Gotham University
Peter wasn't sure how long he laid there, he just stared at the peeling wall, watching the moonlight streak through the blinds with a blank expression.
He felt himself drift in and out of reality, the world would blur around him as his vision zoomed in and out like a microscope before everything would once again come into focus like a loop. It made him feel relaxed as if he was just drifting through time, almost non-existent.
Time passed in a haze to the point where he watched the rays of the sun rise above the horizon from the colour of his wall, he couldn't even find the beauty in the colours of pink and orange that painted the wall before it disappeared for what Peter could only assume was above the murky clouds of Gotham.
Eventually he sat up and went to check his phone.
9:36am
Peter sighed at the realisation that he had probably wasted hours just staring at a blank wall, he didn't even feel guilty about it.
His muscles ached from an invisible weight, his hair was a ruffled mess on the top of his head and most importantly he just felt tired. His eyes were heavy and his head pounded.
Peter glanced at the bed, despite how displeasing it looked he just wanted to crawl into the sheets and stay there for days, he didn't want to think, he just wanted to waste his life away under the covers.
Sleep, maybe watch a movie, then sleep some more.
However, he knew he couldn't, so instead he stretched his back and headed towards his suitcase. He picked out a casual outfit, some nice blur jeans and a plain white shirt, the clothes that once hugged his frame perfectly now hung lightly loose and ragged.
Due to his spider genes since his metabolism was through the roof he lost weight slightly quicker then on average, it wasn't that he was starving himself he was actually doing pretty well for himself considering all he lived on was fast food and water from different public parks but it was different from what he once had, the scheduled meals was vital for his body to maintain it's strength, however since he had lived in his car his meals where whenever he had the time and energy to drive.
He didn't have much energy these days which was why he was eating less and that didn't help his energy, it was a loop from hell that he couldn't dig himself out off, even with his stupid fork from those noodles he had yesterday afternoon.
He had tried living through the barbecue at the public park he kept himself around considering that was one of the few spots in the city with free showers -despite how grimy, beggars can't be choosers- but it didn't work out, he was living off a small budget, just barely able to gain enough money to survive through insurance for unemployed people and emergency grants due to the fact he was homeless but it wasn't enough and now that he was in a different state away from New York it will be cut off after his last check which will be in three days.
Luckily he had planned ahead and had been saving but the small amount he had wouldn't get him anywhere.
Peter knew that he needed to start doing things despite how much his muscles just wanted to stop and let him drop on the floor. Either way he grabbed his bag and zipped it open, he packed his phone and charger in there along with checking that all his documents and identification was there.
With a nod of his head he decided not to brush his teeth. He was already exhausted and he didn't want to back out while brushing or loose motivation, he was barely tugging himself around as it was.
He grabbed a piece of strawberry gum from his bag and chucked it in his mouth, he couldn't have any with mint so strawberry became his favourite.
Aunt May used to carry strawberry gum in her purse for him. Even though she loved spearmint she gave up on it and didn't let it anywhere near the apartment when she realised he was allergic.
As he chewed on the gum he popped his suitcase under the bed, grabbed his keys and headed out the door.
The second it closed behind him and he locked it all he felt was dread.
He didn't want to go. He didn't want to do anything, it felt like a chore that he was forced to suffer through. With a deep breath he shrugged his bag on and walked across the platform towards the stairs that would take him down to his car.
As he passed the office he thought about the fact that he only had two more nights here before he would have to leave, he didn't feel comfortable spending anymore of his scarce cash on a dingy room.
Peter finally made his way to his car, it was left untouched. Mr Stark had upgraded the glass windows of the car to always show the inside as empty from any belongings when locked from the outside so whenever someone comes by nothing but a clean car is shown.
Mr Stark had added a lot of things after he found out that Aunt May's car had been broken in to four times in the year that they had been at the apartment.
He had also added an invisible barrier to the already bullet proof windows when enough pressure was applied, making it almost impossible to get into. The sides were also reinforced to withstand anything crazy.
Except for that one time when Aunt May drove into a fence.
