Hey guys. Sorry for taking a while to post this.

I felt iffy about doing this one. I do hope I did good with side appearances and so on.

I own nothing of Marvel at all. I hope you enjoy.


"Peter. Peter? Hey Parker!"

Peter was startled out of looking at his messages to see Michelle giving him a raised brow while everyone else was either looking at him too or busy with their work. He was recapping to Tony about his late night adventure by stopping the hijacking of the subway trains and preventing them from full on collision when she called on him, feeling his cheeks burning up. "Um, I'm sorry. What?"

Ned chuckled lightly and Michelle; MJ for short, sighed before asking, "I said if you're free for tomorrow afternoon. We need to practice for the next competition."

"MJ, it's like months away." Being their new captain meant she also took practice seriously. But, being MJ, she was more laid back in attitude.

"Doesn't mean we should lack in progress. Especially when one of us keeps bailing on us all of a sudden these past few weeks." MJ coolly retorted back.

"I told you I'm sorry. But I have my internship to worry about." Peter tried reasoning with her.

"The Stark Internship? Hah! Yeah right!" Flash Thompson barked, laughing that made Peter feel unease.

"Well, whatever is going on with you, you better get your head on straight if we even have a chance to compete, let alone win. We don't need a repeat of DC, do we guys?" MJ asked, getting numerous shaking heads and no's from the group, including Ned but Flash just shrugged it off, trying hard not to think about almost peeing in his pants from a near death experience.

MJ dispersed the group, everyone gone except Ned who waited by the double doors for Peter. But Peter shook his head, letting him know not to wait. Best buds like them develop their own code; simple nods to secret handshakes, so they didn't need to speak to learn what the other thinks. Ned nodded back and walked off. Both Peter and MJ were left as they packed up their things when Peter spoke softly. "MJ I'll try and see, but Mr. Stark's been needing me around a lot lately. I can talk to him about taking a break but he's not so easy to persuade. I'm still really sorry, though. I don't want to let you guys down again."

"I know. I get it. Hero worship and all that. Just," she slung her bag on and gave him a knowing look, "Don't lose sight of what matters." She walked past him, making him wonder … did she know? He thought she did the day he was first brought to the compound. She gave him the same look. If there's one thing he knows, it's that MJ ain't no dummy. Peter shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it and left shortly after. He went on his way to meet Ned when he heard the last voice he wanted to hear.

"Puny Parker!"

"Not now, Flash." Peter grumbled.

"Aw, what's the matter, Parker? Running away again?"

"I'm not running. I'm walking. There's a difference."

Peter did his best to block out Flash from his mind. He just kept looking forward, not bothered to give him even a single glance nor to anyone else he passed in the hall. He could see Ned waiting outside in the distance.

"Don't tell me your internship is legit."

"Flash," Peter warned him.

"I mean, it's one thing to say you're friends with Spider-Man – "

" – I just know him."

"But seriously? You honestly think that the Tony Stark would want to hire let alone be around you? That's so bull!" Peter was lost in a gray daze, trying to ignore everything except the light at the end of the hall. "Why would he waste his time with you? Why bother, right? I mean … the last thing he wants is to be seen with a wimpy, scrawny FREAK!"

He was shoved hard. His spider sense kicked in too little too late for his taste. However, he was able to grab his bag holding his suit and and hug it to his chest, twisting himself to land on his back. But falling over two sets of steps and landing hard, on his back and head, Peter felt like he landed on jagged rocks; a shocking pain shot up his body. His vision got dazed and his hearing was off but he thought he heard someone shouting his name. He couldn't move like his body was heavy weight. His spine ached as did the back of his head; sensing a big bump forming there. Then, he felt body heat on his right before seeing MJ's face hover over him. He couldn't hear the words coming out of her mouth when he started picking it up again.

" et – Pet – Peter! Are you okay? Ugh, Flash, what the hell?!" Panic laced her usually calm voice, face contorted from scared to anger directed at Flash. Peter heard footsteps scurrying to his other side, picking up Ned's voice right away.

