Chapter 23
"This is so cool!" Peter cheered as he came home and headed straight to the lab, where Tony and the brand new Spider-Man suit waited. It looked totally perfect and much better than Peter had expected. He exhaled admiringly and ran his fingers over the dark spider that glowed on the chest. "That's beautiful, Dad! If you didn't help me, it would look like some onesie."
Tony laughed. "Do you have anything against an onesie?"
"Not at all."
“So, let's clarify a few things again; not a word to Mom. Not yet. We have to work her out slowly, and then we tell her. I would hate to have a quiet household because of this," Tony said seriously, and Peter nodded. That was not a problem. “Second, you won't just use the suit for fun, otherwise I'll put it somewhere and make sure you don't get to it. Third, you won't risk anything. You won't just take it without me knowing it. And if I take you somewhere with me, you will obey me and save yourself rather than risk for me. Is it clear to you?"
Peter listened only half-ear, still admiringly watching his gorgeous suit. But he was really interested in the penultimate sentence. He looked at his father brightly. "You'll take me with you on missions? I will work with the Avengers?!"
Tony paused. Given what Ross was about to do, he was beginning to worry a little that the Avengers would be able to hold on for a long time. But he still didn't understand. They saved the world; what did he want more? He shook his head. "I'll think about it, depending on how you will listen."
"I'll be as good as... I meant to say a puppy, but there is a lot of worry about those," he thought. Tony laughed and ruffled his hair, as he often did when he was a little child.
“You were like a puppy when you were a little kid. They all loved you, all they needed was one look, and they started babbling how cute you were. You charmed them all with your puppy eyes," he grinned. "You have that charm after me. You don't have to thank me."
"Sure thing, Dad," he chuckled and then looked at his father eagerly. "Can I try the suit? Please!"
Tony took a breath to answer, but he was interrupted by Friday: "Steve Rogers is here, sir. Should I let him in?"
Stark rolled his eyes and grunted: "You're going to let Ross in and not Steve? God, Friday... those damn women. And you're just artificial intelligence. Let him in."
"I could be offended, sir."
"That's not what I meant, babe. You are number one," Tony said, then winked at Peter. "You dare take the suit. We will test it together. I want to keep you under control."
Peter whined. "But Dad ..."
"No buts. Compromises, kid. Friday, watch over him," he commanded, and Peter folded his arms over his chest.
"As you wish, sir."
“I know you, Peter. Just wait for me, it'll be just a moment, I promise," he said, and then he came out of the workshop. "Hello, Cap," he greeted Steve, who was already waiting for him in the living room.
"Tony, nice to see you again," he told him honestly and smiled. "Where's Peter?"
“He sulks in the workshop. Sit down. Can I get you something?" he offered, but Steve shook his head.
"No, thanks. I have another program after this." Tony raised his eyebrows, but Steve made no comment. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Yeah, it's not going to be exactly cheerful," he grinned and sat down in the chair opposite him. Steve frowned slightly. “Recently, Ross came to me. And he told me something that I can't get out of my mind."
"What is it?"
“He doesn't like our work. I know there have been a few missteps, but so many of our missions have been successful. He says we have a lot of dead people behind us, which I do not deny, but they are mainly those who want to endangered our world, right? I know we have often threatened innocent people too, but... everybody knows very well that every battle brings some victims," Tony sighed and Steve winced. "The UN is now making an agreement or something. I suppose they want all power and control over us."
“Are you telling me he doesn't look at the good thing at all? You almost died trying to protect Earth from Loki and his mad plans. Doesn't he get any of this? It may sound a little egoistic, but where would the world be if it weren't for us?" Steve said.
"In deep shits," Tony replied simply, and Captain America frowned, even though the corners of his lips twitched slightly. "It bothers me that Thor hasn't shown up yet. Otherwise, I would ask him if he could send us his little brother again for a while."
Steve raised an eyebrow. "Are you crazy?"
"No, not at all. Loki would be under surveillance. All he had to do was use his magic stick, and maybe Ross would start to think..." he suggested, and Rogers had to laugh. "So, will we call Loki?"
"Yes, please!" shouted Peter, who suddenly appeared. Tony frowned.
"You still remember him?"
"Yeah, sure! You locked him in a cell!"
"By right!"
"Hi, Peter," Steve greeted him with a smile, and Peter hurried to him on the couch. "How are you?"
"Great," he grinned. "I have superpowers now," he boasted, and Tony's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Peter!"
"Really? Did Dad dop you with something?" Steve raised his eyebrows. Peter shrugged.
“Actually, we don't know how it happened. One day I was fine, then I went on a field trip, I came back and I was sick, and the next day I had superpowers. Sometimes I will show you what I can do when my dad allows me to try a suit," he boasted, then looked at his father. "When will Aunt Nat show up?"
Tony sighed. "I do not know. Anyway, Aunt Nat and you will be even more inseparable now, right? Spider duo," he grinned.