Peter slowly opened his eyes at the sight of white walls of his suite at the hospital. The smell of disinfectant lingered all over. Different fruits, flowers, and cards placed on a table. Then he saw Dad sleeping beside him in a chair holding his hand. He gently brushed Dad's hair, his face looks ash-fallen, and he looks tired. What happened? He can only remember the grueling headache and pain all over his body; the memories are grogged out like a blur. He noticed there was an oxygen nasal cannula helping him breathe and he removed it. Dad suddenly moved, waking up now.
"Daddy..." Peter tried to say happily but his voice came out hoarse. Dad went beside him, and kissed his forehead "Thank God you're okay now, love."
A small smile crept on his face, it's the first time Dad called him love. "You look tired, Dad. What happened?"
Dad caressed his face and laughed a little. "You're the one in the hospital, and you still worry about your Dad. You silly. You had Dengue infection from the mosquito bites in Thailand. Your fever always reoccurs for the past two days, you're always asleep. The infection is fully gone now since last night, you're okay now, baby." Dad grinned, a tear escaped in his eyes which he brushed off quickly.
"Dad, I'm sorry…" He shouldn't have been sick. Dad wouldn't have to be worry so much and be tired taking care of him.
"Hey, don't. Why are you even saying sorry, buddy? If there's anything, it's my fault, we shouldn't have been there, and I should've put an insect repellent lotion on you."
Peter laughed lightly. "We didn't know that's gonna happen Dad. It's okay now." Their foreheads touched and they smiled.
The door suddenly opened and came from it a song of Happy Birthday. It's the last week of August, and its August 29 already. Pepper's holding a cake, Ned with his Parents, Happy, nurses, Dr. Palmer and some doctors came in singing smiling happily with balloons and gifts in their hands, Peter's eyes sparkled as they came close to him. "Happy 8th Birthday Peter..." There were all worried for him, visits him everyday, and prayed for his recovery.
Dad happily smiled arms around him "Happy Birthday, my son." and Peter closed his eyes as he made a wish and blew the candle. Pepper, Ned, and Happy hugged him after as they celebrated the rest of the day of Peter getting better.
"You nervous?" Tony glances at Peter as they drive on the way to school which is only a few blocks from the Tower and the Penthouse. They can actually just walk but he cannot risk them getting disturbed by fans and paparazzi's.
Peter looks up at him. "Slight."
It's Peter's first day at Midtown School of Science and Technology. He would've picked a more advanced private school but the kid insisted Midtown Tech because his bestfriend, Ned is there. He finally agreed since the school has a good reputation teaching gifted students and science enthusiasts. Plus it is only a few blocks from their place.
In a few minutes, they arrived and got out of the car. A few students, parents, and by-standers stared at them and at the car in awe. They got out and Tony holds out Peter's hand before letting him go. "You call me if there's anything wrong, okay? Anything, and don't forget to reapply your repellent spray during lunch."
Peter frowned. "But Dad, it's sticky, and it's not summer anymore. We're in New York."
"We can't be too careful, right?" He caressed Peter's hair. He's bothered Peter lost a lot of weight from the infection. He can't run distances now because he gets tired easily. He also looks skinny even though he regularly eats healthy food. He's worried about his health; he can't let anything like that ever happening again.
"Come on, give your Dad a hug." Peter hugged him tight and smiled. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you, kid. Don't overtire yourself. I'll pick you up later." He kissed his forehead hoping his kid's going to be okay and watched as Peter get into the front doors of the school before heading out.
.
.
.
"Peter, I can't believe we're classmates already!" Ned exclaimed and hugged Peter as soon as he saw him at the front door.
"I know, right! Finally!" Peter beams as they did their bro fist handshake, and went to their classroom.
Midtown Science and Technology has large facilities that houses elementary, middle, and high school halls. Most of the students are intellectually gifted with a keen interest in Math and Science. Peter felt uplifted, it's so much better than his last school; his intellect is at par with his classmates. No one looks and bothers him because he's a Stark. Most of his fourth grade classmates are still two years older than him though so they're bigger and taller but that didn't change the way they treat him which is just like an ordinary person. Basically, most if not all were nerds which is cool and that relieves him, and he has his best friend whom he can rely on.
The months passed by quickly and everything has been well since then, until one particular day when Peter correctly answered a basic chemistry question that Eugene Thompson got wrong. Eugene scowled at him and there are a few times the same thing happened. Eugene always prioritizes speed over accuracy, quickly answers before even checking his solutions while Peter always answers correctly in his stead. Ever since then, Eugene got the nickname "Flash" from his classmates.
