It was exactly a month after her honeymoon ended that Toni first started seeing the clips on the internet. At first she'd missed, it, having been in her honeymoon bliss.
It wasn't on purpose. It's not like she went into each day trying to avoid everything that was happening. But she would be lying if she said she wasn't also floating in a state of constant happiness, waking up to Steve each morning.
Very little may have changed in their actual routine but knowing that he was hers through marriage elated both of them.
"Good morning," she said to Steve, as she sat at the table. He placed a cup of black coffee in front of her and kissed her gently.
"Morning, Darling," he said. "I'm making waffles this morning."
"They're good," Peter grinned in confirmation. "I've had five already."
"Five?" she said, raising a brow and looking over at Steve. She knew he was a teenager and teenagers were the epitome of a never-ending void in their stomachs, but five seemed a little excessive.
Perhaps she ought to check in with Helen Cho and see what a normal caloric intake for a teenage boy was. Because if he needed to be eating more food, she certainly wanted to make sure he was getting all his necessary requirements.
"I woke up starving," Peter explained, as if that would be enough to justify the need for that much food. "Must be all the walking I've been doing."
"I've told you Happy wouldn't mind dropping you off, right?" she said, furrowing her brows. Peter had insisted on taking the subway to school, and while she'd let him do that, it didn't mean she liked it. Not when he went to school so far away. But he'd insisted on it being fine. She'd sighed at that but had let him continue on.
She didn't blame him from wanting some sort of normalcy through all of this; how could she when the life he had known all his life had all but been thrown out the window. And if taking public transit was what he needed to do, then she wouldn't fight it.
"I know," he said with a shrug, the same way he'd been brushing it off all the other times she'd asked him the same thing. "But I enjoy it. It gives me some time in the morning to think about things, you know?"
"Alright, Sweetheart," she said, as Steve gave her a waffle of her own.
"I have to leave for school," Peter said as he finished the last bite of his breakfast. "I have band practice after school, so I'll be home around 6?"
"We're making carbonara for dinner," she said, as Steve nodded. "Make sure you're home by then. Don't fill up on snacks."
"I won't," he promised her, as he walked out the door.
"Miss, I believe there is something you should see," FRIDAY said then, coming over her speakers. She'd allocated her youngest towards anything pertaining towards the Avengers given JARVIS' workload, as well as helping out around the compound. So she tensed up immediately at that.
She pulled out her tablet, as Steve came around to look at her.
"There have been videos circling around the web in regard to a new enhanced individual," FRIDAY told her. "He goes by the name of 'Spider-Man' and seems to be based solely out Queens. He doesn't branch out into any other part of New York. And so far, the crimes he seems to be fighting against are all the civil sort."
She watched the video of the man on her screen. So far everything he seemed to be doing was fighting small crimes. Muggings, stopping accidents from nearly occurring, a few robberies here and there. And then there were the 'Good Samaritan' videos. Helping old ladies cross the street, getting cats out of trees, helping mothers carry groceries. And just taking a bunch of selfies.
One thing was clear; whoever he was, he was young. She'd be surprised if the man was more than twenty. And more surprised if he was older than eighteen.
So far, it didn't seem like anything she needed to worry about. He wasn't causing public destruction of property, didn't seem to be harassing any individuals. Nor was he paining a big target on his back. He was just helping out around Queens and trying to make it a little safer.
And the comments on his YouTube videos seemed to be pretty positive. Seemed like everyone liked him and no one had anything bad to say.
She'd have to ask Peter about it. He went to school in Queens, so he probably heard more chatter about it firsthand than she had. Maybe someone he knew had met the young hero and would be able to share some inside information with her.
But for now, it didn't look like it was anything she'd need to worry about. No, it was probably fine to keep an eye on the situation until she needed to do anything about it. Whoever he was, he was wearing a mask, which meant he wanted to conceal his identity. Whether it be for his own privacy or for those he cared about, it meant he wanted it under wraps.
So she knew it would be harder to try and find out who he was, well at least for most people.
Because she wasn't most people. And she also had an AI or two she could dedicate towards it.
"Hey, FRIDAY?" she said, "Can you keep tabs on this Spider-Man? See what else he gets up to. Also, I'd like you to see if you can track his movements. See if we can figure out his identity."
"What are you up to?" Steve asked her, curiously.
"Whoever he is, he's young," she explained to him, "Look at his fighting style, he's clearly untrained. And his suit! It looks like it's just cloth! What if someone shoots at him? It won't offer any defense. I know he's keeping his identity a secret for a reason, but I'd like to reach out to him. See if I can't offer him some guidance and mentorship. Maybe even a suit that doesn't need to be sewed up after every fight."
