Mary Parker loved her husband. Richard was amazing, but he was also extremely stubborn. This often led to numerous arguments. Mary knew that they were happy together, it was obvious in the way they looked at each other in the mornings, and the loving whispers in the dark. However, when they got into an argument over a SHIELD mission Richard wanted to accept, she wasn't entirely surprised. She told him, begged him not to go, but he wanted to leave anyway. She sought out her beloved best friend, Rose. Rose had been her friend since they were fated to be college roommates. She had married young to Harrison Thompson. Mary knew that her friend was pregnant, but she figured she wouldn't mind a short visit.
"Mary, what are you doing here?" Rose asked when she saw who was at the door.
"It's Richard. We had another fight." Mary sulked. Rose opened the door and pulled the girl into her arms.
"It'll be okay," Rose whispered. "In fact, I have something that will help you take your mind off Richard.
"What?" Mary asked.
"There's a Stark Industries Science Convention tonight. It's mainly for scientists and their wives, but I think I can sneak you in." Rose smirked. Mary grinned back at her. As a scientist, she had always dreamed of going to one of the infamous SI Conventions.
"I'll grab my coat," Mary smiled.
Mary knew that something happened that night. The only problem is, she couldn't remember what. She had arrived at the party with Rose but they ended up separated. Next thing she knew, she was waking up with a dreadful headache. She recognized the room she was in as Rose's spare room. Eventually, it would be turned into a nursery, but that had yet to occur. She dragged herself out of bed and to the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
"Morning, Mary," Rose smiled, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"Good Morning, Rose," Mary said, returning the smile.
"Here, for your head," Rose said, placing a capsule of Ibuprofen in her hand. Mary thanked her and took the medication.
"Thank you so much for letting me crash here last night," Mary said.
"Of course, you're my best friend. I'll always be here for you," Rose smiled. Mary pulled her into a hug.
"I should probably go. Richard will start to worry if I'm not home soon." Mary frowned.
"Alright, I'll ask Harrison to drive you home on his way to work." Rose decided.
"You really don't have to," Mary tried to argue.
"What kind of friend would I be if I let you try to make your way home alone after a night of partying." Rose declared. Mary chuckled.
"Alright, I'll go with Harrison." she agreed.
"Great, you go grab your things, and I'll send him down."
"Mary!" Richard exclaimed when she opened the door. It was obvious he'd been pacing only moments before.
"I'm sorry, Rich. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I'm just afraid that one of these days you'll leave on a mission and never come back." Mary sighed, trying to be honest with her husband.
"Darling, if I thought I wouldn't make it home, I wouldn't take the mission," Richard said.
"I know, I know. I was just scared. It sounded so dangerous." Mary frowned. Richard pulled her into his arms, gently swaying to calm her.
"You're right, it was dangerous. That's why I'm not going. I may be an excellent marksman, but Clint's ten thousand times better than I'll ever be. If anyone can track Natalie Romanova, it's him." Richard said.
"You mean you're not going?" Mary asked. She looked up at him surprised.
"No, I'm not going. If we're going to have a family, I want to be there for it." Richard smiled.
"You mean it?" Mary asked hopefully. He nodded and placed a kiss on her brow. They stood there for a while, simply content to be with one another.
"I love you, Mary," Richard whispered.
"I love you too."
It had been nine months and Baby Parker was finally here. Mary would never forget the tears streaming down her and Richard's faces as little Peter was welcomed into the world. Richard had retired from fieldwork and was now working in SHIELD's biology department. They had been researching a project Oscorp had undertaken. It was still a risky operation but not nearly as dangerous.
"Congratulations!" Rose exclaimed, pulling Mary into a hug. Harrison trailed in behind her holding Eugene's baby carrier.
"Aw, thank you," Mary smiled, returning the hug.
"I'm so happy the boys are so close together," Rose squealed. "What's his name?"
"This is Peter Benjamin," Mary said, gesturing to where Richard was holding the boy. Rose was surprised to see dark brown locks framing his face. It was a stark contrast to Mary's blonde and Richard's auburn. She thought back to the SI Convention. It was possible something had happened while they were there. Mary was so drunk she didn't remember anything from the night. Rose dismissed the thought. The boy's hair would probably lighten as he got older. Besides, Mary wasn't the kind of girl to run off with another man, drunk or not.
"He is just darling," Rose cooed.
"Do you want to hold him?" Richard asked. Rose nodded and the baby was transferred to her arms.
"He's very small, even by newborn standards," Harrison commented. Rose shot him a glare before looking back to the baby in her arms.
"I think he's precious. The smallness of him is endearing." Rose commented.
"I'm just so happy he's finally here," Mary sobbed, tears forming in her blue eyes. "We've waited so long, it's almost hard to believe."
Rose nodded in understanding. She knew all about Richard's job at SHIELD and the dangers he faced. She knew they'd tried for months before Mary deemed Richard's job too dangerous. He almost hadn't come home and Mary didn't want to bring a child into a home where they would constantly worry about safety. Rose had cried with Mary the night after the SI Convention when Richard had finally agreed to stop taking on life-threatening missions. They'd laughed together when Mary came to her a month later to tell her she was late. They spilled tears of joy when the test was positive. Rose had been with Mary through everything. No one knew what Mary was feeling better than Rose.
The two said a heartfelt goodbye when the nurse came in and told them that visiting time was over. Mary invited them to dinner the next Saturday when Richard's brother, Ben, and his wife, May, would be driving into town. Rose agreed to be there and promised they wouldn't miss it. After a couple of minutes, the Thompsons leave the hospital. Rose still wonders if Peter really is Richards, but she does know that whether he is or not, Rich will love the boy as if he's his own.
"Merry Christmas, Auntie Rose, and Uncle Harrison!" Peter exclaimed, pulling the door open. Rose was surprised that he could open the door, seeing as how the boy is only two. She's also shocked at how good he is at speaking. She looks into his dark brown eyes, and a flicker of doubt passes over her once more. It had been over a year since she had last thought that the boy might not be Richards, but his eyes just proved it even more. Rich's eyes were green and Mary's were blue. There was no possible way they could have had a brown-eyed child.
"Peter. Let Rose and Harrison in. It's cold outside." Richard called from the dining room.
"Okay, Dad!" Peter called back. He led the couple inside, Harrison heading to the couch to lay down their sleeping son. Rose headed back into the kitchen to help Mary finish cooking dinner.
"Merry Christmas, Rose. I'm so glad you could make it." Mary smiled, pulling her friend into a hug.
"Well, I must admit, I'm impressed," Rose said.
"Whatever by?" Mary questioned.
"Peter, of course. He has an extremely well-developed vocabulary for a two-year-old." Rose commented. She moved next to Mary to help her chop vegetables.
