Peter
Peter had such a good time with Mr. Stark on Wednesday, and he managed not to start an argument the entire time he was there! There may be hope for them yet. When this whole thing started a couple months ago, Peter really didn’t see any way that they would ever get along. Now it seems that Wednesdays are the highlight of his week.
He hopes Mr. Stark isn’t too bothered by him being there either. He doesn’t seem like he is, but Peter knows he can be really difficult sometimes. But then Mr. Stark asked him to start spending Saturdays with him as well, so he has to at least like having Peter around a little bit, right? Unless this is just a part of the deal with SHIELD, but the lab stuff really doesn’t seem like it is. He really doesn’t know.
He really hopes that the Pattersons will approve it. Mr. Stark said he would talk to them. Saturdays are normally the day that Peter has to clean the apartment, but maybe he can offer to do that on Sunday instead.
He makes it through the last couple days of classes for the week with no problems. Happy’s threat is apparently working for now. Then, on his way home from school on Friday, Peter gets a text from Ned.
“Dude, I don’t want to freak you out, but I have something super urgent I need to talk to you about. Can you meet up tonight?”
Peter scrunches up his face in confusion and concern.
“Of course, man. Are you in trouble? Do you need you know who?” He texts back.
“No, I just need to tell you something. Be over as soon as you can.”
Well now Peter is definitely worried. Did something bad happen to Ned? Has he finally decided Peter isn’t worth the trouble of being friends with? Is this like a friend break up?
He goes through the motions when he get back to the apartment, but he barely even pays attention to what’s happening.
Arrive at the building, walk in the door, get slapped across the face, get shoved against the wall, make dinner, hair pulled, Bill doesn’t like dinner, he forces Peter’s forearm down on a hot burner, no dinner, do the dishes, go to his room, wrap his burned arm in whatever first aid supplies he can find, wait for the door to lock.
Now it’s time.
After putting on his suit and his thickest hoodie, he grabs his backpack and jumps out the window. He uses his right webshooter to lower himself to the ground. He doesn’t trust his left arm right now. It doesn’t look too bad. It’s got a few little blisters forming, but it should heal in a day or so with some food and rest. He’ll have to walk to Ned’s though.
He grabs a sandwich on the way and gets there around 10 o’clock. He can already feel the calories helping to repair his burned skin. He’s wearing clothes over his suit, so he uses the fire escape to climb up to Ned’s window. He knocks a couple of times before opening it and climbing in. Ned left it unlocked for him.
Ned is currently sat facing away from Peter, dead silent and still on the floor of his room, an open packet of papers in front of him.
“Uh…Ned? Dude?” Peter calls out to his friend, getting even more worried then he has been all day.
Ned turns around slowly, and Peter can’t tell what his facial expression means. He still doesn’t say anything.
“Ned, man, you’re really freaking me out here.”
Ned gulps and gestures in front of him. “It might be best if you sit down for this.”
Peter hurriedly sits down in front of his friend and the papers. “Ned I really need you to explain what’s happening right now. Are you in danger? Are you dying?”
Ned shakes his head, still quiet. “No, none of those. This has nothing to do with me, actually.”
“Then what?” Peter asks impatiently.
Ned gulps again. He looks more nervous now then Peter has ever seen him. Way more then any big school project or even when he was planning on asking this girl he goes to school with to the homecoming dance.
“Ned, you can tell me anything. You know that. We’re best friends.” Peter says, trying to be reassuring. That is apparently the right thing to say, because all of a sudden Ned goes from silent to rambling.
“I did something, and I don’t think you’re going to be very happy with me when I tell you what is it, but I need you to know first that I really thought it was in your best interests at the time and it’s okay if you’re really mad at me but please consider forgiving me when you’re done being mad because I really think I was doing the right thing only now that it’s actually happening I’m really not sure and-“
“Ned!” Peter interrupts. “What did you do?” He asks, trying not to sound preemptively angry.
Ned picks up the open envelope sitting between them and hands it to Peter. Immediately, he can see a DNA testing company logo on the front and he knows what Ned did.
Peter drops the packet on the floor again and buries his head in his hands. “Ned, please tell me you didn’t. Not after I specifically asked you not to.”
He looks at his friend through the cracks between his fingers and sees him looking incredibly guilty at the envelope.
“Ugh.” Peter groans loudly. “And you opened it already?”
“I just wanted to find out some background information since you were so worried it would be someone horrible! That’s all! I figured I could do some research before I broke the news to you.” Ned defends.
