Trope: Protective Tony

Summary: Peter Parker gets a little frustrated by Tony (And a little bit of May's) Overprotective tendencies.

A/N: Its been a while since I updated this fic, but I've been having a hard time coming up with fic ideas, and I have one in the works but I figured I would update this before I published the next one. Also this is my first time writing a story with descriptive action in it, so bare with me.

So a little background information is that I was reading about a user on AO3 thought about Peter's spiderman limitations and I really agreed with that. I feel like in a lot of fics they kind of baby him just a little bit (and I might have done that a bit too) but I want to take away some spiderman limitations, to see Peter Parkers full potential.

Peter Parker loved spiderman. It pulled him out of a hard place after Ben's death. It was no secret that Peter lost a lot of people in his life and during those times when the guilt was so overwhelming – because he should have done something – spiderman helped him overcome that. So when May found out and gave him a curfew he ran with it. When Tony added too many protocols he ran with it, because they were trying to protect him. But one year later nothing let up, if anything it only got stricter.

It started with having to take one day off during the week to focus on other things. Then a shorter curfew on the weekdays, than a curfew of 2 on weekends and a curfew of 11 on weekdays before transitioning to 12 on weekends and 9 on weekdays. Then came the added edition of having Karen report every single injury, and after one more serious injury an Avenger had to tag along on each patrol, and 2 months later 2 Avengers had to tag along. The latest and "greatest" addition was that Peter couldn't go patrol if Tony wasn't in town or he had already patrolled 3 times that week.

"Peter, not patrolling tonight," May said as she picked up her keys from the counter. Peter's head poked out from the couch.

"What why!" Peter exclaimed. Frustration flooded through him. Lately she had continuously told him he couldn't patrol, he hadn't used any of his three patrols lately and the one time he had gone out was a month ago, because someone was screaming for help in the alley next to their apartment. He had gotten restricted from going patrolling at all for two weeks. It didn't help that there were rumors that Toomes was back even though Peter had put him in jail.

"Tony's out of town and I don't want you going out when no ones here to help you." She said matter-of-factly giving him one of her, don't mess with me, looks. A cold feeling buried itself in Peter's chest.

"Okay, May," He said trying to pull a smile that came out as more of a grimace. Either May didn't notice, or she decided not to get into with him this morning, he wasn't sure. She planted a sloppy kiss on his head before heading out the door.

With a sigh Peter sulked into his room and flopped onto his bed. He needed to go out, to do something helpful. Spiderman helped people, Spiderman was a hero and lately Peter was feeling useless. It was soul crushing every time he was told he had stay in.

"Get more sleep!"

"Don't forget to eat!"

"No spiderman tonight!"

"Grounded!"

"Peter! PETER! PETERRR"

He was never praised for his good work always discouraged from it. May told him she didn't like when he put his life on the line, Tony kept complaining about how he was too young, the only person who seemed to even remotely understand him was Natasha, but not to the extent where she actually gave good advice. There was one time a couple months ago when he had brought it up.

"Natasha, I need to ask you a question," he had said one day on a training day. Tony had instilled those days, and it was one of the spiderman related tasks that he had been slightly excited for.

"Shoot." She said hair swishing as she stopped the punching bag with her hands and sat on the bench next to where he was standing.

"I really like doing spiderman y'know, but I feel like all everyone tells me is that I'm too young" Peter explained trying to bridge into his question but when he looked at Natasha's face his voice tampered off.

"I get you, Peter, and I get it because I started at a young age too, but you have a choice. You could go experience life as a teenager and not do this. Be a teenager go have fun!" She motioned to his body with her hands, "Isn't that important too."

Peter frowned. I guess she has a little bit of a point.. "I don't know, I just, Spiderman is more than just" he motioned towards his body again.

"Its different for everyone I guess," Natasha said, "What you do is good and I don't think you should stop completely, maybe just see what life has to offer you before you go into doing this as a whole "thing."