"If it was Eugene, you'd be less impressed and more terrified." Mary frowned. "The other day, I found him reading out of Richard's old college textbooks. He's two! He should be learning the alphabet, not college curriculum. We know he wasn't just looking at it because he started talking to Richard about the things he'd read.
"And, get this, just last week, he took Richard's laptop apart. We were so mad until we found out he had put it back together and it was working ten times better than before. I mean, that's Stark Tech donated to SHIELD. My son should not be able to make tech work better than Tony Stark. It's completely ridiculous. I swear that child will be the death of me."
"You act like being a genius is a bad thing," Rose said. "You know, Tony Stark made his first circuit board when he was only a little older than Peter."
"My kid is not Tony Stark though. He's Peter Benjamin Parker. Son of a former scientist, and a biochemist. He shouldn't be able to do what he does." Mary exploded. "He doesn't even look like Rich. I don't know where he got his eyes from or his hair. Heck, I don't even know where he got his goofy smile. If I hadn't pushed that kid out myself, I'd wonder if he was even mine."
"He's obviously yours, but have you ever wondered if he's not Richards?" Rose asked quietly.
"Oh, gosh. I feel terrible about it, but yes. I don't remember a thing from that SI Convention three years ago. It's completely possible that Peter isn't a Parker at all." Mary sighed, "I have to finish up here. Pete's probably watching the news or something similar. Why don't you go join him."
"Okay. I need to check on Eugene anyways." Rose agreed. She walked into the living area and, just as Mary had predicted, Peter was sitting on the floor watching the news.
"Twelve years ago, on December 17, Howard and Maria Stark were killed in an automobile accident. Anthony Edward Stark was only 17 at the time, so the company was left in Obadiah Stane's capable hands." The newscaster read. A picture was being shown of Howard and Maria with a young Tony Stark. He appeared to be around two or three. Rose was shocked. She looked from the picture to Peter, back to the picture, and back to Peter. In a rush, she grabbed the TV remote and changed the channel. Her mind was running trying to process what she had just discovered.
'Peter Parker is. . . Peter Stark?' she thought to herself. Suddenly, all of Peter's actions became normal. He was the son of a genius. Of course he would be running around reading textbooks and making Stark Technology better. He was a Stark and that's what Starks did. Had Tony known of his son, Peter would have been expected to reach certain expectations that currently seemed unnatural for a child his age. Peter was practically a carbon copy of his father. He had his hair, eyes, and, she was almost positive, his smile.
"Peter, dear, it's dinner time!" Mary called from the kitchen. Rose watched in shock as Tony Stark's son went to help set the table for dinner.
Rose was a terrible best friend. She was almost positive that if you looked up who the worst best friend in the world was, you'd see her picture. Mary and Richard were her closest friends and she was willing to betray them at the drop of a hat, or in this case, the crash of a plane. She had been trying to coax the two to spend their ten year anniversary somewhere exotic. Rose had offered to watch Peter and they had taken her up on it. When she heard that the plane had crashed she'd been devastated. That is until a little voice in the back of her mind started to whisper to her. Peter was currently under her care until SHIELD finished their background checks on May and Ben, so no one would notice if she took a trip up to Manhattan with him. After sending Eugene off to school, she took Peter to the car and drove him to Stark Tower.
"Now, Pete, we're going to play a little game," Rose told the five-year-old boy.
"What kind of game?" Peter asked.
"We're going to pretend that you're Eugene. Do you think you can do that for me?" she asked.
"Of course, Aunt Rose. I'll be the best Eugene there ever was!" Peter exclaimed, eager to impress. She grabbed his hand and they walked to the lobby's front desk.
"Hi, how can I help you?" A lady asked. Rose glanced at her nametag so she could address her by her name.
"Hi, Gwen. My name is Rose Thompson, and this is my son Eugene." Rose started. "We were wondering if it was possible to meet with Mr. Stark about Eugene's parentage."
"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Thompson. All claims of having sired Tony's son are to be addressed by Miss Pepper Potts." Gwen explained. "I'll call her right down for you."
Rose waited with Peter as Gwen contacted Tony's personal assistant. Peter spent his time looking around the lobby in awe. The mini Stark was obviously in love with the tower already.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Thompson?" A young woman asked.
"Yes, yes I am," Rose responded.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Pepper Potts. If you'd follow me, please." Pepper led the pair through the hallways until they stopped in a room similar to a doctor's office.
"Where are we?" Peter asked.
"Well, little man," Pepper smiled, bending down so that she could make eye contact. "We're going to figure out if your Daddy is who your Mommy says he is."
"My Dad?" Peter asked. Rose took in the boy's confused face, "Excuse me, Miss Potts, but I think you're confused."
"Eugene, not now." Rose glared.
"No, let him finish," Pepper said.
"I already have a Dad. Granted, I know he's not my real Dad. It wasn't too hard to figure out, my blood is type O+ and he has type B, while my mom has type A. But either way he is my Dad. He's the one who let me sit by his side when he worked through complex equations. He offered to help me with my school work, he even let me take apart his Stark Laptop once." Peter said proudly.
"Eugene, dear. He didn't let you take apart the laptop. You did it without his permission, and we were furious until we realized that it was reassembled and ten times more efficient." Rose cut in.
"Still," Peter shrugged.
"You know what," Pepper said, "I'm gonna give Tony a call real quick."
"Peter, what are you doing," Rose hissed once Pepper left the room.
"Sorry, I just had to let her know the truth. I didn't want to lie to Miss Potts. She seems very nice." Peter said.
"Peter Benjamin Parker, if you mess this up for me and Eugene, you'll be sorry." Rose threatened. Peter shrunk under her harsh glare. Pepper re-entered the room, followed by a very familiar man. Peter gaped when he saw Tony Stark enter the room. Pepper went over to Peter and took a swab of spit.
"He looks just like me," Tony said.
"And apparently he was able to make improvements on a Stark Laptop," Pepper added.
"Well, we should probably test him, just in case, but I'm pretty sure he's my kid." Tony breathed. "JARVIS, can you run a paternity test between me and little Eugene here?"
"Yes, sir," JARVIS responded. "Test complete, the results are positive."
"Well, would you look at that," Tony said. "I have a kid."
"Now, Miss Thompson, this is very new to all of us. If you could give Mr. Stark a moment to come to terms with the new developments-" Pepper started. Tony cut her off and looked at Peter. He took in his curly locks, brown eyes, and big ears. Looking deep into the kid's eyes, he saw an innocence that he couldn't bring himself to ruin.
"I'm sorry, Miss Thompson, but I don't believe I'm properly suited to be a parent at this moment. I will provide you with a monthly stipend until I feel ready to be a part of Eugene's life." Tony said.
"A-alright," Rose stuttered. Pepper led them back out to the lobby.
"I apologize if that didn't turn out the way you expected. Mr. Stark has had a lot of pressure on him since Afghanistan. If you could please refrain from telling people about Eugene's parentage, it would be much appreciated." Pepper stated. It was phrased as a statement, but Rose could tell there was an underlying threat beneath it all.
