Hello lovely readers! Here's the next chapter for you. It's mostly about Tony and it's a huge milestone for him. You'll see ;)

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Disclaimer: no, I don't own Marvel. I wish.

Back in the med bay, Tony is standing on the corridor, staring into Peter's room through the small window in the door. He's been watching the boy's sleeping form for about half an hour now and he's still waiting for his brain to catch up with the events and give the order to his blood pressure to go back to normal level, because the kid is here, he's safe and he's gonna be okay.

Peter's left leg and wrist are in cast, his ribs bandaged and all of his cuts have been cleaned and dressed, too. Bruce did a good job like always. However, the circumstances were definitely different from what the scientist must be used to. Because it certainly doesn't happen every day that his patient can't stop discussing gamma radiation theories while being patched up. Not that Bruce seemed to mind. He must have been secretly flattered by Peter's pretty obvious admiration. And there are not many people in the world who admire Bruce's scientific career more than his affinity to turn into an angry green beast every now and then.

But then Tony reminded Peter that he needed sleep to heal faster and he would have plenty of time to brainstorm with Bruce later. The kid finally gave in to his apparent exhaustion and dozed off.

And here is Tony now, watching the kid who waltzed into his life a few weeks ago and changed it for good. Because now he's pretty sure things will never be the same again. Not like they had been before he found out who was hiding under that ridiculously primitive Spider mask. And truth is Tony doesn't even want to go back there. Yes, his life has become definitely harder, more complicated with Peter in it and he worries all the time, but he wouldn't want it any other way now.

Even only a few days ago, when the mere thought of taking responsibility for this kid flared up in his mind, he freaked out. Damn, he's not sure he can take responsibility for himself, let alone for a child! But Bruce is right. Someone has to take care of the boy. Someone has to give him a home, protection and comfort. God knows, the kid really deserves it. And ideally, that someone should be able to help him with his superhero alter ego, too. And let's face it that really narrows down the options.

In a perfect world, Tony would take in Peter without hesitation, would provide him a home, a place to stay, food to eat and support his crime fighting hobby. Maybe Iron Man could even ask the young hero to join him and the Avengers on a mission or two. They would live together like a happy, superhero family.

But. Tony still doubts it's possible. Of course, he could always help out Peter with the Spidey stuff. Making a suit, offering upgrades, training him, giving him advice. Easy. But the home part? Tony knows from experience that a home means more than a place. It means emotions, too and he knows he sucks at those. But he's always been kinda okay with that. Because it's been only his life he could mess up. But what if he messes up Peter's, too? The kid needs emotional support and Tony's not sure if he's able to give him that.

Living with Tony must be better than living on the streets, sure, but kid deserves more than better. He deserves the best life possible. And Tony wants to give him that, he really does, but can he? Maybe Peter was right when he didn't want to stay at the Tower with him.

But they should try it anyway. At least for a few days, until the kid recovers. Tony will go back to his original offer. But this time he won't ask Peter. He will tell him to stay. Order him if he has to. And then…

Interrupting his train of thoughts, Bruce walks up to him with two coffee mugs in his hands and offers one of them to Tony.

"Don't worry, he's gonna be okay," the scientist says smiling and tilting his head towards his young patient behind the glass.

Tony gives him a nod and decides not to tell his friend that he has misunderstood the worry that must be written all over his face. He knows the kid's gonna be fine. He'll recover in no time. But then what? That's what makes Tony worry.

"I think when he wakes up, I can release him," Bruce continues. "It won't be easy with those casts, but there's no reason to make him stay here."

Tony nods again and tries not to panic. He has much less time left than he thought. Peter could wake up anytime. And Tony will have to tell him that he can't go back to his damned warehouse but he will stay at the Tower for a while. He has a feeling that the kid won't accept it easily. It must have been a while since someone actually told him what to do.

"On second thought," Bruce says, breaking into Tony's thoughts again. "I should probably make him stay longer. It wouldn't be wise to let him leave in his condition. I mean his living circumstances…"

"…are far from ideal," Tony finishes the sentence with a frown. "No problem. Release the kid when he wakes up. He'll be a handful; you don't wanna deal with him longer than necessary. He can stay with me."

Bruce furrows his brow as he turns to the man beside him. "Are you sure, Tony?"

"Isn't it what you always implied me to do?" Tony asks back, staring at the sleeping kid with a blank face. "It's gonna be only for a few days anyway, just until he recovers."

"Yes, but-"

"But what, Bruce?" Tony raises his voice as he suddenly turns to the scientist. "Do I think it's a good idea? Of course not! Am I capable of taking care of a kid? Absolutely not! Wouldn't Peter deserve someone better? He sure would! But I can't let him back on the streets, Bruce. I just can't. So yes, he'll be probably emotionally scarred for the rest of his life, if he stays with me, but right now that's the only option I can offer. Maybe he survives a few days with me."

He decides not to tell his friend that he already offered the kid to stay, but he said no. Maybe he should tell him. Because right now Bruce can't stop grinning and it makes Tony uncomfortable. Bruce is so naïve, he has no idea how hard this is gonna be. For both him and Peter.

"I think it's wonderful, Tony," the scientist smiles and pats his shoulder.