Peter had left after that and hadn't consulted another Avenger. No one understood how important spiderman was to him, that it went deeper than wanting the attention and the praise from the citizens of new York. It wasn't a hobby, it was a personality, it was who he was not just something he did.

A bing from his phone lifted him from his slightly depreciating thought process. He glanced at it before he felt his stomach lurch.

"ADRIAN TOOMES DEMANDS AUDIENCE WITH SPIDERMAN" The headline jumped out at him. Already Peter could feel the adrenaline. He picked up the phone almost dropping it from nervous and slightly angry energy. Opening the page he started reading the article.

Queens wanted criminal, Adrian Toomes keeps 20 citizens hostage in local hotel. He demands an audience with Spiderman, or else he'll kill off one hostage at a time, starting with the kids. The families of the victims cry for help.

Memories of Ben's death floods Peter's mind as he suits up, and without a moments hesitations he's launching himself out the window. The familiar feeling of the air rushing past his ears almost excited him, but the guilt from breaking the rules is overwhelming and he hates that Tony and May ruined this for him.

He enters the hotel alert and feeling more alive that he had in the past month. Peter landed near a police car where they were stationed around the place.

"What's going on?" Peter asked the nearest officer who looked startled at his appearance. Do they really have such little hope in him?

"He said to tell you that he wants to talk to Pedro and you'd know where to meet him," The officer said still looking quite shocked to be meeting spiderman. Its as if he hadn't been working with the NYPD these past few years.

"Okay." Peter said bringing out his phone to request backup before the officer added quickly.

"He said not to bring anyone. He still has a uh 5 hostages" The officer said looking guilty. "We could only get out the 15" Peter understood it was their job to save lives. He nodded to the officer being swinging off into the night.

Something didn't feel right about this. It was a gut feeling, like something big was about to go down. As Peter swung he heard Tony's voice echoed through his mind, "Don't go after Toomes again kid, we don't need you down for the count if you know what I mean. Get backup"

But the thing was Peter didn't want backup. He wanted it to be like how it was when he first started, playing it solo watching over petty crimes. If he had wanted a team he would have gone straight to the Avengers telling them of his unique line of events when he got his powers, but he didn't. This was Peter's mission, his purpose and it felt so dwindled. Peter hated that Avengers had to tag along on his patrols. He wanted the familiar feeling of not having to slow down for the Avengers that were accompanying him to catch up.

He was cautious when he entered the building. Ears alert he located the cries of the hostages easily. Peter readied his web shooters ignoring Karen's warning of "Peter you can't handle this request backup immediately."

Rolling his eyes he rounded the corner. It was as he expected, there was a line of Toomes men, with guns aimed in front of the hostages each victim with a bomb attached to their chests along with a timer that was counting down from ten.

"Lets just all take a second okay," Peter said trying to alleviate the situation. The last thing he needed were the bombs to go off and explode half the block.

"Many things can happen in a second Pedro," Toomes taunted, the button that probably activated the bombs swinging in his grip.

"But this, doesn't have to be one of those things," Peter explained hands out in front of him as if he was reaching for something that wasn't visible.

"When will you Learn," Toomes said sounding like a disappointed father. He smirked down at the button again, finger pressing down on the red button. Nearly seconds later a clicking began. Peter's spidersense burned. In a blink of an eye peter was moving, more adrenaline coursing through his veins that there had been in the past year.

He webbed the remote and guns away catching them by surprise before sticking the minions to the floor. That threat was gone from the hostages, the gun threat at least. He got right to work disarming the 5 bombs. Tony had helped Peter do this in the lab numerous times despite Tony's direct disapproval.

"Pedro!" Toomes voice echoed form the walls and Peter ignored it, his first priority was the bombs, toomes could wait. He needed to do this, to save the hostages and prove not just to the Avengers but to himself that he could do this.

Peter closed his eyes, and let his instincts speak for him. He cut the wire.