"Of course, Miss Potts. No one will hear it from me." Rose promised.
As, arguably, the most advanced AI of the century, JARVIS was well programmed enough to realize that Miss Thompson calling young 'Eugene' a different name as soon as Pepper left the room meant that Tony was being tricked. JARVIS immediately began to compile evidence that Eugene Thompson was an entirely different child and that this young boy was Peter Parker, son of Tony Stark and Mary Parker. JARVIS was so close to gathering all the necessary data. He often had to split his time between tasks, running recognition tests through newspapers and social media webpages. Fitting as it was, it only made sense that while preparing the evidence to present to Tony, JARVIS was attacked by the newly developed AI, Ultron.
After the entire fiasco in Sokovia, Vision decided that it was in his best interest to not mention the past ordeal to Tony. From the information gathered, he knew that the boy was causing no harm, and Tony wasn't being led astray by anything other than the loss of a few thousand dollars a month. If he were still JARVIS, he might have attempted to bring up the information; however, with the new changes that had been made, he believed it to be better not to mention it at all.
"Good Morning, Peter," May called from the kitchen. "Are you excited to go to the compound tonight?"
"Yes! Tony said we could work on some new upgrades for the suit today." Peter said. It had been about six months since the airport fight in Germany, and three since May had found out after the whole Vulture incident. Tony Stark got to experience May Parker's anger in full force. She lashed into him for letting Peter participate in such a dangerous pastime and was fully considering removing Tony from their lives entirely. It wasn't until Peter had explained that Mr. Stark wanted him safe and if the only way he could keep him safe was by providing him with a multi-million dollar suit, that was what he would do. After learning that Tony had experienced firsthand the guilt from knowing that he'd tried to stop Peter, resulting in getting him more hurt, May was much more accepting of Tony. However, she did insist that Peter spend Wednesdays at the tower, and weekends at the compound to train under Tony's guidance for the dangers Peter would face.
"Alright, text me when you get to the tower, and make sure to tell Pepper I say hi." May smiled, planting a kiss in her nephew's curly locks.
"Yeah, yeah. I know," he smirked, pulling his aunt into a hug.
"Have fun at school, Peter."
"Bye, May!" Pete called, rushing out the door to where Happy was waiting. "Good morning, Happy!"
"Morning," Happy grumbled.
"How are you on this lovely morning?" Peter asked, playing into the dramatics. Although Happy would never admit it to his face, Peter knew that the man was a sucker for a good drama.
"I'm fine, kid. You are going to have to make some room on the way back to the tower, though. Tony's kid, Eugene, demanded that Tony spend more time with him." Happy explained. Peter's face blanched. He knew Tony had had his playboy days, but he had no idea Tony was aware of any kids.
"I didn't know Tony had a kid," Peter squeaked.
"Oh, yeah. He doesn't mention him much," Happy said. "Honestly, from what I've heard the kid was as sweet as sugar when he was little. Tony said that he's grown into a real snob, and he feels like that's on him for being a terrible father."
"That's ridiculous," Peter declared. "Mr. Stark is the best father figure anyone could ask for."
"You should tell him sometime. He'd be delighted to hear that from you. He sees you more like his kid than this Eugene Thompson." Happy said. Peter paled once more.
"D-do you m-mean, Flash Thompson?" He stuttered.
"Yep, that's the one. Ridiculous name, if I do say so myself." Happy stated blandly. Peter shrunk into his seat. Flash Thompson is Tony Stark's son. Flash Thompson would be butting in on his time with Tony. The same Flash Thompson who bullied him at school: shoving him into lockers, sticking his head in the toilet, calling him names. Peter pulled out his phone to text Mr. Stark.
Peter: u have a son!
Tony: Yes?
Peter: u never told me. :(
Tony: Didn't think it was important. Kid's a brat though
Peter: Ya, i know. i go 2 school with him.
Tony: You know Eugene
Peter: Ya, i lived with the Thompsons for a couple of weeks after my parents died. my mom was best friends with Rose.
Tony: Really, you don't seem too fond of Eugene now though.
Peter: Ya, he kinda
. . . bullies me
. . . just a little
Tony: WHAT
Peter: it's not a big deal. i can handle it. im Spider-Man
Tony: Spider-Man or not, you shouldn't be bullied. I'm gonna give that kid a talking to.
Peter: pls don't Mr. Stark
Tony: Sorry, Pete. No one's allowed to hurt my kid.
Peter: technically flash is your kid, not me.
Tony: Blood or not, you're my kid. I don't even know Eugene.
Peter: y is he even demanding u spend time with him?
Tony: Something about some kid at his school having an 'internship' with me. It's ridiculous though. SI doesn't hire high schoolers as interns.
Peter: did u tell him that?
Tony: Yeah, I mean, I don't want some random kid going around saying they have an internship at SI.
Peter: . . . um, Mr. Stark
Tony: . . . oh
Peter: when did u tell flash?
Tony: This weekend, when he asked about coming to the compound on weekends.
Peter: *sigh*
Tony: Yeah, yeah. I get it. I messed up. I'll fix it though.
Peter: if he sees me at all he'll freak out. especially when he finds out i have my own room. . . and all access. . . and that i know all the Avengers personally. . .
Tony: We'll just have to hide you then.
Peter: wat
Tony: If you make it to Happy first, sit in the front seat. The windows are tinted, so Eugene won't be able to see you. After you get to the compound, wait until Happy leaves with the OK (other kid) and then sneak down to the lab. We'll spend the day there and order pizza or Thai.
Peter: how will i get to my room from the lab?
Tony: Kid, you can literally walk on walls. I'll leave your window unlocked and you can swing in like you usually do after patrol.
Peter: ok, we can make this work. thanks, Mr. Stark!
Tony: Kid, I thought we were past all this Mr. Stark stuff
Peter: ur right, ur right. thanks, Tony! :)
"Alrighty, Peter. I'll see you after school." Happy said, bringing the car to a stop.
"Of course, Happy. Oh, by the way, I'm gonna need to sit in the front on the way to the compound so Flash doesn't see me." Peter explained.
"Fine by me, I'd rather not be forced to talk to the kid." Happy shrugged.
"Thanks, Hap. I'll see you after school!" Peter smiled. He grabbed his backpack and made his way into the school.
"Hey, Parker!" Flash called. Peter groaned.
"Yes, Flash?" Peter said, turning to face the boy.
"You'll never guess what I found out this weekend," the boy smirked.
"Let me guess, Mr. Stark told you that SI doesn't hire high school interns. Am I right?" Peter frowned.
"Well, yeah, but I've also been invited to spend the weekend at the Avengers Compound," Flash smirked, Peter began to wonder if the boy could make any other expressions.