There was a tiny scratch, after Mr Stark saw it for the first time, he along with Peter both begged to let Mr Stark get her car spray painted with rainbow flames along the sides but she shook her head with a fond sigh.
Not even Peter's puppy dog eyes made her cave in.
She did stick a small pink bandaid over it though, Peter's not sure when that flew off though...probably the same day.
He stuck the key into the lock before moving his finger underneath the car door handle where he felt for a small button. He pressed it down and felt the small button turn cold as it started to read his fingerprint. Only Ned, Happy and himself could get in the car considering everyone else that could is dead but after he hacked his way back into the car to add his fingerprint back after being deleted he didn't have the heart to delete Happy and Ned off the fingerprint scan.
So if by some random chance one of them one day accidentally uses his keys and places their finger under the door handle the door will open for them.
After a second the door clicks and opens and Peter slides in. None of the other doors would open unless Peter pressed a button near the steering wheel so he didn't have to worry about someone jumping in the passenger side while he had his back turned. He closed the door behind him and placed his bag in the passenger seat.
Afterwards he placed his hand on the middle console and slide the cover back, he felt around until he felt the cold metal of another fingerprint sensor, he waited until the bottom flicked open with a swoosh.
A screen with a keyboard came into view, he typed in the password.
reSponSibility
Each letter and number flashed a white ombré after every press like a pulsing circle of waves.
The keypad moved revealing the one thing Peter would sacrifice his life for.
The last Arc Reactor along with the blueprints.
The others were all destroyed by Mr.Stark after he got back to Earth from Thanos’s snap, the fear of the aliens power pushed him to destroy everything except the one in his chest, instead all power sources in his suit were replaced with a constant source of renewable energy.
Mr.Stark had given Peter the last Arc Reactor in his will, at first Peter was frightened that Pepper would be upset at it but instead when it was read out she smiled and put a hand on his shoulder, telling him that she couldn’t be more proud.
It was put in his original will before he died and was never changed, Pepper had told Peter that her and Mr.Stark had a long conversation about it and it was Pepper that said she wanted it to go to Peter.
When Peter asked why she had said it was because she knew he would achieve great things.
Peter didn’t feel like that right now.
Morgan has gotten the company that Pepper was currently running until she was off age, Happy got his car collection and Peter had gotten all his research, USB, notes, graphs, blueprints, ideas. It was all kept in the console.
Peter wondered if Pepper would ever look at Mr.Stark’s will when she realises she has no idea where or who has the Arc Reactor. He wondered if she would look for him, confront him, ask questions over it, demand it back or maybe she would just trust her husbands judgement.
Despite how bad of a choice it was.
He already destroyed the glasses, he wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
He knew that people were aware of the Arc Reactor considering companies all over the globe were researching how to create it, different news articles always thrown out about the success before it would blow up in their face a couple weeks later.
Peter thought it was for the better that no one ever created it again, if worse comes to worse he would burn it all.
He also knew that Pepper had the same mindset, maybe she would feel better having no idea where it was, she knew Mr.Stark felt the same even when she didn’t remember Peter anymore he hoped she would assume Mr.Stark sorted it out himself.
He didn’t want to ever be found.
With a sigh, Peter pulled his phone out and checked the time.
11:04am
Peter paused.
He had spent over an hour and a half just changing his clothes.
That thought almost made him give up and go back inside.
Peter felt useless, he was going to get out the car and go back to the room, he was going to lock the door and sleep for the rest of the day-
The car turns on.
Peter blinks before looking at the car ignition where he had placed the key. He felt slightly betrayed by his own hand.
He wasn't even aware he had done that, it was almost like instinct and it was the exact thing he needed to get him going.
Checking his mirrors he put the car into drive and backed out of the parking lot, ready to get to Gotham University.
~~~~
The building wasn't anything special. The first thing Peter notices is the lack of space in the car park, it takes him a moment to make his way through the rows. All the cars were different, some were banged up, others were spotless. A few looked as if they would cook and clean along with drive with how expensive they were, while others (Peter's included, subtracting Mr. Stark's additions.) Looked as if they were brought on craigslist.
