Peter watched as Iron Man and Captain America entertained the children. Letting them explore the various pieces that made up their superhero uniforms. Captain America's shield was a particular point of interest. He noted several parents taking pictures of their children with the two Avengers. One child was exploring Iron Man's glove before looking up at the arc reactor shining in the center and moving on to examining other parts of the armor. Many of those present had been examining the shining red and gold of the Iron Man suit, small hands carefully touching it with obvious reverence that only a child could exhibit in such innocent fashion.

Then Iron Man was moving back from the children, Peter had missed his words, as the Iron Man suit retracted back into the suitcase version his dad had decided to wear for the occasion. Easier to carry around and step out of when the time comes, had been the response. The children gasped and an excited murmur rose up as his dad flashed a grin. Happy stepped forward to grab the case and moved back as Tony was swarmed once more with children after he'd sat back down on the floor. Captain America was letting the children look at his shield and allowing them to look over his uniform as he still had his very own cluster of children still very much enraptured. Sometimes they would request he lift something nearby that required honest strength and once he'd received permission Steve was more than happy to oblige. It was hard not to grin at the scene before him. This was the first time he'd been taken along on one of these visits. His dad would periodically visit children's hospitals, schools, and events for young fans because he honestly enjoyed it.

When Peter had enquired about his exploits he'd received a very enlightening explanation. Tony knew what it was like to be ignored as a child, to be left behind or forgotten. He never wanted that for any child. To feel neglect or as though they weren't important. Instead his dad had confessed that his young fans were the most important. The ones he loved to visit with when he got the chance and sometimes when he created the chance.

Often Tony would bring along his fellow Avengers for these trips. It depended on who was around when he was leaving. Usually Peter was in class when this happened but not today. He'd elected to skip much to the disappointment of Steve and the silent approval from his dad who had winked.

A slight tugging on his shirt caused Peter to glance downwards to a little girl with big blue eyes staring at him inquiringly. Carefully he crouched down to get eye level with her. "Hello, I'm Peter." He grinned softly as the little girl offered a small grin in return.

"Hi my name is Anne." Came the small voice, "Are you a superhero too?" she asked. Big eyes were staring at him in interest and curiosity.

Peter blinked. "I'm pretty sure I'm not a superhero. I just live with them." His mind flashed to Spider-Man, the suit he would sometimes put on at night and help the occasional citizen of New York in need. But Spider-Man stayed safely put away until he was needed and for the most part once more out of the public eye.

Anne frowned before shrugging, "My Mommy says anyone can be a hero. So that means you can too." She beamed up at Peter before lifting her arms to be picked up. Peter glanced around before he complied. It was pretty hard to say no to those bright eyes when they were focused so completely on him. The kid's hand locked onto him before Peter began moving towards Steve and his dad.

"That means you're a hero as well." He grinned as the little girl glanced at him. The child had dark hair pulled into pigtails and reminded him of a little doll, but he wouldn't voice that out loud. She looked so fragile and Peter was briefly worried he'd accidently hurt her with his strength. Sometimes he had trouble modulating it in relation to every day tasks.

She looked over at him, "Is Iron Man your dad?" completely ignoring the comment Peter had made and focusing on something else. Peter wondered why, but pushed it aside.

"Yeah. He adopted me. I get to live with all of the Avengers. You should see how messy they are." It caused a giggle and was the desired result of Peter's comment. She was grinning at him, hand still clutched on him as he moved towards the other children.

"Who is the messiest?"

Peter paused and honestly considered it, "The messiest? Probably Clint. Hawkeye?" he specified as he knew most of the children knew the Avengers by their superhero identities. "My dad is probably a close second or tied with Thor. I'd have to look at their spaces again to decide. Though Thor eats the most followed by Captain America."

"Are you telling lies to that adorable little girl?" Tony was giving him a look of mock horror from his spot surrounded by children. "My own son! Captain! Here is your chance to defend my honor. You were hired for this, remember?"

"You have honor, sir?" Happy inquired with a small grin and it earned a chuckle from Steve as well as many of the surrounding people.

