Gift Wrapping
“Don’t get me wrong…” Tony half smiled, “but I think there’s more tape going on that present than the actual wrapping paper.”
Frustrated, Peter tossed down a roll of tape, “Well, listen. It’s not my fault this gift is abnormally shaped... aand.. no one ever taught me how to wrap presents.” He watched as the tape bounced away, hitting Tony at the knee with a quiet thud, of which the other proceeded to pick up, dainty, kind. It was hard not to laugh, sitting there on the ground admiring Peter’s poor, poor work.
“I’m trying.”
“Oh I know, I know,” Tony silenced a baby laugh, shuffling closer to the boy. Obviously disappointed in his craft, Peter scrunched his face and got back to work perfecting the present in his hands, a gift for May. She always did mention that beautiful kitchen set, not to mention the apartment could use more utensils.
“Do you need some help?” The older of the two offered.
“Nuh-uh- I got this. I think I can handle wrapping a few measly presents.”
Having already taken care of his own holiday gifts, Tony obeyed and handed the tape back to Peter, gently placing it in the kid’s open palm as the boy stared intently at the atrocity before him. Peter hadn’t even taken his eyes off of it, one thumb holding the right corner of the paper in place, the other waving for Tony to hurry up and give him the item or something to hold the gift wrap in place, mostly before the paper falls off.
Tongue sticking out between pearly whites, Peter sucked in his breath and pulled yet another long strand of tape from the dispenser. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Are you.. sure?” The difference between his and Tony’s gift wrapping skills crystal clear, Tony’s generosity had been packed and stacked away for quite some time, neat, tidy and pretty with simple yet wispy bows, crisp edges and the like. “I can help you, you know.”
“I got it! I got it-” Peter shooed away the male, scooching his Christmas-pajama-themed-butt across the polished floor. It squeaked, but he hadn’t noticed, the only thing he cared about was putting some distance between him and the man trying to, in his mind, do the work for him.
“You could just put it in a box, make it easier on yourself, or perhaps a bag. The trees might agree..”
Peter took offense, slapping down the sticky tape across the entirety of the present. It caught the already torn paper on its way down, flipping and curling over with a massive, annoying bubble, and Peter could feel the frustration pooling in his chest: “What’s that supposed to mean?” He flung his hand around like a deflating balloon, all in attempt to rid his fingers of the material without losing his grip on the wrapping paper.
Tony smiled again.
Peter was so cute, all determined like that. He wanted to be the one to put in the effort, especially for May. He had to express his gratitude somehow with how much love and care his aunt had given him all these years, and letting Tony do the work for him might take that away. He listened to the way in which Tony breathed out, a laugh evident in his tone, after all Peter knew the other well enough to understand when Tony was amused. Hands busy folding and flipping the set in search of the best angle to finish off the gift, he hadn’t heard Tony stand to his feet or cross, clearing the gap between the two of them.
“Beautiful, hun,” Tony said through the silenced hum of Christmas music. Peter nodded. He had no idea Tony was in fact referring to him and not the project between such small hands, although that was adorable too.
Fingers gracing almond hair, Tony ruffled the top of Peter’s head and towered over, commending the other for all of his hard work, even picking balls of tape from the boy’s curls. He wasn’t going to ask how that had even happened.
“Do you think May will like it?” Peter questioned, voice hitching. He raised the box ever so slightly, small movements to cast more light on the unfortunate thing. He worried.
“Of course she will,” Tony brushed a stray strand to the side. “You did a good job, sweetheart.” Peter set the completed gift down and puffed out his lips, deep in dismay. He hoped she’d like it. He tried really hard, and lately she needed a little light in her life.
Tilting his head back vertically, all the way until Tony came into view above and the bokeh lights twinkled off his face, Peter trusted the other’s opinion. “Do you think so?” he asked, feeling Tony’s clothed knees come in contact with his back, a support mechanism to hold up and prevent the boy from falling.
“Mmhm.”
Peter had no time to think before Tony was craning down to kiss him, softly cupping Peter at the chin for a genuine, delicate kiss, an upside down kiss. Peter loved it, off guard and pushing for more, socked feet slowly slipping from beneath him. Sweet, delectable, the boy tasted something like cookies, a few crumbs still scattered on his pink lips from earlier, and Tony wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. He hummed.
Peter smiled.
“I know so.”