Chapter 1
Tony Stark had made a lot of mistakes in his life. Too many to count. But the worse one of all is the one that he didn’t realize he had made until years later.
When Peter Parker Stark was born, he took his mother’s life. Mary’s parents had already passed away and she had no family members that could even remember her name, much less take in her baby. So the hospital called the father listed on the birth certificate.
And Tony’s life changed.
Suddenly he was hiring nurses and nannies. He was avoid the southern wing of his Malibu mansion because that’s where the kid was kept. In the four years Peter had lived with him, Tony could count on his fingers the amount of times he had seen his child. Each time left him with a shaking feeling that he knew couldn’t have been paternal love. It was fear. Fear of his son. Of ruining him. Or maybe it was fear that Peter would ruin his life. The drinking and partying and smoking. Tony liked his wild lifestyle, or at least, he liked it a hell of a lot more than he would changing dirty diapers or waking up in the middle of the night to deal with a crying toddler. So he let Obadiah handle Peter and his needs. He just signed the checks. But it was still a constant nagging stress in the back of his mind. And that stress is why he was so happy when Obadiah suggested that Peter would be better off with a family that could care for him. That could want him. Tony wholeheartedly agreed and told Obadiah to have the kid gone by the time he returned from Rio.
Then Afghanistan happened. And suddenly all he could think about was the little boy who had his eyes and the same curls he had as a child. By the time he realized he had made a terrible, horrible mistake, it was too late. Peter was gone. And then so was Obadiah, and there was no way to find Peter. The nagging voice was replaced with thundering shame that kept him awake more than any baby could.
So when Harley’s mom died, Tony drove down himself to bring him back to New York. The thunder softened. It said that was this was his recommence, he was trying to make up for what had happened with Peter. But he knew deep down that he could adopt 100 ten year old boys, but it would never replace the one he had given away.
Somehow, even after knowing who he had been and what he had done, Pepper still married him. And two years later they had a beautiful baby girl. For the first month of Morgan’s life, Tony cried every time he looked at her, seeing his son’s face every time. But time heals and he wasn’t going to screw up his second chance. He threw himself into being the best father possible to Harley and Morgan.
But he never forget Peter, even though he was sure the boy had long forgotten him.
“Dad I need a ride to a classmates house. We’re paired up on a project and I gotta pick up his half so I can get started.” Harley called as he ran down the stairs.
“Now? It’s almost 9, why don’t we pick it up first thing tomorrow morning?” Tony said from the sofa. Pepper was upstairs giving Morgan a bath before bed.
“Can’t, Joseph said he has to go to court.”
That got Tony’s attention, “Court? Why is he going to court?”
Harley shrugged, “Probably something to do with him being in foster care. Ned said that he got taken away from his mom a couple months ago because she was doing drugs. But he’s got a scholarship so he was able to stay at Midtown. So can we go? I really need to be able to work on my part this weekend or we aren’t going to pass.”
Tony absorbed the new information. Harley hadn’t told him any of this before, but he also hadn’t mentioned a Joseph from school before either so he supposed the boys weren’t close.
“Is it ok with his pare- I mean, his foster family?”
“Yeah he said it’s fine, so?”
“Alright let’s get going before it gets any later.”
The foster home was in a rough part of Queens and even though he was Ironman, or was Ironman, seeing how he had retired 5 years ago when Morgan was born, Tony still found himself looking over his shoulder.
“I’m coming with you,” He said as Harley got out of the car. The boy rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything. The street was dark and the streetlights were flickering off and on and Harley would never admit it but having his dad by his side made him feel safer.
He knocked on the rusted screen door and after a moment, and a lot of yelling from within the house, the door swung open revealing a rough looking teen. His hair was shaved on the sides and the long curls that were left at the top hung in his eyes. He wore a red shirt that might have started it’s life as plaid but was now 80% “questionable stain”. The house smelled like cigarettes, sweat, and piss and it nauseated Tony. He couldn’t imagine stepping into the house much less living there.
“Hi, I’m looking for Joseph, I’m picking up our history project.” Harley said.
