Hello!

Thank you so much for all the love you are continuously giving this series! You are all amazing readers and I can't thank you enough for the support and kind words you have given me! I hope you all continue to love this series!

PROMPTS ARE CLOSED until further notice :)

This prompt is from annaleahreads on Ao3 - So to accommodate a true "We Forgot" prompt: Cap and the rest of the gang forget that Peter is perfectly capable of standing up for himself when he really needs to. After pushing too hard one too many times about revealing his secret identity (in spite of Tony's constant attempts to shut that down), Peter finally gets Cap to back off. Bonus points if Peter gets to quote a Cap PSA as part of the take down :D Super extra bonus if there's a Proud Mama Spider moment where Nat gives Peter kudos for his technique :D :D

I hope you all enjoy and my apologies for any mistakes!

Take of the Mask

"Why don't you stay, Kid," Sam asked as Peter made his way to the sliding doors of the penthouse.

They had just finished a training session and Peter was going to make his way home and start on the homework he promised his Aunt May that was almost finished. Everyone was now spread out across the living room, making themselves comfortable. He paused halfway towards the door, wracking for an excuse as to why he couldn't stay.

"Yeah, stay," Clint chimed in, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table. "Eat with us, take your mask off, tell us who you are." He grinned at Peter.

Behind his mask, Peter scowled.

The Avengers didn't know that he was a fifteen-year-old kid from Queens, and he was keen to keep it that way. He liked the Avengers and was still star-struck that he got to play super-hero with them, but he knew that none of them would take him being a fifteen-year-old well. Even Tony Stark, the greatest genius of their time, didn't know who Peter was under the mask.

"Clint, leave Underoos alone," Tony said firmly before taking a swig of his smoothie.

Tony was one of the few who never pressured him to reveal who he was. He always invited Peter to every training session and invited Peter to tinker in his lab with him when he found out that Peter could keep up with his science and techno babble.

Peter had always looked up to Tony and he had been nearly speechless when Iron Man himself found him on the rooftop and asked him if he was interested in swinging by the tower one day and having a chat. Peter had stuttered out an acceptance and here he was, hanging with the Avengers. It was a dream come true and one Peter often thought he would wake up from one day. If this was a dream, he never wanted it to end.

"Alright, alright," Clint grinned easily. "Later bug boy."

"You're going to have to tell us who you are one day," Steve said with a little teasing smile.

It was not said un-kindly, nor was it said as a threat, but anger bloomed up in Peter's chest before he could squash it and before he could stop himself, his mouth was opening.

"For a man who has a PSA against bullying, you sure do know how to be one," Peter snapped.

The room instantly went silent instantly and tension begun to suffocate the room.

"Spider-Man?" Steve seemed hesitant.

"I don't have to tell you who I am and every time you try and make me take off my mask, makes me want to keep it on even more," Peter glared at the Avengers.

Steve held up his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Spidey, we were only teasing."

"Yeah. I mean, it's a little weird you having the mask on all the time," Clint added. "But I've gotten used to it now."

"It makes you feel safe, and I get that," Sam said. "But you can trust us with your identity."

"Can I?" Peter demanded. "Every time I come over one of you makes a comment about me taking my mask off. The only one who seems to understand is Mr. Stark who never pressures me."

"and I've told you all repeatedly to knock it off," Tony glared at the group. "Underoos identity is his and he can tell us when he's ready."

"Which will be when?" Natasha asked, eyebrow raised but looking bored of the conversation.

"Nat," Bruce warned, shaking his head.

"It's just a question," Natasha shrugged.

"No, it's not," Peter snapped, hands curling into fits by his side. "You say it's teasing but it's not! You just have to know who I am. You can't let me tell you when I'm ready."

"Spider-Man," Steve said. "We are team. A family. Yes, we want to know who you are because none of us really do and we won't until you take of the mask."

"Guys, that's enough," Tony barked. "Spidey isn't ready. Respect that."

"You'll never accept me," Peter glared at the group. "You really want to know? Then fine! FINE!"

It was like his hands had a mind of their own. They reached up, fingers curling as he gripped the mask. His heart thundered in his chest, the only sound he could hear.

"Spidey, no you don't have to-" Tony started to say but Peter ignored him.

Peter stripped the mask from his face, scrunching it up in his fist as he glared at the Avenger's without a mask for the first time.

