Spidery Intervention

Tony didn’t knock when he entered the room Rogers and Barnes were in. Neither did he slam open the door nor did he stomp inside; as it was, everyone should be grateful that as stressful as the situation was, there was no undercurrent sense of adrenaline. Tony wasn’t sure he could have held back from punching Steve in the face if he had his suit on.

So he simply took a fortifying breath and walked in.

Barnes tensed for a moment but then he looked apprehensive and resigned. And, by Tesla, Tony felt bad for him; the poor man had been suffering a hellish experience for decades and now here he was, facing the son of two of his undesired victims. Tony barely spared him a glance, though.

Peter and Natasha entered the room behind him.

Steve looked at Tony stonily, a tilt of his head and a discreet rollback of the shoulders that Tony recognized as a defensive posture which only ended up infuriating him even further. Whether he knew that Tony was aware that the soldier had hidden the truth of his parents' deaths from him or not, the man was ready for a confrontation.

“Rogers. We have to talk. Now," Tony barely managed to ground out tersely.

“Tony, what’s going on?” Rogers tensed.

Tony observed him with narrowed eyes. Rogers surely knew what Tony wanted to talk about or at the very least suspected it, but since he seemed to want to play it that way, Tony was absolutely not going to comply.

He was doing things on his own terms.

“Tell me something, Cap,” Tony started with an exaggeratedly faux sweet tone. “When, if ever, were you planning on telling me that my parents didn’t actually die in an accident but that they were murdered?”

Even if he had suspected it, hearing the words made the blond man pale.

"Tony, I…," Steve looked behind Tony for a moment, perhaps hoping to find some support from Natasha but from his resigned and betrayed expression, he didn't find any. "Nat told you?"

"I did," Barnes answered instead. "Was relieved I haven't got more Stark blood on my hands."

Tony nodded in acknowledgment in his direction but said nothing.

Looking defeated, Rogers faced Tony. "Tony, I know how bad this looks but you have to understand, it wasn't Bucky."

"I damn well know that, Rogers," Tony practically hissed, making the blond reel back. "And that wasn't what I asked. I asked, when were you going to tell me? After you caught Barnes? After you got him to a safe location? Or you were just going to keep using my resources without even telling me that the Winter Soldier killed my parents!?”

“Bucky wasn’t the one who killed them!”

“I know that you lying hypocrite!” Tony snapped, his temper finally getting the better of him. “I’m a fucking genius and a damn ex-weapons developer! I can differentiate between the gun and the one who pulled the trigger! I am aware that Barned and the Winter Soldier are different entities! I’m fucking pissed off because for the last two years you couldn’t have the fucking decency to tell me the truth while fucking claiming that I was keeping secrets! I’m furious because you used my money and my technology, and put the team in jeopardy while following your own personal agenda without considering anything else!”

“Tony-!”

The man continued on, ignoring him. “What about the other people who were killed on HYDRA’s orders? You don’t think they deserve some closure as well? That Barnes doesn’t deserve some closure too!?”

“Tony, it happened so long ago, I didn’t want to open old wounds and hurt you more,” Rogers pleaded.

“So much fucking good that did, didn’t it? It doesn’t matter how long ago it was, it will always hurt! Why do you think you have a right to dictate what I know or how I feel about it? Why do you think you have the right to dictate whether those people get to feel something about their dead loved ones?" Tony took another deep breath and held out a hand to stop Rogers' protests, his next words coming out softer. "You used me, Steve. You lied and belittled me while taking advantage of what I gave the Avengers to protect the planet; I have had to clean up your messes while you traveled around the world as if you were above the law."

"Tony, that's reductive. We were saving the world!"

Tony observed him for a moment but he didn't dignify the claim with a response. "As the owner of the Avengers Initiative brand, effective immediately, I officially suspend you from active duty until the team holds a meeting to reach a permanent decision."

"You can't just do that!" Rogers protested.