“You Harley?”
He nodded.
The teen disappeared for a moment before returning with a stack of mildly crumpled papers. “Here. He put a lot of work into that, you better do your half.”
Harley shifted, feeling slightly intimidated. “Of course. Definitely.”
The boy cocked his head to the side and squinted over Harley’s left shoulder, right at Tony. “Do I know you?”
Tony gave him an uncomfortable half smile, he hated getting recognized when he was with this kids. “I’m Tony Stark. Harley’s dad.”
The boy’s face fell and he stepped out of the house onto the sagging porch. Now that he had the overhead light on his face, Tony’s heart skipped a beat. The kid looked so much like his Peter that it hurt.
“What’s your name?”
“Peter. Peter Parker.”
Now there was no doubt in Tony’s mind. This was his son. It had to be.
“Peter Parker Stark.” He whispered unintentionally.
Peter’s eyes went wide. “Oh my god. It’s you. You’re here. I can’t believe it, I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life.” Peter said in disbelief. Tony’s heart swelled. Maybe there was a chance. Maybe Peter could forgive him and he could come home and-
Peter’s fist collided with Tony’s jaw before he could finish that thought. “You think you can just come knocking and what? I’ll come running with open arms?” Peter yelled as he threw another punch, this one hitting him in the temple. Tony heard shouting and then Peter was being wrestled to the ground by a man and a boy that looked to be about Peter’s age. Harley was standing behind Tony in stunned silence, not sure what was happening.
“You’re really a glutton for punishment aren’t you Parker” that man spat. “Donny already called the cops. They should be here soon, they’re always near by on a Saturday night. Can’t say I won’t be glad to be rid of you.”
“There’s no need for the police to come, it’s ok.” Tony said as he held his jaw.
The man shook his head, “it’s the rules. Punk’s a ward of the state, they gotta deal with his crap.”
A police car pulled up outside of the house and two officers stepped out. “Mr. Brookes.” The senior office addressed the man who was still holding Peter’s hands tightly behind his back. “We can take it from here. Peter isn’t going to do anything stupid, are you Peter?”
“It won’t be stupid, but I doubt you’d like it.”
The officer sighed and pulled out his handcuffs. “I thought after last time you’d be done with fighting.”
“It was an extenuating circumstance.”
“Self defense?”
“Revenge.”
“Ah, well, in the eyes of the law, that’s not an excuse.” The officer cuffed Peter and hauled him to his feet.
“Then the law needs glasses, revenge is a great motivation.”
“Peter,”
“Officer Chang.” Peter mimicked.
Officer Chang sighed, “Ok fine, let’s go. Lucy is getting a statement from the man you attacked and you better hope to god that he doesn’t press charges. You’re 17 now Pete, next time I pick you up, it won’t be to bring you to juvie.”
“I can handle myself just fine Chang.” Peter said as he was guided into the police car.
Tony met them at the police station and Peter noticed that the kid that was with him, Harley, wasn’t there. “You don’t need to do this, I’m not pressing charges. That’s my- he’s my kid.”
Officer Chang raised an eyebrow, “Do you think I’m an idiot? Pete doesn’t have any blood relatives left. Just because you’re The Tony Stark, doesn’t mean you can just make things up.”
Peter laughed, “As much as I love you telling him off Chang, we technically share DNA. Though I don’t think that’s a good enough reason to let this total stranger call the shots.”
Officer Chang looked back and forth between Tony and Peter and he had to admit, he saw the resemblance. But Peter was in the foster system and there were rules. And Simon Chang followed the rules.
“Peter’s social worker is on her way, until then Peter will wait in a holding cell. Mr. Stark, Officer Lee will escort you to a conference room where she’ll finish taking your statement. After that you can leave or wait for the social worker.”
It was another hour before Peter was taken out of the holding cell. Officer Chang lead him into a cramped conference room, his social worker trailing behind him.
“Mr. Stark this is Alice Goodman, Peter’s social worker.”
She woman extended her hand and Tony shook it.
They all sat round at the round table that filled most of the room. Tony was disappointed to see that Peter’s hands were still in handcuffs, though instead of being behind his back, they were now cuffed in front.