"Peter! Holy crap! Are you okay? Did you break anything? Can you even move? Hey, your watch is beeping like crazy, is it suppose to do that?" Ned rambled on, jumbling his words together. But Peter recognized the last question. As Ned and MJ pulled him up to sit on his butt, Peter pulled down his jacket sleeve, he looked down his right wrist to see his red and blue watch.

A gift, more like a monitor, courtesy of Tony Stark. It was meant to keep track of his vitals, heart rate, and body reactions in case he was sick or injured or in a tight spot. It was also meant to keep track of where Peter was without his suit on. When he was first offered it, Peter protested that he didn't need it. But after getting a valid reason that it would pay off and a dead on stare that sent chills up his spine, he reluctantly took it. Looks like it was paying off.

However, he knew that when it beeped like that, it meant Tony was alerted right away. So it would be possible … would he … come here? It took Ned no longer than five minutes to get Peter standing who was still bearing the pain while MJ snatched Flash by his collar and dragging him over when they all heard a loud clank outside. Peter looked up to only to be gobsmacked at seeing Iron Man outside the double doors in front of them. The crowd they were getting gave shocked gasps and excited chatter broke out when he strode in and examined the scene, lastly ending on his spider's pain stricken face.

"What the hell happened?"

MJ pointed at Flash, "He did it."

Peter gaped as Tony walked out of his suit and immediately gripped Flash by his collar, getting right into his face hissing venomously. "What the hell did you do to my kid?"

OOO

Happy drove Peter back to the compound, Tony putting his suit away in his briefcase so he could be in the car to sit with Peter in the back and making sure he was sitting so he wouldn't black out. After being alerted of Peter's condition, he dropped his work on SI business and took off in his suit to get to the school faster, alerting Happy to come in his car just in case. When he arrived he did a quick scan of Peter, picking up bruising on his upper and lower back as well as his head, nothing broken but there is strain around his neck and shoulders. Definitely concussion. He had to drop Flash Thompson's flat ass into a nearby teacher's hands to get Peter standing long enough to take him out, Ned and MJ helping out. He assured them he'd take care of Peter before taking care of that prick Flash.

They were both now in the med bay of the compound, a doctor Peter was convinced knew who he really was from getting several exams and scans and detected his altered DNA and aware of his healing factor. But Tony assured him that his secret would be well kept within the walls of the compound. Peter's healing factor would heal his bruising by tomorrow morning but his head has a mild concussion; luckily he didn't fall that far, but pain killers would be needed and well as rest for a week.

Now, Peter sat on the medical bed as he took off his jacket and shirt so Tony could have a closer look at his back. Peter blushed as he tried covering his nude chest with his discarded clothes, feeling shy all of a sudden. There was silence, tension hung in the air as Tony carefully touched his already purple bruised skin. He felt Tony's frustration as he broke the silence.

"I swear, when I get my hands on that piece of shi –!"

"Tony!" Peter tried chastised him only to hiss when Tony starting cleaning his bruises.

"Sorry kid, but I just say what's on my mind, is all! Especially when I find out that you've been bullied by this prick for quite some time!"

"Tony, I'm sorry. I should have told you about Flash."

"But you didn't."

Peter felt a stab of guilt in him. "No. I thought I could handle it."

"Like you did today?"

Tony's voice sounded almost accusing. Peter winced, sniffling as he felt more guilty. "I – I should have sped away faster, just face him and told him to leave me alone … I could have fought him … but I didn't."

"Yeah and why is that pray tell?"

Peter bit his lip. "Because it would have given away my identity and hurting others I'm stronger than regular people – like Flash – is something I can never do, no matter how much I wanted to."

Tony was silent as he grabbed an ice pack and lightly pressed it on the back of Peter's head and neck. Peter hugged himself more, trembling and Tony frowned at that. With his free hand, he touched Peter's shoulder.

"I was trying not to let him get to me. But," Peter looked down at his lap, frowning more, "I almost did."

"What happened?" His voice was gentle but left no room for avoidance.

"Flash, he … he said … why would you hire someone like me? Why would you waste your time on me? I'm … I'm just a wimpy, scrawny … freak," Peter confessed, voice getting quieter but embarrassed. He knew he shouldn't let Flash's words get to him. They meant nothing. Right? Tony said nothing yet, making Peter hug himself more. Was what he said actually true? Did Tony see him like that? Was he wrong all along?

