Hi Friends! Hope all is going well with you! Here's the next segment. Thank you, Enjoy!

Peter closed his eyes for a moment to center his mind before heading to the front desk. He traced his eyes across the grooves in the tile as he waited for the clacks of the keys to be silent. The air was cool and he pulled his sleeves down to cover his clammy palms. The man sitting in front of the computer looked up. Peter's face heated when he apologized and Peter waved him off.

"I didn't see you there. What can I do for you today?"

"I'm, uh, Peter. Peter Parker and I have an appointment." The man started typing again and nodded his head. Peter's fingers trembled as he reached out and took the ID badge. The secretary must have seen May walking around the entrance, admiring the architecture, because he gave Peter another guest badge. He clipped the badge onto his shirt making sure it laid flat. His name was printed in bold letters across the middle of the card. The muscles in his stomach clenched. It should have been someone else's name there. It shouldn't be him who was here today.

Peter thanked the secretary and hurried over to May. They walked in to the main part of the lobby and craned their necks to take in the glass ceiling. The panes angled up and narrowed into a point at the center. The rays of light filtered through the glass onto various parts of the room, illuminating corners and wall space that wouldn't normally see the light of day. It was, like the rest of the building, ethereal.

The lobby was peaceful today. He had imagined pushing his way through crowds of people ready to watch. All of them would be milling about aimlessly ready to stare as he inevitably made a fool of himself in front of Tony Stark. That was how his daydreams started the past week before they morphed into something more sinister, something he would rather not think about now.

It was with a sigh of relief that the space was clear. The instructions were to wait in the lobby and May found a seat on a comfy looking couch. He stood in front of her, shifting his feet back and forth. What he wanted to do was pace the entire length of the lobby. To stretch his legs and make himself forget for a second why he was there, but he didn't want to take up anymore space than he already was so he stood in front of May. She patted the seat next to her but he shook his head.

He was facing toward the front watching the lights ripple like ocean waves against the floor. Maybe they should just leave now. He could send an email later saying he was sick and to give the opportunity to someone worthy. His fingers clenched against the hem of his shirt and he thought of Ben. The title of Uncle was purely in name only. Ben was his dad in every sense of the word and Peter knew how much he would have loved seeing Peter do this. He was always encouraging him to step out of his comfort zone to prove he could do anything. The tile glued his feet where they were and Peter's lips sealed his doubt away.

His heart was beating so loud that if it escaped his chest it would bounce off the glass and echo around the room, cluing anyone listening how nervous he was. The secretary glanced curiously at him and Peter gave him a crooked smile before turning back around to face the doors.

"Peter Parker. Fourteen years old, lives in Forrest hills, New York, and goes to Midtown High School."

The squeak of his dress shoes scuffing on the tile made him flinch into himself. The muscles in his back rippled and tensed at the voice. That voice was familiar to him. It was the voice he heard numberless times in interviews and YouTube videos through the years. He spun around to see the subject of those videos standing before them.

The man was wearing jeans and a t-shirt causing Peter to look down at his own button down and dress pants with derision, hating that he talked himself into dressing up. The shirt was one of Ben's and was hanging off of his shoulders but the pants were the opposite and were short around the ankles from before his growth spurt. His fingers dove into his tie to try and loosen it around his neck.

Mr. Stark held out his hand as he stood near the couch. With realization Peter scrambled back over to where the two adults stood. Once in front of the man he briefly glanced up, avoiding his eyes, to observe his face. The famous goatee had sharp lines and was quirked in a hint of a smile. Peter stared at the face plastered onto the t-shirt as he raised his hand. It was some type of band shit but Peter wasn't sure which one. The printed image was faded and an obvious love for the shirt was worn into the material. Mr. Stark's hand was warm and strong around his own petite digits. He flickered his eyes up to the man's face before promptly bringing it down again. Then Mr. Stark turned toward May and gave her a wide smile.

"You must be his lovely Aunt. I'm Tony Stark but please, call me Tony." A light pink painted her cheeks but she kept an unimpressed expression until Mr. Stark turned away from her to face Peter once again at which time she wagged her eyebrows at Peter.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir." The laugh enlarged to fill the atrium.

"Don't call me Sir, I work for a living. Tony is fine." Peter wouldn't look at the man's face so he wasn't sure if it was a joke or not. To be safe he attempted to smile and nodded. He knew that he was being impolite but his stomach clenched at the thought of seeing disappointment now that he was face to face with the man. "Well, it's good to finally meet you as well. Are you excited for today?"

He nodded again and stared at his shoes. Although the man's shoes looked fancy on inspection, he noticed the sides of the rubber soles were trod down and there were scuff marks adorning the top of the toes. You could tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Peter got in the habit of looking at them when he felt uncomfortable and learned what the marks meant. They were nice shoes, a good brand, and although there were scuffs they were cleaned recently. Like the t-shirt it was respected and cared for.