When Peter opened his eyes the bomb timer had stopped and he moved to the next person cutting the same wire for each victim. They cheered for him while the police officers moved each of them outside to be reunited with their families.

When he went to look for Toomes again he was gone. Despite having lost the "bad guy" he had saved a lot of hostages and for that Peter was proud.

"Thank you spiderman," The first woman breathed when he exited the building. Thank you's were repeated and ambulances moved the victims out. Despite having "saved the day" it had felt too easy.

Peter could tell the NYPD wanted to know what went down but with one shake of Peter's head they let it go. Spiderman swung out to return to his apartment. When he got inside May and Tony were already waiting for him.

…..

"Peter," May said sternly. Peter wasn't hurt that badly, a little blood from a gun shot that whipped past him made his suit look darker despite the fact that it such a miniscule amount.

"I thought you had a meeting," Peter mumbled to Tony, ignoring May's comment.

"I did." Tony said stiffly his eyes were locked on Peter's suit. The one that he knew was about to be taken.

"You disobeyed me, Peter" May said disappointment and anger radiating off her. "I told you no patrolling, Tony drove all the way down from his conference."

"You don't have that power over me," Peter whispered, it supposed to be for himself, a kind of reassurance if you will.

"what did you say," May said slowly eyes turning cold. It was a look that rarely ever directed at her nephew.

"You. Don't. Have. That. Power. Over. Me." Peter said slowly narrowing his eyes at his aunt. Normally he wouldn't talk to anyone that way, much less his aunt but his emotions were running high and months of tension were breaking up the walls he put up. "How did you even know where I was?"

"It was all over the news!" May raised her voice slightly.

"peter," Tony warned with his dad voice.

"Don't Peter me." the boy replied coldly, whipping around to face his mentor. "All you guys have been doing is babying me. I'm Seventeen. Almost a legal adult in 3 months. You seem to forget I was doing this gig since before you even knew. I'm Saving lives out there May. Do you understand how hard it is to try to fall asleep, hearing blood curling screams from a mile away? Knowing that there is another Ben out there I just let die because of your stupid rules. I used to be able to feel free being Spiderman, I used to swing for hours saving people. Then You came" He pointed his finger at the billionaire, "and suddenly that went away, now I have the frickin Avengers trailing me wherever I go not letting me out of their sight once. At least give me someone who can keep up with me even the slightest. People have been shot in the time it takes them to catch up to me."

"Why didn't you speak up," May said bitterly, "If you felt so against our protection."

"I was grounded last time." Peter said so calming it sent shivers through his own spine.

"we're just trying to protect you." Tony said softly stepping towards Peter who only stepped back.

"Well maybe I don't want your protection."

"I don't care if you wanted it Peter, you could have died and we didn't have single clue where you went." May said, she seemed to be holding the reigns today.

"Where's my thank you huh? I just saved five people out there," Peter yelled, pointing towards the window, "I'm bombarded with breaking a rule and I saved five people."

"Good, and I'm proud, but you're not against rules just because you're a superhero" Tony added.

"You're putting words into my mouth." Peter said some of the fight already dwindling out of him but he pushed on, he wasn't losing this not after months of this.

"Rules are important Peter, you need to have a childhood, you have school and a life, Spiderman can wait" May said matter-of-factly.

"Tell that to the five people that almost died tonight," Peter said about to turn and go into his room.

"Tony's going to take the suit." May said sternly. Peter froze turning towards the man himself who looked baffled even for himself.

"May are you sure you're in the right head-"

"Don't even finish that sentence, Peter needs to learn that he can't do whatever he wants just because he's a vigilante."

Almost immediately the suit was thrown into Tony's surprised arms. Tears pooled in Peter's eyes.

"You can have the suit," Peter said quietly but in a tone neither adult had heard before, "You can take my freedom, my phone, my computer but I am Spiderman… and you will never take that."

