Still trying to figure out this formatting thing. Sorry for the lack of separation between header notes and chapter. Hopefully this one is better!

The chapters will flow between Peter and Tony. Or rather, Peter and everyone else for the most part. While Peter's chapters are more 'real time' following each minute, Tony's and co. are more overarching and following a longer time frame before eventually catching up to Peter's present situation and the two cross.

Thank you all for the kind words!


Tony Stark, contrary to any sort of cosmic belief, was not overly infatuated with the boy who was Spiderman. His entire life wasn't suddenly changed or shifted to revolve around the child hero. Admitting that wasn't some sort of cruel acknowledgment, but rather the simple truth.

Tony Stark was Iron Man. He was presently the head of the Avengers, he was the owner (if no longer the CEO) of Stark Industries. He was officially Earth's Mightiest Hero- So said Time Magazine anyway along with a lovely little smear campaign about the Captain's fall from grace. Tony didn't necessarily agree with what everything it said about Rogers, but he did take some pleasure in the crudely snapped photos of the usually photogenic man.

A beard, Steven, really?

Point being, while it was all good and would give people the warm and fuzzies to think he'd personally mentor Peter Parker, it just didn't work like that. Perhaps if the kid had taken up his offer- er, failed the test- and became an Avenger they'd have more time together. But he hadn't. So they didn't. Tony liked the kid well enough, he meant what he'd said to him, Peter was supposed to be better than the rest of them.

Tony had been there for him, especially when the teen was taking on more than he could handle but the truth was, Tony had bigger fish to fry. The whole Vulture incident was only a week behind them at this point but it seemed like they'd come to an agreement on how things should be handled moving forward.

Not to mention, Peter also wanted to keep his identity a secret so the 15 year old being seen regularly with the Tony Stark would just lead to a ton of questions and someone out there would be smart enough to realize that the kid started hanging around roughly the same time Spiderman got a mutli million dollar upgrade.

See? His lack of presence in Pete's life wasn't strictly selfish, he was helping the kid maintain his cover!

This was why, after Germany, and after a bit of keeping him on the straight and narrow, Tony stayed out of the kid's way. Happy was his go to and they'd realized (Or rather Rhodey had pointed out but Tony would never give him credit) that all the restrictions they were putting out there were only causing a rebellion. Had caused a rebellion.

See? He was a terrible mentor.

Either way they backed off, let the kid do his thing, but made it clear that if he got in over his head he needed to call. In fact, for that Peter even had a direct line to Tony, he'd been a fool at first- while Tony trusted Happy with his life by shoving the kid off on his former bodyguard he'd given the wrong impression. Tony needed to know if Peter was in trouble, so for emergencies only, he had that number. Of course Stark wasn't going to rely solely on the responsibility of a fifteen year old and so if something happened while Spiderman was out...spider...manning... the suit would call him. Pete's AI, apparently named Karen, was set to alert Tony to any number of situations or injuries. Not to mention the news. Friday was always keeping a tiny bit of immense processing power available to watch for headlines. Anything about Spiderman that indicated he'd done something more than the friendly and the neighboring stuff.

Look at that, his idea (totally not Rhodey's) was working like a charm. Spiderman was staying in his lane and Tony had another couple of years to hopefully figure things out with the Accords and the fragmented Avengers before he had to worry about a grown up Spider and just what to do with him.

Speaking of the Accords, Tony stared at the little flip phone sitting on his desk next to a glass of chilled brandy. He'd sipped at the drink, honestly it was there more for the motion, for the need to hold it, swishing and rolling the liquid around with the whiskey rocks. He should have just used regular ice, at least then he could claim the drink was diluted and the reason why he'd barely touched it. Not that he had to explain himself to anyone.

He was alone up in his lavish office near the top of the former Avenger, former Stark now technically unnamed tower. He'd considered selling it- If the Avengers were located in central New York they'd always be a target! But they couldn't be off the grid always and grudgingly he had to admit Loki hadn't really targeted his building because it was his, because they were the Avengers. He'd just confused a correlation for a causation.

Besides, there was apparently not a great market for damaged skyscrapers. Who knew?

He reached out, fingers curling around the ancient piece of ninetys tech but it seemed like it was too heavy to lift, instead he spun the simple device- watching it spin like a top on the table. Rogers. Leave it to him to send the great Tony Stark a flip phone. A Flip Phone. He was personally offended.

What was he supposed to do with it anyway?

Call? Was this some sort of 'when you're ready to apologize reach out'? Well, tough cookies he wasn't that sort of person. Besides, Cap had made his choice, had sided with good Bucky the homicidal maniac over him and Tony Stark was no one's sloppy seconds. Sure, okay. Maybe Barnes was under mind control and maybe it hurt now to realize his current relationships were torn to shreds over something that he couldn't change in the past but what were they supposed to do? Hug it out?

Why had Cap given him the phone? Anger rose and in a blind moment he snatched the device just as it came to rest after its spin. Flipping it open and hitting send on the only number programmed in.

