The Adopted Little Spider

Chapter 8: The Contest

It had been a month since Peter said his first word and now he was seven months old. He didn't change that much but Tony still wished he would stop and that he would always be the little baby in his arms. But for now he was so that meant he had to savor every moment. However this favoring also caused Tony to be incredibly jealous of others receiving affection from his son.

This was always very apparent with Steve, while he was his friend and all, Peter liked him too much for in Tony's warped little world he was the only one allowed to be Peter's favorite. This jealousy really started when one day Tony was holding and cuddling Peter and then suddenly when Steve walked by Peter reached for him, reached for him! Both Peter and Steve had gotten very close he was practically the second father for him, which made Tony feel inadequate at times when he watched the two interact.

However today's "accident" nearly crushed Tony and his major ego. Which had only grown to a ludicrous size with the ever loving and adorable Peter in his life. Anyways all the Avengers had come to Stark tower and Peter was learning to crawl which meant Thor and Clint were having plenty of fun with him. Then as they did so they had the brilliant idea that would totally crush Tony.

"Hey Tony!"

"Yes Clint?"

"Why don't we have a little contest to see who Peter likes better?" Clint said with an evil sneer.

"A what?"

"You know where you set him on the ground in between two people and see who he crawls to."

"Ok and exactly who did you have in mind for this contest?"

Clint looked around until he saw the one who could make Tony the most furious.

"How about you and Steve."

"What!"

"Why not Tony this could be interesting." Steve said feeling up to the challenge.

"Ugh fun I guess we could, but know I will crush you Rogers."

"Ok ok then." Steve responded thinking Tony was way overreacting.

Steve and Tony then both went into the middle of the room and went twenty feet away from each other. Natasha then came and put Peter in the middle of the two immediately starting off the competition.

"Come on Peter come to Daddy come on."

"No Peter come to uncle Steve."

"Come here Peter Daddy wants to snuggle you."

"No Uncle Steve wants to play airplane with you."

Peter was so confused as he turned his head side to side not sure who to pick. As the calls continued Peter felt that his Daddy's embrace sounded the best right now.

Peter was about to turn to Tony when he saw something poking out of Steve's jacket pocket. Peter then quickly turned and started to crawl towards Steve. Every little crawl towards Steve broke Tony's heart more and more until it was practically dust when Peter was in Steve's arms.

After the whole contest Tony sat on the couch pouting over his defeat and loss of his son. Might as well change the boys last name to Rodgers now since clearly he loved him more. Tony wasn't mad at his son but at himself, feeling he must not be adequate enough to take care of Peter and that Will must have made a great mistake.

A few minutes passed by and much to Clint's displeasure Steve decided he had had enough of the charade. He picked up Peter and then walked over to the sulking Tony hoping to make him feel better. As Tony sat there looking down he suddenly felt a weight on his lap. He looked up to see Peter sitting there smiling and reaching towards him. He gladly took the little spider into a tight embrace happy to have his son's affection.

"Dada!"

"Yeah sorry about that Tony."

"Sorry about what you won fair and square."

"Well actually I didn't."

"What do you mean?"

Steve then pulled out a half eaten chocolate chip cookie from his coat pocket.

"You bribed my son with a cookie!"

"Clint put me up to it knowing it would drive you nuts and don't worry I fed him little bits at a time so he wouldn't choke."

"Oh I am so going to kill Clint later."

"Sure well I let you two have some privacy first."

As Steve left Tony enjoyed his son who had now fallen asleep in his daddy's warm and comfortable embrace. The two were perfect together for both loved one another with all their hearts.