Chapter 15
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: I'VE BEEN SICK FOR A FEW DAYS SO I HAVEN'T BEEN WRITING SO I'M GOING BACK TO UPDATIN FOR EVERY SECOND DAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT I SHOULD GO BACK TO EVERY DAY SOON.
September 19th 2016. Avengers Compound.
Morning.
It's early morning, Peter's first day back at school and Tony is heading to the Peter's room to make sure that he is ready.
"Peter, you ready Kid?" Tony says, knocking on Peter's bedroom door.
"Yeah, I'll be right out." Peter's voice responds and seconds later Peter walks out, ready for school with his bag on his shoulder, "How am I going to get into the city?" Peter asks curious, "We won't be able to get in there quick enough by driving." He realises.
"We're going to take the helicopter to Avengers Tower, and then I figure you can make your own way to school." Tony explains to Peter.
"Yeah, that would be good, as long as long one notices the helicopter." Peter comments.
"They won't, and then I figure you can make your way to the Tower after school and then you'll be flown home." Tony explains.
"Sounds good." Peter says with a nod.
"Let's get going, and I'll explain the ways in and out of the tower where you won't be seen as we go." Tony tells Peter.
"Sure." Peter responds and the two of them head out and towards the helipad.
September 19th 2016. Avengers Tower.
Morning.
Thanks to how fast Tony's helicopter is it doesn't actually take Tony and Peter very long to get from compound and to Avengers tower.
"Is there any aircraft you can't fly?" Peter asks curious.
"Not sure." Tony admits, "I probably could give anything a go."
"Huh." Peter says, looking interested.
"Remember what I said about how to get out of here without getting noticed." Tony says to Peter.
"Yep." Peter says with a nod, "I should get going, I really don't want to be late on my first day back." Peter realises.
"No, you don't." Tony responds, "I'll be here to meet you once you finish school."
"Okay." Peter responds, "Bye Tony."
"Bye Peter." Tony responds and while Peter gets out of the helicopter and heads downstairs and out Tony closes the door once more and starts to fly back to the compound.
September 19th 2016. Avengers Compound.
Afternoon.
Ever since returning to the compound after taking Peter into the city for school Tony has been in his lab working on different things.
"Boss, I am getting reports that Spider-Man is currently fighting criminals in Queens." FRIDAY informs Tony reveals.
"You've got to be kidding me." Tony says, sounding surprised, "Shouldn't he be in class? Or is it still lunchtime?" he asks FRIDAY.
"According to Mr Peter's schedule he should be in Chemistry class." FRIDAY answers.
"Okay, I can deal with this." Tony says with a sigh, "Send all the Spider-Man reports and footage through to my phone." Tony requests, "And tell the others what's going on. I'm going back to the Tower." He reveals as he gets up and leaves the lab, heading towards the helipad.
September 19th 2016. Avengers Tower.
Afternoon.
Ever since Friday told him that Peter was fighting criminals in Queens Tony has been finding and watching everything that Spider-Man has been noticed doing so that he knows exactly what he has to talk to Peter about.
Before he started to watch everything Tony decided that if there was any evidence that Peter was in trouble or hurt than he would interfere, but everything indicates that he is okay and so Tony just watches, and waits at the Tower, though he doesn't have to wait long as about an hour after he arrived at the Tower Peter walks in.
"Seems like you had an interesting day." Tony comments and Peter, quiet quickly, gets an 'oh shit' look on his face.
"I can explain." Peter says in his defence.
"I figured you'd say that, take a seat." Tony says and Peter walks over and sits on the couch, dropping his bag on the floor, "Talk to me Peter, skipping school isn't like you."
"I just…. Everyone was looking at me with pity and by lunch I couldn't stand it! I don't need anyone's pity!" Peter says annoyed, "So I did the only thing I thought would help… I went out as Spider-Man." He reveals.
"I get that Peter, I do, and I'm not going to stop you from being Spider-Man. I know that there is no way I could get you to stop." Tony admits, "But I am going to do everything I can to make you safe, and there are going to be rules."
