Chapter 1 – Holiday Preparations

'You sure you don't want me to stay?'

Tony smiles as he watches Peter finish zipping up his suitcase and sit on the bed next to him. 'I'm positive. You deserve this break after everything that's happened the last few months, not to mention after saving my life,' he ruffles the brown hair. 'Besides it'll be better for you to be out of the media circus of the trial, we don't want you getting any more attention now they've finally lost interest.'

Hammer's trial is starting tomorrow, it shouldn't take too long and Tony desperately wants Peter to go on this school trip to try and distract him from everything superhero related.

'Yeah but everyone else is going to be heading off for the UN in a couple of days,' the teen argues. 'You won't have them here, and then I'll be in Europe too and-'

'Rhodey is staying,' Tony cuts him off, 'so is Bruce; I've got Happy here as well, and Pepper. Are you saying you don't think Pepper can deal with people? Come on, kid, she scares Steve when she gets angry. And she isn't scared of Nat. I mean anyone who isn't scared of Nat is terrifying in their own right.'

Peter laughs. 'True.'

'Plus Wade's staying here at the facility as extra support, you telling me you don't think your boyfriend could protect me if shit went sideways?'

'Well…yes but I'm not sure how much of the facility would still be standing,' he sighs.

'True, they are both as bad as each other,' another voice laughs from the doorway and Tony looks over to see Steve leaning against the doorframe with a smirk on his face. 'Let's hope they don't throw a party or we won't have a home to come back to.'

'Hilarious,' he rolls his eyes at his partner.

'If it's any consolation Peter: Clint's just arrived,' Steve ignores him and speaks to the teen.

'He did?' Peter grins, the teen and the archer have been getting on really well and Tony's slightly worried how many pranks are going to be pulled between them. Especially if he convinces Clint to forgive Loki and include the trickster in their schemes.

Mental note: make sure the air vents are extra secure.

'Yeah, and he's going to stay with Tony for the whole trial. It'll make sense to the media as Clint's there to support his friend, and while we're challenging HYDRA it means there's another Avenger here on site,' the soldier responds.

'And I've got Scott ready on standby should anything happen, and even Strange has said he'll help' Tony adds. 'Honestly Pete it's like you don't think Iron Man can look after himself.'

Peter raises an eyebrow at him, then looks to the blond. 'He's not expecting an answer to that is he?'

The two adults laugh. 'Go see Clint, kid, I'll bring your suitcase up.'

Peter nods and smiles and races upstairs to go see the new arrival, nearly sending Steve flying in his excitement and calling an apology over his shoulder.

'So you heading to Budapest at any point on your European tour?' Clint asks him as they all sit in the common room.

'Uh….not sure. Maybe? There's been so many changes I just gave up keeping track,' he shrugs in response.

'Aw man you need to go to Budapest, all the fun stuff happens there,' the archer leans back in the chair and grins at Natasha.

'Clint,' her tone is warning.

'Why will you guys never tell us what happened in Budapest?' Rhodes asks.

'Because we'd have to kill you,' she responds with a wink.

'If someone tries to sell you spices don't buy them,' Clint tells him.

'Spoilsport,' Wade calls from the kitchenette.

'Wade you can't use your underage boyfriend as a drugs mule,' Wanda sighs from next to Peter.

'There is so much wrong with that sentence I don't even know where to start,' Rhodes shakes his head.

'Oh and if someone tries to drag you into a house to meet their daughters don't go,' Clint continues with his advice as if no one else had spoken.

'Yeah listen to that one Baby Boy,' Wade calls again.

'So drugs are ok but prostitution isn't?' Wanda asks, one eyebrow raised.

'You want him to fuck some random prostitute with about five different STIs?' he challenges her.

'Point taken.'

'Guys!' Rhodes protests.

'Oh I shouldn't worry about the prostitution side of things,' Natasha grins, 'anyone tries to make a pass at him he just blushes bright red and nearly runs off. It's kind of cute really.'

'When did that happen?' Bucky grins.

Peter groans and buries his head in his hands. He knew she was going to bring up what had happened with Lisa during his week-long interview at some point, he just wishes it wasn't in front of the whole team right before he's about to go on a school trip.

'And finally? Anyone asks if you know me? Say no,' Clint finishes.

Peter looks up and raises an eyebrow. 'Why?'

Clint shrugs. 'I owe a guy and I don't know if he remembers or if he's still alive. But you should be fine.'

'You know most kids my age worry about spending their summer holiday either trying to find a girlfriend or hook up with some hot European girl. I get to wonder if someone's going to try and get me to give them what my assassin cross superhero friend owes them. Wonderful,' he sighs.

'Yeah…it's probably a good thing no one knows you're Spider-Man,' Wade says as he comes over and sits down with a bag of chips, 'because I'm pretty sure there's like a whole cartel somewhere in Europe that wants to kill me.'

Peter catches sight of the two new arrivals to the room. 'Tony? Can I stay here? I think it's going to be safer.'

'You really don't think I can-'

'For me!' he cuts across the inventor's protests as the team laughs.

'Clint's scaring him with advice on how to survive Europe,' Natasha explains.

'Ah you'll be fine Pete,' Tony waves him off, 'you're on a school trip you're not going to be anywhere near the kind of shady spots Clint likes to spend his free time in. Your teachers have more sense than that and you've got better taste.'

'Hey!' the archer throws a pillow at Tony which the inventor just side steps out of the way of.

'The worst you're going to do is end up trashing a hotel room. That's why you've got my card in your wallet.'

'Wait. What?' Peter sits up and catches his wallet as Tony throws it at him, checking inside to see the inventor is right.

'Woah you're going to be the most popular kid on that trip,' Wanda laughs.

