Chapter 2
Peter had always considered his life to be normal. He didn’t see why that had to change because he was a superhero.
He still had his daily routines just like every other teenager in the world. He would eat breakfast with whatever Avengers happened to be in the kitchen as he rushed out the door. He would go to school and hangout with his friends. He always had his suit with him for patrols and defeating the occasional criminal. Then he would go home and do his homework. Sometimes he would even try and fight someone for the remote, even though it was always a lost cause. And he would always call Harley before bed.
All in all, Peter considered his life normal just for the simple fact that he still had to do homework. No matter how many leg workouts he did with Captain America, Peter still had to do AP Calculus homework, and that made his life boring and normal.
"Mr. Parker, do you have something to say to the class?" Ms. Gaites asked Peter. He peeked his head up from laying on his desk and felt his face turn red at the fact that he had let out a very loud, very disappointed groan. He could hear MJ and Ned snickering at him.
In his defense, Ms. Gaites had just announced to the class that they would be going on an all expenses paid field trip to Stark Tower the day before winter break. And it must have been Tony’s fault because Peter knew that Ava and Cassie would never be that cruel to him.
“Peter, I’m waiting…” Ms. Gaites trailed off.
"Nope, nothing to say. Nothing at all, just that...nope, nevermind, I don't need to say that...sorry Ms. Gaites." Peter was really hoping that his totally suspicious reaction wouldn't require further questions.
Unfortunately, he had never really been that lucky. Ms. Gaites, to her credit, just smiled at him, ready to let it go. But Flash decided to take control of the conversation, of course.
"What is it, Parker? Scared we're all gonna find out that you don't actually have the Stark internship." Peter wondered how bad it would really be to jump out of the window when that question prompted the rest of their class to turn to him, expecting a response.
"Uhh, no, I actually have the internship, you know, I just don't want my da-er, Mr. Stark or any of the other Avengers to embarrass me. Plus, Harley and Shuri are coming over that day for break..." Peter trailed off, realizing that he had definitely overshared. Which part of oversharing was the worst was still up for debate. The part where he had called Tony his dad was a strong contender. The part where he had mentioned being embarrassed by the Avengers was a crowd favorite. And the part where he had mentioned Harley and Shuri coming over was a two time champion. The competition was fierce.
Flash just kind of stared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing. He laughed for a very drawn out moment, wiping away ‘tears’ when he started talking again. "That is a great lie, Parker, but how are you going to prove that the Avengers care enough about you to annoy you. How pathetic do you have to be to call Tony Stark, one of the coolest men in the world, dad. Parker, you don't have a dad." Flash grinned viciously at Peter.
Ms. Gaites quickly interrupted Flash, “Mr. Thompson, please either settle down and leave Mr. Parker alone or you will be sent to the principal's office.” Flash rolled his eyes and sunk low in his seat in response.
Peter tried to avoid everyone else until the end of the school day. He just wanted to stay lowkey, go home, and never leave his room ever again.
When Peter walked out into the parking lot, he was about an inch away from crying. It was the first Friday of the month. The day that Tony picked him up from school. He didn’t even lift his head to acknowledge the jealous stares people were sending him as he walked up and got in the bright red convertible. Tony had never picked him up in a convertible before.
He didn't really like the looks he got when the different members of the Avengers picked him up in their too-nice cars. The only people he didn't mind picking him up were Bucky, Sam, and sometimes Scott. They all had the kind of cars that normal people did. Everyone else had unique or fancy cars that Peter didn't much care for when out in public.
"Hey dad, what's up?" he asked quietly, trying to avoid the glares that Flash kept sending him.
"Hey, Pete, how was school?" Tony replied, moving to pull out of the parking lot. He reached over and grabbed at Peter’s shoulder, shaking him softly.
"It was great until I got to my robotics class and learned that that class would be taking a trip to Stark Tower the day before winter break. The very day that literally everyone is supposed to arrive before the holidays. Could you explain why you would invite my class to the Tower when everyone that would be more than happy to embarrass me is also arriving? Cause I can't figure it out," Peter replied. He turned to Tony and sent him a crippling glare, while, the most crippling glare that he could.
Tony just smiled, the glare hadn’t worked. "What? I’m a philanthropist. I believe in inspiring the youth of the city. They are our future. And if that means I need to offer inspiring field trips to the smartest kids in the city, then I am going to." Tony was still grinning, obviously pleased with himself for making Peter's life a living hell.
"You do realize that I am now going on a field trip to my house. I don’t think that that has ever happened to anyone else before. Ever. And my awful class will have to meet my terrible friends and terrible boyfriend. And Harley is going to embarrass me until I'm dying of mortification and Flash has enough blackmail material on me for my whole life. You know that you have just doomed me right?" Peter was trying not to get worked up...at least he was trying to try to not get all worked up.
