Author's Two cents: Greetings All. Hope you are all enjoying your summer. My family is busy renovating bedrooms and a bathroom. Life is super busy with kids and summer. Sorry I have left you all hanging. I was trying to decide if I would just end the story last chapter or continue. Let me know what you think. Should I continue to build on this story or just let it end a natural death? I can't promise my updates will be fast or very often. My career, family and church obligations keep me busy but if there is an interest, I will continue to plug away and work on some content to add. Tony is realizing that Peter needs a father figure in his life and, much to his chagrin, he's realized that if Peter doesn't want May to know about his super abilities, Peter needs more than just a mentor.

Enjoy.

Cheers!

Peter leaned his forehead against Tony Stark's chest, trying to compose himself. He ached inside and he felt humiliated knowing that he'd completely broken down in front of the man he respected so much. In all the time Peter had known Tony, the man always exuded self-control. How could Peter ever garner the man's respect if he acted like a complete moron around him all the time? Peter forced himself to pull away and he quickly wiped his eyes and nose with the back of his arm. He couldn't make himself look the billionaire in the eye but he could feel the man staring at him.

"You ok, Peter?"

Peter nodded but didn't look up; instead, he stared at the hardwood floor of his room.

Tony let out a loud sigh and leaned against the nearby desk. "I'm so sorry, Peter. I had no idea how much you were struggling."

Peter looked up and sniffled. He made eye contact with Tony and had to blink back a fresh onslaught of tears. The tone of the man's voice made him feel like fleeing and never coming back. He didn't want the man's pity. He wasn't some pathetic hard luck story. He believed in making his own luck, come what may.

"I don't want your pity."

"Always the tough guy," Tony muttered more to himself than to Peter, running a weary hand through his hair, exasperation written all over his face.

Peter lifted his chin and wiped away the remaining tears. This time he forced himself to maintain eye contact, his whole body exuding pride. He never asked Tony Stark to come into his life. He would fine once the man left it.

"I can call my aunt to come and get me, Mr. Stark. I am sorry about, well, about everything. I know I can't pay for the damages…"

Tony shook his head and clucked his tongue. "Would you just stop that already! Cut the bullshit, Pete. It's time to be real."

Peter's eyes widened. A few more tears escaped but he quickly swiped them away. He wasn't used to being called out on things. His aunt rarely saw through his well-polished façade. Ever since his uncle was killed, he had put on a good show of having it together. He needed his aunt to know he was fine so she could be fine too.

"Look, I know about your Uncle." Peter's eyes widened but before he could say anything, Tony held up his hand to forestall him. "Just listen to me for a minute, okay. I don't want to argue with you anymore. I'm tired and I know you are too. Knock off the teenage angst for a moment."

Peter nodded and relaxed his tense shoulders a little. He was tired. In fact, he suddenly realized he was exhausted.

"I probably owe you more of an apology than I know, Pete, but for now, please just accept a truce. Once I figure things out, we can talk some more. I know Spiderman is part of who you are and taking the suit away isn't going to deter you from being who you are. I'm asking you to just take a break for a while, not as punishment but as a favour to me…"

"Mr. Stark," began Peter, his brain not comprehending much of anything.

"Pete, sit down before you fall down." Tony pointed to the bed across from the desk. Peter obliged, suddenly grateful to sit down. His eyelids were heavy. Tony reached out and brushed his hair from his eyes. For once, Peter didn't pull away; he actually relished the touch, so caring and so familiar.

"You smell like metal," mumbled Peter as he sat down, leaning his head against the wall.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You smell like a mixture of metal and oil, kinda like a machine shop."

Tony chuckled and sat down beside Peter. He patted the kid's leg gently. "I think you're delirious, kid."

Peter's eyes fluttered as he fought hard to keep them from closing. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark."

"It's okay, Pete. Close your eyes and get some sleep." Peter shook his head in protest but his eyelids closed again. "Go ahead, kiddo, get some rest," encouraged Tony, "I'll still be here when you wake up."

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Tony watched as Peter's eyes fluttered a few more times and then stayed closed. He heaved a weary sigh as he sized up the teenager collapsed on the bed. Peter Parker was a force to be reckoned with. That was for sure and for certain. Tony had seen a side of the boy that he never thought he'd deal with. There was no way that his Aunt was going to be able to handle the kid as a superhero. The woman could try to keep the kid under control but Tony knew that it would be impossible. Heck, even Tony would be hard pressed to keep Peter reigned in.

Tony pulled himself backward on the bed until his back was resting against the wall and he guided Peter's head gently to his lap. Tony ran a gentle hand through the boy's still damp brown hair. Lashing out at the kid in anger had certainly set off a chain of events Tony hadn't anticipated. Peter had managed to push some kind of internal parental button Tony didn't even know he'd had. The gauntlet was meant as an empty threat, one he never intended to follow through on. Yet when Peter's rebellious insolence came out of nowhere, Tony acted on impulse. Howard Stark would have been proud. One thing Tony's father never put up with was disrespect. Tony had felt his father's disapproval on several occasions when he dared to disrespect his father.

