Chapter 86

Peter floundered onto the couch, after coming home from school. Toni and Steve hadn't given him the suit back to him yet, insisting that they sit together on the weekend and come up with a better design and go over a few more ground rules.

In all honesty, he needed a bit of a break. Despite how guilty he felt about not being on the street 24/7 policing it and keeping the citizens of Queens safe, he knew he needed a break. He knew he was burning out.

And after the day he had at school, where he saw Liz's mom pulling her out of school and moving them across the country, not even sparing him a glance, he wasn't sure he wanted to go back. How could he when he knew every time he attended Acadeca that it would be his fault that their captain was gone? That it was his fault that the girl he liked was no longer in school. Because if he just kept his stupid mouth shut and didn't chase down her father, then her family wouldn't have been torn apart. That she'd still have a normal life.

And he would have been able to have attended the dance. Like a normal teenager. Instead of one who was anything but.

"What's eating at you, kiddo?" Ava said, as she slid down onto the couch beside him. She was far closer to his own age than his mother, but he considered her to be an aunt. And with his mom trying to tie up work at the company so she can take maternity leave, and his father at the compound, she was the only one around.

He shook his head, not really wanting to get into it, but she didn't seem to buy it.

"No, I know something's up," she said lightly, "Your face says it all. Why don't you talk to me? I think you'll find that I'm a good listener."

"There's not much to say," he said, grabbing a pillow as he held it close to his body. He buried his face down into it, and she sighed as she patted his back.

"This is about the girl, isn't it?" she said, and he peered up at her.

"How do you know that?" he asked, a bit surprised.

"Because I know the look of someone who was left behind," she said simply.

And she did, didn't she?

"It's all my fault," Peter confessed finally, "If I didn't go after her father, then maybe she would have been able to have stayed. If I just let it go, or just stopped him and let him go after then she'd still have her father. If I didn't stop him, then she wouldn't have been pulled out of school by her mother who looked like she'd been crying for hours. If I didn't then maybe Liz would bother looking at me. Or maybe if I didn't stand her up, she would at least have said goodbye. Instead, I got nothing. And I don't know what to do about it."

"First of all, it wasn't your fault," Ava said fiercely. "I want you to know that Peter. In this entire situation, you did nothing wrong. You stopped a man from obtaining alien weapons and trying to sell them on the street. That makes you a hero, not the bad guy. Don't you dare believe for a second that this was on you, because it wasn't."

He swallowed, not really believing her, and her eyes softened.

"Peter, I mean it," she told him. "You didn't ask Liz's father to steal those weapons. You didn't ask him to sell them on the street. Or drop a building on you. You didn't ask him to commit all those crimes. That was on him. Not you. You hear me? Liz's father did something awful, and it's horrible that her family was caught up in the crossfire, but that was because of him. You didn't let them get hurt. You kept them out of it. Instead, it was his actions that hurt them the most. Not yours."

"I know," he said, because objectively, he did.

"You didn't ask them to leave either," she said, tenderly. "It was her mother that decided they needed to leave. We're not responsible for the actions of others. You didn't ask her dad to commit those crimes. Or for her mother to make them move away. And if you carry the burden of other people's pain your entire life, then you'll drown."

"Does it get easier?" he asked her, "Watching those you care about leave you behind? Because of something out of your control?"

"No," she said, letting out an exhale, "It never gets easier being left behind. But you learn that it's not always in your control. You can't make anyone stay. They need to choose to want to. And if they don't, then you don't have any choice but to let them go, as awful as it is. I wish I could tell you that it hurts less which each person who leaves, but it doesn't. But what I can say is that you'll heal."

She paused, before continuing, "You're still surrounded by amazing people who love you. Who'll always love you. Remember that and cherish it. Hold onto it. Your parents love you more than anyone else. I love you, and Harry loves you. Rhodey has pictures of you on his phone that he shows to everyone any chance he can get. Happy would gladly fight anyone who hurts you. The other Avengers would do anything for you."

"I love you guys too," he said, thickly. "I wish it didn't have to be like this, but it is what it is."

She kissed his forehead.

"For what it's worth, all of the guys who left are idiots," Peter told her, "Bruce, Bucky, both of them. You're amazing, and I'm glad I have you in my life."

"Well who needs any of them?" she laughed at that, "Now what do you say about watching a movie or a show? Just the two of us."

"Star Wars?" he asked, perking up.

"What if I introduce you to a classic?" she said, "I think you'll enjoy Firefly very much."

He nodded as JARVIS began to play the show.

