Chapter Twenty-One

Explanations Two

"What do you mean by that? I thought that you said that the symbiote hated you".

"Well yeah it does, but it hates me the same way you hate alcohol"

Tony looked at his desk where he knew in his third desk drawer was a bottle of very good cognac. A constant reminder of who he used to be not who he was now.

He wasn't surprised that Peter knew he was a recovering alcoholic, he was Tony-motherfucking-Stark it had been all over the news for days when he "came out' (so to speak).

"The symbiote is addicted to you?" Fury interjected.

"Yeah, if I said today that I'd bond with it it'd take me back in a second"

"And then what?"

"And then...once its bonded it never really comes off. I mean you can take it off but the choice is gone, it can re-bond whenever it wants not when you want"

"No I mean how do you stop it then"

"I don't, I just let it die. There's a complex series of chemicals that are deadly to the symbiote but harmless to humans, I've been eating them for a while and if it ever bonds with me it'll die".

"Why didn't you just feed Brock those chemicals then?"

"Because the host will die too"

Tony was livid, actually fundamentally, literally livid. That was his final plan?, let it bond with him and just let both of you die, that wasn't a plan that was insanity.

Fury however didn't agree, "so if this Venom starts hurting your loved ones or innocents then..."

"I bond and we die"

"How did you even find this out?"

"Chance. Eddie happened to eat food with those chemicals in it and I happened to be there and yeah. And before you say anything Mr Stark I am still as science student, I surreptitiously fed him some other food with the same chemicals-small doses of course- and he had the same reaction. He got really sick and almost died, any more and he would have".

"Well I hate to say it but I think you have this under control, or as much control as anyone can have when shit gets this fucked up" Fury said and with that he left.

Peter watched him leave, and when the door was securely closed behind him "was that a compliment?"

Tony didn't reply, instead he just stared at Peter.

"Have you told your family of your genius plan?"

Peter looked pained, "I only have my Aunt May and she doesn't even know I'm Spider-man. Oh wait I forgot I also technically have a brother, well two but I think one's in Canada and the others in China".

"What no girlfriend?"

"Nope, just me"

Tony's heart skipped a beat, no girlfriend, but I thought?

"What about friends?"

"Only Gwen knows, and its not just that anyone I know would be in danger if you or anyone intervened"

"I wasn't suggesting that..."

"But you were thinking it" Peter leaned forward and did this strange dance with his fingers, poking at the air in front of Tony.

God-damn everything this man does is adorable, he is painfully molestable.

"What are you a mind reader then?"

"Unfortunately it didn't come in the starter training set when I got my super-duper powers. But I'm hoping that if I save up all my lunch money, I'll be able to buy it soon"

He didn't joke with any malice, if Tony had made that joke then Steve would be aghast -at least in their early friendship- but Peter was so damn good natured.

"Wait you said if anyone involved directly then you're deal is off"

"Yeah?"

"What if I just- and the other Avengers-just provide you with tools and advice does that still count?"

"I think as long as Captain America doesn't punch him in the face we're golden, but I gotta ask one thing; why are you so keen to help me?"

Tony didn't answer for a long time, he was so focused on how hopeful Peter's voice sounded.

"I wasn't joking"

Peter didn't reply.

He just leaned forward and kissed him.

AN: It took over 17,000 words but they finally kissed. Are you guys happy?