Nobody said a word.

"There! Are you happy now?" Peter demanded, glancing from one hero the next.

Everyone except Tony. Peter could not bring himself to look at his mentor, to see the disappointment that was sure to be on his face. No, if Peter was never going to be allowed to come back again then he was not going to have Tony's shocked, and disappointment seared into his brain. He would only have fond memories.

"Holy shit," Clint muttered. "He's a child."

"How old are you?" Steve demanded; face having gone very serious.

Peter narrowed his eyes. "I may look young, Captain, but don't forget that I am more than cape able of taking care of myself or did you forget I kicked your ass in training not even an hour ago?"

"He's got you there," Natasha smirked. "I knew were young, but I was thinking college. Very impressive, Spidey."

Peter tried not to flush under Natasha's words, but he could feel his cheeks going hot.

"Do your parents know that you are here?" Sam asked. "Do they know about your alter ego?"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you," Peter snapped. "You don't get it! None of you do! You can't see past my age."

"Spidey," Bruce said gently. "You can understand why we are concerned, right?"

Peter nodded. "I know what I'm doing."

"You're what, sixteen?" Clint asked.

Peter shifted from foot to foot.

"Oh god, you're younger," Sam moaned. "Are we going to get in trouble for child endangerment."

Peter yanked back on his mask and spun and headed to the door.

"Spider-Man, wait," Steve called after him. "At least tell us your name before you go."

"Why?" Peter sneered. "As if FRIDAY isn't already running it." Without another word he yanked open the door and took a flying leap of the balcony.

Air rushed around him and Peter stuck out his arm, shooting a web to the nearest building. It caught and he went swinging widely, flinging himself back into the air and heading in the direction of Queens.

"Hello, Peter," Karen greeted him. "You seem distressed. Is everything okay?"

"Fine," Peter said shortly, tears obscuring his vision. "I want to go home."

"Plotting fastest route home," Karen said.

Peter sniffed, blinking away the tears. They rolled down his cheek, getting soaked into the mask. Stupid. He was so stupid! Why did he have to do that? And worst of all, Tony hadn't said a word.

"FRIDAY, do you have a match?" Steve asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room at Spider-Man's exit.

"I do," FRIDAY said. "Spider-Man's name is Peter Parker. He just turned fifteen and attends Midtown School of Science and Technology in Queens. He lives with –"

"FRIDAY stop," Tony demanded.

The AI fell silent.

"He's just turned fifteen," Bruce said, looking to Tony.

"I told you all to leave it and did you listen?" Tony growled, slamming his smoothie down onto the bench. "How many times did I tell you to stop pestering him about his identity. That he would tell us when he was ready?"

"Tony, he's fifteen," Steve stressed.

"Like you weren't enrolling in the war at that age," Tony snapped. "Do you know what you have done? Do you think he's going to come back here now?"

"Tony, did you know?" Bruce asked.

"That he just turned fifteen? No?" Tony shook his head. "But like Nat, I worked out that he was on the younger side."

Natasha nodded.

"If you knew he was young, why didn't you say anything?" Sam asked. "God, the things he can do!"

"Exactly," Tony said. "He's a kid who can catch a speeding bus with his bare hands. He needed help. He needed us without judgement. He needed to know that he was safe here so he could come to us when he needed help. Do you think he's going to do that now?"

Nobody said anything.

Tony shook his head. "Excuse me. I have work to do. Oh, and if any of you have any bright ideas to go and hunt the kid down, I would re-think them immediately. You go near him and you'll have me to deal with." And with that Tony swept from the room.

"Dude," Ned gaped, clutching Peter's arm tightly.

"Yeah."

"Dude," Ned stressed. "That's Tony Stark."

"Sure am," Tony smirked from his spot at the table in Peter's apartment.

"And Pepper Potts!" Ned squeaked.

Pepper smiled at the from her seat next to Tony. She looked amused at Ned's fan-boying, rather than startled or scared. She must be used to it.

"Dude! Tony Stark and Pepper Potts are in your kitchen," Ned turned to Peter.

"Yeah, I can see that Ned," Peter hissed back, still reeling from the fact that two of the most famous and well-known people were sitting in his kitchen.

"Why are they here?" Ned asked. "Is this because of the other day? When you told them you were Spider-Man?"

"Dude, you know as much as I do," Peter shook his head.