'Go mad or don't use it at all whatever you want,' Tony shrugs. 'You're not going to bankrupt me.'

'Sounds like a challenge to me,' Clint grins.

'But…why?' Peter ignores the archer's statement.

Surprisingly it's Steve who answers. 'When he suggested it to me I agreed, Peter. It means you don't have to worry about money while you're out there and we're all caught up with other things and can't get to you easily. Not only that,' he pauses to look at Tony, and the inventor nods. Steve sighs and continues. 'Not only that, but we're about to challenge HYDRA. In Europe. You are known to be linked to the team, and especially to Tony; if anything happens, if you think someone from HYDRA is nearby, you can just get yourself onto a train, or plane or whatever and get to us without wondering how you'll manage it. It's a safety net for you.'

'And it means if the hotel is shit you can just get yourself a better one,' Clint shrugs.

Tony laughs. 'Clint's got the better priorities,' he agrees.

'Guys?' Sam enters the common area. 'Pete's going to have to get going or he'll be late.'

Peter sighs and climbs to his feet, going to say goodbye to everyone in the team, and receive even more advice from everyone before he leaves.

'You need anything, Baby Boy,' Wade says quietly as he places one last kiss to his mouth, 'you tell me and I'll be there.'

'Just keep Tony safe,' he replies, 'and try not to do anything stupid.'

'No promises,' Wade grins.

Peter just laughs and then follows Tony downstairs to the car.

Tony soaks in every second of the car ride as he drives Peter to school ready for his trip to Europe. They talk about the different places the group are going to visit, and he suggests some places that Peter and his friends should check out if they get chance.

'Tony?' Peter's voice is quiet. 'Promise me something?'

'Can I hear what it is first?'

Peter chuckles. 'If you want me to come back, you'll call and tell me? I don't mind cutting my trip short if you want me back. Just as long as it's not because you're going into over-protective mode.'

Tony smiles and reaches over to squeeze the teen's hand. 'I promise. As long as you promise to check in every few days alright? And if you do need anything you call Happy and I'll make sure he always has his cell on during court time.'

Peter squeezes back. 'Promise.'

They pull up at school and Tony gets out the car, popping the trunk and passing him his suitcase. He pulls the teen into a tight hug. 'Have fun, Pete, and try not to think too much about super-hero stuff while you're gone alright? You deserve a break.'

'I'll do my best. But if Steve starts blowing up HYDRA again, I might not be able to avoid it on the news.'

Tony laughs. 'I'll ask him to tone it down.'

'Bye, Dad,' Peter says quietly and, waving, heads off to join his friends.

Tony raises a hand in farewell, smiling at the warm feeling in his chest every time Peter calls him that.

The team are in the common area discussing the next week when Tony gets the text.

'Why did you put my suit in my suitcase? They opened it at the airport! You're so lucky no one noticed. Though I guess that says more about our airport security than anything.'

Tony shakes his head and a small smile and replies to the teen's text. 'Just in case. Like the credit card. Now go have fun.'

Hammer's trial for kidnapping, torturing and attempting to murder Tony is due to start tomorrow; the whole team will be there for the first day, and then they will be heading over to the UN for the start of the debate to bring in the Wakandan Accords in place of the Sokovian ones. They know they're taking a risk attacking HYDRA while Hammer's trial is still ongoing, but they don't have much of a choice after the mission Wade, Natasha and Bucky had come back from.

'I got a bone to pick with you, Tony,' Fury's irate tone comes from the entrance to the common area.

'What did I do this time?' he asks, mentally running through everything he's done in the past week.

'We've got a situation,' Fury explains, 'and with my entire team about to be busy in two separate places I need someone to take care of it.'

'What kind of situation?' Steve asks.

'I'll explain in a minute,' is the answer the soldier gets. 'I've got someone who has apparently appeared from a different dimension, along with some of his enemies, but I don't trust him, and I need someone I trust to work alongside him.'

'Which one of us did you want-'

'-but I can't have any of you do it because you're all needed for the Accords, and I want this taken care of before it gets out to the media,' Fury cuts off Natasha. 'Now I decide to try out your newest team member and see if he can help me.'

'You called Peter?' Tony tries to keep his voice calm. He is not happy that Fury's gone behind his back and called the teen.

'I tried,' Fury frowns at him, 'but he ghosted me.'

There's a beat of silence.

'What do you mean he ghosted you?' Steve asks.

'He means Peter hung up on him before answering,' Wanda explains. 'It's called ghosting when you stop taking calls and messages from someone when there's no apparent reason behind it.'

Tony sees Clint struggling to keep a straight face out of the corner of his eye and feels the corners of his mouth twitch.

'Your protégé and apparently adopted son has started ghosting me, Stark, right at the start of a potentially volatile situation I need his help in. Any comment to make?' Fury demands.

'I'm so proud of him,' Tony responds, letting his smirk show.

Clint and Wade burst out laughing.

A/N: Hi everyone! I am so sorry it's been so long since I updated. Life getting hectic coincided with a bit of a writer's block on this story. I've managed to get this story finished now though, so you know you've got guaranteed weekly updates for this story. Watching WandaVision helped so I will be putting up a spoiler warning when those chapters start arriving in case anyone hasn't seen the show by that point.

I hope you enjoy the start of the new instalment. Let me know what you think so far.

Love always,

L x

And as always here is your sneak peek:

'Can I just ask: how are you all able to resist punching him in his smarmy mouth?' Clint asks.

'Because some of us have learnt restraint,' Natasha rolls her eyes and pops another sushi roll into her mouth.

'That and we'd never be allowed back in the courtroom, and some of us have to give evidence,' Tony smirks at the archer. 'Though I do appreciate the sentiment.'