Chapter Text
Tony and Steve burst into Bruce’s lab. Peter was sitting on a table with his spiderman uniform unzipped and pulled down to his waist. He had large mottled bruises all over his body, one eye swollen shut, an open gash dripping blood sluggishly down his forehead, and one arm was hanging awkwardly from his shoulder.
“Jesus Christ, Peter! Did you jump in front of a train?!” Tony asked, trying to hide his worry behind jokes. It didn’t work.
Before Peter could answer, Bruce told him to take a deep breath and popped his shoulder back into place.
“Fuck!” Peter yelled at the pain. Steve bit back the reprimand for language, because he could see how much pain his son was in.
“What happened?” Tony asked.
“Tried to stop a mugging. Turned out it was a Doom-bot. With more Doom-bots for backup too.” Peter said.
“Doom-bots?! I didn’t know Doctor Doom was back in town.” Steve said with a frown.
“I just want to punch him in the face.” Peter said mulishly, wincing as Bruce wrapped his ribs.
“So what exactly is wrong then? You’re bruised everywhere, dislocated shoulder, and is that cracked ribs?” Tony asked.
“Broken ribs, actually.” Said Bruce. “Three of them. And what looks like a mild concussion. But don’t worry!” he said to Tony and Steve’s horrified expressions. “Remember, he heals quickly now. The ribs should be healed by this time tomorrow, and you can already see the bruises lightening and turning yellow on the edges.”
“I don’t care. I still don’t like this.” Steve said, running a hand through Peter’s hair. It was full of dirt and dried sweat and blood, but he didn’t care. Peter leaned into Steve’s shoulder, closing his eyes and sighing. Sometimes there wasn’t any substitute for a parent’s warm shoulder.
“So this leaves us with a few things to think about.” Steve said. “1. Why are the Doom-bots back? 2. We’re going to have to fix up your suit, Pete. Add a few more safety precautions, you know? And 3. How long are we going to keep you off the streets?”
“Off the streets!?” Peter cried
“Yes, Peter. I don’t want you out there if there’s Doom-bots running around. I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself, but clearly not against Doom-bots. Just, take a break from Spiderman until we can clear the Doom-bots please?”
Peter just gaped at his Pop like he had just kicked his puppy. He looked over at Tony, trying to plead reason.
“Sorry, Peter, but your Pop’s right. You should stay in for a while. Rest up a bit.” Tony said, as Steve rubbed Peter’s back. Peter just glared and stared off into the middle distance while Bruce finished patching him up.
**
“Morning Peter. How are you feeling?” Steve said as Peter shuffled into the kitchen. His cuts and bruises had all cleared up and the only sign that he had even been injured 12 hours previously was the slightly stiff way he moved his torso.
“Mm fine.” Peter mumbled as he poured himself a coffee.
“Your ribs still sore?” Steve asked, eyeing his sons movements for any hint of discomfort. Peter just nodded. “Well you should take it easy today. Your Dad and I are heading out on a mission today. We should be home for dinner, but if we’re not, I’m sure you can find something, right?”
“Are you looking for the Doom-bots?” Peter asked, ignoring Steve’s question about dinner.
“I’m not supposed to tell you what we’re doing, you know that.” Steve said with a frown.
“Yeah, it’s the Doom-bots.” Tony said, sauntering into the kitchen. He kissed Steve good morning and grabbed a cup of coffee of his own. Steve frowned at him as he sat down.
“Tony, you know we’re not - “
“I know, I know. But really, it’s not like he doesn’t already know about them.” Tony reasoned, cutting Steve off before he could fully transition into Captain America: SHIELD Employee.
“So where are you going to start looking? Have you heard anything from Doctor Doom?” Peter asked.
“Yeah, I’m not going to tell you that much, kiddo.” Tony said.
“And besides, we don’t know the plan yet ourselves. You should know that.” Steve said.
“Well fine then. If you guys are going to be boring and secretive, I’m going to watch TV.” Peter said archly, heading out into the living room.
He stopped himself from just flopping on the couch at the last minute, remembering the ache in his ribs. Peter turned on the TV and stared at the cartoons that came on. He wasn’t paying much attention, he just wanted to ignore his parents.