“And?” Peter asks hesitantly.
Ned just pushes the envelope back into Peter’s hands.
“You really need to see this for yourself, dude.”
Peter picks it up gingerly, as if it’s a bomb. It might as well be with the impact this stupid packet of papers has the potential to do on his life. He reaches inside and pulls out the pages. He skims through the top where it talks about testing and accuracy and all that, then he reaches his mom, Mary Fitzpatrick, which he knew. His mother only had him for a couple of years before she was killed in a plane crash going to do scientific research. That’s when he was transferred to her sister May and her husband Ben. That’s when he became a Parker. He didn’t even remember his mother. He was too young. May and Ben were the only parents he’s ever known.
Then, he reaches the section for his father, and he can’t even begin to process the words he sees there.
Anthony Edward Stark.
…
Anthony Stark?
…
Tony Stark?
…
TONY STARK?!?!
Peter can feel his eyes growing wide as he stares at the name for what feels like forever.
This can’t be right.
“Ned, Ned, this is wrong. It’s wrong Ned, right? What’s the accuracy rating on this thing? You’re sure you sent in my DNA?”
He looks away from the name finally and up to Ned, who is just sitting there sheepishly, shaking his head.
“It’s right Peter. It has to be. I know I sent in your DNA because I got it here, right after you left. These things are really accurate. It’s him.”
Peter continues to stare at those three little words that are currently ruining his life.
Anthony Edward Stark.
His father.
“But…this…this doesn’t make any sense. H-how would my mother have even met him? When was my mother ever with Tony Stark?”
He looks up at Ned hopefully again, begging with his eyes for his friend to say something different.
“I don’t know, man.” His friend replies, eyes on the carpeted floor beneath them. “I mean, your mom was a scientist, right? Maybe they were at some sort of conference together, or maybe she got invited to one of Stark’s parties through mutual friends, or maybe they collaborated on some sort of project or something. There are a bunch of scenarios.”
Peter stays silent. He doesn’t even really know what he would say. He wants to argue, but Ned’s logic is sounding more and more plausible by the second.
“And, you kinda look like him.” His friend adds. “And you’re definitely super smart like him.”
“I’m not that smart, and lots of people have brown hair and brown eyes.” Peter argues, but his arguments are starting to sound half hearted even to him.
Ned looks at him, and he knows he can’t deny it anymore.
“Oh my god, Ned. Tony Stark is my father.”
The boys are silent for a few minutes as Ned lets Peter process the news.
“Are you okay, dude?” Ned asks finally.
“Uhh…yeah. Sorry. Just thinking.” Peter responds hesitantly.
“About how you’re going to tell him? Yeah, that’s a hard one.” Ned puts his chin in one of his hands, contemplating the best way to go about this.
“What?!” Peter almost screams before remembering that Ned’s parents are asleep next door. “Tell him? Are you crazy, Ned? I can’t tell him!”
Ned scrunches his forehead in confusion. “Why not?” He asks curiously, as if telling Mr. Stark wouldn’t ruin his entire life.
“Ned, I can’t tell Tony Stark that I’m his son. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
Ned gestures down to the test. “Why? You have proof! Why is that ridiculous?”
“Because I don’t know anything about what happened!” Peter whisper yells to his friend. “Maybe my mother told him and he gave me up on purpose because he doesn’t want children. And even if she never told him, he would never want me like I am now!”
Ned looks at him with so much concern. “What are you talking about, Peter? I thought you really liked your internship. You said you were getting along better.”
“Well…kind of…I guess.” Peter responds. “But that doesn’t mean he would want me as a son. The government is literally forcing him to take me on as an intern. The word ‘troubled’ is written all over all my files in large letters. And we like practically hated each other until just a few weeks ago. The getting along thing is very very recent, and this would just blow it to pieces.”
The more he speaks, the more passionate he gets. Mr. Stark can never find out. It would ruin everything.
Ned still looks like he wants to argue back, and Peter really just can’t handle that right now. He stands up and shoves the papers in his backpack, throwing it over his shoulder.
“I need to go.” He says sharply, headed towards the window.
“Okay…” Ned says quietly. “Will you just…text me or something? Later?” He asks hesitantly, as if he’s afraid. Peter turns around and confirms when he sees a look of dread in Ned’s eyes.
“Hey, Ned, dude, it’s not…I’m not mad at you, okay?”
