"Sirs, you may want to come down now. There's something of interest in the blood work of Mr. Parker."
Peter looks up at the ceiling before he speaks. It just feels like that's where JARVIS is.
"Is it interesting in a bad way?" He asks nervously. "Or just kinda, like, weird?"
"Well, sir, I'd suggest that you decide that for yourself. I have pulled up the results of both your lab work and that of the spider's on Mr. Rogers's computer."
Tony snorts when JARVIS says "Mr. Rogers," and makes a note to use that with the grandpa sweater material.
The crisp sound of the AI's British voice is almost unnerving. Tony gets up first to go downstairs, bringing the box of pizza with him.
"Tony," Steve says exasperatedly, "you can't bring food into a biochemical lab."
Tony looks surprised. "But I do it all the time in my workshop."
"It's not the same as an engineering workshop, Tony," Steve laughs.
"But… but I want it," he doesn't know what else to say. "I'll be careful?"
Steve gives him that same exasperated glare he's been giving him for years, but relents.
"Fine," he concedes, "but when you turn into a huge, eight-legged spider-man, it's not my fault."
Tony just grins and marches down the stairs with the pizza box in victory, so Steve and Peter follow.
Steve slips his glasses on to take a better look at the data being presented to him on the screen, and does a double take. JARVIS has displayed the results of the tests Tony had set to run for Steve, including a few sections of Peter's genome. Highlighted in many sections are the nucleotide bases in his genome that are identical to those of the spider.
What makes Steve looks twice is how many highlighted sections there are.
"JARVIS?" Steve calls out nervously.
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you have a comparable section from the Human Genome Project we can look at?"
"Yes, sir."
A moment later, there's a third set of DNA on the screen, and Steve's eyes widen.
Tony watches as his husband's eyes analyze the information before him, and helps him manipulate the screen and the images. He shows him how to blow it up on the larger screen next to him, and how to zoom in and out. He also gives his input on the new information, surprising Peter with his knowledge in this subject.
"I thought your degree was in electrical engineering? When did you learn all this stuff?"
"I was bored one night when your pops was out of town at a conference. I got caught up in his notes and books," he says shrugging, as if anyone can become an expert in biochemistry, genetics, and mutations overnight.
Peter just laughs and watches them continue working. While the two older men work rapidly, bouncing ideas off each other, Peter gets increasingly anxious. He's able to pick up some of what they're saying, but he can't quite keep up; and there's something they're not saying.
"So," he says slowly, to pull their attention away from the information on the screens, "from what I've heard, the spider bite has mutated my DNA?"
The two concerned fathers nod in agreement, allowing Peter to continue.
"And now I have certain DNA sequences that are identical matches to the spider's?"
They nod again, before Steve speaks up.
"Basically, yes, it appears that way. And while I'm not familiar with the genes of spiders, I'd be willing to bet that that would explain your new ability to stick to things, as well as your improved senses and agility."
"Oh, okay," Peter nods in understanding. "Well, no complaints her, I suppose." He gives a slightly nervous laugh, in hopes of lightening the mood.
"Well, I wouldn't be too relieved just yet," Steve warns, always the overly cautious type. "We don't know the full effects just yet, it could be-"
"Oh let him have fun," Tony interjects. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"That's the point, Tony. We don't know."
"But I feel fine," Peter defends. "Great, actually. Probably better than I did before."
"See?" Tony goes on. "He's fine. Never been better-"
Steve doesn't let him finish, he just tales the pizza box away. Tony tries to protest, but Steve silences him with a piece of pineapple off the pizza.
Peter and Steve continue to go over the data, and Steve makes sure that Peter is following. They try some more tests, especially in regards to Peter's new found abilities.
His reflexes are greatly improved, and his senses seem to be keener as well. Never the type to work out, he's also surprised at his increased strength. Steve is trying to pull up research on the physical capabilities of spiders, as well as anything in regards to the DNA sequences that match Peter's.
