If They Knew All About You

You Win Some, You Lose Some

He was itching for his phone, just to have something that could give him some more information on what was happening out there. He had no illusions that he'd learn anything about how his aunt was doing or where Mr. Stark was of course. If he had really gone to see her. If he had talked to her. If she was okay.

But at least it would give him some form of distraction. Lying in that bed, just waiting for things to unfold, waiting for the man to come back and clinging to the hope that he would talk to him, tell him what had happened when he did return, all of it was just exhausting

The Colonel, Rhodey, he was still right there with him. As awkward as it had been at first, Peter couldn't deny that he welcomed the company. They didn't talk all that much, but when Pepper had come in with a light breakfast, the Colonel had retrieved some playing cards from somewhere in the penthouse. Peter was sitting up, feeling better with some actual food in his stomach and he couldn't deny that his spirits were up somewhat after he had convinced Rhodey to change from Go Fish to Texas Hold'em. The man's face fell a little more with every round just like the pile of quarters on Peter's side of the bedside table grew.

It was a distraction alright, but not enough for him to miss the vibe in the penthouse change. Just before noon, he was back. Peter could just tell, that Mr. Stark was back. It drew his attention enough that Rhodey won back a couple of quarters off him and they were on the fifth card of the next round as the door to Peter's room was pushed open.

It was Mr. Stark alright. He looked like he hadn't slept in a week which he likely hadn't, but there was no urgency to his steps, no detectable flutter in his heartbeat.

"Hey..." A few long strides and he was by Peter's side, his hands were warm as one of them squeezed Peter's arm and the palm of the other against his forehead, feeling his temperature. "Hey, you're up. How do you feel?"

"Did you see her?" Peter could hardly hold onto himself, cards forgotten in his lap. The need to know that she was okay or... or would be, it was too strong to push down for even another moment. "Is she gonna be okay? Did she... did she—"

"Shh, alright now, calm down." The man squeezed his shoulder and gestured to the row of cards spread out on Peter's bed. "Go on, finish your hand."

Peter huffed. "Fine." He picked up the three little towers of stacked up quarters and dropped them onto his bed. "There, all in."

Rhodey's eyebrows shot up and after a quick look at Mr. Stark and then at the five quarters still stacked up on the table next to him, he pulled out his wallet and added a few more dollar bills. "I guess, I'll call then."

"Cool." Peter dropped his two cards onto the bed facing up. "Flush, King of Spades High Card." He turned back to Mr. Stark. "Is she okay?"

"You gotta be fucking kidding me." Rhodey threw his two Aces in the middle of the pile.

"Aw, Three Of A Kind isn't all that bad. Nice try, Platypus!"

Peter wouldn't take his eyes off the man next to him though, searching for his attention. "Mr. Stark, please..."

"Shh, just settle down, buddy." Mr. Stark collected the coins and dollar notes from the bed and moved them back to Peter's bedside table. "I can't believe you let the kid talk you into Poker. It's like you learned nothing from college, honeybear."

Rhodey had leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I even thought about letting him win. Should have known better, of course with your kid." He shook his head, just watching as Mr. Stark collected the many quarters from between the folds of Peter's sheet.

"The kid was the one who calibrated your braces, genius. You think Poker would be hard on him?"

Heat rushed into Peter's cheeks and he looked away when Rhodey's eyes shifted up to him. "Is that true?"