Hey guys, I'm back! Thank you for the many lovely reviews, they made me so happy. And here's your reward: a nice long chapter. Will Peter return to the Tower? Or will Tony pay him a visit in Queens? Will they ever meet again? Read the chapter to find out ;) I hope I have come up with something that none of you expected.
Anyway, thanks for the follows, favorites and reviews and enjoy the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel. I wish.
Days pass without Spiderman ever checking in at the Tower. The days grow into weeks and still nothing. Tony regularly checks social media and knows the kid is out there patrolling, he's fine.
He's not surprised that Peter hasn't taken up on his offer. He's really not. But he can't help feeling a bit disappointed. And that does surprise him. Why should he care? He has told Peter to come by whenever he needs help and the fact that he hasn't come obviously means he doesn't need help. He doesn't need anything from Tony, not even a dinner. He rather sleeps wherever but here.
Sitting in his lab, the man slams his fist on the table frustrated. No, he's not hurt. He's not sad, either. He doesn't care!
Gosh, he's so confused, though! Before Spiderman came into his life, everything had been so easy. Uncomplicated. Emotional turmoil isn't new to him, no, but he could always deal with it somehow. But now? He's a wreck. And he doesn't even know why.
Since that dammed kid appeared in his life, he can't sleep. Okay, he could never really sleep through the night but now he hardly ever sleeps. He thought making amends with Peter after their first and very emotional conversation and offering him support would help him relax. He did what he could. He offered him his help. He doesn't really do that to anyone. It's not his fault that Peter has never accepted it. His conscience should be clear.
Except. He's the only one who knows who is under the red mask. Tony is the only one who knows it's just a kid. Without home or family. Without an adult to keep an eye on him, to care for him. Which means if something happens to Peter, it'll be on him.
And that means responsibility. A responsibility that Tony has never asked for.
He groans in frustration and this time he slams both of his fists on the table. Hard.
"Are you alright, boss?" comes Friday's concerned voice from the ceiling. "You heart rate seems elevated. Should I call Dr. Banner?"
"No, Fri, I'm good," the man assures her, running his hands through his hair.
He sighs. This kid will be the death of him. And he can't even blame Peter because it was Tony who went after the kid, who couldn't rest until he figured out Spiderman's identity. And where has that left him?
And he's been fool enough to fill up a cupboard in the kitchen with hot chocolate and candy bars, with stuff he thinks kids like. Even bought some extra boxes of ice cream. Well, he doesn't care anymore; he will eat all that stuff by himself!
"Boss, a new video of Spiderman has just been uploaded to several websites," Friday announces.
Tony looks up immediately. He has ordered Friday to alert him whenever she finds news on the superhero.
"Okay, Spiderman, what are you up to tonight?" he mutters and leans back in his chair, staring at the screen as the latest video starts streaming.
Apparently, two men attempted to rob a convenience store but as soon as they pulled out their guns to threaten the only employee behind the counter, Spiderman arrived and disarmed them with his webs. There were two customers in the store and one of them filmed the whole thing from behind a shelf. The old man at the cash register thanked the superhero who was busy with webbing up the bad guys.
"My pleasure, sir," Spiderman answered politely. "Anything to keep the neighborhood safe."
"Yeah, thanks, Spiderman! You're awesome!" the guy filming the whole scene yelled from his hiding spot.
Spiderman turned to him and gave him a little wave before leaving the store.
As the video ends, Tony decides to go back to the moment when Spiderman waved at the filming guy. He takes a closer look at the red and blue suit. He remembers holding and examining the very same suit while its owner was in surgery at the med bay and he also remembers observing it again when Peter was about to leave the Tower. Tony remembers how shocked he was when he realized Spiderman's suit was practically an onesie. Yes, Peter – unlike him – is enhanced, he's strong and everything and he doesn't need as much protection as a mere human like Tony. Peter doesn't need an Iron suit.
But he's not invincible either. He got shot in front of Tony's eyes. And the man still remembers the plenty of traces of old injuries on the kid's suit.
And then it hits him. If there's something, anything he can do to help Peter, this is it. The kid might need it more than a bed or a meal.
Tony orders Friday to start playing AC/DC, clasps his hands and smiles satisfied as he starts to work. Finally. After so many sleepless nights, he's back in his element.
The next day Tony pulls up in front of Peter's school. He asked Friday to find out when the bell rings and he's been on time. School's out and kids are storming out of the building. Geez, they're so loud!
