ᴘᴇᴛᴇʀᴍᴀɴ (ᴏɴᴇꜱʜᴏᴛꜱ)

"Let me be?"

      It was Agony - pure agony-

   Every part of him ached to go back in time, perhaps never get that damn permission slip signed. Then maybe he wouldnt have been bitten. He remembered how his bones burned while his flesh itched to be torn apart.

  That was mere months ago. Now he was used to swinging from webs through New York. Peter was very intelligent, he knew what it took to create a good suit, and so he did. His suit rivaled his own Father's, it was new, advanced, and had more features. And, it was only programmed to contact Tony in a emergency.

There were many things Peter was good at -and I mean many-  but hiding being Spider-man from his father was possibly the most difficult thing he'd ever done. And it was all going to waste -the months he'd spent dedicated to keeping this a secret- it was all going to waste right now.

"Peter Stark!" The tone sent chills down his spine, it was harsh and stern "What the hell?!" His father's dark brown eyes pierced into his soul as Peter sighed.

"Its- I- it's not what it looks like...?" He tried, he received a harsh look from Tony in return "was that a question or answer, Peter?"

Peter closed his eyes, memorys flashing violently. "I'm- I am so damn sorry- it's just that...I got these powers and I wanted to help. I didn't want you to freak- which that's clearly down the drain now." He rambled.

Tony furrowed his brows and motioned for Peter to sit on his bed. Once Peter complied Tony too took a seat. "15 years ago in this very room I made a promise to myself" he started, Peter gave him a confused look, because why on earth was he not yelling at him?

Ignoring the look of judgment from his son Tony continued. "I held you in my Arms -you were small and fragile and couldn't even lift your head- It was the third time i'd held you, it was your third night in the real world" Tony chuckled at the memory, which in turn confused Peter more.

"It was the fifth time you'd opened your eyes, but the first time you looked at me" Peter cocked his head to the side in wonder, and almost amusement.  That night I looked down at you and literally felt my heart explode. I made a promise to myself to protect you with every last breath I have"

Briefly, Tony paused, "You're making it so very much harder to keep that promise, Peter" he sighed. "Dad-" Peter was instantly cut off by his father "I- I'm not gonna stop you. But I'm deeply pained by the fact you didn't tell me- I just don't understand why you don't trust me."

"I do!" Peter piped up,"Oh boy, I do trust you! Really. There's not a single doubt about my trust in you dad. It's just that- I know how overprotective you get, and sometimes I just wish you'd- I don't know-... Let me be?"

   The tiny teenager watched his father exhale deeply, "Peter..." He began, "It's really funny, hypocritical of me even, to say I've never felt that way with my own parents.  Because I know damn well I did. But, this is different- You have powers for God's sake!" It was only the second time that night that he'd even remotely escalated his voice, but his tone made Peter flinch.

"We don't know what your powers do, I don't know how to help you - I don't even know how spiders work- I don't know why you don't have eight eyes, and you're not spitting venom. I just don't know - because you never told me." Tony closed his eyes in sympathy "I don't know how bad it hurt to have been bitten"

For the first time Peter felt really bad for making his father this upset "dad- I'm sorry", "Sorry doesn't cut it, Peter"

"Not this time" Tony scolded. He stood up impatiently and looked at the brunette "No Spider-Man for a week, Peter. It's getting late and I don't feel like continuing this discussion. Don't even think about leaving either, I'll have Friday alert me as you do so much as abandon that bed of yours. We're gonna continue this tomorrow morning"

"but dad-" Tony looked down at his son and used his most convincing stern voice "No, Peter" He left the room and left Peter alone. And although it pained him, to have left his son there in that room alone, he knew that sometimes tough love was the only answer.

But Peter fell subject to his thoughts that were deprecating to say the least, "I'm sorry" he choked out to nobody in specific. Instead he looked over at his suit, wondering if he should give it up. But ultimately he decided against it and came to the conclusion that his father couldnt be mad for long. Not for much longer at least.

But he wasn't so sure at this point.