Meanwhile, Tony is rooting through boxes of old projects he'd pulled out of storage. They're full of scraps and parts to old, unfinished technology, and he seems very determines. Peter notices his efforts, and walks over to check it out.
"What're you trying to do?"
Tony grunts with half of his upper body still in the box, and puts up a finger to tell Peter to wait a minute. A few seconds later, he pops up, grinning at his success. He's holding some strange metal contraption, which Peter can see more of at the bottom of the box.
"I've decided to work on a new project while you two are wrapped up in this," he explains as he waves a hand around in the air. "This," he gestures to the hunk of old tech "is part of an old weapon I never finished developing. I saved them for their individual pieces. This one, for example, has a sizeable piece of plutonium in it."
"What's the plutonium for?" Peter prods, knowing his dad loves to be asked questions, since he loves to 'show off his genius,' as Steve had teasingly noted.
"It will be used in building an arc reactor. Well, a miniature one. Before I was locked out of Stark Industries, I had a team working on a much larger one, but we never really got it going. Stane insisted it wouldn't be cost-effective, and we should only pursue it if we needed some good press. I'm guessing he just wanted to keep me developing weapons for him to trade illegally. But anyway, I figured I'd try it out in a miniature form."
"What does it do exactly?"
"It's an energy source," he explains, "and a clean one at that. Right now I'm working on how to make It last longer, so after I get a plutonium one working, I might explore other elements."
"That sounds awesome. Hopefully it'll work," Peter says, fairly impressed by the concept.
"Of course it will," Tony winks at his son. "I'm directly involved with it.
Peter laughs, and then sits down to watch his fathers work, each in their element. After a few hours in the basement, Peter is getting hungry, a feeling that Tony seconds. Steve, too, is getting tired, and periodically slips his glasses off to rub lazily at his eyes.
"Hey," Tony says, glancing up from the blue circle of light he's testing, "how about I run out and grab some ice cream from the store on the corner?"
"I feel like all you like to eat is junk food," Peter teases. "Though I'm not opposed to the idea," looking hopefully at Steve as his stomach grumbles.
"Now you understand what I've been saying for years," Steve adds, "but even I have to admit it doesn't sound too bad."
"Perfect! Tony says, clapping his hands together. "You two wrap up down here, and when I get back we can have a late night movie night." He stops and looks at Peter. "I know Captain All-American over here just wants plain old chocolate, do you have any preferences? You used to love rocky road, like me, "he says proudly.
Actually, yeah," Peter laughs. "That's still my favorite."
"Perfect!" He exclaims again. "Then I'll just run down to the store. I should be back fairly quickly. I'll come down here to get you when I get back." He kisses each of them on the head, before dashing up the stairs.
Steve and Peter get to talking about a journal article Steve has dug up, with JARVIS's help, on the way spiders climb up things, and how it may be relevant to Peter's sticky hands and feet. They start to clean up, when they notice it's been almost an hour since Tony left.
"Hey, JARVIS?" Steve says, getting used to the AI.
"Yes, sir?" He still refuses to call him 'Steve.'
"Has Tony come back yet?" He asks worriedly.
"No, sir. Would you like me to notify you if he does?"
"Yeah, that'd be-" he's cut off by the doorbell ringing. "I wonder if he forgot his key. Jarvis, is that Tony?"
"I'm not sure, sir. Mr. Stark has not set up my cameras yet."
"I'll go check it," Peter offers, running up the stairs. Upon opening the door, he feels sick.
"Pops?" He calls downstairs.
Hearing the nervousness dripping from Peter's shaking voice, Steve bolts up the stairs. He sees the two men at the door and freezes.
"Are you Steve Rogers?" The cop on the right asks formally.
Steve just nods.
"Your husband has been involved in a shooting. A robber at the convenience store shot him in the chest with a shot gun when he tried to stop him."