It was a beautiful Friday afternoon in May, and Peter would have loved to be outside. But not quite as much as he loved to be where he was right now, in Mr. Stark's lab. Peter had been hearing Mr. Stark go back and forth with FRIDAY about plans for his birthday coming up the next weekend. Colonel Rhodes (Peter was still mentally categorizing all the names Mr. Stark used when referring to him) was going to be there, and Vision. They were both kinda like Avengers, right? Which was amazing, even if the Avengers weren't really a together-thing right now. Well, Mr. Stark was an Avenger too, and yes, that was super cool, but after several months of seeing him most weeks, he wasn't exactly a novelty anymore. Not that he didn't enjoy every hour he got to spend with his amazing mentor, because he did. But after all the time they'd spent together, he was just… Tony. (Though Peter still hadn't ever gotten brave enough to call him that, despite the older man's continual invitations.)

Anyway, Peter's mind was bouncing between his thoughts and the task he was working on (sorting through a bunch of projects, and categorizing them, which was kinda boring, but FRIDAY was helping him learn some new things about the holoboard, which was always worth Peter's time. Finally, he realized Mr. Stark had just spoken to him.

"Pete?"

"Oh, sorry! What?"

"I said," Mr. Stark enunciated, "'are you coming to my party?'"

"Uh… what?"

Mr. Stark gave him a confused look. "What part of that didn't you understand? I thought you said you didn't hit your head very hard last night in the dust-up with those carjackers. FRIDAY, can you do a quick scan, because I'm not sure that-"

"No!" Peter directed towards the nearest sensor. "Sorry, sir, I heard you. I just didn't know I was, um… invited?"

Mr. Stark had his "I can't believe what I'm hearing here" look on, which wasn't uncommon when Peter was talking, but he was especially incredulous this time.

"Why wouldn't you be invited to my birthday party, kid?"

"I just… it never occurred to me. I mean, War Machine is going to be there! And Ms. Potts, and Vision, and…"

Now Mr. Stark was smiling. "Would it make it better if I told you Director Fury will probably drop in, too?"

"No! I mean… why am I invited?"

Mr. Stark rounded the table to stand next to Peter and set a light hand on his shoulder, tilting his chin down to meet Peter's eyes better. "Why would I want to have a party without my favorite intern?" he asked.

Peter flushed slightly and turned his head away in an attempt to hide his pleased expression. "I'm your only intern," he muttered.

"True, but inconsequential," his mentor said brusquely, moving his hand up to scrub lightly at the teen's hair before releasing him. "You're coming, right?"

"Uh, yeah, okay. What time?"

"Next Saturday at six."

All week long Peter had worried about what he could get Mr. Stark for his birthday.

"Ned, he literally has everything. If he wants it, he can buy like twenty of whatever it is, and if it doesn't exist, he'll just build it."

"There's got to be something, Peter," Ned protested. "But seriously, I think he'll like anything you get him. He likes you that much. You can't just show up empty-handed, though."

"I probably could. I don't think he'd care," Peter said, brushing a piece of hair out of his face for the fifth time. He needed a haircut. "And he doesn't like me that much. I'm just an intern. And you know," he made a web-slinging gesture with his hand.

Ned rolled his eyes. "Whatever, dude. What about something that's like an inside joke between you guys, or a reminder of something you like to do together?" Ned suggested.

"What, work in the lab?" Peter wrinkled up his nose. It's not like Mr. Stark needed reminders of that. Everything they worked on together was still there.

"No, you guys do other stuff together sometimes, don't you? You said sometimes he wants to quit early and he'll like order you guys dinner, and you'll watch TV or whatever, right?" Ned's eyes glazed over. "You know… because you just watch TV with Tony Stark sometimes," he said in an awed voice. "Dude, your life is so amazing. Weird, but amazing."

Peter grinned. "Yeah, it kinda is."

"If you guys are done chatting, think you could join the rest of us?" MJ asked dryly.

"Coming!" they both chorused, taking their seats for the Acadec practice. Peter had to work to hide his smile from their scary/amazing team captain, because Ned had given him an idea. At least part of one.

