Chapter 26: Colonel Rhodes II

Colonel Rhodes walked close to his friend, half expecting him to topple over as they walked the grounds of the compound. Not that Tony Stark had problems since waking up from his long, cyro-statsis induced coma, but Rhodes stayed vigilant to his friend's progress. So far, Tony acted like he was never shot in the chest. His lungs were strong as ever, allowing him to continue his repartee with the other Avengers. He had no problem walking or even exerting any physical strength such as lifting weights, running or tinkering with his Iron Man suits.

All in all, Tony was perfectly healthy. All thanks to those little nanites swimming around in his bloodstream, healing anything and everything that needed to be repaired. Tony declared himself immortal, to which he and others continuously reminded its temporary. Already, they started the process to remove the nanites.

Still, it didn't deter Tony from declaring himself a god. Rhodes wished Thor would return to set him straight.

There was a skip in Tony's step as he sauntered across the grass of the compound, taking in the nature around them. "God—beautiful day," he remarked, pushing the pram where his daughter slept. "So good to breathe in fresh air."

Rhodes chuckled. "Having another moment of appreciation?" he asked, remembering the last time Tony had one of these rare, thankful moments.

"Nah—just fucking glad I get to breathe in fresh air again and none of that recycle crap I've been forced to breathe in since I woke up from the freezer," he said before slapping Rhodey on the arm. "You're sure I don't have any frostbite on me, right? No discoloration?"

Rhodes rolled his eyes at his friend's vanity concern. "You're fine," he answered for the fifty-time in the past two days. "Dr. Cho and Princess Shuri said you came out healthier than you had ever been."

Tony scoffed as they crossed over the path and headed up toward the apartment building. He leaned over the pram, checking Maria. A smile burst on his face seeing the chubby cheeks of his daughter. Maria blubbered in her sleep, much like her father.

Tony inhaled deeply, shuddering a bit that Rhodes thought he was about to cry. When Tony straightened up, any trace of melancholy vanished. "Thank god I wasn't a human popsicle for a hundred years," he commented. "Can't imagine not seeing her grow up."

"You don't have to worry about that."

Tony didn't look convinced. His eyes latched on Maria in pensive thought. Or pensive anxiety. "Don't I?" he whispered as Maria's arms flapped to the side. "It's not over, Rhodey."

Rhodes shook his head. Tony never stopped thinking and worrying and agonizing over millions of possibilities. A trait that made him a genius, but also a sucker for anxiety. "It is for now," he assured to cheer up his friend. "You're alive. You'll get to see Maria grow up. You get to wed Pepper. And, eventually, Osborn will be behind bars along with Secretary Ross. Everything is coming together."

Tony shook his head. "No, it's not," he said, firm in his words. "You think Osborn is the only person who'll come after us? After them?"

Tony nudged in the direction of his child, but Rhodes was aware of who else he referred to. Truthfully, Rhodes knew that it'll never end. Osborn and Secretary Ross won't be the last enemy of the Avengers.

Or of Peter's.

"The world has always been dangerous, Tones," Rhodes responded. "You can't think like that or you won't enjoy life's better moments."

Tony scoffed at the cheesy line, but he didn't remark on it. Probably because he was right.

"Remember what happened last time you got caught up with saving the world before it needed to be saved?" Rhodes reminded him.

"The creation of Vision?"

"The destruction of Ultron?"

Tony scoffed at his biggest failure. "Yeah, I'll never get that smear off my name," he grumbled, but then sighed. "I can't stop thinking about it. About losing… about losing her. Them..."

He was fidgeting again. His hands searching for something to play and distract him from what his cruel mind. But all he had was the handle of Maria's pram. "The world is dangerous, Rhodey," he said. "And I don't want to die knowing danger awaits my family."

"Good thing you didn't die," Rhodes commented, thankful. "Must be annoying to your enemies."

"What can I say?" Tony said with a sly grin in return to cover up the melancholy feeling. "Stark men are hard to kill. Even harder now that I'm immortal."

"You're not immortal."

"Says the mortal."

