Turns out, his senses were right. He wasn't prepared for the day ahead. The fire alarm had gone off during chemistry. He was in the middle of not paying attention and making more webs, of course. So, he wasn't ready for the fire alarms going off in his ears. Peter had jumped, but he thankfully managed not to accidentally fling himself onto the ceiling of the chemistry classroom.

The school stood outside under the heat of the sun; everyone was thankful it wasn't the dead of winter. While the drill continued, the occasional whur of jets would pass by and most kids looked up, hoping to see Ironman in action, though Peter watched for him with a hint of fear and resentment. But everytime, it wouldn't be Tony Stark in his suit, but it would just be a plane passing overhead. The kids looked away in disappointment; Peter looked away with obvious relief. He wasn't quite ready to face the man behind the mask. Not yet.

He noticed MJ watching him, her face unreadable as always.

"What?" He asked in a small voice.

She opened her mouth to reply, but the teachers led the classes back into the school and she closed her mouth without a word. MJ knew something. Peter knew she knew something.

And so, the day went on. They cleaned up in chemistry and the bell rang. Peter made his way to the lunch room with Ned beside him.

Peter wondered if he should tell Ned about the previous patrol and decided against it. He didn't want to worry him about his troubles.

"You okay?" Ned's voice poured through his thoughts.

Peter looked at him, "Yeah, of course. Why?"

"I don't know man, you seem a little off."

"No, I- I'm fine."

Ned didn't seem convinced but he left it. He knew Peter well enough to know he wouldn't spill whatever was on his mind. That stubborn bastard. They sat at the table, MJ just a couple seats away. MJ was reading another one of her books. She had looked up briefly to look at Ned, then for a moment longer, Peter. Peter looked at her and she raised her eyebrows. Peter looked down at his lunch.

When Ned left the table to use the restroom, MJ scooted down towards Peter. "So," she began, "That fire drill, huh?"

Peter looked at her confused, "Huh?"

"The fire drill," she repeated.

"What about it?" He asked, not being enlightened of where she was headed with this.

MJ stared into his soul. "Everyone seemed a little disappointed when the airplanes weren't Iron Man, but not you, huh? You were relieved. What for?"

Peter froze his actions. Fuck. "U-uh.. I just- I… I can't explain it?" He stuttered, giving a half-assed response.

"Can't or won't?" She retorted.

"Both, obviously," Peter mumbled in a low voice.

MJ hummed, processing this little information and shrugged. She'll figure it out herself if he won't tell her, "Alright. Seems fair."

Peter looked at her puzzled as she scooted back down to where she left her book. On the other side of him, Ned returned from the restroom and sat down.

"Hey, dude, you okay?" Ned asked.

Peter turned to him quickly, "Uh, yeah, I, uh, yeah I'm good."

Ned looked at him as if he didn't believe Peter. He didn't. "Dude, you seem nervous about something," Ned's tone turned softer, "You know you can tell me, I won't judge."

Peter looked away ashamed. "I know." He hesitated before continuing on, "I'd love to tell you."

"Then why don't you?"

Thing is, Peter's not sure if he can handle hurting Ned in a way that would make him hate his idol. Though, the thought of Ned dropping the idea of Tony Stark just for Peter is comforting. But still, Peter rejects telling him about his past with Mr. Stark.

"I- I don't know how, Ned." Peter was defeated.

"You could always start from the beginning," Ned suggested.

"I know I just-"

The bell rang and the rest of the day became a blur. He went to Spanish, English, and every other class he had. He barely remembered the day. He was tired. His thoughts were occupied by Mr. Stark and what happened all those years ago. That was why his sense didn't alert him he was about to be smashed into his locker.

A hand clawed at his head and pushed his face into the locker, making a loud bang that made Peter's head hurt. Both the noise and the fact that he was just slammed into his locker.

"Sup, Penis."

Of fucking course.

