THIS STORY WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED ON THIS WEBSITE YOU CAN FIND ME UNDER THE SAME USERNAME ON AO3 WHERE IT WILL BE CONTINUED

THIS STORY WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED ON THIS WEBSITE YOU CAN FIND ME UNDER THE SAME USERNAME ON AO3 WHERE IT WILL BE CONTINUED

oOo

Pepper snacked on hummus and veggies in the kitchen when Peter shuffled into the kitchen. The bleary eyed teenager stood in the kitchen and mumbled, "What's for breakfast?"

Pepper sighed. She and Tony had hoped that the summer would give their son space and time to relax and recover, but that wasn't working out so well. Peter was barely sleeping. Dr. Reigner had prescribed something to help him sleep, but that didn't seem to be working. The teen woke up nearly every night with nightmares and had trouble falling back asleep.

"I made poached eggs for us." She didn't mention that it was 1:00 in the afternoon (no longer breakfast), and the cooked eggs were sitting in the fridge because she'd made them two hours previously, thinking that Peter would wake up earlier. "Let me heat it up really quick."

"Thank you." Peter sat down at the counter top. "Can someone take me to Ned's today?"

"Are you sure Ned can't come here?" Peter had been visiting Ned almost every day during the summer. Pepper and Tony wanted to let their son have the normalcy he's used to, but they worried about how safe the neighborhood was. A new vigilante was showing up in Queens, remarkably close to Ned's house. Tony didn't feel comfortable leaving on the most recent Avenger mission with "Spider-Man" so close to his son.

Peter shuffled his feet. "I just- I don't think- like, Ned- I don't know… His house is just where we always go, it would be weird taking him here."

"Okay, Peter. Let's get you breakfast first."

oOo

"Hey Peter…" Ned looked at his friend, "are you sure you want to go out there today? You got hit pretty bad last night."

Peter clipped on his web shooters. "Yeah I'm fine, I just got a little distracted. It won't happen again."

"Your Spider-Man! What distracted you?"

Peter used a makeup wipe to get the concealer off of his face revealing the dark bruise on his cheekbone. "I don't know bro. I just had this feeling of someone watching me? It was a little anxiety, nothing else."

"Are you sure? You should listen to your instincts, right?"

Peter adjusted his mic and speaker so he could talk to Ned. "It's fine man, I haven't been sleeping well, I've been a little stressed out."

"Dude. Dude, you should not be going out if you're not sleeping well!"

"Ned," Peter threw his head back dramatically, "I'm fine."

Ned fidgeted anxiously in his desk chair. "Okay, just be careful."

"I always am." Peter pulled on his mask and threw himself out of the window.

oOo

Tony could barely comprehend what he was looking at. F.R.I.D.A.Y. had pulled up a news report for him to watch showing a building exploding. His phone rang, Steve Roger's contact flashing on the screen. Where was this building? Tony read the words at the bottom of the screen, Lagos, that was where… that was where the team was.

"A team of Wakandan volunteers are among the confirmed casualties…"

"F.R.I.D.A.Y., mute that," Tony instructed as he picked up Steve's call.

Heavy breathing and the ambient noise from the Quinjet could be heard over the line before the Captain spoke, "Tony, it's bad."

"What the hell happened?"

"I can't- we need you up at the compound when we get back, Ross is meeting us there in a few hours."

Tony's heart sank. Innocent lives were lost directly from the actions of the Avengers. If that vigilante Spider-Man ever screwed up and got his son killed… "I have to… uh, I have to check on Peter. I'll be there." Tony hung up before the other man could reply.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y. Where's Peter?"

"Peter's location is at Ned Leed's house. Mrs. Stark drove him there after he woke up this afternoon."

Tony took in a shaky breath, held it, and let it out for eight seconds. "Has that guy been seen today."

"Spider-Man has been spotted four blocks away from the Leed's house as of ten minutes ago."

"Fuck." Tony took in another shaky breath, held for four, out for eight. In for three, hold for four, out for eight. "Call Peter's number please." The call went to voicemail. Tony rushed to the garage, dialing Peter's phone again. He was probably just ignoring it. Teenagers did that, right? The security team would contact him if anything was wrong. Tony was just going to say goodbye before his trip, not because he was paranoid.

oOo

"Peter, I'm getting some news alerts for an explosion caused by the Avengers? Is your dad working?"

Peter swung his legs off of the side of the building he was sitting on. "No, he was down in the workshop when I left. Is everyone okay?"

"It sounds like all of the Avengers are… Maybe you should come back home, people are pretty upset with super heroes right now."

"I'm not an Avenger, Ned."

