Chapter 3
The backlash of his tweet wasn’t actually that bad. In fact, it seemed to make strides in the direction his PR department was pushing. People either respected him for sharing a ‘piece of his turmoil’ while a few were happy that some ‘lighthearted teasing’ was still allowed in lawmaking. Tony really didn’t care either way but his PR was glowing at the unexpected reaction. They were urging him to ride this wave of support but Tony was content to fulfill his duty with quips about hump day and pictures of the Avengers gym.
Peter, however, wouldn’t stand for that. The boy wonder was practically glowing with all the good-will towards ‘Mr. Stark’ and wanted to keep the will alive. With enough begging Tony relinquished his phone into the custody of the boy spider and with promises that Peter would use discretion. Peter swore up and down that his only concern was to show the world how great he was, and put it that way how could he refuse?
The first day Peter took a picture of the skyline on the balcony of Avengers Tower, which is how Tony found out about Peters photography hobby.
The second Peter herded him out the door to brave New York with a hoodie and sun glasses.
“Please Mister Stark! I have school tomorrow and I have to run a few errands.”
“Okay but why do I have to go with you?”
Peter turned a doe eyed look on him.
“I wanted to spend time with you.”
Damn that kid was manipulative.
A few minutes of tugging at heartstrings and Tony was changing from his three piece suits into his gym clothes.
If he was honest with himself, Tony was actually a little excited to go out. He couldn’t remember the last time he went out incognito that didn’t involve mortal peril. Peter was as close to a literal ray of sunshine Tony had met and going out and doing things with him was like living in Malibu again.
Peter dragged him out for just a spot of sight-seeing before they went to the grocery store. Tony honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in a grocery store and had the sneaking suspicion it was because it had never happened. Peter was acting particularly sneaky so it was no surprise at all when he got home and eventually checked his twitter to find a picture of him feeling up some fruit.
Tony Stark @TonyStark
When you’re a responsible adult who lets spider-man at his twitter.
Helix Felix @hpforlifeoffelix
@TonyStark omg this is everything. I wish civil war had happened sooner
Karol Karl @lolspot43
See kids! Eat your fruits!
Marvin @marvinthemartian
Doesn’t he have people who do this for him? I would.
Orlando Hill @oreolando
@TonyStark Why is there a hyphen in spiderman?
Tony rolled his eyes at the question. He only hesitated a second before replying.
Tony Stark @TonyStark
@oreolando you don’t want to know. But always write to SM with the hyphen or I have to hear about it.
The name Spider-Man was a point of pride with Peter. He had wanted it to be ‘Spider Man’ with just a space in between (Tony liked to think it was modeled after Iron Man) but the papers started writing ‘Spiderman’ as just one word.
“Name one superhero that isn’t you that has ‘man’ at the end.”
“Batman.”
“Exactly! They’re going to say I ripped off the comics which is so uncool.”
At the end he compromised with the hyphen and insists upon it whenever Tony happens to write down his superhero name.
The kid was really too much. He and Rhodey got on like a house on fire and Vision seemed to think he was ‘fascinating.’ Honestly Tony thought he’d only see him if they went superheroing but literally the day after Tony returned from Siberia he’d badgered a great number of people to let him see and confirm Tony’s health. It had been heart-warming having Peter hanging around Avengers Tower, especially seeing as they had to move in because Wanda had put a giant whole through the Avengers compound. That, and the commute for Peter would have been killer if they ever needed him, so the dust had been brushed off a few spare rooms in the tower and voila! A new home for Vision and an old home for the rest of them.
Orlando Hill @oreolando
Holy fucking shit Tony Stark just replied to me.
Orlando Hill @oreolando
@TonyStark is spiderman living in the tower? Sir?
Tony snorted, brought out of his reverie.
Tony Stark@TonyStark
@oreolando You forgot the hyphen. But no, he’s got a day job.
Hmm yes sir Spider-Man is totally an adult.
Orlando Hill @oreolando
@TonyStark Did you kill Captain America?
Tightness ceased his heart. Tony rigidly sat there, staring at the top-of-the-line device he had created with his own two hands and looked at the accusing words. It was a common conspiracy theory. The public had been told that there was an altercation in Siberia and that Captain America had escaped with the presumed terrorist Bucky Barnes, but there was a small faction who were convinced that Captain America had been killed and it was hushed up. It worked seeing as there was no sightings or anything, it was like he’d just dropped off the face of the earth. You’d think the rumors would die down with the jail break on the raft but the question still seemed to linger in peoples mind.
Should he respond? Normally he’d just refuse to answer any questions and let people yell at him through twitter, but he’d been answering all this guy’s other questions. Would not answering make it seem like truth by omission? Then what should he answer with? ‘Don’t ask stupid questions?’ That would be Tony Stark style but it would seem too flippant. It wouldn’t be lying, he hadn’t even been trying to kill Ste-Rogers. He’d only wanted Barnes.
Exhaustion fell across Tony’s shoulders like a familiar blanket.
It was wrong, objectively. He shouldn’t have done it. Honestly though, he really doesn’t care. Barnes was nothing but a face and a name before he saw that clip. He was just Rogers’ friend. Someone to look for because Rogers wanted to find him. He wished he’d reacted differently in Siberia, but at the end of the day, trying to kill Barnes would be at the bottom of the list of ‘Regrettable Things to have Happened’ that was those last seventy two hours.
Unless the guy turns out to be a raging jackass Tony will probably not try to kill him again.
In the end Tony replied the only way he could think of.
Tony Stark @TonyStark
@oreolando No