"Was he right?" He whispered.

"No, no he's not." Tony spoke with conviction. He walked over to lean over him, keeping his hand on his shoulder while putting the ice pack down for the moment. "That little dipstick has no goddamn idea what he's talking about. Now, you listen to me, kid. Whatever you think you know, don't. Unless it actually comes out of my mouth to you, don't believe it. Don't get me wrong, after the ferry screw up, I did lose faith in you." Peter's shoulders drooped but then Tony said, "But you made it up, all right? You redeemed yourself. Not only that, you've shown more maturity and responsibility than before. And, I've never been more prouder." Peter's eyes widened and Tony's eyes caught sight of tears pricking out. His dark brown eyes showed warmth as Peter blinked them away, ducking his head to hide them.

"Hey." Tony inched his head down as his eyes locked onto Peter's. "You're perfectly imperfect to me."

"And I'm suppose to like that?" Perfectly imperfect, really?

"Yes cause I'm your boss, your mentor and what I say goes so deal with it," Tony lightly ordered as he gently hugged Peter, who blushed red but smiled, feeling his pain slowly ebb away. "And don't worry about Flash. I'll deal with him. Now, let's get you home to rest." Peter put back on his shirt and jacket before putting the ice pack back on his head while Tony shouldered his backpack so his arm could help support Peter. "Oh, and no Spider-Man until you've healed up."

Peter was about to protest on reflex but he deflated. He should have expected this. So he nodded, "Got it."

"See? So obedient. Where was this a month ago?" Tony joked.

Peter lightly chuckled.

The drive back was quick and silent but it was a more comfortable one. But, when they arrived in front of the apartment, Peter spotted a delivery truck in ahead of them. And it stunned him more when they got to his apartment door to see moving men walk out of there, tipping their hats to Tony. Peter gave a suspicious look to him when they both walked in to be greeted by a stunned Aunt May, her mouth gaping for a few seconds until she closed it to speak.

"Care to explain why there's a new mattress moved into my nephew's room?" She now noticed Peter leaning against Tony with his ice pack still in hand. "Why is Peter scuffed up?!"

"It's nothing, May. It's just – "

"No need to worry, Mrs. Parker. The kid just got scrapped up a bit, is all. He'll heal up nicely. The mattress is to help his comfort. My employee deserves the best care possible." Tony ushered Peter past his confused aunt into his room where the top bunk's mattress was now white, plump and new. "Ugh, why the bunk bed?"

"Because it's like my nest. My look out point. My lair." Peter mused on, climbing up with a little push from Tony. He laid on his stomach, feeling sleepy.

Tony laughed a bit as he put Peter's backpack on his desk chair. "You're adorable." Peter gave a little whine which made Tony laugh more. "Get some rest. Call me if you need me." Tony started to leave when Peter called out.

"Hey Tony?" Said genius turned around. "Thanks. For the watch, for taking care of me, for … everything."

Tony gave a soft smile. "Told you. I got your back. Good night, kid."

Peter smiled back sleepily. "Good night, Tony." He yawned before falling into deep sleep, not able to see Tony gazing at him with warmth in his eyes along with something else. Something new. Tony didn't know what it was, but it was growing.

OOO

The next day, Peter's back healed up fully but his head was healed halfway but not so bad. He was in the first class he had with Flash when said jerk wad yelped.

"What the hell?!" Peter as well as his fellow classmates looked up to see Flash looking out their class window. "My car!" He rushed out. Everyone chatted as Peter pieced everything together.

Flash's car got towed.

Apparently, it was knocked over into a no parking zone. And got wrecked. How? No one knew.

That's when Peter's phone vibrated and got a new message.

"Told you I'd deal with him. No one messes with my kid."

Peter chuckled. Tony. He should have known. It seems so wrong, but it feels so right. Even more so when Tony once again dubbed him as his kid. His kid. Is that a thing now? Maybe it was.

It was only a matter of time before he found out.


And I am tuckered out!

Thank you guys once again for the support on this. It really does mean a lot.

The next part, I will warn you, will be more emotional and or angst or something. Bottom line, there may be tears. As best as I can muster.

Until next time, bye guys!