May just glared eyes shining with unshed tears. Peter understood they were trying to protect him, but this was something he could handle on his own.

Over the next week the Avengers tried to contact him many times. Natasha was the only one he would agree to text once or twice. Mostly it was just questions on what they could do to make it easier for him, but it wasn't about convenience, it was about being a hero.

Peter pretty much ignored May for the rest of the week too, and by ignore he meant avoided the glares she sent his way. He wasn't relenting on this. Against his teams orders he put on his old spiderman suit -that he fixed and hid after the events of homecoming – and went out as spiderman under-the-radar every night.

Without the curfew and the Avengers trailing after him he became more and more independent even fighting a little better knowing he didn't have back up anymore and had to rely more on himself. The best part though was probably the freedom. Peter felt the pride again, the pride that made him fall in love with being spiderman in the first place.

However, all good things must come to an end.

When Peter was patrolling one night the sound of repulsors arrived. Spiderman had been sitting on a building ledge digging into some ice cream. The teenager sighed and faced his mentor with a tired face. Tony rolled his eyes.

"Stop looking at me like that," Tony said trying to lighten the mode just a bit, "It looks like I accidentally sprayed whip cream in your face or something."

"Do you actually want to say something or are you going to keep doing the 'hey I'll just avoid all my problems for the next 10 minutes" peter made his voice lower to mimic Tony, turning back towards the view.

"Yeah, no thanks, I believe your aunt told you no patrolling," Tony said bringing in his more controlling tone. Peter rolled his eyes much like Tony had done moments before.

"She told Peter not to patrol, but Spiderman needs to." Peter said trying to find a way to either end this conversation as quickly as he could or leave the moment all together.

"What do you mean kid," Tony said a confused frown adorning his face. Peter scoffed.

"You've been telling Peter what to do all this time, but he realized that it went deeper than that. Spiderman has lives to save, Peter can afford to stay home but those people that spiderman saves everyday can't," The teen explained a determined look on his face. "There's a time to listen and there's a time to save lives"

With that Peter swung out looking for more people to help. Since his patrolling was more in control of the adult figures in his life crime rates had gone up causing the media to grow confused with the sudden limited appearance of their vigilante. It caused guilt to fester up inside of him.

It wasn't long before Tony came hovering next to him once more as he swung from building to building. Peter stopped abruptly causing the iron man suit to lurch.

"You can go do your fancy things at your penthouse, I don't need a babysitter," Peter said the annoyance from earlier building up once more.

"Your aunt would think differently," Tony deadpanned.

"My aunt is my legal guardian, its basically her job to care, but you, Mr. Stark, can go home to your fancy house." Peter insisted leaving the man behind.

"Of course I care Peter, and your Aunt does too, we just want you to be safe," Mr. Stark had a pleading edge to his voice. Peter had control over this situation though, this was his life and his freedom he was fighting for.

"I know, but I have super powers for goodness sakes, I can take care of myself" Peter argued.

"We still worry."

"Do it from a distance"

"It doesn't work like that, Kid" Tony said with a tightness that he only used when he was really frustrated.

"It should."

"It doesn't"

"That's not for you to decide, Tony" Peter said with a hardened glare that wasn't visible through the thick spiderman lenses but he trusted Tony could feel the glare.

"Geez, spider-kid woke up no the wrong side of the bed." Tony muttered underneath his breath.

"Heard that, and I'm not a spider-kid anymore. I've said it once and I'll say it again I don't need your protection."

It ended the conversation and Tony gave up. Peter wouldn't admit it to himself but his heart sank just a little at the empty presence. Where had the times gone when Mr. Stark was his whole world.

…

Tony felt a pang in his chest whenever he thought about his spider-kid. No matter what Peter said he would always be a kid in his mind. Where had the times gone when Peter looked at Mr. Stark like he hung the moon and stars.

