InsaneJournal

Finding friends along the way (Tony/Peter log; TBC in comments)


The City again. Apparently for the first time in quite a while…. Jarvis had informed Tony of his absence when he’d woken in his lab, though he couldn’t remember if he’d been anywhere in that time.

He’d immediately looked for Annie, but Jarvis had mentioned she was gone too, so apart from setting up search protocols in case she reappeared, there was little for Tony to do.

He wandered out and into the early evening, walking down the streets, not knowing exactly where he’d wind up. He wondered if he’d been back home, on Earth in that time. And after a little while he decided it didn’t matter.

The City must have known what he was really looking for, because in no time at all he’d found the nightlife of the place. He must have been walking vigorously for quite some time, since his legs were a bit sore, and he could feel the start of sweat clinging his undershirt to him.

He stopped in front of a more vacant bar, contemplating it and then the night. He could drink the thoughts out of his mind, or call his suit to him for a patrol. Indecision touched him, and he stuck his hands in the pockets of his light leather jacket.

“Well, any opinions?” he asked aloud, though he didn’t really expect an answer from the City itself. Probably.

---

Peter had never been one for the bar scene mostly because none of the people he hung out with, figuratively and literally, didn't go to those types of places either. No, Peter Parker was not one for the club night life or one to go test his stamina at the worlds finest underbelly bars.

He was much happier in pizza parlors, movie theaters and the library.

Well, when he wasn't out swinging around town which was exactly what he was doing. Minus the costume, of course.

Swinging was his absolute favorite thing to do, hands down. It was thrilling, and though at the moment it had no purpose other than a method of pure entertainment....well, he would look for any excuse.

"Coming through!" Peter called, swinging past a crowd of people walking down the streets. Usually he swung higher. But he wanted to truly get to know the City, and there was no better way than to swing through the lower areas.

And over the tops of the people.

He wouldn't have recognized the billionaire without the suit, Peter's interactions with Stark Industries were purely coincidental and mostly through the news.

And it was hard to pick a particular face out of a moving crowd when you weren't focused specifically on that person. At least while you were busy swinging.

"'S'cuse me!" Peter shouted, breaking from one of the web ropes. He launched himself forward and landed easily on his feet on the street, getting ready to throw another line out to get to the next building.

Man, what a night!

--

Well, he’d asked.

Tony turned to watch the webslinger land, arching a brow. He knew of Spiderman, after all, they were based in the same city back on Earth. But he’d never met the guy, usually being caught up in technological or world events. He didn’t often go out to fight street crime.

Still, it was interesting, and he wondered if New York had just been emptied of heroes. He shrugged the thought off and reached down, activating the bracelet homing devices he wore. By the time the kid, and he was much more of a kid than Tony would have guessed, took off down the street, Tony’s suit was en route. He took advantage of the mild evacuation of the street the younger man had caused and stepped up on a bench, almost casually walking into his suit as it flew at him in pieces.

He grunted a few times as the pieces hit, mentally reminding himself to calibrate the impact settings later, and then took off into the sky.

Following the kid was easy enough, the webs hung like trail markers. And getting his attention couldn’t be much harder, as he swooped down and severed the line the boy was still hanging off of, grabbing it and immediately ascending.

Part of him wanted to see how the hero would react. Part of him just enjoyed messing with people.

--

Parker released webbing, and with the push of his feet from the concrete he was back in to the air in a matter of seconds. The fact that behind him stood one of New York's finest native heros didn't even cross his mind. The fact that Tony Stark was there....it would have surprised him and then not surprised him.

A leap to a building. Peter clung to the concrete then pushed off with his feet, shooting another web. But as he swung something went amiss.

Instead of swinging forward....he was going up?

Lifting his chin, Peter noticed the glimmer of rockets, and the shimmer from the red and gold suit of armor.

A smirk, and Peter Parker climbed what was left of the rope easily, using all of us acrobatic skills as he ascended to the armored man carrying him.

