Thanks for the reviews, there was a suggestion I liked so watch out in future chapters.
Tony and Steve are such a good team here, love them as parents.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Peter walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge; he was hungry, really hungry, although he was always hungry these days.
He pulled out some eggs and slammed the door; he jumped as Natasha was suddenly there staring at him.
''Hey Aunt Nat,'' he said hesitantly- she was scowling and that was always scary.
''I want to talk to you,'' she said taking the carton from his hand and placing it on the counter.
''Do you?'' Peter stepped nervously away from her. What had he done?
''Yes I do. We are going to spar, get changed and meet me in the gym in fifteen minutes. You have fifteen minutes Peter, Oh and eat that,'' Natasha threw a granola bar at him as she walked away and Peter stared after her, what the hell?
She had never asked him to spar before; occasionally she was there when Pops worked out with him and Harley so joined in, but never alone. Peter knew better than to disobey her, so he went to get changed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
An hour later, Peter was lying on his back staring at the ceiling wishing this would stop; he decided to stay where he was.
''Peter, get up,'' Natasha's voice echoed.
''No!'' he replied.
''You should have done that half an hour ago,'' Natasha held out a hand and pulled him to his feet.
''Uuuum, what should I have done exactly?'' Peter groaned as every part of his body protested. He would have to eat a ton to recover from this.
''Refused to continue. You need to understand your limitations, you are a child Peter. You have strength and agility but your powers are still developing plus you have no self- control and your reasoning skills are all over the place,'' Natasha gave him a hard glare and he blushed.
''I am not….''
''Do not finish that sentence because I will not be responsible for my actions if you do,'' Natasha warned.
Peter shut up.
''Sit down,'' she ordered and Peter did instantly.
''Now you listen to me, what you did last night was extremely dangerous; you put yourself at serious risk and could have died. I am telling you that you must listen to Tony and Steve; they know what is best for you. Do you understand?'' She leant right in his face as she spoke.
Peter nodded; he didn't have the guts to argue with her although he wasn't sure what this had to do with her.
''Good, please moya lyubov'- we are all trying to keep you safe,'' Natasha took his chin and shook it.
Then, she placed a kiss on his forehead and walked away, surreptitiously wiping away tears.
Peter watched her go - stunned and totally confused by what had just happened.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Peter was eating French toast at the counter when Steve walked in; he stuffed the last piece in at once and got up, hoping to get away as his father was preoccupied with making coffee.
''Sit back down!'' Steve said firmly and Peter slumped onto the stool. He chewed his food slowly, delaying the inevitable- however he couldn't stall for ever.
Pops was watching him over the rim of his coffee cup and Peter opted for nonchalance.
''I'm sorry okay? But I'm fine, completely fine,'' he proclaimed cheerfully.
''For now!'' Steve snapped and Peter's face fell- so that was a mistake as Pops looked even more pissed off if that was even possible.
''Aaah there's the totally reckless and irresponsible Spiderling also known as our extremely disobedient son,'' Tony arrived, providing reinforcement at just the right time.
Peter rolled his eyes.
''Don't do that!'' Steve scolded him and Peter frowned as he contemplated his next move.
''It was an accident, and I am real sorry,'' Peter's face almost broke with the wide charm smile he threw out.
All that got him was a soul destroying glare from Pops; Peter swallowed back the lump in his throat with difficulty.
''Was it an accident though? You decide to take on a grown man in a Chitauri weaponized suit with no back up and that was an accident. Try again Smalls cos I am really not feeling it,'' Tony was at his most caustic best as his eyes glinted dangerously at his son.
''It didn't go down that way,'' Peter replied. Tony quirked a disbelieving eyebrow and Peter's stomach sank. Now what did he say? Whatever he said was making this worse not better.
''Beer Peter, let's talk about beer,'' Steve handed a coffee to Tony.
''WWWWhat?'' Peter stared at his father in shock, how did he know that? FRIDAY, of course FRIDAY, jeez he couldn't move and they knew.
He leant his forehead on fists; this was bad, really bad.
''Beer Peter, an alcoholic beverage which you drank last night at the grand old age of 12; you swapped the digits kiddo, the legal age for drinking is 21,'' Steve looked at him expectantly, his eyes hard and uncompromising.
''It wasn't that big a deal, you are overreacting,'' Peter stared down at the counter miserably.