May was similarly useless when he was trying to flesh out his plans. "Peter, honey, you don't need to get him a present. He just wants you there, baby. You're important to him."

Peter rolled his eyes again. He still didn't understand why Mr. Stark was so insistent that he wanted Peter at his birthday party, but he was definitely bringing something.

"Peter," May said with exasperation at his expression. "He's going to like anything you put some thought into, I promise. Just because it's from you."

He shrugged off the sentiment. That's what people said about giving your parents gifts. Mr. Stark wasn't his parent. He was his… boss? Not really. His super-babysitter? He screwed his face up at that thought, but it was kind of true. He felt like he was more than just his mentor, but he didn't want to assume that Mr. Stark felt the same way.

Saturday night came quickly. Mr. Stark was actually in California Friday, so they hadn't had their regular lab hours. Peter always missed it when that happened, but for a busy man, Mr. Stark was home on Fridays more often than not. In fact, though he was still out of town a lot, he rarely missed one of their lab sessions. Huh. Peter wondered how he got lucky enough that it usually worked out that way.

Mr. Stark had offered to have Happy pick him up, but Peter didn't want to put him out just as the party was starting. He was going to patrol for a while first anyway, so he told him he'd just swing over.

"Okay, but remember there will be people here who don't know about your extracurricular activities, kid. Maybe swing into the lab or your guest room or something and change there," Tony had offered. Right, that was a good idea. Peter grinned a little to himself as he thought of how Mr. Stark seemed kinda over-protective in his own way. He swung to the balcony window he knew belonged to the room Mr. Stark had designated as "basically yours." The sliding door opened silently (thanks FRIDAY), and Peter entered. Once again, he shook his head at the Peter-specific teenage decor Mr. Stark had put in here. It's not like it was actually his room, but no one else had used it that he knew of, and a few changes of clothes in his size had shown up long ago. Oh, and there was the nicer pair of tennis shoes he was missing (some Mr. Stark had bought him after he accidentally melted the tips of his old ripped pair in the lab). And his school library book. He knew he left them somewhere.

It was just barely time for the party to start, and he was feeling a little nervous, and maybe a tiny bit sweaty from patrol, so Peter grabbed a quick shower and put on a fresh set of clothes before venturing out into the main living area. He was clutching an oddly-shaped package, wrapped in a random assortment of colored tissue paper (which is all he could find in the apartment last minute - why didn't he remember he'd need to wrap the thing?), and he set it under the entryway table. A few other envelopes and nicely-wrapped packages sat on top of the table.

Mr. Stark's back was to Peter as he walked in, but Colonel Rhodes and Ms. Potts were facing him, and he saw their eyes settle on him: hers with greeting, his with interest. Mr. Stark turned to see who they were looking at.

"Kid! You made it! FRIDAY said you'd arrived, but that was like twenty minutes ago."

Peter ducked his head a little. FRIDAY was wonderful, but she was a bit of a busybody. "I… I had a busy day, and kinda needed a shower before I came out."

Colonel Rhodes' face showed even more intrigue. Peter realized it was probably a little abnormal for people to come to a birthday party and shower when they got there. Whoops.

"So, Tony, this is the kid, huh? Like your intern, or something?" Colonel Rhodes' tone implied he didn't exactly believe that designation.

"Or something," Tony said agreeably, physically pulling Peter into their conversation circle, and not removing his hand from the teenager's shoulder. "This is Peter."

Peter smiled shyly. "It's really nice to meet you, Mr. War M- er, Colonel Rhodes, sir." Wow. Could he sound any dumber? Technically they had kind of met in Germany the fall before, but he'd never met him as Peter, and they'd both mostly been in suits then.

Tony rolled his eyes. "'Rhodey' is fine, kid." Yeah, that wasn't happening.

"Nice to meet you, Peter. I've heard a lot about you the last few months, and been looking forward to meeting anyone who can keep this guy," he smiled fondly at Tony, "on his toes."