"Please, Peter!"

"Okay, dude. I'll finish this churro and head back your way."

"I can't believe you didn't get one for me!"

Peter smiled even though Ned couldn't see him and was about to reply when he heard someone call out.

"Peter? You still-"

"Shhh, I hear something."

Faintly in the distance Peter made out a feminie voice screaming, "Get away from me, Joe! I never want to see you again!" followed by an outcry of pain.

"Someone needs help, I'll come back after that." Peter dropped the churro and swung in the direction of the commotion a few blocks away. He was able to pinpoint where the conflict was coming from and dropped down into an alley where two figures were fighting.

A tall, pale woman wearing a short black dress stood over a cowering figure of a man; she had a pink canister of pepper spray in one hand and a heavy purse swinging toward the pale man's head. The man wore a brightly colored hoodie, and he had his hands up covering his face and was spitting profanities; a crowbar lay forgotten by his right hand.

Peter shot two webs, one pinned the man's legs to the ground, the other connecting the woman's bag to the wall.

"Hey guys, nice night!" Peter said cheerfully, neglecting the fact that the sun was still firmly in the sky.

The tall woman stepped away from her stuck purse, still holding the pepper spray. "Tell this fucking stalker to leave me alone!"

"Okay, ma'am, we can figure this-" Peter broke off as a spike of anxiety shot through the base of his neck.

The woman exclaimed, "Watch out!" a second before a throbbing pain split his side. Peter stumbled while his radio receiver crackled out of life. The man on the ground had grabbed his crowbar and got a lucky shot directly into Peter's radio. Ned could wait to hear back…

oOo

"Spider-Man? Do you copy?" Ned looked down at Peter's phone as his dad's contact popped up on the screen for the second time. "Peter?" The radio system could easily fail. He was probably fine… probably? "Peter, don't make me tell Ironman his son's missing." Ned waited a few more minutes to truly panic, every few seconds trying to contact the other teen.

Tears were building in Ned's eyes by the time his doorbell rang, then rang a second and third time. Ned forced himself to leave the radio and wipe his eyes before answering the impatient visitor, as his parents weren't home to do it.

On the threshold to the Leed's house stood Tony Stark. All of Ned's worries ran away as he smiled up at his idol, then they all crashed back down stronger than ever as he stood in front of Spider-Man's superhero dad. "Hi."

"Ned, I need to talk to Peter." Mr. Stark walked into Ned's house.

"Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He, uh, he's, he's just upstairs let me, you know, grab him for you!" Ned sprinted up the stairs and skidded to a stop in his room. "Peter, Peter! Your dad's here!" Ned stage whispers into the mic of his radio.

"Ned! Can I come up there?" Mr. Stark as his footsteps already creaked the stairs.

Ned dashed into the hallway, his brain buzzed for an excuse. "Yeah! Totally, Peter's just… getting dressed. We were watching…porn." Ned smiled nervously.

Tony stopped on the stairs. "Uh, okay. That's- uh, okay. We might need to talk about… can I have your parents' phone numbers?"

Before Ned could get more embarrassed, something thudded in his room and Peter's voice floated into the hall.

"Sorry about the radio, dude! Some guy- Ned, where-" Peter, in the Spider-Man suit from the neck down, wandered into the hallway, right into the line of sight of Mr. Stark.

"What the fuck, Peter."

oOo

Peter looked down the Leed's stairs and took a step back. "Um, Tony, hey. This isn't what it looks like."

"Do you want to clear that up, because it looks like my 14-year-old-child is running around New York City purposefully putting himself at risk. Is that wrong?" Tony took a step up the stairs, and Ned inched his way back into his room.

"I'm just trying to help people, be like you."

"You can't be like me! You're inexperienced, reckless- What the hell made you think playing hero and going out in-," Tony looked his son up and down, taking in the… eclectic outfit, "in pajamas was a good idea?"

Peter wrapped his arms around himself protectively. "They're not pajamas!"

"It's sure not armor. You have no training, just a kid and whatever stuff comes out of your wrists. Who would you call if you got hurt? Ned?"

"I have superpowers! I can climb on walls and lift cars! I was given these powers, I have to use them for something." Peter's voice wavered at the end.

Tony took another step up the stairs, he spoke quietly, but with just as much venom as before. "Maybe you should work for a moving company. I'm sure they could use your particular skill set. But you're not going to be some half-rate vigilante if I can help it. Go get the rest of your stuff and say goodbye to Ned. Keep the door open. I don't need you running away."

Peter didn't move, still staring down at his dad. "You can't make me stop."

"What did you just say?"