Ned’s eyes light up with hope. “You’re not?”
Peter shakes his head. “No, I’m not. I’m just overwhelmed by everything and I need some time to think. But I meant what I said earlier. You’re my best friend, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t forgive you for. I know you’re just looking out for me, so thank you for that.”
Ned smiles wide and Peter can almost swear he sees tears that were forming in his friends eyes. Peter reaches a hand out to do their secret handshake before leaping back out the window and into the night.
He knows he can’t patrol with his arm like this. He’d almost forgotten about it at Ned’s place, but once he gets outside and left to his thoughts, the pain comes right back. He can’t go back to the Pattersons. Not right now. Not like this. So he walks.
It’s not hard to walk around New York City on a Friday night in December. The city is packed with people either visiting the city for the holidays or locals out doing their Christmas shopping or celebrating. He’s cold. He knows that for sure. He goes and sits in a restaurant for a while just to be in the heat and the company of others who have no idea what’s going on in his life. He almost can’t bring himself to use the credit card, but it’s not like he has any other options.
He wanders until he feels like he’ll freeze, then he remembers the heater in the suit he’s wearing. He turns it on quickly, but the warmth only brings with it the constant reminder of where he got it from.
He ends up staying out most of the night, wandering up and down streets long after even the bar crowd goes home or to their hotels to rest up for the next day. It’s still dark when he climbs back in through his window, but it’s dark late into the morning this time of year, and he climbs back under the covers just for show. He doesn’t sleep.
He’s lying there for less than an hour when he hears his door unlock for the day. He drags himself up and gets ready mindlessly for his Saturday detention. He gets there earlier then everyone else, but he doesn’t mind.
He spends the entire weekend just lost in thought. He’s lucky that Bill and Diane rarely want a response when talking to him. They just want to berate him and throw him around a bit. He doesn’t have to pay attention.
Tony Stark is his father. His mentor Tony Stark. Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist Tony Stark. The guy who he couldn’t be in the same room as without arguing until 2 weeks ago. The guy who he has to see every Wednesday and maybe Saturday for who knows how long. Until he reveals his identity as Spider-Man to the government he supposes, and even then, he would have to see him on Avengers missions and stuff.
And the thing that hurts the most, he thinks, is that he doesn’t want to stop seeing Mr. Stark. He likes his internship with the man. He was excited even to start going two days a week. This is going to change everything.
Monday comes around eventually of course, and Peter is still very distracted. It’s lucky he doesn’t actually need his brain for this school. Ned’s been texting him, and he’s been trying to answer, but he’s sure he’s worrying his friend.
He makes it most of the way through the day, before he’s approached by the one person who he absolutely doesn’t need to see today.
“Parker!” Derek calls when he sees him in the hallway.
Peter clenches his fists in fury. He definitely doesn’t need this when he’s already so worked up.
“Trust me McDaniels, today is not the day to mess with me.” Peter says through clenched teeth, turning around to face the other boy. The hallway was already clearing around them.
“Oh come on, Petey. I just wanted to congratulate you.” The boy said in a mocking tone.
Peter guesses he’ll play along with the game for a minute. He knows Derek won’t leave him alone until he does.
“Okay, I’ll bite.” Peter tells him bitterly. “Congratulate me for what?”
“Well, it took me a little while to figure out why you had such fancy cars picking you up every week, and then that guy said you were under Tony Stark’s personal protection, and finally, it hit me. So I came to congratulate you on finally finding a sugar daddy. I knew you were poor, but I didn’t know you were that desperate.”
Oh fuck no.
That was the exact wrong thing to say to Peter at the exact wrong time.
“What did you just say to me McDaniels?” He asks, his anger seeping into his voice threateningly. The other boy isn’t backing down.
“Did you have to suck just Stark’s dick for him to let you ride in that car, or his driver’s too?” The boy taunts. “You must have a good mouth on you, because there’s no other reason a man like Tony Stark would waste his time on a worthless little nobody like you-“
Mcdaniels barely has time to get the end of his sentence out, because Peter walks up to him and punches him right across the face, taking him by surprise. He barely has enough willpower to remember what Steve taught him about pulling his punches for the non-enhanced. He doesn’t think he broke any bones, but that one punch brings Derek down to the floor.
He vaguely hears a couple of the students watching scream, but he’s focused on the blood pouring out of Derek’s nose as he lies on the floor, unconscious.
