Disclaimer/Spoilers: IM1, IM2, SM1, SM2, SM3. Iron Man/Spider-Man/Tony Stark/Peter Parker and all other characters mentioned are copy-written by Marvel. Story plot is mine for amusement purposes only.

Over the course of a few weeks which then started to become months, Tony's behavior toward the joint commission began to subtly change. He wasn't scowling or complaining as much what with Steve's little "drop ins" becoming more and more frequent. Peter however, wasn't going to complain. No he wasn't going to be that clingy partner that had trust issues. Though, he did trust Tony more than he would have liked… so then what was that nagging feeling whenever he saw them together? Steve's hand on Tony's shoulder, or Tony going over legal forms with Steve, who was leaning in a little too close to Tony.

Then there were those spontaneous make out sessions in Tony's office which had started after work hours and then later they became "while on the clock" make out sessions. It seemed to Peter that something (or someone) had gotten into Tony that he just had to have Peter right then and there. At first Peter enjoyed himself; after all they did have a healthy sex life that expanded further beyond the bedroom. He had to admit that while in the car was by far his favorite place to be alone with Tony.

One afternoon, Peter had been bringing by a box of Tony's favorite sushi when he walked in on them in Tony's office. Steve had his back to Peter and the door but the younger man had a clear view of Tony and the manner of how Tony returned the kiss Steve was giving him.

Peter felt the wind being knocked out of him and then a small voice whispered in his ear, 'Deep down, you knew it was too good to be true,' Snapping out of it he saw how anxious Tony was staring at him; his mouth began to open to say something, perhaps an excuse to serve as to why Peter walked in and saw what he just happen to see.

"I am not dealing with this now," was all Peter said, having dropped the sushi in his shock and then shutting the door behind him with a slam.

'How could I be so stupid?' the younger man asked himself while heading toward the elevator.

"Peter—" Tony had ran after him.

"No," Peter answered dismissively over his shoulder and continued walking away from Tony.

"Peter Parker don't you walk away from me!" Tony was just about to grab Peter's arm when Peter's spidey-sense goes off and he knocks Tony's hand back.

"Don't touch me," Peter said in a low and quite dangerous voice, "Don't ever touch me,"

"So that's it then?" Tony frowned, looking highly disappointed, "You're not even going to let me explain?"

"Explain what?" Peter snapped, "How are you going to explain what I just saw? You can't!"

"He kissed me! I didn't want him to do it! He caught me off-"

"You were kissing him back." Tony could hear the hurt in Peter's voice and what killed him the most was that it was his fault. He caused that pain to his Peter.

Tony stopped talking and then composed himself again, "I was in the moment. It was a refle—"

"That's your excuse?" Peter made a disgusted sound and held up a hand, "Don't even bother finishing that sentence,"

"Fine I won't, I guess we're done."

"Yes we are or at least I am." Peter walked into the open elevator and pushes the button, feeling both angry and miserable.

Why was this happening? Why now? Why now when it was just starting to get good? Peter punches the elevator doors creating a dent while he felt as though he was being torn apart from the inside out. It was such an agonizing pain. He wasn't going to cry, it wasn't worth it. He was not going to cry.

Little did Peter know, was that there was something following him; something that had in fact been following him for some time without his knowledge. Something small, tar-like and very alive and it was this same something that had wanted to bind itself to Peter for so very long. It was the symbiote once again or at least a piece of it.

Hitching a ride on the back of Peter's car, it stuck against the smooth paint then slithered inside the trunk where it then began to work past the leather interior of the car. Peter, by the way, sat for a few moments thinking over on what just happened with Tony.

"I'm such an idiot," Peter muttered to himself, one hand on the wheel while the other held the key which started his ride and then he takes off from the employee parking lot.

"Call Johnny Storm," Peter spoke, activating the Bluetooth in his car the phone rang a few times and just when he thought that his call was going to Johnny's voicemail did the line pick up.

"What up, Sticky Fingers?" Johnny chuckled; Peter felt his throat tighten and swallowed hard then composing himself again.

"I need to talk to you in person,"

"Yeah sure, where you at?" Johnny's voice went from joking to concern in two seconds.

"Our usual hang out, I'll buy you a pie," Peter said while driving toward the pizza place that he and the other young super hero enjoyed eating and hanging out at.

"Alright, on my way. Need me to get you anything?"

Peter smirked a little, "Yeah you can buy me a beer,"

"Not a problem," he heard the smile in that tone, "Bad day?"

Peter sighed and turned a corner, "You have no idea. I just really need you right now."

"Ooh Parker, I didn't know you felt that way…"

Peter snorted, "Don't be stupid, you know what I mean,"

"So what are you wearing?"

"Johnny…"

"I love hearing you say my name," This time Peter couldn't help but laugh that was total Johnny Storm humor, "I'll see you in a few, man," Johnny chuckled again and Peter could hear a jingle of keys as well as the sound of a door opening and shutting.

"Thanks Johnny, yeah I'll see you soon." With that, Peter hangs up the phone and searches for parking inside a parking structure.

Both young men sat at a table eating slice by slice of a large pizza, half pepperoni and half extra cheese. Peter was working on his fourth slice when he mumbled a reply, "He's been sneaking around with his ex," Peter swallowed the bit of pizza and snorts before taking a gulp from the beer bottle, "Thinks he's so smart, probably thought I'd never find out. Typical."

