Chapter 24

Tony was desperate! It had been three days since Peter had run away with no trace. Tony had gone from anger to worry. He just wanted to know that Peter was okay. Peter hadn't taken his phone or his suit. He was practically untraceable. Tony had Morgan sent to spend a week with Rhodey. He needed to find Peter and have some privacy with his son after he found him. Pepper had to continue working as the CEO of Stark Industries, even though she was worried and upset. Life had to go on- in Pepper's world.

Peter didn't know where he was going or what he was going to do. He had spent a night at Ned's and thankfully Ned's mom believed him when he told her that his dad was okay with it. Ned, of course, found out what was really going on, but swore he would keep it a secret. Peter got a bus ticket to Washington and spent the next night behind the Lincoln Memorial statue, no one noticed anyway. Thankfully, Peter had some money, so he paid cash for the third day in a motel room and was able to shower and eat. The manager of the motel seemed curious, but Peter told him he was visiting his grandparents in Canada and had to spend the night. The motel was quiet and gave Peter a chance to think. He was beginning to feel homesick and guilt was building up. A part of him wanted to go home, but he did not want to face the consequences for running away. He wasn't sure how Tony would react to him running away. He had left the tower without telling Tony several times now and each time he was grounded. But this time? Peter wasn't really sure what would happen. Uncle Ben would have let him have it and Peter wouldn't have been able to sit down until Christmas. But Tony wasn't Uncle Ben. Peter fell asleep with worry that third night.

Tony really didn't want to call the "Rogue" avengers. They didn't know about Peter and it was better that way. God, why did the kid have to run away? He just didn't understand what had gotten into Peter. He was ready to rip the teen a new one, his ears would be ringing by the time Tony was done with him. Those thoughts lasted only the first few hours but being four days- Tony was all worry and just wanted the kid home. Tony drove for hours that first day looking and searching for Peter. He even went back to Peter's old apartment, but it was awkward when the new family answered the door. For the fourth day in a row, Tony drove around, having FRIDAY keep him apprised of any updates. Tony was dead tired when he got back from looking that night. When the elevator opened to his private floor, he was surprised to see Peter laying asleep on the couch.

"What the heck?! Peter!"

Peter sat up and his face paled when he saw Tony looking at him. He immediately began sobbing but pushing himself away.

"Dad! Dad! I am s-sorry! I am sorry! Please, I am sorry!"

Tony knelt down to look at Peter in the eyes.

"Calm down, kiddo. Take a deep breath. It's going to be okay." Tony said, trying to get the teen to calm down. He called Pepper immediately and told her that Peter was back.

"Where did you go? Why did you leave?"

"I don't know." Peter said sullenly. He had seemed to calm down pretty quick.

Tony rubbed both hands over his face.

"Peter, I don't know, isn't an answer. I know you know." Tony said sternly.

"I am sorry for running away. Am I in trouble?" Peter asked timidly, but already knew the answer.

"Yes, Peter. No reason is going to get you out of trouble. But right now, I want you to get some sleep. We will talk tomorrow."

Peter nodded and went to his room. He was really glad to be home, but he dreaded tomorrow.

The next morning, Tony was making breakfast when he noticed Peter walking in.

"Look at what the cat dragged in."

"Where's Morgan?" Peter asked.

"She is staying at Rhodey's. Happy will bring her home tomorrow morning." Tony said, his voice tense.

Peter just mumbled an 'oh'. He ate his breakfast that Tony made in silence, not looking up from his plate. Tony watched the kid. When Peter finished, he got up and washed and dried his plate. For a moment, he just stood there, as if he was waiting for orders.

Tony sighed, "Go get dressed, Peter and then come see me in my office. Okay?"
Peter nodded silently, but Tony's sharp cough made him look up.

"Tell me what I just told you to do." Tony asked, his voice tense.

"T-to get d-dressed and meet you in the office, dad."

"I expect you can do that without any issues."

"Yes sir." Peter said, knowing he was in for it.

It had been quite awhile since Peter had been in Tony's office. Tony never really had the kids in there. But here Peter was, waiting patiently and nervously for Tony to say something.

Tony spoke up, "Peter, do you know how worried we were? Do you know how upset Morgan was, much less us? Do you know how much time I spent looking for you? Do you also know that I was so close to calling the police and the "Rogues" to find you? If I had called the police and they found you, they would have drug you back home in handcuffs. Peter, I know there is something going on with you, but I can not help you if you don't talk to me. You are a grieving teenager who just lost the most important person in his life. You need to cope and grieve, I get that, but running away is not the answer."

Peter didn't say anything. He had lip between his teeth and stared at the floor. When Tony stopped for a moment, he noticed that Peter had a tear running down his cheek.

Tony knelt down in front of him, " Peter, I love you and care about you. Do you know that?"

Peter nodded, not wanting to speak because he was afraid, he would burst into tears.

"Okay, follow me over here, Pete." Tony said.

Peter followed obediently and didn't move when Tony stopped on the other side of the room. Tony looked Peter straight in the eyes, "Pete, you will not run away again. If you have an issue, I expect you to talk to me. Now, I am going to treat like I do Morgan. I am putting you in time out."

Peter's jaw dropped and was going to argue, but the look Tony gave, made him think otherwise.

"Face the wall. Don't move and don't talk." Tony said, as he pointed to the corner.

Peter looked at him with pleading eyes. Seriously, he hadn't gone to time out since he was like 7.

"Now, Peter. I am not going to ask you again. When I call you, you can come out."

Peter reluctantly did as he was told.

5 minutes passed. 10 minutes passed. After what seemed like forever, 30 minutes had passed. Peter's legs were starting to twinge at standing for so long. He hadn't heard much out of Tony in the last 30 minutes.

45 minutes passed.

It had been an hour since Tony had sent the kid over.

"Okay, kid. Come on out of the corner." Tony called from his desk.

Peter did, thankful to be out. Tony got up and pointed to his desk chair.

"Sit, spider." Tony pulled another chair over so he could sit across from Peter. "Pete, here's the deal. You spent time in the corner because you ran away. Running away doesn't solve anything. You are also confined to our personal floor for a month. You will have no electronics for the first two weeks and if you attempt to access them, I will know about it and you will spend thirty minutes in the corner for every electronic you try to access. Furthermore, I am pulling you from school until I see improvement in your behavior. While you are home, you will be under mine or Pepper's supervision and you will still have schoolwork. Now, you will wear this watch at all times. Do not mess with it." Tony put the watch on Peter's wrist, with no argument from Peter.

"Do you understand everything I have just told you?" Tony asked, as he patted the kid's knee gently.

Peter couldn't help but burst into loud, heart-wrenching sobs. Tony held Peter for a long time and reassured Peter that everything would be okay and that he was loved. There was a part of Tony that felt bad for grounding him so severely, but it had to be done. Finally, Peter fell asleep. Tony put him on the couch in the office to sleep for awhile. The kid- his kid was home. It might be a rough month, but they would get through it.

Author's Note: I have so much extra time on my hands with this coronavirus "social distancing". This was honestly such a heavy and hard chapter for me to write. I didn't know what direction to take it. Hopefully, it works for y'all. I will definitely be able to write more this coming week as school has been cancelled.