"I figured you would be happy. I'm flying Harley out and you're gonna be able to see him and the rest of your family sooner than you originally thought.” Tony merged onto a road that would lead to the Tower.
"I don't care. I'm not thanking you," Peter said resolutely, knowing that he would have to let everyone know not to mess with him on the field trip.
“Peter, come take this bowl to the table,” Pepper called out to him.
“I’m trying to finish this math problem. Dad, can you help me?” Peter replied from one of the kitchen barstools.
“I’ll help, Pep,” Sam said as he grabbed the bowl of green beans.
“I’ll help too, Pepper,” Bucky said, rushing over to take the next thing from her, obviously not willing to be outdone by Sam.
“So you see, you forgot about that function…” Tony pointed out as he surveyed the problem that Peter had been working on for ten minutes.
“Seriously, that’s all it was.”
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you be helpful before,” Sam said to Bucky condescendingly as they set their things down on the table.
“Fight me right now, Sam. Lets go. I’m ready,” Bucky responded.
“You’re on, buddy.”
Steve interrupted them, “both of you need to wash your hands and sit down at the table. God, I am surrounded by children.”
“Good job, kiddo,” Tony said as he figured out the right answer and slapped him on the back in a very fatherly way.
“Uncle Rhodey, can I have candy?” Peter heard Morgan’s voice. He looked up to see Rhodey at the table already sitting down, Morgan sitting on his knee.
“What did your mom say?” Rhodey replied.
“She said no. That’s why I asked you,” Morgan replied with a mischievous grin.
Tony leaned down and grabbed her from Rhodey, “I like your spunk kid, but we both know that disobeying your mother is not a smart move,” He said with a chuckle as he sat down setting Morgan in the seat next to him.
“Vision, darling, can you get the rolls out of the oven?” He heard Wanda say as he got up to move to the table.
He was interrupted by Carol, “Peter Parker I thought I raised you better. You go wash up before dinner.”
Peter glared at her and then at Valkyrie sitting next to her, giggling. Peter knew that she hadn’t washed her hands in at least a few days. But he moved over to the sink regardless, dodging Bucky and Sam who had gotten in another argument while washing their hands.
After a lot of fighting and chaotic meal prep, Peter and the rest of the people living at the tower had finally sat down to dinner.
"So, guys, can I have your attention?" He started, interrupting the boisterous conversation with his slightly nervous voice.
"What is it, Peter?" Steve replied.
"Well, I have a field trip next Friday, to here. I'm going to be coming here when everyone is gonna be arriving. We aren't touring anything but the lower labs, but I need to ask you all a favor. I need all of you to not embarrass me while I'm here in front of my robotics class because most of those people are already the worst and I don't need more people making fun of me," Peter paused as he took in everyone's facial expressions.
Most of them seemed to be in a place between mischief and anger. May was smiling reassuringly at him, the one person at the table that seemed even slightly sympathetic. Natasha was staring at him with a confusing mixture of mischief and shock in her face. And Steve was looking at both Nat and Peter with disapproval.
Bucky was the next to speak. It was a dangerously quiet tone that took control over the whole table. “There are kids bullying you at school, Peter?"
Peter spluttered for an answer, not fully knowing what to say. "Well, I mean yeah, I'm not cool at school. Lots of kids mess with me, but it's not that bad."
The rest of the Avengers were looking at him in the most unnerving way. "Peter, if kids ever mess with you again, tell us and we will solve the fucking problem." Wanda’s accent only came out when she was very angry, Vision had a comforting hand on her arm. His eyes were trained on Peter softly. Peter could tell how intense the situation was by the fact that no one mentioned her language.
"Of course guys. But for now, I just want to get through the field trip," Peter looked down at his food and took a tense bite. He felt the tension dissipate. But when he looked back up, he realized that they were all exchanging looks. Peter was not a fan of how easily he could see the gears on mischievous plans turning in their heads.
Later that night, he walked into his room to find Morgan sitting on his bed, reading a small chapter book as she waited for him. Peter was really off that day, he had also totally forgotten that it was time for Morgan's weekly call to Harley.
"Hey, kid," Peter said as he walked into the room.
“Peter, have you ever read this book?” She asked, holding it up to show him the cover.
Peter confirmed that he had never read the book as he gathered pyjama pants and a towel for his shower. He quickly showered and changed into a ratty T-shirt and plaid pants. Then he settled down next to Morgan on the bed and she settled into his lap.
Harley answered the call immediately, he seemed to be sitting on his bed waiting for the call anyway. When he saw Morgan and Peter, his face lit up.
"Hello to two of my favorite people in the world," Harley exclaimed, he put on a fake british accent, "How might you be, little lady?"
