Chapter Text
OMG I’m so glad I did this one first because the quote is from John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down, an excellent book, and the line was so good! (I just went to my bookcase and picked one at random with my eyes closed because I wasn’t near any books.)
“I don’t mean a legal guardian. I mean someone who actually, you know, looks after him.”
Colonel James Rhodes leaned against Tony’s workbench, arms crossed, watching as Tony swiped almost frantically through holographic images of a boy named Peter Parker. Apparently, Pepper had convinced Tony to start an internship program, and out of all the applicants in New York City, this boy had been one of the most impressive.
“Rhodey, the kid managed to create webbing! Like…like a spider web. For medical use. It closes wounds like you wouldn’t believe. And he made it in his high school chemistry class!” Tony had told him, gesturing wildly and running a hand through wild, unruly hair. “He’s fourteen years old and he made that kind of medical advancement in his high school chemistry lab. Can you imagine what he could do with some training and some actual materials.”
“That’s pretty impressive,” the man had allowed, nodding along almost bemusedly. He knew that Tony hadn’t even wanted to do the internship program, what with all the other things on his plate, namely the Accords that were still being ironed out. But now, it seemed, he was on board. And after looking over some of the kid’s work through the next few weeks, Rhodey had to agree. The kid was smart. May almost as smart as Tony had been at that age. And had the boy been given access to the kind of education Tony had, Rhodey thought, the kid might even had been on par with his best friend.
He met young Peter Parker two months into the internship, and although he hadn’t known what he’d been expecting, he found himself taken aback. Peter Parker was short, almost a head shorter than Tony, with big brown eyes and curly hair. As soon as he’d laid eyes on Rhodey, the kid’s eyes had gone wide and his jaw had dropped. “You’re…Colonel James Rhodes! Iron Patriot!”
“War Machine,” Tony had muttered under his breath, and Peter had laughed a little before holding out a hand.
“It’s…it’s such an honor to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too, kiddo. I’ve heard a lot about you. All very impressive.”
“I…wow…um…thank you!”
Rhodey had learned a lot about Peter Parker that evening, namely that he went to Midtown School of Science and Technology, was at the top of his class, and that he thought Tony hung the moon and stars. And, after watching his old friend interact with the boy, he had to admit, the kid was good for Tony. He softened him a little. Gave him someone to look after. To care about. Tony had always been so good at caring about people.
Then, Rhodey had asked the question he’d quickly come to regret. “So, what do your parents think about this whole thing? They must be proud.”
Tony had immediately lowered his eyes, lips pressed together, and Peter had gotten a strange look on his face before swallowing hard and informing Rhodey that roughly six months ago, the boy had gone into the foster care system after the death of his last living relative, a police officer with the NYPD. And Rhodey had remembered reading about Ben Parker, although he hadn’t been able to remember the specifics. Still, Rhodey had apologized, placing a hand on Peter’s shoulder, and the kid had brushed it off, assuring him that it was fine, then excusing himself to go to the bathroom.
“I’m so sorry…I had no idea,” Rhodey had told Tony as softly as he could, and Tony had shaken his head.
“It’s okay. I did the same thing when I met him…I should have read his file more carefully but…” Tony had shrugged “I looked into the family. I know, I know,” he’d waved a hand at Rhodey’s incredulous look. “Unethical, invasion of privacy, blah blah…but they seem okay.”
Now, Rhodey watched as Tony drummed his fingers on the table, shaking his head. “Arrested for drug possession!” he barked, spinning around in his chair and staring at Rhodey. “Drug possession! They had drugs in that house! With…with Peter!”
“I’m sure Peter is fine,” Rhodey placated, but Tony wouldn’t be comforted.
“Did you know that this is his third foster home in six months! His third! The first family didn’t want a teenager…they just offered to let him stay a few days until they found a better family for him. Who the hell could meet Peter Parker and not want to keep him? And the second family decided to move back to Texas to be with their parents and didn’t want to take him with them. Like he was a…a dog or something they had to rehome! For fuck’s sake, Rhodey.” Tony wiped a hand over his face, shaking his head.
“I’m sure his social worker will find him a new home, Tony,” Rhodey reassured him.
“He called me..said he’d have to miss his internship tonight and he was apologizing…they’ve got him at some charity place for the night. He…he sounded like he was crying and…” Tony swore again, wiping a hand over his face. “He’s fourteen. He lost his parents before he started school and now…”
“He’s going to be okay. He’s a smart kid…smart and resilient…”
“He told me that people don’t want teenagers,” Tony whispered. “Told me that no one ever wants to adopt a fourteen year old.”
“I’m sure they’ll be able to find him a family.” Rhodey repeated, although he wasn’t sure if he believed it.
“But…but he needs someone, Rhodey! And I don’t mean a legal guardian. I mean someone who actually, you know, looks after him. Someone that sees how smart he is and…and what a good kid he is. Because he’s a good kid, Rhodey. Such a good kid. And…and responsible and smart and…and funny. Hell, just last week he asked if I’d ever seen that ‘really old movie, The Empire Strikes Back.’”
The idea came to Rhodey slowly, half-formed, and as soon as he thought it, he knew it was crazy. But as he watched his best friend wrestle with the fate of this poor kid, he thought that maybe it wasn’t that crazy after all. “Tones?”
“Yeah?”
“What about you?”
Tony frowned. “What about me?”
“You’ve got a home. Plenty of room. Fairly stable income.”
“You…Rhodey, I can’t be his…his foster parent!”
“Why not?” Rhodey shrugged. “You obviously care about the kid. You could probably get certified and take the courses you need. Get temporary custody. Hell, adopt him. You don’t have to be a foster parent to adopt in New York. You have plenty of sway, Tones. Why not use it for good?”
“Rhodey…I can’t adopt a kid.”
He smiled when the statement came out as more of a question. “Sure you can. Hell, who better? You know him already. He obviously thinks the world of you. Not to mention, you make your own hours at work, so you’ll have plenty of time to spend with him.”
“But…but what if he doesn’t want me to adopt him?” Tony asked after a moment, voice surprisingly hesitant. Rhodey sighed, moving to take a seat beside his friend.
“Tony, I could tell after knowing that kid for two minutes that you were his hero. He looks at you like you’re…well, a superhero. Literally. Peter needs a family. Maybe you can be the one to give it to him. Besides, how else am I going to be an uncle?”
It took a long minute, but Tony gave him a slow smile, the kind he rarely showed the other Avenges. But Rhodey had known Tony for what felt like his whole life. “You really think I could do it?”
“I know you could.”
After a few more seconds of thought, Tony nodded, just a little to himself, but Rhodey grinned, recognizing a victory when he saw one. His friend had made up his mind, and when Tony Stark made up his mind to do something, it got done.