"What kind of rules?" Peter asks, his voice hesitant.
"You're going to tell me when you go out, and you're going to call for help if you need it. I need you to promise me that." Tony tells him.
"Yeah, I promise." Peter responds, figuring that that's pretty fair.
"And no more skipping school." Tony tells him, it feeling strange to be the one setting rules and boundaries for another person but he's come to realises that he has to, "Free periods and lunch are yours to do what you want, though I recommend actually eating and studying because you'll need to, but you can't go skipping school." He tells Peter.
"I'll try not to." Peter answers, being pretty sure that that's the best he can do.
"Good. If you need to come home early or just do half days for a little while, then we can make that work." Tony explains to Peter.
"I'll think about it." Peter responds, not sure what he thinks about that.
"Okay." Tony says with a nod, "So, we could go out and grab some food or we could head back to the compound, whatever you want."
"Back to the compound." Peter answers, "Please." He adds.
"Sure." Tony answers and the two of them stand up, "We'll figure things out Peter, things will get better." He tells the young boy.
"How do you know?" Peter ask bitterly.
"Because I've been where you are." Tony reveals, "You know my parents died when I was eighteen and a few years later the person who was more of a father to me than my actual father died and just before I met you my godmother died." Tony reveals a hiccup in his voice as he didn't go to Peggy's funeral, because he didn't want people, or one person in particular, to claim that he was trying to make things about him, and not getting a chance to say goodbye to her hurt, not that he's admitted that or even let himself deal with it, "I know what it feels like to lose everyone." Tony reveals, "It's going to hurt, for a long time, but it will eventually get easier and you'll learn to live with it." Tony reveals, taking a step towards Peter, "You don't have to go through this alone, Peter, you're not alone you have me, and Nat, and Rhodey, and Hope, and Vision, and Laura, and the kids, we'll always be here for you. We'll do everything we can to help." He promises and to his surprise Peter just throws himself into Tony's arm.
"Thank you." Peter says hugging his guardian.
"You don't have to thank me Peter." Tony says, "Let go home." He tells the young boy and together the two of them head towards the helipad so that they can take the helicopter back to the compound.
September 22nd 2016. Avengers Compound.
Very early morning.
Even though he knows he should be Peter can't bring himself to sleep, in fact he's been tossing and turning for at least a few hours.
Realising that he has to do something, and considering the time he figures no one would be around, Peter decides to get up and go for a walk.
As he starts to walk around the compound Peter realises that there are lights coming from kitchen and he so he decides to see who else can't sleep.
As he walks into the kitchen Peter is a little surprised to find Natasha, looking like she is cooking something.
"Natasha?" Peter asks surprised from the doorway.
"Peter? What you doing up? Is something wrong?" Natasha asks concerned.
"Couldn't sleep." Peter admits as he walks over, "Are you cooking?" he asks, a little surprised as while Natasha isn't as bad of a cook as Tony she isn't the greatest.
"Baking actually." Natasha corrects, "It relaxes me." She reveals, feeling like she should give Peter some basic information though she doesn't want to tell him everything.
"Oh, do you want me to go?" Peter asks, not wanting to interrupt Natasha's relaxing time.
"Not if you don't want to." Natasha admits, "You can take a seat, the first batch will be ready soon." She reveals and Peter walks over and sits down on one of the stalls, "Do you want to talk about why you're not sleeping?" she asks curious.
"Honestly, I don't even know." Peter admits, "I just…. Can't." he reveals and Natasha nods.
"How's school going?" Natasha asks.
"Okay. I'm still getting looks of pity, but I've just been ignoring them." Peter admits.
"Good strategy." Natasha says with a nod as she puts down the bowl she is stirring. "Are you far behind?" Natasha asks as she knows that Peter started later than others.
"Nah." Peter says, shaking his head, "I'm probably ahead in somethings." He admits.