Peter heard a sigh and his stomach clenched at the thought of making the man feel bad. He forced himself to look up and the man caught his eye before smiling. It didn't leave Peter feeling all warm inside but it was enough for the man to smile back. Mr. Stark clapped his hands and welcomed them to the building before leading them to the elevators.

The space was silent besides the soft tune of a flute playing in the background and for the first time Peter got an up close look at the man he knew since childhood. It was a strange feeling, to know someone so well and yet know nothing about them. Mr. Stark's hands tapped along with the music and it gave Peter a moment to really observe him. Staring at the man now Peter felt like he was getting a chance to peer behind the tinted glass. There was nothing blatantly different between the man standing before him and the man who was frequently the topic of the news.

But Peter could see past the exterior and notice the small discrepancies. It was like second nature to him. Like he could infer things from his shoes, Peter knew that Mr. Stark used this other persona to hide behind. Peter knew that because he often hid away from the world himself. The man's physicality was more subdued here. Instead of opening his arms wide and making himself more grandiose, he stood with his shoulders back and feet apart. Confident but conserved.

May asked Mr. Stark a question about the building and they began talking. His voice, which commanded attention anywhere it was heard, still had that same draw but he didn't use it to dominate now. He steered the conversation and listened with rapt attention while May told him about herself. Peter blushed and ducked his head when she brought up how proud she was of Peter for signing up for the competition.

There was some other quality, too. It was something too abstract, too visceral for Peter to understand, yet.

"Well, Peter and May. I thought we would start with a tour for the both of you. I thought getting to know the place would be a good first step for today." They both agreed and he took them to the first of many labs.

Peter was star struck. The equipment and facilities were all he ever dreamt of and more, but a thought rung through his head during the whole tour. Why? There was no real reason to go on the tour before giving his presentation.

His curiosity was brimming over and as they went to another room with a model arc reactor he had to know how it worked.

"So, by using the arc reactor it funnels the energy of the electrons outward from inside the inner core which means it creates a substantial energy current. The possibilities for clean energy are right at your fingertips then."

"Exactly, Kid. You've been doing some read on this haven't you?" May smiled looking between them. Peter blushed when he realized how candid he'd been.

"I, well, I like reading."

"Jim Rohn once said reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary."

"Oh, um, it's just something I enjoy. I'm not sure I fit into that category." His voice was soft and he pulled his sleeves back down. At the silence he looked up to find both adults staring at him. He went to open his mouth but shut it again.

"Don't count yourself out just yet, kid." He said before stepping in front of a set of frosted doors leaving Peter a step behind. May put her hand on his shoulder squeezing his tense muscles and followed Mr. Stark forward.

He trailed behind them wondering which room they were going in next. There on the table was his presentation. The vial of Weaver gleamed against the silver next to the stack of papers he brought.

Everything sped forward. There were voices playing in the background and his vision narrowed to a tunnel. Peter found himself standing before the two adults who were now sitting. The recited words that came out of his mouth were his own but it felt like they were being filtered through someone else. That he wasn't the one actually saying them. He stared at the space above his audience and on autopilot continued on. His hands trembled and the blood rushing to his head made it difficult to concentrate.

Then it was over. He heard clapping behind a veil of white noise and his eyes landed on May. She smiled and he hoped he made her proud. His heart was thrumming in his chest and he felt like he had been on a rollercoaster ride.

The time they took on the tour helped to calm the energy pouring off of him. The confusion melted away the further they went into the labyrinth of rooms. The man wasn't anything like Peter had thought he would be. He was patient when Peter built up the courage to ask questions. He opened the door for himself and his aunt, letting them in a room before him, and he even introduced them to Friday. The kind voice called him Mr. Parker at first but Peter quickly had he call him by his first name. Mr. Parker was what he was used to people calling Ben. What people called Ben. She had apologized and wished him good luck, which made him blush bright.

Now standing there after his audition, the yearning compressed inside his chest and threatened to explode out. He needed to be chosen. There was no way he could go back to how he was before, not after being here today.

"May, you've got quite a son there." Mr. Stark rose from his seat.

"Yes, I do. Don't I?" She said with a smile.

"Why don't you go relax in the waiting room while I go over some things with Peter. There's coffee in there. Please help yourself." May looked uncertainly at Peter but concealing his panic he forced himself to nod.

Peter's eyes followed her out of the room and then glanced at the man who was observing him. He shifted back and forth under the scrutiny.

"I just wanted… That is, thank you Mr. Stark for allowing me the opportunity…" Peter's mouth shut with an audible snap when the man's hands rose up.

"There is no need to thank me. I have to say that I saw your presentation at the hall and it was good. I'm not just saying that. The idea is brilliant." Peter's blush magnified as he kept talking.