Peter stirred, turning to his side but didn't wake up. Tony heaved a sigh of relief grateful for the respite. He needed time to think. He wanted to honour Peter's request to keep his aunt in the dark about the Spiderman stuff but his gut was screaming at him and his stupidity to agree to such a thing. Peter was still a child. Fifteen years old, for Pete's sake. What was he thinking? May Parker should know everything about Peter. Being a teenager superhero was daunting…it was emotionally draining and it impacted Peter more than the kid even realized. If someone died or was seriously injured, that would affect Peter. It wasn't a game, no matter how Peter viewed it as such sometimes.

Tony stroked the young teen's hair and looked at his features, peaceful in sleep. "Oh, kid, what am I going to do with you?" The words came out as a whisper. "I suck at taking care of my own self; hell, if it wasn't for Pepper running my business and taking care of me, I'd be a pauper."

Tony thoughts flashed to his father, Howard Stark. The man had been an enigma to him as a child, teen and young adult. Tony certainly had never learned what a good father was at all from the man. How on earth could Tony even attempt to be any type of father figure to a kid? Tony laughed at his own ponderings. His thoughts were ludicrous. Tony Stark a father? HA! That'd be the day.

It hit Tony at that moment what a selfish son of a bitch he really was. The kid was right. Peter never asked Tony to interfere in his life. He'd all but bullied the kid into going to Germany. Tony had been the one to construct the huge lie about the internship to deceive May. None of it had been Peter's idea.

Tony had been the one to force the issue and basically used him for what he'd wanted and tossed him to the side without so much as a second thought.

"God, kid, I'm a real bastard. I'm so sorry."

Peter's hair was still damp with perspiration from their earlier dealings. Tony's heart went out to the kid now. He just hadn't stopped to think. Peter was struggling too, dealing with things he shouldn't have to deal with at his age. The boy's plate was full yet, for some reason, he felt some kind of strong obligation to help others. Tony understood the draw. He had the same compulsion. But things were different. Tony was an adult. He had the means to act on his impulses; Peter didn't have that and he shouldn't need to.

"Damn it, Pete," he muttered, gripping the boy's dark hair in his fist a little more roughly than he meant to. "Why can't you just leave well enough alone and enjoy being a kid. There is plenty of time to do adult stuff when you're an old codger like me."

Peter groaned in his sleep causing Tony to release his grip and brush the boy's hair down gently once more.

"You need to learn to listen, kid. Just respect and listen to me. Let go of this stuff and let the adults handle it. It's not your job yet."

Tony found himself sighing and wanting to shake the teenager to put some sense into him. His thoughts continued to run in different directions for a while before he finally rested his own head against the back of the wall and shut his eyes. There was no use beating himself up over things he couldn't change. Tony left his hand resting on Peter's soft hair and drifted into a fitful sleep.

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Morning light poured into the room as Peter reached up and wiped the back of his mouth with his hand and opened his eyes. He felt a heavy hand on his head and was startled when he realized the hand belonged to Tony Stark. He attempted to move only to realize he was for the most part lying on top of the man. His face flushed crimson as he scurried to gain some semblance of his pride back but also not wake the man. How long had they been asleep together like this? It was humiliating to Peter to think his mentor had seen him so broken down and out of sorts. Gawd, he'd screwed up beyond repair. He might as well just give up on ever being Spiderman ever again. Tony Stark was never going to see him as anything but some dumb idiotic kid if he didn't stop screwing up so royally.

Peter swallowed a lump in his throat when he felt Tony stir as well. There was no way Peter could get up and escape without the man noticing now. Peter sat up and crawled off the bed quickly and headed towards the washroom.

"You okay, Webster?"

Peter turned and nodded. "Yah. Sorry, uh, I'm just gonna use the washroom."

Tony stretched and nodded.

Peter disappeared into the washroom and relieved himself. He stood in front of the mirror and stared at his pale face. Glancing briefly at his watch, he couldn't believe how much time had passed. In the distance, he could hear Tony talking to Friday. He couldn't make out what was being said so he stopped trying to figure it out. Staring at his reflection, he cupped several handfuls of water from the tap and tossed it into his face, grateful for the way it refreshed him and helped him clear his thoughts. How was he going to get past Tony so he could go home? He didn't want to discuss things anymore. He was tired of talking.

Peter jumped when a knock was heard on the door.

"Hate to drag ya out if you're busy, Pete, but I wouldn't mind a minute if you're finished."

Peter bit his lip and sighed, opening the door and walked out sheepishly keeping his eyes from making contact with Tony's.

Tony stopped before entering the small room. "Don't go anywhere, Pete."

Peter nodded silently and walked towards the window, hearing the door close behind him.

A few minutes later, Tony entered the room with his face damp. He smiled at Peter, "No towels?"

"Uh, yah, I used them to clean up a spill…"

Tony held up his hand. "It's okay. My handsome good looks will survive. It's all good."

Peter chewed on his bottom lip.

"How'd you sleep?"

Peter shrugged. Truth be known, he didn't remember falling asleep and it had been a restless sleep at best. He felt as heavy laden as he had when he'd fallen asleep and nothing was solved.

