Chapter 17: Best Friends

I don't got this. Tingling. Swipe. Dodge. I don't got this. Tingling. Swipe. Dodge. I don't got this! Peter has lost track of the real robot, Buddie, so he's just trying to dodge any of the robots that come at him. Anytime he feels his Spidey Sense go off, he jumps out of the immediate area to avoid wherever Buddie is trying to attack from. One out of the many bots darts toward Peter, its blade extended towards him. He instinctively shoots a web at it, already planning to redirect its attack, but the web goes straight through it. Hologram. Dammit.

"Focus on your senses," Tony repeats for what feels like the millionth time. To his credit, he's staying surprisingly patient. He's right though, Peter knows he needs to pay more attention to his Spidey Sense than what he can see. Focus, Peter. The robots are whirring and speeding around him, some go through him too. He has to resist the urge to web any of them that try to attack him, but he feels like he's at a huge disadvantage. And he's not just thinking that because the odds are overwhelmingly against him. His peripheral vision catches one of the bots lunge at him with its blade and his instinct forces him to react with Rapid Fire Webs. None of which actually do anything. 'Cause guess what? That's right! It's a hologram.

"Peter-"

"I know, I know. Focus," Peter grumbles, but widens his stance. He scans the floor of bots and narrows his eyes. "Karen, can you detect-"

"Ah ah ah," Tony interjects, "we're training your senses, not Karen. No cheating." Peter gapes at him, even though Tony can't tell.

"But Mr. Stark-"

"Nope! No buts. Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars." Peter groans, but doesn't try to use Karen again.

"I'm sorry, Peter," Karen regrettably apologizes.

"Yeah, me too." There will be time for pouting later, even if he really wants to do it right now. He just has to relax until his Spidey Sense kicks in, right? Easy as 3.14159! He relaxes his defensive posture slightly. A bot lunges towards him, but he waits. Not a single sense yells at him to do anything and the robot goes straight through him. Another bot does the same thing and he doesn't feel a tingling sensation or sense of impending doom. Hey, I think I'm getting the hang of this! Ha! Take that! Mysterio's gonna be taken down in no time! The third bot to attack yields the same result. A fourth that rushes Peter with a sharpened blade. It has another thing coming if it thinks I'm gonna fall for- His Spidey Sense suddenly takes over the feeling in his arms. Uh oh. He yelps in surprise and tries to get out of the way, but his Spidey Sense didn't alert him quick enough. Since when are my senses late?! Buddie tackles him to the floor, effectively bruising every ounce of his pride. Once Peter hits the floor, all the holograms freeze before disappearing.

"Not too shabby for a first try." Tony walks up to Peter as Buddie gets off of him. He offers Peter his hand, which he begrudgingly takes, and hoists the teen to his feet.

"I got my ass kicked." Tony gives him a look that practically screams "watch your language."

"If you already knew how to do it, then we wouldn't be training in the first place. We didn't expect you to get it the first time around. That's why you're coming here after school everyday, right?" Peter nods, biting the inside of his cheek. "Don't be so hard on yourself, kid. We all had to train at some point. So, wanna go over it?"

"Yeah, that would help," Peter relents.

"You're overconfidence caused a delayed reaction in your senses. Trust me, I know what egotism looks like. You have to trust that your sixth sense won't get you killed, but you aren't invincible either," Tony says simply. Peter slips the mask off his head and takes a few breaths of clean air.

"I'm not egotistical!" he quickly defends. "I just got a bit too…comfortable fighting. It's hard to control a sense that you've barely had for a year."

"Hey, it's a work in progress. You'll get the hang of it, kiddo. You know what they say: if the mountain won't come to Muhammad…" Tony looks at Peter expectantly, as if he's waiting for the teen to finish his sentence. Peter raise both his eyebrows and presses his lips into a line. An awkward silence envelops them. "Then Muhammad must go to the mountain," Tony finishes lamely. Peter tries to stifle a laugh, but fails miserably.

"No one says that, Mr. Stark." Tony narrows his eyes.

"Bruce says it." Peter scoffs with a smile. Of course Dr. Banner does. Peter vaults over the back of the couch and plops onto the cushions. "This is a workshop," Tony walks around the couch and leans on the armrest, "not a playground."

"Any ground is technically playground if you play on it." Peter smiles smugly and crosses his legs underneath him.

"You think you're clever for that one, don't you." Tony jokingly rolls his eyes, but Peter nods.

"I'm hilarious, you just don't wanna admit it."

"More like a smart ass, but sure, kid." Tony lightly pushes Peter's shoulder, who laughs. A buzzing sounds from behind them, which Peter instantly recognizes as his phone. He turns around and webs it to his hand. "Teenagers these days, so lazy." He ignores Tony's chastising to read May's text. Oh jeez, I didn't realize that it's already almost five o'clock.

