A Force To Be Reckoned With

A decision was made for Tony. 

He didn’t end up ordering chicken fried rice like he planned on doing with Peter, rather he heated up old pasta that was nasty but at least it was food. 

As he was eating that and trying to decide what to do, FRIDAY told him that Fury and Ross were in the conference room, letting him know that they found a place for Peter to go. 

Tony hated how his first emotion was dread. 

He wanted to be relieved that a place was found for Peter but he wasn’t. Even after what happened, Tony still couldn’t stop thinking that he was the best fit for the boy. 

He groaned and put another coffee on. “Tell them that I’ll be down in five minutes.” 

FRIDAY was quiet for a few moments, probably waiting for a reply from the others. Tony groaned before she even started speaking. 

“Boss, Ross is requesting you bring Peter down with you.” 

Tony ran a hand through his hair but he had to, it wasn’t like he could put this off anymore since Peter was most likely going to be leaving with them by the end of the day. 

Tony could only hope he helped Peter even just a little bit in this next chapter in his life; recovery. Hopefully. 

“Let them know I’ll be down with the boy in twenty minutes.” Tony didn’t want to rush Peter so he decided to give him some time, knowing he was still in the same position he left him over an hour ago. 

Peter was feeling abandoned but it wasn’t anything new. He just hadn’t felt that way since Tony took him in. 

Tony approached the boy, taking a seat on the floor and taking notice of his thumb in his mouth. He was happy the crying had stopped at least but he felt a bit guilty for being the one to cause the boy to cry so hard he had to resort to thumb sucking to calm down. 

“Peter.” 

Peter flinched a bit, wet eyes looking at Tony. 

“Can you come out so I can talk to you?” Tony asked but the boy didn’t move so Tony sighed, using a more firm voice. “Come out.” 

Since it was an order, Peter needed to follow it so even though he didn't want to, he crawled out from his safe hiding place and sat in front of the larger man, looking down at his knees so he didn’t have to look at his face. 

“So,” Tony didn’t know how to say this. How do you tell an abused child that you’re giving up on them so easily and handing them off to someone else? “Um, so Fury found a better place for you to live. I know I can’t give you the help you need, Peter. So you’re gonna go with him now.” 

Peter shut his eyes. 

He didn’t want to go but for some reason it wasn’t because his mission was incomplete and he failed but rather because he actually… liked Tony. He was kind. Peter’s never experienced anyone treat him with such gentleness before. 

But he had to go. 

He messed up badly and Tony didn’t want him anymore. 

And after he went back to Hydra a failure, they wouldn’t want him either. 

So he opened his eyes and nodded, thumb still lodged in his mouth. 

With no other choice, Peter followed Tony into the elevator and back downstairs to the conference room. He listened to Tony on the way up but he didn’t respond to him and Tony must have given up talking to him since he stayed silent after too. 

Before Tony opened the door to the conference room, he looked down at the boy and tried to convince himself that this was a good idea. That this was what Peter needed. That this was what was best for the boy. 

“It’ll be okay, buddy. I’m sorry I made you upset downstairs. But… I don’t know what I’m doing. I want you to have people who can help you.” Tony admitted to the boy, getting more emotional and vulnerable in front of him than he would care to admit. 

It was more emotion he showed to anyone else besides for Pepper. 

He didn’t know why he felt so… connected to the strange child. 

Tony opened up the conference doors and his eyes immediately landed on Fury and Ross whose eyes were glued on the brown haired boy. Ross looked angry, Tony had a feeling he didn’t agree with Fury for whatever reason. 

Peter hesitated when walking in so Tony gave him a light nudge and ushered Peter to sit down in one of the chairs next to Tony. 

Tony didn’t miss the way the chair basically swallowed Peter’s tiny size whole. 

And he also didn’t miss the way Peter seemed incredibly uncomfortable in the room with all these strange people. Tony was a stranger to him, so he didn’t know what made him so different. 

Peter seemed… almost comfortable with him. At least he did. 

“I’m glad you had a change of mind, Stark.” Fury began. “This is going to be for the better good for everyone. The boy needs help that you just can’t possibly give to him.” 