They entered the lobby of the apartment complex. Through it all the banter and rolling the pram up the steps, Maria stayed asleep. Not once making a peep throughout their conversation.

"Got any plans tonight?" Rhodes asked as they headed toward the line of elevators.

"Just hanging out with my favorite girl," Tony nudged in Maria's direction. "Pepper is dropping her parents off at the airport. I told her that they can use the jet, but her parents insisted on not 'taking advantage'. Whatever that means."

Tony pushed the pram forward, heading for the elevator. "In any case, I get this sleepyhead all to myself."

Rhodes cracked a smile as he watched Tony tickle Maria's stomach. It was heart-warming to see his friend not acting like a billionaire jackass. The baby curled its nose in distraught for a second before relaxing once again.

"Doesn't even wake up to that," Tony boasted with a sweet smile. "You're welcome to join. Just going to review what I missed while I was a popsicle. Read the notes the team left for me. You know, boring stuff that I pretend to do."

"Oh—I'm aware of your habits," Rhodes acknowledged with raised brows. "I think I'll just head back to my apartment. Relax a bit and finish this book that I've been reading for the past three weeks. Then probably hit the bed."

Tony whistled low. "Son of a bitch… when did we get old?"

A twitch of a smile lifted in the corners of Rhodes' lips. "Happened while you were frozen," he said, giving his friend a pat on the shoulder. A good-bye for the night. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yep."

The elevator pinged and to their surprise, it wasn't empty. Peter Parker stood in the middle, backpack slung over his shoulder. He looked baffled as well, not expecting them to be hanging out in the lobby.

Peter stepped out of the elevator. "Oh, hey guys," he said, recovering from his initial shock. "How's it going?"

"Good," Rhodes answered.

"Never better," Tony affirmed.

Peter nodded along. "That's great… um… yeah," he stuttered to an uncomfortable silence. "So, uh, I'll just be going."

He moved passed them, heading to the doors. Rhodes didn't think much of it. He stepped into the elevator to head home when Tony called back to Peter.

"Hey, kid?"

Peter stopped and turned. Tony didn't make any move to the elevator.

"Where you going?" Tony asked.

"To the movies," Peter replied. "There's a theater near Ned's house that's doing an Indiana Jones marathon."

Rhodes stopped the elevator from closing. "Have fun, kid," he said and he gestured for Tony to hurry. "This elevator won't hold up forever, Tones."

Tony flicked his eyes to Rhodes. "Ah… go up ahead," he said to him. "I'm just going to… um…" Tony didn't finish his sentence. He ignored Rhodes completely and focused on Peter.

Rhodes heavily resigned, knowing perfectly well that he needed to stay. He felt, deep in his bones, a brewing confrontation. He stepped out of the elevator, letting the door seal shut behind him as he stood by to moderate them. Or to at least keep it civil.

Tony leaned a hand on the stroller, trying his best to act casual. "So, um, kid? How you planning on getting there? Happy taking you?"

Peter shook his head. "I'm taking my motorcycle."

Rhodes watched his friend's face morph into utter horror. "Uh… no, you're not."

"Why not?" Peter sounded like a normal, exasperated teen upon hearing the word 'no'. But, it was still unsettling to hear it from Peter. The kid who always doe-eyed Tony's very presence and words.

"There's a reason why doctors call bikers 'organ donors'," Tony informed the kid. "They're dangerous. Especially on snow and ice. You're going to get yourself killed. Besides, you don't even have a license for it."

"I got a permit and Cap taught me how—"

"Don't finish that sentence," Tony warned, pointing a finger right at Peter. "You're not riding that death vehicle with only a permit and a brief lesson with a geezer."

Peter irritably huffed. The kid knew he wasn't going to win that battle. "Fine—I'll call Happy," he reached into his pocket for his phone.

"No—don't," Tony waved him down. "Let him be. Happy doesn't like driving in the winter. Freaks him out. Timid driver that sort of thing."

"I'll call someone else."

"You know—I think it's best you stay home," Tony concluded. "Obviously, you didn't plan this well and, everyone's tired after this week. Just stay in, kid. Come on—you can help me update the suit."

