Chapter Text
“If Peter didn’t seem so pathetic then maybe the other students wouldn’t see him as a victim. Maybe this will toughen him up. Boys will be boys after all.”
Tony’s eyes burned and fury climbed up his throat, choking him and bringing with it an almost insatiable need for action. For vengeance against the man who was supposed to protect the students of his school; to provide a safe environment for learning and interacting. But had failed Peter. Had failed his son and believed that Peter deserved the torment on some level. That his son was a victim and was pathetic.
The words that had fallen from Steve’s lips when he had forced the other man to tell him what had driven him to physical violence seared themselves in Tony’s mind. All Tony wanted to do was go to the hospital, because that had to be where the man was now after being punched by Captain America, in order to ring that bastard’s neck. But he could settle for completely destroying his life starting with his job and any potential job he might seek in the future. You didn’t fuck with Tony Stark without consequences and you sure as hell didn’t fuck with his son without absolute destruction looming in your future. It was one of those facts. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and shoved the rage back. Allowed a cold, calculating mindset with plans of action to fly through his mind.
It was for the best, really. Killing the man wouldn’t do Peter any good and jail didn’t suit Tony no matter how many times Pepper had bailed him out over the years. Plus Peter would feel inclined to visit him with Steve and those jumpsuits were not flattering on anyone. Tony would stick with his band shirts or sharp suits when the situation called for it.
Fortunately it was relatively easy to get someone with Peter’s grades into a new school. It had not been easy to continue to curb Tony’s more vindictive tendencies after Steve had uttered those words. Honestly when Steve thought about it rage might not be a strong enough term to describe the look that had crossed Tony’s face. Or the tension that had filled his body.
The school finally chosen wasn’t as close and Tony did not like that, but Peter knew most of the kids and it had been the school he should have been in if not for his uncle’s death. Only a couple of months into the new school and Peter had returned home with a crush. A huge crush. But he kept it to himself instead focusing on projects and talking to her on occasion.
*
Peter stared down at the statistics for his assignment. The crime statistics for New York City for the year so far and felt sick to his stomach. He could have helped if Spider-Man had been out at night. If instead of staying home in the comfort of Avengers’ Tower he was out there saving people.
Helping them.
He’d been given a chance, abilities and he was wasting it basking in his teenage years. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair. Steve Rogers wouldn’t have done it. His eyes darted over to the place in his room he’d stored the suit and slowly Peter got to his feet. With slightly shaking hands he carefully picked up the bag housing his Spider-Man costume and swung it on his shoulder before moving to exit the room.
Spider-Man was needed and he wasn’t going to sit around doing nothing. The suit fit him perfectly clinging to his body, molding against the muscles he’d gained from the bite and those he’d worked hours for in the gym. Peter pulled on the wrist shooters and covered up his outfit with clothes from earlier in the day. Silently he moved through the hallways towards the elevator before taking it down to the main lobby, but not before informing JARVIS he’d be at the library.
Best to keep his dad from worrying.
No one stopped him; no one questioned his comings and goings because Peter Parker was responsible. Wasn’t someone you normally had to worry about. The weather was far nicer than it had been in a while. Snow had been completely melted for a while now and the skies were clear. Spring had set in and once he flung himself off the first building, swinging through the air a sigh of happiness escaped. He’d missed this. Missed so much the free feeling of falling, flying through the air and the knowledge that he could make a difference to someone. That he could help. He arced back up into the air shooting another web and letting out a whoop into the night’s sky. New York City was lit up before him, cars moved below him on the busy streets and people moved about.
That night Spider-Man once more came on the radar of the NYPD, SHIELD, the Avengers and Captain Stacy who released a sigh when he got the first report of the masked vigilante surfacing once more.
“I really hope you know what you’re doing, son.” He murmured to himself as he closed his eyes, hands still holding onto the report and a feeling of worry moved through him. The boy was still far too young. Far too young for such a task and Captain Stacy hoped with every fiber of his being that Peter would not encounter another threat like before. That he would not take such abuse trying to save others. Resolve to help lessen some of the problems that would come with Spider-Man’s return settled in as he opened his eyes to look through the information provided to him.