"Fri, call Pep" The stark instructed. It were times like these when he needed advice. Despite having been a parent for nearly 5 years 6, if you count the years spent parenting Peter, there were times when he leaned on his wife for certain things.

"Tony?" His wife's voice came through his helmet, "Is everything okay."

Tony sighed emotion seeping into his voice, and a wall came down that he had put up for the past few weeks, "I need some advice."

"Go on."

"Peter keeps saying that we're protecting him too much, but the last time I didn't give him enough protection and he was dead for five years." Tony ranted.

"Start over," Pepper aid softly, "I go to Italy for one month and it goes straight to hell over there."

The man chuckled softly, "I've been adding more protocols in place since the snap, I've been telling you about them?"

"Uh huh" Pepper said, Tony could feel the nod even as if she was sitting in the room with him.

"He lashed out a week ago, said we "didn't have power over him" What is that even supposed to mean? I'm just trying to make sure he doesn't kill him-"

"Tony." Pepper interrupted a new sterness seeping into her usually calm voice, "Your protocols may seem like protection to you but to me it seems like your asking him to take a leadership role without giving him the space to be a leader. True yes"

Tony was silent taking in Pepper's words of wisdom. "Yes, he was going to lead the Avengers…"

"But have you given him the chance to show you what he can do? He's a 17 year old who wants to prove his worth, but no one is giving him that chance. You guys keep beating him down over and over again"

"I don't- I'm just trying to keep him safe" Tony said weakly, but the more he thought about it the more Pepper was right. As Peter improved they gave him more protocols.

"I know Tony, and that's what makes you a good dad, but Peter he's growing up. He doesn't need a helicopter parent he needs support."

They laughed softly, "I guess I see what you mean. I"ll give the spider-kid… Spider-man some space and talk with May tomorrow."

"I'm proud of you Tony."

"Thanks Pep, I love you."

"Love you too, kiss Morgan goodnight for me."

…..

About six hours later Tony got a call on his phone. What was Happy doing calling so late at night?

"Whats up Hap?" Tony asked questions spinning around his mind. Happy hated staying up late, and working late. He was the "no-shit" type of person but boy could he throw a tantrum if he needed too.

"Tony it's the kid." Tony could hear a panic in Happy's voice, and as much as Happy denied it, Tony knew there was a soft spot in there for Peter.

"What happened?" Tony asked already getting his suit prepped for flight.

"Ned called me, Peter went to fight Toomes. Again."

….

Peter swung around sullen for the next couple hours. The situation weighed on his shoulders. Maybe he wasn't as much as a hero as he wanted to be. Maybe he really wasn't good enough to do it alone.

"Peter?" Ned came in through his coms, making him jerk a little mid swing.

"Ned, I thought I told you to stop doing that," Peter scolded with no real heat in his tone.

"Toomes is back." His best friend said slowly, carefully. A beat of silence passed between the two friends.

"Where?" Peter was already swinging when Ned gave the directions.

"same place," There was worry in his friends tone. "Peter…"

"Yeah?"

"Please be careful."

A fondness spread through Peter as he smiled. "Of course, Ned." He said softly, "If I'm not back in the next two hours call Happy."

"Okay." Ned said before hanging up the call. Peter took a deep breath.

"come on spiderman," He whispered underneath his breath.

"Petro Parker, I've been waiting for you." Toomes voice rang out through the warehouse. Peter honed into his hearing, closing his eyes and stretching. There were speakers surrounding him, 4 breaths.

"You come for me a lot, Adrian," Peter said trying to keep his tone light. Going up against Toomes again was no easy feat. Part of him couldn't even believe this was happening for a third time. "I really want to get this over with. I trust you've seen movies. The Hero always wins." He said lowing his voice.

"Not this time Spiderman." Toomes said. Behind the vulture mask Peter could see the man narrow his eyes. A newfound determination set into his stomach. Not the usual "I-need-to-prove-myself" determination though. He was always going about trying to impress all the adults in his life. Maybe all he needed to do was be enough for himself. Peter was- is spiderman. He's new york's spiderman, not the Avenger's spiderman. He started this gig to save lives, and lives he was going to save.

