I was gonna wait but then I was like no I wanna get the meat of the plot started. Thanks LazeBlaze7 for the review btw. It was really reassuring to have that like within 5 minutes of posting. Read. Review. Enjoy.

"Phone call for you, Sir," JARVIS said just as Tony settled on the love seat for Mai Tai Mondays with Pepper.

"Send it to voice mail," he barked.

"Sir, it is my opinion that this is one phone call you will want to take, despite whichever alcoholic beverage you've assigned for this evening."

Tony scowled which made Pepper giggle. "When did I program you to have opinions?"

"I believe it was the time that you missed an invitation to a three day feast on Asgard. Captain Rogers got drunk for the first time in seventy years. There was a group hunt for a Bilgesnipe. Ms. Lewis got a song in her honor for besting Thor-"

"Okay I get it!" He downed his drink. "Is it Thor, 'cause if it's Thor, tell him yes."

"No, sir, not Thor."

"Who is it JARVIS?" Pepper asked kindly as she leaned into Tony's shoulder. She smirked into the cocktail as she realized somewhere along the line, he became the uptight one.

"Ma'am it's..." And for a second Tony was annoyed at himself for designing a computer system with a sense of drama. "Director Coulson."

Pepper's glass clattered the floor, even as she weakly prompted, "Let him through."

"Mr. Stark?" A familiar voice calls to them.

"Agent," Tony answered icily even as Pepper squealed next to him.

"It's Director, now. Hello, Ms. Potts."

Pepper was a little red to the face, and though she was sipping on her fourth Mai Tai before it fell to floor, he was certain she was red from happiness. "Phil, you're alive? How?"

"Shield has a very generous health plan."

"Shield? There is no Shield. The Cap took you down."

"Captain America helped with some necessary culling." The wistful air in Coulson's voice helped ease some of the (what weaker people would call) hurt.

"You're not dead? I spouted a one-liner at Loki for you." He was up by then, making Pepper another Mai Tai and himself something stronger.

"I didn't know you cared," Coulson replied though his tone wasn't unkind.

"Of course we care, Phil!" Pepper grinned as she went to hug Tony from behind. "If Steve is the first Avenger, you're definitely the second."

There was a beat of silence and then Phil said, "Thanks, Pepper, that means a lot."

"Okaay, no more Mai Tais for you Potts. All this emotion is making me gag." He sipped his aged bourbon. "Did you call for a reason, Agent? Or did you just want to break the happy news?"

"I need you-"

Tony gasped in faux shock. "Agent! Pep is right here!"

"-I need you to watch over a boy Hydra is after-"

"Hydra's still around too? God, did Steve and Natasha do anything in DC?"

Coulson gave a put upon sigh.. "Please, Mr. Stark, if you could hold your questions until after the presentation."

"By all means, continue."

"Hydra is still very much active; and it's more than we can combat. Sixteen year old Peter Parker was approached today by Hydra today having to do with his work with Dr. Connors last year, which is indirectly descendant from Dr. Banner's work on Gamma radiation. He needs protection and right now, Shield is spread too thin to provide it."

There was a beat of silence. "We'll do it, Phil."

"Excellent, thank you Pepper."

"Oh hey, have you been seeing anyone since the Cellist?"

"Oh that's a story for another day. And possibly bullet proof vests."

Pepper laughed. "I look forward to it. Call when you have a free day and I'll have JARVIS set something up."

They exchanged their goodbyes and it was silent for a moment. "Did you just ask him out? Right in front of me?"

It took everything in Peter's power not to skip school that day. He was afraid that they would see each other but it she wasn't even there so it was moot. It took even more strength not to ditch and see her. Though he looked like he was severely hungover in his hoodie and sunglasses, he vowed to get through the day and see where that left him.

As it turned out, it left him with the principal. A tinny "Would Peter Parker come to the admin's office," was broadcast over the PA. He ignored the chorus of 'ooh's and 'you're in trouble's as he shuffled out of his math class.

He walked to the secretary's desk an prepared to defend himself. "Mrs. Robinson, I swear I didn't go on a booze cruise last night-"

"Relax, Parker," she replied fondly. "I'm pretty sure all you drink is koolaid with extra powder."

Peter smiled at her. They built up a friendly report after having to write him up so much for his attendance. "You're so right, Karen, but don't think my sugar benders aren't just as bad. If it's not for my immaculate appearance today -and I haven't missed school in like 2 weeks- what's up?"

"One, don't call me Karen, that's not even my name. Two, someone's waiting for you in Mr. Ackerman's office."

Peter's eyes narrowed. Hydra said he had a week but he guessed he couldn't be surprised at villainous organization going back on their word. He tensed as he walked to the door. "Thanks, Sheila," he called absently. He didn't hear the annoyed 'not my name!'

Peter opened the door to see a man about his height half sitting on the desk looking at the colorful drinking bird endlessly dip its beak into a small glass of water. The man still hadn't looked up so Peter slammed the door behind him to get his attention.

He turned and Peter was met with the most glorious goatee he'd ever seen. It also just happened to be on the face a genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist. "Tony Stark," the teen choked out dumbly.

"Peter Parker. Now that we've got the introductions out of the way, let's ignore the fact that you look like you bathed in teen angst and get down to business."

"What are you doing here?" Peter asked. He couldn't stop staring at the silk tie that hid the glow of his arc reactor.

"Hey, kid, my eyes are up here," he said as he folded his arms. "And I'm here because I heard you had an encounter yesterday."

Peter scowled at his luck. Here was his idol, talking to him; the man knew him by name and he couldn't properly fanboy because he was dodging a world wide terrorist organization. If he was still with Gwen, if he hadn't been singled out by Hydra, they'd probably both be lounging on his bed staring at the posters he had of Iron man and Tony Stark he had on his wall since he was 11. "And what do you know about yesterday?" He couldn't take it if his scientific hero was in with Hydra.

"Enough to know that you need help. I can keep you and your friends and family safe from people who would want you use you."

"And you're not here to figure out Dr. Connors' or my dad's research?"

Stark fixed him with a slight smirk. "I'm Tony Stark. If I really wanted to continue Dr. Connors' research, do you think I'd go to the 16 year-old Igor to his Frankenstein? Although in this case he'd be Frankenstein and the monster."

"So you just want to help me out of the goodness of your heart? No ulterior motives?" Peter asked skeptically. The only people he explicitly trusted were Gwen and Aunt May.

"Well, Jesus, kid," Tony said raggedly because he absolutely hated when people made him be sincere. "Can a man help someone when they need it? Hydra is after you unfortunately. I don't want to see you, or anyone, really, tortured and brainwashed, 'cause that's what'd happen. You gotta know that."

Peter averted his gaze. "I know. I-I figured something like that would happen. I was just hoping that it wouldn't be so bad if I went willingly."

"You were gonna go?"

Peter refused to look up at the tone in his voice. "I'm a 16 year-old kid as you keep pointing out. How was I supposed to my aunt and girlfriend safe?"

"By taking the help offered." The teen looked up just in time to see Tony Stark flounder awkwardly in deciding whether or not to put a hand on his shoulder. Peter quirked an eyebrow and the hand fell limply. "So, girlfriend, eh?"