Part of him itched to reach for the phone, to dial Tony Stark and make sure the man knew what exactly his charge was up to at night swinging through the air. But he wouldn’t interfere. He would help when it was needed, cover up Peter’s tracks when possible and pray that the teenager would be safe. He wasn’t aware he’d be seeing the boy sooner rather than later.
*
“You have got to be kidding me.” Tony muttered staring at the report that Coulson had dropped in front of him.
“Why would I “kid” you?” Coulson cocked an eyebrow and watched as Tony’s eyes moved over the words on the paper. “The reemergence of Spider-Man is worrying. SHIELD is unaware of his identity, what his purpose is and if he has a motive. The Director wants to either recruit him or if he is a threat eliminate him.”
Tony blinked up at Coulson, “Eliminate him? Seriously? So far all I have heard about Spider-Man is that he has saved New York and is helping citizens on the streets. I’m not getting anything sinister from any of that. And I think he might be better off without SHIELD interference. So far the guy is doing good and isn’t causing any harm. The press is roasting him for no apparent reason, but he keeps saving people. What is wrong with that?”
He leaned back in his seat and regarded Coulson with a slightly challenging look on his features. The agent opened his mouth to respond when the glass doors slid open to reveal Peter who had just typed in his code. Phil’s mouth snapped shut as he glanced over at the teen before looking back at Tony.
“Honestly? You’re not going to answer because Peter is here? Now I’m insulted.” Tony scowled before looking down at the report and flipping the page back. He closed the folder and looked up once more. “Look here, Agent. I will not be a part of helping SHIELD catch Spider-Man. The guy is doing a great job saving people, helping citizens of New York City and I think SHIELD should just back the fuck off. Fury has failed on several accounts with how he has handled the Avengers and we don’t need him dropping the ball on another hero. Leave Spider-Man alone until he does something violent or worrying that actually requires intervention. But until our returned hero moves from saving people to mayhem I think it is safe to say he is one of the good guys. Iron Man was not a part of SHIELD; was an unknown who caused little to no problems and I’m seeing something similar here. SHIELD should focus on those who are actual threats.” He picked up the file and shoved it into his desk.
Coulson nodded and took a step back from Tony’s desk where the man had been tinkering with something. “Your advice is noted, Stark. I have said something similar to Director Fury, but he insists on what we discussed.”
“Well I insist that he backs off. That is my final word on it.” the annoyed expression on his features cleared when he looked over at Peter. “Ready to start working on that engine, Peter?” he grinned. “We’re going to see how you do designing your own and then look it over first, how does that sound?”
“Great.” Peter grinned back while willing his heart to stop pounding in his chest. His breathing was controlled, but the panic was eating at his mind. Looks like Spider-Man needed to be a little more careful with SHIELD and look out for possible interference. Part of him wanted to stomp his foot like a little child and pout at the injustice of Fury causing problems. Another part was so happy that his dad had stood up for him even if it was unknowingly.
Peter almost asked Tony for the advice he needed, but decided that there might be a better option in the tower. “Excellent.” Tony clapped his hands and moved towards him as Phil moved towards the exit, glancing back at them before moving out the door and up the steps.
It was hours later that Peter moved upstairs with his book bag while Tony stayed back in the lab working on some project for Stark Industries that Pepper was threatening him about. Peter had forced down the laugh threatening to bubble up when Pepper’s voice had blasted through the lab as she had laid into Tony about not meeting deadlines.
Peter dropped his bag outside of the kitchen and hopped up onto a stool. Brown eyes stared at the only other occupant in the kitchen as he struggled with his own thoughts.
“Steve?” it barely came out and part of Peter wondered if he could grab the name out of the air, shove it back inside and pretend he’d never spoken out loud. But you can’t do that and Peter knows that far too well.
Steve turned from the cabinet where he’d been putting up dishes. “Yes?” complete concentration on him and Peter dug deep for confidence. For the words he needed.
“How do you not embarrass yourself in front of a girl you like? Because I’m failing at it…miserably.” His cheeks burned from embarrassment. Peter ran a hand through his hair, took a steadying breath and finally met Steve’s eyes.
A soft smile was on Steve’s face and it was reassuring on some level. He wasn’t laughing or taking amusement out of this. Which was so very good. “I’m not sure I have the best advice for not embarrassing yourself in front of a girl. I was horrible at interpreting them and even did a poor job with Tony for so long. Who is not a girl.” He chuckled. “My best advice is to be yourself. If you can’t be yourself around her then the relationship won’t work. It won’t be honest or true. If she deserves you then she’ll be interested in you for who you are and not who you’re trying to be.”
