Peter spun around startled to find Aunt May standing in the doorway, watching him with complete disbelief. "Peter, you're Spiderman?!"
"Aunt May, I-I can explain," he said hurriedly completely panicking now.
"You better," she said still looking him up and down as she tried to process it. Peter swallowed an invisible lump in his throat feeling his nerves run high as May crossed her arms, the shock slowly morphing into disappointment. Out of all the ways he'd planned to tell her who his secret identity was, if ever, it never went down like this. He didn't want her to worry about his nightly patrols and his safety. He didn't want her watching him the way she was now as though he was a stranger.
"Well I uh… a while ago before Uncle Ben died," he started unsure how he was actually meant to explain. "When we were on a school trip a spider bit me and it gave me these powers. After Ben died, I just felt like I had to use them for something good, to prevent what happened to us happening to others." Tears started to build in Peter's eyes as he remembered that night of losing Ben. "I became Spiderman to help people. But I couldn't tell you… I didn't want you to worry about me after everything that has happened."
May's expression became very sympathetic, her posture noticeably becoming less tense. She shook her head slightly before crossing the room and pulling Peter into a tight hug. "I'm still not happy about this," she mumbled into his shoulder. "And we will be discussing this further but for now… I'm proud of you. The fact you risk your life to use these abilities for good. I'm sure Ben would be too." Peter hugged her even tighter at the mention of Ben; to hear those words was like a great weight had been lifted off him.
"Thanks May," he whispered burying his head further into her. Although he was by no means trouble-free, he definitely felt relieved.
Tony frowned at the incoming call of May Parker when he glanced at his phone. "Hello?"
"Did you seriously give a fifteen year old child a suit and fly him out to Germany to fight some battle for you? Then proceed to take that suit away, all the while lying to me?"
Tony pulled the phone away from his ear, much to Pepper's confusion who was watching him from across the table, not prepared for that angry call today. Clearing his throat he brought the phone back up. "I assume Peter told you?" He said for once at a loss for words. Damage control for things like these was usually Pepper's jurisdiction. He heard a frustrated sigh come from May's end. "I understand you're upset, as you have the right to be," Tony began, going off what how Pepper would usually begin with her speeches. "But I made sure Peter's suit installed with enough protocols to alert me if there anything wrong and have put in many defense mechanisms he may ever need."
This was clearly not the right thing for Tony to say as May's voice came out even more agitated. "Tony, I cannot believe you," she said exasperated. Tony inwardly winced. "Look, I've already had a lengthy discussion with Peter about this," she said after a small pause, her voice calmer now. "He's not giving up Spiderman and I won't force him so as long as he follows certain rules. But I need to know he is safe out there."
"May, I assure you I've always kept a close eye on the kid and I don't plan on stopping. I've installed several codes so I'm always notified by Peter's actions even if he just hit his head. I also have a tracker so I can always get to him if needed. I don't plan on ignoring the kid and letting him fend for himself." Tony promised. "I was actually hoping to arrange some time Peter comes over to the Compound during the week or weekends? He can get some training done here to better defend himself and I know he has a strong ability in the science area so I was maybe hoping to give him a one-on-one internship where we can delve more into the subject."
There was a brief silence as Tony waited anxiously for May's decision, his teeth pressing down on his lips hard while he waited. "Okay," May finally said, although her voice held some hesitance. "But I warned Peter if he doesn't follow my conditions such as a curfew then I'm stopping this. I don't want you to encourage it behind my back either."
"Of course not," Tony replied. "I completely respect your wishes."
"And I want weekly updates. Any injury he sustains or anything at all I want to know," May added. Tony agreed and soon they were hashing out details.
"Thank you May for this," Tony said as the call came to a close. "I promise to not let you down. I'll see Peter soon." With that the conversation ended allowing Tony a moment to fully process everything. He ran a hand through his hair before collapsing back into his seat, brought back to reality when he met Pepper's raised eyebrow. "So somehow May Parker knows about Peter and well that was her calling to yell at me," he said with a weak smile earning a small glare from Pepper.
"I assume it went okay in the end?"
"Well after May finished reprimanding me we talked about having Peter over here a couple times a week. Turns out May has to work extra long hours on Wednesdays and Fridays for the foreseeable future; it makes sense to bring Peter here these days."
A small smile graced Pepper's lips which earned her a quizzical expression from Tony. "I just haven't seen you this happy in a long time… since..." she trailed off. It was an unspoken rule to not talk about the incident that had occurred over ten years ago. While Pepper didn't know Tony at time, he'd managed to build the courage up to talk to her about it when they started to grow closer, consequently reliving the pain all over again. It was the one topic of conversation they could never mention.
Tony didn't say anything but nodded. "Yes well…" he said quietly, his eyes looking anywhere but at Pepper's. "I better get going to check in with Rhodey," he said standing up before kissing Pepper's forehead in what Pepper knew to mean was something to reassure himself. "I'll see you later."