A decidedly wounded expression stole of Tony's face as he made his eyes go wide before turning to the assembled children around him. "Will any of you protect me? Avenge me?"

Little voices grew in strength as exclamations of support rose up. The group of children moved as a tiny mob towards Peter who was trying not to laugh. Carefully he sat Anne down before they reached him if only to make sure nothing happened to her. They mobbed him; little hands grasping and Peter allowed himself to sink to the floor so as to not hurt them. Tiny fingers ghosted across his side and a short giggle escaped. It was like blood in the water because soon several others were tickling him and Peter was squirming, laughing, gasping and trying to wriggle away. Tears started to fill his eyes from the laughter and he was joined by a chorus of children's laughter. The tiny army had taken Tony's words to heart and were easily overwhelming the teenager with what appeared to be a tickle attack.

Over the laughter he could hear his dad boast, "And Loki said he had an army! His army has nothing on mine."

Peter's little friend from before stood off to the side, grinning at the scene before glancing up to meet her mother's eyes. She looked absolutely happy, but was more than cheerful to stand a short distance away from the giggling mess of humans on the floor.

The children surrounding Captain America were watching on, some itching to join the others and a few wondered over towards Tony now that he was no longer encircled. One of the little Captain America fans slowly moved towards Tony looking at the glowing circle under the shirt he was wearing. "What's that?"

Tony's body tensed slightly when the child touched the arc reactor before he forced his body to relax. It was almost a knee-jerk reaction to someone moving towards it. Obie had fucked him over in that regard, but it was probably for the best to be protective of it. Tony wasn't very fond of the pain he experienced when it was removed or injured. But the small hand was inquiring and curious, brown eyes bright with interest and awe. Not malice or vicious glee. No harmful intent towards him.

"My heart." He spoke softly as he remembered the 'trophy' Pepper had given him with his first version. Tony sat watching as the boy blinked in surprise before smiling.

"It's pretty." And the child laid his hand flat against the blue glow illuminating the small hand, light peaked out from the edges casting a light on the kid's face. Steve glanced over at Tony on the ground to Peter covered in children who were laughing.

"I wouldn't call it pretty..." Tony hedged slightly wishing for a slightly more manly descriptive as the young boy continued to observe the arc reactor with nothing short of curiosity.

"I think so to." Steve agreed; the boy looked back over his shoulder at Captain America with a beam on his face before looking back.

"See? Captain America agrees so that makes it true."

"Hard to argue with the man." Tony agreed, "I'm sure it makes it hard for others to sleep around me when we're watching movies. Bright light and all."

"So you're like a nightlight?"

Peter actually snorted at the comment having regained his breath after the children had ceased trying to kill him with laughter, with tickling. Several were still giggling and a few more had perked up at the mention of Iron Man being a nightlight.

"It helps moving down the hallway at night." Tony muttered as the child finally moved his hand away from the light. It earned a few laughs and Steve was grinning slightly.

Peter stared at the wall inside the office at school. Tried not to growl in frustration because he had a black eye and a cut on his face. It was plain as day. No way to hide it and Peter bit back the litany of curses at the fact. If only he could have tapped into all of that hidden strength and speed then there wouldn't be any physical evidence. But he held back because it was wrong.

He was furious with himself. There was no excuse. None. The Principal came back into the main area, a disappointed expression on his face and a paper in his hand. It was more than obvious that the man was upset with Peter even though he was the victim and not the aggressor.

"You've been suspended for fighting for three days. I'm only being this lenient with you because it's your first time and from what I gathered it was mostly self-defense on your part. Take this home. I require a signature from your guardian." the man before him wore a serious expression as he held out a piece of paper that Peter was mentally wishing would burst into flame.

"Yes, sir." Peter reached out to collect the paper, hand briefly tightening around the sheet before relaxing. Slight crinkles were left in the wake of his quick surge of frustration.

"Make sure you stop by the nurse first to get that cut cleaned. Your teachers will be informed of your suspension." It was curt and to the point. No sympathy from the man before him.