Peter released a sigh, “I don’t want to change myself for her…I just trip up on words sometimes.”
Steve sat down next to Peter watching the teenager who was tugging at his shirt in a nervous manner, “Have you spoke with her before?”
“Yeah. In class or for projects. I went to school with her before.” He spoke softly staring down at the table before looking up at Steve.
“Hmm. Do you have anything in common?”
“Science.” Peter muttered twitching slightly as those blue eyes turned thoughtful. “When did you know you were interested in dad?” and Peter didn’t want details about them, but it might be helpful.
“Almost at the very beginning. But we had a very rocky start. We had to apologize and start over. Build the friendship before I decided to take a gamble. I dragged him all over the city to so many different places and he followed me, asking questions and answering mine. Museums may not be his interest, but he indulged me. Sometimes it is just spending time with each other. Just talking. Being with that other person. But friendship is a great start if you’re worried.”
Peter nodded, filing away the information and honestly thinking the words over.
“Whoever she is she would be lucky to catch the attention of such an amazing person.” Steve grinned at Peter as the teenager looked up at him with wide eyes. “Don’t worry. You’re a kind, caring and intelligent young man. I can’t think of a single negative thing against you.”
Without warning Peter moved across the space between them and wrapped his arms around Steve, hugging the man and closing his eyes as he felt those strong arms wrap back around him. Safety in every cell of Steve’s body and care coming off him in waves. It reminded him of his dad. Of when the other man hugged him, comforted him and gave him a home. When his dad spoke to him and cared about him all the time.
“Thanks, Pops.” He whispered against Steve as he felt the arms tighten briefly in acknowledgement. It was nice to have so many people who cared about him. Peter felt safe and content and assured. It was nice having two people fill parental roles for him and he was sure that Steve was not going anywhere.
*
“You should come over for dinner.” Gwen smiled at him hugging her books against her body, eyes dancing as she looked at Peter standing so very awkwardly in front of her. His heart stopped and kicked up again, pounding in his chest and excitement bubbled up. He could do this. He could be Spider-Man and Peter Parker and have a healthy relationship with the beautifully amazing girl in front of him who had a smile that caused warmth to curl up in his stomach. Who consumed his mind far more than he had thought possible.
He could love someone with such a beautiful smile and caring personality. Someone funny and witty and perfect in so many ways that he failed in. Peter knew this could work and he wanted to keep going forward. That meant “meeting” the parents and the family and awkward family dinners with Gwen’s family. He couldn’t wait to show her off to his dad. To his family because he wanted to. Was proud that she was his girlfriend and that he’d gathered the guts to ask her out. She liked him for himself and it was amazingly insane. But he wasn’t questioning it. Nope. Was not going to question it at all.
“Yeah. Sounds great.” He tugged on his sleeve, shuffling slightly on his feet and meeting Gwen’s eyes because they were one of his favorite things to look at.
That perfect smile lit up her face once more sending more warmth through his body. Was this what people normally felt? Was this normal? Because even if it wasn’t he loved the feeling and wanted to keep it. To store it up.
“Great.” She moved her books slightly, shifting them as she pulled out a pen before writing an address on a piece of notebook paper. Somehow she stored the pen, ripped the paper off and moved towards him holding it out with hope on her features as he reached out to grab it from her.
Students moved through the hallway around them, but it was only them that mattered and there was no doubt that a dopey grin was on his face as he clutched at the piece of paper.
“How about tomorrow…at seven?” she asked pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and shuffling the books in her arms once more so they were held onto with both hands.
“I’ll be there.”
“Great.” Now they were standing there just grinning at each other and Peter could honestly do this forever because Gwen made him feel things. Lit up his world and filled him with warmth. He’d do just about anything for this girl he’d watched defend others, corral bullies and shine brightly in front of the class. Whose intelligence was stunning and refreshing.
She spun around slowly with the grin still there on her face, glancing back over her shoulder at him with one last grin before moving down the hallway away from him. Peter watched her for a few more seconds before turning down the hallway towards his locker.