"So, I'll just have to have the others on the board sign off and then we can get going. How does that sound?"

The world stopped spinning for a moment. Peter stared at the man who was leaning his hip against a table and stared right back at him. The man's expression was soft and Peter dropped his eyes to the floor, trying to wrap his head around the words.

"What?" His voice came out as no more than a whisper and Mr. Stark, who got up and was walking to the door May left out of turned around. He spied Peter still in the same spot as before. "Do you mean that?"

He came back and gently set his hand on Peter's shoulder.

"You got it, kid. You and select individuals from the list of other candidates have been chosen. Today was more of a formality if nothing else but I couldn't resist the chance to show off all the tech to someone who would appreciate it."

"I…" It was like their handshake earlier but somehow more. Peter stood there for a second, overwhelmed with the emotion he felt. He was floating. A year worth of work had finalized in this moment. A year worth of late nights, scratched out and crumbled papers, and relentless determination to finally achieve his goal. Peter fought the pricks in his eyes but they came heedless. His back dug into the metal as he fell into the table for support.

"Are you okay? Peter?" The voice rang out like the beams of light on a light house and Peter swam toward it. He swam through his thoughts toward the safety the voice would bring. He was sure of it.

It was the first time since Ben that an adult besides May had touched him in a caring manner. The warmth seeped through the pores in his shirt and into his very veins, energizing and fusing as it traveled. Peter found himself leaning forward, unconsciously trying to get closer to the man. All he wanted to do was burry wrap his arms around the man in thanks and soak up the warmth forever but he reeled back as if something struck him.

Mr. Stark's eyebrows were furrowed and his lips were pulled thin. He was afraid he had done something wrong, was being too casual. What was he thinking? The man's limbs moved slow, giving Peter enough time to stop him if he wanted. Little did he know that some force inside himself immobilized Peter. Mr. Stark moved his arm forward and Peter held his breath. At the last second Mr. Stark brought his arm back and ran his fingers through his hair. His chest deflated and Peter leaned further away not caring that his back ached.

He sidestepped and started to gather all his materials, waving Mr. Stark off saying he was fine.

"If you insist. Are you sure, kid?" Peter nodded and tried not to notice the relieved expression the other man wore. The two started walking out of the room. All the sudden Peter couldn't wait to get out of there.

"Um, Mr. Stark?" He spoke before they left and rejoined May. The man turned with an expectant look on his face. "Thank you. I promise I won't let you down."

"I have a feeling you won't, Peter."

May was elated by the news and couldn't contain her tears as they stood in the lobby and gave him a hug. Peter was only slightly embarrassed and wouldn't even let himself think the word jealous when she gave Mr. Stark a bear hug too. She grinned cheekily to the man who quickly stepped back and looked uncomfortable with the contact.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Stark. Peter worked so hard and I knew he had it in him."

"Please, Tony is fine and I'm looking forward to working together." He said with a wink. May laughed and invited Mr. Stark for dinner as thanks. That brought a whole slew of images. Some were negative: Mr. Stark entering their little apartment and storming out with a disgusted face. The man sneering at the chipped paint and dusty cupboards. Some were more positive. The three of them eating dinner as the snow fell outside the window and the fireplace burning bright. Peter shook those thoughts from his mind. They didn't even have a fireplace and why would Mr. Stark be eating with them anyway?

May gave Peter one more hug before Mr. Stark said goodbye. He left Peter with a stack of papers that needed signing and work plans he wanted Peter to brush up on. He was curious as to who the other interns were and realized he probably wasn't going to be seeing Mr. Stark all that much during the program. Peter squashed the empty feeling down at the thought.

The air was brisk when they walked down the stairs and Peter stared up at the building again. The city lights reflected and gleamed in the evening sun. The subway ride home was quiet but he could feel the energy radiating from May. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, whispering how proud she was of him.

When they got back home they started dinner. They combined leftovers with some vegetables on the edge of rotting from their fridge. Peter chopped and May cooked them together. Her song drifted through the kitchen as they worked and Peter found himself tapping to the tune. They chatted about the next chapter of the Austen he read for class. His hand came up to hide a laugh when May went on about the qualities of a certain dark haired gentleman.

Later, Peter sat on the escape ladder staring out. Layers of buildings blocked the whole view but he pretended he had enhanced vision that let him see the whole city. He imagined the feel of the wind through his hair as he flew through the city and he rose up, free from the burdens of his thoughts for a moment. As he opened his eyes he was disappointed to find himself back on the stair. Slipping into his bedroom the bed groaned under his weight and he closed his eyes. He could hear May roll over in the next room and wondered if she was sleeping yet.

His thoughts swirled, reflecting on the day and what new experiences Tony Stark would bring to his life.

I was so close to having them hug but I decided against it. More Irondad will come later though!

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