"Dude, don't push it." Ned whispered to him while laughing after Peter once again effortlessly answered a question Flash got wrong.
"Hey, I can't help it. They always ask me after him." Peter looked over and sighed as he saw Flash who's now mouthing the words "You're dead, Stark." without sound at his direction.
When Gym class came, there are drills for the Basketball lesson they need to do. Coach Murch went for a roll call before starting.
"Parker?" Flash asked Ned curious that Coach went for "Peter Parker Stark" earlier.
"It's his middle name from his mom's married name." Ned answered while Flash smirked as he watches Peter.
The drills started and just three laps from their running warm-up around the Gym, Peter tiredly stopped, catching his breath. He misses being agile and strong, he always runs and bikes before. Now he can't even finish a lap without tiring easily. Coach insisted he only do half of what they're supposed to do mostly focusing on light activities because of his health. Dad already informed Coach and the Principal to not give him strenuous exercises that can impair his lungs.
"Come on, little Parker!" He saw Flash smirking and running painlessly right past him while he pants. His brows knitted. What? No one calls me Parker. Parker is my middle name, my last name is Stark.
"I'm Peter Stark, Flash." Peter said as he finished his last drill.
"You're not when you're like that." Flash stopped throwing the basketball to his partner and comes to him.
"I'll call you a Stark when you're as strong as your Dad. Oh wait, you got zero chances of that ever happening, so." Flash shrugged and tapped his shoulder. "I'll see you around little Parker."
The Starks moved in at the newly constructed Stark Tower a month before the installment of the last piece of the Stark-Energy Reactor. The top three floors are all Tony and Peter's skyscraper penthouse space, rooms, and lab having a luxurious, modern, and futuristic design. The next ten floors are focused on Research and Development, then the rest are the company offices.
"Pete, you okay?" Tony asked his son as they eat their Dinner at their dining room at the Tower's Penthouse with a panoramic view overlooking the Empire State glistening and the rest of the Manhattan buildings.
"Yeah?" Peter looked at his father. He keeps brushing off what Flash said but it keeps repeating on his head.
"You're spacing out. I asked how's school?"
"Oh, it's good, Dad. We started with Thermodynamics today and Ned and I got perfect scores from the quiz. They served mac and cheese at lunch which sucks. And uh... Gym was okay." Peter continuously said as he eat his veggies not looking at his Father.
Tony raised an eyebrow. He can sense something was wrong. "Okay. Who is it?"
"What?"
"Who even has the nerve to bully you?"
"No one, it's nothing Dad."
"It's that Flash, is it? The one who's jealous of you. Ned mentioned."
Peter's eyes widened. "What? Since when did Ned? Never mind, it's nothing Dad."
"It's not nothing. What did that kid said to you?"
Peter bites his lower lip. He can't say it, Dad's gonna be mad. A short silence only follows.
"Okay, that's it. I'll call your principal so I can talk to-" Tony started to pick up his phone.
Peter stopped him. "No no no, Dad. Please. It's okay. I can handle it."
Tony sighed, if he knew better Peter's just gonna let it slide like he always did. He knew his kid. Peter as his heir has all the riches that they have as a Stark. They have a multi-billion dollar company, but still despite all of that, Peter never became arrogant. He forgives, he understands. He's a humble, kind, and thoughtful kid. That's why he's so proud of his son.
"I hate seeing you troubled. If you're not gonna tell me, then I have to talk to that kid."
Peter looked down and exhaled before answering. "He called me little Parker, because he said I'm not strong enough to be a Stark like you."
Tony's face hardened. Peter is his. He's a Stark, and how dare that kid insult the Parker's.
"Hey baby, look at me." He looked at Peter directly, caressing his face. "You know, I knew a lot of strong women, among those are your Grandma, Pepper, and you know who else?
Your mother, Mary Parker.
She's still a Fitzpatrick when I met her and I've known her as a smart, strong, and confident woman. She's a scientist and agent of SHIELD before. Did I mention that?
And do you know what's better than being strong? It's being smart, Pete. And you are that because you're a Stark, you're my blood. So no matter what, Peter Parker Stark. You rise above, okay?
You are both smart and strong because you're my son. You are always better than what the others say."
Tony smiled at him and Peter's eyes glistened, he brushed away a tear that sprung from his eye. He hugged his Dad tightly. Dad always knows the right words to say. "Thank you, Dad."
"I love you, kid. Remember what I said. And you cannot let Flash treat you that way, okay? If that happens again I'm really gonna have to stick up a missile on his butt, capiche?"
Peter laughed and Dad brushed his hair. "Capiche."
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading! Avengers ARC next chapter.