"That's something." Natasha says as she uses oven mittens to get a batch of cookies out of the oven which she carries over to the bench and starts to put on a cooling rack.
"Yeah." Peter says, his voice not sounding all that enthusiastic, "Natasha….." Peter starts to say but then trails off.
"What is it Kid?" Natasha asks curious, "You can talk to me." She says, feeling that she should be there for Peter considering everything.
"Will things ever feel normal again?" Peter asks, speaking rather fast.
Hearing the questions Natasha puts the last of the cookies on the cooling rack before walking closer to Peter.
"Truthfully, things will never again feel like they did before." Natasha tells the teenager.
"I was worried you were going to say that." Peter admits, looking disappointed.
"It's not something to be disappointed by, it's the truth." Natasha says, "But Peter, that doesn't mean that things won't feel normal again, it will just be a new normal." Natasha explains, "One day a day will come, maybe soon, maybe in a while where you realise that what you do every day is now what you consider normal. It won't be like before, it will be new, but it will still be normal." Natasha explains.
"You think?" Peter asks curious.
"I know." Natasha says as she reaches over and grabs one of the cookies, "Here, this should be cool enough to eat." She says putting it in front of Peter.
"Thanks." Peter responds, looking grateful, "So um, would it be too much to ask for some hot chocolate?" Peter asks, giving Natasha a small smile.
"Sure, just don't tell Tony or he'll start to ask for it all the time." Natasha reveals.
"I can do that." Peter says with a smile.
"Good." Natasha says, giving Peter a nod and look back, "Eat, they're pretty good if I do say so myself." She reveals as she heads over to the stove to start to make some hot chocolate for Peter who knows that a few months ago he would never have believed that he would be eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate made by the Black Widow.
September 26th 2016. Avengers compound.
Morning.
As they have just gotten a package from the United Nations containing the panels responds to the altered accords Natasha, Rhodey, Tony, Hope and Vision are sitting in the conference room, having just been connected to a video call from T'Challa.
"I take it you got the package too." Tony says to T'Challa.
"Yes, I did." He confirms, "But I haven't had a chance to read them yet." He admits.
"Neither have we." Natasha reveals.
"Guess we're going to find out the changes together." Rhodey reveals.
"I want to know the reaction to page 54, section B." Tony says, flipping forward through the Accords.
"So, how bad?" Hope asks about a minute later, after Tony has a chance to read.
"They actually approved most of it." Tony reveals, sounding surprised as he wasn't expecting that, even though it is what he was hoping for.
"Really?" Natasha says, sounding a little surprised as they all knew that that was the change that the Panel would most likely not approve, "What do you mean most of it?" Natasha asks as she flips through the pages.
"They want a better breakdown of what I would take responsibility for and what Spider-Man would be punished for." Tony explains.
"That's a positive sign." T'Challa admits.
"Yeah, it is." Rhodey confirms.
"Maybe we should read the rest of the document and see how many other sections have been approved before we deicide we were successful." Vision comments.
"He's got a point." Hope realises, "We don't want to assume things are good before we know for sure."
"Okay, then I guess we should get started." Tony says and that's exactly what the group of people at The Compound and T'Challa in Wakanda start to read the Accords to see what the United Nation Panel approved off and what they are going to have to work on more.
September 30th 2016. Avengers compound.
Very early Morning.
As he almost fused his finger to what he is working on Tony figured that it was a bad time, and so he's on his way to his bedroom. As he walks down the bedroom corridor Tony hears a voice and even though he can't make out the words it sounds like someone is in pain.
Looking around the corridor Tony realises that it is coming from Natasha's room, not even needing to think about it Tony makes his way to Natasha's room and as he does he hesitates for a second before gently pushes the door open.
"Nat?" Tony asks, "You okay?" he asks worried.
"No, please, I don't want to, don't make me." Natasha says, her voice full of pain, "please don't." Natasha says as she tosses and turns.
