Teresa Parker was Peter's deadname. He came out at the end of chapter nine. They are the same person. This is the last time I'm going to address this topic.
Tony Stark was forty-one when his eleventh child was born.
"That was awesome! Is it always like that?"
"Nope. Usually they have normal guns," Peter chuckled, creeping down the wall of his apartment complex to his window.
"Master Peter, might I remind you -"
"I know, I know, Jay. I'll give Dad a call as soon as we're inside."
"You really need to figure out how not to lose your clothes in dark allies," Harley snickered as Peter reached his window.
"Maybe I should make a backpack with retro-reflective panels," Peter chuckled sarcastically as he pulled the glass up.
"Why not?"
"Wouldn't that be really heavy, even just considering the panels?" Peter pointed out as he climbed inside and pulled off the mask. He waited until Droney was inside then closed the window with his foot.
"Not for you, and that would just make it harder for someone to steal it."
"That's true, I guess. Well, it couldn't hurt to give it a look. Can you add it to the list for this weekend, Jay?" Peter asked as he released his grip on the ceiling and dropped to the ground. "Is Neb-"
"Holy shit!" Harley yelped as Jay said, "Master Peter, turn around."
Something smashed to the ground behind him.
Peter spun around to see Ned sitting on his bed, the LEGO Death Star in pieces at his feet.
"Busted," Harley muttered.
"Jay, end call," Peter said, staring at his friend.
"Wai-"
The two watched each other for a moment.
"You're the Spider-Man, from YouTube."
"I'm not. I'm not." It occurred to Peter he was still wearing the suit and he slapped the release, letting it fall down so he could kick it away.
"You were on the ceiling!" he said, pointing up.
"No, I wasn't. Ned, what are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"I used the spare key you gave me."
Peter sucked in a breath as Droney turned to him.
"There is no record of a sp-"
"Droney, shut down." The drone gave a chirp and landed on his desk as he whispered, "Oh, I am so dead."
"Peter, you better be home," Nebs called as the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the apartment.
His eyes widened and he grabbed Ned's shoulders. "Don't tell her you know!"
Ned put his hands on his head, grabbing at his hair. "Oh my God, dude," he said, thankfully in a whisper. "You're -"
"Peter? Peter, I swear you better be in there or else I'm setting that stupid suit on fire." Nebs threw his door open, the anger fading to a blank look when she spotted him. She looked him up and down, glanced at Ned, then turned away. "I don't want to know."
Peter turned to Ned, who shrugged. He glanced down…
And blushed when he remembered he was only wearing his boxers.
"Wait, Nebs!"
"No. This is not what I signed up for. Put some clothes on. I'm ordering in. Is your boyfriend staying for dinner?"
"H-he's not my boyfriend!"
"Does he want Thai? Ned, Thai?"
"Sure?" Ned said, voice faltering when Peter shook his head. "What? Doesn't she know?"
Peter shushed him and scrambled to shut the door. "Yes," he hissed quietly and grabbed his sweater. "But she cannot find out you know. She'd kill me! You can't say anything to anyone! Come on, Ned, please!"
"Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I'll level with you… I don't think I can keep this a secret. This is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, Peter!"
"Ned! You know how she is when she's mad. And if she tells Mr. Stark, he'll take the suit back and…" And oh man, Dad would never let him be Spider-Man again. Maybe he'd even pull him out of school! No more Ned or Michelle or Liz or -
"Mr. Stark? As in Tony Stark?" Ned gasped, his loudening voice snapping Peter out of his panic. He hushed his friend and Ned continued at a whisper. "Did Tony Stark make your suit? Are you an Avenger?"
Peter hesitated, then shrugged. "Yeah, basically."
"Whoa."
"Ned, seriously -"
"PETER!"
The two boys jumped at Nebs' yell.
"Don't say anything," Peter hissed before leaving the room. "Yeah, Nebs?"
She gave him a scowl. "Harley just texted me."
See if I ever bring him on patrol again, Peter barely had a chance to think before she set into him.
"How could you let someone find out?"
"It's just Ned! And I didn't mean for it to happen! It was an accident! I forgot we were going to hang out tonight!"
"What is he even doing here? How did he get in?"
Peter fidgeted with the cuff of his sweater. "I gave him a spare key."
"PETER!"
"You know I forget mine sometimes, so it's just for when you're out of town and that happens. It's no big deal, it's just Ned."
Nebs rubbed her thumb against the side of her neck, a calming practice for her species. "You can't just hand out spare keys, Peter. It's a security risk. You know that."