"He can," Natasha intervened. "When we took down SHIELD and HYDRA, Tony managed to acquire most of the rights, contracts, and patents that belonged to SHIELD, including the Avengers, before anyone else did. While he conceded the field commander position to you, he's technically and legally our boss."

Tony leaned his head in her direction to indicate she was right but then turned around. "You will receive notice of the meeting and you will be responsible for your own transportation."

"Hey, wait a minute-" Rogers not-too-gently grabbed his arm and Tony had to hold a cry when he felt the pressure almost snap his bone. As soon as it happened, though, the hand was removed roughly and there was the actual sound of bones snapping.

"Don't touch him."

Tony turned around, heart in his throat when he realized that his intern had snatched Rogers' hand from his arm. There was a hard look on the teenager's eyes, one that seemed foreign to the gentle and polite boy Tony had known so far.

Rogers was alternatively looking between his wrist trapped in Peter's hand and the teen's face in horror. Tony suddenly realized that the snap of bone he heard could only have been Peter breaking Rogers' wrist bones.

Tony also realized that Peter was, even if just from a physical perspective, the most dangerous person in the room.

"Kid," Tony tried calling but stopped when Natasha held him back and shook her head.

"For the last few years, my school has been playing your videos for the kids that get detention and many of them always have you talking about honesty or about the consequences of our actions. I always thought you were a good man, someone to admire but today I see you're a hypocrite and a liar," Peter released Rogers, the soldier cradling his arm protectively in a way he probably hadn't had to in years. "You say you fight for the world and for the people but I know you haven't even sat down to listen to the people you claim to protect. Perhaps aliens and people like HYDRA threaten the whole world, and the bigger picture is the most important thing and those people who are injured, killed, or who lost loved ones or their livelihood are details, collateral, but they are still important! Even when it's not our fault, when we do everything we can and it isn't enough to protect everyone, we can't just sweep it under the mat when the threat is gone… But you don't seem to care…," Peter's lower lip started trembling even as his eyes blazed and Tony felt the sudden and foreign need to wrap the boy in a fluffy blanket, give him hot chocolate and tell him everything would be alright, which contrasted heavily with the reminder that Peter could snap Rogers' spine like a twig. "You… You are not a real hero. You’re just… Just another disappointment…"

Having said his piece, Peter dragged Tony out of the room. Not that the man could do anything about it, nor was he going to complain. He knew he was going to have to deal with more bullshit later, but Tony definitely didn't want to be near Rogers anymore than he had to.

Thankfully or not, he was going to have plenty to do in Europe for the next few days, so he would be able to delay that dreadful meeting until he felt less emotionally exhausted. Although thinking about it, Tony wasn't sure he would ever not feel like that in a long time and that thread of thought was almost enough to make him want to sit down somewhere and weep.

Tony became suddenly aware of arms circling around his midsection and scentless curls pressing against his cheek. Peter was hugging him.

It was a nice hug, too; all warm empathy and innocent, if tentative, affection. Very different from Pepper's more delicate and loving hugs, or Rhodey's fiercely loyal embraces. Peter's hug was like someone acknowledging and saying I'm sorry, you're in pain, please let me help you.

"Kid?"

Peter pulled back instantly, his face aflame with embarrassment. "I… Sorry Mr. Stark, sir! I didn't want to overstep but you looked like you really needed a hug and I just couldn't…"

When the boy didn't seem to be capable of stopping his stuttering, Tony interrupted. "Pete!" the young hero clammed up, but at least his nervous expression cleared up when he noted that Tony was smiling. "I admit that I needed that hug. Just don't tell anyone, ok? I have a reputation to uphold."

"I promise, Mr. Stark!" Peter grinned back.

"Now, come on. Since I'm going to be your mentor for science and heroics, I might as well teach you how to play politics, too. Just keep mum, look like the adorable teenage puppy you actually are and learn," Tony said, putting on his glasses and walking with purpose to search for whatever UN representative was in the building.

"I'm not a puppy!" Peter said indignantly.

"Whatever you say, cucciolo."