Peter nodded and turned from the Principal before moving towards his locker, gathering his books and bag he began making rounds to speak with his teachers. Hoping to get assignments for the coming days. It took a little while and he bypassed the nurse, but Peter managed to get all of his assignments as well as several mini lectures focusing around him being a good student, a good kid and he really shouldn't be fighting. Why was he fighting in school?

Not my fault.

With a sigh he pulled on his coat and trudged outside into the snow. Winter had been settled into New York for a while and he was not calling Happy to come get him. Or any of the other Avengers. Or Coulson. The cold felt good against the heat of the bruise and the sting of the cut. Briefly Peter closed his eyes, took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. This was the first time one of those altercations at school had earned him a note home. Usually Uncle Ben would be far too tired to say much or he'd give Peter a slightly disappointed look that Peter was home with more bruises. But he'd sign the paper. Wouldn't make a big deal especially since Peter was clearly on the losing end of each alteraction.

Now Peter had no idea how his dad was going to react. Suspended for three days. Maybe the real one to worry about was Steve Rogers. The man was a saint and Peter could already imagine the disappointed look, the shaking of the head or even a sigh. His side gave a slight twinge from pain; from being shoved into the metal bar of the bleachers. It had been sudden. Unexpected and he'd ignored that damn feeling. The one that told him something was going to happen. Something was wrong. Now his side was cheerfully reminding him that ignoring a gut feeling was stupid. Not to do it again.

But he'd been stunned, shocked at the sudden violence and had managed to avoid being slammed back into the bars. One attacker's hand had struck the rail and Peter could hear the bones break. It had been a blur, mostly. Fists, shouts, hands and furious words. When all was said and done Peter knew he'd come off the best despite being the victim. Without the enhancements Peter was quite sure he'd have been going from the nurse to the hospital for a concussion or worse. Those bars had not been very forgiving.

Hands shoved in his pockets Peter moved slowly through the snow, ignoring the flairs of pain and the bite of the cold that was now working to sink into his very bones. A couple blocks from the Tower and it started snowing. Great big fat flakes fluttered from the sky, clinging to his black coat and brown hair. A flake managed to get caught on an eyelash and Peter pulled his hand out of his pocket to brush it away. The winter wind chilled his hand before he shoved it back into his pocket.

Eventually Peter staggered into the elevator with the note clutched in his fist. This wasn't good. Damn black-eye wasn't healed and the cut on his cheek was more than evident. Maybe his dad had forgotten the whole bully thing? You would think being Spider-Man he'd have been able to get out of that fight. But no. There was no point in continuing to lament about the visible evidence on his face and Peter idly wondered what lovely color his side was, how far the bruise traveled up his torso.

"JARVIS? Where is dad?" his voice was soft, cautious and Peter held his breath. Breathing carefully so as to not agitate his injuries further.

"He is down in the workshop. I'm sure he would enjoy a distraction." The AI offered helpfully, but Peter was just waiting for JARVIS to rat him out. The AI was great at noting injuries on the Avengers so what was going to stop him from seeing Peter's?

"I don't want to bother him. I know he has been working hard." Peter looked down at the paper in his hand and moved towards the kitchen. He'd missed lunch because of the fight happening in second period and was starving. Food sounded amazing.

Unfortunately it was not a day of luck and Steve was in the kitchen in his workout clothes. He was currently making a rather impressive sandwich and Peter wondered if he'd ever seen Steve with that big of a sandwich before. It was huge.

Peter started to pivot to escape back out of the kitchen, but Steve caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. "Peter! What are you doing home from school already?"

"Short day…" he kept his head turned slightly, but could hear Steve moving towards him. cursed his luck once more.

"What's wrong? Did something happen? Are you alright?" the concern was so present in Steve's voice that Peter winced. Of all the Avengers in the whole Tower he had to run into Steve Rogers. This was horrible luck.

"Nothing. Really it's not—" it was cut off by Steve's hand that carefully grasped his chin and turned his head. A gasp escaped and Steve's blue eyes were narrowed on the injuries that Peter knew were still present.

"That doesn't look like nothing to me. Is it those bullies? Did they hit you?" Steve's hand was steady and kept ahold of Peter's face so the teenager couldn't avoid his gaze.

