Innocent eyes

Tony Stark's childhood wasn't exactly filled with joy.

He recalls from all those parenting books he had read before Peter was born, that a child's character and personality start to take shape around ages 3 to 4, and this development carries on into adulthood. It often crosses his mind that perhaps this is why he turned out to be such a complicated person, to put it roughly.

At the age of five, Tony can still remember tumbling off the bicycle that his Aunt Peggy had given him for Christmas that year. He was in tears, having scraped his knees and bruised his palms and elbow. Instead of receiving comfort, however, he was met with his father's anger, who scolded him for being such a crybaby and a klutz. The next day, Tony found the bicycle thrown away in the dumpster next to their house. Since that incident, he has not ridden a bicycle ever again.

At the age of seven, Tony was kidnapped and was held captive for three days. On the fourth day, the FBI successfully located him, with Jarvis present at the scene awaiting his return. The man embraced Tony with warmth, offering comfort following the traumatizing experience. Upon returning home, still dressed in his soiled clothes, Tony found his parents arguing over the ransom money spent to secure his release. Jarvis and Tony observed the confrontation for a brief moment before the older man led the young Stark to his room, where he was cleaned up and tucked into bed. Troubled by nightmares and the lingering effects of his kidnapping, Tony found himself unable to sleep that night, nor in the nights that followed.

At the age of twelve, Tony was being bullied at school for being a 'know-it-all'. After being beaten by two of his bullies, he decided to confide in his father about the situation. Howard reacted with anger, berating Tony for his perceived weakness and even inflicted additional bruises on him that day. After that, Tony asked Jarvis to teach him self-defense. That day, Tony learned how to fight back against his bullies--it also marked the beginning of his frequent visits to the principal's office.

At the age of 15, Tony was sent to MIT by his father. Tony had no desire to be there at such a young age; he longed to experience the carefree joys of high school, filled with laughter and freedom. When he expressed his reluctance to his father, Howard struck him across the face, angrily asserting that if Tony had behaved properly as a teenager, he would not have been sent to college. It became evident that Howard was exasperated by the constant calls from the school regarding Tony's misbehavior. Upon his arrival at MIT, Tony found himself overwhelmed by the pressure, disliking his peers, the environment, and the high expectations placed upon him to the extent that he struggled to sleep at night. In search of solace, he turned to alcohol, using it as a means to escape and find the only comfort he could.

At age 21, Howard and Maria died, leaving Tony as an orphan. At such a young age, he was compelled to take on the role of successor to Stark Industries. At age 22, Tony found himself thrust into adulthood and wondered where his childhood had gone.

So when Peter was born, Tony made sure to always be there for his kid--never making the same mistakes as his father had. But fate had a twisted way of playing with Tony because, at the age of 5, Peter's time had stopped and Tony wasn't able to give the life he'd wanted for his child.

But somehow, seeing the photographs before him, Tony wonders the 'what ifs' and 'what could've been'.

"You like that?" Tony was brought back to reality when a woman started speaking. "Peter was just seven at that time. Ben and I took him to the ice cream parlor nearby since he wouldn't stop crying." she recounted, "Well, I can't remember now why he cried his lungs out." she added, chuckling a little.

"I'm sorry," Tony replied softly as he carefully repositioned the frame, "I didn't mean to..."

May smiles warmly, "It's okay," she says, "I actually love showing those photos to my guests whenever they come over. Peter's my pride and joy, so I make sure to boast about him every now and then." she continues, "My favorite one is the one on the red frame. I never had the chance to see Peter as a baby since his parents lived quite far away. It's just reminds me of how small Peter was, like a little peanut... he was a preemie, you know. Anna loved telling the story of Peter's birth whenever she had the chance."

Tony had seen that photo; Peter's mother, a blonde woman with hazel eyes, was cradling little Peter in her arms, while Peter's father, a brunette man with brown eyes, stood beside her.