It rang twice before he heard a familiar "Tony?" The voice guarded but hopeful.

"Rogers." Was the curt reply. On the other end Steve nodded, okay, clearly they weren't on a first name basis right now. He waited, Tony had called him after all, but there was silence for several moments too long.

"Well Rogers." Tony finally gave. "Did you want to explain yourself?"

Cap's blue eyes widened slightly, even though Tony couldn't see, "Me?" There wasn't exactly accusation in his tone, he knew what a big step this was for the other. "Well, we're doing okay if that's what you're asking." Tony hummed on the other end, "But I'm sure you knew that. Is this a social call?"

"Maybe." Was the short answer.

Oh Tony, pride was such a painful thing to overcome, Steve wouldn't berate him for that. "I'm just trying to figure out if this was some sort of a joke on your part. You know, the phone. Or if you seriously couldn't find better tech." The sarcasm was clear and Steve smirked on the other end. Perhaps there was hope for them yet.

"Sorry Tony." He pressed, refusing to call the other Stark, that would only cause them to lose ground. Steve wanted the other to know he was there, he wanted to be there for him. Yes they'd had their disagreements, on an epic scale, but Steve still valued their friendship. He was pretty sure that after the dust settled and the emotional shock from what had happened subsided, Tony did as well. "Didn't mean to offend your senses."

"Yeah well, I'll forgive you." And there was weight to it, so much more than just forgiveness over sending him age old technology when he was Tony freaking Stark of Stark Industries. No, the forgiveness was for more. Tony had his fair share of the blame, they both knew that, but he wasn't the sort to go seeking real forgiveness. He also wasn't the sort to have these real open and honest heart to hearts.

"I appreciate that." Steve offered back, "I'll try to do better next time. I didn't mean to upset you. You know? With the phone." He hadn't, things had gone to hell so quickly, so much had gone wrong when the odds were stacked against them.

Silence lingered on both ends while Tony lounged back stretched out in his desk chair, tilting it to recline to a dangerous angle. "How's Colonel Rhodes?" Steve asked, switching gears.

"Good..he's good...mending. Probably won't be 100% again but...he's walking." With assistance from Tony's devices.

"I'll let Sam know." It weighed heavy on the other. "What about that kid from Queens?"

Tony sighed heavily, leaning forward to grab his nearly forgotten drink. The mere mention of Spiderman was enough to spur him into downing the liquid gold that burned down his throat. "He's...good. Handful at first but I think I've got him back to the minor league. No worse than I'd found him and better equipped to handle it."

"The great Tony Stark making a kid keep his nose clean?" An attempted joke, testing the waters.

Tony snorted, "Well, they're still showing your videos in schools so maybe it was your influence."

"He's still in school?" Steve knew he was young…

Tony blinked on his end, "Oh...Would you look at that? I gotta run. Okay bye now." He flipped the phone closed, setting it next to the empty glass on the desk, staring at it in the dim lighting Friday had set for him. No need to get the talk from Steve like he'd already had from Rhodey about the kid. Perhaps there was, what? Hope? Ugh he needed another drink.


"General Ross is still waiting boss." Friday's voice called out. Speak of the devil.

"You have to talk with him. You know that right?" Rhodey commented from where he sat on a nearby work chair in Tony's lab. It had been a little over a week since his call with Rogers, it had been playing on his mind and while Tony had not shared this information it was easy for James Honey Bear Rhodes, to see that something was going on in that brilliant mind.

"I don't have to."

"The Accords state-"

Tony cut him off by raising a socket wrench in the air as one might a finger, "The Accords state that I cannot take action without the approval of the UN, and since I've not received approval to take his call…." A shit eating grin was on his face as Rhodey sighed.

James understood, while the Accords weren't perfect, they'd given Tony peace of mind in a time he desperately needed it. He'd seen it with soldiers. Soldiers who held tight to the fall back "I was following orders". Iron man, the Avengers, they didn't have that. Sure there was S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury tried to order and guide them, but in the end the Avengers knew their actions were their own. Their decisions were their own. For Tony- that meant realizing the death toll on his hands. It had been a shock to learn what his Stark Industries weapons were doing. What had he done? Shut it down and never looked back. When Iron man had inadvertently caused the deaths of innocent lives? Well...That was personal. Tony still had nightmares.

The Accords had been a rash action when Tony felt like he needed the responsibility off his shoulders, when he needed someone else to tell him what to do, the finger of blame could be pointed in another direction. It was a moment of weakness and now, the dark haired male was doing his best to correct it. Just like every mistake he'd made. He couldn't wipe it out, couldn't bring back the dead. He could only do his best to fix the problem. If he couldn't save it. Avenge it.

"Mr. Stark, General Ross is insisting he speak with you." Friday updated and he sighed, ordering the AI to patch him through, the General's voice booming instantly and in the middle of a tirade.