Do not stutter, Peter warned himself. "Uh, thank you sir. I'm pretty sure he's the one who keeps me on my toes. He's amazing."

"Aw, he obviously hasn't been around quite long enough, Tones," Colonel Rhodes teased his friend. "How long have you been working here, Peter? You seem younger than most of the interns. Freshman?"

Mr. Stark had talked a lot about him, but hadn't mentioned how old he was? "Um, I'm fifteen, sir. I'm a student at Midtown."

Colonel Rhodes' eyebrows shot up. "Well, I guess that makes sense. And doesn't. Why didn't you mention he was that young, Tony?" Then to Peter, "Are you sure we haven't met before? Your voice seems familiar."

Mr. Stark avoided Colonel Rhodes' look, and turned to grab an appetizer from a nearby tray. "Must've slipped my mind," he said casually. "He's the same age I was when we met at MIT, so we know age doesn't really matter that much," Mr. Stark said, finally meeting his friend's gaze and raising an eyebrow challengingly.

"Well, that's true most of the time, but seems like you might have mentioned it. Of course, with the stuff you said you two have been working on, he might be just as smart as you were at that point."

"At least as smart as me, Rhodey. Kid's gonna blow us both out of the water; just give him time."

Peter tried to school his face, but he was definitely surprised at the compliment. Before anyone could say anything else, Vision glided over to join them. Peter supposed he actually just walked, but he gave that floaty feeling about his movement that made you wonder. His brightly colored "skin" looked both metallic and soft, and his eyes were somehow kind.

"Peter, Vision," Mr. Stark said simply. Wow. Vision was… Peter was definitely fascinated with what he was, and how he came to be. He'd tried to find out as much as he could about it all, but Mr. Stark got a little quiet and tense when he'd tried to talk about it, and Peter didn't like to make him uncomfortable.

"Hello, Mr. Vision," Peter said quietly, his brain going a hundred miles an hour and kind of frozen at the same time.

The android smiled. "Hello, Peter. Just 'Vision' is fine." Man, Peter had so many questions for him. But instead he just smiled silently, trying not to fixate on the subtly glowing stone in the android's head. He blinked, and glanced away, aware he was staring.

Ms. Potts was an angel, and rescued him. "Peter, honey, I never heard how the science fair went. How did you and Ned do with that innovative engine?"

Peter took a deep breath and smiled, then managed to ignore his nervousness in the presence of the two new heroes, and launched into a quick narrative for Ms. Potts.

Mr. Stark looked on in amusement, not asking any questions, since he'd already gotten the rundown. When Peter finished though, his mentor seemed to remember something, and asked, "Hey, kid, did you get that big English essay done yet?"

Peter scowled. He hated English essays. "Not yet."

"Isn't it due Tuesday?"

"Yeah, but that still gives me a couple days," he pointed out.

"Hmm. No p-uh, going out tomorrow afternoon until it's done, okay?"

"What? Mr. Stark! Why do I have to-"

"Zip it. This is me helping you, not punishing you. I don't want you staying up all night Monday trying to get it done."

"But-"

"Peter."

The teenager sighed. "Fine." Then he muttered, "It's just got to be done, not done well."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, sir," Peter said with innocent eyes and a ghost of a smirk.

"Listen here, mister-" Tony began, a scowl on his face, but a spark in his eye. He was interrupted by the elevator chiming. "Oh, that must be Fury and Hill."

Fury? Like as in the head of SHIELD, Fury? Tony had mentioned him, but Peter didn't really think he'd show up…

As Mr. Stark and Colonel Rhodes drifted towards the elevator to welcome the new arrivals, Peter clearly heard Rhodey say (under his breath), "Tony, your intern, huh? Who are you, and what did you do with Tony Stark?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Platypus," Mr. Stark said, his voice full of its own innocence.

"Tony, you were just 'dadding' that kid so hard. Is he yours -yours? Your crazy years finally come back to haunt you?"

"No, nothing like that!" Mr. Stark protested, obviously flustered, and flicking glances back towards Peter, probably aware that the boy could hear the whole conversation. "He's a really good intern. We… well, I guess we spend a lot of time together, and I'm just helping his aunt keep on the straight and narrow with school sometimes," he finished lamely.