Eventually Peter found a free space next to a car that looked as if it was a model from a magazine, at least Peter’s car wouldn’t be targeted (despite it being almost completely invincible.)
He shouldn’t have thought that, however he also didn’t care.
He looked at the building again, it was less gloomy then he thought. The photos made it look like Dracula’s pride and joy with the grimy bricks and tinted windows but it seemed that someone just had a little too much fun on photoshop.
Peter takes a deep breath and holds it. The car is still running beneath him, his senses pick up the light vibration of the engine that seems to sit uncomfortably in his stomach.
His fingers find the cold keys, he switches it off, with the same hand he slowly drifts his hand down to the door handle, hesitating.
The door opens and Peter lets out the breath he was holding, his head light headed from the rush of air that filled his lungs in relief at the process he was making all by himself.
It was weird not having anyone drag him up, no support except himself.
He got out of the car, locked it and walked along the pathway towards the administration office.
There were students all around him, some sat on the stairs smoking while others laid back on the grass, almost sinking into the green shards.
Peter picked up conversations from left to right, his ears heard the sound of keys from keyboards and laughs from students and something absolutely uncouth from the car he was currently walking past.
Aunt May would have slammed her hand on the damn tinted windows.
Finally the office came in view, Peter walked up to the sliding doors.
As he stepped on the carpet he immediately took note of everything despite his calm facade.
There was the smell of ham in the fridge two doors over, a woman in the back was currently being berated by someone on the phone, the printer near the back was working, double sided with colour.
A conversation was happening in the room next to him about a student being suspended for drug use. The light two hallways down was flickering. The microwave in the staff room was buzzing.
His eyes glanced at the map of the emergency exit. All of it sticking in his head immediately.
The woman in front of him had a sticky key, probably from the mango she’s had not long ago considering the skin is still next to her. The letter is probably a vowel considering how often she presses it.
Peter headed up towards the desk and waited patiently, the lady looked up and scans his face before smiling, white teeth surrounded by red lipstick on display. She seemed kind, her dark skin contrasting nicely with her bright yellow cardigan, her hair was in braids that went just below her shoulders, only the front two had beads of purple and blue. Despite her red lipstick her eyeliner was a sparkly silver. Peter was surprised to see someone in Gotham’s so colourful and bubbly.
“Hi darl, how can I help ya?”
Her voice was light yet heavy with a Gotham accent, her smile never faded.
Peter reaches deep inside his chest to force a smile on his pale face. He glances down towards her name tag which says Grace with a yellow smile sticker next to the Gotham University logo. “Hello, uh I’m here for the placement test?” He barely stuttered out.
She nodded her head. “Of course,” She started to type onto the keyboard with her painted nails. Peter realised the tab was the sticky key.
“Do you have two forms of identification on you? If you are under 18 we ask that you are accompanied by a parent or guardian into the test.”
Peter pulled out his drivers license and birth certificate from his front pocket. Even though he wasn’t on their system anymore it was still real and authentic.
He handed it over, the lady took it and glanced. “Could you have a read of that then sign here please?” She passes Peter a document that had a small amount of writing.
He scans through, realising it’s just a form talking about the basics of confidentiality and if his information can be put into the school system. He grabs the pen that was clipped to the desk before signing his name and passing it back over.
“Perfect.” She smiles, I’ll just put this into the system. She starts asking the basic questions.
“Name?”
“Peter Parker.”
“Gender?”
“Male.”
“Could I get your date of birth?”
Peter swallows, she notices but doesn’t comment. They both know why.
“August 20th 20XX”
She types it in, before glancing back at the drivers license, after looking at his date she clicks a few things on her keyboard.
Peter assumes she is ticking the box.
The one that is on every professional document all over the world by universal law.
Were you dusted by Thanos in the war of 2018?
Peter’s answer was the same every time.
✔️
Everyone dusted got a new license with a star next to the date of birth, meaning that three years had to be subtracted off their age. The whole event messed up systems everywhere, however after a long debate the world agreed that three years would be taken off their age out of the five years they were snapped.