"I agree," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "He doesn't need to join the Avengers if he doesn't want to. But at least if he knows he has support, he can reach out to us in case something happens to him."
She nodded, "Exactly. When I first started being Iron Woman, I got hurt a lot, and had to rely on myself. But I was a lot older than he seems to be."
"I'll begin tracking," FRIDAY responded. "I shall let you know whenever I find anything useful."
"Thanks Baby Girl," she said with a nod.
"Now, we do have some time alone," she said to Steve, "I don't need to be at work for another hour. And you're not expected at the compound just yet."
He grinned at her, as he pulled her into a kiss.
She really could get used to the married life.
Toni was working in the lab with Ava and Peter, as they tried to come up with a design for the new StarkPhone.
She smiled over at Peter, as she knew her decision to update her will was not an unwise one. Seeing the way Peter interacted with the two of them, she knew it was the right the decision.
Besides, what he wanted to do with it after the fact was entirely on him.
Harry was lounging around on one of her sofas as he played around with a prototype for a StarkPad they were going to roll out later in the year, and while Harry may not have been as technically inclined as the rest of them, she did appreciate any and all feedback he had to offer them.
"I think the projection needs to be brighter, or at least modify the existing option for brightness level to increase the level we allow it to go til," Ava said, as she looked at it, "I can see users like Mom having difficulties reading it as it currently is."
"I agree," she nodded, "Okay, I'll add a note in. Thanks Ava."
There was a knock on her workshop door then, and she looked up to see Bucky standing there with a bouquet of flowers. She glanced over at Ava, and her cousin blushed lightly, as she walked over to the door.
Ava walked out of the room, and while she may have been disappointed that she couldn't particularly hear what was happening, she grinned as she saw the two of them interact. Bucky handed her the flowers, before he said something else. She smiled and nodded in agreement, as she leaned forward to press a kiss on his cheek.
Bucky beamed afterwards, as she came back into the room, holding a bouquet of daisies.
"Isn't that cute?" Harry said, as he teased her. "Bringing you flowers while you're at work now? Seems like the two of you are getting pretty serious."
Despite the teasing tone, there was a hint of worry in his voice.
"We're not," she rolled her eyes. "It's not like that. Not like you're thinking. I just got out of a serious relationship with Bruce. And after that I don't think I'm ready to seriously date. And well you guys also know Bucky's had a rough little bit. We're not anything, not really. But we're figuring it out together. I don't know if anything will or won't come out of this, but he offers me companionship and he's a nice guy. I like him, and I want to see where it goes."
"Good," Harry said with a nod, "If he hurts you, then I'll be having some serious words with him. Super soldier or not, no one gets away with hurting my baby sister."
"Harry," Ava said, voice tightening. She placed the flowers down delicately, then moved to wrap her arms around her older brother.
"I want you to know that I feel the same way," Toni nodded, "Next time I see Bruce I plan on having a serious discussion with him, because the way he left was unacceptable. I understand the need to want to keep others safe but he ran away. He didn't face the problems that were left behind, and he needed to have. And well, it's not making things easy at the moment."
"Meaning?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes at her, and she saw Peter peak up at that.
"Meaning not everyone is pleased with how Sokovia occurred," she sighed. And it was true, she'd begun to hear rumours, questioning the chain of command that led to the events of Ultron's formation and the subsequent handling of afterward. "It's nothing yet, but I know something's coming. And while we've fought off all the attacks on Bruce and the Hulk because of Johannesburg, it would have been a lot easier if he was here to offer his side of the story."
"So what's going to happen?" Peter asked, curiously, "Are they going to put someone in charge of the Avengers?"
"I don't know, Pete," she sighed, "We'll have to wait and see what they decide. But either way, I'm keeping an eye out on the situation. Something like this can't be ignored, especially because when it comes into fruition, we cannot allow it to blindside us. We need to be aware that something is coming, so that when it does, we'll be prepared."
"Whatever it is, we'll face it together," Ava assured her. "It won't be you against the world, Toni."
She smiled at her cousin, "Thanks Ava. Now, what was it that Bucky Barnes said to you that had him stammering and had you plant a big one on him?"
"We may have a date later," Ava said nonchalantly. And Toni grinned at her cousin.
Regardless of what may or may not happen between Ava Carter-Sousa, and James Buchanan Barnes, she was happy her cousin was happy.
Because at the end of the day, that was all that mattered.
Peter wandered into Toni's workshop that day, feeling a little unconfident about what he wanted to talk to her about.