"ther God damned thing-"

His rant cut off as Tony smirked to Rhodey, "General! So sorry about the wait. I guess I don't have iron bowels, you know, taco Tuesday is really hitting me worse and worse as I get older. You know about that right?" Completely pointless, Rhodey rolled his eyes as the other baited the older man.

"Stark." Was barked out. "This isn't a social call."

"Oh good so you'll get straight to the point then?" Tony returned to working on his suit even though they were both sure the General's blood pressure shot through the roof.

"I'd warn you to speak with the appropriate level of respect but I've accepted that you're incapable of change." Tony looked to his friend as if to silently question if he ought to retort but Rhodey waved him off, better to just get the man off the phone sooner rather than later. "I'm calling for an update. Need I remind you that your team is supposed to be bringing in your former teammates turned war criminals, or has that escaped you?"

Tony considered. Ross couldn't see his face but Rhodey could and this had apparently become a game of 'see if you can make War Machine crack up on the phone'. "No no...I'm aware of the mission. I just think you're confused, see, just because you and the UN decide the Avengers should do something, doesn't mean we can instantly do it." Rhodey was shaking his head and probably praying to higher powers or something. Bah, hadn't worked so far. Let them strike him down where he stood.

Shit. Maybe Thor could, he'd have to be careful.

"It's the opinion of some that you aren't exactly trying to hard." Was snapped back.

Tony hummed in fake contemplation, "Umm...So let me get this straight. I deliver to you all of these supposed war criminals-"

"Except Rogers."

"It's rude to cut people off. Anyway, Everyone, BUT Rogers. So that's like what? 80? 85%? And what percentage of them escaped the Raft that was under YOUR control?"

There was silence, maybe Ross was counting to ten, "Just find them Stark." The line went dead and Tony smirked victorious.

"You're playing a dangerous game Tones…" Rhodey's voice showed he disapproved. Tony merely waved him off and returned to his work, just tinkering, keeping his mind busy.

The lack of response had him press forward. "You know they're in Wakanda right?" He deadpanned.

"Ah ah! That my dear platypus, is speculation. It's very wrong. I'm ashamed of you. I know nothing of the sort." Was tossed back and Rhodey, again, rolled his eyes.

"Come on Tony." Rhodey's tone shifted, more serious. "What's the plan? Seriously. You backed the Accords and now you're...you're what? Trying to find ways around them? Looking for every loophole? Undermining Ross? You know I'm with you, it'd be easier if I knew what you were thinking sometimes."

That caused Tony to take pause, he didn't look at the other, not right away, focusing on the empty gaze of the suit he was working on. Blank, emotionless, so impossible to read. In a nervous gesture he tapped the wrench on the palm of his hand a few times before turning towards his long time friend. "I don't know." And there was weight in those words. A half shrug as the great Tony Stark looked down and away. "Is that a good answer?" He murmured. "I don't know." A little more certain.

He pushed away from his work station, tossing the wrench on the nearest flat surface, "Obviously I didn't want the team locked up but what choice did I have?"

"And now?" Rhodey questioned.

"And now...now...I don't know. Was it the right play? Maybe. Were we out of control? Perhaps. Did we do good? Most times. And now? Now we do what? Make public appearances? Continue to hunt the team down?"

Rhodey sighed a little, shifting, "What did you expect Tony? Government oversight is what it is and we've got 117 nations in the mix."

"Says the career soldier." Rhodey gave him a scathing look that somehow said that was uncalled for, but he'd allow it- but also, he could kill Tony in his sleep and Ross would give him a medal. It was a look only brothers in bond could ever truly achieve. Them and teenage girls, they were vicious.

Tony sighed at the look, eyes flickering to show he at least felt a little remorse at the low blow. "What do you want me to say?" He wondered, no sarcasm in his tone, just the honesty of one friend showing a bit of vulnerability to another. Something the great Tony Stark rarely did.

"I don't want you to say anything. I want you to figure out what you want to do and let's do it." Rhodey was there to back him. Like he always had been, give or take a few superhero level brotherly disputes. They'd had their differences but, in the end, Rhodey trusted Tony more than anyone else. At least, he knew what he could expect from the billionaire.

"You're just saying that because I buy you nice things. And build you better suits."

Another eye roll, they were going for a record now, "Come on Tony. Take a break, let's get something to eat." He could see the other was torn, the guilt and death toll weighed heavy on him, the responsibility that came with their position in life had beaten the hero down and he'd freely given up control. Now he was realizing that he'd picked the greater of two evils and had to come to grips with admitting he was wrong. Not only that (and of course for Tony admitting he was wrong was by far the hardest part) but he had to find a way to amend or repeal the Accords. Clear the others of their war crimes. Get over the fact that he still loathed Bucky. Try to make some sort of attempt to rebuild the relationship with the fractured team, still look devilishly handsome and of course, not lose his sense of humor in the process.

Yeah. Admitting he was wrong was the hard part.