Colonel Rhodes made a noise of disbelief as they both switched to welcoming Mr. Fury and Ms. Hill.

Peter moved into the kitchen area, out of sight, for a moment, eyes wide. He played back the conversation in his head, and… yeah, that sounded exactly like something Ned's mom or dad would say to his best friend. Or May to Peter. Mr. Stark kinda thought of him that way? His grades didn't have that much to do with Spiderman, but maybe Mr. Stark thought if he got behind, May wouldn't let him do any webslinging or internship stuff for a while. That must be it. Mr. Stark just didn't want his aunt to bench him.

"Pete? Where'd you go?" he heard Mr. Stark say.

He poked his head out of the kitchen alcove. "Yes, sir?"

"C'mere."

Peter obediently approached his mentor, where he was talking to Director Fury and Agent Hill.

Tony grasped Peter lightly by the shoulder and introduced him. "Peter, this is Director Nicholas Fury and Agent Maria Hill. Super-spies, this is Peter Parker, my intern. He worked with me on those new comm units I just outfitted you with."

Director Fury's eye lit with interest. Was Peter supposed to look at the patch? Not look at the patch? Which was less rude?

"Hello, Mr. Director Fury, sir, I mean - Director? I-"

"Easy, Pete. You can call him whatever."

"Fury is fine," the intimidating man said, with an expression adjacent to a smile.

Peter gulped. "Agent? Hill?" he said tentatively.

The (also intimidating) woman smiled kindly at him. "Nice to meet you, Peter." Does that mean he'd gotten her title right?

"He worked with you on the comms? I thought you were a solo act, Stark," Agent Hill said, the tease in her tone obvious.

"Well, it's not often I find someone who can keep up with me, and who I actually like," Mr. Stark drawled, squeezing Peter's shoulder.

"Huh," said Director Fury with curiosity. "Ever thought about a career in special ops, Mr. Parker?" he asked.

"Oh no you don't!" Mr. Stark said, making a show of shoving Peter behind his back, out of Fury's sight. "This one's mine. He's working for SI after he graduates."

"And when is that? You a freshman, Parker?"

"Um… a sophomore?" Peter answered, sticking his head out from behind Mr. Stark.

"NYU? Columbia?"

Peter huffed out a laugh. "Midtown Tech."

Mr. Stark gave up his pretense and scooted aside so Peter wasn't behind him anymore. "He's fifteen, Fury. Back off," he laughed.

"I didn't know SI did high school internships," Agent Hill said in surprise. "or that you took interns in your lab."

"We don't. I don't. Just Peter." Director Fury and Agent Hill both gave him a measuring look, and Mr. Stark changed the subject.

The evening continued along that vein, with Peter mostly chatting with Ms. Potts or with Happy, and Mr. Stark running slight interference between Colonel Rhodes (with his suspicious questions) and Peter. The party didn't go late, and everyone except Colonel Rhodes and Ms. Potts had bowed out by nine.

Colonel Rhodes looked comfortable on the couch, and like he wasn't going anywhere. Peter had hoped to give Mr. Stark his gift in private, but he needed to head home soon if he wanted to get any patrolling in before curfew. Either that, or he needed to go work on that ridiculous paper. Sunday afternoon was usually prime Spiderman time. Honestly, what teenager wanted to analyze Julius Caesar, anyway? What was the point?

Peter snagged his present (with its sub-par wrapping job) from under the table and walked back into the great room.

"Hey, Mr. Stark?" Peter didn't know if he'd ever said it loudly enough, but Mr. Stark's head twitched towards him, and as soon as Ms. Potts finished her sentence, he turned fully to Peter.

"What's up, kid? You need to take off?"

"Um, yeah, but can you come here for a second? Please?"

His mentor stood up immediately and walked towards Peter, who ducked back into the entryway. Mr. Stark followed him, an intrigued look on his face.