"Well, looking at all the photos, it seems like Peter had a wonderful childhood," he says, a warm smile spreading on his face.

The frames are adorned with numerous photographs—one captures Peter at approximately four or five years old, a little thinly yet radiating happiness as he beams at the camera. Another shows toddler Peter, his expression one of surprise while seated in his high chair. There is also a picture of Peter at around eight or nine, dressed in a blue polo shirt and waving cheerfully at the camera. And then there is a photograph featuring May alongside a man, whom Tony assumes to be May's husband or boyfriend. Lastly, a more recent image shows May affectionately kissing Peter on the cheek, while the child makes a playful face for the camera.

May smiles as she gestures for Tony to take a seat, handing him a mug that he suspects contains tea, as the familiar aroma of coffee is absent. "Oh, he did," she remarks. "Though the kid's been through the wringer too, he definitely was a happy kid, still a happy teen."

Tony nods as he sits down opposite May, eyeing the tea set before him, "I see that," he replies, "I... and I'm so lucky to meet such a happy and remarkable kid."

May nods in acknowledgment, expressing her gratitude, "Thank you, Mr. Stark," she offers a slight smile and then after a beat, she clears her throat, "You're probably here for Peter, right?" she asks and to which Tony responds with a nod, "Though... he's not here. He's still at school and he won't be home till the afternoon."

Tony nods, he knew that of course. He'd been keeping tabs on the kid and he knew Peter's schedule by heart, "Oh yes, actually," it was Tony's turn to clear his throat, "You might already know this but Peter and I... we had a disagreement, a miscommunication if you will."

"Oh, that," May says, the smile leaving her face, "Yes, of course, I know that..." she trails, "Peter went home very upset, he said he'd lost the Stark Internship."

Tony looks down at that, feeling sorry to know that he had upset the kid, "Yes, uhm, I sincerely apologize for that Mrs. Parker," he replies, "You see, Peter made a mistake at work and I completely blew it out of proportion, so... uhm, I'm really sorry for that." Tony truly meant it. The billionaire had since long regretted his actions back at the ferry, especially as his emotions have settled and the anger has subsided. Just because Peter made a mistake once doesn't mean Tony's actions were justified. "That's why I'm here, I want to make it right."

May sighed heavily at that as she offered a small smile at the billionaire, "You know Mr. Stark, I still can't believe that I have met two Avengers now, all thanks to my nephew." she remarked, "First, Ms. Romanoff and now, you." Tony nodded in response, unsure of how to reply at that moment. "I was thrilled when Ms. Romanoff told me that Peter got accepted into the September Foundation. You probably already know this, but Peter had been sending his portfolio to your team, hoping to snag an internship at Stark Industries or even get some funding from your foundation. So when he learned he made it in, he was absolutely excited."

Tony remembers Peter sharing all those stories about the summers he spent working on his portfolio to send to SI while they were heading back from Berlin. From what the kid described, it sounded amazing, and Tony couldn't help but wonder why his HR team turned down all of the kid's portfolios and techs.

"Peter's been in a bit of a slump lately. I haven't seen him smile or laugh the way he used to in months. But thanks to the September Foundation, he's finally starting to find some happiness again." May lets out a sigh, feeling a bit exposed talking about Peter. She shakes her head and locks eyes with the billionaire, wanting to cut to the chase. "Here's the deal... I might be rambling here, but I really can't stand to see my kid get hurt again." She adds, "Last time he came home, he was in tears. I don't know what happened at the internship, but firing him should've been a last resort, shouldn't it?" she asks.

"I know," Tony sighs, "I was wrong... I overreacted and now that I'm finally coming to my senses, I realized that I made a mistake too. I was too hard on the kid and for that I'm sorry. And you know, that's the reason I'm here. I need to make things right," Tony states. "Your kid... Peter, is incredible. He's more than science and his techs; he's a genuinely good kid, Mrs. Parker. And I'm sorry if I had hurt him in any way."