"That's great, Flash. Maybe I'll see you there," Peter smiled sarcastically.
"Yeah, right. Tony said that the only person allowed in the penthouse area of the compound, besides the Avengers and Pepper Potts, is his personal intern." Flash smirked once more. Peter rolled his eyes.
"I know that. I'm his personal intern." Peter said, "And maybe if you're really good this weekend, Mr. Stark will let you join us in the lab for pizza and movies."
"Oh, please. How about this, if I see you with Tony Stark this weekend, I'll never pick on you again." Flash smirked, obviously thinking he'd win the bet.
"Okay, deal." Peter smiled. He turned and walked to his first class. This was going to be a long day.
Peter: Mr. Stark, i messed up
Tony: Kid, what did you do?
Peter: I made a bet
. . . with Flash
Tony: . . . about what?
Peter: if he sees me with you at the compound, he'll never pick on me again. . .
Tony: Well then, I guess he's going to find out about your room, and your lab time, and your relationship with the avengers
Peter: but Mr. Staaarrrrrrkkkk
Tony: Pete, we literally talked about you calling me Mr. Stark less than fifteen minutes ago
Peter: but Daaaaddddd
*this number is no longer connected*
Pepper: Sorry, kid. I dropped my phone in the sink
Peter: so u decided 2 steal Ms. Potts's?
Pepper: Well, it's not like Rhodey would let me take his.
Peter: hahaha, ok. look, i gtg. class is starting.
Pepper: Alright, bye kid.
Peter: Bye, Tony.
Peter slid his phone into his pocket and turned to glance at Flash. From his position, he could just barely make out that Flash was trying, and failing, to text Tony. Peter felt a slight sliver of guilt at taking Flash's father from him. He pulled out his phone once more and shot a quick text to Flash.
Peter: Mr. Stark dropped his phone in the sink. you won't be able to reach him until he grabs a new one from downstairs.
Flash: and why would you know what happened to Tony Stark's cell phone.
Peter: bc i was texting him when he dropped it.
Flash: ya right. not only does SI not hire high schoolers, they definitely don't give high schoolers Tony Stark's phone number.
Peter: oh, really. do u want to explain y u have Tony's phone number then?
Flash: i never told you i had Tony Stark's phone number.
Peter: i can see the name of the person ur texting. im not an idiot
Flash: whatever, parker
Peter was definitely regretting telling Flash about Tony's phone mishap.
"Dude, what's going on?" Ned asked.
"Look, you can't tell anyone, but Flash is Tony's son," Peter whispered.
"What!" Ned quietly exclaimed.
"I know, right." Peter said, " Anyways, he's going to be spending weekends at the compound with me and Tony."
"Dude, there's no way he can say you're lying now!"
"Yeah, but Tony wants to keep me hidden at least until we get to the compound. That way Flash can't complain to Aunt Rose about Tony spending time with me instead of him." Peter explained.
"Wait," Ned stopped, "Aunt Rose?"
"Yeah, dude," Peter cringed. "My mom and Flash's mom were best friends. I spent a lot of time with Rose. In fact, the first time I went to SI was with her. It was right after Afghanistan, and we got to meet Pepper Potts. Then Miss Potts went and got Tony, and that was the first time he called me his kid."
"Dude, do you think maybe they were doing a paternity test?" Ned asked.
"Nah, dude. Flash is Tony's son, not me. Besides, why would they take me to the test if Flash is the one who is his son?" Peter asked.
"I don't know. Maybe you are Mr. Stark's son, though. What if Mrs. Thompson took you and told them your name was Eugene. I mean, come on. Flash doesn't look anything like Tony Stark, unlike you." Ned theorized. "Dude, I've seen your baby pictures. You look like a carbon copy of young Tony Stark."
"Dude," Peter sighed, "I'm not Tony's son."
"But you could be," Ned pointed out.
"Well, even if I was, I couldn't tell him. I may see Tony as a father figure, but I highly doubt he sees me as his son. Especially since he already has a son." Peter frowned.
"Peter, dude. The man literally calls you his kid. If that's not proof that he doesn't view you as a son, I don't know what to tell you." Ned stated. From the front of the classroom, Mr. Harrington gave a disapproving glare. Peter knew that Mr. Harrington wouldn't call him out on it though. Peter was the top of the class, so he was often given leeway, especially since they could never call him out for getting wrong answers after not paying attention.
Honestly, Peter was way past the curriculum the class was currently working on. After spending so much time working with Tony and Bruce, he'd far exceeded the subjects taught in his high school classes. It often took Peter fifteen to twenty minutes to whip out hours worth of homework. In turn, Tony and Bruce were teaching him college curriculum so that he could skip his Freshman year as soon as he turned eighteen. The only reason Peter wasn't currently attending college classes was because May wanted him to spend time with kids his age. Peter often argued that no matter where he was, Ned would always be his only friend. Well, actually, Ned and MJ.
A couple of months ago, Peter had invited Ned and MJ over to spend the weekend at the compound with him. Upon meeting Pepper, MJ was immediately taken under her wing. Ned had also developed a close bond with Bruce. After days of pleading, Peter was able to convince Tony to let Ned and MJ be Pepper and Bruce's personal interns. His friends had flourished under the guidance provided by their childhood idols.
"Mr. Parker, since you seem to know so much, why don't you teach?" Mr. Harrington frowned. Peter was shocked to be called out by the teacher.
"Well, Mr. Harrington, with the way you're currently solving the problem, you will eventually get the answer, but there are more efficient ways to solve it," Peter started.
"And what exactly would that be?" Mr. Harrington said, crossing his arms. Peter grimaced as his frown deepened.
"Well, right now you're simplifying 1-cos2 into 1sec2+1 when you could be simplifying it to sin2. Which makes the equation equivalent, thus giving us our answer two steps sooner." Peter explained.
"Oh, yes. You're right." Mr. Harrington said, shock plain in his eyes.
"I know," Peter smiled. "I go over equations like this all the time with the interns at SI."
"Oh, come on," Flash groaned. "Give it up, Parker. No one actually believes that you are an SI intern."
"That's because I'm not an intern-" Peter began until Flash cut in.
"I knew it!"
"I'm not an intern, I'm Tony Stark's Personal Assistant." He finished.
"Pfft, yeah right. Like Tony Stark would want an orphan like you as his assistant." Flash smirked.
"It's true! How else would I know about your parentage," Peter glared, his patience worn thin. Flash paled.
"Now, boys. This is no time for petty arguments." Mr. Harrington frowned.
"Sorry, Mr. Harrington," Peter said, hanging his head.
"Yeah, what he said," Flash remarked. The rest of the class passed by without incident. Tony had grabbed a new phone and had continued to text Peter. Peter sighed, a fond smile playing on his lips when Tony once again offered to register him for MIT's Online Classes so that he would actually be learning new material. By the time they got to lunch, Tony and Peter had been texting for almost three straight hours.
