Avenger Ships

“You were so embarrassed when the whole team showed up to the auditorium.” Tony laughed fondly at the photos of Peter in his graduation garb. The pictures clearly showed a blush on Peter’s cheeks and there was always two or more rowdy Avengers in the background. Clint had removed his hearing aids and blasted the loudest noisemaker he could find. Thor was tossing glittery confetti. Steve and Bruce looked like they were about to cry. Bucky and Sam were holding a large banner that read “Congrats Grad” with hand drawn images of Peter, curtesy of Steve, who was clapping loudly. Rhodey and Natasha were acting normal, but the pride in their eyes was evident. Tony was crowding Peter to take pictures and point out to others that “He’s my son!”. There were pictures of him with Ned and MJ, of him with Tony, and of him with May.

“You guys caused such a huge commotion. I was really grateful that people showed up to watch me though.” Peter reminised as he flipped the page of the photo album Steve had insisted upon because they were more sentimental than digital. The next few pages were filled with pictures of the team in the tower. There was Thor and Steve smiling as they ate breakfast together. Sam in an apron baking Spiderman cupcakes for Peter’s birthday. Natasha and Bruce cuddled under a blanket on the couch. Clint demonstrating how to shoot arrows for Bucky. Tony covered in flour with Loki doubled over from laughing in the background. There were some of them posing with their weapons. One where the whole team was gathered around a Christmas tree in ugly sweaters. Peter hissing at a candy cane.

Then there was a photo that silenced the two men. It was a picture of Tony signing the paperwork to legally adopt Peter. While Peter did appear happy, they both knew that the only reason Tony had taken that step was because his true guardian, his Aunt May, passed away in a horrible accident. Tony’s mentor role had long since morphed into a fatherly role, and Peter knew it, but when Tony asked him if he would like to be adopted, it finalized May’s death in his mind.

Peter’s breath hitched a bit when he saw the photo, but he turned and grinned at Tony’s concerned face. “I miss her, but I’m not unhappy here. I love you, Dad.” Tony released a tiny sigh of relief and put his arm around the kid. “We should probably move that photo. Steve’ll have a stroke if he’s sees it disorganized.” Peter rolled his eyes at Ton’y exaggeration, but turned back to the front of the book to place the photo in its correct spot.

He thought back to when Steve and Tony got together. He’d officially been Tony’s son for a couple of years before Steve and Tony reconnected. There had been countless apologies and a whole lotta healing, but the men forgave each other, then they became close friends, and then they pined after each other for far too long. It took some trickery from Natasha and an ‘error’ from JARVIS to get them to finally admit their feelings. Then there was the awkward dating stage, the gross overly touchy phase, and then married life. Actually, the later two of those were still in effect. Their relationship was immortalized in another photo book, one that Steve had carefully put together.

Peter had been awestruck when he met Captain America .The idol worship became respect and admiration when he experienced the Captain’s leadership prowess and fighting skills on the battlefield. Then, Peter met Steve Rogers. Steve Rogers drew cartoons of the Avengers and left them on sticky notes around the house. He made hot chocolate if he noticed someone was having a difficult time sleeping. He listened attentively to Peter’s problems in school and offered solid advice. He took care of everyone. That’s when Peter knew he platonically loved the man. And if he helped Natasha in setting Steve and Tony up, well no one had to know.

The team became Peter’s family and he loved his two dads more than anything in the whole world.

“Now that I’ve almost graduated college, I’ve been thinking about revealing my identity and officially joining the Avengers. It’s not like it’ll affect my research, and now my family is able to protect themselves just fine - no one is going to try and mess with the Hulk to get to me. I won’t be so worried about my mask coming off or being as anonymous when I’m fighting crime. What do you think?”

Tony’s jaw tightened and his hold on the book increased. “What if villains attack you when you’re just out and around town? I don’t know if that’s such a good idea Pete.”

Peter frowned, “I’d just call the suit. You were the one who added that feature, remember?”

“But you’re too young. Maybe you should try and explore other options in life. Is it really that painful to keep it a secret for a bit longer?”

“Most of the team started younger than I am now. I already love working in a lab and Spiderman is totally a part of my life now. There aren’t any ‘other options’ I even want to try. Plus, you revealed your identity really soon. Is it just that you don’t think I’m responsible enough?”

“Are you sure you don’t want this for the fame, kid? Because I don’t really see you making any other valid points. It isn’t all fun and games being swamped with paparazzi and weird fans while you’re out in public. What if I didn’t think you were ready for it?” Tony’s concern made him lash out at the young adult next to him.

“My feelings aren’t a valid enough reason? And you know I’m not after the fame. I just want to be free to who I am and not keep these secrets any more. I am ready. Will you ever stop thinking of me as that fourteen year old kid you first met? I’m older, smarter, and more mature. I can make my own decisions and I’d hope you would support them.”

“Not if they’re the wrong decisions.”

With those words, Peter left the room and headed to his bedroom. An hour later, he heard a soft knocking at his door.

“If it’s Tony, go away.”

