Hey All, thanks for all the interest in this story and for your reviews. I'm enjoying your comments and insights. I do not have a huge knowledge base of Ironman or Spiderman, so I may make some canon mistakes. Thanks to Phoenixhp5 for pointing out that Tony Stark is a billionaire. I'm just scribbling ideas down and writing whenever I have a few minutes to myself...I anticipate plenty of canon errors and mix-ups. Feel free to drop me a line if you see anything I should change... may not have time to do it right away but eventually.

Here is the next little blurb...I don't know who to feel sorry for...Tony or Peter.

Hope you enjoy.

Cheers,

Sawyer.

Ironman landed on the upper deck of the tower, gently set Peter to his feet and exited the suit. Peter took a minute to gain his equilibrium and Tony left him to it. The kid was used to sailing through the air on his webs; the little ride in Ironman's arms wouldn't have made too much difference. Tony strode inside and headed for the bar. He needed a drink to calm his nerves. He wasn't used to this parenting crap. The fact that he kept hearing his father's voice whenever he spoke to Peter did not impress him. Crap, when did he turn into his father?

Tony poured a drink and heard Peter walk into the room. Taking a long mouthful, Tony steeled himself for the next part of playing adult. He felt responsible for Peter. He wasn't sure when it had happened, but somewhere along the line, he'd adopted the damned kid. As long as the kid's guardian didn't know the whole truth, that made him responsible whether he liked it or not.

"Sit down kid. You and I need to get some things clear, but first things first, hand over the suit. Don't make me ask you again."

Peter clutched the bag closer and shook his head. "No." His voice wavered a little but his body language made it clear he wasn't going to back down anytime soon.

Tony sighed and set his drink down. "It's funny how you think this is up for debate. It's not. "

Peter fidgeted nervously.

"You've proven to me that you're not responsible enough to have that suit."

"Bullshit," whispered Peter.

Tony's jaw dropped. This was definitely a new side to Peter. The kid had grown some balls. Tony was impressed…pissed off but also impressed.

"I feel the need to point out the inappropriateness of your language, in Cap's honour of course."

A small smirk played on Peter's lips easing the tension a little. Tony was grateful for the reprieve. He wasn't used to being the bad guy.

"C'mon, kid, take a seat and let's talk."

Peter walked over to the nearest sofa and sat down still gripping his bag for dear life. The site was almost comical. Tony sat across from him, leaned back and rested his ankle on his opposite knee.

"So, as far as I can tell, you have one of two choices, kid."

Peter furrowed his brow but didn't say anything.

"The two of us can go and have a little tete-a-tete with Aunt May or you deal with me."

Peter's face paled significantly and he licked his lips. "Uh, can I have a drink of water?"

Tony rose to his feet and walked towards the bar. "So, what'll it be, kid?"

"A scotch on the rocks?" quipped Peter.

Tony chuckled, bringing a glass of water to Peter and handing it to him with a smile. "Funny kid."

Peter took the water and drained the whole glass. He was stalling for sure but he was also thirsty. He was always thirsty when he was nervous. And he also needed to use the washroom but he'd hold it for a while longer.

"Please, Mr. Stark, don't tell my Aunt May. She wouldn't understand. She already worries about me getting hurt or killed like my Uncle Ben. I'm all she's got left. If she found out about Spiderman, she'd flip out. I'm not kidding, and she'd forbid me from going out ever again. Please, you've got to understand how it is. Spiderman is who I am. I can't separate myself."

Tony sighed and sat down again. "Listen, kid, your aunt should know. You're a damned kid, for Pete's sake, and she's your guardian. She needs to know…"

"She wouldn't understand!" insisted Peter.

Tony sighed. He could appreciate where the kid was coming from. It was hard for Pepper to grasp sometimes too. Tony understood what Peter was saying better than anyone. He couldn't separate himself from Ironman either. Tony thought for a few minutes and made up his mind. If the kid was going to insist his aunt didn't know, then the rules were about to change dramatically. There was no way Peter getting hurt or killed was going to be on his conscience.

Tony sat forward and leaned his elbows on his knees. "Okay, kid, this is how things are going to play out from here on in. If you don't want Aunt May to know about this Spidey business then your butt belongs to me. Understand what I'm saying here?"

Peter gulped. "Yes, sir, Mr. Stark…ummm, I mean, no, sir…I mean…"

Tony chuckled and held out his hand. "We'll start with you giving me that damned suit back. You've shown me that you're not ready for that kind of technology yet."

Peter's face reddened and he held his bag tighter.