"Dude, what are you even doing? You've been staring at your phone almost the whole day." Ned sighed.
"Huh, oh. Sorry. Tony just wanted to know what I want for dinner tonight and what movie we should watch." Peter blushed.
"Well, what did you say?" Ned asked, suddenly very invested in Peter's distraction.
"I asked him if we could make his mom's lasagna. He promised he'd teach me a couple of weeks ago. Then, for the movie, I was thinking we could watch Finding Dory. Tony loves Finding Nemo, so he's been mentioning wanting to see it." Peter shrugged.
"Peter, dude. How is it that you can be so nonchalant about having movie nights and sleepovers at the Avengers Compound! Like, what the heck, dude," Ned exhaled.
"I guess the novelty's kinda worn off," Peter chuckled. "I mean, you can only give Tony Stark so many heart attacks before you realize he's just a dorky, concerned father-figure/mentor."
"What even is your life," Ned sighed, shaking his head.
Tony: I'd love to teach you how to make lasagna. I think that'll be really fun.
Peter: That's what i was thinking 2. besides, we haven't been able to spend as much time together since the Rogues were pardoned.
Tony: Yeah, kid. You're right. I guess we'll just have to lock Eugene out of the lab and the kitchen.
Peter: r we gonna let him join movie night?
Tony: He can watch the movie with us, but I refuse to let him take part in our father/son cuddles.
Tony: *mentor/mentee
Peter: Mr. Stark, do u see me as ur son?
Tony: *cough* *cough* that's not important
Peter: well, i mean, it's kinda important
Tony: Why, kid?
Peter: bc i see you as my dad. . .
Pepper: Pete, honey. Care to share why Tony just came running into the room exclaiming, "I have a son! I have a son!"?
Peter: It's really not important, Ms. Potts
Pepper: Oh, but it is. Besides, how am I supposed to know if I'm a mom or not if you don't tell me . . .
Peter: um. . . well . . . you see . . .
Peter: I kinda. . . sorta. . . told Tony. . .
Peter: thatiseehimasmydad
Pepper: That's great, Pete. I was wondering how long it would take for the two of you to fess up.
Peter: WAT. . . U KNEW!
Pepper: You guys aren't exactly the best at keeping secrets.
Pepper: On a completely unrelated note, would you rather have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or a blt when you get to the compound?
Peter: let's go with pb+j. then i don't have 2 eat it immediately.
Pepper: I hate that line of reasoning
Peter: *shrug*
Pepper: Peter, I swear. I will sick Natasha on you.
Peter: Please no, anything but Aunt Nat!
Pepper: Fine, I won't sick Natasha on you. . . yet. I guess you'll just have to stay in my good graces.
Peter: i can literally read your smirk. . .
Pepper: You're trying to sound unimpressed. I can tell.
Peter: Is it working?
Pepper: No.
Peter: Ugh, I'm going back to talking to Tony. He's nicer to me.
Pepper: Fine, I'll see you after school.
Peter: Ofc! Love ya!
Pepper: Love ya too, Pete!
Peter: Tony, your fiancée is being mean to me :'(
Tony: I wouldn't go there if I were you. . .
Peter: she threatened to sick Nat on me. :(
Tony: Gosh, Pete. What'd you do to get her to threaten that?
Peter: Nothing really. i just said that i wanted pb+j instead of blt so i didn't have to eat it right away.
Tony: Alright, that's it.
Peter: wat?
Tony: I'm picking you up from school and we're gonna go get some sandwiches from that Delmar's place you swear by.
Peter: wat about Flash?
Tony: Happy can pick him up.
Peter: Okay then, that sounds like a lot of fun!
"Peter, come on, dude," Ned sighed. "You can't just zone out on us like that."
"Sorry, Ned. I was texting Pepper." Peter shrugged.
"Wait, wait, wait. Did you just say that you were texting Ms. Potts!" MJ exclaimed.
"Uhm, yeah. She wanted to know what kind of snack she should make for me after school." Peter said, waving off her remark.
"Peter, are you telling me that my mentor, Pepper Potts, makes you, Peter Parker, after school snacks?" MJ interrogated. Peter nodded, taking a bite of his chicken sandwich.
"She also makes him lunch on Mondays," Ned added.
"Not just Mondays. Tony has Happy take me to and from school every day, and she always sends lunch. Something about 'wanting to make sure her favorite intern is fed.' She's a really great cook though, so I'm not complaining." Peter smiled. He went to take another bite of his sandwich, but MJ grabbed it before he could. He made a noise of complaint when she took a large bite.
"That's what you get for stealing my mentor," MJ smirked.
"Yeah, whatever. Give it back." Peter growled.
"Geez. Calm down, loser," MJ laughed.
"Besides, it's not like I took just your mentor. I'm Uncle Bruce's favorite too." Peter shrugged. Ned promptly took Peter's sandwich from MJ and took a large bite of it. MJ cackled from across the table.
"You guys are lucky Tony and I are going to Delmar's after school," Peter said pointedly, grabbing his food from Ned's hands.
"You know you love us," Ned sang.
"Whatever," Peter grumbled, scarfing down the rest of his food.
"You're just jealous that we have real internships," MJ said.
"Uhm, the Avengers literally see me as their family. I'm pretty sure I'm not the jealous one." Peter pointed out.
"You forgot to mention that you're practically an Avenger too," Ned added.
"Yeah, that too."
"Oh my gosh, you guys are total nerds," MJ laughed. Peter smiled. His phone buzzed and he moved to look at it.
Tony: Hey, kid, I hate to do this, (especially since I know you have a test) but the Avengers need the web-slinger.
Peter: whos picking me up?
Tony: Nat
Peter: alright, I'll head up 2 the office.
"Sorry, guys, I've gotta go. Family emergency." Peter said, using the excuse that would let his friends know that there was an Avengers level threat that required Spider-Man's help.
"Be careful, Peter," MJ said, pulling him into a hug. The first time it had happened he'd been confused, but when he asked MJ why it made sense. She told him that she never knew which mission would be his last, and she wasn't going to risk letting him die without saying goodbye.
"For you," he smirked, "Always."
"Oh, gosh. Just go already," Ned gagged.
"See ya later, dude!" Peter called.
"You better!" Ned called back. Peter jogged into the office where Natasha was already waiting.
"Hey, Aunt Nat. Where are we going today?" Peter asked.
"Small threat in Forest Hills," Nat relayed. "You are prohibited from engaging in fighting. You're coming to help clear buildings and keep civilians out of the way."
"But-"
"No. If you refuse to stay back, you can just stay here. Do you understand?" Nat frowned.
"I was wondering why Tony sent you," Peter mumbled.
"I said, do you understand," Nat glared.
"Yes, I understand," Peter grumbled.
