So this is a little extra chapter- its a gift for Belelliot5 who is a faithful reviewer which is very much appreciated.
moniclemmens- thank you for your thoughtful review, I take on board what you said and agree with you, there does need to be progress with Peter and there will be eventually but as you said it will take a while. Obviously, not in this chapter though!
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed, I read them all and your thoughts/comments do feed into my writing.
As a note, time elapses between chapters, you can assume that normal life with no dramatic events continues in those gaps.
No Harley or Morgan here, sorry but they will be back soon, I promise.
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Peter was watching Flash who was goofing off with his cronies down the corridor- they were torturing a little kid; he was just about done with him. He was thinking it was time to end him and he had some ideas how to do that.
''You okay?'' Ned came up behind him, making him jump.
''Yeah dude,'' Peter turned around and then recoiled.
''What the fuck Ned? What happened to your face?'' Ned was sporting a very ripe black eye.
''I fell,'' he shrugged.
''It happened in a flash,'' MJ interrupted unexpectedly.
MJ's locker was next to his and she had begun to hang out more with them- he liked her, although she was very weird at times.
Peter frowned; okay that was enough, time to put the bully in his place.
''Lunch, we will talk at lunch,'' Peter said and they both nodded.
Peter was already at work on his lap top when they arrived.
''So I hacked Flash's phone,'' he said as Ned sat down.
''What? Are you sure Pete?'' Ned was nervous; he was already into some deep hacking with Friday so was glad his friend hadn't asked him to do it- he was already a bundle of nerves expecting to be busted by Captain America and Iron Man at any moment.
''I figure porn sent to all contacts, payback for what he said about my Dads plus for Ned, not forgetting all the shit he gives everyone. Whoa, okay that works. Eeew, that's literally burnt my eyes out,'' Peter laughed as he found what he was looking for.
''Porn? Rudimentary but effective. I concur,'' MJ raised her eyebrows.
'' Everyone? Or just his parents? What do you think?'' Peter looked at his friends.
''All contacts,'' MJ agreed and Ned shrugged, his eye was throbbing, so…
''Yeah I agree, couldn't happen to a nicer guy right?'' Peter pushed enter with great pleasure.
Phones went off all around them and mayhem unfolded immediately- laughter and gasps of disbelief echoing.
Peter grinned and pumped his fist- revenge was sweet.
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Tony looked at the Email from Peter's school, it warned parents that unsavoury images were circulating on phones and rubbed his hands over his face, instinct told him he needed to investigate further. Within minutes, he had the evidence which confirmed the unpalatable truth; his youngest son could hack but he was dreadful at hiding what he had done.
He was very aware this was a misdemeanour worthy of expulsion; he covered for Peter and sent it away into the internet's no man's land.
Tony was going to kill him, not that he had any sympathy for Flash but it was a nasty prank. Plus he would have to tell Steve, who was likely to suggest hanging, drawing and quartering as it was strictly speaking bullying.
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Peter watched as Flash walked past with his parents, he was crying and protesting his innocence.
He smiled, it was deeply satisfying to see Flash get a taste of his own medicine.
''Mr Rogers Stark, in my office now!'' Mr Bailey was standing at the end of the hallway and he was scowling.
''And bring Mr Leeds with you,'' he shouted and Peter bit the side of his cheek, oh no, really?
''How does he know?'' Ned trembled behind him.
''He doesn't. Just be cool and let me do the talking. He thinks he knows but he has no proof. Just trust me,'' Peter had this, he totally had this.
''So gentlemen, care to enlighten me?'' Bailey was furious, he had received a call from a local news agency asking why pornographic images were being shared by his students- this was a middle school for God's sake!
''I don't know what you are talking about sir,'' Peter smiled and Bailey glowered- he knew it was them. They were the select few who had the skills but more importantly held the grudge.
''You know what I am talking about Peter,'' Bailey was aware he had no proof but he prided himself on forcing the truth out of his students, he knew when children were lying and this boy was lying.
''Mr Leeds?'' Bailey glared at Ned who blushed but closed his mouth; he was determined to say nothing.
''I am sorry sir, but what is this about exactly? If you are accusing us of something, shouldn't our parents be here? '' Peter had the audacity to flutter his eyelashes and Bailey hesitated; Peter played the parents' card perfectly and the principal really did not want incur Stark's wrath without hard facts to back him up- he didn't have those so had no option.