Tony groaned and grabbed the bag, snatching it from Peter's hands. Peter stood up indignantly and tried to grab it back. Tony held it away from him and unzipped it.

"Hey! You have no right."

"I have every right, Webster, so sit your ass down and listen up." Tony was more serious than Peter had ever seen him.

Peter huffed and crossed his arms. "You made it for me. It's mine!"

Tony lifted a brow as he tossed the suit onto the nearby chair. "I said sit!"

"No! I'm leaving. You have your stupid suit now leave me the hell alone!"

Peter began to walk towards the door but Tony reached and grabbed him by the forearm. Peter spun on his heel and yanked his arm out of Tony's grasp. Peter was strong. He didn't need an iron suit to defend himself. In reality, he could easily throw Tony Stark across a room with very little effort. His respect for Tony kept him from doing that but his anger was mounting. Tony was making him mad.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped. "You've got your suit back. How about we just go back to you ignoring me, okay?" Peter began walking away again.

Tony grabbed his arm again. "That's not gonna happen, Spider-boy. If your Aunt May doesn't know about this, then that makes me responsible for you."

Peter glared at him. "NO, it doesn't. I can take care of myself. I was Spiderman before I met you, and I will be Spiderman when you piss off!"

Tony's eyes darkened and before Peter realized what was happening, Tony spun him sideways and landed the mother of all smacks on his backside. Peter's eyes widened and his mouth gaped. His heart rate increased and his face reddened in embarrassment. The swat stung on impact but quickly faded away due to his accelerated healing. It wasn't the pain that caught his attention; it was the look on Tony's face. It made Peter stop in his tracks.

"You don't get to call the shots, Mr. Parker," said Tony in a dangerously quiet voice. He pointed his finger at Peter's face sternly. "There is no debate here. You're gonna sit your ass down and we're going to discuss how things are gonna go from now on. I'm finished with this adolescent attitude crap. You showed me you have balls and I'm impressed. Good job. Peter Parker has balls. Okay, we're done, now it's time to zip your lip."

Peter stood gaping at him and his hand went to his backside without thinking. He couldn't have been more shocked that Tony Stark had actually smacked him.

"Don't look so wounded, kid. You and I both know that swat hurt my hand more than it hurt you," said Tony massaging his hand and walking towards the bar again. He opened the mini-fridge and pulled out an ice pack. His gut instinct to haul the kid over his knee wasn't going to work. Smacking Peter was like smacking a friggin brick wall. "Now, I'm asking you to sit down so we can talk."

Peter sucked in his bottom lip and stood to stare at Tony. Tony clutched the ice pack and grimaced as he held it. Peter's stomach lurched as he slowly wandered over and sat down. Somewhere along the lines, the dynamics had changed between Tony and himself. Tony had gone from his mentor and friend to some kind of authority figure, and he felt trapped. If he didn't cooperate then Tony would tell his aunt. He was screwed either way.

"Please, Mr. Stark, please don't take back the suit. I'm nothing without that suit."

Tony set the ice pack down on the counter and strode across the room, towering over Peter ominously.

"If you're nothing without that suit, then you shouldn't have it at all!"

Tears flooded Peter's eyes. Tony's words stung. A lot.

Tony sighed loudly and sat down opposite Peter. "God, I sound like my dad." He ran a hand through his dark hair and stared into space.

Peter looked down at his hands, feeling lost. He wasn't sure what he should say to Tony. He'd lost the man's respect and trust, and he hated feeling that way. But, on the other hand, he felt like Tony had let him down too. Tony had led him to believe that he would be a more active part of his life after they returned from Germany. The man obviously had wanted Peter to just be a good little boy and stay under the radar so he could go about his normal life and not be bothered with him.

"So, what am I supposed to do with you now, kid?"

Peter shrugged but didn't make eye contact.

"I can't ground you. I can't take your phone away without your aunt knowing. I sure as hell can't spank you. I'd probably break every bone in my hand doing that. I'd have to wear my damned suit to make a dent in your stubborn backside…"

Peter's stomach sank further; listening to Tony Stark listing ways to punish him only served to make him feel worse.

Tony glanced at his watch. "You better give your aunt a call. Tell her where you are and that I want you to spend the night with me. Make up something about your internship. Use your imagination." Tony rose to his feet once more. "I need to attend to some business for an hour or so. Hang tight, help yourself to anything non-alcoholic in the fridge but don't you dare step a spider web out of this tower. Understand me?"

Peter swallowed and nodded. "Where's the washroom?" he managed in a small voice.

Tony grabbed the Spiderman suit. "First door down the hall on your left," he said and disappeared out the door leaving Peter alone.