Yes, it's the unofficially required field trip story. But with a twist!
"Do I have to?" Penny asked, her hair a mess and still in her pajamas. Pepper gave her the you-have-asked-that-a-hundred-times-and-the-answer-is-still-the-same look before turning back and trying to encourage Morgan to eat her breakfast.
The 3-year-old had come down with a fever and was barely eating due to an upset stomach. Both Pepper and Tony were trading taking care of the poor girl, but the Avengers had been called in that morning for a meeting, leaving his wife to not only care for Morgan but also get a reluctant Penny to school.
"Penny, you missed too much school as is," Pepper said, finally getting Morgan to eat her bowl of yogurt. "Besides, it's a field trip today, aren't those normally fun?"
"Normally, yeah, but normally they don't go on a tour of your house! Can't I just stay here? I'll even watch Morgan so you can get some work done!"
"Penny stay and play with Morgan!" the young Stark quickly agreed with that idea, punching the air with her plastic spoon. Pepper gave the youngest a smile and started whipping up the yogurt that got everywhere.
"No, Penny has school. And besides, you get to spend the day with Mommy, Morgan, doesn't that sound fun?"
"But Morgan wanna play with Penny!"
"But Penny has to go to school and get smart, so she can go and help Daddy invent more fun things that'll help the world," Pepper kept her eyes on her youngest, ignoring the teen's pleading eyes.
"Then Penny play with Morgan?"
"Yes, Penny can play with Morgan when she gets home tonight if you're feeling well enough."
"Okay…" Morgan said, pouting just like her sister behind her. Pepper finally glanced up at her eldest daughter. She mouthed a 'No' and flicked her finger over to the hallway where the Stark bedrooms were. Penny threw her head back and groaned. The teen spun on her heal and trudged back to her room.
"Ready to be exposed, Parker!" Flash shouted from where he was in the back of the bus just as they were pulling away from the school. Penny rolled her eyes. See, Mom, this is why she didn't want to go. Flash would just be a dick the entire time, and the teachers couldn't really do much to stop him because his father would go after the school if he heard word about his son being punished, and there's no way her family could retaliate without revealing that Penny's last name was not Parker, and she was the spider vigilante the world wanted to unmask.
"Calm down, Mr. Thompson! Save your energy for when we get there," Mr. Harrington called back from in front of Penny. Ah, the beauty about sitting towards the front of the bus. Yes, Flash was behind her and she couldn't see what he'd try, but she'd be able to sense anything coming her way, and the teachers were closer. Also, it was quieter because, well, teachers. And it's not like Penny and her friends would mention something the teachers didn't already know.
"Can't wait for him to eat his words when he finds out you aren't lying about working there," Ned said, only heard by Penny, MJ, and Cindy.
Cindy had been an interesting addition to their group, offering Penny her notes while she was recovering from the Vulture Indecent and even making two sites: one an online directory of heroes and vigilantes, with basic stats and any well-known facts, like public identities or territories, and the other being a fan site for Spider-Woman, that was linked to Penny's social media, as well a private setting for all members of Team Spider. Apparently, Cindy figured out Penny's identity because Iron Man was really bad at hiding his worrying for the young vigilante while Penny would occasionally slip up and wear something extremely expensive to school and break the illusion of being a scholarship student. Upon realizing she wasn't the only one to figure it out, MJ said that at least she wouldn't have to kick everyone but Penny and Ned off the team for sheer obliviousness when it got out who Penny was.
"I mean, technically I am," Penny said, smiling at her best friend.
"Ah yes, because the fact that you aren't an intern at Stark Industries means that you aren't helping down in the labs or showing tour groups around, not at all," Cindy responded back, leaning forward in her seat but not quite enough to be yelled at.
"I highly doubt anyone will care if the idiot is right or not when they find out you are Tony Stark's daughter," MJ added on, getting some "reading" in before a day of drawing the entire class' faces when the truth got out, because, knowing Penny's luck, it will.
"Oh god, please don't jinx it," Penny groaned out. As if the universe hated her, her phone went off at that moment. She quickly pulled it out and her mother's face light up the screen. Hitting the answer button, Penny put the device to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Penny? I need your help!"
"Mom? What's wrong?"
"Something is going on down in Legal, everyone is melting down, and they need me to come down. However, I can't just leave Morgan, and your father and the other Avengers still aren't back yet, and you know how Morgan is when she's sick."
Penny winced. Oh, this was not good. "I'd love to Mom, but I don't think my teachers will allow me to ditch a field trip, even if it's to my own home, just to take care of my baby sister."
"It'll only be until your father and the others get back, then he can take her. Please, I wouldn't be asking if there was another way."
Penny bit her lip. On the one hand, it would get her away from Flash and she'd get to spend more time with Morgan. On the other, it'd look worse if she disappeared during a field trip, both in the eyes of her classmates who already doubted her and for Mr. Harrignton who did not need to lose another student.