"No."

It wasn't a loud proclamation of defiance. No foot stomping or daggered eyes. No whining or tears. Peter stood his ground, eyes locked on Tony, but it lacked any tantrum. Even his response was of a quiet declaration.

Nonetheless, it was bizarre to hear the kid rebel. He was not one to counter-argue Tony on the spot. Always the faithful follower of the great Tony Stark.

Apparently, not anymore.

It took a minute, but Tony recovered from his shock. "I'm sorry… no?" he asked to affirm he heard correctly. "No? No… as in 'No, Mr. Stark, I think I'll stay in. Work on other things. You know… boring things.' That type of no?"

Peter's brows furrowed, indignant. "No as in I'm going out."

Rhodes swore he witnessed his friend's face hardened, mouth closed to a straight line. "Did your aunt okay this?" Tony threw out, hoping to hook and sink.

"She would be okay with it."

"Oh—so she doesn't know."

"I sent her a text," Peter waved his phone in front. "Why are you freaking out? It's just Ned and me going to watch movies until dawn. It's not like I'm going out to party and get drunk."

Rhodes' brows shot up at the kid's contended bravado. He certainly wasn't expecting to hear the kid ever say those words. Ever.

"Do you even know how to party?" Tony caustically ridiculed. "Wouldn't even expect a kid like you to know what alcohol is. Point is this… you're still not going."

Peter gaped at Tony like his final command was as obnoxious as the suits he wore to parties. "Why not?"

"I already told you," Tony said and Rhodes could hear the frustration leaking out in his friend's speech. "There's no one around who can take you and it's just not a good time to go out."

Peter crossed his arms. His frown deepening. "You're lying."

"About what?" Tony fired in return. "You wanna call Happy? Go ahead. Call him. Ask how he feels about driving on icy roads."

"Not that," Peter returned with the same heat in his voice. "You're lying why you won't let me go."

Rhodes froze. His eyes unblinkingly switching from Peter to Tony, half expecting for someone to accuse another or to deny everything. Neither happened. All they did was stare down one another. Like an actual father and son showdown.

"Jesus Christ," Tony muttered in vexation as he rubbed his jaw. "Look—kid, it's a no. You're not going. End of discussion."

Tony turned the pram back around to the elevator, pushing it to the doors. He walked with his head up, taking his victory with him as he got closer to the elevator doors.

Only, as Rhodes noted, Peter didn't budge nor did he look away from Tony's retreating back. "Yes, I am!"

There was more heat in Peter's voice now. A crackling fire, its flames licking the words. Rhodes heard that one from many voices. Even Tony recognized it and he stopped pushing the pram and, slowly, he rotated around to face Peter once again.

Rhodes recognized the potential danger the flaming words carried. He noted the challenge in their eyes and knew right away he needed to extinguish this fire before it got out of hand.

Rhodes stepped between the two. "Why don't we talk—"

Tony cut off all peace talks. "You don't get to be rebellious now, kid," he said in a clipped tone that brokered no more negotiation. "When I say no, it's a no. There's not going to be any of this teenage rebellion crap from the movies. Okay? This isn't it. So, either you can go to the lab or you can head straight to your room. I don't give a shit at this point, because I am this close of just tossing you in the elevator no matter what."

Peter didn't even blink at the threat. "Go ahead and try," he said, shifting his feet on the tile to signal his stance. "I'm going to hang out with my friends."

Rhodes was taken aback by the kid's newfound audacity to openly challenge the great Tony Stark. Iron Man himself! Tony was gobsmacked too. He simply stared in a stunned hypnosis as Peter turned, clutching the straps of his backpack. The kid marched for the doors, leaving the two adults in shock.

Rhodes heard Tony growl. This wasn't good.

"FRIDAY—lock down! Now!"

Peter had no chance. All the doors and windows disappeared instantly behind thick, metal shields, casting away the setting sun's light and plunging them into complete darkness until the emergency lights flickered to life. Rhodes scanned around them, using his military training to assess the scene. Every entrance and exit was sealed. They were sincerely trapped in the lobby.