Tony looks at May trying to gauge her thoughts. May exhales deeply as she meets back his stare and at that moment, all Tony wanted to do was run away. The woman's eyes looked sad and disappointed, in him? He doesn't know.

"Look, Mr. Stark, Peter took it to heart when you fired him and he was truly hurt and now that he's somewhat moving on with his life, I can't have you raising his hopes again." she shrugs, "He took that rejection very hard and I don't think he'll be able to handle it again when you fire him for the second time if he were to makes mistakes again. Because the truth is, Peter is bound to make mistakes, he's still a child after all."

He's a child. That was one thing that Tony had forgotten when he screamed at Peter back at the ferry. In his anger-hazed mind, he saw Spider-Man and not the fourteen-year-old kid who just wanted to help.

Tony made a mistake and he knows that he needs to own up to its consequences so he nods, understanding if the kid's aunt was still doubting him, "I understand that. But I just want you to know that the September Foundation is always ready to welcome Peter." he says earnestly, "I made a mistake once, and I want to make it right. Just... here," he continued, handing a folder to May. "I know Natasha had you sign a ton of papers for the internship, but this... this is the official stuff." Tony had been thinking about this for a while. Ever since he chatted with Peter on the plane, he realized he couldn't overlook the kid's potential—whether as Spider-Man or just Peter Parker. The billionaire understood that he needed to nurture Peter's talent in every possible way. He even revisited the kid's previous portfolios, impressed by the remarkable work the boy had produced, and knew that it was essential to formalize the internship because if he didn't, Tony knows he'll regret it for years. It was not even about having Peter as his personal intern; it was about having him in the internship program so that he could hone his skills with the support of Stark Industries, even if Tony could not be present himself. "I messed up dismissing the kid but I realized that Peter makes a load of difference in the world... just by being kind and good and it's hard to find that nowadays. So..."

May smiles a little as she accepts the folder but does not look into it, "I understand but it will take time for me to trust you guys again." she says, "I know that you guys mean no harm to my kid and I know you must've seen Peter's talent for you to personally come here but I need to consider my kid's welfare. I'm sorry Mr. Stark, but for now, I must say no."

Tony nods sadly at that, "That's okay," he replies, "But please do reconsider it. Stark Industries is always open to wonderful young minds just like your nephew."

--

Peter is buzzing with excitement. He had spent his entire lunch break with Ned and Liz, engaging in a wide range of discussions, particularly about the upcoming homecoming event. Peter wanted to coordinate his tie with Liz's dress, but she simply laughed and reassured him that he didn't need to do those kinds of things. She had told him to just focus on looking his best that evening, assuring him that she would be pleased with whatever he chose to wear. And Peter couldn't help but smile widely at that because Liz truly is an angel.

After that, Peter found it impossible to wipe the smile off his face. Even Ned had told him off about it, saying that it was freaking him out seeing Peter with a permanent smile on his face. But what could he do? Talking to Liz was nothing but a mere dream, but now, he gets to spend his time with her and talk to her for hours. 

Peter swiftly opens the door to their apartment, completely engrossed by his and Liz's conversation.

From: Liz ♥

It's fine, Peter. I told you, you can wear anything you want. But if it'll make your mind ease off a bit, I'll be wearing pink. ☺

"May, do we have a pink tie?" Peter asks, tucking his phone back into his pocket and carelessly placing his bag on the dining table. He continues, "Or a white one? Black? What goes with pink anyway?"

Peter was evidently preoccupied, lost in thoughts about homecoming and Liz, failing to notice that there are three people inside their apartment.

"May?" the kid asks as he finally raises his gaze, visibly taken aback when he sees two pairs of eyes looking at him.

"Peter, I didn't know you'd come back home so early," May says with a small smile on her face.

Peter was dumbstruck because--Is that Tony Stark sitting in our living room?

