Scott carried the last box of his things into his new room in the Avengers Tower. It was bigger than his room at the Compound, which was bigger than his room in Anchorage. He put the box on his bed and looked around.
Tony had asked how he wanted it decorated this time. Scott had requested a reminder of Alaska, and Tony hired painters to go all out with an Alaskan landscape, including a Summers family plane flying over the icy mountains.
"You like it?" Tony asked at the doorway.
"Yeah. Thanks, Tony." Tony nodded.
"They had more fun doing this room than Annie's room, that's for sure. Princesses, unicorns, castles, rainbows… I think they threw out everything pink from their warehouse after her room." Scott laughed.
"That's Annie," he said. "And Gabe chose what, the solar system?"
"Mmhm. And Alex had a beach themed room. Have you guys even been to the beach- like a real 'get tan, play in the sand, swim in the ocean' beach?"
"No," Scott said, opening a box with his bed sheets. "Have you ever seen an orca or a humpback whale in the wild?"
"Touché," Tony said. "Papa Bear wanted me to remind you to make your bed before coming down for lunch, but since you're already working on it, I won't say anything." Scott quietly laughed.
"When's Peter coming over?"
"After school, so by 3:30. Happy's offered to pick him up. Are you sure you don't want to go there next semester? It's a school meant for brains like yours. Pete said there's a robotics club. Thought you'd be interested in it." Scott turned to his bed and stretched out the fitted sheet. "Scott."
"I don't want to go, alright? You and Dad need to respect my decision-"
"We can take your feelings on the matter into account, but ultimately, it's your dad's decision."
"Then why are you even bothering to ask me?"
"Because I don't understand. When Peter brought this up, you were all for it. You were even telling people at the party that you were transferring for the spring semester. So what changed between then and three weeks ago?"
"I leveled a forest."
"Scott-" Scott turned and crossed his arms.
"I am not safe to be around people who can't protect themselves from me."
"The glasses-"
"Aren't a sure thing-"
"You remember when you dented my armor?"
"Yes sir," Scott said, blushing.
"Did you know that Cap has punched that armor and done nothing to it?"
"Your point?"
"If your glasses were going to cave under your powers, they would have by now."
"But-"
"There's no buts, Voldy. And start mentally preparing yourself because you're going to school with Pete." Scott scowled and Tony left his room.
"Mick, can you get my dad in here, please? Or ask Friday to get him in here?"
"Major Summers said he will be with you momentarily," Mick announced. Scott finished putting his sheet on the bed when there was a soft knock on his door. He turned and immediately crossed his arms.
"I've been here for two seconds and you're already hostile. Alright, kid. What's going on?" Chris asked tiredly.
"You're making me go to Midtown?"
"Who told you that?"
"Your bed buddy," Scott snapped. "Who else?"
"First of all, Scott Christopher, you will be more respectful when speaking of Tony like that, got it?" Scott turned his head. "You can start losing privileges pretty fast if I don't get a response, young man."
"I got it," Scott said bitingly.
"Good. As for school-"
"I'm not going."
"I don't know who the hell you think you're talking to, Scott Summers, but it sure doesn't sound like you're speaking to your father."
"I am not comfortable going and I don't think it's fair that Tony gets to make a decision like that about my life. He is not my parent or my guardian or even my mentor. He's just a guy sleeping in the same bed as my dad." Chris nodded.
"Sorry, Friday, I know you're busy with everything else, but can you tell Tony I need him in Scott's room?"
"Mr. Stark is assisting Alex."
"Great. Alex can come, too." Chris moved from the door and leaned against the wall as he looked at the art in Scott's room.
"Papa Bear," Tony greeted. "Fri said you needed us?"
"Scott told me that you'd made the decision to tell him he was going to school."
"I did."
"I thought we agreed to not say anything until after Christmas?"
"If you'd heard how he was talking about how unsafe he is to be around people, you'd have told him, too."
"You'd already- Dad!"
"Listen and listen well, boys," Chris said authoritatively. "If Tony tells you to do something, or tells you not to do something, you will obey him. You will not go behind his back and find me to try to override his decision. The next one who does that will be nursing a sore ass. Understand?"
"Yes sir," Alex said quickly.
"That isn't fair," Scott said. "You said you weren't ready for us to see him as a parent, and now this?"
"Scott, when you were at school, did you listen to your teachers?"
"Yeah, but-"
"And your coaches?"
"Yes."
"And what about the custodians? The lunchroom workers? The guidance counselors? Did you listen and obey them?"
"Yes sir."
"Were they your parents?"
"That's different-"
"I don't see how it is," Chris said. "They were adults your mom and I trusted to help guide you and teach you and discipline you as needed. I trust Tony a hell of a lot more than your teachers, so if I expected obedience to them, I sure as hell expect obedience to him."
"I disagree," Scott argued. "It's a completely different situation. He-"
"Is going to be around for a long time, so get used to it," Chris threatened. "And I don't care if you agree or not, that's just how things are going to work from this point on."
"Will he punish us?" Alex asked. Chris looked at Tony, who shrugged.
"If Tony feels like you need to be punished, then yes. And that does include spanking."
"You don't even let Grandma or Grandpa spank us!" Scott protested.
"Alex, out."
"Yes sir." Alex hurried out of Scott's room and Chris closed the door.
"I think you need to see how serious I am about this, and you need to see that Tony's more than just a guy sleeping in my bed. He is an authority figure who you will show respect to. Tony?" Scott shook his head.
"This isn't fair! He-"
"All this because I said you were attending school?" Tony said.
