Four: Hot Date Part II

"You're acting like she committed a crime," Natasha said calmly as she played chess with Bruce who was sitting across from her while Steve was trying to watch television. Tony was sitting by the kitchen counter angrily making coffee.

It had been four hours since Penny had arrived at HQ and slammed the door in Tony's face. He had been trying to reach Aunt May, but with no avail, she might as well be staying in Siberia.

"Nat is right," Bruce said as he looked up, he looked slightly amused. That bastard.

"She's a child," Steve frowned for once taking Tony's side. Tony never thought he would see the day when this happened. "She should be around adult supervision and not be allowed to be alone and surrounded by boys until she is eighteen." Nat rolled her eyes and murmured something in Russian that sounded condescending.

"But they weren't doing anything right?" Bruce asked with a raised eyebrow. "They were just talking right?"

"Penny said they were 'studying'," Tony said as he wrinkled his nose. "Which is code for fu-"

"Please don't be crude," Steve scolded turning a delightful shade of pink. "I don't need to hear about what the baby Avenger is possibly doing after hours."

"Teenagers have sex whether it is their bedroom or under the bleachers," Bruce said calmly and Tony wanted to strangle him because of his calm demeanor. "Either way we should teach Penny safe sex and not avoid the conversation all together. Just talk to her, Tony I'm sure that Penny would open a up a bit more if you didn't freak out over every little thing."

"I do not freak out." Tony snapped putting his coffee cup on the table and nearly breaking it.

They stared at him, even Mr. Captain America looked baffled. Tony felt himself blushing, since when had he become such a dad. It was so embarrassing, he might as well buy himself a cardigan and a pair of loafers and call it a day.

"Fine, maybe a little, excuse me if I don't want MTV to do a superhero version of Fifteen and Pregnant."

"It's Sixteen and Pregnant." Natasha corrected.

Tony ignored her as he went down the corridor in search of Penny. He didn't think he could stand the preaching any longer and besides they kind of had a point whether he liked to admit it or not. Penny was growing up, she wouldn't remain a child forever.

He frowned as he checked her room. Not there. He checked the arcade, the training center, and his third favorite living room, but she was not there either. What the hell? Where could she be?

Tony ran a hand through his short, spiky hair. "Friday, any idea where our beloved Penny Parker is at the moment?"

"Sir she is not in HQ." Was the cheerful reply from Friday.

A paused followed by a screech. "What?" Friday repeated the message which only irritated Tony more. "Why the hell didn't you tell me, Fri? She wasn't supposed to escape."

"She didn't escape," Friday said calmly. "She went out of the door like a normal guest would. Penny stole a bike from the garage and pedaled all the way to Queens."

Tony groaned. Great, so while Tony was freaking out Penny had pedaled to see her boy toy. Awesome, he just hoped that she didn't get knocked up. If that happened May would strangle them both. Besides what would she do with multiple Spider babies?

After basically stalking every teenage girl that looked even remotely like Penny, Tony finally found her in a place that he never though he would have found her. In a park.

Penny never went to the park, she avoided everything that was even close to nature. She almost broke out in hives when Steve offered to take her hiking. He found Penny sitting in one of the park benches looking down on her lap.

Her eyes were swollen and she looked like she had been crying. All of the anger seemed to disappear, and he could feel his heart swell up with something that he was becoming familiar with. Pity.

He sat down next to her and she sniffed until Tony managed to find a crumbled piece of tissue in his pocket and he silently thanked Pepper for giving him a hefty supply of klennex hidden in various pockets just in case an anxiety attacked hit.

"Here," Tony said as he handed her the tissue. "Blow."

She silently did as she was told. "I'm sorry that I stole your bike."

Tony shrugged as if he hadn't spent the last hour running around Queens like a crazy person. "I have others. I'm surprised that you even know how to ride a bike."

Penny chuckled. "Uncle Ben taught me when I was little, before. . ." she trailed off awkwardly. "Anyway, I'm sorry I was being such a brat."

"Don't sweat it, kid that seems to be your specialty. Just know that if I end up in an early grave it will all be your fault." He leaned back against the cold plastic. "Now why are you crying like you just saw The Notebook."

She choked on her laugh. "You'll laugh and then you'll tell me 'I told you so'"

"Of course, otherwise what's the point. Now spill."

"You know Aaron?"

"The guy who seems obsessed with removing your skirt, yes."

"Well, I came looking for him, that's why I stole the bike," Penny bit on her lip. "I saw him with Cindy Li at the movie theater and Monica Jacobs at the movies."

The I-told-you-so was at the tip of his tongue, but Tony thought it was better not to kick Penny while she was already feeling down. Besides if someone needed their ass kicked it was that Aaron boy.

"Out of the kindest of my heart I will refrain from saying that." Tony said. "Do you want me to have him killed?"

"No. Maybe. I just feel so stupid."

"You are not stupid." Tony said firmly, "This has happened to everyone at some point or another."

"Has this happened to you before?"

"Well, for me I was Aaron at some point. But now I'm a changed man thanks to Pepper." Tony said quickly, Penny rolled her eyes. "Look how about I take you to a drink to help you forget this horrible day."

"I'm not twenty-one."

"Hey, you're legal in Europe. . .I think."

-End of Chapter Four-

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