''Yes it is a big deal, a very big deal. You are a child and you do NOT drink alcohol. If you do it again, then I swear to God you will be one sorry little boy plus you will not step foot in the lab for months! There will be no debate, you will not argue, you are going to accept what I say. Are we clear?'' Tony was the one who was on the war path. He was already over whelmed with guilt about Harley and his issues; Peter developing a taste for alcohol was too much.
He would not allow this to happen, his children were not repeating his past mistakes; Tony would do everything in his power to ensure his kids led as normal and stable a life as possible. Therefore, if he had to be a hard ass, he would be a hard ass.
''Uuuum yeah, can I go now?'' Peter was far from convincing.
''No, you cannot. You used your powers after you drank alcohol. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could have died Peter,'' Steve raised his voice and Peter bit hard on his lip, they were both really upset with him.
''Do you?'' Tony reiterated.
''I guess,'' Peter mumbled, he felt tears forming, it was the second time he had been told that today; all the significant adults in his life were angry with him which was over-whelming.
''I guess is not good enough, I said do you understand? Really understand?'' Steve was aggravated and determined Peter would take responsibility for his actions.
Peter glanced at Tony, hoping for some support, he got none.
''Answer your father now!''
''Yes sir, I understand,'' Peter mumbled.
''I'm sorry, I didn't hear you,'' Steve pushed harder and Peter scrubbed at his eyes trying to stem the treacherous tears.
''Yes sir, I understand,'' He said much more clearly.
''You had better. You have a responsibility Peter, with great power comes great responsibility. You don't understand that yet but you are going to have to understand in the future. In the meantime, it's up to me and Dad to protect you cos kiddo at the moment you are not showing good judgement which is no great surprise as you are a child. So for now, we get to call the shots. Got it?'' Steve stared at him.
''Yes Pops,'' Peter was frightened by what his father had just said; maybe it wouldn't be so bad to step back some?
''For now no more Spiderman, although you are going to train, the whole team are helping out. Work hard, listen well and obey orders and maybe, just maybe you will be allowed out again on a very restricted basis. That is the final decision and it is not up for discussion,'' Steve left no room for manoeuvre.
Peter nodded, he wanted to protest but what was the point? He could always find ways to patrol, his parents didn't know the half of what he did and that would continue. After all, he had his man in the chair.
''Again I can't hear you,'' Steve raised his eyebrows in consternation, how many times did he have to make this point?
''Yes sir,'' Peter said. Steve nodded- apparently satisfied.
Tony looked at his husband and he gave a barely perceptible nod- yes he was very well aware that had been far too easy. Everyone would have to be on alert and Tony would need to ensure the AIs were impenetrable.
''So you are spending the weekend with us, whatever we are doing, you are doing. Dad has a very exciting board meeting which you will sit through in total silence and you will not complain at any point. Then, you get to be with me you lucky kid! We are going to clean out the weapons sheds and catalogue everything. It's gonna be real exciting. Then, you get to clean the training room, and you will clean it properly. After that there are three pools to take care of plus twelve cars to wash. Enjoy!'' Steve took a sip of his coffee and Peter looked at him in disbelief.
''You pay people to do those things, why would you make me do them again? No, I am not doing it and you can't make me,'' Peter crossed his arms obstinately.
''You will Peter and do you know why?'' Steve was at his calm and collected best.
''No,'' Peter narrowed his eyes resentfully.
''Because I am telling you to. Don't you dare take how lucky you are for granted! Do you even know our gardener's name?'' Steve was in full flight and Tony sat back, his husband had this.
''No,'' Peter was uncomfortable admitting that.
''His name is Tiago, next time you see him how about you say hi? He's a nice guy, has a new baby, a little girl called Sofia; he is a human being Peter James not just someone who cleans up after you. What do you think?'' Steve asked and Peter went scarlet.
''Sorry, but the pools are clean, we have a pool guy. What's the point of cleaning them again? Dad hardly drives his cars they don't need cleaned either,'' Peter continued to argue.
''So I am going to repeat myself as you are not listening. You will do these things because I said so, that's why,'' Steve remained patient. Tony admired his resilience; he would have given into frustration by now.
''Oh God okay whatever, there are laws against child slave labour you know,'' Peter muttered sulkily.
''Sorry, what did you just say?'' Steve remembered Sam's point about Peter's disrespect, they were inconsistent correcting him and that needed to change in order to avoid mixed messages. It had to be zero tolerance, addressing the small transgressions meant less major acting out. It had been proved many times over.
''What is your problem? '' Peter shrugged belligerently at his father.