Peter hesitates, his voice faltering as he speaks. "The decathlon practice was canceled... Mr. Harrington had a meeting to attend, and I thought it best to take the train home," he replies, his gaze fixed on the billionaire in front of him. "I hope you don't ground me longer for this... cause I didn't want to get in trou--"

"It's okay, honey," May interjects, reassuring him, "I'm just glad you came straight home like we agreed to."

Peter stumbles over his words once more as he finally confronts the pressing question. "Mr. Stark?" he asks, "What are you--what are you doing here?"

The billionaire finally lifts his gaze, smiling at the young boy. "Hey, Mr. Parker," he greets, "It's good that I was able to run into you. I was just having a little chat with your aunt."

Peter glances between May and Tony, his heart hammering against his ribcage, panic and overthinking clouding his mind. Peter doesn't know if he should be happy Tony's here or if he should be scared that Tony's here.

May walks closer to Peter and rubs his shoulders comfortingly, "It's about the internship." she informs him.

"Oh," Peter says dumbly.

Peter doesn't know what to think of that, but one thing's for sure, he's scared. He's scared that his idol would yell at him again and repeat all the mistakes he did at the ferry. Or would he make him pay for ruining the suit and hacking it? Should he ask Ned to pay it with him since he's part of that too or should he shoulder all those burden by himself?

"Mrs. Parker, would you mind if I borrow your nephew just for a few hours?" Tony asks, "I know that I still need to gain your trust, but I would appreciate it if you could make an exception today--just let me steal some of the kid's precious time."

May glances at Tony and then at Peter, expressing her concern, "I don't know if it's a good time right now." the woman says, "Peter's probably tired from commuting and all, he'll need a breather."

"No, uhm," Peter quickly says, "Uhm, I'm okay, May." he says as he turns to his aunt and offers a reassuring smile, "Heart's good," he whispers so it was only May who could hear him.

"Are you sure?" May asks, unsure.

Peter smiles at that as he nods, reassuring his aunt, "I'm sure. Uhm, Mr. Stark and I will just talk."

"Peter," May says, still unsure.

"It's going to be fine, May."

"Okay," she replies with a sighs, "Have you taken your medicines yet?"

"I will, uhm, I'll just grab a snack after so my stomach won't be empty when I take it."

May nods at that as she turns towards Tony but before she can even speak, Tony beats her to it, "I'll bring him back in one piece, don't worry Mrs. Parker." he says, "I'll even personally walk Peter back in front of your door."

May, appearing satisfied, nodded in agreement. "Don't forget to take your medicines, Peter," she reminded, her voice stern.

Peter simply nodded in response, "I will, Aunt May."

--

The past few months had been a whirlwind for Peter. One moment, he was over the moon to meet THE Black Widow, fighting with and against his childhood heroes, and then he found himself returning home with the one and only Tony Stark, who, at the end of it, gifted him an extraordinary suit. However, as is often the case, moments of highs were accompanied by lows, because the next moment he knew, the same Tony Stark was screaming at him for splitting the ferry in two and before he knew it, he'd lost the suit. So now, it is probably understandable that Peter has chosen to remain silent, opted to refrain from speaking and let things unveil before him.

He now finds himself seated in the corner booth of a quaint café located near their apartment, in the company of none other than Tony Stark.

"What do you want, kid?" Tony inquires, glancing up from the menu to regard the teen, "Do you want coffee?" he adds.

Peter averts his gaze, feeling somewhat intimidated by the billionaire's scrutiny. "I don't drink coffee," he replies quietly.

Tony blanches at him, looking surprised, "Coffee is heaven-sent, Peter. Why don't you like it?" he questions.

Peter simply shrugs in response. "I'm not old enough to have it and even if I am, I can't." he explains.

Peter expected Tony to retaliate again but the man merely hummed, inquiring, "Cakes? Pies?"

Peter shrugs again, not really wanting anything. Even if he had wanted something, he doubted he could eat it. His stomach felt tumultuous, as if filled with restless elephants, and his nerves were too frayed to handle any food or drink at the moment.

