It's About Time

Ch. 19

When Peter and Wanda appeared in the living room, they saw Tony standing over Flash, yelling at him.  Bucky and Natasha stood near the back of the room smirking and Steve looked irritated.  The rest of Peter's class had moved clear out of Tony's way.  Flash was standing in the middle of the living room looking like he was about to wet himself as Tony got after him for punching Peter.  However irritated Steve looked, he didn't do anything to stop Tony.  Wanda confirmed that he was actually kind of glad Tony was getting after Flash.  Peter wasn't that surprised, but he did figure he should do something about it.

"Hey!  D-Mr. Stark, stop it!"  Peter said, barely remembering his cover as Tony Stark's intern.  Tony stopped his yelling and turned to Peter.

"He bullies you?"  he asked.  Peter was hesitant to answer and Tony took that as a yes.  He sighed.  "Why didn't you tell me, Peter?"

"Well, I'm just an intern so I figured-"  Steve cut him off.

"Yeah, that cover ended the minute Tony found out,"  he said.  Peter looked at him.  "He kinda went ballistic and started yelling about hurting his son."  Peter groaned and glared at his dad.

"This is why I didn't tell you,"  he said.  "You go and make a big deal about it which only makes things worse.  Now I'll have to go back to being home schooled!"  Tony looked like Peter had just declared he hated him with all his guts.  Peter didn't look guilty, either.

"Peter, I was just trying to-"

"Trying to what?  Defend me?"  Peter snapped.  Tony closed his mouth and swallowed.  "Well news flash Dad, Iron Man can't just swoop in and solve every problem I face.  Just because you're a superhero doesn't mean you can fix the world.  In fact, you often make it worse.  Like what you just did.  So thanks for trying, but you did the exact opposite of help."  Peter paused and glared at Tony.  "Sometimes I wish you weren't my Dad."  A quick glance at Natasha told him he had maybe gone too far.  It was too late now, though; Peter wasn't going to take it back.

"Okay,"  Tony said softly, nodding then briefly looking up at Peter.  "I'm sorry."  With that, he turned and walked out of the living room.  Peter turned and stormed back down the hall to his room, slamming the door shut.  Steve glanced around the room full of teenagers and awkwardly smiled.

"This has been nice,"  Steve said.  "However, I think it's time you all left now."  Miss Kramer nodded and gathered everyone up.  Too late did Steve notice Wanda's red magic crawling through the crowd of kids.  Before he could stop her, the magic disappeared and the kids were all gone.  "What did you do?"  Steve asked.

"They won't remember anything about Tony and Peter's fight,"  Wanda said.  She glanced at the door, looking outside as everyone got on the bus.  "All they remember is their tour, coming to ask us questions, watching you fight, then leaving.  They think Peter was just sick today and couldn't come."

"Good plan, Wanda,"  Clint said.  Wanda gave him a small smile then pointed down the hall towards Peter's room, a concerned look on her face.

"Should someone go talk to him?"  she asked.  Steve nodded and sent Natasha.

"I'm going to go talk to Tony,"  he said.  He turned down the hall Tony had gone down and asked FRIDAY for his location.  He was getting ready to fly out in his Iron Man suit apparently, so Steve ran to the launch pad and just barely caught him.  "Tony!"  he called.  Tony looked at him but didn't lift the face plate.

"What's up, Cap?"  he asked.  He was suddenly very thankful the monotone voice in his suit hid his real voice well.  It was shaky at best as Tony tried not to let himself cry.

"You can't leave your kid after a fight like that,"  Steve said gently.  Tony refused to look at Steve through the suit, blinking back tears.  "He didn't mean what he said and if you leave now he'll feel even worse than he already does."

"I'm just gonna give him some space,"  Tony said, his voice shakier than before.  "I'll send Happy or Pepper to pick him up when you say he's ready."  Steve shook his head.

"Tony, your son was being bullied,"  Steve said.  Tony's jaw clenched at the reminder.  "You don't know if he was being threatened not to tell anyone.  Just listen to what he has to say."  Tony frowned.

"You knew about it,"  he said.  Steve gave a hesitant nod.  "He told you but he didn't tell me?"  Steve tried to tell him what had actually happened and how he had found out, but he stopped when he realised it probably wouldn't help the situation.  "I have to go."

"Don't leave, Tony,"  he said.  "You'll regret it.  You need to talk to him."  Tony shook a shuddering breath as the first tear trickled down his face.

"Sorry, Cap.  I can't,"  he said.  He was about to take off but Steve grabbed onto his arm.

"Tony, just wait for him here,"  Steve all but begged.  "You can't just abandon him even if he made you cry."

"He didn't make me cry,"  Tony said quickly as more tears slid down his face.  Steve obviously didn't believe him based on the look Tony received.

"Then take off the mask,"  he told him.  Tony didn't reply.  "It's okay to admit he made you upset, just don't take off and leave him.  He still needs you; you're his dad."

"That's not what he wants me to be, though,"  Tony said.  Before Steve could continue trying to convince him to stay, he took off and had FRIDAY autopilot the way to the Tower.  He didn't leave the lab once he returned.  He didn't want to explain what had happened to Pepper and he barely made it to the couch near Bruce's desk before he collapsed, sobbing as he recalled what Peter had said.  Maybe he really wasn't fit to be a superhero.  He should just stop now so he didn't continue to disappoint Peter; or Pepper for that matter.  He didn't allow himself to dwell on it anymore before grabbing an iron rod and smashing the side of his suit repeatedly.  He didn't want to mess up Peter's life anymore than he already had.