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“Tony?” His name is called in the distance, but he’s too busy to answer. “Tony?” The voice gets closer, louder, but he can’t mess this up, not now. “Tony.” The tone goes from confused to angry. He should answer, he knows he should, but he just can’t. He focuses on what’s really important, consequences be damned. “Tony!” That’s the tone he was concerned about. A lecture is in his future, but he’ll bear it like a grown man. The door opens and closes behind him, he’s almost done, he can’t lose concentration. “Anthony Edward Stark.” That almost got him, but he stays firm. He’s proud of himself. “Tony, I’m ser-!”
“Got it!” Arms up, a big smile plastered on his face, he takes one last look at his work. “Jeez, I’m good.” The happiness stops short when a cushion is thrown at his head. “What the-“ stopping himself before he says something he might regret later, he rubs the back of his head, “-heck.”
“Heck!” The voice of his favorite little human in the world exclaims before him. It could’ve been worse. Turning to the side, he catches his wife’s unimpressed expression.
“Was that necessary, Pep?” Her eye twitches, he winces.
“Are you deaf?” She stares at him, knowing the answer, but wanting him to realize how stupid he’s been, he’s sure.
“No.” His voice breaks.
“Oh, well, could’ve fooled me.” She says under her breath. He tsks playfully.
“No mumbling in this house, remember Pep? It was your rule. Wasn’t it Moguna?” Said child, who he loves with a passion, simply giggles, the traitor. He gasps exaggeratedly. “After the tedious work I’ve done for you, little Miss, making you look so very adorable with your cute little pigtails, you dare leave me in the dust?” The little girl giggles louder. “Shame on you, Moguna. Shame on you.” He pokes her stomach with his finger, making her shriek.
He tickles and tickles until the little traitor needs to breathe, taking a short pause so she doesn’t pass out before diving back in. After a few seconds, he pulls away, pretending to catch some air. “Phew, that was exhausting. The Tickle Monster is starting his hibernation, don’t bother him for another three hours at least. We clear?” Still breathing shakily, Morgan nods eagerly. “Good girl.” He helps her sit back up. “Now, stay still so my amazingly crafted pigtails don’t go to waste.” Turning his attention back to his wife, he pulls Morgan to his lap. “Sorry for the distraction, my lady. What were you mad at me about?”
For all the annoyance she came through the door with, a wide smile covers almost her entire face, making the probabilities of a lecture go lower. He does a mental fist bump to his kid, always the master of calming her mother down from any anger-related issue.
“You like my pigtails, Mommy?” Leaning forward on the back of the couch, Pepper winks at Morgan.
“Love them, sweet pea.” The glint in her eyes dwindles when she looks at him. Maybe he’s been too quick to rule out a lecture. “As much as I love your… dedication to brushing our daughter’s hair, Tony, answer when I call your name.” Nodding tersely, he gulps.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Good.” Standing straight once again, she crosses her arms. “Now, what I meant to ask. Why are there chicken nuggets all over the grass?” Completely caught off guard by her question, he blinks a few times, trying to recall if he’s heard her question right, before a small hand tugs at his shirt, making him lean down so Morgan can whisper in his ear.
“I planted chicken nugget trees.” Moving his head away and looking at her with one raised eyebrow, he nods slowly, impressed. Turning to Pepper one more time, he clears his throat.
“She planted chicken nugget trees.” Silence fills the room as his wife processes the answer. Her mouth opens and closes multiple times before she gives up. “She’s a tiny scientist in the making. Aren’t you, Moguna?” He coos at her, making her giggle once again.
“Yes! Smart smart like Daddy.” Against her better judgement, he’s sure, Pepper smiles, trying to hide it by running her hand over her face.
“You two are going to be the death of me, you know that?” Smiling widely, both father and daughter nod in perfect sync.
“We know.” Sighing fondly, Pepper walks away, back to whatever she was doing, not before turning around and pointing her ‘boss lady’ finger at them.
“I admire your ideas, baby, but Tony? Those chicken nuggets better be gone by the time I finish getting ready, you hear me?” He gives her a mocking salute, which his previously traitor daughter mimics.
“Aye aye captain.”
“Aye aye capin.” He tries to contain his laughter at the sheer adorableness of his baby, but it’s his wife who breaks first.
“Alright alright, sailors. Just get to it.” Without a second to waste, father and daughter get to work. Not picking up the chicken nuggets per se, but burying them on the soil.
“Trees only grow if the seed is buried underneath, Moguna.” Nodding along, she helps him dig tiny holes before covering them again. “Do not tell Mommy, alright? She’ll get so surprised when chicken nugget trees start growing.” He whispers while ruffling her hair.
“Yes!” She exclaims, jumping up and down in glee. “A surprise for Mommy! A surprise for Mommy!” Chuckling, he watches her skip back inside the house, leaving him wondering how in the world he's going to genetically mutate a tree to grow chicken nuggets.
He’ll just ask Bruce later.