"Yah, me too," said Tony quietly, obviously acknowledging the restless sleep they both had received.

There was a long pregnant pause. Peter fidgeted as Tony continued to stare at him. It was making him feel very uncomfortable to be scrutinized so closely. What exactly was the man thinking about? Was it how much of a nuisance he was? How he regretted ever getting involved with some messed up superhero wannabe?

"You hungry?"

Peter shrugged again, turning away and staring out the window absently. The sun was up and he could vaguely see antlike people milling around below them. It was Saturday but life never seemed to be at a standstill In Manhattan. Life kept going at a fast pace regardless of the time of day.

"Not really," he finally said.

"Liar," stated Tony flatly.

Peter rolled his eyes. A part of him was feeling just as combative as the night before, only now he was more rested and ready to battle with less emotion. All he wanted to do was go home and forget he'd ever met Tony Stark. He was ready to fight for that freedom this morning.

Peter puffed out his cheeks. "Look, just say what you want to say, Mr. Stark…"

"Tony."

Peter spun around to face Tony, taken aback. "What?"

Tony scrubbed a hand across his face as he straddled the desk chair. "Call me Tony. Mr. Stark was my father."

Peter blinked at a loss for words. Of all things his mentor could have said, Peter did not expect that. Calling an adult by his first name wasn't something usually offered to him. Most adults just wanted the respect and the authority, keeping him and any other teenager at a respectable distance.

"Would you sit and talk to me, Pete?"

Peter closed his eyes and shook his head. He felt like the carpet was being pulled out from under him. Tony Stark's whole demeanour had seemed to change from the night before. Instead of commanding, he was requesting. Peter ran both hands through his hair before opening his eyes and looking at Tony suspiciously.

"Don't look at me like that, kid." Tony reached out for the other chair and shoved it towards him. "Just sit down. Please."

Peter sighed and straddled it in the same fashion as Tony.

"I meant what I said last night, Peter."

Peter felt his back go up. Tony had said a lot of things last night. Before he could say anything, Tony raised his hand to forestall him.

"Before you go all teenage angst on me, I mean about not being alone. You aren't alone anymore. Peter, I don't know what cosmic event threw us together, but I have to say I'm not concerned by it. I'm glad I met you. I'm more than glad. I'm freaking honoured. You're an incredible kid!"

Peter licked his lips as tears threatened to make an appearance once again. Peter blinked hard and fast, his anger and combativeness melting away at the same time.

"You said a lot of things last night that made me think." At this point, Peter saw Tony grimace and look down at the floor. The man stared for a few moments before looking him straight in the eye. "You're right, Pete. I did seek you out and all but coerced you to go to Germany. You got a raw deal, and I'm sorry."

Peter sucked in a sharp breath. He couldn't have been more shocked than he was in that moment. He remained quiet and still, not knowing what to say.

"I'm so sorry about your uncle and how hard you and your aunt struggle to stay afloat. Your aunt is a remarkable woman. I hope you realize that."

Peter nodded. He couldn't have agreed more. His aunt was an extraordinary woman. He loved her with his whole heart. She took him in as a little scrawny, annoying kid and loved him like her own, his uncle as well. He owned them everything.

"I do."

"Good because if I ever hear about you giving her grief, you'll have me to deal with. Got it?"

Peter's eyes widened but he nodded quickly, not knowing how else to respond to the underlying threat.

Tony's expression softened. "The point is, kid, whatever brought us together put aside, I'm here for you now. You're stuck with me. I respect you don't want your aunt to know about this superhero business, and I won't tell her unless we discuss it first. I give you my word."

"Thanks."

Tony nodded and then stood up, looking down at him. "But this comes with consequence, Peter. You've got to understand that. This leaves me in an awkward position. You get that, don't you?"

Peter sighed loudly. It didn't matter if he didn't agree. Tony Stark felt responsible and there wasn't anything he could do about that so instead of protesting, he merely nodded.

Tony paced a little, scratching his head and cracking his knuckles loudly. He turned and walked over to Peter and placed his hands on both his shoulders, looking down at him.

"I meant what I said about the suit and the consequences as well, Pete. As much as it sucks, you're stuck with me and my obstinate ways."

Peter shrugged off his hands. "I already said I agreed to your rules last night. What else do you want from me?" His voice was much louder and terse than he meant it to be but he didn't attempt to correct it. He was on edge, and he was angry Tony had hit him last night. He couldn't change how he felt.

Tony frowned and put his hands on his hips. "A little respect would be nice."

Peter's face reddened. "Fine."

Tony sighed. "Alright. I guess we've talked enough. Want me to take you back to May's?"

This time Peter's jaw dropped in utter surprise. Tony had never offered to take him anywhere. Usually Happy did that. All he could do was offer a nod in reply.

Tony offered him a weary smile. "Okay. Take whatever you want. It all belongs to you anyway. Meet me downstairs in an hour. Need anything, just ask Friday." With those final words, Tony disappeared from the room leaving Peter alone.

Peter sat staring at the empty doorway. Now what? What did this new relationship mean? Peter had no idea what to expect for here on in. Deep down he knew that everything had changed.