"Good. Go change. I'll stand watch." Nat said, gesturing to the alleyway next to the school. Peter nodded and entered the alleyway.
"So, what's the threat?" Peter asked, his voice muffled by his shirt being pulled over his head.
"It's just Kingpin. Nothing too serious." Nat shrugged, "However, they are trying to get to a former worker, Jonathan Turner, who was recently admitted to the Forest Hills Hospital."
"Where May works." He nodded, pulling his suit on.
"Exactly." She said, "The only reason we're pulling you in is to remove the workers and patients from the crossfire."
"Yeah, I get it. Gotta be extra careful cause May's there. She'd kill Tony if she knew he was willingly letting me in the line of fire." Peter mused.
"You bet she would, your aunt's almost scarier than Pepper," Nat chuckled, swinging her leg over her motorcycle.
"I don't think anyone can be scarier than Pep," Peter smiled, sitting behind her.
"Helmet, маленький паук (little spider)," Nat smirked, handing him a tacky Spider-Man themed helmet.
"Tony put you up to this, didn't he," Peter said, unimpressed.
"Come on, Пити (Petey), you know we all wear our own themed helmets," Nat smiled.
"Yeah, but all of yours are cool and custom-designed. Mine looks like Tony snagged it on sale at the nearest Walmart." Peter deadpanned.
"Wow, ребенок паук (baby spider), you've really thought about this," Nat laughed, shoving the helmet on Peter's head and putting the bike in gear. Peter frowned and wrapped his arms around Nat's waist.
"Ya know, if Tony would just let me help him make a Nano suit, I wouldn't even need one of these helmets. We could make a Nano one based off of the Iron Spider," Peter shouted over the bike's noise.
"Maybe you guys could even store the suit in your panic watch," Natasha shrugged, not needing to yell because Peter could pick up her voice with his super hearing.
"And then I wouldn't have to wear a helmet over my mask and worry about accidentally exposing my identity every time I removed it," Peter said.
"Fine, kid. We'll make you a Nano suit," Tony said over the comms.
"I knew you were listening!" Peter exclaimed.
"Kid, I'm literally always listening. If we're in our suits at the same time, our comms are always connected." Tony chuckled.
"Wow, Tony. You're really trying to go for the Stalker Avenger of the Year Award, aren't you," Peter laughed.
"Watch where you're going, kid. Technically you aren't even an Avenger."
"The kid has earned the Honorary Avenger title though," he heard Nat say over the comms.
"Yeah, yeah. I guess." Tony said.
"Yes!" Peter cheered.
"Alrighty, маленький паук (little spider), time to go." Nat said, parking the bike in an alley near the hospital.
"Remember, Pete. Stick to the civilians. Don't enter the crossfire." Tony said. The edge to his voice told Peter that he was serious.
"You got it, stick to the civilians, don't enter the crossfire," Peter repeated. He hopped off the bike and swung onto a building adjacent to Forest Hills.
"Turner's on level 7. Start from the first floor and work your way up to 7. By the time you get there, we should have Kingpin subdued. Web up anyone that your spidey sense deems a threat." Tony ordered.
"Roger that," Peter laughed.
"Spidey, we're serious," Cap said.
"Yeah, kiddo. This is serious business." Clint said. Peter heard the comms cut off for a minute and waited until he heard them turn back on before he entered the building.
"Everyone, please return to your rooms in an orderly fashion and lock the doors," Peter called, helping the nurses and doctors to safety on each floor. He made it up to the sixth floor before he finally heard the news on the situation.
"Tony, we found Kingpin. He has a hostage." Sam said.
"Who is it? I can help!" Peter called.
"No, kid. Stay out of this." Tony snapped. He heard Tony land on the floor above him. He used his hearing to listen in on the conversation.
"Kingpin, let her go." he heard Cap say.
"Stay calm, May. We'll get you out of this." Tony said softly.
"I know, Tony. I trust you." May assured him.
"Oh, so you know this woman. That just makes her the perfect candidate." Kingpin laughed. Peter paled. He pulled the room's window open and climbed out. He scaled the wall until he reached the room Kingpin was in with the team and May. Pulling the window open, he entered the room.
"Let her go!" Peter called, shooting a web at Kingpin. The large man flew back into the wall. When he hit the wall, the gun fired. May let out a scream as it grazed her shoulder tearing through a large section of muscle. Peter let out a cry as he jumped towards Kingpin, ready to attack.
"Kid, no!" Tony called, grabbing the boy.
"May! May, no!" Peter cried, trying to squirm out of Tony's grasp.
"Friday, call Helen and have her prepare the MedBay," Tony said, trying to calm the sobbing boy. Cap gently picked May up and carried her to the Quinjet, Tony following behind with Peter. They laid her on one of the benches, where Bruce had been waiting. Having Bruce as the emergency medic on the Quinjet was the most logical choice. If they were ever running low on manpower, he could join the fight. Plus, if the Quinjet was ever targeted, Hulk would be able to survive the blow. Once the team, minus Natasha, was situated inside, the Quinjet took off towards the compound.
"Don't worry, May. You're gonna be alright. Dr. Cho's gonna take care of you." Peter whispered to the woman as Bruce put pressure on the shot.
"Good news, Peter. The bullet didn't hit anything vital. Once we get her cleaned up and remove any remaining shrapnel, she'll be able to heal nicely." Bruce informed the boy.
"Thanks, Uncle Bruce," Peter said, leaving the makeshift Medical Station to go talk to Tony. He approached his mentor/father-figure with caution.
"Peter," Tony frowned, "I specifically told you not to engage."
"I know, I know. It's just, he had May. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing." Peter explained.
"I know, Pete; however, what you did was reckless and dangerous. You disregarded my blatant orders and if I had half a brain, I'd take the suit away." Tony threatened.
"Please, Tony. Don't take the suit." Peter pleaded.
"Kid, I said if I had half a brain. Luckily, for you, I don't. I know you, Pete. If I took the suit away, you'd find another way to go out and help people. That's why we're going to compromise." Tony explained.
"How?" Peter asked.
"Well, I won't take the suit away," Tony said, "but you will be taking a break from Spider-Manning. It's up to May to decide how long, but it will be happening."
"That sounds fair," Peter nodded. "I really am sorry for intervening. I didn't mean to make a problem."
"Oh, kid," Tony sighed. "I'm not mad at you for intervening. In fact, if you hadn't stepped up, May might not have made it out at all. I'm proud of you, Peter. It was extremely brave of you to enter the fight knowing that you would be in trouble, but still doing it. To tell you the truth, without your help, Kingpin probably wouldn't be in custody right now."
"You-you're proud of me?"
"Yeah, kid. I really am," Tony smiled. Peter surged forward and hugged the tired man. Tony wrapped his arms around the boy, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.
"I love you, Dad," Peter whispered. The boy heard Tony's heart skip a beat and his breath catch in his throat.