"I won't stop. You can't make me."

Tony's voice wavered dangerously. "Why do you need this, Peter?"

Peter's arms tightened around himself even more. "The day Ben died, I had my powers then. I didn't really understand them, thought they were just, just a fun party trick, but because I didn't use them that night, he died. Ben died because of me. And I can't let anyone else die because I didn't stop it."

Tony sighed. "Ben's death wasn't your fault, kid. You didn't ask for superpowers, you didn't build a giant suit, or… volunteer to take the Ring to Mordor. You're just a kid, no one expects you to save the world."

"Can't I save one city?"

Tony clutches his wrist and takes the final step up to his son's level. "Kid, Peter, I can't let you throw yourself into danger. I know you think you need this-"

"I do need this."

"I can't do this with you right now. Go grab your stuff, I'm taking you home."

"No, please Dad, people will die without me!"

"I can't let you throw your life away."

"How can you expect me to stop, when you won't either? You were willing to sacrifice yourself for this city before, I can't sit by and let-let anyone else die for me."

"And if you die, that's on me! I have a team to back me up, Peter, you're all alone! Go get your suit, I'm not asking again."

Peter's chin shook and he bit his lip."Let me, let me just-" the teen turned back toward Ned's bedroom door. The door creaked open and Ned's hand crept out holding Peter's hoodie and backpack with a sticky note clipped to it reading: I'm sorry Peter :(

Peter slipped his hoodie over his suit, slung his bag onto his back, and followed Tony out of the house and into the car.

Neither father nor son spoke on the way home. Light music covered up the sound of Peter's quiet sniffles as the teen looked pointedly out of the window, determined to hide his tears.

Peter didn't notice that they stopped in the Tower's garage, until Tony opened his own door to get out of the car. The teenager didn't move as his dad walked up to his mom, who was waiting for them when they pulled up. The security team pulled in behind them parking near the entrance of the garage.

Pepper put her hand on her husband's arm. "Tony, what's going on?"

"I have to go up to the compound, and I went to pick Peter up from Ned's house. Pepper, he's- Peter's Spider-Man." Peter hunched over in his seat as more pressure built in his chest next to the throbbing ribs that were hit by the crowbar.

"What does that-? What do you mean?"

"Our son's been dressing up and vigilante-eeing around New York City for weeks. I don't want to leave all of this with you, but the team needs me to clean up after them."

"Okay, go to the compound. I have Peter, we'll be okay."

Tony sighed and leaned his head toward Pepper, saying, "I love you so much. I'll be back as soon as I can," before he hurried off to another car.

Pepper opened the car door where her son sat. She took a deep breath, her face pinched slightly. With a steady voice she said, "hey Peter. Let's go upstairs, okay?"

Peter silently followed his mother out of the garage and back to their apartment. Before the teen could slip back into his room, Pepper spoke up. "Peter, we need to talk, okay?"

Peter didn't reply, just followed her into the living room. He kept his eyes safely staring at the ground. Pepper sat down and her son followed a beat later.

"Peter, I-" The boy in question shrunk farther into the couch as his mom took a breath. "Honey, your father and I need to talk more before we agree on an appropriate punishment." Peter barely suppressed a flinch at the word. "I need to process, too… I never imagined-'' Pepper cut herself off. "For now, for your safety, you're going to be grounded in the apartment. The elevator and stairs will be closed to you barring an emergency."

Peter nodded slightly at his feet, and the pair lapsed into silence.

oOo

Tony stared at the screen as it showed the Avengers worst incidents of collateral damage.

Ross monologued over the horrific sights as Tony held his wrist to ground himself. Only a few of the Secretary of State's words floated in his ears: "Vigilantes… unconcerned what you leave behind… unlimited power with no supervision… Sokovia Accords." Tony snapped back into the room as Ross dropped a thick stack of papers in front of him.

"The UN will meet to ratify the Sokovia Accords in three days." Ross informed.

Steve spoke up for the group. "What exactly is dictated in the Accords?"

Ross walked to the head of the table. "For the Avengers, the Sokovia Accords will create a UN task force that will instruct your team when and where you need to go. It will provide oversight."

"What happens if we don't sign?" Steve asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Any Avenger that does not follow the instruction of the UN committee would be in violation of the Accords and will be detained indefinitely."

Steve opened his mouth to protest, and some of the other Avengers around the table made noises of disagreement, but Tony spoke over them all, "And what does the Sokovia Accords say about non-Avengers?"

Ross focused on Tony. "The Accords will put into effect a system of documentation and tracking of any enhanced individual. As long as they are open with us and submit to testing of their powers they will be allowed to move on with their lives with supervision, but anyone that violates the Accords will be detained indefinitely."