Happy was waiting outside for him and Peter was practically thrumming with excitement. He called his thanks to Happy before getting into the elevator, riding it up to the main floor and moving through the living space. Bag hitting the ground as he sought out two specific people.
They were in the kitchen. Tony typing on his tablet and Steve picking up an apple. “Gwen asked me to come over for dinner tomorrow!” his joy was not to be contained and Tony’s head jerked up from where it had been looking down.
An honestly proud grin moved across his features. “Way to go Peter. Meeting the parents. Big deal.”
“Told you there was nothing to worry about.” Steve grinned back at him as Peter dropped himself into the seat next to his dad before reaching out to snag an apple for himself. He took a bite and didn’t bother to contain his happiness because this was his family and they were happy for him.
“Just be careful with where you put your hands.” Tony couldn’t help himself, “You know her father has a gun and I don’t want to have to break out the Iron Man suit to save your ass from a crazy father.”
Peter’s features burned red as he ducked his head, “Daaaad.” He whined earning a chuckle from both men as Tony slid his arm around Peter’s shoulder. The man tugged Peter closer, giving him a one-armed hug and a reassuring smile.
“You’ll be ok. No way they won’t love you.”
“Thanks.” He murmured, leaning against his dad because sometimes he enjoyed the comfort and safety he got from it.
Even Spider-Man needed family.
*
He’d had the ring for weeks. Had a strategy and a time and a place and the words all planned. Everything. But sometimes plans fall through or something changes, something happens and you have to throw those ideas away. Steve had come to realize when it came to Tony that nothing really ever went according to plan. This was so very inconvenient and he questioned how he’d even gotten here in the first place.
They’d been going out for over a year and it was so hard to wait for something he honestly wanted more than anything else in the world.
This was supposed to be a team activity. Paintball did not make sense to him when it came to team building. But they’d been broken into pairs that they did not typically work together in during a fight. Tony was with Natasha, Thor with Clint and Steve with Bruce. Peter had been dragged along and was paired with Coulson. So far he’d only seen Thor and Natasha; everyone had been shot multiple times mostly because they’d stopped taking it so seriously after several rounds of “organized exercises”. Steve was suddenly slammed into and pinned to the ground. Tony smirked down at him from behind his mask, paintball gun pointed at Steve and body language signaling ease.
“Caught you off guard, huh Cap?” there was smugness in his voice and it was very Tony. It was rare to catch him off guard like this and Tony had gotten progressively sneaky. That was good. Gave him yet another edge if he was without the Iron Man armor. “Do you give up and bow to my awesomeness?”
“Marry me.” Steve surprised himself. It wasn’t planned, but he only wanted Tony. No one else.
“What?” it was strangled, surprised and filled with so very many emotions. The gun lowered uncertainly as Tony sat back on Steve. His body leaning slightly backwards in shock as he still angled his face towards Steve who was staring up at him wondering if he’d honestly said that out loud, but knowing he had. “What did you say?” it was soft now, confused and slightly wary. It wasn’t the confident voice of Tony Stark. There was an honest vulnerable note to the tone and Steve wanted to drag Tony down into a kiss because he wasn’t leaving.
“Marry me. I love you and I don’t want anyone else.” He pulled his mask off his face so that blue eyes stared up at Tony who still wore his. Carefully Steve reached up and tugged it off revealing shocked brown eyes that were frantically searching his own for truth. For certainty.
“Why would you want to marry me? Steve…” Tony blinked, closed his eyes and focused. It had come out of nowhere and honestly he couldn’t remember being thrown for a loop in such a way before. This was so very unexpected and his mind was frantically trying to wrap itself around those two words he’d never thought would be directed at him in a million years even if the other person was at gunpoint.
“Because I love you Tony. I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t a hundred percent sure.” It was sincere and honest and those blue eyes were staring at him. Warmth rushed through Tony and he grinned.
“Yeah. I’ll marry you, Capsicle.” A smirk stole across Tony’s face at the nickname he’d used that had earned him an affectionate groan. Something Tony wasn’t sure had been possible until the Avengers had taken him up on his offer to live at the tower. Steve jerked him down in for a fierce kiss and Tony tangled his hands in Steve’s hair while a moan escaped, the paintball guns lay abandoned on the ground next to them.
Now he had to worry about wedding details and speaking with Peter.