Bruises? Really? Was he serious?
   Frowning, Peter watched the nonsense Tony did to procrastinate from answering his question. He was sure that must be it, because they rarely had any confrontational conversations he started this way. Peter always said âyesâ and âamenâ, never really complained and alwaysâzipped itâ, how Mr. Stark called it when he wanted Peter to shut up - end and argument.
        Why was he thinking this one would end any different?
   Already frustrated, the boy let out a sigh and let Tony speak. He was polite enough to not interrupt, which didnât meant he wouldnât give him his two cents on that marter. âI have broke my bones endless times during battle already, Mr. Stark. I donât like it - I think no one really does - but with my healing factor, it really isnât an issue. They heal fast. Iâm speaking of like  - within hours fast.â, Peter complained, arms crossed in front of his chest, pouting like an angry toddler, since his soft features didnât made it very convincing.
   He didnât get it, didnât understood what Tony truly meant, because all he made out of it was that Tony still belittered him. âIâm hitting 18 soon. I have been Spiderman for three years now. I have stopped the Vulture, I have fought with you in Germany and even in space. I think I am ready to take on more big baddies. Come on, Mr. Stark. Iâm no child anymore.â, he clearly grew up faster than he wanted to, but there was no way to turn back time now - no reason to look back, when he had a future ahead of him that was so much more promising. âIâm even done with school in less than a month or so. You even said it yourself, didnât you? Iâm an Avenger now.â
Tony couldnât help but let out a sigh, his body deflating slightly as he listened to Peter relieve his frustration and anger. There were so many reasons. There was so many reasons why he wouldnât let Peter extend himself. Already Tony couldnât have been there for him in Europe because he was still recovering. The kid almost died, kid got hit by a fucking train. Tony blamed himself even though he shouldnât. He was still recovering from surgery at the time, no one wouldâve known that an ex Stark employee would go psycho and try to kill the kid. Yet it didnât stop Tony from blaming himself.
He flexed the prosthetic slightly, staring at it, trying his hardest to stay calm, to hear him out even though every fiber in his body screamed âno.â
âHe doesnât understand.â
âI know Peter, I know. But it doesnât matter. I like it when Iâm not having to worry about you getting hurt kid. I prefer being able to do my job without having to look over my shoulder every other second to just make sure your heart is still beating.â
He didnât mean to snap, in all honesty. But Peter was rubbing him the wrong way.
âYou know when I was turning eighteen my main concern was that I could finally legally buy alcohol in Europe.â He makes an irritated sound why didnât he understand? Why couldnât Peter understand that Tony just wanted him safe. He wanted to risk as little as possible. Even if that means going head first into danger without calling for backup. It didnât matter if he needed it. It just mattered he could keep everyone safe. And space. He hated space. He loathed it at this point. It had chewed him up and spit him out and Tony had decided this rock he calls home, what he calls Earth, heâd rather stay there. Just thinking about it made his blood boil. There were so many instances where Thanos had very nearly killed all of them.Â
âAnd what happened in space Peter! Do you remember? Because I do! I remember holding you while you died! You died in space. I donât want to risk losing you again! I know what that was like already. Just donât mention space. Donât- Donât mention any of that bullshit kid.â
His emotions were running rampant, after everything with Thanos, he was lucky to even still be alive. He almost died. He very nearly did. Tony was different after the battle with Thanos. Some say he was definitely softer. Raising Morgan had helped him settle more into that ideal retired life he had fought back for so long. Why couldnât Peter understand that his age didnât matter? That Peter was still his kid. Peter had carved a hole in his heart and losing him would destroy Tony.
âYou are, Yeah I know youâre graduating soon. In saying that we should be worrying about you getting into the university you want kid. Harvard? Yale? You know I went to MIT. Whatever you get into, you know I am paying for it right? We should be worrying about uni rather then... Then being in the Avengers.â
It scared Tony, all of that superhero stuff. It always has, it always will. And it down right terrified him thinking about Peter being involved in all of that.
âLook, Peter- No zip it. Iâm talking now... Come here.â He pulls out the chair next to him âSit down kid.â It wasnât an offer, no it was Tony telling him, ordering him.
This is where the adult talks.
âI know, I know youâre eighteen soon. And youâre graduating soon and Iâm so, so very proud of you. Which is really difficult for me to say. Iâm not good at all this crap. Never was. Iâm only getting better because of Pep, Morgan, because of you. I really need you to understand, I need you to understand that this all, everything here. Itâs not a game.â
Tony gestures to the prosthetic. He had spent months working on it, getting a working arm back after he had lost his after the snap. Even then, the scars extended upwards and touched the corners of his face. They extended across his shoulder and down his torso and it was just visible with his singlet.
He had spent hours in surgery. It was assumed he wasnât going to pull through. They werenât able to save his arm but Tony was just grateful to be alive, to be able to watch Morgan grow up, watch Peter graduate, see Harley finish university.
âI donât regret avoiding calling for back up Peter. I almost died, if you came, thereâs a good chance you probably wouldâve. Anyway if I did need backup, I wouldnât have called you kid.âÂ
It didnât dawn on Tony that was exactly the opposite of what Peter probably wouldâve wanted to hear. But itâs what Tony needed for himself.
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