He can feel hands on his arms, trying to pull him back away from the other boy. He can’t hear anything around him. His ears are ringing. Everything sounds fuzzy. A teacher he doesn’t know is in his face, yelling at him, but he can’t hear what he’s saying. He can only make out the word “principal” being mouthed at him. As he walks away, he can see Derek coming to on the ground. People help him sit up and hold rags to his bleeding nose. Peter can see the bruise already forming on the boys face. They make eye contact, and Peter smiles his best cocky, victorious smile. He hopes in this moment that he gets that from his dad.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
By the time Peter is dragged all the way to the principal’s office, his ears are done ringing and he’s aware of his surroundings again. The teacher from before that he doesn’t know the name of has a tight grip on his upper arm as they step into the office. Principal Hart is behind the desk, looking grim.
“Mr. Parker, please sit down. Mr. Gates, you may go back to your class. Thank you.”
The teacher releases him and backs out the door, shutting it behind him.
Peter doesn’t sit.
“Peter, are you not in enough trouble already that you can’t listen to me now? Sit.” He says again, pointing to the chair. He has a feeling the longer he fights this, the longer it’s going to take. He sighs and sits down in one of two chairs in front of the desk.
“Mr. Parker, would you care to explain what happened out there?” Principal Hart asks, but it’s phrased as a command.
Peter shrugs. “Exactly what it looked like. McDaniels was talking shit and couldn’t handle the consequences.”
The principal clenches his jaw, unhappy with Peter’s answer.
“What was he saying to you?” He asks tersely.
“All sorts of shit. Things I don’t want to repeat. McDaniels is full of it. He’s been messing with me since I got here.” Peter replies. He’s not trying to defend himself. He knows what he did. He’s just telling the man what happened, not that it’ll make any difference in the end.
“Well, Mr. Parker, it seems that Derek McDaniels only has one incident on record against you and you have many against him. Care to explain how that shows that he’s been ‘messing with you’ this whole semester? To me it shows the opposite.” The man is smirking, like he’s got Peter caught in some kind of trap and he’s enjoying his victory.
“All it shows is that your staff isn’t paying enough attention, sir.” He tries to put on as much of an insulting inflection as he can, and by the look on the man’s face, it worked.
“Listen here young man,” the principal begins angrily, leaning over his desk. “You might’ve broken another students nose or jaw. He’s on the way to the hospital right now to get looked at. We had to call your foster father out of work for this. You may be content with living your miserable, delinquent life, but your actions are having major negative consequences on others. You better shape up or you’re going to end up with a very lonely future, Mr. Parker.”
The man finally ends his rant and honestly Peter couldn’t care less. He’s trying to sound threatening and it’s all falling very flat. Maybe it’s just because Peter’s life has already had every shitty thing imaginable happen already, but he really doesn’t even care about what’s happening right now.
“I didn’t break anything.” Peter says confidently. “I’ve broken bones before. I let his stay intact on purpose.”
The principal doesn’t respond to that.
Soon enough, Bill shows up in his work uniform, looking furious. The man doesn’t address Peter, but he gets a look that says he’s really in for it later.
Principal Hart stands up to shake his hand over the desk.
“Mr. Patterson, I’m so sorry we had to call you out of work for this, but we had no other choice. Please, sit.” He says, gesturing to the chair next to Peter’s.
“Please, call me Bill.” The gruff man replies. “It was really no trouble. When we offered to take Peter in, we signed up for all that comes with it, good and bad.” He pats Peter on the shoulder and squeezes just hard enough to be painful before letting go.
“Well, that’s very kind of you, Bill. Were you informed of what happened by the secretary before you came in?” The principal asks politely.
“Yes, I was.” Bill nods. “I can’t believe that our Peter would just attack another student like that, but we all knew he was” Bill glances at Peter and leans across the desk to whisper the next words to the principal, “a little troubled.”
Peter was so irritated. How dare the man talk about him like he isn’t literally two feet away from them.
“I always hate being the one to inform people of this.” The principal continues. “But Peter has had multiple incidents of violence this semester and multiple warnings, detentions, and suspensions. We’re out of options this time. Peter will not be welcomed back in this school after today.”
Bill nods like he figured this was coming. “I completely understand, sir. I’ll make sure he’s properly disciplined when we get home. Thank you so much for your time here.” Bill stands and shakes Principal Hart’s hand again before walking out of the room, expecting Peter to follow. He doesn’t exactly have another choice, so he does.