Despite the predicament, Peter didn't deter. The kid continued his march right to the sealed doors and gave a pull.

Nothing.

He tugged again and again. Harder. Still nothing.

Using both hands, Peter jerked the door with all his strength to no avail. He was locked inside the lobby with them.

"You won't break it," Tony called after him. "That's reinforced titanium. Even the Hulk can't break through it."

Peter shoved the door, hammering his shoulder a few times hoping his superior strength undermined Tony's intelligence. It did not. The kid eventually huffed in surrender, face contorted in peeved frustration as he swung his head to glare at Tony.

"Let me go!"

"Yeah—no."

Peter bristled at the simple dismissal. "This is bullshit!"

Rhodes sucked in a sharp breath. It threw him that the kid cursed. More so that he even knew how to curse. Even Tony showed a bit of surprise by the kid's reaction. But their shock shattered from a screeching cry of a disturbed child. Maria was awake now and furious over her interrupted nap.

Tony darted his attention to the pram, where hands and legs were angrily flapping everywhere in the air. "Oh, great! Look what you did?" he accused Peter as he scooped up his baby, cradling her in his arms while bouncing a bit to calm Maria down. "You woke her up."

Peter looked a bit guilty for that, but largely ignored it. Too stubborn to back down now. "I woke her up?" he vociferous sneered. "You shouted first when you ordered an entire, freakin' lockdown!"

"Wouldn't had to yell if someone didn't have a hearing problem," Tony returned, rocking Maria as she squalled away, unable to find any comfort in her father's arms. "Shit—I mean… Come on, girl. Quiet down now. For me? No? That's just great."

Rhodes stepped up to his friend. "Here, Tones," he gestured for him to hand over Maria. "Give her to me. I'll get her back to sleep."

Tony shook his head. "No, that's okay," he waved him off. "Conversation is done. I'm going to head back up while you, kid," Tony directed his last remark to Peter, "can go straight to your room."

"And think about what I did?" Peter crossed his arms, letting out a long, drawn exhausted. "Can't you just stop?"

Rhodes quirked up his brows, lost as to what Peter meant. He glanced to Tony, hoping he knew what Peter referred, but he was just as helpless. He had no clue of what Peter meant. In fact, it simply annoyed him that Peter was vague.

"Kid, you gonna need to be specific," Tony told him as he switched arms to cradle his daughter. "I can't read minds. You mean stop yelling at you? Sure—once you stop arguing with me. I told you once before. When the adult is talking, you zip it and do as you're told."

Peter balled his fingers into fists, mouth scowled deep as if trying to contain the emotional backlash from erupting. Unfortunately, Tony's continuous talk only made the kid burst.

"Stop trying to be my dad!"

Peter let out the frustrating roar. His cheeks tinting red as his breathing increased to a hearty pant. "Just... stop!" he complained. "You aren't responsible for me! Okay? I can take care of myself."

Almost every word and thought slipped right of Rhodes head. All he could do was look from Peter's livid face to Tony's incredulous expression. Everyone was rendered speechless, at a loss of what just occurred. Maybe even unable to comprehend. Over the past year, Rhodes teased Tony for being the kid's father. He even acted like a godfather in a way to Peter, teaching him a few things here and there, and acting as a buffer when necessary between Peter and anyone else—mostly Tony.

But, hearing the kid shout that he didn't want Tony to be his dad, it was like a stab to the heart. Not for him, but for Tony. And Rhodes could see it in Tony's eyes.

However, Tony didn't tell him that. Rhodes watched Tony recover from his paralysis as he jabbed a finger to the elevator. "Go home," he stated every syllable like they were iron. "I don't hear anything else from you tonight."

"I'm not—"

"Home," Tony repeated with more heat in his sharper tone. "Now!"

Peter stormed to the elevator, stomping passed Tony with a strong pout. Before he even pressed the button, the doors opened. Without a thought, he hurried in to get away from them, but ended up crashing right into the strong torso of Captain America.

Steve Rogers steadied Peter with his hands after throwing the kid off-balanced. "Whoa, easy there," he said, still holding Peter. "You okay?"