He'd miss Liz. But at least he still had his family.


Toni jittered as she waited for Happy to bring Peter to the Compound after school. She was excited because she was planning to announce to the world that Spider-Man was the newest member of the Avengers as soon as he got here.

Through the door behind her sat dozens of reporters, excited to see what announcement Toni and Steve were going to make that day, and in a matter of minutes the world would learn of the new member.

"Take a deep breath, Darling," Steve chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. "He'll be here in a matter of minutes."

"I can't wait," she confessed to him, "He earned this Steve. In the last month, despite everything, he's shown that he can make the right decisions. That he can help stop the bad guys. I still don't like the idea of him fighting at all, but he's more than capable."

"I know," he kissed her forehead, "Our son's a special one."

"Mom? Dad?" Peter asked, as he approached them, "What's going on? Why did Happy bring me here instead of the Tower? He said you guys wanted to talk?"

"We do," she said with a nod, she looked over to her friend first, "How was the ride up?"

"Good," Happy said, as he nodded back at her to give their family a moment alone. "I'll be close behind."

"How about a loose follow?" she teased, "Boundaries are good, Hap."

He glared at her lightly but stalked off, leaving the Parker-Stark-Roger family behind.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm proud of you, Pete," she started, "We both are. What you did with the Vulture was incredible. Gave us a bit of a heart attack, but it was truly incredible. You showed that you're able to make tough decisions in the heat of the moment. That you can stay level-headed and hold your own ground. And we're incredibly proud of how you handled the situation. Including the fact that you looped us in."

"Probably the proudest of that," Steve said with a nod, "We're glad you called us when you did."

"Right," she said, "And because of that, we'd like to do something to show how impressed we are with you. You did the right thing. You took the dog to the free clinic and raised hybrid puppies-"

She grimaced cutting herself off, "Awful analogy, ignore that."

He looked confused instead.

"I think we were wrong," she said with a sigh, "We're your parents, Peter. And more than anything we want to keep you safe. And that'll never change. But we were wrong to bench you without giving you a chance. Not when you can do what you can do. There are going to be rules. So many more rules. But I think, with more mentoring, you'll be a real asset to the team. That you'll be great on it."

"The team?" he asked slowly, as if he weren't completely following.

"Yeah," she said with a smile.

"There's about fifty reporters behind that door," Steve said with a grin.

"Real ones," she added, "Not bloggers."

She led him towards a wall, as she pressed some buttons on her watch and the wall moved to the side.

Peter gasped, looking at the Iron Spider suit she'd started on.

"It's not finished," she started, "We'll work on it together. The two of us. But it's yours. When you're ready, try it on. And we'll introduce you to the world. The newest member of the Avengers. Spider-Man."

He looked up at them both, stunned.

"I don't know what to say," he breathed out.

She smiled, "After the conference, we'll work on the suit, how about it? Just the three of us. Steve of course will be sketching since it's what makes him happy."

"I do love sketching both of you working," her husband added.

"Thank you," he said to them both, as he hesitated, "But I'm good."

"Excuse me?" she asked, not fully sure she heard him properly.

Did her son just turn down an offer to be an Avenger?

"You're good?" she asked, "Good? What does that even mean?"

"Well, I mean I'm-" Peter started, "I'd rather just stay on the ground for a little while. Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Somebody's got to look out for the little guy, right?"

She gave him a confused look.

"You turning this down? You better think about this," she said, pointing to the suit, "Look at that. Look at me. Last chance, yes or no?"

"No," her son said firmly.

"Uh," she said, exchanging a glance with her husband. Because that certainly wasn't the response she was expecting to this. "Okay. It's kind of a Springsteen-y, working class hero vibe that I dig. Uh, Happy will take you home. Yeah?"

"Yeah," Happy said, as Peter nodded.

"Thanks, Mom, Dad," he said, before he started walking away.

And then he stopped and turned.

"That was a test, right? There's, uh, nobody back there?" Peter said, a little hesitant, and suddenly it clicked.

Her sweet, naïve boy thought this was them testing him. To see if he'd jump to take more than he could chew, and the test was that he was supposed to say no. So he could still be Spider-Man.

She plastered on a fake smile, "Yup, you passed."

Steve, instead, scowled, "Toni, no. We're not lying to our boy."

He gave her a look, and she wanted to let her son believe that it was a test. Because he'd be safer if it was, wouldn't he? But that wasn't the truth.

"Okay fine," she sighed, "It wasn't a test."

"Now I'm confused," Peter said, as he walked back.