"I love you too, kiddo," Tony breathed.
"Y-you don't mind if I call you that, do you?" Peter asked, pulling away from the hug.
"Peter," Tony smiled. "I'd love it if you'd call me Dad."
"Awwwww," Clint cooed from the cockpit. "You guys are so cute."
"Way to ruin the moment, Uncle Clint," Peter pouted.
"To be fair, the Quinjet isn't exactly the best place to be having a heart-to-heart," Sam pointed out.
"I mean, they're not wrong," Tony shrugged.
"Daaadddd, you're supposed to be on my side," Peter whined.
"No, Pete. I'm supposed to be on the right side." Tony smirked.
"Fine then. I guess I'll just watch Finding Dory. All. By. My. Self.'' Peter said, spitefully.
"Alright, alright. You win." Tony ceded.
"You guys are watching Finding Dory!" Steve exclaimed, "Can we join you? We've been wanting to watch that since it came out."
"Sure," Tony shrugged. "Pete, do you mind if we have pizza tonight and make the lasagna tomorrow so the team can join?"
"Fine by me. You guys gotta bring your own snacks though." Peter said.
"Sorry, guys. My kid's a little possessive." Tony laughed. Clint landed the Quinjet and the team shuttled May into the MedBay. While May was in surgery, the rest of the medical crew checked up on the team. Peter was sitting on one of the exam tables waiting for his turn when Tony randomly shoved the Iron Man helmet on his head. He was confused until he heard a familiar voice talking to Happy.
"No way! Is that Spider-Man and the Avengers!"
"Oh no! I forgot about Flash!" Peter paled.
"Hey, hey. Calm down, Kiddo. You don't have to see him today. We've got all weekend for you to show your face as, well, you." Tony said, consoling the boy.
"Okay, thanks, Dad," Peter smiled.
"How about we get you cleaned up, changed, and then head down to the lab to work on the Iron Spider," Tony suggested.
"Yeah!" Peter grinned, jumping off the examination table and climbing out the window to his room. After changing he ran down the hall and straight into Tony.
"Woah, slow down, Pete," Tony laughed.
"Sorry," Peter chuckled.
"It's alright, buddy. I get that you're excited. How about you head down to the lab right now, and I'll go see if little old Eugene is settled in?" Tony said.
"That sounds good," Peter agreed. "Is May doing okay?"
"Yeah, Pete. She's fine. However, the hospital just called and she's on forced extended leave. Because she was watching over Turner, they think that having her work is a liability. There's also the fact that she got shot and would have to take a break anyway." Tony explained.
"W-what does that mean for us?" Peter asked.
"Well, tomorrow, we're going to head to the apartment and pack all of your stuff up to bring here. May and I agreed that the safest place for you two to stay right now is at the compound." Tony said.
"Wait, really! So it will be like compound weekends 24/7!" Peter exclaimed.
"Yeah, bud. We can work in the lab every day after you finish your homework, and then you can stay out patrolling later because you won't have to make the extra stop to get checked up before heading home."
"This is gonna be awesome! I'll meet you down in the lab!" Peter smiled, running to the elevator. It was a short ride down and when he finally made it to the lab, he asked Friday to pull up the video feed of Tony and Flash. Taking a seat, he watched his bully and his father-figure interact.
"Hey, Eugene. Settling in well?" Tony asked.
"Well, the room could be nicer, but it's okay." Flash shrugged.
"Yeah, sorry about that. The best guest room is right next to my room, but it's already been remodeled into my Personal Intern's." Tony explained.
"Why would your Personal Intern need a room?" Flash said, folding his arms in annoyance.
"He's a high schooler like you, so we make up his extra hours by having him stay at the compound on the weekends," Tony said.
"Whatever," Flash sighed. "So, am I gonna be alone for the rest of the night, or are you actually going to spend time with me."
"So sorry, Eugene. I already promised my Intern that we could work on some nano-tech in the lab. We'll be watching Finding Dory later tonight, if you want to join us, though." Tony offered.
"Uhm, yeah. No thanks. That's a kids' show." Flash snarked.
"Okay, then. It's too bad that you think it's a kids' show. The team's been really excited about watching it. Thank goodness it's Peter's night to pick the movie," Tony smiled fondly.
"Peter? You mean Peter Parker?" Flash asked, anger in his eyes.
"Yeah, do you know him?" Tony smirked.
"We're on the decathlon team together," Flash said.
"Really! I bet you're great friends. I've never met a person that didn't like him. The Avengers love him. Insist on being called his aunts and uncles. They'd do anything to keep him safe from harm." Tony said, lacing in an underlying threat.
"When, um, when does he come for his internship?" Flash asked.
"Mondays and Wednesdays are at the tower, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are at the compound," Tony answered. "Anyways. I've gotta go. Pete's waiting for me in the lab."
"Alright." Flash nodded, returning to his room.
"Fri, end feed," Peter said.
"Well, that didn't go terribly. Boy's a brat though." Tony said, taking a seat next to Peter at the lab table.
"So, you told him about me?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, figured we better start the rumor that you're actually here before he sees you around." Tony shrugged.
"Well, it's not a terrible idea," Peter chuckled.
"Ah, yes. Because most of my ideas are terrible," Tony laughed.
"Hey, I'm not the one who decided it would be a good idea to let Dum-E be in charge of fire safety," Peter pointed out.
"Just for that, I'm adding pineapple to one of your pizzas."
"Aww, Daaaadddd. I didn't mean it. Please don't put pineapple on my pizza." Peter pleaded.
"Alright, alright. I won't put pineapple on your pizza." Tony said a warm smile on his face.
"So, can we add a cool custom motorcycle helmet to the Iron spider?" Peter asked, pulling out the puppy dog eyes.
"Yeah, I guess we can add a helmet, but only because you're afraid for your secret identity." Tony chuckled.
"Yes, finally!" Peter exclaimed, pumping his fist in triumph. After a few hours, Tony and Peter had finished adding the nano helmet to the Iron Spider and installed the Nanites into Peter's watch.
"You need to be careful, Pete. If you accidentally activate the Nanites in school, you'll reveal your identity to everyone." Tony said, sternly.
"Yeah, I know. But if we make it so I have to press a button, I might not be able to reach it. It'll be easier to just activate it the same way I shoot my web-shooters."
"I know you'll be careful, I just worry about you, kiddo,"
"Alrighty, Iron Spider test 17. Nanites should form in about 5 ish seconds. In three, two, on-"
"The team would like me to inform you that 'if you don't head up to the compound in the next ten seconds, they will start the movie without you." Friday interrupted.
"Ah, no! Tell them we'll be right up!" Peter exclaimed, pulling off the nanite watch and running to the elevator.
"I guess we'll test it out later," Tony laughed, following the boy.