"You didn't even ask if you could cut into my dance. That's rude, where I come from," Peter said with a smirk, latching his fingers on to Tony's ankle. He pulled himself up easily, and then the Spider was crawling around Stark's suit, attaching himself to the back side of the metal.

Peter curled his arms around Tony's neck and grinned, "Now this is flying. Stark style. I didn't even know you were here! You're taking me out to all of the best places right? Cause you know I'm high class and I deserve the best."

--

Well. That was unexpected.

As the Spiderman started to climb Tony looked down, but figured he just didn’t want to swing into a building by mistake. Entirely plausible since Tony wasn’t used to hauling cargo around on a long rope. He’d returned his attention to the flightpath, and then….

Was this street-level vigilante climbing on him?!

The sensation was no less weird when the arms went around him, but he didn’t alter the flight path in response. He’d never been climbed before. Clung to, and he’d carried passengers, of course. A few times.

“You didn’t ask to get your sticky hands all over my suit,” he retorted easily, voice modulator still able to convey the joke in the jab. “And we come from the same place.”

He didn’t answer the tour request, though he chuckled at the high class comment. “Not sure about that, kid. I am the high class and all I’ve seen of you has been that bold pair of tights.”

He turned, zig zagging through the City until he reached his tower, landing easily on the platform patio, which lit brightly in recognition of the suit returning. He didn’t move, though, not really sure what the machine safety sensors would do when presented with a body to work around. He didn’t imagine it would be very safe, though, or pretty when it was all over.

He turned his head to glance slightly over he shoulder, though he could still only mostly see arms.

“It would be kind if you let me out of my suit before you started fondling it.”

--

Peter blinked, and offered a signature smirk that Stark wouldn't see. "Tony Stark is opposed to having someone's hands on him? That's not what I've heard."

And then his face fell at the next comment.

So Peter wasn't high-class in any measure of the word. He came from poor folks, worked hard to make a name for himself and even in the ranks of Hero's he was still at the bottom of the list. Having that confirmed by Tony Stark was a real blow to the ego. "I can tell," was all Peter replied with.

The usually chatty hero only held tighter to the suit in efforts to not fall off. It helped that he was sticky, and so the zig-zag motions didn't faze him.

When the landed, Peter leaped from the armor and shook his head, hands going to his hair that was wind blown. "You wish, old man." The playfulness was starting to come back, but the bruise of the shot to the ego was still there.

"Maybe I should string you up and leave you hanging. My web isn't gold. Sorry. Us working-class heros don't have the privilege."

Peter turned and looked at the balcony, considering leaving.

--

Tony heard the falter in the tone as the other climbed down, and turned to look at him curiously for a moment. It wasn’t until he finished talking that Tony figured it out.

“Take it easy, kid. Most are more high ass than class,” he chuckled, then jerked his head. “C’mon. If you’re not too intent on pouting. I’ve been meaning to look you up.” He turned and started walking down the lit path, the floor opening and his machinery doing their work.

He straightened his jacket as he opened the tall glass door, turning and giving the other hero a wolfish grin.

“After survival money isn’t important. Just fun. But you’ll have a good time here if you appreciate the finer things.”

--

Tony was meaning to look him up? Like to hang out? Spider-Man was a nobody in New York when pit against heros like the Avengers. And yet the billionaire wanted to hang out with him? It didn't add up. But Peter Parker wasn't complaining. Not yet, anyway.

"You're a high ass," Peter replied, but the smirk was back. The playfulness and the banter was back.

Curious, Peter turned to follow Tony down the pathway and through the glass door.

He had never seen the inside of the tower before and the luxury was unlike anything Peter had ever laid eyes on before. Honestly, Peter was the type to sit at home and mend his tights after a street fight where Tony could just have his armor repaired without lifting a finger.

"Woah," Peter breathed, looking at everything at least twice.

--

“If you had heard of me you’d know that already,” Tony chuckled. He was the highest of asses, and enjoyed the title.

The look on the kid’s face when he walked in was enjoyable. Tony knew he was ridiculously wealthy, and he knew everything he owned reflected the fact. But he found lack of shame or humility very comfortable, and had painstakingly designed every aspect of the space, even building some of it himself. Well, installing the tech, anyway. He might complain about sweaty workmen, but he didn’t usually enjoy grunt work.