Johnny frowned at this, "Then why the hell are you still with him? Did you at least call him out on it?"

Peter decided not to answer the first question but did answer the second, "Yeah I walked in on them. He said he was caught off guard, said he was kissing him back by instinct. Instinct my ass."

"You don't deserve to be treated like that Pete," Johnny reached over and squeezes Peter's nearest shoulder, "You need to make things clear with him."

"Maybe I do deserve this," Peter found himself saying, "I mean I knew what I was getting myself into. Maybe now it just finally caught up to me. Karma," he took another sip of beer while considering whether or not to eat another slice.

"You never answered my first question," Johnny reminded him.

"It's because I still love him. I'm really angry at him, but I still love the idiot. Johnny, what kills me is that this man lied to me about who he was talking to, let alone spending time with. This same man who I love and care deeply for is also seeing his ex behind my back even after he told me everything that had happened between them in the past!" Peter sighed and rubs the bridge of his nose between his fingers, when Johnny spoke.

"You're angry because you allowed yourself to get close even though you knew better because of who he is. You're really mad at yourself when you shouldn't be."

Peter sighed, rubbed his eyes with his fingertips then ran his fingers through his hair, "This really sucks."

Johnny patted Peter on the shoulder and offered him a smile, "Let's go clubbin',"

"Johnny, I can't," Peter replied in exasperation.

"Well why not?" the other young man asked, "You're entitled to! Come on! Maybe we'll meet a few girls for me and maybe a few boys for you…" Johnny grabbed Peter in a headlock and rumpled up the dark brown hair to which Peter protested and tried as he might to push Johnny away from him.

Releasing him with a laugh, Johnny placed his hand on Peter's shoulder again and gave him a pat, "Come on, I'm driving. It'll be fun!"

Peter knew from experience that "Johnny Storm", "driving" and "fun" can only lead to disaster… some of the time.

[[We need to talk. Where are you?]]

Peter got a text from Tony, currently Peter and Johnny were standing by the bar at a club Johnny loved going to, when Peter showed Johnny the text.

"You should tell him to go fuck himself!" Johnny called over the loud pumping music, Peter shook his head and texts back.

[[Not telling you.]]

[[Please. I really need to talk to you.]]

Peter sighs and looks up at Johnny rather defeated, "He said "please" I'm going to call him."

Johnny raised an eyebrow and took a sip of beer, "Make him work for it, ask him what he wants to talk about." He then gestures with a hand for Peter to go on and say just that.

"But I already know what he wants to talk about," Johnny rolls his eyes at him, Peter reconsiders and texts Tony back.

[[What do you want to talk about?]]

[[There's only one person I want, it's not Steve. It's you.]]

"What's he saying?" Johnny asked while looking at a couple of girls passing by him then winks at them.

Peter holds up his phone for Johnny to inspect it, Peter grumbles, "Not from where I stood," he then takes another sip of his beer looking put out.

[[Steve can't get it through his head I don't want him. We go way back, but I don't want him. Don't want a future with him in it.]]

[[Then why did you kiss him back? Why didn't you push him off, or punch him?]]

Frowning again Peter and looks up at Johnny apologetically, "I'm sorry dude, want another beer?"

Johnny smiles and waves a hand, "No thanks, driving remember?"

"Oh yeah…" Peter answered then felt his phone buzz again.

[[I could tell you I was caught off guard again but you didn't believe me the first time. It's the truth though.]]

"You hungry then? I can order you some food,"Peter spoke as he continued to text back and forth with Tony.

[[You killed me, I hope you're happy.]]

[[What? No, Peter I love you. I would do anything for you. I'm not happy without you.]]

Johnny yawns and stretched, "Getting tired actually…"

"Wanna go? I'm feeling a little lightheaded myself," Peter admitted not really paying much attention to a black smudge on his shoe that was currently creeping up under his jeans leg.

[[If you really loved me, you wouldn't have done this to me.]]

[[I made a mistake and didn't push him off, but that doesn't mean I don't love you.]]

"Hey Johnny come 'ere!" Peter grabs him around the neck with his arm bumping their heads together and he takes a picture. Letting him go, Peter texts back quickly.

[[Want to know where I am? I'm right here.]]

Peter attaches the picture he took and sends it to Tony, "Come on we gotta go." Peter then takes Johnny's hand and leads him out of the club and back to the car.

 "What was that about?" Johnny asked looking at him as they entered the vehicle. Just as soon as they got into Johnny's car did Peter's phone buzz again.

[[You want me out of your life then?]]

Peter read the text then looks back up at Johnny and shakes his head, "I don't know what to say to this..." he was at a loss for words and had half a mind to throw his phone out of the window. Johnny suspected Peter was going to do something stupid.

"Just give it the night to simmer down," he ruffled Peter's hair, "You wanna stay over?"

Peter shakes his head, "Nah, I need to get my car, can you take me back to the pizza place? I left it over in that big parking structure." He said and pockets his phone instead semi drifting as Johnny drove him to where he left his car.

Meanwhile across town, Tony was pacing back and forth in his penthouse, freaking out due to a lack of response from Peter. That night, Tony did not sleep.

…