eyes and sits up, taking a deep breath. “Well, you’ve convinced me. This day isn’t wretched. Now how about we go get something to actually eat?”

Peter laughs, leaning up on his elbows. “Sure. Not like we’re going to eat this pizza anyway.” Tony offers him a hand, and even after they’re both on their feet, Tony doesn’t let go. Peter lays his head on Tony’s shoulder as they walk, a smile on his face.

“So, you tried cooking for me?”

Peter’s face went red, and he was glad his boyfriend couldn’t see. “I don’t know if I’d call it cooking,” he explained slowly, earning a bark of laughter. The sound raised his spirits, and he couldn’t stop the smile on his face as he poked Tony in the side. “Hey, you laugh now, but you won’t be when you see the state of your kitchen.”

#starker #mcu #valentinesday #valentines #starkervalentines #tony/peter #tony x peter #soft #fluffy #tw:cheating #Peter is not a baker #but he tries #disaster #marvel

66 notes · View notes