Chapter 1.
October 14th (early morning)
“Peter. I know you’re awake, c’mon honey.”
May tapped Peter’s foot, then he heard the sound of her footsteps leave the room. He let out a dramatic groan and pulled his covers even more over his head, burrowing himself further into the bed. He’d considered playing sick- or just playing hookie. But his father was really excited about hosting the advanced science field trip. The whole thing had been his idea and Peter didn’t have the heart to tell him that the whole thing terrified him.
He also didn’t want him to know that he hadn’t fully announced to his classmates that Tony Stark was actually his dad and he wasn’t an orphan after all.
There was already too much attention on him since he returned to school, everyone thinking he missed due to an illness and injuries related to the blip.
The blip. He hated that that’s what it was being called.
It had been months since they’d been back and aside from the obvious fake right arm that most people didn’t even know about, he felt like he was fairly close to feeling back to normal. He still suffered from periodic panic attacks and phantom pain. Which was even weirder now that he had an arm there that he could see even somewhat feel.
There was another knock on the door, pulling him from the train of thoughts that tended to send him in the direction of one his attacks.
“Peter, I’m heading upstairs. Tony made breakfast. He’s expecting us.”
”I’ll be up in 15 minutes.” He called back, flinging his comforter off in a huff. Of course he would insist on making an ordeal about breakfast this morning. Really, Peter should have expected it and yet, there he was… unprepared. He needed to mentally prepare himself for the morning’s conversations. If he got too grouchy, they may suspect something and he really just wanted to get the whole thing over with.
It was closer to twenty minutes than fifteen by the time Peter made it up to the main Penthouse, and everyone was already gathered by the breakfast bar.
Including Rhodey and Clint Barton of all people. Peter knew Barton, or knew of him, rather. But they hadn’t ever officially met. He knew the man usually liked to keep to himself and his family, and the only times they’d seen each other they’d either been on opposite sides in a fight or on the same side fighting hundreds of aliens. Didn’t really leave room for proper introductions.
Peter eyed them both suspiciously as he took his spot at the bar, and Tony was already shoveling a mountain of food onto his plate.
”Morning Petey!” Morgan beamed, snaking her arm around Peter’s waist, in a side hug before going back to her pancakes.
“Morning Mo’” he smiled, returning the hug as he reached up to ruffle her hair, which earned him a glare from not just her but from Pepper as well.
”Peter, I just got it all combed for school.” She exasperated.
“Sorry, Pepper,” and he did at least sound apologetic before he finally turned to the two unexpected guests- or at least one unexpected guest. Rhodey popping in unexpectedly was starting to become a normal thing. “Do I even want to know what the occasion is?” A
Peter’s eyes darted between the three Avengers, raising his eyebrows expectantly as he finally took a bite of one of his pancakes. Morgan had once secretly told him that Rhodey’s pancakes were better, but Peter disagreed.
He heard all of their heartbeats pick up and his eyebrows raised even higher and it ended up being Clint to speak up first, his tone cool and casual.
”I’m in town for business and figured it was about time I meet the famous Peter Parker. Never did end up making it to the lake house. Sorry about that kid, but figured you had enough people coming up there to gawk at you.”
“You’re lying.” Peter blurted, surprising even himself, and he wasn’t the only one judging by the various responses around him. He instantly felt a pang of guilt, because he didn’t think Clint was lying about the whole thing. But definitely about the reason he was there that specific day.
Rhodey was the first one to break the awkward silence that followed Peter’s outburst. “I told you, Clint. The kid can smell fear. It’s a spider thing.” He winked at Peter as he took a bite of a sausage link.
“It’s true, I can.” Peter nodded, not missing a beat, at the same time Tony nodded seriously.
There was another beat of silence, until Morgan apparently couldn’t stand it anymore and started laughing, May, Pepper, and Peter quickly following.
“You should see your face right now,” Peter laughed, and Morgan just started giggling even louder, as if there had been some other inside joke he’d missed. “I’m sorry though, I didn’t mean to just blurt that out about you lying… but it’s true, isn’t it? You’re lying about why you’re here?”
“They’re here for the field trip!” Morgan cheered, grinning from ear to ear, and she looked like she was barely managing to keep herself from bouncing right off her stool and Peter’s eyes whipped to Tony, barely managing to keep his own shock and fear off his face. Morgan seemed excited for him and he didn’t want her to think he was upset at her.
He wasn’t even sure why he was upset. He also didn’t understand why this field trip was becoming such a big deal.
“Seriously?” Honestly, the fact he hadn’t come to that conclusion sooner was on him.
Tony rocked from back onto his heels, sliding his sunglasses up his nose as he shrugged. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“So you invited them to breakfast?” Peter deadpanned.
“Hey, I come over for breakfast all the time. I made you and Morgan pancakes two days ago.” Rhodey cut in, his arms folded across his chest, and if Peter hadn’t gotten to know him better over the last few months, he would have thought the colonel was genuinely offended.
“You’re not the one that gave it away,” and his eyes flicked over to Clint. “Sorry, sir. I just wasn’t expecting the company this morning. I’m sure my class will be super excited about the surprise. I’ll keep my mouth shut.” He added to him, because Clint was actually looking offended. Almost looked like he was picking up on the fact that Peter was less than thrilled about the whole thing by the way he was looking at him. Like he was looking through him. It made the hair on the back of Peter’s neck stand on end.
They’d joked about Peter smelling fear, but he suddenly wondered if Hawks also smelled fear.
“You weren’t wrong though, I wasn’t always the best company when we were still at the lake house. You didn’t miss much. So.. I suppose I should say thank you for waiting,” he quickly changed the subject, but he could feel Tony’s eyes on him too now and he really just wanted to get this breakfast over with.
“Welp,” he continued before any of them had a chance to say anything more. “This has been fun. Thanks for breakfast, dad. It was great. See you guys later!” His lips quirked into a smile when he heard his father’s heart react to being called dad-and hopped off his stool and reached over to ruffle Morgan’s hair and then stopped midway when he caught Pepper’s eye, so he leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head. “See you later, Maguna. Love you.”