One Car Journey Later
New York, Queens
2017
Everything is black. Nothing.
Then suddenly, a spark, a flicker. The video strikes into action as if you’ve just started one of those old movie theatre displayers. Peter’s eyes fixate on his small phone screen, eyes burning with the dark surroundings of the car around him clashing against the bright beams from the device in his hands.
Getting through the initial pain, his retinas work even harder to make out the video on screen. ‘A Film By Peter Parker’ stains the screen. The kid smiles slightly at his own antics. Flicking his finger twice against his headphones cause the volume to slowly increase past 1 or 2 squares onto 8 or 9 - the perfect amount for his sensitive senses to pick up all the needed detail.
The inside of the very car he’s sitting in now displays it’s self across the 3-year-old display. After which, his own, slightly muffled voice is heard through the two actually working headphones. Looking back, he had no idea why the owner threw them into the trash outside his apartment. “New York, Queens. It’s a rough world - but hey, it’s home.”
Peter eases out the smallest laugh. But hells eyes can’t help but flicker over to Mr Stark - his idol. Who just so happens to be sitting in the same car as him. Peter’s eyes dart back to his phone - keen not to miss any lately added detail - especially as Mr Stark’s body shifts toward him ever so slightly.
Tony opens his mouth to make a comment to the kid. It would probably be about the cheesy video he’s been informed is being made about the trip. But Tony’s fine with it. He knows some people love superheroes, and the fact is not everyone is as rich as him - well technically no one is... So for Peter’s first time on a plane to be to fight Captain America in Germany.... Thinking back to the video, Tony noticed the kid is actually watching what looks like it now. He shuffles slightly closer and the kid tilts the phone screen ever so slightly, but it’s noticeable.
Barely suppressing a snort, the billionaire informs Friday of his intentions through his glasses. Instantly pops up what he’s been trying to view. The kids video, it projects across the first layered glass panes of the sunglasses. A brief message kicks it off - something about Germany, himself, Spider-Man, Captain America...
He’s wrenched out of his muse with the continuous tapping to his left. Tony can only assume that the kid is adding on to the video at that very moment. A question to Friday springs to his mind, but without even asking the AI shows Peter’s phone screen.
Covering the first window is some expensive editing software, evidently hacked and broken, it’s obvious once you take in the green code sprawling its self across the right hand side much quicker than Stark can make it out - let alone read it. Somehow the kid can read it, eyes darting everywhere whilst simultaneously editing some of the core video. It was unlocking aspects of the app not readily available in the free version, but the crazy part was the timing. Whenever Peter would finish, the recently used bit would lock it’s self once more.
Tony reasoned that either he was incredibly accurate and precise with his timings and movements, or the kid used a hell of a lot of variables. He thought the second as a small, third blob pops up in the middle of the screen. Specifically listed are what seems to be an endless list of variables flowing down and down. Tony paused the broadcast. “Simplify.”
He states, indicating toward the video with his eyes.
His AI speaks back to him - the usual flat tone. “That’s not possible. It appears these are written in an alternate coding language.” His brow furrows upon the words, thing back to the Hammer Industries days. ‘That hasn’t happened in a long time.’ Friday continues. “If I were to attempt, it may take several tries.
‘And we did Hammer in one.’ Thinks Tony - ‘we’ referring to him and Jarvis back in 2010.
“So just the language is gunna take what? 2 hours? Then the decipher.. 20 minutes?”
“Overall period to be just under 3 hours. In the meantime would you like to continue watching?” One series of nods put the video back on the glasses. The code was gone, but the kid was throwing video after video into the one supercut. “In total, the video should last about 3 minutes.” Assumes Friday, analysing possible videos to be added.
“I got that, yeah.” Was Tony reply as he just watched the kids phone screen. Evidently the highlights of the kids trip. Currently was the rewatch period, checking over every aspect as it was brought together. Happy was speaking, well no-he wasn’t, but he was on screen.. Reaching up and pressing the divider button. The billionaire shook his head slightly. ‘Happy...’ His left arm extended straight up and pressed an identical button on the roof - causing the barrier to rise.
When Tony looked back, Peter had finally looked up from the phone with the video still playing, and still in Tony’s view. An innocent, wide eyed stare fluctuated between the goatee-clad face and the button Tony had just pressed. A gaze of wonder made Tony smirk all the way to his eyes. He winked, turned, and acted as if he was no longer interested.
The black glass gave a good background to watch the video on and through the reflection he watched Peter’s brain work. The kid seemed to be toying with an idea outside of his current project. The teen was casting gazes between the divider, Tony, and Happy. A thought was brewing in his mind but he seemed to be casting it off as he thought about it.
“Underoos!” Called out past-Tony. ‘God is that what I sound like on his camera?’ Wondered Tony, but he snapped out of it just in time to see Peter freak out and swing in on screen.
“Hey everyone.” Sounded through the glasses when the Spider-Kid landed. Effectively stealing Cap’s shield in the process of the multi flip. If Tony was being honest with himself: as he actually tried to be sometimes, it still hurt to see Steve in the video - and even to think his name. Knowing now that their friendship and the teams relationships would never be the same afterward... He never would’ve signed the accords.