"Hurry up, Dad. They're gonna start it without us," Peter whined as Tony leisurely made his way to the elevator.
"I'm coming, I'm coming. Hold your horses, buddy."
Peter was bouncing in place the whole ride up the elevator. It warmed Tony's heart to see the boy so excited after having watched him face so many hardships. The boy was grinning so much, Tony was almost positive his cheeks were going to be sore.
"Hey, Fri. Place our usual pizza order, and one of whatever Eugene wants." Tony said.
"Order has been placed. Estimated arrival time is one hour." Friday said, a couple of moments later.
"Great. Notify me when it arrives."
"Sometimes I forget just how much we all eat," Peter smiled, no longer bouncing.
"Pete, sometimes you forget how much you need to eat. No one expects you to remember how much the whole team eats." Tony laughed.
"Wow, rude," Peter grumbled, crossing his arms as the elevator slowed to a stop and the doors slid open.
"They're here!" Clint called. Peter brightened and ran into the room. He was slightly confused to see that none of the other Avengers, except Natasha, were present.
"Hey Uncle Clint, Auntie Nat!" Peter smiled, "Where's everyone else?"
"Bruce is doing a last check-up on May with Cho, Steve and Bucky are grabbing drinks from the fridge, Sam's getting the chips, and Wanda's grabbing her cookies out of the oven," Natasha said.
"Wanda made cookies!" Peter exclaimed.
"Yep," Clint said, popping the P. "She thought you might need a pick-me-up after the mission today."
"Wanda's the best," Peter sighed, a goofy smile on his face.
"Okay, bud. We get it." Tony laughed. He led the boy over to the smallest couch. He sat himself down and situated the boy next to him.
"Aw, come on, Tony. Are you trying to make me jealous?" Clint asked.
"Sorry, Clint, but it's not my fault that Pete here got bit by a radioactive spider," Tony shrugged.
"Uncle Clint, don't you dare try to give your kids superpowers. It's the most painful thing I've ever experienced." Peter said, "Trust me."
"I trust ya, Pete. I trust ya," Clint laughed.
"Gosh, you guys are the weirdest," Nat shook her head, the fondest of smiles just barely showing.
"But you love us, Auntie Nat," Peter teased.
"The cavalry's here!" Steve announced as the rest of the team joined them in the common room. Peter jumped off the couch and made a beeline for Wanda. She pulled him into a side hug, trying to balance a tray of cookies in her other hand. Recently, Wanda had been trying to function without the use of her powers because she wanted to live with at least a small amount of normalcy, and she didn't want to become dependent on them.
"Happy about something, Pete," Wanda laughed.
"You're the best sister ever," Peter smiled, releasing her from the hug.
"Well, I should hope so. Seeing as how I'm your only sister," Wanda smirked. They started the movie, Peter curling on one couch with Tony, Nat, Clint, Wanda, and Bucky on another, and Steve, Bruce, and Sam on the third. Halfway through the movie, Pepper came down and joined Pete and Tony on the couch. Meanwhile, Clint was braiding Wanda's hair, Wanda was braiding Nat's, and Nat was braiding Bucky's.
"The pizza's here," Friday informed the team.
"I'll go get it!" Peter called, jumping to his feet.
"You do realize you'll have to deliver Eugene's to him too then, right?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, but I have something I want to talk to him about anyways." Peter shrugged.
"Okay then," Tony said. "Your funeral."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, Dad," Peter laughed, walking to the elevator. It was a quick ride to the lobby, where Happy handed the pizza to Peter. Peter shot him a glare when he realized that one of the pieces was missing from the pepperoni. His pepperoni. He rode back up with the boxes of pizza, leaving them all in the common room except Flash's. With one box left, he made the trek to Tony's floor, where Flash was currently staying. He knocked on the door and was greeted by an annoyed Eugene Thompson.
"What do you want, Parker?" Flash spat.
"I-I brought you your pizza," Peter said, holding the box out. "I also wanted to see if you wanted to join us for the rest of the movie."
"Why would I want to watch a kids movie?" Flash scoffed.
"Dude. The Avengers and Pepper Potts are watching the movie too. Steve's already bawling his eyes out and it's hardly even halfway." Peter flatlined.
"Whatever. I don't care. I'd rather stay here alone than suffer through a cinematic horror." Flash muttered. He moved to slam the door, but Peter caught it.
"Wait," he said. "That wasn't all."
"Okay then. I'm listening." Flash said, folding his arms across his chest.
"I just w-wanted to apologize." Peter stuttered.
"What for?"
"For Tony. He's never really been good at opening up. It's something that's been hard for him even before he met me. I know he's been giving you a hard time, and that's partially my fault."
"What did you do?" Flash glared.
"He knows that you're mean to me, and he's just really protective. I've almost died a couple of times, so now he's really adamant about keeping me safe." Peter explained.
"What the heck, Parker! How have you almost died a couple of times!" Flash exclaimed.
"Well, when you're close with the Avengers, people like to use you as leverage. A lot of times when I miss class is because I've been kidnapped or abducted by people wanting things from the Avengers. Sometimes they inject me with poisons that Uncle Bruce and Dr. Cho are barely able to counteract in time." Peter said offhandedly.
"And you're okay with that?"
"Well, yeah. The team's like my family, and, in my mind, family is worth the trouble." Peter smiled.
"Gosh, Parker. You're an idiot. You know that right. You're probably just some pity project for the Avengers. I doubt they actually care." Flash chuckled.
"Wh-why would you think they don't care," Peter said, eyes cast down.
"Come on. You don't possibly think that they could actually care about someone like you. Get this through your head. No. One. Likes. You." Flash emphasized.
"Y-you're wrong. Th-they do l-like m-me." Peter stuttered.
"Oh, please. Even your own parents didn't like you. In fact, they hated you so much, I bet they were glad when they died." Flash spat.
"N-no, th-they loved me," Peter said, tears building in his eyes.
"They thought you were a freak. Your own mother told mine that you scared her. She said you were wrong and different. Someone like you shouldn't be alive." Flash smirked.
"I'm not a freak," Peter mumbled.
"Ugh, whatever, freak. Leave me alone. Run along back to your pity party." Flash hissed. Peter flinched when the door slammed in his face. He wiped at his eyes and did the best he could to fake being happy.
He walked back into the common room and curled up in between Tony and Pepper, laying his head on Tony's shoulder. Cap started the movie again, but Peter didn't want to watch it anymore. All he wanted to do was feel the love from his family and teammates because Flash. Was. Wrong. He wasn't a pity project. The Avengers were his family. They worried about him, and always tried to protect him, even when he didn't want them to. They supported him. One time Tony even bugged a decathlon competition so that the team could watch without worrying about being hounded by fans and the press. Peter pressed a reminiscent smile into Tony's shoulder, and that's how he fell asleep. In the warm embrace of Tony and Pepper. Feeling safe and loved.