"So," Peter started as he walked into the lab in lieu of greeting Tony, who raised a questioning eyebrow. "I've gotta thing."

"I'd like to assume you have many things, Peter," Tony replied.

Peter huffed. "I mean, like, a thing."

Tony gave him a look. "Very descriptive," he noted dryly.

Peter shuffled around, waving his hands about as if it'd help him become clearer. "It - well, it's not a huge, thing - "

Tony threw his hands up exasperatedly, barely managing to set down the set of pliers first. "I have no idea what that means. Is that some new slang term you 'hip' kids are using these days? Is it a reference to something? An innuendo? Am I gonna have to give you the talk?"

Peter spluttered, slinging his rucksack off his shoulders and dropping it to the side. "No, we're - No." He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. "My class," he stated calmly, "is going on a field trip."

Tony made a 'go on' gesture, impatient for him to explain.

"To Stark Tower."

Tony stared at him for a moment longer, and then a slow grin spread across his face, splitting his lips and revealing his gleaming white, perfectly straight teeth. "Is that so?" he lilted, practically beaming.

Peter tried to scowl. Failed. Settled for rolling his eyes so hard it actually kind of hurt. "Yes, it is so."

"That's great!" Tony exclaimed, spinning on his stool so that he could stand up and fully turn to face Peter. "FRIDAY, when's this field trip I've heard so much about?"

'The following Thursday, boss,' FRIDAY smoothly replied.

"Ooh that's pretty soon," he noted, then eyed Peter up and down with a tilt of his head and a raised eyebrow. "So is that why you look like you just heard about the death of some distant relative or is there some more life altering news I should be made aware of?"

Peter pursed his lips, but a sharp exhale of a laugh still escaped his nose. He waited for a couple more moments before trusting himself to reply with a somewhat resigned, "No, that's about it, I guess."

Tony nodded sharply, retaking his seat and waving Peter over. "I'll plot my diabolical plans on how to terrorize your classmates later. For now, suit."

Peter sighed defeatedly, trudging over to take the seat next to Tony and grabbing the already laid out set of Kevlar gloves and face shield, of which Tony was wearing neither. Though, apparently Peter couldn't follow in his footsteps in that regard thanks to Pepper sending the man one too many passive aggressive - more like just straight up aggressive, honestly - comments and glares after spotting Peter in the lab without proper safety equipment early on in his internship.

"So, your school planning anything separate for you with your internship here?" Tony asked, glancing up.

Peter averted his eyes, pretending to put more focus on the bolts Tony was currently fiddling with inside the chest of the suit. "Probably not," he shrugged, aiming for nonchalant and likely failing rather miserably.

Tony's motions slowed to a stop, and he glanced back up at Peter. "Why do you say that?" he questioned, head tilting slightly.

Peter shrugged again, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "It's not a big deal," he brushed off.

Tony's eyes narrowed. "What, exactly, isn't a big deal, Pete?"

The teen remained silent for a few moments, sinking down into his stool with a near silent sigh. "I don't think they really… think I have one."

Tony was practically deathly still at this point. "Don't think you have one?" he echoed, almost as if he didn't understand the implications, but there was an edge to his voice that suggested otherwise.

Peter winced. "It's fine, really," he said, ducking his head and fiddling with one of the screwdrivers against a piece of metal plating.

Tony softly set down his own tools, slowly reaching forward and gently setting his hands on top of Peter's, stopping their movement. "Pete… look at me?" he asked quietly.

Peter stiffened slightly, then seemed to slump, peering up at Tony from beneath his fringe.

"I think it's best if I start by saying I'm not upset at you Pete," Tony began, squeezing Peter's hands slightly for a moment to emphasize his words. "But I know Pepper sent the forms over to your school, so, I'm just not really seeing what happened, bud."

Peter flushed, shoulders hiking up a bit. "I-I didn't mean-"

Tony cut him off resolutely. "Hey, hey, Pete. I was serious. If I know anything, it's that it wasn't your fault. Whatever the cause for this… miscommunication, I'd put it up to your infamous Parker Luck - at most," Tony said wryly, lips quirking up when Peter's hesitantly did the same. He pulled his hands back then, drumming his fingers against the table. "So, you got any idea what's up?" he finally asked.

Peter gave a tight sigh that seemed to drain the tenseness right out of him, and he nodded, finally looking up all the way. "I think the principal knows, maybe, but my teachers either didn't get the memo or something or just thought it was fake. I- I'm not sure which," he admitted.

Tony frowned slightly. "Why would they think it was fake?" he questioned.

Peter chewed on his lip, shrugging again and averting his eyes. "Most people do," he said vaguely.

But not vaguely enough. Tony's eyes narrowed, and his hands stilled once more. "Do other students think that too?"

Peter's resigned expression was telling enough, and Tony's jaw ticked.

And then he gave what seemed like a complete non sequitur.

"Parent-Teacher conferences are coming up, aren't they?" he asked blithely, and Peter shot him a confused look before his eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly back and forth.

"That is so not happening," the teen quickly dismissed, eyes alight with disbelief that bordered on something like amusement.

Tony hummed noncommittally, and Peter huffed at him.

"Mr. Stark -" Tony gave him a look and Peter rolled his eyes "-Tony," he corrected, "those are for parents or guardians," he pointed out.

"Precisely," Tony readily agreed, and Peter went to reply, but seemed at a loss.

He had a couple of more false starts before slowly saying, "And May is my guardian."

"That is an astute observation, Mr. Parker," Tony agreed. "It would be good for you to note, however, that an adolescent may have more than one guardian."

"I know that-" Peter started, then cut himself off, eyes widening. "But I don't have more than one guardian!" he practically yelped, sounding as if he was more trying to assert it than anything.

"Not yet," Tony agreed blithely. "But I've just gotta ask the Missus."

"Mrs. Potts?" Peter questioned confusedly.

Tony opened his mouth, then closed it. "Well, yes, but I already asked that Missus. I meant Aunt Hottie."

Peter narrowed his eyes at the man, and Tony stared back guilelessly. "Ask Aunt May…" Peter repeated, trailing off questioningly.

Tony grinned back widely. "Well, to make me your other official guardian, of course!"