"Hmm, how about pies?" the billionaire asks, and when the kid remained silent, he simply shrugged, "Ok, we'll do a slice of pie," he added before calling for the waiter.

Peter tuned out the conversation but he knew that Tony ordered some sort of coffee for himself and a drink and a pie, for Peter. The atmosphere was subdued as they awaited their orders in silence, but Peter could feel Tony's eyes on him and it was enough to make the kid panic and overthink about everything. Is Mr. Stark waiting for an apology? Is he waiting for Peter to speak up? But about what? Peter doesn't know.

Finally, after a minute, the waitress comes back with a tray of goods in her hands.

"Here's your order," the waitress stated, her tone suggesting a lack of enthusiasm, as if the presence of Tony Stark held little significance for her. "One black coffee, one banoffee pie, and a hot chocolate."

Tony smiled as he accepted the coffee and offered Peter the banoffee pie along with the hot chocolate. "You know, kid," he began, savoring a sip of the coffee, "I like it here--the ambiance, the coffee, the peacefulness..." he remarked, exhaling contentedly.

In contrast, Peter was anything but calm or content. He felt a whirlwind of anxiety churning within him, and when the oppressive atmosphere became too much to bear, he lifted his gaze and timidly addressed Tony, "Um," he stammered, "I... uh, what brings... what brings you here, Mr. Stark?" he inquired.

Tony nods at that, "Getting to the point, I see," he remarks. The man then turns his gaze back to Peter, raising an eyebrow. "Will you ease up a bit, Parker?" he asks, "You look like a freaking statue in there. Look, I'm not here to scold you or scream at you, okay?" he adds in a low voice. "I'm here to do the opposite, actually."

Peter gazes at Tony with confusion. "I—"

"The adult is talking, Parker. Don't cut me off when I'm saying something."  the man responds promptly. "Just--I'm here to apologize, alright?" Tony states, which momentarily catches Peter off guard.

It seems like Peter had been too overwhelm with joy from a moment ago that he's being delusional, or deaf, he doesn't even know because, what?! THE Tony Stark apologizing? To whom? To him? To Peter?!

"I can already hear your gears turning there, kid," Tony immediately says, probably seeing the panic on Peter's face, "You know, I never got any sorry or apology from my dad or from any other grown-ups before so I'll do that for you, right now, okay? Is that good?" Tony asks, wanting to gauge the kid's thoughts.

Peter hesitated for a moment before responding, "I--uhh, okay, yeah,"

"I apologize for what happened at the ferry, Peter." Tony started, his voice gentle and Peter can clearly hear the man's sincerity in his words, "As the adult in the situation, I should have managed my emotions more effectively and handled the situation better. I'm sorry if I raised my voice at you or hurt you in any way."

Peter found himself at a loss for words, utterly astonished. He could hardly fathom that it was Tony who was offering an apology and not the other way around. More so that the apology was very much sincere; Tony took full responsibility without giving any excuses to his actions.

"I..." Peter breathes, "I don't know what to say, Mr. Stark."

Tony shrugs as he takes a sip from his coffee, "You don't have to say anything. You don't even have to accept my apology. I offered it simply because I felt it was necessary."

"No, uhm," Peter blurts out, "I was the one in the wrong. I badly wanted to help that I end up making it worse."

"Okay," Tony immediately says, "I'm going to stop you right there. We're not playing the blame game here, kid," he says, "My apology was not intended to make you feel guilty; you are not obligated to apologize as well." he added, shrugging.

"But I want to," Peter replies earnestly, "I... I mean what I said Mr. Stark. I messed it all up and just... I guess, I just want to say I'm sorry too." the kid breathes, "I wanted to show you that I could be better... and I wanted to prove myself to you."

Tony frowns at that as he grabs his glasses from his face and folds it up, "Who told you to do that?" he asks, "You see, kid, you don't need to do all that. You don't need to impress me."