His shoulders slumped, eyes looking away and Peter wanted to sink into the floor. He was pathetic. Getting punched, knocked into bars and letting a group of jerks gang up on him. Being Spider-Man meant he should not be getting bullied or picked on or victimized. Peter wanted to say these things, wanted to assert that he was not being bullied and it was fine. Everything was fine and the bruises would fade, the cut would heal. There was nothing to worry about. Nothing to focus on. He just wanted food.

"Yes." His voice was small and all those words faded to the background because it wasn't time. Some day. Maybe.

Steve's hand moved from Peter's jaw to wrap carefully around his shoulders. "Let's get that cut cleaned up and some ice on that bruise." He led Peter out of the kitchen, leaving the sandwich abandoned the counter, towards the nearest first-aid kit. Steve grabbed the kit and began cleaning the cut before putting a couple butterfly bandages on it to keep it together so the cut could heal correctly. "Where else are you hurt?"

Peter glanced down at his side before carefully pulling up the shirt to reveal a bruise on his side trailing up his ribs. "I got knocked into the railing."

"Pete…" a sigh, "We'll ice that up. Have you eaten yet?" Steve was careful, hands barely touching and Peter wondered how long it had taken Steve to get used to the superhuman strength. How many things he'd broken.

"No. Happened in second period. Principal sent me home after." He followed Steve back towards the mini freezer specifically for icepacks that the Avengers needed far too frequently. The soldier had several wraps to secure the packs.

He sat there, arms elevated as Steve wrapped him up and kept the icepacks securely on the bruised side. Peter held an icepack to his eye and watched as Steve made him a sandwich before making himself another. The one from before was missing. It was safe to assume Thor had grabbed it or Clint. Peter would place money on Thor. That man could eat. Then Steve was making a smaller sandwich that he placed back into the fridge. Probably to bring down to his dad after. Peter knew that he'd gotten into a project and didn't want to leave it alone for very long or he just forgot that eating was one of those basic human functions. One of the two.

"You want to tell me what happened?"

"No. But I will anyways because you're the hardest person to lie to on the planet. It's kind of annoying." Peter looked at him with the one eye not covered by the icepack. "A group of guys caught me from behind, I got knocked into the railing, managed to avoid getting hit into that again and got into a scuffle that resulted in this. I've been suspended from school for three days. I have to get dad to sign a piece of paper for school about my suspension."

"I don't like bullies." Steve spoke carefully, "I never have. It doesn't matter where they're from or who they are. It's good to stand up for yourself as long as it doesn't go too far. Why were you trying to hide it? Why were you suspended for being attacked?"

"Because I shouldn't have let them get a jump on me. I'm almost sixteen. This shouldn't still be happening. I don't honestly know."

"I used to get beat up in back allies, parking lots and behind buildings. All the time." Steve confessed with no shame in his voice and honest eyes as Peter stared at him. "There isn't a magical age where it goes away."

"But you're Captain America." There was slight confusion and for a moment Peter almost forgot that Steve had not always been big like he was now.

"I was Steve Rogers first. This scrawny boy from Brooklyn who wouldn't run away. I had a list and a half of health problems, rejected multiple times when I tried to join the army. You're fifteen, Peter. You'll come into your own, but there are bullies everywhere. It's a sad truth of life. You just have to try not to become one yourself. Don't compromise yourself or your morals. Whatever you chose to do please don't compromise yourself."

"It is hard to believe. Especially looking at you now." Peter offered a slight grin, felt it pull at the cut on his face and bit back a noise of frustration. "I won't."

"Good." Steve nodded, "Sometimes I look in the mirror and it takes me a second to realize that is me looking back. I'm still not used to being so tall or big. I'm sure some day every time I look in the mirror I won't have that moment of pause, of surprise." Steve grinned at him, trying for understanding because he knew Tony was not going to take that black-eye well and he wanted to give Peter a little bit of calm before the coming storm. Tony wouldn't take it the icepack too well either. Or the cut. Or the bruised side. And especially not the fact that Peter was suspended from school because several bullies attacked him. It was not something Steve was looking forward to. He'd bet there was going to be a rant later once Peter was out of the room. Possibly a plan for revenge.

