Hey Pete, how's it going? Almost ready for your last few finals?

I'm so tired. A couple days and it'll be over though.

Sorry I won't be there today. Gotta study for my dumb history final. Srsly, does it really matter if I know what year the different empires fell

No, it really doesn't. Sorry kid.

What are you guys having for dinner? I wanna live vicariously

Pete. You really need to tell your aunt. I know you don't get enough when you're just home all the time studying like this.

I know. I just really don't want to

I don't even know how to bring it up

She's gonna be so mad, and feel bad

You're a smart kid. I have faith in you. Now go memorize all the Roman emperors in order, because that's essential to your future.

Better yet, see if your friend Michelle wants to help you memorize them.

Mr. Stark. Stop.

Besides, she and Ned are coming over in like an hour

:)

Tony had two extra large pizzas delivered to the Parker residence with the excuse of fueling the friends' finals study session. He waited until about 8, after normal dinner time, so hopefully the kid had already eaten once. He had finally admitted to Tony that his super metabolism, which already required 2-3 times more food than a normal person, had ramped up lately, and he'd been having a hard time feeling full again, even with the normal measures. Tony wasn't sure why. Maybe a growth spurt?

The "normal measures" were eating extra the two afternoons/evenings he was at the Tower with Tony for his internship (and sometimes part of the weekend) and using the credit card Tony had given him to buy extra snacks and meals on his way to and from school, and during his Spiderman patrols. Because he wouldn't over-eat at home, since the kid still refused to tell his aunt about the extra calories he needed, and didn't want her trying to buy extra groceries.

His reasoning for her feeling upset was that before he'd started interning with Tony, there had been a 6-7 month time period when no one knew, and he couldn't really eat much extra without drawing attention to himself. Plus money was tight, and he didn't want to ask May for more food. So the 14-year-old had just been hungry most of the time, and had even been losing weight. He'd filled out a lot since he started eating enough in the fall.

Tony, who had experience with Steve Rogers' and Thor's appetites, figured out pretty quickly that the kid probably needed extra calories, and had started making sure he had ways to get enough to eat.

But Peter was afraid May would feel guilty that she hadn't known all this time, (even though that was Peter's fault) and he knew she would be mad he hadn't told her, especially when she'd known about his spider-induced powers for quite a while now. But money was still tight, and Peter avoided confrontation.

When he noticed the kid was finally hitting the monthly limit on the card he'd given him, Tony had immediately raised it and questioned Peter about his appetite. Which was all well and good, except there had been fewer opportunities the last week with finals looming, and no patrolling happening. Even for a brilliant kid like Peter, Midtown was still challenging in ways, (especially the non-science ones) and he'd been under extra pressure.

None of that would matter if Peter would just tell May that he needed to eat more. Tony was completely willing and able to bankroll the extra food, and he knew she might be upset at first, but the longer it went on, the worse it would be when she found out he'd hidden it this long. It was really getting ridiculous at this point.

Thanks for the pizza, Mr Stark, you're the best

No problem, kiddo. Tell her.

I'll try. Maybe after finals.

Remember I'm at the Compound Friday. Rhodey's helping me install those upgrades, and I have Accords meetings Friday night.

I wanted to help with those :(

You helped last time. Accords junk involves several people I don't want you anywhere near. So no. Plus, you should be relaxing after finals. Do something with your friends. You can use that card for more than food, you know.

Upgrades at the compound is relaxing

If you're missing me so much, you can come over Saturday evening when I get back.

Whatever, you're the one that'll be calling me

Break a leg tomorrow

That's for actors, Mr Stark

Well, -act- like you know stuff about history and chemistry tomorrow

Peter's final response was an eyeroll emoji, and Tony grinned at his phone.

"You're talking to Peter, aren't you?" Pepper said fondly from the couch.

"What?"

"You don't smile like that when you text anyone else."

"I smile."

"But not like that."

Tony casually shrugged it off. But she was probably right.

Saturday morning Tony had finally dragged himself out of bed about 10 AM. The meetings had been excruciating, as he'd expected, and then once all the "extras" had left, he and Rhodey and Vision had worked on some of the systems upgrades until around midnight. It was always nice to see Vision, but also a little disorienting hearing JARVIS' voice and some of his infections coming out of someone who wasn't really JARVIS. It was a little painful at times, honestly.

After all that, Tony had done some work in the Compound lab for a few more hours, which was probably a poor life choice.

Tony was only halfway through his coffee, and not quite feeling like a human being yet when FRIDAY spoke up:

"Boss, Peter and Ms. Parker are at the Compound entrance and are requesting a meeting with you."

"What?"

"I said Peter and Ms. Parker-"

"No, I heard you, FRIDAY. Uh, let them in. Tell them I'm in my suite."

He got up and walked down the hall.

"Hey, Pep?"

"Yeah?"

"We've got incoming. I'm guessing Peter finally told May about his metabolism, and apparently texting couldn't fully convey the strength of her feelings."

Pepper walked out of the bedroom, wide-eyed. "I see. What do you need me to do?"

"Uh, just be a witness, so she doesn't kill me if she's particularly mad, I guess…"

"No promises, but I'll try," Pepper said with a smirk.

