Chapter Text
Peter should be at school. He should be in class. He didn’t make a move to exit the subway though. He knew he needed to do something because he imagined Tony and Pepper had already gotten a call that he wasn’t in class. He didn’t care.
As if reading his mind his phone rang and Tony’s contact lit up the screen. He sent it to voicemail and turned off his phone. He just sat there trying to decide how he was going to handle the conversation Tony and Pepper had with him the night before.
Life had been going too well though. He had come back from being gone five years. He had grieved his aunt’s loss. He had gotten adopted and finally started to adapt to his new life as the adopted son of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. He should not have been surprised it imploded. He blinked back tears sniffling.
~
“I’m going to kill him.” Tony put his phone on the table.
“He didn’t answer?” Pepper had the same worried look on her face.
“He sent me to voicemail. I tried calling more than once and it just goes straight to voicemail so I think he turned his phone off.”
“We knew he was going to have big feelings about our conversation. I think we just have to wait for him to come home and talk to us.” Pepper didn’t like that plan but Peter was old enough and he would make his way home when he was ready.
“Maybe we made a mistake.” Tony sighed, “Maybe we can undo it.”
“We’re not changing the plan. He’s going to get on board.” Pepper promised.
~
Except he still wasn’t home by dinner. Tony was losing it. This was his kid and what if they were wrong and he was in trouble and not just filled with teenage angst? He grabbed his keys, “I’m going to find Peter.”
Pepper didn’t stop him, “I’ll get Morgan ready for bed. Call me when you know where he is.”
Tony went to Ned’s first. It was a logical first step. He knocked on the door and Ned himself answer, “Hey kid. Peter here?”
Ned’s face said he was before he said a word, “I don’t think he wants to talk to you.”
“Okay. Well he needs to come home. He can ignore me the whole drive but Pepper and Morgan are worried.”
“You’re really doing it?” Ned crossed his arms over his chest, “You’re moving back to California?”
“It’s not personal. You can visit any time. Peter can come see you too. We have a jet! I know you’re his best friend. We would never take that away from him.”
“He isn’t my best friend.” Ned rolled his eyes, “He’s my family. He was my family before you even knew him so excuse me if your promises mean nothing to me right now.”
Tony cleared his throat, “Can you please tell Peter I’m here and he needs to leave with me or I’m going to have to talk to your parents?”
~
“You’re not going to speak to me at all?” Tony asked after a couple minutes of silence.
Peter hugged Ned’s hoodie closer to his body trying to banish the cold from his body. He just looked out the window. He had never been this angry with Tony before. He wasn’t even sure what to say if he were to say anything. Silence won out.
“You know we love you and we’re not doing this to make you miserable. Pepper has been working in California more often and it’s not fair for her to keep flying back and forth. She’s exhausted all the time, Roo.” Tony tried reasoning.
Peter closed his eyes.
“Fine. Hate me. You’re going to school tomorrow though. Don’t even think you’re pulling whatever you did today because I’m driving you.”
~
Peter grabbed his backpack the next morning and Morgan found him in the hall, “Morning Mo.”
“Petey!” She crushed him in a hug, “You’re okay!”
He hugged the six year old back, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just needed space.”
“Next time maybe take that space in your room.” Pepper said coming out into the hall, “Or at least call and let us know you’re at Ned’s.”
Peter didn’t say a word.
“Oh. I’m getting the silent treatment too.”
“What’s that?” Morgan asked.
“It’s when you ignore someone on principle because they did something that intentionally harms you.” Peter told his little sister.
“Like moving?” Morgan frowned, “Because that sucks.”
“Yep.” Peter popped the p in that word.
“I love New York.” Morgan sighed.
“Enough.” Pepper told them, “You’re going to love California. Both of you.”
~
Peter sat in class but his heart wasn’t in it. He didn’t want to pretend he was in a good mood. He felt a lot of things but good wasn’t one of them. He slipped Ned a note asking him to cover for him when he slipped out of school after that class. Ned frowned but nodded.
Peter left school easily and made his way home. He figured Tony and Pepper would be at work anyway. He left his backpack on the floor and went to lay on the couch pulling the blanket Morgan had left there over him and closing his eyes.
“I’m going to kill you.” Tony came into the living room finding his son there, “I dropped you at school! I need you to go to school and be where I think you are. My heart can’t handle it.”
Peter just squeezed his eyes tighter closed but couldn’t do anything about the tears that started to fall.
“White flag, Pete. Please. Talk to me. I can’t do this silence.” Tony sat down and put Peter feet on his lap, “C’mon. You know we love you and we’re not trying to hurt you.”
“He’s my best friend.” Peter started to cry harder.
Tony sighed. He never wanted to hurt his kid, “I know. We’re not taking him away. I will fly you back every weekend if you need. We can split custody with Ned if that’s what will make this easier for you.”
“Are you going to move my school there too? What’s the plan for that?” Peter finally opened his eyes.
“I’m looking into schools. I’m planning to fly there and take some tours. I don’t want to rush into a decision.”
“You’re doing this to make Pepper’s life easier but you’re breaking mine apart.” Peter got up and walked out of the room slamming his bedroom door.
His kid was depressed. He hated this. He didn’t know how to make this work for everyone. He just had to believe once they moved Peter would make friends and go back to his happy self again.