He looked towards the clock and mentally started counting down. JARVIS was supposed to alert Tony that it was lunch and convince the genius that eating was necessary. Especially since he'd been holed up down there for a while.

"I'm alive! See, nothing to worry about honestly Steve. Unless you want me to come up here for—" Tony's voice cut off as he walked into the kitchen and saw Peter sitting at the island with Steve. An icepack held to his face and it appeared there was one wrapped around his side. The man was moving across the kitchen at a steady clip as he moved Peter's hand away from his face exposing the injuries. Brown eyes were focused in and narrowed, "What happened? Are you alright?" he moved closer to examine the bandages and the slowly healing bruise. "Who did this? Do you know where they live?"

Peter blinked in surprise as a blush covered his cheeks, "You're overreacting. Seriously overreacting." He tried to move away, but Tony was firmly in his space. He was in full protective parent mode. Peter was vaguely frightened for those idiots at school.

"I'm most certainly not overreacting. Someone hurt you and I will not stand for that." Tony's eyes were steel, his voice hard and it was more than evident that Tony was not backing down. That his dad meant business and this was only the beginning. Best to nip that in the bud quickly before blood was shed.

"Promise me you're not going to the school. Promise me or I'll say nothing." He was not backing down on this. His dad did not need to be thrown in jail no matter how temporary it might be until someone bailed him out.

A growl escaped from Tony as his eyes looked away and Peter could see that mind going a million miles a second. Then his dad's eyes were back on Peter and the racing thoughts had obviously been calmed. "I promise I won't go to your school."

"Great. I'm going to need you to sign something when I'm done." Peter looked over at his bag he'd left on the floor, the paper on the floor next to it. "For school that is…not like a binding contract saying you won't go to my school because that would be a total overreaction and now I'm babbling…"

Thor clutched Mjölnir in his hand as his deep red cape billowed in the wind; snow clung to the fabric as he took a deep breath before exhaling. "A fine day to avenge the honor of young Peter."

"A very fine day." Natasha grinned at him as she stood next to the god of thunder outside of Peter's school. "Tony was not happy he couldn't be here today."

"Peter should have known better when he made Tony promise that there are ways of getting around such a vague request." Steve sighed as he looked up; Tony had been very adamant that Captain America be one of the individuals going in his place. Thor had been rather furious that someone had attacked his little buddy, the only one who he could talk about Loki with, and Natasha was not going to be left behind. Plus she took it as a personal insult that someone had attacked one of the few people she honestly liked.

Steve was sure that Tony was silently stewing in the Tower with Peter working on his homework. At least that was how they had left them. Poor Peter had no idea what was happening.

The ensuing rant that Tony had presented him with after Peter had finished his lunch and retired to his room had been impressive.

"How dare they attack my son! School is supposed to be a place of learning and finding out what you love in life. Or finding a girlfriend. Or boyfriend depending on what you prefer. Just because Peter is a fucking genius and those brats can't appreciate someone who is so far above them it isn't even funny is no excuse for punching him! Did you see his face? His side? What kind of school is that? Suspending Peter when he was the one attacked! They could have killed him. The kid doesn't fight people; he doesn't have very much muscle on him yet! He is like a brunette version of you before the serum! Only not as small, but still. Peter needs some more self-defense training or maybe I should build him something…"

The rant had gone on for a long time; it was long and winded, by the end Tony had wound himself up so much. Steve was pretty sure he could practically see Tony's blood pressuring shooting through the roof. The shorter man was going to give himself some kind of a heart attack. But fortunately instead of the rant continuing Tony had decided to go find Thor. And proceeded to tell him what had happened to Peter. That moment was what led them to standing outside in the snow in front of Peter's school. Maybe it was unfortunate that Tony had went to find Thor.

"Fellow warriors we have a quest ahead of us. To defend Peter's honor!" with those words Thor was moving towards the doors with Natasha falling into step behind him and Steve reluctantly following them.