"It's just Ned," Peter repeated.
She glared at him, then lifted her gaze to something behind him. "Privacy."
"Yep, yeah, cool, sorry!" Ned yelped then Peter heard his door close.
"Peter, I'm glad you have your friend, but you need to be more careful," she said in a whisper so quiet he was sure Ned wouldn't have heard even if he'd been standing next to Peter. "If someone were to learn about either of our connections to Father -"
"I know," he said in a slightly louder whisper, knowing her enhanced hearing wasn't as good as his own. "But it's just Ned. He would never do anything to us."
"But he could lose the key, or it could be stolen. We need to keep track of every copy that exists."
"It's just a key. It's not like people couldn't pick a lock if they wanted to get to us. It's not like I gave him the codes to disable the security system."
"And yet here he is," Nebs said pointedly. "Inside when no one was home."
"It's Ned! Ned can have clearance. He's not going to do anything!"
"That's not the -" Nebs pressed her thumb firmly against her neck. "Ugh, we'll come back to that. He knows you're Spider-Man."
"Yeah." Peter glanced back at his door, shifting his weight from side to side. "How long until Dad knows?"
"Harley included Father in the group text. Uncle Happy is on his way to pick the three of us up."
Harley better watch his back. "What's going to happen? Is Dad going to take me out of school? Am I not going to be able to see Ned anymore? Oh man, what if he makes Ned forget I'm Spider-Man?" Peter gasped. "What if he neuralyzes Ned and makes him forget he even knows me!?"
Nebs slapped her hand over his mouth. "You watch way too many movies and overestimate Father's abilities. He doesn't have a Neuralyzer."
Peter pushed her hand away. "Are you suggesting he couldn't make a Neuralyzer?"
"Don't challenge him to make one, please," she groaned. "Father does not need a Neuralyzer."
He chuckled for a second before the worry set back in. "So what's he going to do? Will -"
She shoved her phone into his hand. "Stop panicking and just ask him yourself."
Peter nodded and read through the group text.
Brat: ** Picture of Peter and Ned in his room with Peter in costume ** BUSTED!
Sad: I'm surprised it took this long
Queen: What happened?
Man-Child: Who is that
Queen: Ned
Man-Child: Who
Sad: Ted
Man-Child: ** Sighing emoji ** Haps go pick up the kids
Sad: Already on my way
Queen: What happened?
Brat: Pete climbed in through the window and he was there
Sad: So how to get inside the dealership be home yet and she wouldn't let him in Peter's room
Brat: If your asking how he got in the room, I have no idea
Queen: Just focus on driving, Happy
Man-Child: Reming me to look over the dictation for the phones later
Man-Child: How'd you know about this anyways
Me: I'm home now. I can't promise Peter will be alive long enough for Uncle Happy to get here.
Brat: Pete took me on patrol with him
Sad: i'm almost there so don't kill him yet
Brat: It was pretty boring until he nearly got blown up
Queen: What?
Man-Child: He WHAT!?
Peter's eyes widened and he quickly texted the group.
Me: I did NOT nearly get blown up!
Man-Child: Pete wth!?
Brat: Did too
Me: That's not what happened!
Me: Shut up you trailer!
Man-Child: What happened!?
Brat: Trailer
Me: I went to stop an atm robbery and the guys had some high tech weapons
Me: Delmars got blown up not me
Me: I was gonna call you as soon as I got home
Me: But then Ned
Brat: He also ran into the burning building
Me: ** Angry emoji **
Me: I had to save mr delmar and Murph
Me: I'm perfectly fine
Brat: And what about when that guy threw you against the ceiling
Me: IM FINE!
Me: Get out!
Brat: It's my group text
Brat: You get out!
Queen: Boys, be nice
Brat: HE DOESN'T EVEN GO HERE!
Man-Child: Were talking about this more when you get here
Me: ** Sad emoji ** I know
Queen: Peter, are you really okay?
Me: I'm fine. Promise mom
Visor: Are these weapons something we should look into?
Man-Child: I'll check the footage, but we'll probably just alert the fbi
Me: So whats going to happen with Ned
"Uncle Happy's here," Nebs said, coming over from the window.
Sad: i'm here hurry up
Man-Child: Well talk when you get here
Me: Ok on our way
"I'll go grab Ned," Peter sighed, giving her her phone back.
"Don't forget pants."
Blushing, he went back to his room and opened the door. "… Hey Ned."
"… Hey."
The two stared at each other.
"How'd it go with Nebula?"
"Why are you wearing my mask?"
