Chapter 2
Peter was being circled by his friends when the contest ended, and Tony could hear Ned trying to lift Peter’s spirits and Michelle laughing at him from his position in the doorway. The other contestants were also slowly wandering towards their families or friends in the crowd, gathering their things. The trio didn’t even seem to notice, Ned patting his back sympathetically and Michelle saying something Tony couldn’t make out from across the room but that was undoubtedly cutting and hilarious, from the way Peter suddenly smirked. He had a moment to appreciate the scene before he realized his mistake – as people started standing and making their way towards the entrance, recognizing him and immediately swarming him.
“Oh my god, it’s Iron Man!”
“Mr. Stark, will you sign this?”
“Iron Man, you’re my favorite!”
“Can I have your autograph?”
The cacophony was instantaneous and simultaneously annoying and sweet. Tony smiled winningly at them, holding his hands up in an attempt at garnering some calm.
“I’m actually here to tease my favorite intern, but I promise I’ll sign everything at the designated time and booth later in the conference,” Tony answered easily, acknowledging the crowd’s collective disappointed groan with an apologetic smile.
“Your favorite intern?” one of the crowd members questioned, and Tony sought out the speaker, eyes locking on someone who looked strangely familiar.
“That’s Flash, Boss,” FRIDAY murmured in his ear, and years in front of the spotlight were all that saved Tony from immediately scowling at the boy. So this was the dumbass who thought it was okay to bully his kid. Oh, this could be fun.
“Yeah, my favorite intern – Peter Parker!” Tony responded brightly, relishing the look of shock on the bully’s face. He continued as though he hadn’t noticed. “Probably one of the smartest kids I’ve ever met, I’m lucky to have him. He’s even helped me out with some of my designs in the labs at Avenger’s Tower. Even the other Avengers think he’s amazing, and you know how often the other Avengers and I usually agree on things!”
“P – Parker’s met the other Avengers?” Flash stuttered, and Tony nodded congenially.
“That he has. He and Bucky and Steve have an ongoing rivalry because of some Brooklynn vs. Queens thing,” Tony confirmed, waving a hand airily, and Flash’s mouth popped open. Tony grinned wickedly, mercilessly continuing in the same light tone. “He and Brucie get along great, though! I’d be jealous, but I called dibs on Brucie as my Science Bro years ago. And Thor and Loki think he’s a riot, he’s been teaching them all about memes, since they apparently don’t have those on Asgard.”
“Mr. Stark!” Peter squeaked, having finally come to the edge of the crowd with his mask still clutched in one hand, Ned and Michelle right behind him. Tony beamed at him, striding through the crowd that parted automatically for him. He ignored Flash, though he could feel the boy’s awed and dismayed stare on his back.
“Petey!” he said, drawing the kid into a hug. Peter stared up at him when the hug broke, looking simultaneously mortified and amused. “You did good, kiddo, but I told you you should’ve dressed up as Iron Man! I could’ve made your costume.” He sighed dramatically.
“You did make my costume, Mr. Stark,” Peter pointed out, and Tony shrugged.
“Semantics,” Tony argued. “I could’ve made you an exact replica, very tricked out Iron Man costume.”
“Wait, Iron Man made your costume and I still beat you?” a new voice crowed, and all eyes turned to the winner of the contest standing beside Peter – Wade Wilson, or, as Tony knew him from superhuman pools, Deadpool. Tony rolled his eyes at the mercenary, hiding a smirk. He hadn’t purposely worked with Wade, but they’d run into each other a few times on the streets when they (thankfully) happened to be on the same side.
“W-well,” Peter stuttered, and Wade cackled and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Man, that just makes this even better,” Wade declared. “Defeating the great Iron Man in a creation game? Wow, I’m badass.” And now the crowd was looking back and forth between Tony and Wade as though uncertain what the billionaire’s response would be. Peter was staring at Wade warily, but Tony just grinned.
“Maybe you’re the real Spider-Man, and that’s why your costume is won,” Tony said challengingly, eyes dancing with mirth.
“That sounds like a cop out excuse to me,” Wade returned. “Although I guess you can’t rule it out! But that would be cheating, and who would do such a thing? Enter into a costume contest as their own vigilante identity?” His voice was so seemingly genuinely befuddled that Tony knew immediately he must’ve guessed Spider-Man’s secret identity. He manfully suppressed a snicker, noticing how Peter stiffened.
“That does seem pretty unfair, to enter a contest you know you should win,” Tony agreed, and Peter shot him a betrayed look that Tony dutifully ignored. Ned and Michelle were suppressing laughter behind Peter. “Well, in that case, congratulations on making a better knock-off than I did, apparently,” Tony said, keeping his face as straight as possible at the word ‘knock-off.’
Wade bowed, straightening with a snap. “It was my pleasure! Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go enjoy the fruits of my labor, my prizes, the boons I was granted as recompense for my superiority as the ultimate Spider-Man,” he announced, and he slid by Tony and out the room with all the pomp and circumstance of a very cocky mercenary. The rest of the room followed in suit a moment later, shrugging and exchanging looks with one another, until finally it was just Peter, Ned, Michelle, and Tony left.
Tony glanced at a Peter who looked simultaneously disappointed, embarrassed, and a little apprehensive.
“This is so sad, Alexa, play Despacito,” Tony deadpanned. Ned and Michelle were startled into laughter, and Peter stared at him, expression betrayed.
“You’re using my own memes against me?” he wailed. “This is what I get for trying to teach you anything. This is why we can’t have nice things!”
Tony tugged him into a side-hug, rumpling his hair. “That’s what you get for entering into a costume contest as yourself,” Tony countered, snickering. “And losing!”
Peter glared at him. “Hey, technically it’s your suit that lost, so really, this is kinda your fault,” he said accusatorily, and Tony’s eyes narrowed. Peter quailed under his look.
“I – I’m sorry, Mr. Stark, I didn’t mean that – “
“Ooooh, you’re in so much trouble,” Michelle muttered gleefully.
Tony sniffed. “I am definitely downgrading your suit. How do you feel about dial up?”