He could make a break for it now, but then where would he go? He has a credit card, but Mr. Stark, his dad, won’t keep that going forever, especially if he stops coming to the internship. Ned can’t hide him forever either. He doesn’t have another choice. He follows Bill outside and get into his car.
Peter very rarely rides anywhere with Bill. They’ve had a couple appointments with the social worker, and Bill drove him to the apartment at the very beginning, when they were first assigned to him, but Peter thinks that’s it. The car ride is completely silent. Peter doesn’t even think about breaking it.
They arrive at the apartment building, and Bill says absolutely nothing until they’re inside and the door is shut, they he goes off on him.
“You absolutely worthless piece of shit child!” He screams in Peter’s face, shoving him backwards roughly into the wall. He grabs onto Peter’s hair with one hand and punches him hard in the face with the other.
“Fuck!” Peter yells, not expecting to be hit in the face like that. Bill always avoids his face, but he supposes that he has no one to hide from right now, now that he’s not going back to school tomorrow. He’s sure that’ll leave a black eye.
Bill’s next hit is to his abdomen, making him hunch over in pain, but he can’t go far due to the iron grip on his hair.
Bill releases him and back up a few steps.
“Shirt off, Parker. Now!”
He leaves no room for argument as Peter yanks his shirt off and gets into position against the wall. His spider sense flares in anticipation as the first lash of the belt comes down across his back, followed by many more. Peter looses count somewhere after 15, but he knows it’s a lot and that it hurts. Eventually, he can’t stand anymore and he falls to the floor. Bill rushes at him and grabs his hair again, pulling up until Peter has no choice but to stand with a scream and follow the man down the hallway, where he’s thrown into the hall closet.
“I can’t stand to look at your fucking face anymore you absolute worthless, unlovable, piece of trash. You’re lucky I don’t just throw you out on the streets after what you pulled. If you land an assault case on your ass, your dead meat, Parker. You’re going to stay in here until I feel like I’m not going to have an aneurysm just looking at your pathetic face.”
And with that, Bill slams the door shut and locks it behind him, leaving Peter in complete darkness.
He’s not in there for long before everything starts to hit him at once. The sleep deprivation from not sleeping at all for 3 days, the pain, the sheer mental exhaustion of having to deal with what he’s been dealing with over the weekend. His body just can’t handle it anymore, and he passes out.
He wakes up some indiscriminate amount of time later to Diane cracking open the door and throwing a bottle of water directly at his head. He’s grateful for it either way though. He drinks a little bit at a time, not wanting to rush through it and have none for later. He stays awake for a little while, but the darkness takes him once again.
Finally, the door is thrown open all the way. Diane is standing there looking stern. “Get up, Parker, and get out of my sight before I regret letting you out of here.”
Peter scrambles to his feet as fast as he can. He’s not sure how long it’s been, but he definitely doesn’t feel like he’s healed. He notices his things are already gone from the entryway, so he gets to his room as fast as he can and shuts the door.
His backpack and shirt have been thrown on the floor. He goes to his backpack first, opening his secret pocket to check for the card and phone. Thank god, it doesn’t look like they went through his stuff because it’s still where he left it.
He pulls out the phone and turns it on. The first thing he notices is that it’s very late Wednesday night. He’s been in the closet for over 2 days. Wow.
The next thing he sees are way too many notifications, which is awfully strange considering only three people have his phone number.
He has a few texts from Ned, just following up on the stuff that went down on Friday. He shoots him a quick text back that he’s doing okay before moving on to the others.
He has a text and some missed calls from Happy from earlier today, wondering where he was. He didn’t get a chance to tell him he wasn’t going to be at school today, so Happy didn’t know. Considering that was hours ago, he’s assuming Happy figured out he wasn’t coming and went on with his business, so he ignored the texts and calls.
Lastly, he has an absurd amount from his dad, Mr. Stark.
“Hey, Pete. Happy says he can’t find you outside of school today. Are you not coming?”
“Did something happen today?”
“It’s been a while, so I’m telling Happy just to come back. If you end up being able to come later just let me know.”
“Are you sick or something, Underoos? Can spiders even get sick?”
“Whenever you get these, just let me know. Just want to make sure you’re alright.”
“I’m trying really hard to respect your privacy and not override your tracker, but I want you to know it’s really difficult for me.”
He snorts at the last one, before remembering that he isn’t going to be able to see this man anymore and that dampens his mood.
