Chapter 1
Peter isn't sure what he's doing. He and Mr. Stark have not been on the best of terms since Germany- it feels strange, and very much uncomfortable to walk straight into his tower, especially in civilian clothes.
But he's been summoned, and offered a pay he couldn't turn down. Peter might be uncomfortable, but he wasn't stupid enough to let go of money he could use for food, medicine, bills- and he was pretty sure Tony knew that.
"Hello, what can I do for you today?" The receptionist asked. She was some peppy blonde college student with far too much energy and a smile that bordered on uncomfortably excited.
"Hey, I'm uh- I'm here for an internship?" Peter tried to force any nervousness from his voice, wincing as it cracked slightly despite his efforts.
"Ah, alright! Do you have your ID badge?"
"Oh- uhm. Yeah," Peter fumbled through his pockets for the ID he'd been granted just earlier that day- a little red-and-white plastic-cased card with his picture plastered on the corner. Intern of Stark Industries. He wasn't sure how he felt about that title, even if it was temporary.
"Ooooh, Executive pass! You're good to go, Mr. Parker," The woman winked, waving him towards the elevators. Peter clutched the strap of his backpack, nails digging anxiously into the black nylon fabric.
He didn't even need to press a button- the elevator opened as he approached, Stark Towers' advanced AI- what was it called? Thursday? No....he shook his head. It didn't matter. It wasn't like he was going to make a habit of these trips. Not if he had anything to say about it.
The elevator dinged to a stop at some floor, too high up to be general access.
"Floor 381. Stark Labs. Have a good day, Peter," The AI's uncomfortably humanoid voice cut through the otherwise silent elevator, the sound sharp and crisp and very startling.
"Oh, uh- thanks," He knew his voice probably sounded quite bewildered. If the bot even knew what bewilderment was.
"No problem, Peter. Mr. Stark will be waiting for you in his lab," The AI sounded as if it was trying to usher Peter from the cols box of an elevator, perhaps even with vague traces of amusement in its generated voice- though that might have just been the teen's imagination going wild.
Peter stepped out of the elevator. With no moment to waste, the doors closed with a soft click.
There was no going back now, he sighed. He'd have to deal with this billionaire superhero kind-of-sort-of-child-kidnapper on his own.
"Underoos! You're here!" A bored voice called from one of the labs. Tony Stark. Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. Peter had a few other words he might've used to describe the man, but those worked alright for now.
"I- yeah. You called me? Said it was important? What is it?" Peter tried not to sound rude, keeping his voice level and calm. He might have his issues with the man before him, but he was not a rude kid. He wouldn't give anyone ammunition to say otherwise.
"I need help working on something. You're a smart kid. Capable. Top of your class. I couldn't think of anyone better to help," Tony's voice seemed at least a little genuine. There was a smirk twitching on his lips, a normal expression for the hero. Peter offered a shy smile back.
"Well- uh- thank you for thinking of me. What do you need help with?" Peter dropped into one of the extra seats nearby, spinning to face Tony.
"Hm. We're making an interdimensional travel device. Fun, right?"