"What do you want, Flash?" Peter's voice was slightly muffled.

"Oh, y'know, the usual." Flash tugged at Peter's hair and forced him out of the school. Peter cursed the school for not having cameras on the outside. Why was Flash even doing this outside? There could be, like, witnesses or something.

And guess fucking what.

There was a witness.

Flash tossed Peter to the ground, who hit the ground with a humph. The still standing boy kicked at Peter and punched him. Flash began speaking.

"You're a piece of shit."

"You don't belong here."

"You're parents left you because they were ashamed of you."

"Nobody will ever love you. Soon your aunt will leave you just like everybody else."

Flash spoke as he threw punches and kicked at the boy on the ground. Peter didn't fight back. How could he? Peter was stronger than him. He couldn't control his strength. Besides, it was better him than someone else- someone who didn't deserve it. Peter would heal easily, he knew. It'd still hurt, sure, but not as long as it had before the bite.

This is where the witness came in. Like the dumbass he was, Flash hadn't looked to see if there were witnesses- there usually weren't. It seems today is different today and Peter can't tell if he's blessed or cursed by who showed up.

"Hey! You!" Peter knew that voice. Flash knew that voice. Everyone knew that fucking voice that Peter barely tolerated.

"Holy shit." Flash froze. Peter was unsure if it was terror or the fact that it was motherfucking Tony Stark.

"Holy shit yourself, the hell you doing beating on another kid?"

"Uh…"

"That's what I thought, get the fuck outta here."

Flash scrambled away, leaving Peter on the ground. Tony walked up to the boy.

"Parker."

"Mr. Stark." Despite not having happy thoughts for Mr. Stark, he still had respect. Hell, he saved the world on multiple occasions.

"You gonna get up or what?"

"I kinda like it down here, y'know, there's some ants, the feeling of the ground on my face is nice, and-"

"Bullshit, kid, c'mon. We need to talk."

Why did that run Peter's blood cold? What could Tony Stark fucking want with pitiful Peter "Penis" Parker?

"What? Why?"

"Best not to talk about it in the open, of course. Considering, uh…" Tony waved his arms around, thinking for the words, "What we're going to talk about is, uhm, your extracurriculars."

"Mr. Stark, with all due respect," Peter said as he rose to a sitting position, his face scrunched with pain as he did so. "The only extracurricular I have is decathlon, thank you very much."

"Well, you and I both know that's very much not true," Tony countered.

"What, are you stalking me or something?"

Tony snorted, "No, just did some background checks."

"Why? I'm nothing of interest, it's not like I'm doing anything wrong!"

"You mean apart from that horrible fashion sense you have when swinging around the city? Then, you're right, you're not."

Peter sputtered, "I- How do you even know it's me?"

Tony looked at him like he was stupid, "I wasn't completely sure, but seeing as there were reports of missing chemicals in your school, which just so happened to be what made up the spiderdude's webs, and you were on the top of your class, so I just made a guess."

"You came here on a hunch?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Why?"

"Cause I'm a genius," Tony said as a matter-of-factly. "...And it seems like I'm right."

Peter sat, staring at the other man. Did he really hate him this much? "Uh huh, how so?"

"Are you smart mouthing me?"

"I mean, you did say I'm at the top of my class." Peter leaned back and let his arms hold him up.

"Not the point."

Peter shrugged. At this point it was whatever. "So, maybe I am Spiderman, maybe I'm not, who are you to say?"

"You're bad at this."

"Bad at what? Wait- hang on, you're deflecting!"

"I am, and you're bad at hiding who you really are!"

Peter stared- no sorry, glared at the man. "I am not. Besides, why should I tell you? Why should I trust you?"

Peter didn't, but he was willing to give Tony a shot. Why was he so willing to give him a shot? Why hadn't he frozen up and ran off yet? What was he doing?

"I- I can give you all the things you need: a new suit, a place to work, things like that." Tony said.