He puts the phone down before pulling his jeans off and looking around for something to wear to sleep. His eyes land on the shirt that his dad gave him in the lab the other day. He washed it right after, intending on giving it back. It was definitely his biggest and most comfortable shirt right now, and he’ll need that with his back all torn up like it is.
Oh, fuck it, Peter thinks before grabbing the shirt and throwing it on. It’s definitely really big and soft. Exactly what he needs. He falls face down into bed and was about to drift off when his phone starts to buzz. He answers it with his eyes closed, expecting it to be Ned since he’s the only one whose text he responded to.
“Hey, Pete.” Says definitely not Ned’s voice over the phone. Peter’s eyes snap open in surprise, “Tony Stark” very clearly displayed on his phone.
He groans internally. He’s so stupid. Now he has to talk to the man or he’ll know something is up. Peter’s plan was just ignore and hope all his problems went away.
“Hey, Mr. Stark.” He responds after a second, trying to sound natural.
“I’ve, uh, been a little worried about you, bud. You didn’t show up today and then you weren’t answering your phone. Are you okay?”
Peter tries not to feel so touched that his dad is worried about him and responds.
“Oh, yeah. I’m okay.” He answers, but it apparently isn’t very believable.
“…are you sure, Pete? You don’t really sound like it. What happened, Underoos?”
Peter has to tell him something, so he might as well tell him some of the truth.
“I got in some trouble at school the other day, like, a lot of trouble, and it, uh, it wasn’t good, Mr. Stark. I’m in trouble with the Pattersons too, so I didn’t have my phone.” He answers truthfully, positive he sounds completely pathetic. He definitely feels completely pathetic.
“How much trouble we talking, kiddo? Another suspension trouble?” The man asks.
“Uh, no.” Peter responds. “Like expulsion trouble.”
His dad doesn’t respond for a moment, and Peter is all of a sudden filled with regret. He hasn’t regretted what he did to Derek at all until this very second, and suddenly he’s very aware that it probably looks very bad and his dad is most definitely going to be disappointed in him. Since when is he worried about that?
“I’m sorry about that, bud.” The man finally responds. “Do you want to talk about it?” He asks kindly. He doesn’t sound angry or disappointed, but Peter knows he is. He must be. He’s nothing but a disappointment. Mr. Stark would never want him for a son.
“Not really, Mr. Stark. I’m kind of tired actually and I’m not supposed to have my phone with me. That’s uh part of my grounding. I just wanted to check it really quick before I fell asleep.” Peter says awkwardly.
“Oh, yeah. Of course. You seem like you’ve been through a lot the past couple days so….I’ll just let you get some sleep.” The man replies equally awkwardly.
“Thanks, Mr. Stark. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Pete.”
Peter hits the hang up button, and he’s not able to go back to sleep for a long while.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Saturday morning, Peter is back to his normal routine. His back has healed a little bit. His black eye is still there, but better than it was. Bill has been more irritable with him the last few days, but he understands that. It’s a lot of work to get him into a new school, so he deserves the extra hits he takes for a few days.
He makes breakfast like always, and then starts his Saturday cleaning routing. Halfway through the day, there’s a knock at the door. Peter doesn’t think they’re expecting someone, but it’s not really his business anyway so he keeps on scrubbing the bathroom floor, tuning out everything else around him, until Diane storms into the room.
She whispers at him, “Stark just showed up and you need to get your ass in your room and look presentable before he sees you.” Before rushing back out.
His dad is here? Why is he here? Peter can’t think of any reason his dad could possibly have for coming here today.
He does as he’s told and rushes into his bedroom to change into long sleeves. Unfortunately, there’s nothing he can do about the black eye. He tries fruitlessly to flatten down his messy hair before joining the adults in the living room.
“Oh, here he comes right now.” He hears Bill say as he walks down the hallway. He peers around the corner to see Bill and Diane sitting on the couch together, across the coffee table from his dad in a chair.
When he walks in, he sees his dad’s eyes widen, he’s positive at the state of his face, before he schools his expression and turns back to the Pattersons.
“So, as I was saying,” the man begins, glancing over at Peter and making quick eye contact. “Now that Peter is no longer attending his high school, I would be more than willing to help him get into another one that I think would suit him much better.”
Oh no. Peter groans internally. Not this again.
“It’s called Midtown High School of Science and Technology. Peter has been working with me for a few weeks now, and I can see he has a real talent for this kind of thing. I can very easily get him accepted and enrolled here with my recommendation, and I will gladly cover any of his new school fees as well.”
