Seven

It didn't take long for the three of them to reach the hotel, but Peter was hardly paying attention to Agent Hill and Fury who were mumbling to themselves and then looking at Peter every few seconds. To be honest it was making Peter a bit uncomfortable.

Instead Peter looked out the window to focus on the ocean, Peter had seen the ocean before, but it was nothing compared to the oceans back East. This water was crystal blue. It almost glistered like diamonds. He almost forgot the reason that he was here.

"Mr. Parker," Fury said as Agent Hill stopped the car in front of a modest hotel. Agent Hill gave the car attendant the keys and the young college aged kid went to park it as Agent Hill, Fury, and Peter made their way inside the lobby. "We're going to the room now so that Hill can show you the coordinates of HYDRA's base and we can prep you about what you're going to do."

"Great, cool. I can handle it." Peter tried to hide his nervousness. Agent Hill didn't look so sure. "When do we start?"

Fury pressed the elevator button. "Tonight."

"Wow," Peter gulped. "Tonight that is so soon. I thought we were starting tomorrow, you know early bird catches the worm and all that."

Agent Hill and Fury exchanged looks and Agent Hill looked confused. "Peter, if you're uncomfortable you don't have to do this. You can still back out-"

"No," if he backed out then he would just be proving to everyone that he really was a stupid kid that couldn't handle a little evil government group. "I'll be fine. Put me in coach."


"You're not eating. You don't like it?"

Pepper sounded hurt and that's what made Tony look up. He hadn't realized that he had been playing with his lasagna for half an hour and that it was now cold. When Tony looked up he noticed that Pepper didn't look hurt. She looked concerned and she had already finished her dinner.

It was one of those rare dinners when HQ was empty and it was just them. Who knows where the rest of them were hiding at. "No, it's good." Tony stuffed a piece of cold lasagna in his mouth. "Delicious."

Pepper smiled as she leaned over to squeeze his hand. The diamond ring that Tony had gotten her was glistering on her finger. Tony wondered if he should get her a bigger one, though if he tried Pepper would probably smack him across the face. Pepper liked things elegant and tasteful while Tony was more flashy.

"You're still upset about Pete," she concluded. Tony could almost swear she thought that the whole thing was cute. "Have you talked to Steve or Nat? Maybe they can help."

Tony snorted. "Both of them were entirely useless and Steve was all for it, making Peter an Avenger. I thought that the great and mighty Captain America was supposed to be against child soldiers, but whatever."

Pepper shrugged. "You and Steve are two completely different people. You two are obviously going to have different opinions. Besides Peter is sixteen, you won't be able to protect him forever, Tony. None of you can-"

"I know," Tony said a little too sharply. "But I can try, Peter is young, Pep. He is practically a baby Avenger compared to every one else. He has already lost so much, I rather save his aunt the heart attack and I'm just a little upset that he went to Malibu for some debate camp and didn't bother to tell me. He always tells Happy at least and then Happy tells me. I'm being silly."

"You're being a mentor." Pepper corrected as she kissed the side of his head. "Tell you what, why don't you go surprise Peter in Malibu. Get the address from May and pick him up from the debate camp. I'm sure both of you could talk things through on the ride over. Believe me, I'm sure Peter would prefer a private plane to a regular plane."


"Why are you so mopey?" Tony asked Natasha as he looked over the Avenger's files. "Is Bruce not answering your love letters?" The red head was sitting on one of the couches sipping on a Cosmo.

She turned to give Tony a razor sharp look. "If you must know, Bruce and I have decided to remain friends. No romances involved and it's not Bruce that I'm worried about. It's Fury."

Tony turned his sight from the screen to look at Natasha with a puzzled look on his face. "Fury?" To be honest Tony hadn't thought of Fury ever since SHIELD had collapsed. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"Nothing is wrong." She hesitated. "I just haven't heard from Fury or Hill and all my calls go to voicemail. Have you heard from either of them?"

"You keep up with Fury and Hill?"

"You don't?"

"Fury is not exactly on my favorite list," Tony snorted. "I mean, I don't hate the guy, but he's not exactly on the Holiday card list. Why? Are you worried that him and Hill went rogue?"

"Nothing that dramatic." Natasha said with an eye roll. "Just wondering that's all. He checks in with me at least once a week, but this week nothing. I just found it odd." Tony shrugged, if there was one thing that Tony knew was that Fury could take care of himself.

"Friday, call May." Friday followed the instructions and ten minutes later Tony heard May's tired voice. "Hello?"

"Hi May, sorry to bother you. I'll be in Malibu this Sunday and if Pete was there then I can give him a ride back to New York. Do you know the name of the camp?"

May perked up, she almost sounded relieved. "Oh, good Tony. I know Peter can take care of himself, but him being on a plane by himself still gets me a little anxious. It would be great if you could bring him back to Queens. The camp is Redwood Camp. Peter said it was a small camp near the sea."

Natasha looked up with a smirk on her face. "You and the little Spider are still arguing, huh? Tony, the kid is sixteen not a baby give him some space. You being the helicopter parent is not going to help you at all."

"How did you even find out about Peter and me?"

"Wanda told me."

"Well, Wanda should learn to keep her mouth shut." Tony scoffed. He wasn't overprotective over Peter and he wasn't a helicopter dad, why was everyone acting like it was so rare that Tony didn't want Peter to break his stupid neck. "Friday, can you look up the address for me? And book me a hotel room for tomorrow, preferably near Parker's camp so that the scamp doesn't run away-"

"The address you gave me does not exist." Friday interrupted.

"What?" Tony snapped. "No that was the address that May gave me. Check again. Check all of the places in Malibu that are offering debate camps this weekend."

"Sir, I checked," Friday said calmly. "That address does not exist in Malibu and there are no debate camps in the Malibu area for this weekend. I believe that the phrase that you're looking for is that you've been played."

-End of Chapter Seven-

Thank you to everyone for reading! I'm glad that you're enjoying this story.