It was weird to watch the mask's eyes blink, Peter had to admit.
Ned shrugged.
"Peter!" Nebs called.
"We need to go," Peter said, grabbing a pair of pants and putting them on.
"Where are we going?" Ned asked as he hopped up and came over.
"Stark Tower." Peter grabbed a duffle bag and shoved his suit inside.
"No way, really?"
Peter nodded, then nearly dumped the suit back out as Ned slammed into his back.
"This is the best day of my life," he said as he hugged his best friend with enough force that Peter was thankful for the enhanced durability.
The boys pulled apart and did their handshake.
"Come on, let's go before Nebs comes in to yell at me more."
Ned pulled off the mask to reveal his wide smile.
Peter and Nebula were being way too calm about this, Ned felt.
They were being driven by Tony Stark's personal driver in Tony Stark's car to Tony Stark's tower to meet Tony Stark!
Now, Ned knew his family was well off, but they weren't private driver well off and they definitely weren't Tony Stark well off. And Peter… Well, Peter was a scholarship kid, and though Ned would never judge him for it, it did mean he thought Peter and Nebula should at least be freaking out as much as him.
"How many times have you done this?" Ned whispered.
"Had someone find out?" Peter answered, not whispering back. "Well, Mr. Stark found out, obviously, and he told Nebs, but that's it."
"No, I mean riding in one of Tony Stark's cars."
Peter's nose scrunched up. "Dude, don't say his name like that."
"But he's Tony Stark!"
Nebula snorted. "You didn't say you'd made friends with a fan."
"Who wouldn't be a fan of Tony Stark?"
Nebula muttered something in Italian and Peter snickered, shoving her.
"Mr. Stark is cool, but he's not…" Peter flailed as he searched for the words.
"Dr. Banner?" Nebula suggested with a smirk.
"I outgrew that years ago and you know it!" Peter hissed, blushing. Turning back to Ned, he said, "Just stay calm."
"Calm? Dude, I'm pretty sure I'm dreaming! This is so cool!"
Peter whined and put his face in his hands, only coming up for air when his phone went off. Ned peaked over his shoulder to see his texts.
Casta-net: TFW your girl finds out about your side chick
Me: awzesxrdctfvygbuhnij Who told you
Casta-net: Who do you think?
Me: I'm going to kill Harley
Casta-net: Wish I was in the country
Casta-net: I wanna see who's more embarrassing, Re or Nedward
Casta-net: Before you finish, yes it is possible for Re to be embarrassing
Me: He's literally iron man joe
Casta-net: He's literally Iron Nerd
Casta-net: You and Plates are just too blinded by love to see how much of a dork he is
Casta-net: Then again you both are major dorks too so birds of a feather
"Who are you texting?" Ned asked.
Nebula grabbed his chin and turned his head. "Your friend is way too nosy. How did you manage to keep your secret this long?"
"Leave him alone, Nebs." He pushed her hand away from Ned as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.
Only to pull it back out a second later when he got another text.
Chicken: Pete!
Chicken: Haley says you got busted by your bf
Merida: Haley
Chicken: Shut up Lila
No, I'm Texas!: Haley
Brain: Haley.
Me: Haley
Me: Also, don't call him my bf Cooper
Brain: He's right. It makes it sound like they're dating. And we all know he's likes that Elizabeth girl.
Me: Who let this child in here?
Brain: I'm smarter than all of you combined, Peter.
Merida: It's true, but he shouldn't say it
Me: You wanna go Cho!?
Me: I studied with Bruce Banner I ain't afraid of an eight year old!
Brain: I'm ten, and I studied with my mom! I can take you!
Chicken: You two don't even do the same type of science!
Chicken: Now shut up and give us details!
Chicken: What's going on with Ned?
Me: Don't do the same type of science… can you believe this guy?
Brain: 평민
Chicken: PETER!
Merida: You're both pretty now what happened?
Me: Nothing happened
Me: Ned just came in my room at the wrong time and found out about my connection to Mr. Stark
Chicken: What's Stark going to do to him?
No, I'm Texas!: Nothi my?
No, I'm Texas!: Nothing! Shit!
Merida: Nothi my?
Me: Nothi my?
Chicken: Nothi my?
Brain: Nothi my?
Nubs: Don't curse in front of the children, Harley.
No, I'm Texas!: How the heck!?
Merida: Wait, who are the children?
Nubs: I'm hacked into your and Peter's phones. Amadeus, Cooper, and Peter are the children.