Half an hour of bad cartoons later and Steve came into the living room dressed as Captain America with Tony hot on his heels.
“Alright, we’re heading out. Please stay in the house while we’re gone.” He pleaded. Peter just grunted in reply. “Have you done all your homework?” Steve asked. Peter and Tony both gave him a look that said ‘really?’ Steve looked between them for a second before conceding. “Okay fine, dumb question. But will you at least clean your room? It’s a pigsty.” Peter just grunted again. Steve sighed.
“Don’t throw any crazy parties while we’re gone.” Tony said.
“Guys, stop. I’m fine. I’m 16, I can look after myself for a day.” Peter said, finally turning to look at his parents.
“We just worry about you is all.” Steve said as he brushed Peter’s hair off his forehead and kissed the top of his head.
“Okay fine, go save New York now please.” Peter said, shooing away his Pop’s affection. As his parents left, he could hear Tony comforting Steve down the hallway.
“Don’t worry about him, Cap. He’s a teenager. This is what teenagers do.”
Peter slumped back into the couch, already bored. He had no intention of cleaning his rom either. He sighed, wincing at the ache it caused in his ribs, and then began browsing the video games, looking for a distraction.
**
“Seriously dude, they’ve got you on lockdown?” Wade Wilson said as he walked off the elevator. Peter knew his parents didn’t approve of his best friend, but he didn’t care, and invited him over anyways.
“Pretty much. Here, come play Mario Kart with me.” Peter said over his shoulder, tossing Wade a controller. Wade caught it and hopped over the back of the couch to join Peter.
“So you got the shit kicked out of you, huh?” Wade said as they started a race.
“Yup. And now Pop’s gone all crazy protective.” Peter said with a grimace, leaning to the side as his character went around a sharp corner.
“So naturally you’re staying inside and doing as you’re told.” Wade scoffed.
“Well, I’m not cleaning my room like they told me to.” Peter defended himself.
“Oh yeah, you’re such a rebel, Pete. Jeez. You’re a teenager, being a rebel is what being a teenager is for! You’re supposed to stay out late, get drunk and high, kiss all the girls, deface public property, you know? You are missing out on the finer points of life by staying in and doing as you’re told!”
“So what would you suggest I do then? Please remember that my ribs are cracked before you answer.”
“Well with cracked ribs there won’t be any defacing public property because that involves running, but we can definitely get out of this place.” Wade said.
“Get out of here and do what though?” Peter asked.
“I know some girls with some kickass weed. Let’s go get high.” Wade suggested.
“I don’t know, Wade…” Peter said.
“Fine. Be a goody-good loser who stays at home and listens to his parents and never has any fun. You won’t have any good stories to tell your children one day.”
“Wade, I hope you never have children to tell your stories to.” Peter said as he got up and turned Mario Kart off. “Well come on then. If we’re doing this, then let’s go.”
Wade let out a gleeful whoop and bounced off the couch, heading for the elevator.
**
Peter sat uncomfortably on the couch in this girl’s house. He was pretty sure she said her name was Ashley, be he didn’t know. It didn’t really matter anyways. He wasn’t going to be talking to her for a while because she currently had her tongue down Wade’s throat.
They had smoked quite a lot of pot and knew that Wade and Ashley and Ashley’s two friends in the kitchen were all incredibly baked. But he was still sober. He supposed it had something to do with his enhanced metabolism and healing capabilities.
“This sucks.” Peter muttered to himself. He glanced over at Wade and saw that Ashley had taken her shirt off.
Well that was just great.
If that was the route Wade was going with this, Peter wasn’t going to stick around and watch.
“Where you going?” Wade asked when Peter got up off the couch.
“Home. Have fun with… that.” He said gesturing to Wade and Ashley’s tangled position. “Thanks for the weed, Ashley.” She hummed happily in response as she started sucking on Wade’s neck. Peter shook his head as he closed the door to Ashley’s apartment.
He was a fair distance from Stark Tower. They had caught the subway over here, but Peter didn’t feel like racing home, so he decided to walk. He cut through Central Park, hoping for a leisurely jaunt through nature before he was cooped up back at home. As he walked he wondered how the Doom-bot cleanup was going. He hoped his parents dealt with it quickly. He didn’t like being grounded for his safety.
