Peter stood facing Tony, Clint and Bruce, clenching his fists by his side in frustration "What the hell do you mean I'm not prepared! I've been training with you for weeks and.."

"I'm not doubting your abilities, kid" Tony interjected cutting him off "I just don't think you can handle what might be coming to fight you. I never should have told you where the weapon was" Tony sighed and shook his head.

"Tony what are you talking about? I am more than capable of protecting myself and I assumed that I've fought enough villains to prove myself to you." Peter knew what Tony was referring to, since he found out about the F-S-319 he did suspect that he would end up getting involved somehow.

"You've never fought a supersoldier with an unbreakable shield or a top secret organization's best trained spy!" Tony yelled exasperated.

"Wait, Mr. Stark what's that supposed to mean" Peter questioned.

"Natasha and Rogers are set on finding that weapon and the only thing standing in their way is us. Clint found out that they think you have the location of the F-S-319 and, well no offense kid, but you look like the easiest target for them to take." Peter heard genuine fear in Tony's voice as he spoke the last sentence, but he was ready to forget it in order to protect his pride.

"Mr. Stark you specifically told me..."

"Listen, this isn't the first time something like this has happened" Tony cut him off again "It's no secret that I have weapons, a lot of weapons, and after I stopped all the mass manufacturing I didn't really consider how much S.H.I.E.L.D was using my technology. They've sent agents to try and find some of my hidden tech, but they've never gotten this close. We've always been there to stop them. The only difference is that this time you're here, and like I said before, S.H.I.E.L.D knows that you're inexperienced."

"Mr. Stark, do you honestly think they would come after me just to get information. Besides, why not just destroy the weapon. You clearly don't want to use it and, well, that makes the most sense."

"Because P- I mean kid" Tony said correcting himself in front of Clint and Banner "Because, you may have a hard time understanding this, but I spent a lot of my life working on it. I spent years developing the concept and, and six months trying to put it together. I... I can't just destroy something like that, it's against my principles."

"What do you expect to happen, Mr. Stark. Three times this week you've called me in and three times this week nothing happened. I can't keep dropping everything and coming here whenever you think I'm in the slightest bit of danger." At this point Peter was starting to get mad. He didn't get exhausted and soaking wet every night for Tony to pull him out of fights right as things were starting to get good. And he certainly didn't believe that members of the Avengers would go after someone like him.

"Actually, last time I checked I could" Tony rebuked. Clint and Banner looked at each other and walked out of the room. They learned a long time ago that it was better to be no where near Tony when he got like this.

"Last time I checked, Parker. The whole reason you've made it this far is because of me. You're my responsibility and that means something to me, and it should mean something to you too. I don't care if you can't blow off some steam fighting a petty criminal after school, what matters to me is that you might be facing a real threat!"

"I don't believe you Mr. Stark." Peter yelled "I think the only thing you want to protect is your reputation and you precious weapons!" Peter regretted these words almost as soon as he said them. He was thankful to Tony for helping him out, but at a certain point he wanted more freedom. Peter knew that he couldn't win an argument against Tony Stark so he decided instead to jump to the ceiling and try to crawl out of the room.

"Parker, where the hell do you think you're going we're not done here yet!"

"Well I am!" Peter yelled.

"Fine, If you're going to storm out of her like an immature child than at least do yourself the favor of going home." Tony nearly yelled.

Peter climbed to the top of Stark Towers and looked out over his city. For the thousandth time this year he admired the lights and the special view that only he got to see. He thought about the people below him, each person with their own problems, history and families. Not one of them knowing about the intricacies of his personal dramas, certainly not even thinking about them. "Damn" he thought. "Even my allies are my enemies. This is a freaking mess." Peter jumped off the tower and let himself feel the freedom of freefalling before shooting a web out at the last minute and swinging to safety.

To him swinging felt like flying, it was almost indescribable, free, but best of all it helped him forget his problems. All the way up in the sky, Peter felt that everything was going to be ok. Up there no one thought he knew the location of perhaps the world's most powerful weapon. Swinging above the city Peter didn't have to think about the S.H.I.E.L.D Agents (and Avengers) who probably didn't care that he was a kid, only that he might have something that they wanted.

Really he didn't know where to go, Peter rarely ever did, but he knew that he couldn't go home, that's what Mr. Stark wanted. He decided instead to go instead to where he could be alone...

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"I'm not sure what you expected Tony." Clint called walking back into the room.

"I couldn't possible imagine what you mean" Tony replied back sarcastically "There is nothing simpler than arguing logic with a teenager."