Tony could hear their voices approaching, and swiped a hand through his bedhead. Well, if they were going to come without notice, they could just deal. He looked around for somewhere to sit or stand that wouldn't leave him backed into a corner. He'd experienced May's wrath once before, when she found out about Germany, and radioactive spider bites, and certain billionaires aiding and abetting her 15-year-old nephew, and could feel his heart rate increasing at the memory. Tony Stark wasn't scared of many things, but May Parker made him a little nervous.

When May walked in, Peter trailing awkwardly behind her, Tony wasn't sure what to make of her expression.

"May?" he said warily. She just stared at him for a moment. Tony could now also feel his blood pressure rising.

"Mr. Stark. The next time you think it's a good idea to keep information from me that have to do with the health of my child, just because he doesn't want to tell me, we will be having a very different conversation."

Tony narrowed his eyes in confusion. What kind of conversation were they having now?

"And we might also be having a very different kind of conversation right now, if Peter hadn't spent the entire drive telling me all that you've been doing to make sure he's well-fed despite me being in the dark about his needs." But she still looked angry. She paused and he figured that was probably his cue to say something.

"I'm sorry, May. You're right." He saw Peter's mouth quirk down in annoyance. What? He'd told the kid about twenty times that it wasn't right to keep it from her. He wasn't real sure why he agreed in the first place, but he supposed he'd had a different view of and relationship with Peter back then.

"Peter said you've talked about additional genetic testing? Tests that could tell us what else might be different about his physiology and his needs?" May had shifted slightly from angry to determined.

"Yes, we have talked about it. We did a little bit of testing at first, as I told you, so Dr. Cho could synthesize some meds for him that would actually work. Peter was… resistant to further testing, and I certainly wasn't going to push him. I'm sorry I hadn't thought to discuss it with you."

"Yes, well, from now on, please do think." Her glare was a touch icy again. She turned to Peter without changing her look.

"And why haven't you let them do these tests? Your little metabolism revelation helps me realize there's a lot we don't understand about how your body and your needs might have changed. Why wouldn't you want that information?"

Peter looked nervous and annoyed all at the same time, and was avoiding eye contact as his scuffed tennis shoes (But not holey, Tony noticed with satisfaction - Peter had finally started letting him buy a few things here and there that needed replacing) nudged at invisible things on the floor. "There are a lot of needles involved in all those tests, May," he said softly.

"That's the reason? Peter. Baby. I know you don't like needles, but this is important."

She turned back to Tony. "He said the facilities here are more extensive than the Tower? Are there any personnel here today that can collect the needed samples to start the tests?"

Tony scrubbed at the back of his neck, thinking hard. "I… believe so? FRIDAY?"

"Yes, Boss. There are several qualified individuals in Medbay. Dr. Cho has already left the orders for the tests, for whenever Peter was ready to proceed."

"Well, there we go. Head on over, mister."

"By myself?" His voice was small, and he looked miserable.

"Of course not. Since you two are all thick as thieves about your health, Tony will go with you. I'm going to sit here and have a cup of coffee with Pepper. Peter said she's here?"

Peter still looked worried, but he glanced hopefully at Tony with those dang puppy dog eyes the kid had started to learn worked on him.

"I'd love to have coffee, May," said Pepper, walking in from the bedroom, where she'd been listening like a good witness.

Tony sighed. "Let me get dressed."

"You don't have to come, Mr. Stark," Peter said quietly. "I can go by myself."

Tony eyed him. "Of course you can. But you're not going to."

Back in his bedroom, Tony pulled on a pair of jeans and one of his favorite Black Sabbath t-shirts, brushed his teeth, and quickly calmed his hair, then returned to the living room. "Let's go, Pete." The boy nodded and moved to follow him. "FRI, did you let them know we're coming?"

"Yes, boss. They're ready for you. Dr. Cho said she'd come in herself this afternoon to get started on the tests."

"Great, thanks."

Peter dragged his feet as he walked a little behind Tony down the hall. "Sorry, sir."

"For what? I'm proud of you. You finally talked to her, even though you knew it would probably be like this."

"I didn't expect the testing part, or I probably wouldn't have had the nerve," Peter muttered bitterly. "But I had a perfect segway when she wanted to know where all the leftovers from last night had gone…"

"Yeah, I'd definitely call that a conversational opening."

As they entered Medbay (where Peter was unfortunately well-known) Peter smiled at the tech, but it was strained, and he was wiping his hands nervously on his jeans. Tony reached over and pulled the kid into his side. This kid faced down guns and knives with no problem, and had even been known to stitch himself up with no anesthesia before Tony and May found out about that, but he was literally shaking at the thought of a few tissue samples. Tony sighed sadly.

"Sorry, Roo. It'll be over soon, and I'll be with you the whole time."

"Do they have to take blood?" Peter whined, letting Tony steer him past the front desk.

"Unfortunately, they're definitely going to want that, and several other things. I think Cho said a bone marrow sample would actually give her a lot of important information," Tony replied reluctantly.

Peter stopped in his tracks, which effectively stopped Tony as well. Tony turned to look at him, and the kid's eyes would put Bambi to shame.

"Are you freaking kidding me?"

"C'mon Spiderman, you can do this. I promise I'll hold your hand the whole time. And we'll order lunch afterwards."

Peter grumbled, but started moving again. "I want Thai food. And maybe more pizza too. And definitely doughnuts."

"You got all that FRIDAY?"

"Yes, boss. I'll put the order in."

Bolstered by his mentor's support, the hero-in-training took a deep breath and stepped through the exam room door.