"There's really fifty reporters back there, Peter," she told him gently. "We meant it. We're proud of everything you've done. And we'd like to make you an official Avenger."

"Wow," he said, letting out a breath. "Really?"

He looked up with them, so much shock and disbelief in her voice that she couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes Darling," she told him, "Really."

"Would I have to tell the truth about who I am?" he asked, sounding a bit worried.

"Do you want to?" Steve asked him.

He thought about it, before vigorously shaking his head, "No. I want it to stay a secret. I don't want the world knowing who I am. Mr Toomes knew who I was and he lorded Liz over me. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if she wasn't his daughter. I don't want the people in my life to be at risk because of who I am."

"We can keep them safe," she told him gently, "But you're right. Their lives would always be a bit more at risk because of it."

"Is that what you want?" Steve asked again, "To be an Avenger with a secret identity?"

"Not exactly precedented is it?" Peter asked, "Will it cause issues with the Accords?"

She shrugged, "Some of the representatives won't be happy. But you're a minor and as long as Steve and I vouch for you and take full responsibility in case of a catastrophe. But yes, you'd be allowed to keep your identity a secret."

"But I wouldn't be able to help out Queens then," Peter said, realizing, "I'd be an Avenger. And I wouldn't be able to help clean up the streets."

"That's right," she said, knowing the training and missions would mean he wouldn't have much time for his childhood neighbourhood."

"Can I be like you?" Peter asked, looking up at her, "A reserve member? That I help out in case of emergencies like aliens or something but get to stay a friendly neighbourhood spider guy?"

"Of course," she said, smiling at him. It truly never ceased to amaze her just how good her son was. How big his heart was, and how kind he could be.

"Okay," he said with a nod.

"Okay," Steve grinned, "Now I believe you have a suit to put on."

"I'll go start the conference," Toni said, as Pepper came out to gesture to them that they were ready. "Steve can you get him ready?"

He kissed her cheek and she walked through the doors. Immediately the chatter stopped as the reporters looked up to the stage to listen to just why Toni Stark-Rogers had summoned them here today.

"Good afternoon," she greeted, "I'm sure there's been many speculations about why we've invited you all here today. Let me clear the rumours. Yes, I am pregnant. No, we do not know the gender. No that was not why we have called you here today."

Immediately the chatter began again.

"I will release a statement about the pregnancy with Steve later this week. Today is about something else however," she said, as she saw her son and husband stand off stage. "Today, I am here to introduce the newest reserve member of the Avengers Initiative. Spider-Man."

Her son came onto stage then, as Steve followed behind him.

"Thank you," Peter said through the use of a voice modulator, "I am excited to be joining the Avengers. However, Queens will always be my home. At this time, I'll be focusing on being a local superhero and joining the Avengers in case of world threatening events."

"We will now be answering a few questions," she said, "His identity is protected by the Accords which he will be signing later today, so please refrain from asking any questions of that nature."

She looked out to the audience, as she spotted Christine Everheart, and sighed. The woman asked hard questions, but they could always count on her to report the truth, no matter what it may be.

"Ms Everheart," she said, and Christine stood.

"Why not join the Avengers full time?" Everheart asked, "Why stay in Queens?"

"The Avengers help so many people each day," Peter said, "But they save them from devastatingly large events. As they should. The world can always rely on them for that. But I want to focus on the little guy. On the man who is mugged on the street. The woman whose car won't start late at night and needs assistance. The child who got separated from their mother. I want to help those people."

She looked at him proudly, and Christine sat down, furiously scribbling.

"Mr Bradley," she said, as another reporter stood up.

"How did you get your powers?" the man asked curiously.

Peter looked over at her, unsure of how much he could really reveal. The last thing either of them wanted was for OSCORP to come after them.

"I can't really say," Peter said, "I'm pretty sure it's confidential but I can say that it was a result of an accident."

"What exactly are your powers?" another reporter said, standing and she gave him a stern look for asking a question without her calling on him.

"Super strength," Peter said, "Really fast healing. Uh, I stick to things too?"

"So you really are like a spider," the reporter said, only looking slightly sheepish for speaking out of turn.

"I guess," Peter said, sitting down.

"Mr Handshaw," she said, sighing as she called on the reporter from The Daily Bugle.

"What do you have to say to the reports that your property damage itself is in the hundreds of thousands?" the man asked, "Do you think you really are the best person to be protecting the city of Queens?"

