Hello wonderful readers!

I am so sorry about the lack of updates! Life has gotten in the way of writing (rude!) and I am so sorry about the wait! Thank you all so much for all the love you have given this series! Can't believe how many of you are still enjoying this! Thank you!

PROMPTS ARE CLOSED!

This prompt is from Little_sniper_panda on ao3 - Prompt: After recovering from injecting himself with Extremis, Tony is feeling really powerful and that he can do anything. In comes Peter, worried why his spidey senses were tingling the whole day. When he see Tony recovered and different, Tony tells him the good news that extremis worked. Peter didn't know what extremis was or someone forgot to tell him that it's dangerous, so he doesn't know it's effects.

Now - this fic will not be following the marvel timeline okay! In order for the prompt to work, it can't follow the time line! I hope you enjoy and my apologies for any mistakes!

I'm Still Tony

Tony Stark knows that there is something going on with Peter Parker, but he just can't figure out what.

It wasn't hard to spot the change in Peter. The kid practically threw himself at every opportunity to hang out with Tony – whether it was in the lab or just watching a movie. It had honestly shocked Tony how quickly the two of them had fallen into a familial relationship. Tony had never thought himself as paternal. Nobody would have called him that either, the media certainly never did. But there was something about Peter Parker that Tony had just fallen into the role of father, and he wouldn't change a thing.

Except, there was something going on with his kid because Peter had been avoiding him. Of course, Peter still came over for lab days but there was something off about the way Peter acted during those times.

Usually, Peter was a wealth of information on his day, giving Tony a blow by blow on his classes and catching him up on the latest Midtown High School of Science and Technology drama that seemed to unfold every week. Tony had been looking forward to hearing an update on the Kate, Drew, and Adam English cheating scandal. But Peter hadn't said a word, just giving Tony the typical "It was fine" when asked about his day.

The text messages that Tony got throughout the day had become almost non-existent. Tony hadn't realised just how much he enjoyed getting messages from Peter until they had stopped. And not once had Peter spoken about his patrols. Any information Tony had to get through Peter's AI, Karen, and looking through the baby monitor protocol. With Peter being tight lipped about everything in his life, Tony had concluded that something had happened on one of Peter's patrols. But reviewing the protocols showed that there was nothing out of the ordinary.

So why was Peter pulling away?

"Do you think I've over stepped?" Tony asked.

From his peripheral he could see Pepper look up from the tablet she had been staring at. They were in his lab, Tony studiously signing every form that Pepper had handed him and demanded he sign them with the stipulation that she was not leaving until they all held his signature.

"Overstepped?" Pepper repeated, her brows furrowing.

"With Peter?" Tony asked as he continued to sign the documents before him.

Pepper placed her tablet down and then reached for Tony's hand, stilling the pen. She tugged on his hand until he was turning to face her.

"Why do you think you have overstepped?" Pepper asked, her voice soft.

Tony swallowed thickly. "He's pulling away. He's avoiding me."

"Do you think you have done anything to make him pull away?" Pepper asked. There was no judgement in her voice and Tony wondered what he ever did to deserve Pepper Potts.

"That's the thing, I can't think of what I've done," Tony sighed with frustration. He ran a hand over his face, shaking his head. "I thought things were going really great, actually."

"When did you notice him pulling away?" Pepper asked, gently taking Tony's hand in hers. She squeezed it, the gesture comforting.

"It was after I got back from Afghanistan and the threat of someone starting up the Ten Rings again," Tony said.

Pepper made a face, her hand tightening in Tony's. When news had reached them that someone was looking to reform the Ten Rings, Tony had immediately flown out to deal with it. The group had already acquired some heavy weaponry and Tony had been left with few bruises and broken bones but ultimately put the group back in the ground where they belonged.

Peter had seen the injuries and had, of course, been worried. He had hovered around Tony while Tony felt guilty for worrying him, Tony had been left with a warm feeling in his chest as Peter cared for him. He hadn't been injured for long though, as Tony had injected himself with Extremis –

"Oh," Tony breathed as a metaphorical light bulb went off his in head.

"What?" Pepper asked.

Tony let out a groan. "Crap. I forgot to tell Peter about Extremis. No wonder the kid has been pulling away. One second, I'm injured and the next I'm healed without an explanation."

"Oh Tony," Pepper said, shooting Tony a look. "The poor kid must be so confused. He probably thinks you're an imposter or something."