As if on cue, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and groaned when he saw his Dad’s number.
“Hello?” he answered cautiously.
“Where the hell are you?! Get your ass back in this tower NOW.” Tony’s voice came yelling through the speaker. Peter had to hold the phone away from his ear to avoid being deafened.
“Yeah, I’m working on it.” Peter sighed.
“Where are you?”
“Central Park. I’m not far off now. Keep your shirts on, I’ll be home soon.”
Peter ended the call before his Dad could rage at him some more. He knew he’d pay for it later, but he just couldn’t deal with it right now.
He sighed and picked up the pace. There was no point enjoying the scenery now. The longer he took to get home, the more trouble he would be in.
And it was with that thought that he climbed to the top of the nearest building when he reached the edge of the park and started hopping across rooftops to get home.
He climbed in his bedroom window which was always left open for this reason. With a slightly achey deep breath to brace himself, he walked out of his bedroom to find his parents.
He found them at the kitchen table. Steve was doing the NYT crossword in pen and Tony was flipping through the news on a tablet.
“Um, I’m home now.” Peter said quietly from the doorway.
“Sit.” Tony said, pointing to the seat across from him. Neither of them looked up at Peter. That is, until Peter sat down.
“What’s that smell?” Steve asked, sniffing the air. Tony sniffed as well and a half second later his eyes went wide with recognition.
“Are you high, Peter?!” Tony asked.
“No.” Peter said sulkily, slouching in his chair.
“Sit up straight, Peter.” Steve said, his voice stern.
“You reek of pot. Where were you?!” Tony asked.
“I was at Ashley’s. She’s a friend of Wade’s I guess.” Peter admitted. His parents exchanged dark looks.
“Peter, you know what we think of Wade.” Steve said, a warning in his voice.
“He's clearly a bad influence.” Tony added.
“Oh leave Wade alone. It was my choice to go with him. If you’re going to punish me, just punish me. I don’t need a lecture." Peter said.
“Clearly you do. I won’t have anymore of your attitude either.” Steve said.
“You do realize why we wanted you to stay here, right?” Tony asked. Peter nodded slowly. “Tell me why.”
“Because I was injured - I’m totally fine now, by the way - and you guys were trying to avenge my broken ribs, and I couldn’t defend myself properly while injured.” Peter recited. Tony couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Tony, you’re not helping.” Steve muttered angrily.
“Sorry Steve. But avenge his ribs that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard!” Tony said, breaking out into proper laugher. Peter couldn’t help but grin. Steve groaned in frustration.
“Peter, you’re grounded. Two weeks, no Spiderman, no friends over or going out. You go to school, you come straight home. Do you understand?” Steve said, his voice firm.
“Yes sir.” Peter said, the grin sliding off his face.
“Good. Now go shower because you smell terrible.” Steve said.
After Peter had left the room Steve turned to Tony.
“Why do you make this so hard?”
“Don’t blame me! The kid has some funny snark, how is that my fault?!” Tony asked.
“You are ridiculous. How are we supposed to discipline him properly when he knows he can just get you laughing and walk away scott-free!?”
“He didn’t though. He’s grounded for two weeks, remember?” Tony pointed out.
“No thanks to you.” Steve grumbled.
“Steve, he’s fine. Lighten up a bit, you’re going to give yourself an ulcer.”
“Teenagers weren’t this … obstinate back when I was young.” Steve said. “They were responsible and mature, did what they were told, and respected their elders.”
“Times have changed, my friend. Teenagers are a sullen rebellious breed now. You can never predict what a teenager will do next!” Tony said, getting out of his seat and miming the stalking of a wild beast. “You should never approach a teenager in the wild, for fear of having your head bitten off. Never feed a teenager because once they begin to eat, they don’t stop until all the food is gone. They are wildly unpredictable and volatile. You need to expect the unexpected when dealing with teenagers!”
By this point Tony was looming over Steve in an exaggerated attack pose.
“Come here, you ridiculous man.” Steve said with a laugh, pulling Tony down onto his lap and into a kiss.
“Good thing about teenagers?” Tony said, breaking the kiss. “They like to keep to themselves.”
“Amen to that!” Steve said, kissing the wicked grin off of Tony’s face.