Growing Up

13 Years Old

Peter wasn't very excited about tonight. His dad was having a party he was required to go to and Peter had no choice but to join him. Thankfully, the party was in the Tower so he could disappear part way through the night if he wanted to, but he still had to stay for part of it.

"Can't I just stay up here?" Peter whined, letting Tony fixed his tie and cuff links. "It's gonna be boring. I can't even drink!"

"Oh you're fine," Tony replied, smoothing down his collar then stepping back. "Natasha is running the bar and can get you some sprite or something if you ask nicely."

Peter rolled his eyes and followed Tony to the lift.

"I don't see why I have to go," he grumbled.

Stepping into the lift, FRIDAY took them downstairs to where the party would be.

"If you want to take over Stark Industries someday, you'll have to go to these all the time," Tony reminded him.

Peter huffed and crossed his arms. Knowing it would only make Peter more irritated, Tony bit back a comment about his attitude. It never stuck around for long anyway.

The lift opened once they reached the lower levels of the penthouse and Peter and Tony walked out. Silently, Peter followed his dad around the room as Tony introduced him to everyone he talked to. Several of them asked Peter about what he thought about running Stark Industries one day and after the third time, Peter decided to leave.

Remembering what his dad had said about Aunt Tasha running the bar, Peter turned to the left and headed straight through the crowd. She was in the middle of mixing a drink, but she smiled at him as he slid onto a bar tool. As soon as she finished making her drink, she walked over to talk to him.

"Now what's got you coming to me?" Natasha asked, leaning against the counter.

Another man arrived at the bar, but Natasha ignored him in favour of talking to Peter.

"I'm just thirsty, Aunt Tasha," Peter replied. He was tired, too, but his grumpy attitude had disappeared almost as soon as he had walked out of the lift with Tony. "And tired, but I don't think Dad's gonna let me leave this early."

Natasha hummed then stepped to the left to take the man's order. In the middle of mixing his drink, Natasha fished a Sprite out of the mini-fridge for Peter. He happily took it, opening it up right away.

"It's not that bad," Natasha said and Peter shrugged. "You get used to it after a while. Soon you'll be as charming as they say your dad is." Peter snorted and Natasha grinned. "Okay, maybe not. You'll charm people in your own way, though."

"Yeah okay," Peter agreed halfheartedly.

With that, Natasha left to continue making drinks and Peter was left alone on his stool with a Sprite. Pretty soon, though, someone else sat beside him. Peter glanced over at the man as he waved Natasha off and turned to look at Peter. Although Natasha turned away, she hesitated and stayed within earshot.

"You must be Peter Stark," the man said. He held out his hand and Peter shook it, a little confused and cautious. "I'm Pat Greenwald and I work for Time Magazine. Mind if I ask the future CEO of Stark Industries a few questions?"

"Uh, sure," Peter replied awkward, not really sure what else to say.

Pulling out an audio recorder, Pat smiled shortly before pounding Peter with questions.

"We'll start with some simple questions," he said, "How long have you been without Tony Stark? Are you really his son? How much money did Stark pay your mother to keep quiet?"

Shocked, Peter didn't immediately reply. Pat waited, surprisingly, until Peter did answer.

"Uh, I've been with my Dad for, uh, about eight years," Peter started. Swallowing loudly, he looked around for his dad as he said, "I am his actual son and no, my mom didn't just have me to get money."

Pat hummed.

"Where's your mom now?" he asked, "Living rich in the Bahamas while you thrive with the prospect of one day owning Stark Industries? How do we know you won't bring it to ruins?"

Peter turned to his Sprite, trying to ignore the man and his rude questions. When Pat realised Peter wasn't going to answer him, he reached for Peter's arm to turn him back around. As soon as he did, though, another hand grabbed his arm and he look up to see Natasha watching him with narrowed eyes.

"You're going to let go of the kid," she said quietly, "Then you're going to get up, leave the Tower, and never come back here again."

Pat raised an eyebrow at her. "I won't be intimidated by one of Stark's hookups behind a bar."

Before he could blink, the arm he'd had on Peter was being pulled up behind his back and his face pressed into the bar.

"If you touch my son again," Tony hissed in his ear, "I will end you in such a painful way your great grandchildren's children will feel it."

Sucking in a breath, Pat snuck a glance up at Natasha who now had a gun trained on him.

"We clear?" Tony asked. Pat tried to nod but was unsuccessful, so Tony pulled his arm back further. Pat groaned.

"Yes! Yes, we're clear!"

Tony released him and Pat rushed for the lift, not looking back. As soon as the lift door closed around him, Tony and Natasha turned their attention to Peter.

"Are you okay?" Tony asked. Peter nodded numbly but Tony knew better than to believe him. "Yeah, okay. We're gonna go back upstairs," he said.

He looked up at Natasha who was still holding her gun, but not pointing it at anyone.

"I'll make sure everyone clears out," she promised. She nodded to Peter as she said, "You take care of him."

Wrapping an arm around Peter's shoulder, Tony picked up his Sprite and guided him back to the lift.

Once they were safely back in the penthouse, Tony asked what happened.

"He accused me and mom of just using you to get money," Peter said softly. He sniffled and wiped his nose on his suit. "He also said I wouldn't be a good CEO of Stark Industries and that I would ruin the company which is probably true and I shouldn't take it over, but I want to I just don't want to ruin it because you do so many cool things with it and I don't think I could ever match up to that."

When Peter finally took a breath, Tony pulled him to his side.

"Don't worry, Pete," Tony said as Peter sniffled again. "I know you and your mom aren't here for the money. I also know you're going to make a great CEO of Stark Industries. Sure, it's a ways off and maybe right now you might not be that great, but I don't plan on dying right now." Peter didn't smile, but Tony wasn't finished. "After college, you'll feel a lot more prepared to take it on. Besides, one day you'll get yourself an assistant and who knows what would happen next."

"Dad," Peter groaned as his face reddened. Tony laughed and hugged Peter.

"It'll be okay, kid," he promised, "Now, go change. We'll marathon Harry Potter and order pizza."

Peter didn't need to be told twice before he was running towards his room to change into his pyjamas while Tony changed and had FRIDAY call in the pizza order.