Tony shakes his head in disbelief. "I'm not so sure, buddy. I mean it's me. Tony Stark. The very definition of recklessness and irresponsibility. No one would ever trust me with a kid."

"Yet here you are, taking responsibility instead of running from it," Bruce says and his stupid smile refuses to leave his face.

Tony just rolls his eyes, deciding to let it go. He should try to convince his friend how wrong he is to be this optimistic, but he's too tired for that. "Okay, I need to do one more thing before I talk to Peter, though."

Tony asks Karen to give him the location of the warehouse where Peter stays and he drives to Queens. He wants to pick up the kid's stuff and bring it all over to the Tower, so when Peter moves in – yes, temporarily, but still –, his belongings will be there waiting for him. Tony doesn't really know what to expect, probably books, some basic tech and things Peter needs for school. Maybe some personal items, photos of his family and other memories.

He feels a bit awkward about what he's going do. He'll practically intrude into the kid's private life without asking for permission. He wouldn't be happy if someone, a stranger walked into his penthouse and snooped around. Not that Tony would be a stranger. He's the only one who knows Peter's secrets. Besides Bruce, of course, but that's not the point, is it?

However, the kid is no shape to collect his stuff himself and there might be things that he'll need while he's staying at the Tower. So it has to be done.

Truth is bringing over Peter's stuff isn't the only thing Tony hasn't asked the kid about. He hasn't asked Peter if he wants to move in with him, either. Yes, he knows the boy is still sleeping in the med bay, so technically Tony couldn't talk to him. And he decided not to ask but order him to stay, right? He decided to act like a responsible adult and to made this decision himself. Although he still has some doubts, he guesses it's the right thing to do and maybe he should have done it earlier. Instead of waiting for Peter to come to his senses and accept help.

But it still makes him worried that the kid might not want that. Tony invited him to the Tower a few times before and Peter never came. He offered him to stay for a few days and the kid went back into his damned warehouse instead. Maybe when Tony tells him that he needs to stay for a few days until he recovers, Peter will run away screaming, broken leg or not.

This possibility scares Tony. He honestly doesn't know what he would do if the kid refused to stay. He did say no last time, so he might really not take it well when Tony tells him that it is already decided and it's not up for discussion this time.

Fortunately, he has no more time to dwell on it, because he arrives at the very warehouse where Peter stays according to Karen. Tony gets out of his car and takes a look around. Holy shit. This place is awful. There are about a dozen of abandoned warehouses, all of them are old and ruined, the doors and windows are broken or missing. Some of the buildings don't even have a roof. The grass has grown tall all over the place and there's garbage lying around everywhere. Only rats and stray cats would come here. And drug addicts. Criminals. No one with good intentions. This place is definitely not suitable for any kid.

Tony looks up at the three-story building in front of him. It looks unremarkable behind the three bigger ones, and has more broken than missing windows. This one seems the least uninviting and the least ruined of all the buildings around. Good choice. If an abandoned warehouse can be a good choice at all.

The man touches the side of his tinted glasses. "Friday, is Karen sure this is the one?"

"Yes, boss, Peter stays on the second floor."

Tony frowns, still unable to stomach the thought of Peter sleeping here every night. He shouldn't be surprised, though. Peter told him he lived in a deserted warehouse. He should have expected something like this. But seeing it with his own eyes is still shocking.

"Okay, going in. Keep a watch out for me, will ya?"

He enters and grimaces again seeing debris and more garbage everywhere. Dust and dirt cover everything. No one would ever suspect someone actually lives in here. He has some trouble finding a way up to the second floor, but Friday helps him out and he soon finds himself in an open area that has served as the kid's home for months now.

Peter practically lives in a corner. There's an old mattress there with a pile of blankets. Above the mattress, there are some photos pinned to the wall. Photos of people who Tony doesn't recognize but guesses they're Peter's parents, uncle and aunt. People looking blissfully happy, smiling for the camera. Birthdays, vacations, school plays. Fragments of the kid's old life when he had a family like every child should.

Tony looks away, ignoring the weird, stinging sensation in his eyes.

There are a few clothes lying on the floor. And there's a small stash of food: sandwiches, granola bars, chocolate and other snacks. A few water bottles. Books and computer parts lie around a window, the area with the most natural light. The window is broken and when Tony walks closer, he notices dark droplets of dried blood on the sharp edges. He remembers the cuts on Peter's knuckles when he went after the man who had hit his aunt. Tony swallows hard.

Then he sighs and opens the duffel bag he has brought with him to collect the kid's stuff. He honestly doesn't know what he expected. The kid did tell him he was staying in an abandoned building. What did Tony think? That it would look like a five-star hotel? Or at least like a cheap motel?

But hearing about it and seeing it with his own eyes… well, definitely not the same. It's shocking. Devastating. Horrible. Tragic.

He might have felt bad earlier when he realized he hadn't asked Peter about the moving. But fuck, he'll never ask! The kid has no say in this anymore. Tony won't let Peter live in this fucking place any longer. Kid's gonna stay at the Tower from now on, whether he likes it or not. End of story.

Fear not, it's not the end of our story, though. I really hope you liked this chapter, I love Tony. I mean I love writing Tony, haha. Anyway, let me know what you think, please? Reviews mean everything to me.

The next chapter will be Peter's POV, stay tuned!