Peter skrted to an ungraceful stop on the side of the trail and emptied his breakfast on to the grass.

"Alright, alright, that's enough for today. Let's get you home and cleaned up," Natasha said, limping over to the retching boy. "We can go for ten miles tomorrow."

Peter moaned, clutching his stomach. He didn't even want to think about ten miles tomorrow if six was enough to make him vomit. He missed his hospital bed and the food brought to him and the never-ending choices of tv channels on the tv. Who knew enjoying all that for a week was enough to make exercise impossible?

Nat scoffed. "I see you regretting it already," she said. "You can always run back to the labs with Tony. That is, if you're weak."

Peter spit into the grass, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand before straightening. "I'll pass," He said and started a light job towards Natasha.

The assassin gave the teen a look. "Why not?" She asked curiously, expecting Peter to jump at the opportunity to hang out with the renowned genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.

Peter shrugged. In all honestly, he just didn't want to bother the man anymore then he already had been. Sure, he'd said he had plans for their day and everything, but he was forced to. The thing was, Tony never asked for a kid, a spider-kid who got buildings dropped on him at that, but had one thrust upon him anyway. Yeah, Peter knew it technically wasn't his fault, but here he was nonetheless.

"Don't wanna be a bother, i guess," the teen settled with saying. He didn't know how to explain feeling like a waste of space in the billionaire's life to the spy.

Nat stopped, looking almost exasperated as she faced Peter. "You really think you're bothering him? Do you actually think that?" She asked, disbelief in her voice.

Peter looked away, feeling trapped. He wanted this conversation to end. "Kinda," he mumbled and rubbed his arm self-consciously.

Nat looked incredulous. "Wow," she chuckled sarcastically. "Teenagers really are the stupidest," She said and started to walk again.

Peter made an indignant noise. "How am i stupid?!" He asked defensively.

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Peter," she explained, patiently. "This is not a conversation I should having with you."

  The teen spluttered, but didn't protest. The pair settled into an awkward silence as they walked back to the tower. Nat made a mental note to talk to Tony before the day ended and Peter swore to himself to never speak of this again.

***

  After a nice, hot shower and a cup of coffee to kick off the rest of her day, Natasha decided to hunt down the sulking billionaire. She may have dismissed the way he'd reacted to being rejected by Peter earlier, but she wasn't planning on leaving it untouched. The two were walking circles around each other, both seemingly oblivious to how the other felt. Sure, maybe it wasn't any of Nat's business, but since when did that matter?

The assassin made her way to the stairwell, taking an educated guess that Tony had locked himself in the lab for the rest of the day. She met the glass doors and decided to knock instead of just barging in. She did want this to go well, after all.

"Who is it?" Came Tony's tired voice from the other side of the glass.

Nat crosses her arms over her chest. "Your favorite assassin," she replied with a smirk.

"Go away Clint."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Let me in, Stark."

There was an audible click before the doors slid open, revealing the engineer's lab. The room was covered in tables and littered with projects, some done, most not. The one and only Tony Stark sat on a stool surrounded by holograms that displayed different Spider-man suits. Even when he was upset with Peter, he was still protecting him.

Natasha walked up to the man, standing by his side and studying the designs on display. Three different suits were on the hologram, each a bit more modern than the last.

"What's this one?" The assassin said, pointing to a metal gold and red suit.

Tony didn't look up from his work. "The iron-spider," He said.

Nat hummed knowingly, her mind making the connection. "The iron-spider, huh? Aren't his colors usually red and blue, though?"

Tony scowled. "What do you want, Nat?" He spat, finally tearing his eyes away from the bits of metal in his hands to glare at the redhead.

Natasha raised her hands in defense. "Nothing! I just came to check on you and...and talk."

Tony narrowed his eyes at her. "Then talk and do it fast. I got shit to do."

  Natasha rolled her eyes and leaned back against the lab table, her leg starting to ache. "Fine, I'll just get right to the point. Does Peter remember calling you dad?" She asked.

  Tony flinched, his project hitting the table as he dropped his head in his hands. Nat watched in disdain as the man had an internal argument with himself.

  "No," he said finally through splayed fingers. "No, he doesn't."

  Natasha sighed. "And lemme guess, you didn't say anything about it? No wonder you're both acting so weird."

  Tony shot her an incredulous look, expressing more emotion over this than anything else Nat had ever seen. There was a beat of silence between them before Tony said, "No, i didn't say anything to him. I was going to, but then..."

  "Then what?"

  Tony shook his head. "I didn't want to push it on him. Not after everything that's happened."

  Natasha didn't know whether to slap the man or agree with him. She could see where he was coming from, but that didn't make him any less of a self-absorbed idiot.

  "But he already said it once."

  "Yeah, while he was as high as a kite after surgery!"

  Natasha pursed her lips together, mind racing. "He thinks he's bothering you," she said quietly.

  Tony's head shot up. "He told you that?"

  Nat nodded. "On our run this morning."

  The genius cursed under his breath, looking almost like he was gonna cry. "I don't know what to do, Natasha," he admitted. "I didn't sign up for this.

  I love him like my own son and i want to watch him grow up, but i can't piece him back together like he's broken. I can't force him to feel the same way as i do."

Peter scurried back up the stairs, decided that he had heard enough. His heart was pounding and he could hear it in his ears. He didn't remember why he'd gone down to the lab in the first place, but couldn't believe he forgot the reason why he was leaving.

I called Mr. Stark, dad.

I called him dad.

Peter stumbled into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him and locking it. Panic bubbled up his throat like bile, his whole body shaking with regret and guilt and tremendous humiliation.

This had to be some sort of mistake-there was no way Peter had called Mr. Stark, dad. Dad, as in a fatherly-figure.

Nope.

No way.

If this was true, please schedule Peter Parker's funeral pronto because there was no way in hell he was ever facing Tony Stark again.