Tony didn’t say anything. He was tense and could tell Peter was too. 

“I have some papers here for you to read over if you care to.” Fury handed a file to one of the four men standing on either side of the table, then he placed it in front of Tony. 

Tony opened up the first page. “So they’ll take him today then?” 

“As soon as we’re done here, correct.” Fury could sense Tony’s hesitation and Ross was praying on it. “I can see you’re unsure,” He stood up to walk around the table, standing next to Tony. Peter flinched at the man's presence and dared to peek an eye at Ross. 

Ross was staring at him, giving him one of those looks that told Peter he better fix this or else. Peter whimpered and looked down. He felt so naked without his web shooters. 

“You see, Stark, the child will be understood here. You can’t possibly tell me you have any idea on how to care for him.” 

Tony thought he did have a point. He wanted to do more research on this place though. Tony’s never heard of it before, not that he would have. 

He also didn’t feel comfortable having this conversation in front of Peter so he stood up, gesturing towards the door. “Let’s talk outside for a sec.” he honestly didn’t know if Peter would still be able to hear them but it was better than right beside him. 

Peter felt panic rise when Tony got up to leave with a simple hand on his shoulder and a ‘I’ll be back’. He pulled his feet up onto the chair to hug his knees, practically shaking with fear while he attempted to listen but the hairs on the back of his neck were tingling. 

A feeling he knew all too well at Hydra it become constant, normal, but he didn’t feel that way here. 

Now he did. 

“Are you trying to listen to them?” Ross’ voice rung in his ears. 

Peter tensed. 

“Is your poor little spider heart broken that yet another person doesn’t want you? Get used to it.” Ross stood up to stand behind him, leaning over him with hands braced on either side of the table so Peter was stuck. “Don’t forget what I told you, you’ll never find your place in the world. You’re only good for one thing and that’s killing.” 

Peter’s breathing picked up. “Stop.” He whispered. 

“What? Spider has a voice? Speak up. I can’t quite hear you.” Ross teased. “Where are your web shooters? Did Stark take them off you? Better get them back on.” He said then smacked the side of his head, an action Peter was all too familiar with. 

Outside in the hallway, Tony was talking to Fury about this move but he kept his eyes on Peter and watched as Ross got way too close to the boy. Tony then watched Ross smack Peter in the head for no reason at all and Tony saw red. 

He marched into the room and stood between Peter and Ross. “Don’t you dare touch him again. You think you’re so tough picking on a small child who can’t defend himself.” Tony knew Peter was strong enough to but he wouldn’t. 

Ross seemed shocked for a few moments like he didn’t expect that. Tony took joy in those few seconds. “You can leave now. This isn’t happening. Get out of my tower.” 

Ross scuffed. “He’s a worthless thing. Good for nothing, Stark. You really want to be involved with that?” 

Tony would have punched Ross if it wasn’t for Peter being in the same room and watching him. “He has more potential to be a great man than you ever will. You are the worthless one here. FRIDAY, revoke General Ross’ privilege to step foot in my tower. Escort him out.” He waved to his security guards standing outside the conference room and they started to escort Ross out, something Tony should have had them do a long time ago. 

He looked at Fury. “It’s off. You can go. He’s staying with me.” Tony grabbed onto Peter’s arm and pulled him into a standing position, leading him back into the elevator and back to his floor where he placed Peter in front of the tv and had to disappear into his office to calm down. 

Okay. 

Okay. 

He’s doing this. 

He’s actually going to do this. 

Can he though? 

Can he actually do this? Tony didn’t know. 

He paced back and forth in his office, trying to decide what to do next.

He felt really attached to Peter from the day he met him and it’s been barely a week and he’s already thinking of being the boys main caregiver. 

What was Pepper going to say? 

Tony didn’t know. He didn’t even know if he was going to do this but the thought of Fury taking Peter made Tony feel… wrong. Like his gut was telling him not to let that happen. 

And seeing Ross smack Peter just ignited all of Tony’s protective instincts. 

He needed time to think this through. 

.

.