He wasn't going to tell her per say that he was a superhero.
But he knew that he only going to put himself in danger by going out in the suit he'd made for himself. He was proud of the suit, there was no doubt on that. He'd worked hard to make it, and it looked pretty dang good if he did say so himself.
However he worked with Toni in the lab frequently. And that meant sometimes helping out with Avengers gear when Toni deemed it safe for him to do so. And the Avengers gear after their battles were usually pretty banged up.
Of course, the Avengers fought real villains. They fought other enhanced individuals. Or individuals with real weapons. And sometimes those who were out of this world and actual aliens.
Whereas all those he fought were normal, regular criminals.
But despite that, his suit still tore. It still got cut marks in it from time to time. And he spent hours sewing it back up.
That want even to mention the cuts the suit got because of knifes. Cuts that penetrated his skin.
He'd also learned that one of his powers was super-fast healing. Which he supposed was good, because the last thing he wanted was for Toni or Steve to think he was getting bullied in school and doing something about. Or worse, them knowing the truth about what he was getting up to.
He wasn't going to tell her that he was Spider-Man. But maybe, if she was okay with him having a suit, she'd come around to him being Spider-Man. The truth was going to get out eventually, and at least this way he could control it right?
Of course, that all depended on her saying yes.
He knew he could probably make one without her, but again, he had no idea how he would even go about hiding that from her. Toni knew everything.
From whether he ate, to when he got home from school, to what he was wearing. Even if she didn't see him.
But thankfully she didn't know that he was Spider-Man.
"Hey Toni?" he asked her, and she looked up from her screen, "Do you have a couple of minutes? I want to talk to you about something."
"Is everything okay?" she immediately asked in concern, and he shook his head quickly.
"I'm fine. I just wanted to ask you something," he said, hopping onto a stool across from her.
"Okay, ask away," she said, moving her work to the side.
"I want a suit," he said, "Like yours."
"Like the Iron Woman suit?" she clarified, "And not one you'd wear to work?"
"Yes," he said quickly, a sense of worry filling him up.
"Why?" she asked after a few minutes. "Is this because of Spider-Man?"
How did she know?
He felt the panic levels in him rise.
He thought he'd been doing such a good job of hiding it, but clearly not if she knew about his secret identity. And if she knew did Steve know? Who else knew?
"What?" he squeaked out.
"Look, I know these last few months have been hard on you. And a new superhero popping up in your neighbourhood is probably playing on your good-hearted tendencies. But just because Spider-Man is off saving your neighbourhood doesn't mean you're obliged to do anything. Besides, you're young, Peter. You're not even fifteen yet. I know you're surrounded by all these Avengers and heroes, but that doesn't mean you get a suit. Not until you're at least eighteen. And even then we'll have to see. It's dangerous, Peter," she said, shaking her head, "So no, absolutely not. You may not have a suit."
So she didn't know.
She had no idea that he was Spider-Man.
But she was aware Spider-Man existed.
He supposed that shouldn't surprise him, given that she was constantly monitoring like a billion other things.
"I'm not a kid," he argued, as he tried to convince her. "I'll be eighteen in a few years anyways! All of you always go off saving the world and I can help! I'd be good in a fight! Nat says my fighting skills are getting better."
"I'm sure they are," she agreed, gently. "But we're your guardians, Peter. Do you know how hard it was for us to get custody of you because we were heroes? That was because our lives were in danger and it would impact you. What do you think they would say if they knew we were letting you put your life in danger? The state would take you away from us so quick it would be laughable. And even if, for some reason, they had no issues with it, I still would. Whoever Spider-Man is, he cannot be older than eighteen. And I'm not even happy that a child I don't know is putting his life in danger. Let alone letting my own child put his life in danger. You do plenty to help already. But I'm sorry. We won't be having this discussion seriously until you're an adult."
He felt a sinking feeling in his chest.
So he wouldn't get a suit.
And she disagreed with Spider-Man fighting on the streets.
So she thought both he and Spider-Man were too young to save the world.
He wondered what she would do if she knew the truth. That he was already going out, behind his back, and being a superhero.
He tried not to let the guilt settle in, knowing he was lying to both Steve and Toni after everything they did for him. But he couldn't take the risk and tell her the truth. Not when it was so important that he did this. Not when he knew what he was capable of.
"Okay," he said, agreeing with her.
She seemed satisfied at that, "That doesn't mean you can't still help me with stuff for the others. Just, not yet, okay? You understand why I'm saying no right?"
"I do," he reassured her, despite knowing he wasn't going to stop.