"No." Tony said.

Steve spoke at the same time. "That's completely unconstitutional and violates basic human rights."

"Human rights don't really apply to enhanced individuals."

"Bullshit. If you think there's anyway that we'll sign these you're out of your mind." Steve walked out the conference room immediately after his outburst. Natasha, Wanda, Sam, and Vision followed him out without a word.

Rhodey stopped briefly in front of Ross and said, "Sorry Mr. Secretary. That's a few steps too far for me," then he left.

Tony realized too late that he was the only one left at the table. He stood up abruptly and turned to Ross. "Well. You heard the Cap." Tony started toward the door, before being interrupted.

"Children died, daughters and sons, Mr. Stark, because of you and your team's choices."

Tony turned back to Ross. "They did. We can't solve that by taking away more children, or parents."

"This will pass Mr. Stark. If you all don't sign, any enhanced individual or vigilante who doesn't sign and follow the letter of the accords will be breaking international law."

"This can't pass Mr. Ross. Good day." Tony left the room, his breath a little ragged. This couldn't pass. For Peter's sake.

oOo

The Avengers, minus Steve who'd excused himself right after the meeting, sat in one of the compound lounges. Natasha broke the sharp silence first. "We have to stop this."

"I don't agree with the rest of it, but the Avengers do need oversight." Rhodey added.

"Come on James, what if they tell us to go or do something we don't agree with? Or they won't let us go somewhere?" Sam questioned.

"We need to trust the UN-"

"Are you really really so idealistic that you believe they could do no wrong?" Wanda questioned him.

Tony budded in. "We need oversight, but they can't take away a group of people's human rights. Everytime that's been done it's had horrific consequences. This document grants the UN council unlimited control over humans that have done nothing wrong. We're the Avengers, people look up to us, if we sign this we have no right to call ourselves heroes."

The room was quiet for a moment after Tony's impassioned speech before his phone chirped with an alert from F.R.I.D.A.Y. Tony's heart skipped a beat as he read the words on the screen: Peter has exited the penthouse through the balcony.

oOo

Peter tried to be good. He wanted his parents to be proud of him. He paced the length of his floor over and over, more times than he could remember, after his conversation with Pepper. From the height of his room the noises of the city usually weren't too bad, even with his enhanced senses, but Peter couldn't block them out after the overflow of emotions just hours earlier. People yelling and cars honking overwhelmed his ears as he paced. Then, over it all, a gunshot and a child's screams sounded.

Peter tried to be good. He tried to stay in his room, but he couldn't stop his reactions at the sound of those cries. "Mom? Mommy?" Peter jerked into action, the child's voice taking control over him, pulling on his mask and yanking open the balcony door with no regard to the lock.

As fast as he could possibly swing, Peter followed the cries to a few blocks away. He dropped down in front of a dimly lit alleyway. The earlier screams of the child had subsided to crying. The hair on the back of Peter's neck stood up as he took a step into the alley. He couldn't see the child or their mother, but there were a few dumpsters they could be behind.

"Hello? I'm here to help, is anyone there?" The cries continued as if the kid couldn't hear him. Peter took a couple more steps in. "Can I help you?" The crying was definitely coming from this alley.

Peter crept forward until he could peer around the first dumpster. He tensed, expecting to see a tragic scene. Instead, he found a speaker system pumping out the desperate sobs. The teen swung around, anxiety spiking at the base of his neck. He'd been set up.

Before anything else could really cross his mind, something pierced his chest. Peter put a hand to his chest and looked down to see some sort of metallic blowdart like he'd seen in spy movies. His hands cooperated enough to pull it out of his chest, but not fast enough.

Within seconds, the alley around him tilted sideways and suddenly he was on his back. A pale man dressed in all black like a cartoon villain stood over the teen and smiled with piercing white teeth. "Hi Peter. There's someone waiting to meet you."

Before the gravity of his situation could truly sink in, Peter's brain shut down and he passed out.

oOo

THIS STORY WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED ON THIS WEBSITE YOU CAN FIND ME UNDER THE SAME USERNAME ON AO3 WHERE IT WILL BE CONTINUED

AN: AAAAAH sorry for that cliffhanger- mostly sorry. I got into my dream college, very excited:) There will probably only be 3-4 chapters left in this story so it WILL BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR! I'm setting myself a deadline.

I chose to make the Accords more comic book cannon than movie cannon so it held even more weight for Tony and the other Avengers.

Thank you for sticking with this story

Stay safe and be kind to others,

Jewell