"That's what you can do for me, not why I should trust you, Mr. Stark."

Tony was at a loss. Why should the spider-kid trust him? He has all these things: his AI's, his tower, the Avengers, but how does he get the boy to trust him? None of those things would work. He'd be protected, sure, but he's not asking for that. He's not asking for protection, is he?

Peter just wants a reason to trust him. And Tony can't provide him with that. "I- I don't know."

Peter stared at him, unbelieving, "And you want me to work with you? Without knowing that I can trust you?" The spider rose from his spot on the floor. "All I ask for, all I want, is a reason for me to trust you. And you can't even do that, I thought you were a genius, Mr. Stark!"

Tony stared, his face void of emotion. "I could give you everything, but none of those things would convince you to work with me, would they?" Even his voice lacked emotion. Tony rubbed at his face, "Look, kid, you don't have to if you don't want to, I just want to keep you safe if you refuse to stop this 'Spiderman' business."

Peter wanted to. But then again, he really didn't. Would it really be worth it to work with the guy who ruined his childhood just for a safer way of saving people?

..It is for the people, after all. But what if May didn't let him? He'd just have to convince her wouldn't he?

"Can- can I think about it?" He was going to tell Ned.

"Sure, kid. I'll call you on Friday or something," he patted Peter on the shoulder. Peter had forced himself not to flinch, his mind being tossed back into the darkness for a moment.

That's right.. He'd be all alone with Tony Stark in… wherever he'd take him. Does Tony even remember? Does Tony even care?

Peter nodded, a bit numb. He turned and watched as Tony Stark walked down the steps of the school and climbed into his car and drove away.

Peter then pulled out his phone to call Ned before starting patrol for the afternoon.

The phone rang. And rang. Then Ned picked up, "Hey, dude, what's up, you coming over?"

"Uh, no, not today, uh are you somewhere private?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, man, why?"

"So, uh, after school, Flash attacked me, as usual, and-"

"Dude, are you okay?" Ned interrupted.

"Yeah, just a little sore. Anyway, someone came up to him and-"

"Who was it?"

"I'm getting there, Ned."

"Oh."

"It was Tony Stark."

"WHAT?" Ned shreeked.

Peter pulled his phone away from his ear for a moment, then returned, "Uh, yeah, turns out, he knows I'm- uh.."

"He knows you're Spiderman?"

"Yeah. He also offered to take me in and work with me."

"Please tell me you said yes."

"Well, I didn't say no."

"Dude."

"I told him I'm going to think about it, Ned. I'm not sure.."

"Dude. You have to. Imagine the upgrades he could give you! You could work with all the Avengers, Peter!"

"Yeah, I know, but.."

"But nothing, my dude. Take him up on this. It'd be good for you. Maybe you'll actually be seen as an actual hero or something!"

Ned was right. Ned was always right. "You're right."

"I know."

"Mr. Stark's calling on Friday."

"Dude, that's like, two days from now."

"He could forget about it. And me."

"Dude."

"What, he's a busy guy, the famous Tony Stark. He owns a whole ass building."

"You got me there."

"Look, when he calls, and I say yes, I will let you know how it went. And how it goes. However you want to phrase it."

"And you'll tell me what it's like working for him and show me your new suit?"

Peter sighed, "Yes, Ned, I will do that."

"Yes."

Peter could hear his fist pump. "Alright," Peter laughed a bit at his friend, "I gotta go, man, I'm still at school, and I have the thing to do still, so-"

"Yeah, I get it. Call me then, okay?"

"Of course, man. I'll call you later," He reassured his friend, "Love you."

"Love you too, Pete. You better call me."

"Gee, okay, I will. Promise."

"Good. Bye."

"Bye."

The call ended and Peter moved on to prepare for his patrol. Two days. He had two days before Mr. Stark will (supposedly) call him.

Oh man, Friday. The day he loved so much has turned against him.

Parker luck, am I right?