Despite the mess in front of the school, he decides to get out of the car while waiting for Peter to show up. But a) his shiny new Audi has already received way too many curious looks and he hasn't even got out of the vehicle yet and b) if Tony meets the kid in public, he'll seriously risk his secret identity.
So he decides to leave instead and parks a few blocks away from the school. "Friday, let me know when you spot Peter."
"He has just left the school building with another student, boss."
"Are they coming this way?"
"The other boy is but Peter is heading north."
Tony quickly starts the car and let Friday navigate him to Peter. He can see the boy walking alone on the sidewalk. Battered backpack, hood on his head, earphones tucked in. Just like a regular teenager. The man shakes his head smirking. No one would ever guess this average boy walking down the street is the famous Spiderman.
He pulls up beside him, rolls down the window on the passenger side and leans over. Peter staggers back in shock and stares at him with bewildered eyes.
"Mr. St-Stark… what-what are you doing here?" he stammers and looks around quickly, obviously concerned who might see them.
"If I didn't know better, I would think you're embarrassed of me, Peter," Tony grins.
"Oh no, it's not that, Mr. Stark, it's just-" the boy jabbers.
"I know, kid, I know, I was joking." The man rolls his eyes. "Hop in. Before someone sees us," he winks.
This time, it's Peter who rolls his eyes but he obeys.
As he shuts his door, Tony drives off. "Finally. That was kinda creepy. Me picking up a kid from the street. God only knows what would have happened, if the paparazzi had seen that. Are you hungry? I am. I picked up some food on my way here," he says gesturing at a few paper bags on the backseat.
Peter automatically glances back but then turns to the man. "How did you find me?" he asks eyeing the man suspiciously.
The boy must remember Tony knows which school he goes to, they talked about it back at the Tower. But Tony didn't pick him up there; he met him on the street.
"Friday found you. She used satellites, no biggie," the man shrugs.
Peter's eyes go wide again, but he quickly regains composure and asks more questions. "What's happening, Mr. Stark? Where are we going?"
"How are you, kid?" Tony asks ignoring the boy's questions.
"I'm fine."
"School's good?"
The man knows Peter still excels at school. He might check his grades in the school's database every once in a while. But he figures adults always ask kids about school.
"Yeah, school's okay."
"Good."
Peter is still staring at Tony with wide eyes, probably wanting but not daring to ask him again about his plans. The man takes a pity on him and sighs. "Fine. I made something that I want to show you."
Earlier, Tony instructed Friday to look for an area that is remote enough to test his latest invention far from prying eyes. The AI offered a park just out of Queens. A few minutes later Tony pulls into an empty parking lot. The whole place looks deserted, as if no one has been here for at least a hundred years. It's not really a park anymore but more like the ruins of a park. With high grass, some fallen trees, half-destroyed benches and trash everywhere.
Tony looks around frowning. From the corner of his eye, he can see Peter is doing the same.
"Wow, that's creepy. Friday, is this the best you could find?
"You wanted a remote place, boss."
Tony glares. "And you're sure no one's here, right, girl?"
"Absolutely."
"Great. Let me know if you see someone anyway," the man orders and gets out of the car. He takes the bags from the backseat and starts walking toward a picnic table. The benches on both sides are broken. Tony doesn't mind, he hops up on the table and starts unpacking the bags. Just the usual stuff: cheeseburgers, fries and shakes. "Come on, Peter, dig in."
The kid hesitantly sits down beside Tony and takes the burger that the man offers to him.
Tony gives him a smile. "I know, kid, it looks very weird that I've brought you to this creepy place, but don't forget, you're enhanced and I'm not. And I don't have an Iron suit with me, I promise."
He's joking again of course, but the boy takes it seriously anyway.
"It's not that I'm worried about, sir," he says. "I just… I just don't understand what's going on."
"I'll let you know soon. First, let's eat."
Peter hesitates again, staring down at the burger in his hands, but when Tony starts eating, he follows suit. While they're eating, the man keeps asking questions about school and Spiderman, carefully avoiding topics that might bring up bad memories or could make the kid feel that he has to share something he doesn't want to. Like where he lives exactly or when the last time was when he had a proper meal. Because he's devouring his food at rapid speed. Tony has to stop himself from telling the kid to slow down before he chokes on the fries or something.
Finally, all food is gone and Peter looks at Tony expectantly. The man sighs and walks back to the car to grab another paper bag. He returns to the table and lays the bag on Peter's lap. The kid looks up at Tony, probably waiting for permission to actually open the bag. Gosh, Peter will kill him with his modesty and manners. The man groans. "Come on, kid, open it!"