.

In the living room, Peter sat on the couch and stared at the cartoon playing on the tv in front of Hmm but he wasn’t watching it. 

He was thinking of what just happened. 

What just happened? 

No one has ever stood up for him like that. 

No one has ever stopped Ross or anyone else from hitting him before. People hurt him, badly, and everyone just watched it. 

Tony didn’t though. 

That made Peter feel… good. 

It gave him a tingling feeling in his stomach. Like… a really happy feeling. Something he’s never really felt before. 

Peter stuck his thumb in his mouth and curled up on the couch, trying to focus on that feeling of happiness. 

Did someone actually care about me? Can it be possible to be loved? Is Ross wrong? 

Peter didn’t know. He was left more confused now than anything. 

He eventually got so frustrated and overwhelmed with all his new emotions and feelings that he fell asleep on the couch. For once, he didn’t have any nightmares, only happy dreams. 

.

.

.

Tony left his office at some point and went to go talk to Peter but he found him asleep on the couch so he left him and decided to go back to his office to give Pepper a phone call. 

He needed her to be on board with this or talk some sense into him. 

“Hey.” 

“Pepper.” 

“Oh no. What’s wrong?” 

Tony didn’t know how she knew something was up. He took a breath. “I think… I want to be Peter’s main caregiver.” 

Pepper didn’t say anything for a few moments that Tony thought she hung up. “You what?” 

“Hear me out, the kid is comfortable with me and I have the money to get him the help he needs. You know as well as I do that if I send him off to that place Fury wants him to go to, he might get the help he needs but he’ll never live a normal life. He will never have a father figure in his life. Or a mother figure.” He added in, worried what Pepper might think. 

“You mean a mom and a dad.” 

Tony nodded. “Uh, yeah.” 

“Tony. We can’t be that child’s parents. Have you lost your mind? You’re not just talking about feeding and making sure he goes to bed at a reasonable hour. You’re talking about being responsible for a human child. Being there for him through the good and the bad, nightmares, crying, all the trauma he’s no doubt been through. Eventually puberty. Can you even do puberty talks? Tony. This is… way above us. We can’t- I can’t do this.” 

Tony really hoped she was on board with him but he honestly didn’t expect her to be. 

“Pepper. I want to try.” 

“You can try to build a new Iron Man suit and give up after it gets too hard with no consequences. You can’t try to raise Peter then give up on him if it gets too hard. No. When it gets too hard. He isn’t another project for you to tackle, Tony.” 

Tony was so frustrated now. “Obviously not, Pepper. I know he’s a living and breathing child. I want to do this. I’m telling you I want him. Can you think of a better option? Honestly. I’m asking you.” 

“Well… no but there’s other options.” 

“No. There isn’t. Not one like me.” Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look, I’m not asking you to be the boys mom. You can be… an aunt. Or just a friend to him. I don’t expect you to raise him with me but-” 

“So…” Pepper cut him off. “Are you saying you’re gonna be his-his dad, Tony?” 

That suddenly felt so real. Tony didn’t know now. “Um… I-I… I want to be. I… I think I want to be.” He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face at admitting that. 

Pepper didn’t respond right away. 

“Tony. I… I don’t know what to say. I think… I think I need some time to think about this. I think… I think this is all really premature right now. And I’m worried you’re jumping into this.” 

Tony nodded to himself. “Pepper. All I ask is that you think about it. But… I’m not asking you for permission. I want to be there for Peter. I want Peter to have someone in his life, someone to love and support and protect him. I want to be that for him.” 

“I know. Let’s talk later, okay?” 

Tony agreed and hung up the phone. 

He paced his office for a little while longer until he finally decided to go out to the living room and wait for Peter to wake up which ended up being a full three hours later. 

He could only imagine how tired the poor child was. 

As Tony watched him sleep, he felt happy knowing Peter felt safe enough to fall asleep so out in the open, letting himself be vulnerable in front of himself. Of course he was sleeping in a ball like a cocoon but at least he was sleeping. 

When Peter woke up, he rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes open. 