"I don't know, Mom," Penny admitted. Looking up, she saw Mr. Harrington shift around in his seat. Penny perked up. "Listen, I have Mr. Harrington here, maybe you can talk with him and work something out?"
"Alright, honey," Pepper responded. Penny took her phone from her hear and leaned forward, tapping her teacher's shoulder.
"Mr. Harrington?" Penny asked. The man turned around and gave her a dead look that would not look out of place on the students in his class. "My mom wants to talk to you, she says it's important." The teacher sighed and took the offered phone, pulling out his own. Penny sat back, trying not to listen in on the conversation the two adults were having.
"What's going on?" Ned asked. Cindy was leaning forward, her eyes barely visible as she tried to listen in while not getting the bus driver's attention.
"The Legal Department is currently having a melt-down and needs Mom to come in, but Dad's not back from the Avengers meeting yet, so there's no one to watch Morgan."
"But couldn't your mom ask one of the interns? I'm pretty sure at least one of them wouldn't mind taking a break and watching Morgan for a couple of hours. Plus she's really well behaved, so it's not like she'll be too much trouble," Cindy said. Penny could hear Mr. Harrington typing something on his phone while continuing to discuss things with her mom.
"Morgan doesn't like being left alone with strangers, especially when she's sick," Penny said. Her friends quickly saw why this was so complicated. Ned let out a small oof, Cindy wishing Penny luck (not that it'd do anything), and MJ just scoffed.
A few minutes later, Mr. Harrington returned Penny's phone, Pepper still on the line.
"Mom?"
"Penny? So Mr. Harrington and I talked it over and it looks like Morgan is going to be joining for the morning half of your field trip, and your father will pick her up when he gets back. Your guide had been informed and your itinerary is being shifted around to work."
"Alright, glad it worked out. Good luck with Legal, and see you when we get there!"
Midtown Teachers
February 4, 8:26 AM
R. Harring: So it looks like we have a situation
Wheeze Wilson: HOW?!
Wheeze Wilson: WE JUST LEFT!
M. Warren: Did 🕷 jump out the window again?
R. Harring: No, thankfully
R. Harring: But she is related
Margarita: What is the problem, Roger?
Margarita: Also, Jordan, I've asked that you stop changing my name in the group chat
R. Harring: Apparently 🕷's little sister is sick at home, but no adult is able to take care of her
R. Harring: Also, the little girl doesn't like being left alone with strangers
Wheeze Wilson: They don't have a nanny?
R. Harring: According to Mrs. Stark, Dr. Stark barely used one for 🕷, and with more people around to help, the little sister never had one
M. Warren: My respect for Stark actually went up, if he personally raised his two girls
Wheeze Wilson: Explains why 🕷 doesn't act like our other rich students
Wheeze Wilson: But doesn't help us now
Margarita: No, it doesn't
Margarita: Roger, what is Mrs. Stark saying about her daughter's condition?
R. Harring: Her fever's gone, and her stomach has calmed down, but she's tired because she hasn't been able to sleep well
R. Harring: Also, Dr. Stark should be back by 11:15
Wheeze Wilson: Why not just have 🕷 take care of her?
Wheeze Wilson: I doubt that girl is going to learn anything durin the trip, considering she lives in the tower
Margarita: Normally, I would allow it, but she has so many absences that the school board won't allow one more unless it's truly an emergency
Wheeze Wilson: Then have the kid tag along with 🕷's group
Wheeze Wilson: If anyone can take care of her, it'd be her older sister, and she no longer sounds contagious
Wheeze Wilson: Plus, if she hasn't been sleeping well, she's probably just going to sleep through the tour
Margarita: …That sounds like a bad idea, but it could possibly work
Margarita: Roger?
R. Harring: Mrs. Stark says that seems like a good idea
Margarita: Alright, do that
Margarita: And, please, no one lose any children, I don't want a repeat of 2013
Margarita: And someone get Jordan unlock profile editing so I can change my name back
Yep, it's a multi-chapter story. Though it's only a few, I promise! And I'm aware that the set up is something that would never really happen in real life. I just needed something to get Morgan to hang out with the class.
Also, can I just say how grateful I am that Blaze_Beraht for introducing me to the wonderful Undertale the Musical. Now, this is partially sarcastic, partially not. Partially not because it's awesome and I love it. The problem is is that whenever I fall into the rabbit hole that is Undertale, I get a little plot bunny niggling at the back of my mind, and it's gotten worse. I mean I would love to have a reformed Flowey fighting off Chara possessing Frisk's body (soulless pacifist), or the monster cast watching their musical while Gaster and Flowey trade sarcastic remarks because they don't necessarily want their families to know who they are but realize that they will anyway, but I have way too many story ideas already and it's not developed enough for me to attempt. If you want to write it yourselves, PM me for the few ideas I have and possibly the link.
Until next time!