Peter's face was red now, but he grumbled his answer. "Fine—going home."

Steve didn't step aside from his spot. His eyes lifted from Peter to Tony and Rhodes to the sealed doors and windows. His head tilted up in comprehension of the situation. "Everything all right here?" he asked. "I could hear you both shouting from upstairs. And why are we on lockdown?"

Tony rudely gestured to Peter, but it was Peter who vocally answered him. "Tony is psycho."

Steve's brows quizzically arched as he briefly glanced to them. He then look to Rhodes for a reasoning, but all he could do was give an exhausted shrug.

"Okay… why don't we—" Steve started to say, but Peter didn't wait to hear him out.

He easily broke free of Steve's grip and moved for the elevator again. Steve stumbled a bit, but recovered quickly enough to stop the elevator doors from closing. "Hold it, son."

Wrong choice of words. Rhodes watched as Peter shoved Steve's hand off the elevator doors. "I'm not your son!" he snapped and he slammed the close button, barking at FRIDAY to take him home.

The doors closed before either of the adults could react to Peter's closing remark. Stunned, confused and angry (from Tony only), riddled the adults left standing in the lobby. Their quietness dulled the emotions to the point that it gave them enough to recover from the previous scene they witnessed. Even Maria slumbered back to sleep as her father continued to rock his arms, no longer remembering the yelling that woke her up first.

Tony let out a long sigh. "Wow. Well, that happened," he remarked as he carefully settled Maria back in her pram.

Steve turned an eye to Tony. "Care to tell me what exactly happened?"

"Kid threw a temper tantrum."

"More like you both threw a tantrum," Rhodes countered to which Tony frowned at him. "Don't give me that look. You were both ridiculous. Yelling at each other like that."

"I didn't have to yell if he listened to me," Tony tersely replied. "Jesus, Rhodey! You were there! You saw how he bluntly ignored me."

"And I watched you bluntly ignore him," Rhodes returned. "It's called communication, but you guys sorely lack in that department."

"Someone please fill me in on what happened," Steve requested, looking to Rhodes for the answer though.

Rhodes was glad to give him the accurate version. He explained the confrontation and the shouting match to him, occasionally being interrupted by Tony's commentary. Steve listened intensely, mouth firm as he took in everything that was said.

Upon conclusion, Steve nodded. "I see," he murmured, folding his arms. "Well… you're going to have to apologize, Stark."

"What?" Tony half-shouted, keeping his tone low as to not wake Maria. "Look—I don't do apologies. Especially when I'm not in the wrong."

"This time you have to."

Tony flippantly rolled his eyes at Steve. "That's not going to happen. Kid has to apologize to me," he said. "He's the one who was channeling the Hulk."

"What did you expect?" Steve countered, lifting his shoulders. "Peter's been holed up here for almost two months. You can't be surprised that he wants to leave."

"He can leave!" Tony fired back. "I'm not holding him prisoner."

Rhodes eyed the sealed windows and doors with a dubious glance at Tony. His friend caught his eyes, but then huffed upon realizing that the lockdown didn't support his statement.

"Um… FRIDAY?" Tony called out. "You can lift the lockdown."

That very second, Rhodes watched the doors and windows unseal themselves. Natural light glazed the tiles, making them shine bright in a glitter of gold from the setting sun. The fluorescent lights above them dimmed and everything was back to normal.

Somewhat.

"There," Tony said as the lockdown was officially lifted. "Done. Now, let's get back to the real problem—he is not a prisoner here. I mean, come on! It's not like the Raft, which Ross would have definitely placed him in."

"You're still denying him his freedom," Steve counter-argued. "Peter wants independence. He wants to go out with his friends without one of us tailing him."

"And he will… once Osborn and Ross are behind bars," Tony amended. "Until then, we agreed to the protocols set for his protection. Remember?"

Steve drew his mouth down. "I remember, but the protocols agreed upon weren't meant to last more than three weeks. A month tops! It's been longer than that now."

"Better that than preparing a funeral for the kid."

Steve resigned, rubbing his forehead in tired agitation. None of his words were getting through Tony. Not when he's acting like this. Rhodes knew. After all, he's lived with the guy for a few years.

