I'm back and I'm keeping my promise to update every one to two days. I've already written chapters 9 and 10, and I think I've going to go on for like 4 or 5 more. Thank you for the comments! Enjoy!
They had skipped around the 10th and 11th floors for a little, which most of the class was significantly less interested in than what was up next.
"Welcome to the Research and Development Labs," Meghan exclaimed in a thunderdome-esque voice, "This is where the most exciting stuff happens, beside whatever happens on the Avengers floors probably." Peter could attest to that, just last week a very large game of some sort of paint ball/dodge ball/capture the flag hybrid game had started spontaneously when Clint had accidentally gotten finger paint on Cap's shield. Sometimes it was almost laughable how not mature the team of intergalactic superheroes actually was. Sure they saved the world a few times but the real personality of the team was the most evident when Captain America's shield is suddenly purple.
"So most of the labs on these floors is working on just one specific area of one specific project. There's biology, robotics, chemistry, physics, IT and coding. Just about any science-y subject you can think of. These are what we consider the "independent labs" so most workers in here aren't working on something specifically for Stark Industries, although most are working under a blanket SI patent. As we move upstairs we'll see some stuff that will be specifically sold by SI, and maybe even some Avengers stuff!" They continued walking through the various labs and Peter sighed. He felt a little better, he rarely was on these floors and neither were the Avengers so the chances of him running into someone he kne… were apparently high.
Cindy noticed quickly after Peter that walking towards them was the Bruce Banner. His classmates took a total of 2 seconds to flock around Bruce, leaving only Peter and MJ (Ned had ran too, despite having met Bruce before). By the time Peter had made his way over, Betty was already bombarding him with questions and Sasha was going on about how many times she'd read his papers on genetic mutations. Only at midtown would a group of teenagers be more excited about meeting Bruce Banner, than the Incredible Hulk. Bruce clearly noticed this, too, smiling as he talked about DNA and whatnot. He waved at Peter when he saw him.
"Peter, you were actually who I was looking for!" Of course he was, "Tony said your group would be down here." That got a rise out of the group, Tony Stark knew where they were?. Bruce looked over to their, slightly bewildered too, tour guide. "Meghan, right, mind if I borrow Peter, the rest of the group can come, too, if you're almost done down here."
Meghan looked a little dumbfounded but smiled, "Yeah, of course, Dr. Banner"
He directed the bouncing group to the elevator and up to the top floor of labs. It opened up to a small food court with a coffee shop and some comfortable seating. All around the common area were great, big labs with glass walls. The one to the right to them had some sort of large wolf-shaped robot and a very frenzied looking young man working beside it. On the other side a woman with purple hair was writing a long equation in white board marker on one of the glass walls. Behind her one of the biggest 3-D printers the class had ever seen was creating a large cylindrical object. She smiled at them as they passed, and waved a little at Peter. Peter gave an uncomfortable wave back. His class being here was encroaching a little too much on his other life. This floor he had been to often, probably the most out of all the downstairs floors.
"This is where some of the most acclaimed scientists and engineers in the world work on a day to day basis. Over here," Bruce said, as they passed an empty lab, "is where Princess Shuri of Wakanda works from time to time when she visits. I'm not sure exactly what happened in there last though," he said, referring to the knocked over chairs and explosion marks on the floor, "Peter might though, huh kid?"
Surprised to hear his name, Peter stuttered out an answer, "we were, uh, attempting to create a vibranium substitute for a project. It didn't go to well, as you can… see" he ended lamely, but not enough to disinterest his peers.
"You know Princess Shuri?"
"And you work with her, oh my god"
"Is she as smart as people say she is?"
"Is she as hot as people say she is?"
And with that last question from a dreamy eyed Cindy, Peter was officially uncomfortable again. Flash stared at Peter with a calculating glare before he finally spoke up.
"Does she even know what she's missing? I'm still not sure how you could even get on any of these people's radar. Why do the Avengers even know you exist?" His face was cold and jealousy was evident on it. For a moment Peter felt good watching Flash be jealous of him, but that was short lived when he saw Bruce's eyes widen. The doctor's fists were clenched as he turned to Peter and offered that they move along. Peter agreed readily, seeing the hint of green above the man's left eyebrow that he got sometimes when he was angry but still in control. He was grateful Bruce had let it be, although he assumed it was because he didn't want to express his anger. They turned into Bruce's downstairs lab. Bruce had a lab upstairs, of course, but he had requested to have a space downstairs so he could work with other scientists who were not "just Tony Stark".
"So this is my downstairs lab, uh, feel free to look around, just don't touch anything, obviously. Peter come over here?" They all scattered to gawk at the contraptions and blueprints and technological displays around the lab. Bruce led Peter over to one of the holographic white boards that had a series of equations plastered on it.
"I need a fresh set of eyes, I've been working on this forever. Stark said you had just been working on something like this and I dunno, thought your class might want to see my lab, too." Peter smiled, ignoring the crawling feeling on his arms. He looked at the equation with skeptical eyes. It wasn't simple, but it for sure wasn't something the genius Bruce Banner would generally need help with, and even if he did, there were probably hundreds of accomplished scientists on this floor alone who could help.
"Was that all Tony said?" Peter asked sarcastically, taking the pen and stepping up to the board.
"Well… there may have been something about… getting you to show off in front of your class or something," Banner said sheepishly, "but I have to say, I understand his reasoning. How long has that Flash kid been messing with you?"
Peter shrugged, "He really doesn't bother me, it's not an issue." He was still looking at the equation, although not really paying attention to it.
"How long though, Peter?"
"Since 6th grade, we went to middle school together, too." Peter's voice got small as he said that, awaiting the older man's reaction.
"Five years, Peter? And you haven't done anything about it?" Bruce looked more surprised than angry.
"Yeah… but really it's no big deal, he's an idiot and he's easy to ignore." Peter assured, "I've got good friends, Bruce, I don't care about what he says. And you know I can't do anything about it"
"Well that's not what I meant. You could tell a teacher, or your principal." He had begun to stack so,e of the scattered papers on a nearby table.
"I don't want to do that too, that would be making this a way bigger deal than it needs to be. And once Tony and others found out… well they'd blow it way out of proportion. You're the least likely to overall." They both chuckled dryly at the irony of that. "Just, please don't tell Tony? Please?" He put on puppy dog eyes and joked around, despite the fact that his stomach felt like it was in knots.
"You're asking me to not tell Tony Stark that his surrogate son is being picked on at school?" Peter nodded, "Fine. But only under the condition that you tell him soon." Peter wilted, but agreed. He turned back to the board.
"Fine. Now stop talking to me so I can figure out this problem you already know how to solve." Bruce chuckled as he filed away the stack of papers he was holding.
If you couldn't already tell, I have no idea what would actually happen at Stark Industries, as I know very little about any science that isn't below like middle school level, Thats why I'm being as vague as possible lol. Anyway, I'll be back tomorrow or the day after with the next chapter. buhbye!