"Because you're not listening to me! Dad agreed with me about school, and here you come-"
"I never agreed with you," Chris said angrily. "I agreed to postpone the discussion, but as soon as the glasses were ready, I wanted to enroll you. Tony and I weren't together when I decided that."
"Chris," Tony said. "There was someone who didn't agree with you." Chris eyed Tony questioningly before realization set in.
"Rogers?!"
"Has Steve been telling you it isn't safe?" Tony asked.
"It- No. I-"
"McKinley. Report," Chris ordered.
"There have been several instances during training where Captain America has warned Mr. Summers of the risk to students." Chris cursed and Scott's eyes went wide at the language coming from his father's mouth.
"Don't get any ideas, Slim," Tony warned. "I'm not done talking to you about this, but I think I need to calm your dad down before America loses a national icon. Again."
"Calm me down?! That bastard-" Tony kissed Chris and Scott looked away.
"Let me talk to him before you go all Papa Bear on him," he said after pulling back.
"Let him know Scott is done training with him without supervision." Tony nodded and left Scott's room.
"Dad!"
"That man has been poisoning your mind!"
"It's not like he's saying it's because I'm dangerous!"
"Oh?! Then why else is he encouraging you to stay out away from-?!"
"Because he's worried something will malfunction and they'll take me!" Chris' shoulders dropped. "He doesn't want the government to take me, Dad. He says that the Avengers care too much about me to see me get hurt, and yeah, it could be dangerous to the other students, but-"
"No one will take you. If Spider-Man can be there undetected, then you can be, too."
"Peter has crazy reflexes that can be explained by a lot of different things. If I lose control? I could destroy the school. You saw what I did to Tony's armor, Dad. I'm… I'm dangerous. They'd take me away-"
"You are needed on Captain Rogers' floor immediately, Major Summers. Mr. Stark is in danger." Chris took off, Scott following closely behind him. They ran into the elevator that Friday sped up to Steve's floor.
"It wasn't supposed to happen like this," Scott said. "I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt-" The elevator doors opened and Chris saw a man holding Tony against a wall by his throat with a metal arm, and then noticed Steve knocked out on the ground.
"Hey!" The man turned and dropped Tony, whose hand went to his throat as he gasped for breath. Scott looked at the man, looked at Tony, and then back to the man. He pulled his glasses off, blasting the man into the wall. The beams didn't stop coming from Scott's eyes until he felt a wave of exhaustion hit him. He wobbled and then fell beside Steve.
"I got him," Tony said, now in his armor. "Get Cap and Cyclops out of here."
"Tony-"
"Go!" Chris grabbed Scott and threw him over his shoulder before pulling Steve by his arm to the elevator.
"Get us out of here fast, Friday!" The doors opened seconds later on Tony's floor and Chris pulled Steve out and started going down a hall.
"What's going on?!" Alex asked.
"Tony's in trouble! Lock yourselves in my room until I come and get you!" Chris pulled Steve until he was in his and Tony's room. He quickly put Scott on their bed and rushed out. Alex was getting Annie and Gabe and heading to the room.
"Where are you going?!"
"To call the Avengers!" Chris ran back to the elevator. "Back to Cap's floor, Friday! And alert the Avengers that they're needed now!" The doors opened on Steve's floor and Chris ducked before Tony's blaster could hit him.
"Get out of here!"
"Not without you!" Tony's body slammed the metal arm man into a wall and punched him.
"If you're in here, I can't focus!" Chris ducked as Tony went sailing over him. Glass shattered as Thor and Spider-Man jumped onto the floor through a window.
"Whoa! Who's this guy?" Chris glanced at Peter, but saw he was holding his own at the moment. Instead he went to Tony.
"Get him out of the suit, Friday," he ordered.
"I cannot, Major Summers. Only Mr. Stark can-"
"Then tell me how his vitals are," Chris ordered.
"His heart beat is strong, but blood pressure is high. There are lacerations on his face and his trachea has minor bruising."
"Is he conscious?"
"Worried about me, Big Bad?" Tony wheezed. They both shot their heads up at the frustrated growl. The metal arm man was wrapped in Spider-Man's webbing and seemed to be stuck.
"What do you want us to do with him, Mr. Stark?" Spider-Man asked.
"Extraction team from SHIELD," Tony said as his suit opened up and went back to the bracelets on his wrists. Chris helped him sit up.
"You should have called for backup," he scolded.
"They got here, didn't they?"
"Only because I called them!" Tony leaned back on his elbows and raked his eyes down Chris' body.
"Has anyone told you how sexy you are when you're worried?" Chris blinked and then shook his head, smiling.
"Only you, Tin Man."
"How's Cyclops?"
"He wasn't hurt, but I left him in our room. I had Alex take the kids to sit in there, and Steve's-"
"Steve's right here," Steve said, walking slowly by them. "You shouldn't have come down, Tony. I had him." Chris scoffed.
"You were out cold on the floor!" Steve looked at Chris.
"You had no business getting involved-" Chris stood up.
"Stand down, Captain Rogers."
"You are retired-"
"And your rank was given to you as a gimmick," Chris returned.
"You have no idea what I have done for this country-"
"You mean the decades you spent in the ice while people like me busted our asses for this country?"
"Stand down, Bear," Tony said.
"Not until-"
"Cyclops could be hurt." Chris gave Steve a dirty look before turning and holding his hand out to Tony. Tony stood and swayed on his feet.
"Are you ok?"
"I'll be fine. Underoos. With me."
"No, Mr. Stark. My webs are the only thing keeping him under control. I have to-"
"Now, Spider-Man."
"But-"
"It's just after 12:30."
"I… had a half day?"
"Move it," Tony ordered as Chris helped lead him to the elevator.