"But--"

The man shrugs, "You know, some people seek validation because words of affirmation is their love language. Others, however, seek validation solely due to their own insecurities. I hope you're not the latter."

Peter fell silent at this remark, fully aware that he embodied both aspects. Yet, in that particular moment at the ferry, he knew that he wanted to prove himself to Mr. Stark. He felt unworthy of all that Tony had given him, especially the suit that he wanted to prove to himself that he deserved it.

Tony hums, taking Peter's silence as the answer, "Look kid, it's perfectly normal to seek approval from others, but excessive desire for it is not good, do you agree?" he asks, "Besides, you're Spider-Man, you don't need to impress me. I am already impressed by Peter Parker--Spider-Man is just the icing on top."

"You're just saying that," Peter replies, exhaling deeply as he takes a sip of the now lukewarm chocolate before him.

"Am I?" Tony asks, "Probably, yeah. But that was before--sure, Nat took you in because you're Spider-man. But!" he states dramatically while gesturing towards Peter, "But I let you stay because you're Peter Parker."

Me? Why me of all people? Peter is acutely aware of his longstanding struggles with low self-esteem, often doubting his self and his own choices. If it had been Spider-Man receiving such praise, Peter could probably understand, since Spider-Man embodies strength and goodness—qualities that Peter Parker lacks. So yeah, screw him if he really can't get himself to believe what Tony is telling him.

Peter gazes at Tony, filled with uncertainty, and states, "But I'm just Peter."

Tony nearly laughs as he sets an envelope before him. "If that is your perspective," he says with a shrug, "Very well, just Peter, could you explain why you submitted this groundbreaking bandage to Stark Industries?" the man asks while retrieving several of Peter's previous portfolios that he had sent for the Stark Internship. "It consists of what? Nearly the same formula as your webs—just a bit of modification, and voilà, a cost-effective bandage that will undoubtedly assist those in need."

"Uhm--"

"Please share with me, just Peter," he inquires, "What can you tell me about the computer you constructed at the age of ten using recycled materials? Nat mentioned that you possess the same fully operational computer in your bedroom, crafted from scraps akin to the image you submitted to SI. According to what I have heard, it appeared impressive and advanced—those are not my words, but Nat's."

"But--"

"So, just Peter," Tony says, without allowing him a chance to respond. "What can you tell me about the program you are developing—specifically, the AI designed to identify patterns that predict when an individual might experience a palpitation or a heart attack, based on their activity levels and stress indicators?"Peter remained silent, his gaze directed downward.

"Why do you appear so downcast, kid?" Tony inquires. "I trust it is not because you feel ashamed regarding your achievements," he says sarcastically, encouraging Peter to raise his eyes to meet his. "Do you see what I see, Peter?" he asks. "Did you assume I came here just to get Spider-Man back? Well, part of it, yes..." Peter almost chuckles at the man's straightforwardness. "But, the main purpose of my visit is to recognize your exceptional talent, okay? So quit the pouting and listen to me." Peter likely continued to brood, because the next thing he knew, Tony called out his name sternly, like he was telling him off. "Peter," he calls.

"Uhm, sorry," Peter says immediately, roughly wiping his mouth so that he can stop pouting, "I'm listening," he says.

"You are already remarkable, Peter Parker," Tony states. "If you cannot recognize your own value as it stands, you will not be prepared to take on the role of Spider-Man. This is the lesson I wanted you to learn back at the ferry." He continues, "I understand if you weren't able to grasp the lesson because of all the yelling and emotions but I am repeating it now, so you would get it, alright?" He exhales, "That is the reason why I am here—I want to teach you that lesson first hand. And also, I have already provided your aunt with the necessary documents, and if you both agree to the opportunity, you will begin your internship in the Research and Development department next Tuesday."

That was the bomb that Peter wasn't expecting, leaving him momentarily speechless as he stared at the billionaire, disbelief evident on his face. "What do you mean?"