“Make yourself at home, Tights,” Tony said.

“Welcome home, sir,” Jarvis said politely, generally programmed to speak when new people were present to introduce himself.. Tony ignored the voice and be lined for the full length bar.

“You are old enough to drink, I assume?” he said, picking up a few crystal bottles and squinting at them.

--

Peter was, for once, speechless. His mouth felt too dry as he looked at everything. All of the tech, all of the shiny decor...and the custom stuff...Parker knew custom when he saw it.

And to make himself at home? This was like a dream come true.

"Thanks," Peter replied, finally finding his voice.

And then Peter blinked at the question.

His boyish grin returned and he slid into a seat at the bar, "I came out of the egg sack the day before yesterday, actually. But in human years that makes me....oh, about twenty three. So I guess you could say I'm old enough."

Not that he had. No.

--

“Spider years, huh? Didn’t know they had’em,” Tony smirked. Finally selecting a drink he poured two glasses and slid one over the counter to the other hero, giving him a good looking over as he did. He was still slightly taken aback by how young the kid was, but then, having powers sometimes forced maturity on people. He’d seen it before.

“So. Born two days ago. I assume been saving New York for most of it. Did you take a few minutes to pick a name other than Spidey?” he asked finally. He didn’t think to introduce himself, most people recognized his face immediately. And everybody knew who Iron Man was under the mask.

--

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Mr. Stark, but it's an honor to be here." He caught the drink, reflexes pristine. Nothing got past the spider too often, but a drink?

Peter looked down at the glass. He picked it up, studied the liquid, sniffed it....

"It's nice that you know who I am, at least in my hard-to-miss tights," Peter laughed. "Peter Parker. I'm not surprised you don't know. But I've been following you for a long time. In the science community...well, you're a God. I'm a huge fan of your work."

Peter sipped timidly from the glass, a very small sip, and his face contorted in disgust as he swallowed. "Great stuff..." Peter said, nodding and lifting his glass.

--

“Not to drag out an old line, but Mr. Stark was my old man. Tony’s fine. Or the god thing, I kinda like that,” Tony chuckled, sipping on his drink. Peter Parker. Now that was a name he could have fun with.

“You do a lot of good work. And leave a lot of webs on my balcony and tower,” he smirked. He’d started keeping track of meta humans and individuals with gifts, but even if he hadn’t, he would have been hard pressed to miss Spiderman with the time he spent in New York.

He watched the other drink, and laughed.

“It’s a developed taste. Something tells me you’ve been developing other skills the last few spider years,” he said, glancing around the bar. “You like beer?”

--

"You wish, Tony," Peter laughed. Then he shrugged, "that's part of the trade. They're organic. They dissolve after a while." It didn't seem like the inventor minded too much though.

"You've got a good sense of observation," Peter replied, then wrinkled his nose and took another sip. "No time like the present to catch up. I'll be fine. I promise." Maybe.

He didn't want to show weakness in front of Tony. Peter had a number of skills, drinking just wasn't one of them.

"Anything you're working on?" He hated to ask but he couldn't help it. It was taking everything in him not to faint.

--

“I imagine the first drought we experience the whole place will start looking like a literal ghost town,” Tony smirked.

He was pleased that Peter was sticking with the drink. It was a fine bottle, and he always respected those who powered through inconveniences. “You’re starting off better than most, actually. And at least you have ruined your pallet with the cheap stuff.”

The question earned a chuckle, and setting down his glass Tony leaned against the counter, thinking for a moment. “Jarvis? How many active projects do we have right now?”

“43 projects are sitting in various stages of completion at present, sir,” Jarvis responded. Tony blinked.

“Oh. Whoops. I try to keep it less than that…” he said, scratching his head. Then he got an idea and picked up the crystal bottle and his glass again. “Tell you what. Let me pour you another glass or two to work on that taste development, and you can come poke around on the R&D floors.If that’s something you’d be interested in.”