''You do not speak to me that way,'' Steve pulled Peter from his seat, swatted his butt twice and sat him back down.
''Now, what do you have to say to me?'' Steve demanded. Peter looked at him with mournful eyes.
''Well?''
''Sorry Pops, but it's still not fair,'' Peter sniffed. Tony intervened before this escalated as Peter was still being defiant and Steve looked about to blow.
''Feel free to call your lawyer Smalls, but in the meantime you are stuck doing as you're told- sucks to be you. Get ready, we are leaving in five and no phone, no Switch, nothing remotely entertaining. You are going to find out what being a grown up is really like so you get to be as bored as me,'' Tony ruffled Peter's hair who pulled grumpily away.
''Five minutes Smalls,'' Tony walked jauntily down the hallway.
''Dad is real irritating sometimes,'' Peter wrinkled his nose and Steve hid his amused smile as he couldn't help but agree.
Peter looked at Steve summoning the courage to ask, but he didn't have to.
'I haven't decided yet, behave today and maybe, just maybe there may not be any further punishment. You should get going, don't keep Dad waiting. Go on, scoot,'' Steve flicked his head and Peter sighed heavily.
He moved slowly and reluctantly, giving his father a final resentful stare for good measure.
Steve put his coffee cup down and pinched the bridge of his nose; he took a deep breath as a wave of anxiety swept over him, he felt his chest tighten. He consciously tried to control it, breathing deeply and slowly, gradually it subsided.
''You okay Cap?'' Sam came in and Steve nodded. Sam frowned; Steve's face was drawn and pale.
''How about a run?'' He asked.
''Yeah, a run would be good,'' Steve agreed eagerly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
''Dad, what's Aunt Nat's story?'' Peter asked hesitantly. Tony stiffened and glanced at Peter.
''Why do you ask?''
They were driving to the meeting and as always Tony let Peter sit up front.
''She sparred with me today which she has never done before and she was kinda weird,'' replied Peter.
Tony's hands tightened on the steering wheel as he told himself to stay calm.
''Probably because she was as freaked out by what you did yesterday as the rest of us,'' Tony replied tightly.
''Right, okay. I guess,'' Peter sensed his father tension and he decided to drop it, he was in enough trouble as it was.
''Do I really have to wash your cars Dad? There's so many of them. Pops will never know if I don't,'' Peter tried a little divide and rule.
Tony chuckled and shook his head.
''Stop right there Smalls, I am onto you! You will wash them twice if you're not careful,'' Tony warned.
Peter gave up and stared out the window instead.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
''I was bitten,'' Peter told the three men who were grilling him yet again.
He wasn't happy and felt little inclination to cooperate.
He was tired after yesterday's slave labour day, and he had endured all sorts of physical tests plus been poked and stabbed for blood, it had been a trying day. Peter was grumpy despite the fact Pops had cut him a break after he completed all the extra chores.
''I told you this already, a spider in the OSCORP lab bit me, it hurt, my hand hurt then I got sick then I could do all this stuff. Just that, nothing else, that's all I know okay? Please can I go now? Please?'' Peter cast pleading eyes at his fathers. He was still allowed to watch the family TV and that's all he wanted to do, lie on the couch and watch TV.
He yawned and knuckled an eye right on cue.
''Yeah Bubba, you can go. We'll get some take out soon, have a shower and put your pyjamas on.'' Steve replied; Peter was exhausted. He was a child so had a restricted attention span and they had pushed that to its limits.
''Thanks,'' Peter stood up and Steve pulled him in for a hug, the boy relaxed in his arms making the man smile.
''Go on and no stealing candy before dinner,'' Steve let him go.
''Hey Pete!'' Tony stopped him as the boy slouched by; he looked curiously at his dad.
''Well done Smalls, I know that was tough going okay? Proud of you!'' Tony touched his cheek and Peter nodded; a slight blush on his face, he ran off.
''We will need to investigate. Have OSCORP found a way to enhance human beings?'' Bruce said once Peter had left
''God, I hope not,'' Tony groaned.
''How about our boy?'' Steve changed the subject to what he really cared about.
''Well he's strong, not as strong as you Steve, not yet but he will be once he's grown. He has enhanced everything, immune system, healing, stamina, senses, although we need to keep an eye on that as he could over load. His agility is off the scale, he is what a perfect Super Hero would be if you designed him in a lab,'' Bruce stammered to a halt as he realised what he had just said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The plot thickens. Please review, it is brilliant to hear from you.
Salutations.