"I'm great, today I learned how to grow flowers. I learned about photosynthesis. When summer comes, I'm gonna have a rooftop garden. It's gonna be the prettiest garden in the world and you are going to love seeing it," Morgan babbled, using her hands to emphasize her points.
Harley kept smiling at her as he asked her more questions about her life and her future garden.
Peter didn't talk, he just watched the two of them. Thinking about the future. When he and Harley would be married and sleeping in the same bed every night. And then their kid would wake them up in the morning by jumping on the bed. And they would make pancakes for breakfast. And Peter would watch his two favorite people in the world in bliss while they ate breakfast.
He was snapped out of his fantasies when Harley spoke directly to him. Peter realized that Morgan had fallen asleep and it was now just him and Harley.
"Where were you?" Harley asked.
Peter often zoned out. He had been diagnosed with PTSD after the events of a little over a year ago. Though they were less common now, he was still plagued with flashbacks about the fight.
"I’m just thinking about the future, when we're married and have a kid that loves us as much as Morgan loves us. Ya know, basic superhero stuff," Peter was smiling at him and rubbing Morgan's back.
"I'd like that," Harley said thoughtfully. Peter naively thought for a second that Harley would be sweet and sentimental, "so you better not die before that can happen by being a little bitch."
Peter rolled his eyes at Harley with a smile on his face. He knew that Harley’s sarcasm meant he cared.
"I love you too," Peter said. Harley snorted, calling Peter a little bitch again before lamenting and saying that he loved him too, despite his bitchiness.
They talked for a bit more before Peter brought up the field trip.
He immediately regretted it when Harley's eyes went wide with manic glee, "so you're telling me that on the day I come, I'm gonna meet your class, and I will easily be able to embarrass you. Has Christmas come early?"
“Good night, I love you but you’re the fucking worst,” Peter said before hanging up.
Harley texted him a second later: Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed spiders bite, love ya spiderling <3 <3 <3
What a nerd.
Peter smiled at the text but didn't reply. He laid his phone out on the charger, moving him and Morgan under the covers. She almost always fell asleep in his bed on Friday nights, so at this point, he let her sleep in the bed with him.
The rest of the week passed far too quickly. Peter couldn't help the feeling of dread that settled in his stomach as he stepped off the bus into the parking lot of Stark Tower.
Ava was sitting in the lobby, tying her hair up when they walked in. Peter tried to hide behind Ned when they entered, but Ava was instantly able to single his face out, he could tell by her acknowledging smile.
As she stood, the rest of the class turned their attention to her at Ms. Gaites request.
"Hello, my name is Ava, and I will be leading your tour today. First things first, I will be handing out key cards for you to get into the main part of the tower. You will all be getting white passes," she said as she handed them out to every student, winking at Peter when she didn't hand him one. "These are our visitor cards for tour guests, they let you in the top fifty floors. Then there are our yellow cards, for our low-level interns and visiting scientists. Our orange ones for permanent scientists and their assistants. Light blue cards are for our janitorial staff. Hot pink ones are for the residential areas, aka everyone that lives here. And everyone with personalized office's or labs have specialized cards that let them in everywhere plus their special areas." Ava then asked if everyone had their cards.
"Hold on, Ava, Peter doesn't have one," Ms. Gaites interrupted. Peter strongly disliked her at that moment.
"Oh, Peter doesn't need one, he has his personal card." She had a devilish grin on her face, "in fact, Peter, why don't you hold up your card and let everyone see an example of a personalized key card?"
Peter begrudgingly pulled his card out of the card pocket on his phone case that he kept it in and held it up for the people around him to see. Peter loved his key card, it was blue with a red and gold spider on it, who wouldn't love that, but now, he felt the overwhelming urge to cut it into a million pieces.
"Wow penis,” came Flash’s stupid voice, “you're so obsessed with Spiderman that your key card has his logo on it, that's pathetic.” Peter tried to ignore him, but his cheeks still heated up in anger.
Ava noticed too, sending a glare at Flash, "excuse me,” she paused and found his name on her clipboard, “Mr. Eugene Thompson, I would appreciate if you would leave Peter alone on this field trip. Otherwise, you will be facing the wrath of several angry Avengers, which no one wants."
Ms. Gaites interrupted her again after realizing that two other students didn't have cards.
"Oh, Ms. Gaites, me and MJ already have our own cards," Ned said. He held up a dark blue badge that He had gotten the twentieth time they had come over after school. It only gave them access to the residential floors and Peter's personal lab. Tony had made the cards for them personally.
"Wait, so why do you guys spend so much time here if you don’t have an internship?" The voice of his classmate, Lilly, cut in.
Ned started to answer before being interrupted by MJ. “Friends with the Avengers,” was all she said.