Thirty-Five

"Pete? It's Dr. Banner, you need to come to HQ."

Peter had been in the middle of catching his bus back to May's when he received the call from Bruce. He had been half thinking about using his web shooters to get back to his apartment, but he didn't want to risk getting caught, not to mention if he "exhausted" himself his dad was going to kill him. It had been more than a month since the whole HYDRA mess, but Tony had still not given him the green light to return to his usual Spiderman activities.

"Why?"

Peter caught the bus and managed to find a seat beside an old lady with a straw hat.

"I need to give you a final checkup." Dr. Banner was smiling. "Then if you are cleared, Tones says you can return to being Spiderman without involving yourself in HYDRA this time."

Peter took a deep breath. "Really?"

He had been feeling well enough for weeks, but Tony and Pepper had wanted him to take it easy. Not to mention Tony's ankle and bruises were still healing, no doubt he was worried something would happen to Peter and he would be useless. Though he had looked better at the science fair.

Dr. Banner chuckled. "When can you come?"

"I have to study for a math test today. Tomorrow?"

"Sure. Have Happy bring you, you know how paranoid your dad is about public transportation. Medical room AB 125. See you at four."

The next afternoon after school Happy dropped off Peter at HQ and Peter immediately felt at home even though before the mess that was his life Tony had hardly allowed him to be here. A smile immediately appeared on his face when he entered the med bay and saw Dr. Banner.

They discussed the latest Physics Today magazine and Bruce quickly looked him over. "You are right as rain, your healing abilities are quite impressive, Peter."

"So I can do it? I can go back to patrolling?"

"You can," Dr. Banner chuckled. "Oh, before you leave your dad wants to see you. Training room 3, he was being very weird and secretive."

"That does sound like dad."

Peter made his way to the training room thinking it was the first time his dad had ever told him to meet him there. Before he got his powers, he had wanted to protect Peter from everything as if he were a porcelain doll.

"Heads up."

His spider senses triggered as he raised his hand and grabbed the familiar suit. His suit. The one he had made when he snuck into Tony's lab months ago.

"I added a few upgrades, but you did good, kid. Much better than me, then again, I had to build my suit in a cave." Peter looked up and saw Tony in his Iron Man suit. He knew he was still limping slightly, but his suit did a good job in covering it up. "What are you waiting for? Suit up."

"Why?" Peter blinked feeling stupid and out of the loop.

"Because we're going to train. I thought it was obvious. I've never seen you in action besides the few grainy videos on YouTube. So, suit up." Tony put his helmet back on.

Peter gaped at him. This was coming from the man who had insisted Peter hold someone's hand when crossing the street until he was twelve. "You're still injured."

"I'm tougher than I look. What? Scared your old man is going to kick your ass?"

Peter pursed his lips, feeling the competitive edge. "Never. Give me five minutes."

"You have two."

They spend the next two hours training in the training room for the first time ever. His dad was better than he had given him credit for even though his ankle had been busted. He gave Peter a run for his money as he had added a bunch of fancy designs to his new Iron Man suit which had Peter performing gymnastic routines to get away from him.

"Don't hold back!" Tony snarled as he pinned Peter against the wall.

Peter gritted his teeth as he gripped Iron Man's arm and managed to pull it away from his neck without breaking Tony's fingers. He did know his son was practically a mutant right? "I'm not!"

"Yes, you are. You're scared of hurting me." Tony threw a punch in the air, Peter barely managed to dodge. "Stop being scared."

Peter pummeled him to the floor as he pressed his hands against his chest preventing Tony from getting up. He removed his mask, sweat dripping down his face. "I won."

Tony smiled. "I knew you would." There was silence until Tony opened his mouth, struggling to get the words out "I'm sorry."

Peter looked confused. "For what? You didn't hurt me."

"Not for today, dummy for everything I've done since you were three years old." Tony gulped as the words started spilling out of his mouth. "I haven't been a good father. I've been an absent father. I've given you everything you've always wanted materialistically at least, but I've never been there for you. I had you taken care of by Pepper, Happy, boarding school, and an armful of nannies, but I've never given you the full attention you deserved as my son. I know we are not biologically related, but we've been together for twelve years and you are my son. My pride and joy." Tony's voice grew thick. "I have no idea why Mary put you in my care after how we ended things. But I'm sure she will be proud of the man you have become kind and good hearted even though you're hopelessly naive. What I am trying to say, Peter, is that I will try. For you. To be a better father even though it's twelve years too late. I'm sorry."

Peter's chest felt heavy, and he was afraid he would cry. He cared. In his own way Tony had always cared for Peter even though he wasn't always the most affectionate. He gave Peter everything he always wanted even if he never said the words. He was overprotective to the point that sometimes it was ridiculous. He had been willing to die for Peter even if he wasn't his biological child and it had been his own idiocy which had landed them there in the first place.

Tony was Peter's father and Peter was Tony's son.

"Thank you," Peter choked out as he helped Tony up. "Perhaps we can start over. Try again," Peter wasn't quite sure how they would be able to start their relationship again, but he did know he didn't want to live in a world where he and Tony had separate lives.

Tony gulped as he looked at him. "I would like that."

-End of Chapter Thirty-Five