"Tones, can't you at least recognize that the kid is getting cabin fever?" Rhodes asked his friend. "I mean, it's not easy even for an adult to be stuck in one place for a period of time let alone a teenager."

Tony sucked in a breath, appearing sympathetic. "I do know, Rhodey. I do," he said. "But… if it keeps the kid safe, then I have to do it."

"At the cost of his own freedom?" Steve questioned, perturbed. "Tony… having no freedom is no life at all."

"I'm trying to ensure he has one!" Tony growled at Steve before looking between him and Steve. "Why can't you guys see what I am trying to do? I'm trying to keep that kid alive long enough to at least graduate from high school."

"That's admirable, Tony. It really is," Rhodes calmed his friend. "But… Steve is right. Life without freedom is no life at all. I mean… we all have noticed that Peter's been acting a bit down these past few weeks. We can at least lift up some of the stricter restrictions. Like letting him be able to go to a movie with his friends without one of there to watch him?"

Steve nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Or just letting him go outside the compound for a few hours? Take his motorcycle out for a spin. Something like that?"

Tony shook his head and started to pace. His neck muscles bulged a bit as he grumbled underneath his breath. "You guys don't understand," he said. "You're not fathers. You don't… you know what the worst thing was when I got shot?"

Rhodes shared an odd look with Steve. "Dying?" he guessed, but he knew that was not the correct answer.

Tony, still pacing, shook his head. "No. Not even close," he said and came to a sudden halt to face them both. "It was seeing Norman Osborn standing over me with that stupid, smug look on his face." Tony's scowl deepened as his hands wrangled together in resentment. "I never want my last moment on Earth to be of Osborn looking at me like he won the fucking jackpot."

Rhodes scrunched his face in thought. "How is that the worse than dying?"

"Because I knew who fucking fired that bullet into my chest," Tony said. "It wasn't that Tombstone assassin. It was Norman. He hired the hit because he knew that once I was gone, Peter would be vulnerable."

Rhodes conceded to that analysis, especially after Steve, Wanda, Sam and Everett returned with documents and verbal confirmation that Osborn met up with Tombstone prior to the assassination attempt.

Tony heavily sighed, dropping his head back and staring up at the ceiling. "I can't lose that kid," he told them. "I can't."

Rhodes stepped up to his friend, hand on shoulder. "I get it, Tony. I do," he assured his friend. "I know I'm not a father, but I get it. You only want to protect him. We understand that, but there's a line between protecting and being selfish. Keeping Peter trapped here in the compound, away from his friends and the life he knows, that's being selfish. That's not helping him. Hell—that's only hindering him.

"And we are close to getting Osborn," Rhodes reminded his friend. "The documents Deadpool left us pretty much nailed his coffin. Everett is doing background checks to ensure the information is valid and once he does… Osborn will get what he deserves."

"Until then, we shouldn't treat Peter like a prisoner. He doesn't deserve it after everything that has happened to him," Steve took over. "We all agree that we want Peter to be a kid, but how can he if he we deny it?"

Tony breathed deeply, lips rolled in as he thought. Then he sighed again, softly deflating like the tension from his confrontation with Peter lifted off his shoulders. Yet, it left him with melancholy rather than a sense of relief. He realized he lost this little battle with his friends.

"Fine. I will, but at least let me put Maria to bed," Tony said to his friends as he directed the pram back to the elevator. "By that time, both of us might have cooler heads."

"Smart," Rhodes said, joining him. "You're learning."

Tony gave him the eye, but said nothing as he pushed the pram into the elevator and ordered FRIDAY to take him to his penthouse suite.

Rhodes joined him, hoping that the next conversation with Peter would be better.

"Kid? You home?"

Tony knocked and rang the bell. No response. Rhodes stood back, looking at the door with a bland expression. Steve stood beside Tony, tagging along to make sure the conversation didn't go ballistic. Which was why Tony demanded that he tagged along as well.

Which was also why he was holding the baby monitor while Tony rapt at the door to get the kid to open.