''You are dismissed but I will be watching you both closely. You have been warned!'' he said grumpily and Peter just about stopped himself from laughing.
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Peter and Ned came out of the elevator, clutching milk shakes in their hands; they had been skating ( Peter's grounding had ended a few days prior) and were in high spirits- still revelling in the joy of Flash getting his comeuppance.
'' Dude, you need to be brave, if you are a pussy then you fall. Just go for it!'' Peter was giving advice.
He turned and then froze. His parents were staring at him with foreboding expressions and there was a room full of Avengers.
Ned looked at him nervously and Peter shrugged- they couldn't know, how could they know?
''Just ignore them. Halo bro?''
''Yeah that is not happening. You Peter James go sit down, a conversation is required. Ned, Happy is waiting to take you home,'' Tony was the one who spoke, he pointed at a stool and Peter circled him, careful not to get too close. Tony guided Ned back into the elevator.
''Young Stark is somewhat fearful of his father's hand, he is right to be so. Young Asgardians suffer similar punishments; it is a parent's duty when a child has done wrong. Have you done wrong Starkson?'' Thor was back and embarrassed Peter as only he could.
'' Yes he has, he really has. Sit down now!'' Steve spoke sharply and Peter did instantly.
''Oh Starkson, my Captain is angry with you, you will sorely regret that. He is a formidable foe,'' Thor chuckled and Peter glanced at Steve who raised his eyebrows at him.
''What he said,'' his father confirmed quietly.
Peter gulped; he was obviously in trouble and didn't know why although he had more than inkling.
'' How about we go down stairs and help Wanda and Vision with dinner? You guys can join us later,'' Natasha saved the day. The Avengers left much to Peter's relief. Peter was trying to work out what was happening here, they had got away with it so why this drama?
He tried to think of something else he could have done to provoke this reaction- he came up empty.
''Smalls, next time you hack an account do a better job covering your tracks,'' Tony broke the silence once they were alone.
Peter was dumb struck. Oh no, they did know!
''You do realise the only reason you have not been expelled is because Dad covered for you?'' Steve was furious and Peter's stomach flipped. Oh no, he had avoided this for the prior weeks, he did not want a spanking, he really did not want a spanking from Pops. It had been a while but the memory was fresh enough that it was to be avoided at all costs.
''I didn't do anything,'' Peter cringed as he lied; he saw Steve's eyes flare.
''Do not lie! Do not make this worse,'' Steve yelled and Peter looked away.
'' I made it go away Peter, but what you did was bullying. You know that don't you?'' Tony was the collected one.
''He's the bully and he had it coming,'' Peter admitted his guilt with that statement.
''You sank to his level and that is not okay. Go to your room now!'' Steve ordered and Peter slipped away.
The two men looked at each other.
''Only one response right?'' Tony got up.
'' No, I will do it, part of back to normal right?'' Steve waved him away and walked down the hallway.
'' You have no proof it was me,'' Peter stuttered as Steve walked into his room.
''Don't I? We are not discussing this Peter, you already lied once let's not add to that,'' Steve pulled him over his knee, and delivered a harsh, stinging spanking that reduced Peter to tears within seconds.
Steve stood him up and pulled his head up by the chin.
'' Not acceptable Peter, I know that you have a problem with this boy but what you did was not the correct response. It makes you as bad as him. Do you understand that?''
Peter frowned at him, that was not true; Flash had it coming- he was the bully.
'' I can't hear you,'' Steve gave his chin a gentle shake.
''I guess,'' Peter agreed very reluctantly.
''I mean it Peter, do not do anything like that again! Whilst we are discussing this, both you and Ned are to cease and desist with messing with FRIDAY- you are putting us all in danger and if I find out that either of you have even attempted any more hacking, you will get a spanking you will still feel on your 16th birthday and you will be grounded until then as well. Am I making myself clear?''
Steve met Peter's eye and the boy gulped- he nodded and Steve raised an eyebrow.
''Yes sir,'' Peter said quickly, not wishing to provoke his displeased father further. Internally, he was quaking, FRIDAY currently had a Ned provided patch which enabled him to patrol in his old suit, his parents were blissfully ignorant.
He wiped his face on his sleeve and pouted sulkily; Steve smiled and kissed his forehead.
''Good, you are grounded for two weeks. Now come on its dinner time,'' Steve stood up.