“It’s Steve. I’ll leave if you want me to, but I’d really like to talk to you buddy?”

“Come in.”

Steve flashed a weak smile toward Peter. “I heard you had a bit of an argument from JARVIS. Do you want to tell me about it?” The super solider sat down on the bed next to where Peter was doing homework on his laptop.

“I told Tony that I wanted to reveal my identity.”

Steve nodded.

“He freaked out and told me I shouldn’t do it. He said I was too young to thing about the consequences and that I was only doing it for the fame. Is he ever going to see me as an adult?”

“Why do you want to do it?”

“I’m on edge all the time in my suit. Now that I’ve been fighting in televised battles, I feel so much pressure to ensure that none of my actions could allude to who I am. I’d also be nice to be accepted as an official part of the team. I could actually attend post-battle meals in public with you guys or strip my mask off to breath easier after a fight. It’s not like I don’t get enough press coverage from being Tony Stark’s and Captain America’s son so I think the benefits outweigh the cons.”

Steve gave a lopsided grin. “I might not be a genius like Tony, but that seems like sound logic to me. I’m sure he’s just worried about you getting stuck in this line of work once you’ve officially revealed yourself, but I think he needs to remember that you’ve been doing this for enough years to commit. And Peter, you are a part of the team. Even if the press doesn’t recognize you, you’re an important part of our operation. We couldn’t do what we do without your quick thinking and your genius and your kind heart. Trust me, I know how it feels to think that everything special about you comes from an accident, but let me tell you, that isn’t true at all. You’re an amazing kid all by yourself. The spider bite just made that fact more visible.”

Peter’s face relaxed a bit. “Thank you. You’re pretty great without the serum too.”

“Why don’t I go try to coax some sense into Tony?”

Peter hummed in appreciation and Steve left him to continue his work.

“JARVIS, please alert Tony that I’m coming into the lab.” Steve was always mindful to avoid surprising Tony. Unsurprisingly, heart conditions, PTSD, and jump scares didn’t mix well.

He took a few steps inside. The music was off and he knew Tony could hear him. “I know you’re always concerned about Peter’s safety, hell, I am too, but I think he’s right this time Tones. We should be guiding him on how to do it the right way, not trying to limit his choice. He’s a very smart young man who will do the right thing. Richard and Ben and May and you made sure of that.”

“Well, even though you’ve been persuaded to think otherwise, I don’t think he’s thought this through all the way Steve. He’s going to have to be a superhero forever now, He’s still young. He has a life ahead of him to change and experience. He shouldn’t be tied down by something like this. What if he wants to work in the public sector, but he slipped up as Spiderman and no one will hire him? What if people refuse to befriend him because of the publicity? What if his tongue slips during an answer to the press and they make him out to be an asshole? He isn’t ready.”

“I think he is. Those are all small problems that I’m sure Tony Stark can handle. Peter is ready for this.”

“Well it’s a good thing he’s not your son so your input doesn’t matter then, doesn't it? Like you said ‘Richard and Ben and May and me’ made sure that he grew up safely, not you.”

Steve’s chest stung. There was suddenly a lump in his throat and his eyes began to water in the corners. He waited for Tony to say something else, For him to apologize or take it back, but they just sat there in silence. Tony didn’t even turn to look at him. Steve left to go off an be alone.

His mind went back to all the times he’d voiced his insecurities about stepping into Peter’s life as Tony’s spouse. Even though the “kid” was an adult, he’d been dealt a rough hand and he deserved a father who provided him all the attention and help he deserved. Steve didn’t want to detract from that. Tony reassured him that him just thinking about that showed how much Steve loved Peter and that it proved he would be a good father. He convinced him that Peter wasn’t upset about Germany anymore. Whenever Steve snuck away to leave them for some father-son bonding, Tony had insisted he stay because he was a part of the family.

“I guess that wasn’t what he truly thought.” Steve muttered bitterly. He wasn’t Peter’s father. He knew he didn’t really have a say in Peter’s actions, but neither did Tony at this point. His heart hurt when he thought about Germany and leaving them alone for a while, but eventually his feet carried him back to the tower.

He sighed before heading up. He opted to grab some blankets and sleep on the couch that night.

Bang. “Shit.”

Steve awoke to the sound of Peter dropping a skillet whilst attempting to make eggs before leaving for his morning class. “Language.” He said semi sarcastically before offering to help.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up. You don’t need to do it for me.”

“Nonsense, I’m hungry too. I usually get up around this time anyway, you know that.”

“Well, I thought you might deserve a bit more rest if you were up late last night watching T.V. or whatever it was that caused you to fall asleep on the couch.”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. It was something like that.” Peter sensed the sadness in Steve’s tone and looked at the couch again. He realized that it had a pillow and proper blankets. Steve hadn’t just fallen asleep after a bout of insomnia. He had chosen to sleep there. Or been forced to.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yep. There was a little issue with Tony, but nothing major. I actually think I’m going to go for a run before eating. Help yourself to all the eggs. A spider needs to keep up his strength.”