"I need to get home." Peter is already off the couch and heading into the side room where he left his clothes. "May likes to see me before patrols and I need to study for an economics exam afterwards. It's, like, my worst class too," he explains as he changes back into the clothes he wore to school as fast as he can. When he walks back out, Tony shrugs his shoulders.

"I can just buy you some good grades," Tony offers nonchalantly. Peter almost falls flat on his face out of pure shock, then looks up at Tony with wide eyes.

"Mr. Stark! You, you can't just do that!" Tony scoffs before holding his arms out at his sides.

"I'm Tony Stark, I can do anything," he states as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Of course, Peter reminds himself, why does this keep surprising me?

"I'll just, y'know, study like everyone else," Peter carefully says. Tony rolls his eyes, but doesn't argue.

"So, you're gonna go out on patrol, hm?"

"Well, kinda. Ned and MJ wanna have a movie night so I'm gonna do quick patrol first, then watch movies, then go out on patrol again, then study, then-"

"God, kid. You're making my brain hurt. And I'm a genius." Tony rubs his temples and exhales slowly. "How much sleep do you get?"

"Actually-"

"Don't answer that," he interrupts again. "How about you take the night off, Underoos."

"Um, that sounds…nice, Mr. Stark, but I can't. Spider-Man has a responsibility and-"

"And Peter Parker has the responsibility to be a crazy teenager. You're only sixteen once, enjoy it. I'll keep an eye out for any trouble and if there is, which there won't be, I'll get ahold of you. Alright?" He raises both eyebrows, awaiting Peter's answer.

"…Okay. Thanks, Mr. Stark. I appreciate it." Peter smiles warmly and Tony waves him off nonchalantly.

"Yeah, I'm the greatest. I know. Now run along and play nice. Go on." Tony shoos the kid and, even though Peter wants to pester him a bit more, he walks toward the elevator with his backpack in hand. As he walks up to it, May's suggestion somehow makes its way back into his mind and his feet slow to a stop.

"Hey, um, Mr. Stark?" Peter look over his shoulder. Tony is already tinkering with something on his workbench, but he looks up nonetheless.

"Yeah?" Peter wrings his hands together nervously and casts his eyes to the floor.

"Would you maybe wanna…play cards sometime?" His voice is small, but audible. "It could be anything, really! Like, uh, like poker or maybe blackjack or go fish. No! Not go fish! That's, that's a little kid game. Stupid. But, poker is kinda fun and I-"

"Cards sound fun, kid. Tomorrow," Tony agrees with a thumbs up before turning back to his work. Tomorrow. Something to look forward to, Peter thinks as he nods with a small smile.

"Tomorrow," he affirms. With that, Peter presses the lobby button and heads down. As soon as the elevator doors close, his phone vibrates again. And again. And again. Ned is probably spamming me. He pulls his phone out and is surprised to see a…group chat?

Guy in the Chair and MJ

MJ: Hey, where's your other half?

Ned: mj im literally in the other room

Ned: you can just come talk to me

MJ: Maybe if you came to help me make cookies with May we could talk.

Ned: i told you already that i caaaant

Ned: …may took away my cooking privileges after peter and i tried to make a pizza smoothie and it exploded all over the kitchen

MJ: I hope you two realize you're idiots.

MJ: We're off topic. How come Peter's internship is taking so long?

Ned: mj its an internship

Ned: those things take time

Ned: i think

Ned: i dont know how internships work

MJ: Last time I checked, internships don't go past 5 pm.

MJ: And they typically last ten weeks to three months.

MJ: Not six months.

MJ: Not that I've been counting.

Peter: hey guys, just finished working with Mr. Stark, be home soon

Ned: PETER!

Peter: NED!

Peter laughs as he make his way from the Tower to the Bentley waiting out front. When he gets inside, he nods to Happy and turns his attention back to the group chat.

MJ: Get a room.

Peter: awe we can yell your name too!

Ned: MJ!

Peter: MJ!

MJ: I hate this family.

Peter: so you admit we're a family :)

MJ: We're dysfunctional.

Ned: a dysfunctional family

Guy in the Chair changed the conversation name to Our Dysfunctional Family

Peter: oh my god i love it

MJ: Of course you do.

Peter: (◡‿◡✿)

MJ: Pansy

Peter: (ʘ‿ʘ✿) what you say 'bout me

Ned: oh no

Ned: mj run

Peter: (ʘ‿ʘ)ノ ✿ hold my flower

Ned: ✿＼(｡-_-｡) kick his ass, baby. I got yo flower

MJ: Ha. Knew it. You nerds are in love.

Ned: FSDNCLNXKSH MJ NO

Ned: ITS JUST A MEME

Peter is about to respond when Happy stops the car and unlocks the car doors for him.

"You've been oddly quiet. And," Happy vaguely draws an invisible line from one of his cheeks to the other, "smiley." Peter tilts his head. Huh, I guess I am pretty happy.

"Yeah, just texting some friends. I'm gonna have a movie night with them and May!" Peter excitedly tells him.

"Friends? Since when do you have more than one?" Peter's jaw drops.

"I'll have you know that I'm a pretty popular guy!" he teases back with his head held high.

"Mhm. Have fun, stud," Happy replies sarcastically. Peter smiles innocently before getting out. "And don't slam the door!" Happy reminds with an edge to his voice. Peter gingerly shuts the door and walks up to the seventh floor of his apartment building. Once he unlocks their door, he opens it as quietly as possible and tip toes inside. He peers around the corner to see Ned on the couch watching TV with a boxed Lego kit under each arm. True to their word, Peter turns his head to see May and MJ pulling a tray out of the oven. He instantly recognizes the smell of chocolate chip cookies. Finally, Ned spots him and bolts off the couch.

"Peter! You're here! Dude, look! My dad let me get the Millennium Falcon set," Ned holds up one of the boxes, "and this is the one I was telling you about!" He holds out the other box labeled The Tower of Orthanc.

"No freaking way! That's so awesome!" Peter takes the box and looks over the pictures and labels. "Two thousand three hundred and fifty-nine pieces! How about the Millennium Falcon?!" Ned smirks knowingly.

"Seven thousand five hundred and forty-one." Peter's eyes slowly widen in awe as he stares at Ned.

"Thought I heard a nerdgasm," MJ says as she walks into the living room with her arms crossed, but Peter is too shocked to react to her comment.

"That's almost twice as much as the Death Star," Peter says in disbelief. Ned slowly nods and then corrects him with,

"Three thousand five hundred and twenty-five more." Oh my god it's going to take us forever to finish this set and I'm going to enjoy every second of it.

"Fine, whatever. More cookies for us," MJ speaks up, which immediately grabs both of the boys' attentions.

"You wouldn't dare," Peter challenges with narrowed eyes.

"She would," Ned regretfully confirms. MJ walks back towards the kitchen with a smirk. Ned and Peter make eye contact, then run into the kitchen. Peter skids around MJ to get straight to May, who's hovering over the cooling cookies.

"Hey, May! Love you!" Peter quickly greets and gives her a peck on the cheek before snatching up a warm cookie.

"Well hello to you too. I should make cookies more often." May chuckles and kisses the top of her nephew's head as he bites into the cookie.

"Can I have one too?" Ned eagerly asks, scooting his way over to them. MJ watches the three of them while leaning on the adjacent counter, obviously entertained.

"Of course! Have at 'em. MJ, would you like some?" May offers. MJ raises an eyebrow before shrugging her shoulders and closing the gap between them to grab a cookie of her own.

"Thank you," she says politely.

"Not a problem. There's plenty more snacks where that came from," May reassures her, then looks down to the backpack that's still hanging loosely over Peter's shoulder. "That's looking pretty beat up, do you need a new one?" Since Peter doesn't have to hide being Spider-Man from her anymore, he hasn't lost as many backpacks. Still, it's not like patrol is a backpack-safe environment.

"Um, yeah. That'd be great. Please," Peter nods. MJ eyes him carefully as she takes the next bite of her cookie.

"Don't you three spoil dinner, got it? I ordered pizza, so we can eat it while we watch the movie," May smiles proudly. "I'll go get pillows and blankets." She excitedly hurries out of the room and down the hall.

"It's okay! We don't need any! It's not like we make pillow forts anymore!" Peter calls after her with a nervous laugh, glancing towards MJ. Ned taps Peter's shoulder and whispers in his ear,

"Dude, we made pillow forts, like, two weeks ago."

"But MJ doesn't know that," Peter whispers back.

"You and Ned made them a couple weeks ago!" May calls back. Both Ned and Peter freeze, refusing to look over to the now snickering MJ.

"She knows now," Ned mumbles. May definitely did that on purpose and Peter vows to get revenge.

"Do you want me to heat you guys up some milk too?" MJ offers between snorts. Peter is about to argue when Ned speaks up first.

"Actually, hot cocoa sounds great," Ned admits. Peter can't help but laugh and, somehow, all three of them end up laughing together in the kitchen when May comes back with an armful of blankets.

