The calm before the storm
With the tower looming over the New York skyline Peter held his breath as he watched it get closer and closer. Happy wove in and out between cars and a few angry taximen.
“Hop out kid I need to go pick up someone from the airport”
Happy told him as he pulled up to the front of the tower
“Thanks, Happy, have a good one” Peter thanked him as he slid over and out of the car.
Peters was always amazed at how perfect and big it was. No matter how many times Peter had been to the tower he always studied it just to soak it all in. Anyone could see Pepper and Mr stark were geniuses just by how the tower was built
Slowly Peter made his way into the tower bypassing all the security, although he did get a few odd looks from a few of the security guards he hadn't met yet but they let him pass nonetheless. Peter smiled and waved at the bubbly receptionist Kathy who gave him a wide smile and an enthusiastic wave, making Peter feel a bit better about the terrible turn of events in acedec practice. Peter gave a small wave to the camera at the elevators as they opened.
“Hello, Peter. Back from school already? Would you like me to inform the boss you are here?” As usual, F.R.I.D.A.Y’s greeting spreads a smile across his face.
“Hi, how are ya friday, no need to tell Mr Stark. What floor is he on?”
“Boss is currently in a meeting. Would you like to go to the lab?”
“Nah can you take me to the penthouse? I'm a little hungry.”
“Of course Peter.” The elevator jolts cutting through the floors at a fast pace going up. Peter thinks before asking
“Is there anyone at the penthouse today Friday?”
“Only Colonel Rhodes, Peter”
“Thanks Friday”
As Peter enters the kitchen he spots Rodney in Peppers office in the file cabinets looking busy best not to disturb him then.
Peter is hungry and his stomach agrees with a grumble.
Peter grabs an apple from the bowl on the counter before scouting the pantry for junk food.
Five minutes later Peter stumbles into the lab almost dropping his packet of Oreos and Doritos, Peter lays out his bounty on his workbench, only stopping to admire the glittering plaque Morgan had made for him out of glitter glue and stickers it's one of Peter's most valuable item he owns ( and he owns the spider-man suit!)
grinning he sets down his bounty and pulls out his latest project a spider drone that can climb walls and set up surveillance cameras in higher-risk areas (after all he can't be everywhere) he hopes that if someone gets mugged he can get at least a face to scan through other cameras in the area.
When Mr Stark walks through the door about an hour after Peter had started. Peter barely notices until Mr Stark speaks up “Hey kid, how’s school? Blow anything up?”
Peter startles “Huh?…Oh Hey Mr Stark! Schools good, wait why would I blow anything up?” Mr Stark gives him a confused stare
“You're telling me you have never blown anything up in the science lab before?”
Peter shakes his head “Man, what are they teaching kids these days..” Mr stark mumbles
“Ha ha Mr Stark we both know that you and blowing things up have nothing to do with what they were teaching” Peter remarks, turning back to his prototype
“You're so right kid” he just knows that Mr Stark has got the most shit-eating grin on, you could call it his Tony sense.
“So just another boring day then?”
“…”
“Pete?” Mr Stark questions
“Huh” Peter replies dumbly
“You all good underoos?”
Mr Stark looks into Peter's eyes as if trying to solve a puzzle while Peter awkwardly mumbles “Yeah all good” before trying to focus back on his work.
he pauses…
“You know how my academic decathlon team won that field trip?”
“yeah kid I'm proud of you” Mr stark encourages
“Well… I'm coming here”
Peter tries not to focus too hard on Tony Stark being proud of him
“Oh… is it on lab day kid? cause I think we could just reschedule it if you want, should be no problem.”Tony nods understanding.
“Well… Yes, it is but that's not what I meant.” Peter breathes in
“My team is coming here for a tour and hands-on experience.” Peter waits as Tony looks for something in Peter's expression before full-on laughing right at Peter's face ( he tries not to be too hurt)
“ Mr Stark!”
Mr Stark holds up a hand continuing to go bright red laughing “It's not funny” Peter protests “ I'm sorry… I'm sorry it's just… do they know you practically live here?” Mr Stark says in between fits of laughter tears are starting to stream down his face
“They don't even believe I have an internship here. What makes you think they would even believe I have Pepper wrapped around my finger?”
it's almost an instant change in expression as Peter watches as Mr Stark immediately settles into a serious stare
“They don't believe you have an internship here?” Tony says with such rage Peter can feel it bubbling beneath his words.
Peter sighs “No they… they think I forged the paperwork or something I don't know?”
Mr Stark opens then closes his mouth before opening again
“Why on earth would they think that? I mean what would even be the point in you forging intern documents?”
Peter quickly looks down fidgeting with a part he was tinkering with “They think I'm doing it for attention because apparently ‘I don't fit in’ or something”
Mr Stark's gaze immediately softens “Do… Do you not fit in? Pete?” he shakes his head ‘no’ “ I have Ned and MJ and everyone else treats me fine I do fit in… I think I do at least?”
Mr Stark stands up abruptly. Did Peter say something wrong? He almost regrets telling him in the first place.
“Then I think I have a phone call to make then.” what no he doesn't need Mr stark to fight his battles
“No, Mr Stark, please don't!”
"Why not kiddo? They need to know not to mess with my kid.” his kid? Why did that make Peter happy? No, he shakes that thought out of his head
Standing up he argues “Because I don't want to be Peter Parker the genus. I just want to be a normal high school kid please Mr Stark”
Mr Stark looked down with such sadness in his eyes “If I can't do this for you Peter what can I do?” He felt so bad. Mr Stark looked like a kicked puppy.
Turning and leaning down to his bag “How about you..” he paused for dramatic effect “Sign my permission slip?”
“You know cause May is away and you are my next legal guardian” he rushed to explain as he unzipped his bag and pulled out the small slip of paper holding it out for Tony to grab
“Of course, kiddo was gonna do that anyway” Tony has the widest and happiest smile as he rummages through a drawer, pulls out a red pen and signs the form with an extra flourish. Peter wouldn't be surprised if he even gave it a wax seal just to be sure.
“I cannot wait to see you for your tour of my wonderful tower Mr Parker”
Shit.