Tony winced, knowing that Pepper was probably on the right track of Peter's thinking. He had to fix this, fast.

"What time is it?"

Pepper glanced at her watch. "When you finish signing these documents you should have enough time to go pick Peter up from school."

Tony grabbed the pen and scrawled his signature as fast as he could.

Tony ignored the gaping stares that were directed at him and the way several phones were directed at him, snapping pictures. He straightened when he caught sight of a familiar figures and pushed off the Audi he had been leaning against.

When Peter caught his eye, Tony raised a hand with a wave. Tony watched as Peter had a quick conversation with another kid, Ned Tony believed, before he was all but sprinting over to Tony, skidding to a halt in front of him.

"Need a lift?" Tony asked.

Peter swallowed but nodded.

Tony opened the door for Peter, letting the kid slip into the passenger seat before closing the door on him. By the time Tony got into the driver's seat, Peter was buckled up and staring at him hesitantly.

A cold chill spread through Tony's veins at the look and he cursed himself for being so stupid.

Peter didn't say anything as they merged into the traffic, his hands twisting in his lap.

"How was school?" Tony asked, glancing at Peter before looking back at the road.

"Fine," Peter shrugged. "Where are we going?"

"Thought I would take you to my favourite burger place," Tony said casually. "Treat you and apologise for being an idiot."

Peter looked at him sharply. "What?"

"I'm an idiot, kid."

"No, you're not," Peter said, the words sounding automatic.

Tony flashed Peter a wry smile before looking forward again. "Yes, I am, kid. You've been uncomfortable with me for weeks and it's my fault."

"I – I'm not uncomfortable," Peter lied terribly.

"Yes, you have, and I don't blame you," Tony said. "That's all my fault kiddo and I'm sorry."

Peter hands twisted in his lap as he hesitated. "Are you really Tony?"

"Oh kid," Tony said, his heat sinking in his chest. "Yeah, it's really me. I promise. And I will explain everything once I get us a burger and some shakes."

Peter hesitated again before giving a small nod. Peter silent as Tony drove them to his favourite burger joint. Silent as Tony ordered for them and silent as they chose an empty booth, far away from anyone. When Peter had a burger and a milkshake, Tony took a deep steadying breath.

"That warning thing you have," Tony said. "It's been going off around me, hasn't it?"

Peter bit his lip and nodded.

"I'm sorry, kid. I forgot to tell you that I was going to be injecting myself with Extremis," Tony said.

"What's that?" Peter asked with a frown.

"It's an advanced form of genetic manipulation created by Maya Hansen and Aldrich Killian, using nanotechnology. It grants the human body the ability to heal and regenerate from physical damages, deformities, and even psychological damages," Tony explained. "Only, theirs had a glitch that was killing people, but I managed to fix that."

"You tested it on yourself?" Peter asked, horrified.

"Only when I was sure it would work," Tony said quickly. "I promise, kiddo."

"So, you injected yourself and that's how you healed so fast?" Peter asked.

"Yes," Tony said. "I promise, kiddo, I'm still the same Tony and nothing is ever going to change that."

Peter nodded, taking a sip from his drink. He placed it back on the table, licking his lips. "I'm sorry."

Tony shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Pete. This is all on me."

"I feel bad," Peter said, looking at Tony with wide, sorrow-filled eyes.

"Don't," Tony said. "You did the right thing, keeping your distance. You've got good instincts Peter and I don't want you to ever doubt them."

Peter still looked unsure, but he nodded. "Okay."

"Would it help if I talked you through the process?" Tony asked. "So, you can understand and ask any questions you have. I want you to be able to trust me again."

"I do," Peter said quickly. "Trust you."

"I also want you to feel comfortable around me," Tony said, smiling sadly. "I've missed you, kiddo."

"I've missed you too," Peter said, shoulder sagging. "This has sucked."

Tony barked out a laugh. "Yeah. Come on, eat your burger and we can go home, and I can take you through what I did."

"I'd like that," Peter grinned. "Thanks, Mr. Stark."

"Any time, kiddo," Tony said. "Anytime."

Happy reading :D

A lot of people have been asking me not to delete my fanfiction account (and you have all been guests or have your messaging turned off so I can't reply to you individually). My stories are on my Ao3 account (and so is this one) so you will still be able to read them there. My older fics will not be so I suggest you download your favorites and save them because I will be deleting this account. I am giving you all plenty of warning so please, download your favorites and save them into a folder before I delete the account.