"Nat." Tony says, hurrying over to his friend and he is pretty sure that Natasha starts to cry, something which he hates to see and is also pretty sure that he has never seen before, "Natasha, wake up, Natasha." Tony says, getting to Natasha's side and shaking her awake, "Natasha, come on, wake up." Tony says, shaking her with more force as Natasha continues to toss and turn, seconds later he realises how much a mistake that is as in a second Natasha bolts up, pulls a gun from under her pillow and points it right at him.
"It's just me. Please don't shot, that would be awkward to explain." Tony admits, his voice joking despite the fact that he has a gun pointed at him.
"Tony?" Natasha asks confused as she lowers the gun, "What are you doing here?"
"I was heading to bed when I heard your muttering." Tony reveals, "I wanted to make sure you're okay." He says, it being clear to Natasha that he was worried about her.
"I'm fine." Natasha lies and not even doing a very convincing job of it.
"You're lying, and if you don't want to talk then that's okay." Tony reveals, "I'll go, if you want me to." He offers, starting to stand up, but before he can move Natasha reaches up and grabs his arm.
"Want to watch a movie?" Natasha asks, not looking at directly at Tony as she can't believe she is asking, but at the same time she really doesn't want to be alone.
"Sure." Tony answers, knowing how big it is for Natasha to ask that, "Shove over." He tells her and Natasha moves over so that Tony can fit on the bed, "FRIDAY turn on the TV, put on a movie." He requests.
"Any preference?" FRIDAY asks.
"Something funny." Tony answers after looking at Natasha.
"Sounds good to me." Natasha says and the two of them drift into silence as FRIDAY starts to play some random comedy as Tony and Natasha lie side by side in Natasha's bed.
Hours later the movie is still playing on Natasha's TV though neither Tony or Natasha are awake, in fact they are both fast asleep, side by side, there being hardly any space between them.
Hours later Tony wakes up and at first he is very confused about where he is and what happened, but then he realises that he is in Natasha's room and that the two them moved closer in the night, so close that they are practically cuddling.
Even though he knows the smart move will be to get up Tony can't bring himself to do that because he realises that it is actually quiet relaxing, and feels pretty amazing, to be in bed next to Natasha and so he closes his eyes and attempts to fall asleep once more, not being able to help the smile on his face.
Seconds after Tony closes his eyes again Natasha opens hers and right away she can tell that Tony is only pretending to be asleep, but she's not even angry or even annoyed.
"Remind me to teach you how to pretend to be asleep." Natasha says, breaking the peaceful silence after a few moments.
"Don't know what you're talking about." Tony mutters, though he doesn't open his eyes.
"Sure you don't." Natasha responds, looking amused.
"BOSS, Mr Peter is looking for you." FRIDAY reveals.
"Why?" Tony asks confused, opening his eyes.
"Probably because he has to go to school." Natasha comments, looking over at the clock.
"Miss Romanoff is correct." FRIDAY answers.
"Okay, tell him that I'll meet him in the living room." Tony requests, even though the truth is that he doesn't want to get up.
"Yes Boss." Friday answers.
"I guess I better get up." Tony realises, sounding pretty reluctant.
"Yeah, you should." Natasha says, not wanting to admit that there is a part of her that doesn't want him to go, and Tony pushes himself up into a sitting position.
"See you later." Tony says, standing up.
"Yeah." Natasha says and Tony heads to the door, "Tone…. Thanks." Natasha says simply.
"Not a problem, I know you'd do the same thing for me." Tony says before heading out of the room, knowing that he doesn't have time to go get changed before meeting Peter.
October 6th 2016. Avengers compound.
Afternoon.
Having finished school Peter, with Tony are just walking into the Avengers only area of the compound.
"I'm going to do my homework." Peter tells Tony before walking away.
"Everything okay?" Hope asks from where she is sitting on the couch with Rhodey.
"I'm not sure." Tony admits, "He seemed happy when he got to the tower, he talked about his day, but then, on the trip home, he got quiet." Tony reveals, looking concerned, "I don't know why." He admits.