Peter was a bit skeptical, but he sat down and shoveled breakfast in his mouth. Steve made the most perfect scrambled eggs. Peter could seriously eat them for every meal. After his hunger was satiated, he began to think about what Steve said. “If there was an issue, maybe it was something about me? Steve did say he would talk to Tony about the identity thing. I really hope I didn’t cause this.”

Peter was nervous, but his curiosity got the best of him. “JARVIS, can you please show me any footage of an argument between Steve and Tony yesterday?”

The AI, with no orders to block this showing, quickly pulled up the workshop on screen. Peter watched as the relatively tame conversation started up. He could practically feel the tension growing before it exploded courtesy of Tony.

“He’s not your son”

Peter’s heart hurt as he watched Steve’s reaction to the words. He hated that he would just accept Tony’s harsh words as the truth, that he would honestly believe he had no place as part of Peter’s family. It became even more painful when he realized that Steve must’ve been feeling all this while he got up and took care of Peter this morning, but managed to hide it so well.

Peter’s eyes began to leak when he heard a shuffling from nearby. Tony was staring, frozen in place, at the screen.

“It’s not like you hadn’t seen the video before. Clearly, you were in it,” Peter quipped harshly before his tone softened, “Why would you say that to him? Legal status isn’t what makes a family. Steve is my family. He was the only one fighting for me instead of against me anyway.” His voice hitched near the end and he couldn’t stop himself from crying.

Tony audibly swallowed as he watched his son dry his eyes with a cloth napkin and pretend to be fine when he was clearly trembling. When Steve didn’t come back to bed last night, Tony started to think about the events of the day. Quickly, he realized that he was in the wrong. He knew Peter was fully capable of doing his own thing and that he shouldn’t let his own insecurities stunt his son’s life.

“I’m so sorry Pete. You were right. I was just being a helicopter parent because I get so worried about you all the time. It isn’t an excuse, but I hope you’ll forgive me? I’d be more than happy to help you plan your reveal.”

“It’s fine Dad. I was expecting some pushback anyway since you’re always like this. I forgive you for overreacting. But what you said to Steve...” Peter’s eyes fluttered over to the screen.

“I messed up.” Tony agreed. That was an understatement. He had royally fucked up.

Peter nodded, he could see the guilt in Tony’s eyes and trusted him to fix the problem. “Steve just left for a run,” he added before leaving for school.

Tony sat on the couch, waiting for Steve. Fifteen minutes later he was pacing around the room. An hour later, it was the whole floor. Three hours later, it was the building. He’d given JARVIS strict orders to inform him the minute Steve entered the building. He couldn’t enter his lab without being overwhelmed at what he’d done and he didn’t want to leave the tower and miss his husband. By the time Steve came back, five hours later, Tony was on the verge of a panic attack. Steve had to come back, right? Could he have gotten hurt or kidnapped while he was out? Did he just realize that Tony was too terrible and that he never wanted to see him again? He would at least come back to sign divorce papers, right? The devastated face Steve made when he noticed Tony sent him over the edge.

Tony plopped down on the floor and hyperventilated. In a second, Steve was at his side. Consoling him and grounding him like always. He stroked Tony’s hair and spoke gently to him until he was relaxed against his chest. “What happened? Are you hurt? Is Peter hurt? Did anyone on the team get injured?”

Tony’s head throbbed at Steve’s blatant concern. His face scrunched up. Here come the waterworks. He somehow managed to shake his head as he choked back a sob.

Steve rubbed circles on Tony’s back and tucked him under his chin. “Everyone is safe. It’s going to be alright. It’s okay to let it out.” He murmured in his ear. The careful way Steve handled him and the honest words of encouragement made the guilt too much to bare.

Tony broke away and jolted back. “You shouldn’t be comforting me. I’m the one who hurt you. Steve, I’m so so so sorry for what I said yesterday in the lab. You and Peter were right. I told him before he left for school his morning that we’d help him with it...if that’s something you’d like to do?”

“I know how you felt Tony. You don’t want to lose another family. I forgive you. I know I’m not his father anyway so that doesn’t give me the right to argue with you about parenting. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it bothered you when I intruded on your relationship. I promise to -“

“You can’t possibly think that I don’t like it when you’re with Peter.”

“Well...”

“Don’t say it Steve. Don’t even think it. I was unimaginably wrong yesterday. You’re Peter’s father. Who gives a shit if the government recognizes it? Who trusts them anyway? I love you. Peter loves you. He looks up to Steve Rogers and you can’t forget that because I’m the worst person on the planet.”

“You’re not-“

“Yes I was. I’m going to keep apologizing until it’s better. Until you’ve stopped doubting the irreplaceable part you play in both of our lives.”

Steve trembled a bit before blushing at Tony.

Peter and Steve made dinner together as Tony set up a game for them to play together. The night was spent laughing and cuddling. None of them could ask for a better night.

“Fuck. Why am I so bad at this?” Tony grumbled at his plastic red piece.

“Language.” Peter and Steve chastised him simultaneously.

“He’s definitely your son Cap.”