Peter finally does and then pulls out something that suspiciously looks like… like a suit. Like a very, very upgraded version of his Spiderman suit. Holding it in his hands, Peter is in such awe that he is unable to speak. He just can't stop staring at the suit. He carefully lays it on his lap, slowly running his fingers on the special material as if it is the most precious thing he has ever touched.
"So what do you think?" Tony asks grinning, unable to wait for Peter to speak.
"Is this…?" the boy whispers, holding up the suit. He can't take his eyes off it, which Tony considers a good sign.
"This is your new suit, kid. It gives you much better protection than your old one. The material is tough but flexible. Protects you in combat and perfectly suitable for swinging around in the city."
"You made this for me?" Peter asks still stunned and looks at Tony with wide eyes. Then he carefully folds the suit.
"Why, do you know another superhero with a spider fetish? Why don't you try it on?"
The boy gazes at the red material in his lap again. "I can't accept it, Mr. Stark."
The man groans. "Seriously, kid? I've just made you a super cool, multimillion-dollar suit and I need to persuade you to take it? Okay, you have to accept it, kid because I don't know what to do with it otherwise. I mean I have my Iron suits, which are perfectly fine for me, thank you very much. I definitely won't parade around in the city in that," he claims pointing at the new suit.
Peter grins. Tony guesses the kid has just imagined him in the Spiderman suit. Yeah, that would be a really ridiculous sight.
"You really shouldn't have, Mr. Stark," the boy tries again, but Tony knows it's just the last weak attempt to reject the gift. He has already won.
"What can I say, kid?" he shrugs. "I couldn't sleep last night."
And a few nights before that, he adds to himself.
Peter finally gives him a smile and a few minutes later, he performs a perfect backflip on the table, wearing his brand new suit. "Yes!" he exclaims enthusiastically. "Mr. Stark, it smells like a new car in here!"
Tony laughs. And he can't stop laughing while he's watching Peter swinging around in the park. The kid cheerfully jumps and climbs and swings and flips. Like a circus acrobat on sugar high. The four shakes might have been too much.
After a while, Tony hops up on the table again and pulls out his phone. He might as well check his emails, while the kid is playing out there. He reads and answers several mails. He makes three conference calls. Talks to Pepper twice preparing for his next meetings. He analyses and solves a problem with one of the repulsors of an Iron suit.
And the kid is still out there swinging and cheering. Tony feels like a parent on the playground waiting for his kid to get tired of climbing frames.
He smiles. He has never given a gift that has made someone this happy. He's good then, right? He has helped the kid. He's given him protection. Peter will be good now. And Tony can finally sleep.
Suddenly, the kid lands in front of him in true Iron Man fashion, pulls back his mask and grins at Tony.
"Copycat," the man snorts. "So what do you say, kid? Will you keep it?"
That night, Tony decides to stay away from his lab. He'll just grab some food, watch a movie and go to bed. It's gonna be a nice evening. A calm one.
He had a really good afternoon with Peter. The kid thanked him for the suit like a thousand times and Tony made him promise to give an honest feedback. A few modifications and upgrades might be needed. The man reminded Peter that he regularly upgraded his own suits, too. Plus, something could go bust during a fight.
He told the kid to swing by the Tower whenever he needed to have the suit repaired or modified. Tony also told the boy that he could help him with the suit. And then he repeated his earlier offer about the bed and food. Peter nodded and promised to drop in. Tony couldn't decide if the kid was honest or just polite again. Whatever. It's not that he could make Peter visit. Tony did what he could. It's not up to him anymore.
And now he can settle on the couch with a pizza, pop up his legs on the coffee table and turn on the TV. "Hey, Friday, be a dear and check where's Peter right now. Just in case."
He won't do that all the time. He has promised himself he won't be like a creepy stalker. Peter knows he can always come here if he needs help. Putting a tracker in the suit has been really unnecessary. An overkill.
"Boss, it seems the tracker in Peter's suit has been disabled," Friday announces.
Tony lets the pizza slice fall back on the plate in his lap. For a few seconds, time seems frozen. What?! Seriously?
Then he shakes his head and laughs. "Wow, kid. That was fast."
So what do you think? Is it too much to ask for reviews again? :) I would love to hear your theories about the story.
Anyway, I think we have spent quite a lot of time with Tony lately, so it's time to go back to Peter and find out what's his view on the latest events. Let's visit him in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading!