Chapter 3

A man's voice seeped through Peter's deep thoughts and made him jump.

"Hey kid," the voice said. Peter didn't have the guts to look the man in the eye, instead, he looked at the very expensive shoes the man was wearing. He wasn't sure whether he should respond, and if he should, what would he say? Surely not 'hey' back? That might be rude. The other man was a grown-up, after all, you never know what to expect with those.

He settled for not doing anything, instead, he stayed seated, eyes still fixed on the man's shoes.

"Hey, kid, you listening?"

Peter gave a slight nod at this, hoping it would be enough, and that the man would notice.

He did.

"Okay, good… Uhm" Tony was unsure of how to continue, the kid had obviously gone through something; otherwise, he wouldn't be here. And frankly, Tony wasn't the best with dealing with emotions, not his own emotions and certainly not the emotions of a child.

"You're Peter, right?"

That did get a reaction, the boy's eyes shot up in confusion and shock. He looked at the man's face, and Tony could pinpoint the exact moment that Peter recognised him. Eyes widening, mouth gaping open.

Tony also noticed that the kid was still not looking him in the eyes, only studying his features. But no eye contact. Maybe that had something to do with that black eye of his. Tony was intrigued, to say the least.

"You're Tony Stark"

It wasn't a question, but Tony answered it anyway "Yes, but you didn't answer my question"

Peter looked at him confused and didn't answer.

"Are you Peter Parker?"

"Uhm...Yes, how would you…?"

Tony didn't let him finish his sentence, he debated a bit about whether to tell the boy that he had won the internship or not. He chose the latter, right time and place and all that.

"I have my sources"

Peter looked even more confused with that answer if that was even possible. Which, Tony shouldn't blame him for, he was not exactly being clear. It must be a hell of an experience for the kid, he was at a police station, sitting next to Iron Man who somehow knew his name.

"Uhm… Okay," Peter didn't ask any further questions, which in Tony's humble opinion was pretty weird (not that he had any idea of what was considered weird for teenagers nowadays, or at any time to be honest). But still, the kid was obviously a science geek, or at least very good at it, otherwise, he wouldn't have won the internship. He must surely have some questions about the Iron Man suit, or maybe the arc reactor, or just about anything.

Instead, Peter stayed silent, his eyebrows in a deep frown like the kid were solving the greatest mysteries of life, the universe and everything. (AN: for those of you who don't know, it's 42)

"What I am wondering though, is why you are here? Like at the Police station? What did you do?"

Peter looked him in the eye now, his eyes stood angry, kind of offended actually "I didn't do anything"

"Thought so, any intern of mine has good potential, would be sad to throw that all away wouldn't it?" Tony's first thought about right times and stuff got dumped in favour of learning more about this boy.

"Uhm, what?… what do you mean intern?"

"Oh excuse me: future intern"

Peter only answered in a whisper, like he was saying it to himself "the Stark internship"

"Yep, that's the one, was gonna tell you tomorrow but since I'm seeing you now… I thought why not" That also might help Tony find out what the hell was going on with this kid because he really was one big mystery, and he was a big fan of those. As long as he could find the answers he was looking for.

"Oh"

To be honest, Tony expected a bigger reaction than that, this kid had gone up against a lot of other teenagers, all with great prospects but he would be the only one to actually do the internship. That was a big privilege. It would get this kid into all the good universities for sure. "I had definitely expected a bit more surprise on your part, but okay, I can also give it to somebody else if you don't want it. I'm sure a lot of other teenagers would love to do it"

"No, please mister Stark" Peter almost begged, he looked about ready to fall on his knees and actually beg. " I… Uhm… I do want the internship, really"

"Okay, okay, calm down, I believe you" Tony had only been joking about giving the internship to somebody else, but apparently that didn't really go over that well "but what are you doing here anyway if you didn't do anything wrong? It's a school night you know? You sure you didn't do anything?"

"I swear" Peter was on the verge of tears, afraid that Mr Stark would not believe him. With everything that happened today, he was just…. It was just all too much.

"I…" He wanted to explain it, he really did. But where would he start? Would he just throw everything on this man? His whole life story? Peter didn't think that was fair. The man hadn't asked for that anyway. "I, Uhm… my foster father got arrested" Short and sweet. The shortest explanation he could muster.

"Auch, what for?"

"Drug dealing"

Tony wasn't prepared for that answer, especially since Peter said it with a completely straight face. Tony was sure that this kid was not joking. His dad really just got arrested for drug dealing.

"Well… shit. That's rough" "Do you have a place to stay? Any family?"

"No? Why do you think I even have a foster father?" He sounded a bit sassy in that comment, but turned solemn soon after "I'm… uhm.. probably getting placed in another home or something"

"So you don't have anywhere to go?"

"No." Peter said curtly "I just told you. Are you trying to rub it in or something?" he suddenly got very defensive "Why are you even asking me all these questions? Just leave me alone" He then slumped even further down in his seat and seemed defeated. Not only by this conversation but by life. Life had obviously thrown the worst onto this kid. Had put him through a lot of shit and the reason he was here tonight was just the last in a long line of shitness.

"I wasn't trying to rub it in, I promise" Tony took a deep breath, he was just going to ask "I just wanted to make sure, before I asked you to stay in the tower, at least for the time being." When life had not been kind to Peter, Tony could at least help where he could, or so that was his opinion.

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"I mean, come live at the Avengers tower, since you don't have anywhere to go, I figured since you're my intern, you're my responsibility"

"Uhm… Thank you mister Stark but I don't know if that's such a good idea"

"Why not? You'd rather live at a children's home or get another foster parent?"

"No! No, I don't want that, I just think you haven't thought this through… I don't want you to regret it.."

"I always make my best decisions on a whim, and you seem like a good kid so why not?" Tony had already kind of decided to not go to his meeting with the chief of police, he had been waiting here for some time already so it would even be justified.

He would obviously have to make some phone calls, but he was sure that his lawyers would figure out how to legally take Peter to the tower tonight instead of having him sleep somewhere else.

"Okay… Uhm, if you're really sure"

"I'm always sure" "So I'll just let them know we're going, I'll sort out the stuff with lawyers and stuff on the car ride back" after a beat of silence and no movement from the other chair he added "c'mon let's go"

"No, I can't" For a second Tony thought that the boy had changed his mind and almost felt disappointed. But before that could happen, Peter, added "They still have to ask me some questions I think"

"Oh, yea, right make's sense"

And just like that, a policeman approached them, at first Tony thought that he was heading for him, but it soon became clear that the man was coming for Peter. He didn't even spare Tony a glance.

"Hello, Peter. We are ready to question you now. If you can follow me."

AN: Heyy guys, thank you so much for all the reviews on the last chapters! I didn't really know whether I was gonna keep writing this story but got inspired so here you go. Hope you all have a nice day or evening or whatever and please leave a review if you have the time! Byeee