"You're messing with the wrong vigilate." Peter said shooting a web towards the man, who in turn ducked.

"Oh, its on." Toomes said. (Quoting like every movie in the history of movies).

Immediately the two embarked in a dance. Each getting the upper hand numerous times. Relying only on themselves to get them through this. No backup

Peter threw a punch that Toomes dove out of the way. Only by a few inches though.

"Karen! Taser web!" He commanded to his A.I as he shot another web directly at Toomes wings. They were huge, and obviously upgraded as the webs simply bounced off.

"Nice try." Toomes mocked a sly smile on his face as he shot a taser "web" of his own hitting Peter square in the chest. He was knocked backwards but regained his footing easily using his hand stop his backwards tumble.

He shot another web this time aiming for Toomes unprotected foot. Who even left their foot unprotected? It hit its mark bringing the man down onto his wings. Peter jumped at the opportunity and tried to web up the west of the Vulture to no avail. The wings detached and cut through the webs like they were nothing.

"Okay, so no webs then," Peter muttered under his breath. It was just his strength and maybe some smartly shot webs against Toomes giant flying machine because that's a fair battle.

"Made a few changes to the suit." Toomes said, chest heaving. "Do you like them?"

"I mean its okay I guess, couldn't have made it less slippery? Helped out a spider perhaps?" Peter quipped. Toomes only smirked.

"You took everything from me, my family, my home, my money, my freedom." Toomes snarled lunging again this time getting Peter in a grip with the machine. Damn wings.

The wings tightened around Peter's body keeping him tucked inside its capsule. Memories flooded back and Peter felt himself spiraling as he thrashed to GET OUT of the bounds holding him still. After moments of struggling he broke the wings in half. Peter stared wide eyes at the now broken machine. Wow, he'd been holding back a lot.

Peter let out a breath of relief. It was over. He webbed up Toomes for real this time, breaking up the wings even more so that even the wrong person did get their hands on it, it would be unrepairable.

"I'll get you next time, Spiderman." Toomes said with a glare. Peter winced. That was cringe worthy.

"Yeah, said every villain in every movie ever. Next time, give me a heads up so I can drink some energy drinks before hand." Peter quipped. "Karen, let the police know what we have, and make sure he's sent far away."

Peter could hear an electronic whine from behind him as he whirled around to face a frazzled looking Tony Stark.

"Peter!" Tony shouted wrapping his arms around Peter who returned it. "I am so sorry!"

"Its okay," Peter said softly, "we both said things we regret. I should have told you that the precautions were bothering me from the start."

"I should have laid back on the protection. I just- watching you go out every night and getting hurt was scary. It increased when I realized how close we were getting. I guess I took it a little too far."

"Just a little, but its okay. We can compromise." Peter said with a smile that Tony couldn't see under the mask. "Did Ned call you?"

"Yeah he said you said to call Happy if you weren't back after two hours." Tony informed, "Next time have Ned call me directly."

"He's just going to fan girl." Peter said with a smirk.

"Who said that was a bad thing?"

"Your ego doesn't need anymore growth."

The two laughed as they walked out of the building.

….

The next few months the three (Tony, May, and of course Peter) worked on a lot of stuff. Communication, relationships, and they talked about spidermanning and what it meant to all of them. In a calm manner of course, over cups of starbucks frappachinos. Together the team- Family came up with a new set of rules that satisfied everyone.

Karen reported any major injuries to Tony Stark so that Peter wasn't bleeding out in an alleyway

No Avengers tagged along if Peter didn't want them too. Instead he logged weekly reports on what happened.

Peter was going to train with the Avengers but be treated equally. Or as equal as an Avenger-in-training could be.

No more curfews but school must come first

No secrets, they were a family and if something was bothering them, speak up.