"I think I might have an idea." Rhodey reveals, causing both Hope and Tony to look at him, "How about I go talk to him." He suggests.
"Sure, if you think that's a good idea." Tony comments.
"Yeah, I do." Rhodey says standing up and heading to the library, where he knows Peter does his homework.
A couple of minutes later Rhodey walks into the library where he isn't at all surprised to find Peter sitting at the desk furthest away from the window, listening to music and working.
Knowing better than to startle him Rhodey walks over so that he is in Peter's line of vision,
"Peter." Rhodey says and Peter jumps, but then takes his headphones out.
"Rhodey, is something wrong?" Peter asks curious.
"Truthfully I was going to ask you the same thing." Rhodey admit as he pulls a chair over and sits down across from Peter.
"I'm fine." Peter says, clearly lying.
"You're lying." Rhodey reveals, "I know lying about how you feel is something that you see a lot of us around here doing, but just because we do doesn't mean you should." Rhodey admits, "It's okay to talk about how you're feeling, and you should." Rhodey explains to the teenager, "Everyone here cares about you Peter, and you can talk to any of us, whenever you want, whenever you need to." He explains, "You can talk to me now, if you want." Rhodey offers and for a few moments Peter looks hesitant as he debates what to do.
"I had a good day." Peter reveals, "I did really well in my tests, and I actually spend some time with my friends, they stopped looking at me in pity, it was good." He tells Rhodey, "I couldn't wait to tell Aunt May all about it, but then I remember." Peter explains, guilt clear in his voice, "How could I feel happy? How could I have forgotten? I miss her so much and I forgot, I should have never done that"
"It's okay to feel happy, Peter, even with all you've lost." Rhodey explains, "You know what I think?" Rhodey asks curious and Peter shrugs, "I think the biggest insult to the people we care about that we've lost is to refuse to let ourselves be happy because they're gone. I think that the way we honour them, is to be happy, because that's what they would want for us." Rhodey explains to Peter.
"Maybe." Peter says, sounding uncertain.
"Think about the Aunt you knew Peter, think about what she'd want for you." Rhodey reveals, and Peter nods, "What homework are you doing?" he asks curious, deciding to change the subject back to something normal.
"Calculus." Peter answers.
"Okay, we'll I better let you get back to it." Rhodey realises, "If you need some help there are a lot of people you can ask." He says as he stands up and starts to walk away.
"Rhodey." Peter says and Rhodey stops, "I could use some help, if you don't mind."
"I don't." Rhodey assures him and he sits back down and starts to help Peter with his homework.
October 12th 2016. Avengers compound.
Afternoon.
"It wasn't that bad!" Peter says, rolling his eyes as he and Tony walk into the living area of the Avengers only area, the two of them having just gotten home from the city after Tony picked Peter up from school.
"Wasn't that bad! Peter you're limping! And you're hurt and if wasn't for your heling you would be hurt so much worse right now." Tony says, it being clear that he is worried, "I know that there is nothing I can do to stop you from being Spider-Man, but damn it Kid you need to be more careful!"
"It's better me being hurt than someone else." Peter says, believing that, "I did the same thing you would have done!"
"That's not the point!" Tony argues.
"Isn't it? I was Spider-Man long before you showed up and I don't need you! I don't need your protection! I'm a hero Tony! And I have been since before you came along!" Peter says before storming off, leaving Tony standing shocked.
"Tone." Hope's voice says, sounding concerned and Tony turns to see Hope, Rhodey, Natasha and Laura, all clearly having heard the conversation.
"I'll be in the lab." Tony says before walking away, really not feeling like dealing with them right now.
"Okay, what just happened?" Laura asks as Tony walks away.
"Sounds like Peter got hurt being Spider-Man and Tony's not taking that too well." Rhodey realises.
"We should do something." Hope realises.
"Leave it to me, I know just what to do." Natasha says before leaving.
"She's going to kick his ass." Rhodey realises with an amused look on his face.
"She's going to kick his ass." Hope confirms, also looking amused.