"Want to help me work on some Widow Bites?" she asked him, "I want to up the reaction speed. It's a fraction too slow for my liking."
He grinned, as she showed him the Bite in question, and he brushed aside the thoughts of lying to her.
He would just have to get better at hiding the truth, that much was clear.
Ever since Peter had come to stay with her, she'd started feeling inadequate at every turn. What if she was making the wrong decisions? What if the things she was deciding on doing was only going to serve to hurt him in the long run?
She knew he was upset still because she'd told him he couldn't have a suit, despite his attempts to mask it. She'd discussed it later with Steve, and he'd agreed with the decision she'd made about it.
And she stood by it; he was way too young to be flying beside her. She knew why he wanted to. He had that same pure heart Steve had; the same desire to help others and do good in the world. The same need to help those that were around him and fight against all the injustices in the world.
But still, he was young.
She didn't want that life for him. Didn't want him to see the same horrid things that she saw every day. The same pain and suffering.
She may have been selfish, but she wanted to preserve his childhood for as long as possible. Wanted to keep him safe as long as possible. If not forever. Maybe it was impossible, and maybe she was being unfair to Peter. But she hated the thought of him out there on the field with her at his current age.
Plus not to mention she knew it would cause a field day if the press found out, let alone Social Services found out.
It was how she found herself sitting with Aunt Peggy, as her aunt came to visit. She and Uncle Daniel were still splitting their time between their kids and their own estate, wanting to maintain their own independence still.
"What's on your mind, Ducky?" Aunt Peggy asked her, taking a sip of the tea Toni had brought out. She had her own cup of coffee, but she knew her aunt cared more for earl gray.
"How do you always see right through me?" Toni wondered out loud.
"I know you," Aunt Peggy said with a smile. "And I know when something's bothering you. So what is it?"
"How do you know if you're being a good mother?" she asked finally. "And if the decisions you're making aren't going to ruin your child's life? I've only had Peter for a month, and I'm worried at every turn that the choices I'm making will negatively affect him. And I don't have any idea what I'm doing."
"No one ever does," Aunt Peggy said gently. "That's the secret to parenting. No amount of books or classes or advice can help you. It's something you learn along the way. With every decision you make, you're making it because you think it's what is right for your child. Not every decision will be. And not every decision will be wrong. You'll figure out what works and what doesn't, and you go from there. Besides, Peter is a good kid. He makes it easy to parent him. And you've known him for the majority of his life. The only thing that has changed is that now you are playing an active role in his upbringing."
"He is," she acknowledged his well-behaved personality. "I just worry. I know all of this is complicated. We're not his first set of guardians. We're not even his second. He's gone through so much at such a young age and I just want what's best for him. And I worry that I'm not doing enough. That every decision I make won't be the right one and that he'll suffer. And the last thing I want is for anything to make his life any more complicated than it already is. He goes through so much on a regular basis. He deserves not to have to go through the rest of it as well."
"I know, Ducky," Aunt Peggy told her. "And he knows that to. This is as much a learning experience for him as it is for you. What you should do is communicate with him. Make sure he knows that he can talk to you about everything and anything in his life. That he knows you'll support him through everything. That you'll be there for all the good things that happen in his life and all the bad things in his life. Just let him know that you're there for him."
"Okay," she breathed, trying not to feel overwhelmed. And she would be lying if she said she wasn't overwhelmed. Not because of anything Peter was doing, but because of her own insecurities and worries. She just wanted what was best for Peter, and she worried that she wasn't it."
"For what it's worth," Aunt Peggy started, "I think you and Steve are doing a remarkable job. None of this has been easy, and poor Peter has gone through so much. But the two of you have stepped up and offered him a family. You always were a wonderful mother. JARVIS, FRIDAY, and the bots can all attest to that."
"And we do," JARVIS chimed in at that moment, making her heart melt.
"See?" Aunt Peggy said, with a smile, "You've been a mother for a long time. Each being you created had their own challenges. With DUM-E, it was trying to get him not to poison everyone with motor oil, something you still are working on. You help them grow into so much more than just code. And you're doing the same with Peter. You just need to trust yourself."
"Thank you," she said feeling like a weight had been lifted off her chest. It felt nice, being reassured in this way, and she was grateful once again that Peggy Carter-Sousa was in her life.
The afternoon went on, and her cousins and uncle joined them around dinner, as they headed to the common floor where Steve and Peter were making tacos for dinner together.
And seeing the sight of her husband and son working together harmoniously, well, maybe it meant that she wasn't doing such a bad job after all.