"Come on, kid," Tony called out. "Open the door. I want to talk to you. I have Rhodey and Cap with me too. Your back-up, if you will."

Steve narrowed his eyes at Tony for a moment, before he took over the knocking. "Hey, Peter? It's Steve," he said, a lot softer than Tony's brusque calls. "Would you please open the door? We want to talk to you."

Still nothing. Not even footsteps.

Steve turned to Tony. "Is May home?"

Tony shook his head. "Nah… I think she joined Pepper in dropping off the parents. Not quite sure," he said. "What? I don't ask for a day-by-day schedule."

Steve rolled his eyes and knocked again. "Peter?"

Rhodes sighed in the background, knowing already what the other two refused to acknowledge. "You know he's not home, right?"

"Of course he's home," Tony barked back. "I sent him there, remember?"

"I remember you telling him to go home," Rhodes replied. "But, I don't hear a sound coming from the apartment, which normally means no one is home."

Tony and Steve shared a concerned look.

"Do you know the—" Steve started to ask, but Tony was on it.

He inputted the access code and door unlocked. He shoved it aside, storming into the apartment uninvited. Steve followed and Rhodes strolled in afterwards. The apartment looked better than Rhodes last remember. A lot more pictures and trinkets that certainly made it look more like a home than a hotel room.

Tony rushed down the corridor and checked into the room. He came out seconds later. "He's not here!"

Already, he pulled out his tablet. "FRIDAY? Do you have a location on Peter?"

"I'm sorry, boss. Peter is not in the parameter of the compound."

All three of them gaped at the tablet. Tony choked back a scoff. "Scan again."

"Scan completed. No sign of Peter Parker, boss. Would you like me to—"

"Get KAREN for me," Tony ordered and he waited for a second. "KAREN? Where is Peter?"

FRIDAY's accent was replaced with a genteel tone, soft and warm. "Peter is unavailable."

Tony's brows furrowed deep enough to make a heavy crevice between his eyebrows. "What does that mean?"

"It means I don't have access to Peter."

"Trace his phone."

A moment. "Phone traced to this exact point."

A screen shot up and they all peered at it. "That's here in the apartment," Steve noted and he looked around, even glancing up at the ceiling. "But… he's not here."

Tony tensed up, frazzled. "Son of a bitch," he angrily muttered. "The kid fucking ran away."

And Tony went off on another rant, listing out all the things he would revoke from Peter once they drag his ass back home. It came to lab and TV privileges to access to the recreation room, including the theater and indoor pool, and he won't be seeing his motorcycle for the longest time for that matter.

Tony took out his phone and dialed, waiting. He spot quickly, demanding question after question before he abruptly hung up on the person. "He's not with Ned," he told them. "Ned said Peter cancelled because of me. So… there's that."

"What about his other friend?" Rhodes asked him, trying to remember her name. "Mary Jane or something?"

"MJ?" Tony corrected without pause. "Maybe. I'll check. He did want to show off that goddamn motorcycle to her." Tony dialed a new number and waited for her to answer.

No answer. Tony hung up, frustrated. "If he took that damn bike out…" he harshly grounded his teeth together as he had FRIDAY break every privacy law to help him locate Peter, "I told you not to build a fucking motorcycle, Cap! He's going to get himself killed."

Steve wasn't even listening to him. Rhodes noted that Captain America hadn't even flickered a glance to Tony as he stormed in his frustration at Peter's disappearing act. Steve titled his head, arms still folded, relaxed.

And then, he turned, looking back to Tony with a calm expression. "Tony? Do you remember where Peter lives?" he asked. "Where his home is?"

Tony stopped his pacing and dared, dumbstruck by the absurdity of Steve's question. "He fucking lives here!" he shouted. "This is his home!"

From Steve's shaking head, Rhodes got a clearer picture of what Steve meant. "That's not what he's asking."

"What?" Tony shot his friend a befuddled look.

"Peter told me he was going home," Steve said to clarify his earlier question. "I'm beginning to think he wasn't talking about the apartment."

A dawning realization hit Tony, melting away the anger that masked his face. "Son of a bitch…"