When Natasha walks into the lab she isn't at all surprised to find Tony already working on something.
"Tony." Natasha says as she walks over and sits on his work bench.
"I can hear your disappointment from here." Tony reveals, not looking up from what he is doing.
"I'm not disappointed." Natasha admits and Tony just looks at her in disbelief, "I'm not." She says, stressing the words, "I get that you're worried about Peter, and I think even he sees that, but you and I both know that lecturing Peter won't get you anywhere." She reveals, "He's a lot like you in that way."
"I was so worried about him, Nat." Tony reveals, "I saw him limping into the tower and I knew what it takes to hurt him and …. I screwed up, didn't I?" he asks worried.
"Yeah." Natasha answers simply.
"What no comforting?" Tony asks, looking slightly amused.
"You don't want comforting, not now. You want someone to tell you the truth, without holding back." Natasha says, knowing that because she knows Tony, "Yeah, you screwed, up but you're new at this so I would be shocked if you didn't." Natasha reveals, "You've got to talk to him Tony, explain why you acted the way you did, but more than that you've got to listen to him."
"You're freakishly good at this whole advice thing." Tony informs Natasha.
"Not always." Natasha informs him.
"Most the time." Tony corrects, "Think I should give him some space first?"
"No." Natasha answers, without hesitation, "You need to clear the air, that's what you both need." Natasha informs him and Tony looks hesitant, "Don't make me kick your ass out of this lab." She says, the threat all too clear in his voice.
"Okay." Tony says, an amused look on his face, "FRIDAY where's Peter?" Tony asks.
"Mr Peter is in his bedroom." FRIDAY answers.
"Thank you." Tony responds and as he does Natasha gives him a look.
"I'm going, I'm going." He responds before getting up and heading out of the lab.
A couple of minutes later Tony arrives at Peter's room. Having no idea what to accept Tony reaches out and knocks.
"Come in, if you have to." Peter says and Tony opens the door and walks in.
"Hey Kid." Tony says walking in, "Can I sit down?"
"If you have to." Peter says and Tony walks over and sits down next to Peter.
"I figure we should talk." Tony says.
"I won't apologise for being Spider-Man." Peter informs Tony.
"I didn't expect you to." Tony admits, "I'm sorry if I was a bit harsh, I was just worried about you." Tony admits, "Why didn't you call me for help?" Tony asks concerned.
"I thought I could handle it." Peter admits, "And I did Tony! I stopped them."
"Yeah, you did, but you also got hurt." Tony reminds him, "I care Peter, and I don't want you to get hurt, I hate it when you get hurt. I'm sorry I was so harsh; I'm still trying to figure this out."
"I'm sorry about what I said too. I was annoyed I thought you were treating me like a little kid." Peter admits.
"Oh Peter, everything I said I said was because I was worried." Tony reveals, "I have complete faith in your skill, but I still worry about you, and nothing's going to change that." Tony admits.
"I don't want you to worry about me." Peter reveals.
"That's going to happen whether you like it or not." Tony reveals, "But I'll try not to go overboard again."
"And I'll try not to be so much of a jerk." Peter responds.
"Good." Tony says with a nod, "Want to come help me in the lab?" He asks.
"Sure." Peter says and the they both stand up and Tony starts to walk to the door.
"Tony." Peter says, stopping Tony before he can walk to far, "I care about you too." Peter says before hugging him.
"Thanks Kid." Tony says gratefully, returning the hug and once they break apart both Tony and Peter head out of the lab.
A couple of minutes later Tony and Peter walk into the lab where Natasha is still sitting. As she sees Tony and Peter walk in Natasha smiles and jumps down from where she is sitting, and starts to head to the door.
"Natasha." Peter says, before Natasha gets to the door.
"Yeah Kid?"
"Why don't you stay?" Peter asks and Natasha and Tony exchange looks.
"Sure." Natasha says and she walks back over to where she was sitting and sits back down again while Tony and Peter start to work together.