Hey friends! I guess everyone wants to know what Spiderman is going to do, but let's visit Tony first, shall we? Here comes the new chapter featuring another popular Avenger. I hope you'll like it.
As always, I'd like to thank you all for the reviews, follows and favorites.
Disclaimer: no, I don't own Marvel. I wish.
Tony enters the kitchen, turns on the coffee maker, sits down by the table and props his head in his hands. He's staring at the machine furiously as if he could make it work faster with his severe look. No such luck though, his coffee is not ready yet. He groans irritated.
"Friday, remind me to invent a superfast coffee maker later tonight. Something that brews coffee under three seconds."
"Certainly, boss," the AI replies keenly, but Tony swears he can hear a grin in her voice.
"Do not mock me, girl, will ya?"
"Would never, boss," Friday answers and the man rolls his eyes. She is mocking him.
The elevator doors open and Bruce Banner walks in. "Rough day?" he asks, taking a look at his friend at the table. He steps to the refrigerator and pulls out a water bottle.
"By all means, be my guest," Tony frowns waving at him. He knows by now he should be used to this, used to that everyone walks around in his living area like it's the common room.
"Sorry," Bruce says sheepishly and settles at the table. "I heard that you'd come back and just want to know how Boston was."
Tony sighs. "Like any business meeting. Boring."
The coffee is finally ready and he all but shoots up to pour the freshly brewed, aromatic drink into his mug and when he sits back to the table, he looks more relaxed already. "I should probably retreat into my lab and tinker something. Much more fun than any conference room."
"Barton says he would be happy to get some new gear from you," Bruce remarks grinning.
"I bet. I just don't know if he deserves any original Stark design," Tony snorts.
"Like Spiderman does?" the scientist lifts an eyebrow.
Tony doesn't answer.
So Bruce noticed Spiderman's new outfit and correctly guessed Tony had made it for him.
For the kid who he let go with that brand new suit and who he has never heard from ever since. No, he's not disappointed. He's just surprised, right?
Okay, who is he kidding? Of course he's disappointed. The kid has never popped in at the Tower, even though Tony offered him twice. And he barely invites anyone to the Tower. Ever.
Yet he did invite that annoyingly twitchy kid who can't stop jumping around and never shuts up about his Spidey things but for what? It's been totally pointless.
"What about Peter by the way?" Bruce asks.
Tony rubs his eyes frustrated. "What do you mean?"
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. I guess he's swinging around in Queens, stopping bike thieves and rescuing stray cats," Tony shrugs, hoping his friend can't hear the disappointment in his voice.
The scientist sighs. "Tony, don't you think you should have called the authorities? He's what? Fifteen? And he's out there on the streets all by himself."
"Don't forget he's not a regular kid, Bruce. He's Spiderman," Tony reminds him, knowing his argument is pathetically weak.
Unsurprisingly, it can't convince Bruce.
"Still, he's just a kid!" he heatedly points out. "He might survive on the streets, yes, but his life should be about more than surviving, don't you think? A child needs more than just a place to stay and enough food to eat. And he doesn't even have any of those. I mean you saw him, Tony, he's malnourished! Oh, and let's not forget that he regularly gets injured. I know he's healing factor is incredible, but it doesn't mean that it's okay to get wounded on a daily basis!"
Okay, Bruce seems really upset now. He doesn't really talk this much or get this agitated. It's obviously not the first time that he doesn't agree with Tony, but he is usually much calmer when he expresses his opinion. Yes, he always brings up reasonable arguments – like now – but he formulates them way less intensely.
Not that Tony could blame him. Because he knows Banner is right. He knows the kid needs family, needs a home and suit or no suit, it's not right to leave him out there to his own devices. But-
"Have you told Pepper about him?" Bruce's voice breaks through his thoughts.
"No." Tony lowers his head like he's some kind of misbehaving child expecting to be rightfully scolded.
He hates this. He should be able to come up with some kind of unquestionable defense, right? Tony Stark is always ready to prove he's right in his charismatic, captivating way that leaves absolutely no room for argument. He's always the super confident, self-satisfied one. Why isn't he now?
"And why haven't you told Pepper?" Bruce asks again and instead of waiting for a response, he answers his question himself. "Tony, we both know you haven't told her because you exactly know what she would say. And you wouldn't like her opinion," the scientist explains tiredly.
Tony rolls his eyes. Why does Banner always have to be right tonight? Why can he see right through him?
"I don't wanna call CPS on him, okay?" he finally snaps. "They would probably put him into a shitty foster home. Yes, there's a slight chance they might find him some loving, pitch perfect family that usually exists only in the movies, but who can guarantee that? And who knows what would happen to the Spiderman thing then? I can't let them take that away from him! I know if someone wanted to take Iron Man from me, I'd go crazy. Kid probably wouldn't handle it well, either."
