Chapter 6
"You know what? These need a bit of work, I might leave you guys here."
Peter thought that it was a rather smooth method of exit. He'd made enough of a show already. School tomorrow was going to be a minefield of questions as it is, he didn't need Nat dragging him into any further messes. The lab would be safe. Surely.
The teen slipped the web-shooters off his wrists, tucking them into the pocket of his shorts as he headed towards the elevators. "Nat, make sure that you let them go on time. As exciting as meeting avengers is, I'm sure they all have lives to get back to."
The AcaDec team, Mr. Harrington and Sarah all appeared to all still be in some degree of shock. Bucky seemed to understand Peter's want for a strategic withdrawal, giving the teen a small smile and a nod of the head. Next to Bucky, Clint was pouting. Likely because both Peter and Bucky had shown him up, voiding his arguments in favour of classical weapons. That particular argument was likely to make a resurgence at dinner time.
Peter didn't even bother looking at Nat, the ex-assassin was most likely to be wearing a look of victory, favouring a direct route to the elevator. He whispered a quick "I'll see you tomorrow" to MJ and Ned as he passed.
Halfway down the hallway he almost believed that he would get away with the quick exit.
"You're going to your lab aren't you?" Curse Nat. Stupid Fieldtrip. Peter turned on his heel and levelled a look of utter suffering at Nat. That just made her smile wider. "I thought that these kids were supposed to be some sort of nerds? I'm sure that taking a look at the lab would be very educational."
"No way." Peter was putting his foot down. The lab was sacred space, it would be a disaster if the team trampled in to find vials of web-fluid and other such things. Also Harley was more than likely in the lab and he want to see a double team of Nat and his boyfriend trying to embarrass him.
"Why not Peter? I'm sure that they'd love it!" Nat exclaimed, accompanied by the slow nods of the AcaDec team.
"Because I said Nat."
"That's a pretty weak argument. I don't see why not."
"Just because Nat. Just because."
" I could go over your head for permission."
Peter gasped, stalking back to stand before her, "You wouldn't."
"I would. FRIDAY -"
"FINE!" Peter announced before Nat could get any further.
"That wasn't so hard."
"Just know that I hate you."
"I know you do," Nat replied before whispering under her breath, just loud enough for Peter's enhanced hearing to pick up, "I heard what the brat said to you in the elevator. You should show off a little more sometimes, it would shut him up."
Peter just sighed at that. He knew that Nat did have the best intentions at heart but that didn't mean he wanted to deck her for real, any less. He could deal with Flash himself. Turning from Nat, Peter addressed the tour group.
"Just know that I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my heart, but because Nat has forced my hand and I'd be doing it anyway. There are going to be some non-negotiable rules and if you break them there will be severe consequences. Nod if you understand."
The AcaDec team seemed to snap out of their shocked daze after realising they were being addressed, nodded vigorously. Even Flash was too dazed to put up a fight. Mr. Harrington and Sarah nodded as well, although noticeably less vigorously than the students.
Peter continued, "You will not touch ANYthing in the lab no matter how enticing it is to do so. You will direct any questions to me, you do not have the authority to ask questions to any of the A.I.'s. If I don't like your question I won't answer it, plain and simple. Be respectful. Everything you will see or hear will be confidential and as such if it leaks I will know who to kill."
Peter tried not to enjoy the vaguely horrified looks his classmates shot him. Without another word, the teen made his way to the elevator. The others followed him like a gaggle of ducklings, while Bucky and Clint remained in the shooting range. When FRIDAY brought the elevator up, he loaded the students on first followed by Sarah and Mr. Harrington, then Nat and himself at the front.
"FRIDAY, would you please take us up to my lab?" the teen asked nicely, FRI hadn't warranted the harsh tone he had previously been using.
Bless her A.I. soul, FRIDAY replied with, "Are you sure Peter?"
"Yeah FRI, thanks for checking though."
"Would you like to let Harley know that you're on your way?"
"Please. Thank you FRI."
"Not a problem Peter," kindness tinging the A.I.'s voice.
The elevator began moving upwards smoothly. His lab was quite a few floors above the training floors and so the elevator stewed in a quiet awkwardness as they moved to the lab. Internally Peter was talking himself down from panic. It would be one of the first times that people outside of S.I. or the Avengers would be stepping into his lab. He reasoned that he should get used to some attention such as this, as his high school graduation was impending. After he graduated the plan was to reveal that Peter was in fact Tony Stark's son and heir to Stark Industries. When that happened the amount of people who would scrutinise him would be much larger than his AcaDec team. This could be like, a practice run. But no matter how he framed the situation, it was still terrifying.
When the doors of the elevator opened to reveal Peter's lab, it drew audible gasps from the group. The teen couldn't decide whether that was a good sign or not. The lab was about as much of a mess as it usually was, Peter hadn't gotten around to tidying it this week. Peter had several wheelie whiteboards scattered about the lab, all filled to the brim with chemical formulas and calculations, and occasionally a reminder to eat written in his mum's careful letters. The case that usually contained his suit was wide open and the red and blue suit itself was spread across a nearby table, interface cable plugged into the wall allowing Karen directly onto the main server with FRIDAY. Peter spied Harley on the other side of the motorcycle he was currently fixing. The motorcycle itself was by the windows, allowing Harley to use the natural light. Tools were spread haphazardly around his boyfriend who had obviously forgotten about the tool box a few feet away from him.
There were a few beakers under the fume hood and other, safer, chemical concoctions littered the benches surrounding the fume hood. The other tables held small robotics projects that were in various stages of completion. The corner near the stairs held a well-used leather couch strewn with blankets and pillows. In front of the couch the hologram display was on full show, information and data floating through the air in electric blue.
As the group stepped out of the elevator, Nat moved to the couch to make herself comfortable. The teens followed him, eyes darting across the lab trying to take everything in. Mr. Harrington seemed to be on the same page as his students. Sarah, seemed a little more comfortable and Peter attributed this to the fact that the lady probably took regular tours through the intern lab and other lower level labs. Although Peter had to admit that the intern lab is like hell on earth with ridiculously unorganised it is, at least he had a system.
He turned, taking a page out of his dad's book, arms wide and gesturing to the space around him. "Welcome to the lab."