''What?'' Peter stammered. The last thing he wanted to do was sit at a table of people who would all know what his father had just done- it was embarrassing.
''Excuse me?'' Steve furrowed his brow.
''Pops, I don't want to. They will all know; I am way too old for this. Its humiliating,'' Peter argued, the sheepish child of seconds ago nowhere to be seen.
''Not up to you to decide how you are punished- Dad and I decide that and you most definitely are not too old. If you want me to prove that then carry on with this attitude or you could stop talking back and come to dinner. What is going to be?''
Peter was fuming but he didn't dare argue further.
''Fine!'' Peter stormed out the door.
''Thank you,'' Steve called after the retreating figure.
It didn't take long for the complaining to start again.
''I'm not hungry,'' Peter whined as he dragged his feet behind his parents. He sniffed plaintively in an attempt to elicit some sympathy, he got none.
'' You will be polite and you will eat all your dinner, hungry or not,'' Steve took his arm and propelled him forward with a warning swat.
''Behave Smalls,'' Tony took his hand and pulled his son beside him.
''He punched Ned Dad, why do I have to play nice? He doesn't,'' Peter tried unsuccessfully to wriggle his hand away.
''Pete sweetheart, have you ever heard the expression a proportional response?'' Tony asked and Peter shook his head.
'' It is reacting just as much as you have to, no more than is necessary. What you did was not a proportional response, there are news crews at your school and it is a scandal. Your principal might be fired, kiddo you went big, real big. If I had not caught it in time, you could have brought this all down on the Avengers' heads. It was too much kiddo, oh and where did you get that image?'' Tony looked at him and Peter shrugged.
''Just off the web.''
''Right, just off the web, great,'' Tony muttered to himself.
'' Fri, ensure all parental controls are set at 13+ parental guidance required on all Peter's devices,'' he said.
''Done sir.''
A case of a little too late.
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Peter had to stop himself groaning as he looked at his food; fish, it was fish, the thing he hated more than anything in the world.
''Wanda, this halibut is phenomenal,'' Natasha did not agree with Peter.
Wanda blushed at the praise, she was starting to feel more at home every day. Vision smiled at her, aware how important it was for her to feel more accepted.
''We have a similar fish, my mother cooked it often. This compares very favourably,'' Thor was waxing lyrical and appeared emotionally moved by the food on his plate.
Peter had to stifle a snigger; it was only dinner not a heart shattering event.
''My mom makes the best Gumbo, she adds white fish,'' Sam commented. He decided he needed to go visit his mother; it had been far too long.
''I love Gumbo, I can't remember the last time I ate it,'' Clint lamented, he missed his family.
''I make a good Gumbo,'' Tony surprised everyone with that statement.
'' Get out of here Stark, how did you learn to cook Gumbo?'' Clint was baffled but this man never failed to surprise.
''My mom, she taught me,'' Tony answered and Steve placed a comforting hand on his, he smiled at him with shining eyes.
Peter looked around the table in amazement- it appeared several of the Avengers had mommy issues, who knew he was in such good company?
'' I will make it tomorrow. Have you ever had Gumbo Steve?'' Tony broke the moment, Steve shook his head.
'' Does that mean we're having fish tomorrow as well?'' Peter asked, he scrunched his nose up in disgust.
Sam laughed- Clint rolled his eyes.
''Its good for you malen'kiy,'' Natasha said gently.
''Why does everything that's good for you taste nasty?'' came the childish response.
Wanda instantly looked hurt at the obvious suggestion in Peter's words.
''It doesn't, don't be a baby, eat your dinner!'' Tony intervened quickly as he saw the annoyance on Steve's face.
''Oh Starkson, you have displeased your father again. Clearly, you have not learned your lesson. Would you like me to step in my Captain? I am sure I could make a lasting impression,'' Thor offered, his eyes glinting mischievously.
Clint and Sam exchanged amused glances as Natasha giggled softly.
Peter's eyes widened dramatically; Captain America was bad enough but Thor was a God and not just any God, he was the God of Thunder.
'' No, I did, I totally did. Dinner is dope Wanda, completely awesome. I am eating it, I am,'' Peter took a large mouthful.
Thor chuckled.
'' A rain check then? '' he pointed his fork at Peter who blushed.
Steve smiled gratefully at the God, who winked.
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I read somewhere that writing a scene with all the Avengers (or most of them) present was like herding cats- I agree. very challenging.