"I gave your aunt the papers about it. I'm offering you a position to be part of the R and D department. It's not the September Foundation but this is better, okay?"

"What? I—" Peter finds himself overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, unsure whether to feel elated or pressured. "This is incredible, Mr. Stark. You cannot imagine how important this is for me."

Tony responds with a casual shrug, "Based on your current expression, I can certainly estimate the importance of this to you," he quips.

"But I—so I will be interning at Stark Industries? What will happen to the portfolios I submitted to your team? I thought--"

"So your schedule would be, Tuesdays and Thursdays after your class since I know that you don't have Academic Decathlon practices during those days and then, oh yeah, whole day every Saturdays."

Peter was undoubtedly experiencing a delusion because this can't be real! Him, as in Peter Parker an intern at Stark Industries?! It had to be a dream, but now... now it's real?! Peter can't believe it.

"That's incredible, Mr. Stark! I can hardly believe it!"

Tony raised an eyebrow at the young man, saying, "Calm down, kid," which promptly halted Peter's celebration. "Are you accepting the offer?"

"Of course I am, Mr. Stark!" he says, elated.

"Well, you need to drive a hard bargain to your aunt though. She did, in fact, reject my proposal."

"What?!" Peter exclaims.

May turned Tony down?!

Tony stated, "I intend to win your aunt's approval. Therefore," he said, casually nudging the banoffee pie towards Peter, "let us begin by listening to her, shall we? Consume the banoffee and take your medicine. I heard what your aunt said before we left."

"I—you heard that?"

"While I may be older, my hearing remains sharp."

"That is not what I meant," Peter replied with a frown.

Tony rolls his eyes at the kid, "Enough with the theatrics, young man. Enjoy your snack, take your medicine, and we can celebrate again later."

Peter shrugs as he pushes the banoffee pie back at the billionaire, "It's fine. May won't know."

"But I'll know so eat the damn pie, Parker."

Peter lets out an exaggerated groan, "But I don't like bananas."

Tony's expression shifts to one of confusion, "What was that? I didn't catch that."

"I don't like bananas." Peter almost whispers but it was enough for Tony to hear.

Tony deadpans at that, "Kid," he calls.

"What?" Peter asks dramatically, "I don't like the texture."

"Then why didn't you say so?" Tony asks exasperatedly. "I could've gotten you a New York cheesecake, is that what you like? Or a damn pumpkin pie, I don't know."

"Just..." Peter shrugs.

"Seriously, kid," Tony sighs, "If I get you a cake, would you eat it and drink your medicine?"

"Depends,"

"Parker," Tony deadpans.

"Fine, I'll get a donut."

Tony lets out a sigh as he signals for the waitress once more, placing an order for the glazed donut that Peter had desired. He also requested that the waitress reheat the child's hot chocolate to restore its warmth.

"Uhm, Mr. Stark," Peter inquires. He contemplates whether the excitement he experienced contributed to his newfound bravery, as he soon finds himself asking, "What about Spider-Man?" he asks, unsure.

"What about him?" Tony asks back, taking a sip of his coffee.

"When will I get my suit back?" Peter asks.

Tony gazes at him intently, causing Peter to instinctively shrink back. "You're still grounded till further notice." the man states matter-of-factly, redirecting his focus to the coffee in front of him.

Peter's expression tightens in response. "But you can't ground me." he asserts, filled with conviction.

"On the contrary, I absolutely can," Tony retorts without hesitation. "In the superhero world, I'm your nanny."

"But nannies don't ground the kids they nanny."

Tony gazes intently at him, and Peter was convinced that the man would finally retract his previous statements and he'll wake up from this wonderful dream. However, he was proven wrong when the man merely shrugged and remarked, "I gave you the wrong analogy but you get what I mean." he says, "I mean it, Parker. Spider-Man is grounded till further notice."

Peter decided not to push his luck anymore as he finally accepts Spider-Man's fate, "Okay," he concedes, yielding to the situation.