"Tony, it's just, I mean you've already said that something like this has happened before. S.H.I.E.L.D wants your weapons, everyone does. But this is Natasha and Rogers we're talking about, I don't think they're going to target someone like the kid, even for something like this." Clint tried to reason.

"No, this is different. I've talked to Fury, we used have the same conversation every time. Loyalty, accountability, duties, it was all the same, but this time was different, he sounded desperate. I've gotten used to S.H.I.E.L.D's secrecy, I understand their levels of power and positions, but... I don't know Clint, I think that they're willing to go further this time... This weapon, it's powerful, more than I can explain. It's total destruction, it's almost God-like, I don't trust S.H.I.E.L.D with it, I don't even think I can trust myself. But you know what it's like, I know you do, when S.H.I.E.L.D hears about something even close to absolute power, they want it. They can claim all day that their final goal is world peace, but they have a bad track record in messing with stuff they shouldn't. I would feel safer with that weapon tucked deep away where no one can find it, where they can't ever use it." Tony straightened his back as he finished his speech.

"Tony, you know I understand. But it's not just an organization we're talking about, its people. Romanov and Rogers, they're friends, practically family, and you haven't even sat down with them and explained your reasoning. In their eyes, all you're doing is disobeying a direct order from Nick Fury. I don't know how long I can support you when I see a solution so simple. Talk about his secrets all you want, but Fury, he's reasonable. If you could just try to explain than…."

"Clint, I can't argue about this anymore. Don't you think I've tried to reason with Fury. I've told him about the danger, about the power. He knows just as well as I do that if people find out about how the weapon is made, if God forbid S.H.I.E.L.D actually uses it, it won't just be one of Fury's special projects, it'll be the next arms race. Every world power will rush to manufacture these weapons themselves, do you know how much destruction that can cause, I can't be responsible for that, I won't."

"Fine, Tony." Clint sighed running his hands over his face "How long do you think it will last?"

"I can't say. Things usually end pretty quickly, but I expect we'll be in it for the long haul this time. Until it blows over though, I want to make sure the kid's safe. I know their following him."

"What do you need me to do."

"Just, I don't know, make sure he's not doing something stupid. You know Romanov more than anyone else, you know her tactics. If you see something suspicious, try to draw him away."

"Fine, I can't do this forever you know, I can't keep following him all over the city, he'll notice me sooner or later."

"I know, just until I'm sure he's safe." Tony sighed.

Picking his bow off the table, Clint walked out of the room muttering something under his breath. Tony sighed and turned to computer screens.

"Jarvis, pull up 'Spider-Man'"

The computer then brought up a 3D map of New York. The impressively detailed map outlined every skyscraper in New York, it was even able to profile the general shape of vehicles that had been parked more than an hour. However Tony was far more interested in the red dot moving quickly over Midtown and nearing Central Park. The red dot was Spider-Man's tracker, Tony never really admitted to Peter that he was always tracking him. Peter suspected it of course, but it never bothered him until now.

"I told him to go home" Tony thought. He was used to this, Peter usually went to Central Park when he was upset.

"You can't watch that forever you know" Banner said from behind Tony.

"Yeah but I can watch it for now"

"I heard what you were saying to Clint."

"Oh Yeah" Tony responded.

"Yes, you have to know that you're right. What you made, it's not just another bomb, it's a last resort. We can't ever give it to someone who might think about using it." Banner replied confidently.

"Oh God trust me, I know I'm right. That's not what I'm worried about. Clint was right when he said that Rogers, Natasha and I are friends, but, they'll put this mission first. And it's not like…"

"Yes, Tony I've heard you say it a thousand times 'It's not like last time' 'It's not like before' I understand that."

"It not just the weapon Bruce, it the kid. Clint is certain he's being followed. And while he's pretty powerful, he can be naive. He's only been doing this for a few months. Hell, if the roles were reversed he'd be the first person I'd try to find too." Tony sighed "This is the first time I'm not constantly on the phone with Fury. He's trying to go around me on this, I can tell"

"Tony, they're not going to hurt him. This will blow over like the last time" Bruce placed a comforting hand on Tony's shoulder.

"Damnit Banner, you sound like Clint." Tony brushed him off "Do you even remember when they shot the nuke at New York City. When S.H.I.E.L.D want's something they get it, and right now the only four people who have it are me, you, Clint and the Kid. Now can you honestly tell me that if you were Fury you wouldn't go after him."

"Fine Tony" Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose "Clint's watching him now right?"

"Yeah, I'll give Clint a way to track him tomorrow."

"...Tony, why did you even make it in the first place?"

"I don't know Bruce. I just... I don't know."