Merida: Nice
Chicken: I'd say something, but I'm honestly kind of scared of you Peter's sister
Nubs: As you should be. Off your phone, Peter. We're here.
Ned and Peter both looked up just as they disappeared into the underground garage.
"Noooo! I missed seeing the tower!" Ned groaned.
"Maybe if you weren't snooping you would have seen it," Nebs pointed out, giving Peter a look.
"Who were you talking to?" Ned asked.
"Just some friends I made while working with Mr. Stark," he said nervously with a shrug.
"Are they Avengers too!? Do you all hang out?"
"Peter's not an Avenger," Nebula said, opening the door and getting out.
"I'm sort of an Avenger," Peter said, following her.
"No, you're not. End of discussion."
Peter pouted at her before returning to Ned. "No, they're not Avengers. Joe, Jocasta, works for SI and so does Amadeus's mom and Harley's dad. Lila and Cooper's dad used to work here too, but he left."
"Do they know you're Spider-Man?" Ned asked as the four of them climbed into the elevator.
"Only Harley and Joe. Harley's dad is super high up and Joe works security sometimes. Lila, Cooper, and Amadeus just think I intern with Mr. Stark."
Ned nodded, glancing around the elevator. His eyes widened as he realized something. "Wait, did you say you studied with Bruce Banner!?"
"Uh, yeah," Peter glanced at Nebula and the driver (who was still with them, kind of weird) nervously. "Um, Mr. Stark kind of introduced me to him."
"Cool!" Ned said, but something nagged at him.
When did Dr. Banner leave again?
"Oh good, I'm not running late?"
Ned blinked and looked over at the woman getting into the elevator with them.
Pepper Potts smiled and held out her hand. "Ned, right? Peter's told us so much about you."
Ned stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. "Ms. Potts, it's an honor to meet you, really, but I'm pretty sure our classmate Michelle would legitimately kill me if she knew I had shaken your hand before she'd even gotten a chance to meet you so I'm not going to do that."
Peter groaned as Ms. Potts dropped her hand.
"Peter's friends are fans," Nebula said blankly.
"I see," Ms. Potts said with amusement. "Well, it's nice to meet you all the same Ned. Please call me Pepper."
"Oh my God," Ned whispered as Ms. Potts, Nebula, and the driver stepped out of the elevator.
"Cool it," Peter whispered, elbowing him.
"Do that harder, I think I'm dreaming," Ned joked, then groaned when Peter did just that. "Okay, ow, not dreaming. You didn't have to do it that hard."
Peter went pale. "Sorry, are you okay? Did I hurt something?"
Ned frowned, then remembered Peter had super strength and could probably really hurt him on accident. "It's fine, just a bit harder than I was expecting," he said, stepping out of the elevator. He barely noticed Peter's sigh of relief as he spotted a familiar face sitting in the penthouse. "What's your uncle doing here?"
"Uncle?" Peter asked then groaned. "Does everyone have to be here?"
"Yes," Nebula said, sitting down on the couch.
"No," the driver said, heading towards a hallway. "I've seen the kid make a fool of himself enough for one day."
"Would you like me to leave?" Vittore asked, looking uncertain. "I didn't realize my being here would be disagreeable."
Peter immediately started shaking his head. "You're fine, Vi, just… a lot going on today. How've you been?"
"Fine, I've just been doing… research on some things."
"Oh, on what?"
Vittore frowned and looked around. "Where's Mr. Stark?"
"Sir will be up shortly. He was waylaid by a group from R&D."
Ned jumped and looked around. "Who was that?"
"J.A.R.V.I.S. An AI created by Tony. He runs the tower," Ms. Potts explained, gesturing at the couches.
"He and Vi are the only pure ones in this place," Peter muttered to him as they sat down.
"Excuse me!" Ned jumped as a young woman appeared right in front of them, her arms crossed as she glared down at Peter. "What about me?"
"Remember that month where you made it so that anyone who said the word Stark inside the tower got Rickrolled."
"That was your idea!"
"Yeah, but you actually did it."
"That was you two?" Ms. Potts said, glaring at them.
They immediately pointed at each other.
"Fri was the one that did it! I just said it would be funny!"
"Baby-Bro told me to do it!"
Ned frowned as everyone but he and the new woman flinched and Nebula hissed, "F.R.I.D.A.Y.!"
"Baby-Bro?"
Word of warning: I might not post next week or the week after. Something came up so I'm moving. I'll try to post, but no promises.
I decided to use Vittore Shade instead of Victor Shade for Vision since I already had Victoria for Tori.