Chapter Text
“I don't…” Peter didn’t know what to say. This couldn’t be real.. Could it?
Tony immediately shook his head, “You don't have to say anything.”
Peter swallowed, “How?”
Tony sighed.
“The people who raised you weren't your biological parents. They stole you when you were a baby, they got in an accident and then you went into the system.. That’s when you were adopted by Mary and Richard.. And then they got in a plane crash and..I’m sure you know the rest..”
Peter looked at him, “This is.. A lot to process.”
“I know, which is why I waited until you were better to tell you..”
Peter just nodded. The reveal didn’t make everything suddenly click into place. It certainly didn’t solve all of his problems, but it would finally give Tony some closure.
There was a long time of silence. Peter didn’t know what to say, and Tony for sure had nothing else to say for a while either. But..neither of them moved to get up and leave the room. It must’ve been at least ten minutes until Tony decided to say something.
“I need you to understand something, because I don’t want any misunderstandings or rumors happening.. ”
Peter finally looked back up at him.
“Before the DNA test, I didn't know if it was true. Even after it was, I still had trouble believing it.”
Peter frowned slightly, “Why?”
“Because I had this image in my head for fourteen years.” Tony smiled sadly, “A little baby boy, barely big enough to hold. I remembered everything about him.”
He looked at Peter, “And then there was you.”
Peter's expression fell slightly.
Tony immediately shook his head in clear offense. “Not like that. I mean… you're not the same baby boy I remember.” Tony laughed softly. “Obviously. You're fourteen now.”
Peter gave a tiny laugh.
“What I'm trying to say is that I don't love you because some test says I'm supposed to. I loved you before I knew. I loved you when I thought you were just Peter. You were my kid long before I knew you were my son. So whether that test was positive or negative, nothing would've changed. You still would've been my son.”
Peter got up and wrapped his arms around Tony, who froze for half a second and then hugged him back. He held Peter tightly, one hand resting against the back of his head, Peter buried his face against Tony's shoulder, “I think I've always loved you.”
Tony closed his eyes, he had been waiting for this day. Waiting for his son to come home. And now he was finally in his arms.
“Even when I was little. I don't know why. I couldn't explain it. But every time I saw you, I just…It felt like I knew you.”
Fourteen years of searching..and Peter had somehow found him first.
Tony smiled, “Guess we were both looking for each other.”
Peter nodded, “Yeah, but I beat you to it.”
Tony pulled him back into the hug, “Okay, mr. ego.”
“Learned from the best,” Peter said proudly.
Tony couldn’t help but grin.
A few weeks later, Peter walked into Tony's lab and immediately stopped in the doorway, “What is that?”
Tony didn't look up, but he knew what Peter was referring to, “Your new suit.”
Peter stared at the holographic design floating above the worktable. It looked like Spider-Man got an insane budget update.
“What happened to my old suit?”
“Retired.”
Peter's eyebrows shot up, “You can't retire my suit.”
“I absolutely can.”
“Dad–”
“Peter.”
Tony turned around, “We need to talk about your little hobby.”
Peter crossed his arms, “Being Spider-Man?”
“Putting yourself in life-threatening situations every other Tuesday.”
“I don't do it every Tuesday.”
Tony stared at him, and then raised an eyebrow, “That's the part you chose to argue?”
Peter smiled, shrugging, “Okay, not my best argument..”
Tony pointed at the suit, “This one has reinforced impact protection, better temperature regulation, a parachute, improved communication systems, an upgraded spider-sense interface, and emergency tracking.”
Peter looked impressed, “That's actually really cool.”
“I know.” Tony grinned, “And before you ask, yes, it has web-shooters.”
Peter brightened, “Really?”
“Obviously, you’re Spider-Man.” Tony walked over to the hologram, “But, that also means that your suit sends me an alert if your vitals drop too far.”
Peter groaned, “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“That's invasive.”
“I'm your father. I'm allowed to be annoying.”
Peter sighed, rolling his eyes for dramatic effect.
“And there's a failsafe.”
“A failsafe?” Peter repeated.
“If you get yourself into something you absolutely cannot handle, the suit’s AI, which is named Karen, will call me immediately. That also happens any time you get injured.”
Peter stared at him, “So basically, you're putting a babysitter in my suit.”
“Exactly.”
“That's humiliating.”
“It's parenting. There’s a difference.”
Peter sighed, “Not much.”
Tony smiled, “Isn’t part of the point of being a parent to embarrass your kid?”
Peter shook his head, laughing, “Not when your kid is Spider-Man.”
“I do what I want, kid. But I’m sure you know that.” Tony looked back at the suit, “You can still be Spider-Man.”
“Really?”
Tony nodded. “Really.” He paused, “But you're going to do it safely.”
Peter grinned, “I can do that.”
Tony raised an eyebrow, “You promise?”
Peter hesitated, “…Mostly.”
“Peter.”
“Fine. Yes.”
Tony smiled, “Good.”
Peter stepped closer to the hologram, “So when do I get to try it?”
Tony sighed, “I knew there was a catch.”
Peter laughed while Tony looked at him and shook his head. Fourteen years ago, he'd lost his son. He'd spent years believing he'd never get the chance to know him, and now Peter was standing in his lab, asking when he could put on his superhero suit. It wasn't the life Tony had imagined for his son, but either way, he was home now, so Tony didn’t care too much.