“Hey everyone?” Questioned Tony as he mulled his thoughts. The teen jumped up as Tony turned toward him. Peter shuffled a bit and disheveled his teenage appearance beyond repair (If it wasn’t already.) God, Tony was already thinking fashion tips for the kid. Peter ‘hmm’ed in response. “Superhearing and you still can’t hear me..” Peter’s face dropped as he took of the headphones.
“Nu, nu, nu, nu, no... Mr Stark. It’s these headphones- I’d always listen to you. No, that’s not what I meant..” The billionaire sent him a look - like a ‘really?’ look.
“So you wouldn’t always listen to me?” Peter panicked and began waving his hands around wildly slightly.
“Nununununununo.. I would always listen to you - but what I meant is that there’s nothing wrong with the headphones. If anything it’s your fault - ‘cuz they’re so well designed, and engineering, and manufactured! Was it a butt-load of sound absorbers? Or just even more opposite sound waves? Or was it both? I mean, the possibilities are practically endless!” Tony continued to watch with a smile plastered right across his face. The teen was unfolding slightly and unrolling to be his natural self - not just a teenage fanboy. It was almost crazy how his brain could keep up with his mouth. Then again - given the IQ numbers Friday was currently estimating, Tony was pretty sure the kid would be able to do anything.
Peter’s rambling placed them outside his apartment within what felt like seconds - the kid could talk endlessly, about anything! And after all of that; what bothered Tony wasn’t the kids knack for not breathing, or that skill you lose as you become a man of being able to speak and inhale at the same time, but the kids knowledge intake. And the possibility that the magic spider which bit him gave the kid mind reading powers... Because whatever super-genius thing Tony would come up with on the spot, it was added into the kids next ramble.
Eventually he quietened, and stopped, seeming to realise that maybe Tony didn’t want to listen to his teenage talks.
Happy looked back through the now open divider to see the kid looking forward sheepishly, now openly apologising profusely. “What did he do? Was it that vlog he’s been doing? I’ll wipe the chip..”
“Hey, hey, hey, hey...” Tony was quick to the kids defence. Unnervingly quick for someone who had known Tones for 20-30 years. “No-one will be wiping any chips today.” It was the matter-of-fact tone that the billionaire said it in that put an end to that conversation nearly as quickly as it begun. “Anyway.” That Stark mischief glinted for a second in his brown eyes before he started speaking and Happy made sure not to bring up the fact that they had stopped. Whenever that glint appeared, good things usually followed. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that video, Underoos..” Mid way through his sentence he was interrupted. Peter was apologising more than earlier again now.
“I’ll delete it Mr Stark - I just thought it would be cool, I’ll dele—...”
“Hey! Drop it alright.. I was just gunna say send it to me. I’ve seen the dedication you’ve put into it. I’m not gunna take that away from you. The work, continuous ploughing through. The skill level: damn kid! Where d’you get skills like that?” That kid was more or less babbling and bumbling along now - completely in shock with what he was hearing. “Better than I was at 14.” Peter looked ready to explode with the last fact, a happy explosion, if that happened. Seemingly visible beams of happiness and relief radiated and fired out of the kid into the air. “Y’know what- scratch that- I’ll get Friday to send it over. You don’t worry kid.”
“Friday?” Questioned Peter, looking confused and perhaps slightly worried. “That’s what that was? Your AI?” Tony furrowed his brow once more that day. He let Peter continue. “I kicked her out a few minutes ago.. I thought I could detect something.”
“Wait what?” Now it was Tony’s turn to be confused and honestly, slightly surprised. No one had kicked Friday out of somewhere before. “You kicked out Friday?” Peter nodded vigorously and smiled before finally putting forward his phone into Tony’s hand.
“Old phone.” The kid supplied, indicating down to the small, cracked brick in the philanthropists hand. “I passed it off as gpu stress. Tried to get rid of it.” Peter takes his phone back and squeezes it to about 30% of his capability. “Damn near indestructible as well. Helps if I drop it on a swing..” Peter motioned his hands out in his web slinging handshape.
Tony stared back at him, thinking: ‘If the kid can do all of this with one of those Sony things...’ The man couldn’t understand the kids ability levels for his age. Well neither could anyone else during his teenage years.
Tony was just about to say about a cover up story for Peter’s aunt when Happy announces their arrival. His mind is wiped blank for a moment until he reaches forward into a half-hug. Never would he admit it though. Tony tries to pass it off as opening the door afterward when the kid has left - but Happy sees right through him and his objections.
Looking back, Happy feels his heart jump and then suddenly settle uneasily. Through the rear glass he can see Tony lean forward (jump) and pry open the door slowly (settle). ‘Nearly showed emotion there Tones.’ Think Happy - finally opening up the rear to reveal the silver suitcase that houses the Spider-Man suit.
The gleaming box is surprisingly light and that draws Happy’s attention away from Tony catching Peter’s wrist as the kid steps out the car. He does hear the tail end of the conversation though. “Im’a send you a SI phone, in fact here..” Happy can’t see, but he’s assuming Parker’s protests are linked with the fact that he’s now holding tightly onto what looks like Tony’s (now old) phone. “Knock yourself out Kid!” He shouts as Peter closes the door behind him.
The bodyguard more-or-less forced the large container into the child’s arms before speeding off within the same minute, leaving a very confused and awing teenager in their wake.