<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">Tony hadn't been working -- he'd been watching.  Watching every flicker of pain in Peter's face, and every tiny flinch.  However -- he was a damned good actor, and so any time Peter glanced at him, he was occupied with a hologram of some project or another.  (JARVIS, having caught on to the ruse, was the one manipulating the holograms.  Tony hoped JARVIS never decided he needed to take over the world, because he'd win before anybody realized it was a problem.)<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know, kid."  Tony's hand returned to Peter's back.  "I don't want to say yes and have to change my answer tomorrow.  I'm not opposed to it but -- can I answer after we talk to the social worker?  Because I'll be honest, I -- I really need to not think too much about getting to keep you forever until I know it's going to happen, okay?  So just for now -- just until then -- can we just put Spidey on the back burner?"  Tony shrugged his shoulder awkwardly.  "I know you need the work, and I get that.  But I'm hoping you'll meet me halfway on this one and let me deal with one thing at a time."  He paused, leaning into Peter like he was going to impart a secret.  "I suck at adult shit like this.  And you gotta admit -- this is big adult shit.  So.  Cut me some slack?"</span></span>