“You can take those off.” He says.
Peter rolls his eyes, “Who died and made you the Chief of Police?”
Officer Chang shot him a warning look before saying, “We are here because Peter assaulted you. The cuffs stay until we figure out what is going on.”
“Assaulted? Please, I barely touched him. Take these cuffs off and I’ll should you what “assaulted” really looks like.”
Alice leaded over, “Peter, please, this isn’t helping anyone. I know this is a lot to take in and you are probably very scared and confused, but please try to not threat people in a police station.”
Peter rolled his eyes, but slumped back in his chair without replying.
What happened next was hours of explanations and deliberations and phone calls to lawyers. Peter zoned out almost immediately, all too familiar with letting adults he barley knows make decisions for him, as if he wasn’t even in the room. He keeps his eyes on the table in front of him, but he could feel the weight of Tony’s eyes on him.
In the end, it was decided that since Tony was an approved foster parent (he maintained his status even after he and pepper adopted Harley, just incase), Peter would be able to stay with Tony, effective immediately. Alice would still be involved as his social worker, and the future still promised many lawyers and court visits, but for now, for tonight, the matter was settled.
“I don’t wanna go.” Peter announced.
Everyone turns to him, suddenly remembering he had been sitting there the whole time.
“Peter, you’ve done nothing but complain about Jeff Brookes. I’ve been trying to find somewhere else for you, this is the answer.” Alice said calmly. “I know it seems crazy after all this time to realize you have a father-“
“I always knew he existed,”
“But this will be good for you, I just know it.”
“Can’t I go back to Brookes? I’ll stop complaining.”
Alice sighed, “He is refusing to take you back. He said that after this fight he feels as though you are a threat to the other boys.” Peter scoffed at that, but she continued, “The only other choice is a group home. And with your track record, it would be a high risk home. You wouldn’t be allowed to keep your job, or go out with Skyler. It’s typically viewed as just a step down from juvie.”
“So I don’t have a choice.” It wasn’t a question.
“‘I’m sorry Peter. But it will be ok. And if it’s not, we will figure something out. But you need to give it a chance.”
Alice asked Officer Chang to take Peter out of the room while she finished up with Tony.
“You mean warn him about me.” Peter said as he stood.
Alice sighed but she didn’t correct him.
In the hall Officer Chang uncuffed Peter’s hands. “No point in leaving these on.”
Peter rubbed his wrists, “Can I borrow those sometime? Sky and I-“
“I don’t want to hear the rest of that sentence.” Chang groaned. Then his face went serious. “If he hurt you when you were living with him, you can tell me. Even if you can’t prove it, it would be enough to keep you away from him for a while.”
Peter sighed. “I’d love to lie and say yes, but to hit me, would have to actually acknowledge my presence.”
“Well, you know where to find me if you need help.”
“Like I said, I can take care of myself.”
“You shouldn’t have to Pete.” Officer Chang’s voice was soft and sad and it confused Peter. Why would he be sad?
Before he could question it, Tony and Alice stepped out of the conference room. Officer Chang had promised to collect his belongings from Brookes that night and bring them by first thing in the morning. Not that it really mattered. All Peter owned was a couple tattered shirts and a grimy pair of jeans. The money he had managed to earn at his crappy job was safely stored under Sky’s bed. If Peter had brought it home, it wouldn’t have lasted a day. The car ride to Stark Tower was silent and Peter half wished Tony would say something, anything, so that Peter had a reason to lash out at him. His knuckles were starting to bruise and Peter wanted to hit Tony until they broke. His anger was a live wire that Tony was, unfortunately, smart enough to leave alone.
Tony pulled into the garage at the base of the tower and looked over at Peter. At his son. The fear that he had first felt when Peter was born started to flood back in. What was Tony doing? Peter clearly didn’t want to be here. And what did Tony know about repairing the trauma his son no doubt carried? But despite the fear, Tony knew that there was no turning back. He would not let his son go. Not again.
So after 12 years, Peter Parker Stark came home.