"This is nothing big. I mean, you can get yourself anything you really want, but I wanted to get you something, and-" he shoved the present at the engineer, who was grinning now.

"You absolutely didn't need to get me anything, kid, but I appreciate the thought," Mr. Stark said, as he carefully removed the tissue paper.

Inside was a plain white coffee mug that said "WORLD'S BEST BOSS" with "BOSS" crossed out, and "MENTOR" written in underneath it.

Mr. Stark barked out a little laugh. "Is this Michael's mug from 'The Office?'" They'd recently been watching the whole series together in bits and pieces, and were almost to the sixth season.

"Yeah," Peter said, scuffing the toes of his nicer tennis shoes against the tile as he fiddled with his watch. The watch that had a tracking device and detected anytime his vitals became concerning. "I just thought it was fun because…"

"Because we watch that together, yeah. It's very fun. I love it. And what's inside here?"

"Oh, those are-" Peter flushed a little. It was stupid, right? Too late now. "They're like… little coupons?" his voice broke embarrassingly on that last word.

"Good for one music veto?" Tony said, looking up questioningly.

"Uh, you know when it's my turn to pick the music, and sometimes you like it, but sometimes you hate it, and I tell you to suck it up?" Peter babbled nervously. "Well, there are five of those, and you can use them to veto whatever I pick. But once they're gone, they're gone!" he said, trying to sound a little more confident.

Mr. Stark was grinning widely. "And these? 'Because I Said So' coupons? There are only three of those."

Peter rolled his eyes. "Those are when I'm arguing with you about something. You can use one and I'll just stop and do what you asked without any more discussion."

Mr. Stark laughed out loud again at that. "Pete, these are golden! Do these apply to both of you, or just the 'Peter Parker' you?"

Peter glared lightly at his mentor, but sighed, and said, "They're good for anything."

Mr. Stark's eyes widened. "Really." he said, more to himself than to Peter. Peter didn't like the look in his eye. What was he thinking about?

He took a deep breath, and pushed forward. "There's one last part, if you'll look at the bottom of the cup?"

Tony picked it up and turned it over. Peter had written "Tony" on the bottom of the mug. The hero looked a little confused.

"Um, you've been asking me to call you 'Tony,' well, for a long ti-"

"Pretty much since you started working in my lab, go on…"

"And for part of your present, I'm going to try to do it. Not all the time, but sometimes. So, Happy Birthday, Tony."

Mr. Stark Tony's face split into a wide, soft, smile.

"Pete, that's… all of this," he said, gesturing to the cup, which he set on the table, "but especially that last part? Best present ever, kid. C'mere."

Tony pulled Peter in for a big bear hug, one arm wrapped around his back and one hand tucked up at the back of his head. His mentor hugged him often. When he'd been worried, when Peter did something especially impressive, if they'd been apart more than a couple days. But they were mostly side hugs, or quick grab-and-releases. But this one felt different. And the older man wasn't letting go.

As Peter put that warm feeling together, along with the looks Tony had been giving him as he realized the purpose of each present, and all the little ways he took care of Peter, and worried about him, and the room he'd set up just for him, and how he prioritized time with Peter, and how happy he always was to see him… oh. Ned was right. Aunt May was right. Mr. Stark really cared about him. Him, Peter, not just him, Spiderman, or him, the intern that was smart enough to keep up in his lab. Wow.

Tony finally let go, and ruffled his hair gently. "Thanks, bud. You'd better go. English papers to write, right?"

Peter grimaced comically. "Yeah, I guess so. See you soon?"

"Yeah, real soon, kid. You want a ride?"

"Nah, I love the weather right now."

"Okay, swing safe."

As Peter went to his room to change, he could hear Colonel Rhodes laughing. "Tones, that is a full-blooded Father's Day present that your kid just accidentally gave you early. The mug? The coupons? Congrats, buddy. It's a boy!"

Peter was blushing fiercely, but also smiling under his mask as he launched out of the window. He shook his head at Colonel Rhodes' teasing, but felt content knowing that Mr. Stark… no, Tony was happy with the gift, and happy with him, and Peter? Peter was just happy.