--

"Good to know I'm doing better than most. Setting the bar for all of us amateurs." Peter nodded and braved another sip.

And the response from Jarvis had Peter taking yet another sip to stifle a squeal of delight.

He didn't want to seem too fanboyish. No squealing.

And then he did squeal. He couldn't help it. "Are you serious!?"

His hand with the glass in it shot forward for the re-fill, and then Peter was up and out of his seat, anxious to go. "That's the deal of a lifetime!" He felt breathless and his heart was racing. This was a scientists dream.

--

Tony’s brows lifted in surprise, but he chuckled and obliged, pouring a bit more into the younger man’s glass before nodding and leading him to the elevator, bringing his own refilled glass along as well.

“So. You’re a two day old half spider vigilante science-fan. What do you do in your civilian life?”

Tony could tell the kid was some kind of brainiac. The response to his offer was easy proof. But if he was going to take the boy around his private labs he wanted to know more about him in turn. He hadn’t spent any time with an honest-to-god vigilante before, being more used to spies, gods, science experiments, and his own particular blend of the lot.

“And if I may ask, why the hell did you decide to fight crime with your powers? You’d make a killing in tactiles.”

--

It was without a moment of hesitation that Peter was up and rushing after Tony toward the elevators. He even took a sip from the glass, albeit with another face, before settling in to the mechanism that would take them to R&D.

"You got it!" Peter grinned, nodding. "Well, I'm a pizza expert, I have a girlfriend and I work at the City Voice doing photojournalism." It was really that simple.

And then Peter smiled proudly, "It's what I was born for." He lifted his glass, took another sip and sighed, "Actually, my Uncle Ben was killed by criminals. I never wanted anyone to lose anybody they loved to someone like that. I wanted to help any way I could, and if that meant saving the world...then I guess I'm the man...er, spider for the job."

Peter shrugged. "I'm not in this to make money. I'm in it to make sure everyone stays safe. That's the best reason."

--

The elevator ride was smooth and quick. It always was. Tony listened to the other’s backstory and nodded slowly, savoring his own drink.

“I’m sorry about your uncle,” he said. He had felt loss. It wasn’t something he could even start to poke fun at. Not when he liked the person.

At the comment about money he glanced over. He’d misjudged how sensitive the youth was on the subject, something he didn’t often run into. Most of the people he knew were stable, supported, or preferred a broke, hard life in solitude or third world countries. He didn’t often run into average people who struggled with finances.

“Greed is one of the most pointless motivations that exists,” he said simply. He had no real respect for money, being far too rich all his life, but he found all talk about it distasteful. He much preferred to brag about what he could do with the money, and saw fixation on it as being counter productive. If all it was was an obstacle to people like Peter following their callings, he had no patience for it.

Of course, then the doors opened to his personal and favorite lab, and the lights came on in tiers as the machines and computers booted up, anticipating him.

He turned and smiled at Peter, extending an arm to invite him forward first.

“Welcome to Candyland,” he said.

--

Most people that offered condolences for his Uncle did so because that was just what you did. But Peter felt like Tony was being truly sincere. Like he knew what kind of loss that could be and Peter admired that. It was like the inventor still remembered the little guys once in a while.

"Greed is terrible. It can hurt so many people and so many things," Peter nodded.

He took another sip right before the elevators stopped, making a face. And then the doors open and he about spit out the entire mouth full of liquid in a wide-eyed stare.

The lights reflected everything. He almost dropped his glass. Almost.

Without blinking, Peter stepped out of the elevator and into the lab. Candy land was the perfect name for it. It was a dream.

"Holy cannoli, this is amazing."

--

Tony chuckled at the reaction from the kid, and then followed him, nodding and opening the glass door as well before walking over to one station, bringing up a holographic chart and glancing at the readings.

Then he put it away, glanced around again, and nodded.

“Feel free to explore. Jarvis, give him Peer access to all databases and projects,” he said.

“Yes, sir. Peer access for Mr. Parker has been granted,” Jarvis replied.