They start to get settled in front of the TV with May on the couch, MJ cross-legged on the floor, and Peter and Ned working on making a structurally sound pillow fort beside her. When the pizzas finally get there, Peter is about to dig in when May practically yanks him away from the boxes.

"Wash your hands, young man! I raised you better than that," she scolds, earning Peter a grossed out look from MJ and a laugh from Ned.

"I just got back from working for Mr. Stark! He doesn't let you touch anything without clean hands!" Peter holds up both his clean hands in defense. He may not actually be an intern, but he wore the Spider-Man suit so his hands couldn't be cleaner.

"Now," May repeats in a stern voice. Peter does as she says and sulks towards the bathroom to begrudgingly wash his hands. He knows he's never going to hear the end of this from both MJ and Ned. Mostly MJ. Finally, he's able to eat his pizza peacefully alongside some of the most important people in his life. May picks out a movie for them, to avoid any arguments, while Ned and Peter start unboxing the Legos.

"So, you guys ready for the economics exam on Thursday?" Ned asks the room. MJ gives him a noncommittal shrug of her shoulders.

"I don't like to overstudy. It'll psych me out." She keeps her eyes on the Legos that are being spread across the floor by Ned.

"I'm gonna study after we finish the movie and again tomorrow. It helps me get rid of testing anxiety," Peter answers with a smile. He likes to be as prepared as humanly possible. The only thing he's spontaneous about is Spider-Man. He distantly wonders if his Spidey Sense would work on tests if he tells it he's in danger of getting a bad grade…

"How are you gonna do that with the internship?" MJ questions.

"I'll find a way. I always do," Peter answers honestly. Even when he was Spider-Man alone, he always managed to balance it with school. Still, Mysterio might make that a bit more difficult.

"Well next time you see Tony Stark, ask him if he believes in climate change," MJ asks in a monotone voice. Peter practically chokes on his pizza and looks between her and Ned with wide eyes.

"I mean, probably? Most likely?" Peter doesn't even try to hide how baffled he is at the sudden question. "He's not an idiot, he's a genius. Climate change isn't an opinion, it's scientifically proven."

"Well if he does, which he should, let him know that the amount of multinational factories he has mass producing tech for the Avengers is destroying the ecosystem." By the time MJ finishes, Ned and Peter are utterly speechless. May, on the other hand, absolutely laughs as if it's the best thing she has ever heard.

"You're my new favorite," she says between laughter.

"Hey!" Ned and Peter say simultaneously. MJ simply smiles at her victory.

"Oh, and remind him that taking a minor out of the country definitely counts as kidnapping regardless of status," she adds. The rest of them freeze. Peter stiffens and May immediately stops laughing. Ned rapidly looks from MJ to Peter multiple times. "Oh come on, Parker. I'm not oblivious. You quit all your clubs except for decathlon and then you barely showed up for that. Disappearing at decathlon in D.C. only for Spider-Man to save everyone at the Monument. Disappearing at Homecoming only for Spider-Man to crash a plane. Pretty obvious. People are just stupid."

"Well, I, I, um, you see…" Peter waits for an excuse to come to mind, but he comes up empty. "Yep. That about sums it up." He nods with his lips pressed together. If being friends with MJ has taught him anything, it's that she's extremely hardheaded. Once she figures something out, which she eventually does, there's no convincing her otherwise.

"Dude!" Ned scolds breathlessly, but MJ is unfazed.

"She's definitely my favorite," May chuckles.

"You can't tell anyone, okay? Like, ever. It's really important and, and more people than I'd like already know. Knowing who I am puts people in danger." Peter stresses his point as much as he can. His last family member and best friend already know about Spider-Man, and now MJ. That's way too many important people he's not willing to lose.

"Peter, I've known for months. If I wanted to out you, I would've done it already." That's…a really good point. Peter nods a few times, then smiles slightly.

"Thanks," he says. MJ slightly punches his shoulder.

"No problem." She smiles back. May lets out an audible sigh of relief before saying,

"Thank goodness, now I get to parent you." Peter turns towards her with his eyebrows pulled together.

"Wha-"

"Have you eaten enough today?" May interrupts. "Because you're looking scrawny. You don't get to go out on patrols if you haven't eaten enough."

"May, I'm f-"

"And did you drink plenty of water? I don't exactly know how your metabolism works but I'm pretty sure you need to drink a lot more water and you don't even carry around a water bottle," she continues to scold. Ned and MJ attempt to hold back their laughing, but it obviously doesn't work and they burst out laughing.

"Y'know what? I'm disowning all of you. You're all traitors." Peter tries to keep a straight face, but ends up laughing too. He can't remember the last time he felt this genuinely happy. Maybe things are finally looking up.