Physically, Peter is 18.
Logically, Peter is 23.
By law, Peter is 20.
“Ok now that this is all out of the way.” She stood up, her yellow cardigan flowed around her as she ushered her way towards the door separating them.
“I’ll give you an account number and we will get you set up and started.”
Peter followed behind the Grace.
He knew about placement tests and had read up on them. They were for people who didn’t have a High School Education Certificate. Usually when someone either pulled out or just didn’t pass and didn’t want to sit the year again.
The placement test was something that everyone without a High School Education Certificate took when looking further into education.
People used it for lots of reasons, job application, pathways to university or college, identification etc.
They arrived in a room full of about 20 computers all lined up. There were 13 other people in the room, all wearing headphones. The youngest looked about fourteen and based on the lady sitting in the back wearing a dirty apron, Peter assumes that the boy had either left school or was pulled out. The oldest in their late fifties, the placement test was for anyone above twelve and it was common for people to change their careers later in age despite how taboo it seemed.
Grace claps her hands together. “Before we start I just want to let you know that this course has been funded by The Martha Wayne charity under the title of education, so all of it is free.”
She nods towards the ceiling. “Cameras are in the room and are always active. Any cheating is prohibited and you will be banned from taking the test for seven days before trying again under supervision.”
“Is that understood?” She asks as she tilts her head with a friendly smile. Peter nods.
“Okie dokie then, let’s get this party started.” Grace grins. “So there are 3 tests with infinite questions that are constantly made up by an A.I. Each test will take 1 hour before moving on to the next one automatically.”
She pulled out a chair for Peter to sit in. “The subjects are Math, English and Science, the questions are very broad on topics, however if you see a certain topic come up more, for example grammar more then spelling then it’s the computer trying to figure out the difference between your thought process to give the best result. Does that make sense?” Grace asked as she started to sign in to the computer. Peter nodded quietly.
“You can choose which subject you do first and last. It doesn’t matter. Questions will get more difficult or easier based on your previous answers.” She shrugged before continuing. “The placement test is to sort you into a class. General Education I, II, III or VI. All the information will show up.”
She types in a number at the top of the screen. “That will be your account number for today, the password is just password with a capital P and the number zero at the end. You can enter your name here and you will be taken to the test.”
Peter enters everything in while Grace leans over and grabs the headphones, you will need these for some of the questions, if you have any trouble with that then there will be a box you can select that will show large subtitles. You can turn it on anyway if you like.”
“I’ll be heading back to the desk, if you need me please log out, we don’t want the test to be left open. Logging out will both pause and protect your score. It will also monitor how many times you have logged out so you can’t use it as a reason to think.” She points to the small icon in the corner where the log out button is.
“Once done with all three tests you will be given a number, let me know that number at the front desk and I’ll brb able to print your results.”
She turns away from the screen and pulls a notepad along with a pen towards Peter. “These are for taking notes Andy working things out.” She claps her hand with a smile while taking a deep breath. “That is always a mouthful. Any questions?”
Peter blinks before shaking his head. “Uh, no thank you. I’m good from here.”
“Alright, good luck.” She nods at peter before leaving the room.
Peter glances at the screen, it just has basic information on it including what each class is equal too and the percentage needed.
General Education Class = School Level
I = 1-3
II = 4-6
III = 7-9
VI = 10-12
Minimum question count and Passing Percentage needed.
I = 0Q with %0 correct
II = 20Q with %60 correct
III 40Q with %60 correct
VI 60Q with %80 correct
Peter was aiming for VI, however he didn’t want his results to stand out so he started doing the math in his head.
He would answer 76 questions of 91 for the first test giving him around %83.5.
Then 64 of 70 giving him around %91.4.
Lastly, 98 of 111 giving him %85.2
He would have to keep count and play smart.
Do you have a disability that may affect your score?✖️
Can you hear the audio played in your left headphone? ✔️
Can you hear the audio in your right headphone? ✔️
Would you like subtitles? ✔️
More information...
Terms and Conditions...
Please select START when ready
Peter selects START and the timer begins.