A/N: I was supposed to type something else entirely. BUT, something was nagging at the back of my skull. And THIS, is what came out. (chuckles)

DISCLAIMER: I… own… nothing. OH, how I'd LOVE to own something that'd give me the chance to meet Tom and Robert. Buuuuut, nope. (pouts) Oh, and the title of this story IS based on a book, in case anyone's wondering.

WARNINGS: Feels… Mentions of illness… Language… (What else did you expect, we've got Tony Stark on board…!) Possible character death in the horizon… Uh… Anyone out there…?

TAKES PLACE in an AU where there are NO SUPERHEROES OR SUPER-POWERS. Just… regular people, going through their regular lives and enjoying comic-books instead of starring them. PETER IS YOUNGER IN THIS THAN IN THE MOVIE.

SO… It's time to get started. I REALLY hope that you'll enjoy this tiny first taster!

Thursdays With Peter

We Smile for the Camera

Most people labeled one of the world's most famous billionaires Tony Stark a shallow, pampered ladies' man. Because that was the image he purposefully let the world see, and it often amused him how eagerly people swallowed his act. Most people also didn't know that he took Thursday afternoons off because he visited a children's ward at a hospital. Almost every time he spent a few moments with those kids whose parents had given their consent. (And their moms who often happened to be there by coincidence.) Every time he donated money. Because he definitely had the finances to do so and didn't know what else to do with all his money, anyway. It felt good to know that at least some of it went to a good cause. Even if seeing those sick children… wasn't always pleasant. (And discovering that some of them… vanished was far worse.)

That Thursday Tony was just about to leave. He had a headache, along with a meeting that promised to be excruciatingly boring yet couldn't be avoided waiting. Those two things kept his constantly whirring mind so busy that he didn't notice the pair of eyes that spotted him and widened. Nor did he noticed the child who began to follow him.

He was just about to press the button for an elevator when his tiny stalker spoke out. "Ah… Excuse me?" a polite, almost shy child's voice came from behind him. Tony peered over his shoulder to find a very adorable boy with wild, brown hair. The child's eyes were tired and old beyond his years, but also sparkled with childish curiosity. How old was he? Eight? Nine? "Are you Tony Stark? The one who invented those robots and all that other cool stuff?"

Tony couldn't help but smile. "Yup. The one and only. And you… must be my youngest fan." How did a child know who he was? Most kids at the ward were so young that they thought he was Santa Clause's cousin or just some random, silly guy who stopped by on occasion. "What's your name?"

The boy's unhealthily pale cheeks flushed just a little bit. "Peter." The child chewed the inside of his cheek, clearly contemplating something. "Can I… take a picture of you? May, may aunt… She's never gonna believe that you were here if I don't have a picture to show."

"Well, we can't have that, can we?" Tony gave an impressed whistle when the boy fished out a camera. "Now that… is a treasure!"

Peter beamed like the sun from pride. If it wasn't for the hospital clothes, visible fatigue and paleness, he wouldn't have believed that the boy was a patient. "Thanks, Mr. Stark. My old one broke, so the nurses and doctors gathered money to get a new one. It's my favorite Birthday gift."

Tony winced. To imagine a child spending their Birthday here… "Please, call me Tony. Mr. Stark makes me feel even older than I am."

Peter nodded absentmindedly, working on the camera with skilled fingers. It was anyone's guess if the boy had heard him. "Okay." Peter tinkered with the camera some more, then nodded approvingly. "'K, the settings are perfect, now."

Peter's intention was, apparently, to snap a photo of just Tony. The billionaire shook his head. "Oh, nope. It's not every day I meet fans." He beckoned the boy to come closer.

Peter blushed again, obviously not used to being on the other side of the camera. But didn't dare to protest. And when Tony wrapped one arm around the kid and made a funny face at the camera Peter started to laugh.

In a few moments Tony nodded happily upon inspecting the final product. "You know what? That's a great picture." In fact… It was his personal favorite of all those bazillion snapshots that'd been taken of him over the years. He didn't often get the chance to make a child smile the way Peter was still beaming. "Remember to have it printed so I can give you an autograph."

The way Peter looked at him, happy and flattered… It was absolutely precious. (Not that he would've admitted as much out loud. He had a reputation to maintain, after all.) "Thanks, Mr. Stark."

Before Tony got the chance to remind the boy to use his first name, a woman's voice startled them both. "Peter!" a middle-aged nurse with ash-colored hair on a ponytail and brown eyes admonished. "You're supposed to be in bed."

Peter huffed and scratched his hair. "I know, I know. But… It's Thursday. I needed to come and see if Mr. Stark is visiting."

Well, how was that supposed to not tug at Tony's heartstrings?

The nurse smiled warmly at the boy. "And you got to see him. How cool is that?" She ruffled the child's hair. "Now off to bed, little troublemaker. Before your aunt gets here. I'll be there with the shot soon."

Peter grimaced before pulling himself together, weary eyes growing far too old again. The boy gave Tony a wave with one hand while the other cradled the camera affectionately. "Bye, Mr. Stark!"

Tony waved back. "Bye, kid! Maybe I'll come and see my biggest fan again next week."

A bright grin lit up Peter's tired eyes, and then the boy was on his way away.

The nurse didn't speak until the child was out of earshot. "Honestly? I'm glad he found you. Today… wasn't a good day for him."

Tony frowned and felt his stomach lurch. Which was ridiculous, because this was a kid he'd never even met before. "Oh?" He had so many questions that it was a little embarrassing.

Of course she couldn't tell him more. Instead she gave him a smile. "He really is your biggest fan, you know? Don't ask me how he gets even half of the stuff your company does. So… Keep stopping by. It'd mean a lot to him, and other kids." With those words she headed to the same direction to which Peter disappeared.

Tony stood there for a long while, deep in thought. Then pursed his lips, decision made. He was definitely coming back. And next time, he'd bring along something even cooler than a camera. Just in case he'd get the chance to see his number one fan again.

Because something about that kid's joy-filled smile was contagious, even to a man who – according to tabloids – was only supposed to care about himself.

TBC

A/N: Aaaaw! Peter and his camera. It's okay, Tony, it's only human to have a soft spot for that kid. (smiles fondly) Poor thing, though. (whimpers)

(In case you're wondering why Tony and Peter haven't met earlier, there IS a reason.)

SOOOO… How was that? Any good at all? Would you like to read more? PLEASE, do let me know! I'd LOVE to hear from you, especially at this kick-starting phase of the story.

In any case, thank you so much for reading! Maybe I'll see ya again one day.

Take care!