"Boys," Aunt May smiled from the table. "Why don't you come in and shut the door."

Doing as they were told, they stepped into the room and Peter shut the door behind him, locking it.

"Dude, what is even your life," Ned asked. He wondered over to the table, grinning widely. "Hi! I'm Ned. I'm Peter's guy in the chair."

Tony arched an eyebrow. "Guy in the chair?"

Ned nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, like I tell him where to go and work all the computers and stuff."

"So, you're the one who helped him hack into my multi-billion-dollar suit?" Tony asked.

"For the record, I told him it was a bad idea," Ned said.

"Dude," Peter pouted. He shuffled closer, giving his Aunt a quick hug. "Hi."

"Hey sweetie," May squeezed his hand. "Come sit down. Ned, why don't you wait in Peter's room?"

"Oh, right. Yeah. I can do that," Ned nodded. "I'll get started on the Death Star."

Ned shuffled out of the room, looking over his shoulder a few times before he shut the door with a click.

"Death Star?" Tony frowned.

"Star Wars, sweetheart," Pepper answered him. "You need to get out of your lab more."

Peter's head spun. Pepper Potts knew Star War's! He was not expecting this when he arrived home after school today. Subtly he pinched his thigh. Pain bloomed through his side, but Tony and Pepper remained. Maybe he was hallucinating?

"Yes, yes," Tony rolled his eyes. "You've told me a thousand times already."

"He never listens, Peter," Pepper winked at him from across the table.

Peter had met Pepper several times as Spider-Man and she had always been kind towards him. He was stunned that she had come to his home and even more stunned that she didn't seem phased at all by his non-masked appearance.

"Lies, kiddo," Tony said. "I always listen to Pepper."

"I -" Peter blinked, feeling very lost.

"I called Tony the other day," May explained, gently pulling Peter down into the free seat. "When you came home after you had revealed your identity to them you were very upset."

"What? You did?" Peter blinked.

May nodded. "I'm not a super-hero."

"Yes, you are," Peter said automatically. "You're amazing. After everything we've been through…you are a super-hero."

May gave Peter a watery smile. "Thank you, sweetie. But I don't have powers. Not like you. This is a little out of my depth which is why when Tony first approached you, I told you to go for it."

Peter remembered that night. He had swung home and told his Aunt how Iron Man had found him and asked him to hang out at the tower. To Peter's surprise, his Aunt had encouraged it. Peter had been a little suspicious but his excitement of hanging out with the Tony Stark had overridden every other thought.

"When you came home so upset the other day, well, initially it was to give Tony a piece of my mind," May shrugged unapologetically.

"Which was deserved," Tony added. "I'm sorry, Peter. I'm sorry for the others pushing you and making you reveal your identity. I'm sorry I couldn't get them to back off."

"It wasn't your fault," Peter quickly assured his hero. "I should be thanking you. You never pushed me. I'm really sorry."

Tony shook his head. "You don't have to be sorry, kiddo."

"I lied to you," Peter said. "and I didn't want to. You had been nothing but nice to me and let me tinker in your lab and you've taught me so much! I wanted to tell you. I did! But I was worried that when you found out, you wouldn't want me hanging around anymore." Peter adverted his gaze to his lap. He had ruined everything.

"Well, we'll have to change that way of thinking," Tony said decisively. "I like you kid. A lot. You're smart, your kind and you're going to be better than us all one day. I want to offer you a real internship. With me. My personal intern, if you would like."

"I've drawn up the paperwork and everything," Pepper said, tapping the folder on the table that Peter had just noticed. "It would be official and would go onto your records."

"What do you think, Peter?" May said.

"I can still be Spider-Man?" Peter asked. "I can still be a part of the Avengers?"

"Of course," Tony nodded. "And I still want to train you. As do the others."

"OMG PETER SAY YES!" Ned yelled from Peter's room.

Peter and May sniggered while Pepper and Tony jumped.

"Yes," Peter beamed. "That would be amazing! Yes, please!"

Tony beamed, wrinkles by his eyes deepening. "That's the best news I've heard all week, kiddo."

Peter beamed. Maybe he hadn't screwed everything up. Maybe, everything was going to be better this way. After all, he no longer had the weight of his identity pressing on his shoulders and the worry that Tony wouldn't like him for who he was.

Happy reading :)