"I'd like to take this one," she said, butting in before Peter could talk. "I've looked into those reports and they are in fact, false. Spider-Man was present at those events where the damage was caused however, he almost always arrived after the damage was caused. And for any property he did damage, the Maria Stark Foundation has been covering the costs."

He looked over at her gratefully.

"I'd like to end this conference by saying I have full trust in Spider-Man. Yes, he will be held liable in the same way the rest of the Avengers would. But he is more than capable of keeping the streets safe."

And with that, she nodded as she and her family marched off the stage, and her son made an Avenger.


Toni slipped on her pair of blue tinted sunglasses as she entered the prison, playing the part of the eccentric billionaire. She held her head up high as she walked through the prison, her heels (albeit lower than the ones she usually wore due to her pregnancy) clicked on the cold concrete surface below her.

Steve had wanted to come with her, but she'd shaken her head and told him that she could handle it. Nothing was going to happen to her in the prison, and if anyone tried anything, she had her gauntlet watch ready to go. This was something she needed to do for herself. He'd threatened her son, and she couldn't let that slide.

She sat down on one of the chairs in the visiting room and crossed her legs, as she waited for the inmate she was visiting to come join her. She ran her hand through her hair as the door opened and Adrian Toomes came through them.

"Stark," he said curtly, and if he was surprised to see her, he didn't say anything about it.

"Toomes," she said with the same level of coldness, "I trust you know why it is that I'm here."

"Let me guess," he said sarcastically, "If I tell anyone about your son's little secret then you'll make me pay?"

"Oh I won't just make you pay," she said, grinning at him coldly. "I'll destroy you, Toomes. You buried my son under a building. You dropped him in a lake. And you bruised his ribs. My teenage son's ribs. You see, those who know me know that I don't take kindly to those who threaten the people I love, and you not only threatened him, you endangered him. You harmed him."

She leaned closer to him, "Here's what's going to happen, Adrian. You're going to forget about Spider-Man. You're going to forget knowing who he is and what he did to you. You'll never try contacting him again, nor will you even speak his name. If you ever get out of here, you won't touch crime ever again and if you do, it will me personally coming after you. I want you to know that. I'll bury you so deep into the ground no one will ever find you. You'll become forgotten and no one will miss you. Not your friends, not your wife, not your daughter."

Her eyes gleamed as she finished her threat, not even bothering to look ashamed about her actions. She stood by them and she knew Steve would stand by her if the man in front of her as much as tried coming near their son ever again.

"I wouldn't tell," he said quietly, as he looked up at her. "If anyone asked me, I mean. I wouldn't tell them who Spider-Man was."

"Somehow I don't believe you," she said, as she searched his eyes. If there was deception in them, it was well hidden.

"Your son is younger than my daughter," he said. "I never wanted him hurt. I just wanted him to stay out of my way. It was why I let him go to the dance with my daughter. Because at least then he wouldn't be in the middle of everything. I love my daughter and she cared about him. If he went to the dance with her. I could have kept him safe."

"You dropped a building on him," she scoffed. "Forgive me for not believing you that you care about my son."

"It was an unfortunate result of our fight," he said, regretfully, "I knew he was going to survive. I could have killed him, you know? Several times. I could have dropped him from a higher distance and not over a lake. I could have thrown him from the plane. I wanted him to stop fighting me, but I didn't want him dead. I don't kill children, Stark. Think of me what you will, but I don't harm children."

She didn't say anything, as she let him continue on.

"Am I resentful to be in here while my daughter grows up without me? Yes," he shrugged. "But if anyone asks me who Spider-Man is, I won't tell them. Because I know not everyone is like me. Not everyone will have the same restraints when it comes to killing him. Believe it or not, I don't want anything to happen to your kid, Stark."

"You better mean that," she said finally. "Because if I even think for a second that you want to hurt him or that you've told anyone, you're never getting out of here. I don't like using those connections often, but for Peter I would do anything. I'm sure you understand. You have a daughter. You'd do anything for her. Don't make me regret not throwing you into a deep dark hole, Toomes."

He laughed, "You won't. But you should know, there is interest in who Spider-Man is. Gargan has already asked me, and while I haven't told him, I have no doubt that he's not going to let it drop. Whoever the man is, seems to have beef with your son. I hope you can keep him safe."

She felt a chilling sensation as she stood. She would need to get FRIDAY to look into whoever this Gargan fellow was and just what he wanted with her son.

"Good day, Toomes," she said, "Remember what we discussed."

She turned then and walked out of the restaurant, and back to the car where Happy was waiting.

She would keep her son safe. And if anyone thought they could get through her, well they had another thing coming.