"Why do I think this is not going to end well?" Steve muttered as they pushed through the front doors. Eyes turned to stare at them and Steve could see the particularly gleeful expression dancing across Natasha's face.

Almost two hours later the three of them were standing in front of Coulson, still in their uniforms, who was staring at them with the most unimpressed look in the entire world. "I have had Director Fury yelling in my ear for the past thirty minutes about three of 'my' Avengers terrorizing the Principal of a local High School and several students. Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"

"Besides why you didn't bring me?!" Clint scowled at them from the couch, arms crossed over his chest not moving his eyes from the guilty members of his team.

Peter was just standing there staring at them in horror, the same expression he'd had on his face when the call had come in for Coulson and the other man had informed him of the incident at his school. "Why would you do that?"

Thor turned to look at Peter, "I do not stand aside idly while my friends are attacked." He was painfully sincere as he looked at Peter. "You and your character were assaulted; instead of providing justice against your attackers you were punished. It was not right."

Seeing no help from there Peter turned to Steve, "And your excuse?" his foot tapped on the floor because really Steve was supposed to be level headed.

"I don't like bullies." It was simple.

Natasha wasn't even going to wait for the question, "I like you." It was the only explanation needed from her. Peter knew how Natasha was when she actually liked you. "I didn't like them." Was the lovely follow up.

"No one fucks with my son and gets away with it." Tony spoke from the door way and that summed the whole thing up quite nicely, "Tell Fury he can kiss my ass because I asked them to go. Peter made me promise not to go to his school otherwise you'd have heard about Iron Man visiting a school today. There might have been blasts I'm not sure."

"Thor destroyed the Principal's office with Mjölnir." Coulson was still speaking calmly.

"That man was not reasonable." Thor pouted slightly, his hammer rested on his belt as he crossed his arms clearly unrepentant. "Had the man not laughed at me I would not have been forced to retaliate."

"And the two young men who pissed themselves and passed out?" Coulson's eyes were already moving towards the culprit.

"I regret nothing." Natasha grinned at Clint who winked, but Peter was quite sure the archer was still annoyed at not being there for the show. There might have been arrows in the story otherwise.

"What about the broken phones and cameras?" now there was a slight strain to his voice at the question.

Steve blinked; eyes big and blue. "Tony only said the device would prevent anything incriminating from being recorded. I did not know it would destroy all the technology in the basic area!"

Peter was just staring at them trying to wrap his mind around the picture that was being painted before turning to Tony who looked far too smug for the destruction he'd caused. "Can I transfer schools? Please?" it was pleading and he didn't care. There was no way he could go back there. It just wasn't possible.

"Steve punched the Principal." Natasha answered calmly as Coulson's eye started to twitch, but Peter knew he wouldn't say anything to Steve or at least wouldn't be as hard on him as he would have been had it been Tony.

"Why?" Clint was completely curious and leaning forward as if that would allow him to get a better view of the possible carnage. Steve punching someone was slightly out of character; there needed to be a very good reason.

"The Principal made a negative comment about Peter. I'll not repeat it." the chin tilted stubbornly even as a slight blush formed on his cheeks.

"Steve did not take that well." Natasha was smirking now. "He really did not take that well at all."

Tony jerked Steve down into a kiss, "You punched the Principal of Peter's school? You are without a doubt my hero for that! Oh to have been there to witness it…" there was a wistful note to Tony's voice.

"Stark. That is not what is needed here. You three caused destruction to a government run institution, traumatized several teenagers and assaulted a man. This I'm more than sure has cancelled out the positive PR that your attendance at the children's event created. Stark the whole incident is your fault!"

"So…about transferring to a new school?" Peter was staring at Tony with pleading eyes and Tony found himself grinning. The fury from before was obviously lessoned because something had been done about the injustice.

"Sure. We'll put you in a school that will appreciate someone of your intelligence. There are several options and we can take the weekend to go over them. I say this moment in history, Steve punching Peter's Principal, deserves something…Who wants some Shawarma? I could go for some Shawarma!"

Sorry for the wait. Honestly meant to have this chapter out on Thursday. Hope it was worth the wait! Thanks for the reviews!