Disclaimer: I do not own Royal Pains or The Amazing Spiderman
Boris took off glasses and looked at his son. Sometimes he could see himself in the boy, older than his age, mature usually, and like part of him was always hidden, always hiding secrets. But other times he could see Hank in him. Not only the smile or the lanky body, but also the mannerisms and the knowledge of Boris that the two shared. Also, the blatant challenging of anyone or anything that might try to oppose him or tell him what to do. He noted the stubborn expression Peter currently sported; his mouth looked exactly like Hank's did when he got like this. "Peter, you must be more careful." Boris said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I was fine!" Peter huffed indignantly. Boris knew the boy had wanted to have this argument with him instead of Hank, Boris was more likely to cave, easily giving in to his son's every whim. Boris was the one who spoiled the child silly, Hank was the one who made sure Peter did things like go to school and get acceptable grades. Boris slapped the newspaper on the desk between them. Peter didn't look at it, his eyes staying trained on his father's.
"Dad, its fine. Look, I'm fine." Peter said testily as he displayed his arms as proof of his survival.
"You could have been hurt." Boris growled softly. The headline of the paper read SPIDERMAN SAVES NEW YORK in obnoxiously big letters.
"Spiderman was there." Peter said as if that remedied the situation.
"Spiderman's parents were probably as nervous about the whole ordeal as Hank and I was." Boris said darkly. Peter glared at his dad.
"I live in New York; I was bound to be saved by him eventually." Peter growled.
"Yes, and on that subject, are you still insisting you live in New York?" Boris looked warily at his son. Boris thought regretfully of the surrogate he'd hired to carry Hank's child. She had, perhaps been carrying traits he now regretted. However, most of the things Boris had come to regret in Peter were from Hank. Peter had always felt the need to be the hero. He also was stubborn, and very smart. Boris had just wanted a child he could spoil and share with Hank. Someone who would never want to leave their side, who would stay safe at home without a worry or care.
"Yes." Peter said as he adjusted his own glasses. "Do we really have to do this?" Peter stood suddenly.
"What?" Boris asked, very confused.
"This is like a business meeting!" Peter huffed and crossed his arms. Boris noted that Peter wouldn't actually know what a business meeting was like, having never been to one. They were sitting on opposite sides of his desk, in his study but, to Boris, it seemed quite casual. "You used to sit with me on the couch and let my try on your glasses! You used to treat me like..." Peter didn't know how to finish his rant.
"You told me rather blatantly to start treating you like an adult." Boris said as he put his glasses back on.
"Well now that I've tried being an adult...I don't like it!" Peter was clearly upset. Hank usually dealt with this kind of thing, Boris wasn't the emotion parent.
"Peter." Boris stood and walked around to the other side of his desk and to the couch where Peter had flopped down dramatically. He sat, far more dignified, next to his son. "I want you to have whatever it is that you want. If you want me to treat you like my little boy again, that is what you shall have." Boris pulled his son into a hug.
"Dad...I have to tell you..." Peter stiffened nervously.
"You cannot tell me anything I do not already know." Boris said looking seriously at his son.
"I'm Spiderman." Peter said looking terrified. Boris said nothing, just looked at his son carefully. "You knew?" Peter asked after the extended silence. Again, Boris's silence answered Peter's question. "But how?"
"I have always kept an eye on you." Boris said sagely.
"And what about dad? Does he know too?" Peter asked.
"I think it might be better if we kept this from him." Boris said softly. Peter nodded. "However, while Hank is out saving lives, I can show you some of the things I've been researching and some of the things I had built." Boris rose, joined by his son as they walked from the room and through the intricate maze of halls until they reached the shark tank and other things he would prefer to be kept private. From there, they took a well hidden hall to a laboratory where Boris did research on his genetic disease. He took out some files and handed them to his son, who skimmed them.
"Most of this we already knew." Peter said putting the files on one of the tables. The German noble said nothing, ignoring his son as he took out the things he'd commissioned for Spiderman. Different types of webbing for different purposes. The little metal web shooters were modeled after Peter's own design only built with more durable material. "Wow." The lanky boy murmured awestruck before turning and hugging his dad tightly.
"Remember, do not tell your father." Boris said warningly.
"Promise." Peter grinned as he pocketed the new tech.
"The three of us are going out for dinner soon, Hank will-"
"Dad'll be late. As always." Peter grinned. "What should I wear?" Peter asked as he walked to his room, followed by his dad who was smiling softly.
"Whatever you want." Boris said. Maybe having a superhero son wasn't so bad. He was, after all, just like his father, saving lives, always late, genius, stubborn. Boris smiled, that's why he loved them.