Bruce shakes his head. "Fine. You don't want to bring in the authorities. I get that. But then what's your plan, Tony? Like I said you can't just leave him out there. That cannot be an option!"
"He knows he can always come here if he needs help. I told him. Twice," Tony shrugs. But again, he knows it's a weak argument.
And his friend doesn't hesitate to point it out. "Has he ever come?"
Tony shakes his head defeated, staring at his coffee mug. Then he glances up and throws in his final argument. "I did make him a suit to keep him safe, though," he frowns, knowing exactly it's not a good enough point, either.
Bruce sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Geez, Tony. What if something happens to him again and you won't be there to help?"
Tony groans frustrated and slams his fist on the table hard. "Why is this damned kid my responsibility? It's not up to me if he wants to go out there like a freaking wannabe superhero!"
"I know responsibility is your least favorite word, Tony, but I don't think you can run away from this now," Bruce smiles sadly.
"What are you saying, Banner?" Tony asks irritated, shifting uncomfortably on his chair. He so doesn't like where this conversation is going. "I won't call CPS. I won't do that to him."
That would feel like betrayal. The kid clearly told him he didn't want that. Of course Tony can't expect Peter to make a mature decision on the matter. But then again, can Tony be expected to make one?
"Okay, fine. Don't do that," Bruce nods, raising his hands in surrender.
Why does he suddenly seem okay with this? This must be some kind of trap.
"I agree that it would be really hard to find a proper family for Peter. A family that makes him happy and tolerates or even supports his spider activities," Bruce explains. "There can't be many families like that."
"Agreed," Tony nods, eyeing his friend suspiciously. He's still so confused. Where exactly are they going here?
"But," Banner continues.
Tony closes his eyes. Okay, here comes the truth. Why does he have a feeling that he won't like it?
"But he can't stay on the streets by himself either. No matter how amazing suit he has," the scientist claims. He looks at Tony expectantly.
Yeah, this is definitely a trap. And Tony doesn't know how to get out of it. He guesses there is a correct answer, some magic words that his friend wants him to say, but he honestly can't figure it out. Or he doesn't want to.
"I agree," he starts carefully, „that Peter's life circumstances are not entirely ideal."
Bruce is still staring at him, obviously waiting for Tony to go on, but he remains stubbornly silent, leaning back on his chair and folding his arms.
The scientist lowers his head and places both of his hands on the table. He takes a deep breath and glances up at Tony. "Do you really want me to say it out loud? You exactly know, Tony what's the right thing to do here."
The man tilts his head and gives Bruce a daring look.
No, he won't say it. Because that would make it real. Of course he knows what the right thing to do is. He fucking knows! He has known from the moment when he figured out Peter's situation. He knows what the most obvious solution would be.
But. He's Tony Stark. He doesn't do family. Or loving home. He grew up in a dysfunctional family, so what could he know about a loving one? He grew up with a messed up father, so how could he know how to ensure a happy childhood? He knows absolutely nothing about kids or family!
He gave Peter the only kind of protection he could provide: a high-tech suit. That's the only protection Tony is capable of. He might want to give him more, but God knows he can't. He just can't.
His earlier daring look turns into something like… resignation. He gives Bruce a sad smile.
"I offered the kid a place to crash. But like you said, he needs more than a bed and food. Kid deserves so much more than that. He has already lost too much. He's gone through things no one should at his age. And what he needs… stuff I can't give him."
Banner leans closer. "Tony, don't sell yourself short. I know you like to make people believe you're an arrogant jerk and frankly, yes, you are. But you're also a good man. And Peter trusts you."
"I'm not so sure about that," he snorts, trying not to sound hurt.
"Tony-" Bruce starts but he can't finish.
Friday's voice breaks into their conversation.
"Sorry to interrupt, boss, but I was instructed to follow Spiderman's activity on the Internet. There's a post claiming he's in Manhattan."
"Here? What is he doing here?" Tony asks, furrowing his brow. "Is he coming here?"
That would be an interesting timing to say the least.
"Based on the posted photos, he didn't come anywhere near, boss. He was heading south from the Tower."
"What the hell is he doing now?" Tony shudders. The he quickly gets up and pats Bruce's shoulder on his way out of the kitchen. "Nice talk, buddy. Raincheck? I have a spider to catch up with."
So yeah, we're nearly at the moment when the previous chapter ended. Now we just need to bring these two together again. Or not. You'll see in the next chapter :)
Thank you for reading!