The two on the couch pick up the pamphlet that Mr. Stark brought with him about the school, and they look it over together. The perfect picture of doting, concerned parents. Peter wants to be sick.
“This looks like a wonderful opportunity.” Diane finally says to Tony. “What would need to be done on our end?”
Tony has a very tactful and prepared reply at the ready. “I can take care of everything except for some simple paperwork that would have to be sent over to Peter’s social worker. She would have to approve everything before we take any action, although with the current circumstances I see absolutely no reason she wouldn’t sign off immediately.”
Bill and Diane nod together in agreement. “Thank you so much, Mr. Stark.” Bill says. “This really takes a lot of extra work off our hands. We’ll get this sent over to the social worker right away.”
“Fantastic.” Mr. Stark replies with a phony smile. Peter has known him for long enough now to recognize real ones from fake ones. “Now, would you mind if I had a quick word with Peter before I go?”
Before anyone could even think to object, Mr. Stark has his arm around Peter’s shoulders and is steering him into his bedroom. Peter didn’t even have time to think if he even wants to speak with his dad right now, but it doesn’t look like he has a choice.
His dad shuts the door behind them and pushes Peter lightly towards the bed.
“Sit.” He commands gently.
Peter listens for once, and his dad kneels in front of him right away, grabbing onto his chin and tilting his head so he can take a better look at his black eye. “My god, bud, what happened?” The man asks so gently, running fingers lightly over Peter’s bruised face. It was really making Peter feel things that he shouldn’t be feeling. It’s making him feel cared about, precious, loved. All things he isn’t and can never be, and that fills him with complete irrational anger towards the man who is his father but can never know. The man who is supposed to love him unconditionally, but Peter knows will never want him.
“I’m fine, Stark. I got in stupid fight with some fucking high school kid. What are you even doing here?” He lashes out angrily at the man in front of him.
Tony recoils as if physically hit, but doesn’t retreat. “I’m here to help you, kiddo.” He says a little more firmly then he’s been today, not as gently as if Peter is some fragile piece of glass.
Peter shoves away from the man and stands up, putting distance between them. “I never asked for your help! I told you specifically not to put me in that stupid school. And I’ve told you a million times not to call me kid.”
His dad looks totally shocked. Peter doesn’t know why he looks so surprised. He should know by now that Peter’s a horrible person.
“Hey, Peter, I’m sorry. You’re right. I didn’t mean to call you that. I won’t anymore. But I really think this school will be a good thing for you.” His dad argues, defending his decision.
Peter just laughs sarcastically. “And why do you think you know what’s good for me? We’ve known each other less than 2 months, Mr. Stark. You don’t know me at all!”
He sees his dad’s jaw clench before he gives one tense nod. “Yeah…yeah you’re right, Peter. This one’s already set up, though, and you need somewhere to go. And Ned is there, so if you absolutely hate it, at least you’ll have someone to complain to. I’m just going to show myself out since that’s clearly what you want from me, so…you’ve got my number if you need anything.”
Peter just glares at him, his best pissed off look, until his dad gives up and leaves, shutting Peter’s door a little too strongly behind him, revealing the anger that Peter knew was brewing the whole time.
Unfortunately, and completely predictably, Peter feels much worse when he leaves. He’s so angry with his father for something that might not even be his fault, and he’s angry with him for coming in here and pretending to care about Peter’s well-being, but he’s also the only adult in Peter’s life that even pretends to care. Maybe he should’ve held onto that, but Peter doesn’t think he could live through the rejection he knows will come if Mr. Stark ever finds out about their real relationship. Better to end it now before anyone can get hurt even more.
After a few minutes of wallowing in self pity, his door slams back open.
“Hey, shithead.” Bill says from the doorway. “Ain’t no way Stark is spending this much money and effort on you for just interning. I know that much. Whatever service you’re providing for that man, you better keep it up because he’s doing all your ridiculous paperwork for us so we don’t have to worry about finding your dumb ass a knew school to accept you, not that many even want you with your records.”
Bill slams the door shut behind him and locks the door again. Peter scowls. It’s clear what he was insinuating. The same thing McDaniels said out right on Monday. Everyone assumes that Mr. Stark is just out for disgusting things, and that Peter is apparently more than willing to provide. Who knows, maybe that his what Stark is after and Peter has just been a fool. Either way, he knows he can’t see him again.