He immediately spotted Tony and shrunk in on himself from what he remembered happening with Ross. Ross was angry with him and Tony tried to get rid of him. Peter also remembered Tony standing up for him so he didn’t know what was going on. 

Tony cleared his throat and decided that he needed to know if Peter was on the same page as him. “So, kid. I Uh, I was thinking that you could stay with me. I know the plan was for you to go with people who could better… help you. But you and me, we just… we’re connected somehow… I think.” He thought about what he was saying and realized he wasn’t making much sense. “So what do you say?” 

Peter sat up straighter. 

Having that sleep made him feel really refreshed and like he had new feelings. 

He didn’t know how to explain it. 

Peter didn’t like the way Ross treated him. But he did like the way Tony stood up for him. He made him feel… safe. Peter liked that. He really liked that. 

He peeked an eye over at Tony. “We’re connected? What do you mean?” 

Tony was surprised at the full sentence. Peter spoke in one a few times before, but then he went back to the language capacity of a two year old so he really wasn’t sure what Peter knew in terms of speech. 

“Well… I mean that we both have super powers. Kinda. I’m Iron Man and you’re like a spider boy. I’m saying that…” Tony ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t even know what he was saying. “Hydra treated you very… unfairly and you don’t deserve any of that. And I want to help you get better now and help you to work on controlling and learning about your powers.”

Peter thought about that. He looked down at his hand, he didn't want to lie to Tony anymore. 

He didn’t want to go back to Hydra and get smacked around by Ross and everyone else there who didn’t stand up for him like Tony did. 

He didn’t want to be turned into a killer. 

Peter looked at the man through his long eyelashes. “Do I have to go back to Hydra?” 

“What? No. Never again, kid. I can promise you that.” Tony looked at Peter. Did the boy really think he was going to go back there? 

“Even if you don’t want me here no more?” Peter asked, needing to be told he didn’t have to go back so he could tell Tony everything. 

But what if Tony got mad? 

Wait! What if this was a test? 

Peter closed in on himself. 

“I want you here, Peter. I’m asking you if you’d want to stay here. With me.” 

Tony was putting himself out there and if he didn’t feel vulnerable in front of the kid before, he definitely did now. 

Peter looked down. If he was going to be honest with Tony, he had to tell him everything but he was scared. He was really scared it was a trap or maybe a test or maybe Tony would kill him if he found out. 

“I don’t want to go back to Hydra.” Peter admitted and he really felt that way. 

Tony nodded. He felt like he was talking to a whole other Peter with this new vocabulary. “Kid, did you learn how to speak in that nap of yours? What’s with these full sentences?” He didn’t mean to scare the boy but he didn’t know how else to ask. 

Peter wrapped his arms around himself a little bit more and took a breath. “They told me to.” 

Okay. This was strange. “Who did? Hydra?” 

Peter didn’t want to say who exactly. So he just nodded. 

“What do you mean, Peter? I don’t understand.” Tony was on the edge of his seat, literally. Wanting to get the information from the kid. 

Peter didn’t want to say it. He looked from Tony to his feet then back at Tony again, trying to read him. He decided to just say it. 

And hope Tony didn’t kill him. Peter decided that he didn’t want to kill Tony anymore. 

“I’m here to kill you.” 

Tony was speechless. 

He didn’t even know if he heard that right.  

“You’re here to kill me?” 

Peter nodded. 

“How exactly?” 

Peter didn’t know. He wasn’t told how. Just that Tony Stark must be eliminated. “Break your neck. I’m supposed to but… I don’t want to anymore. Please don’t hurt me.” 

Tony stood up. He had to process this. What the fuck. What the actual fuck. No. He needed to know everything. “Tell me everything, Peter. Who says you’re here to kill me? Did Hydra plan all of this? They knew we would come for you?” 

Peter was getting overwhelmed. He started hyperventilating and backed away from Tony on the couch. 

He messed up. He messed up big time. 

“No! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please don’t hurt me!” Peter cried out. 

Tony didn’t know what to do but he definitely wasn’t going to walk away from this. “FRIDAY, tell Steve and Natasha to come to my floor right now.”