Hey, thanks so much for all the reviews I'm glad you guys are enjoying my fic, I only noticed once I'd posted it but with the last chapter this revised version of FIMTB is now longer than the original. Thanks again for reading.

-EmptyFridges

"Monocrystalline silicon ingots can be produced using what?"

*Ding*

"The Nernst method" Flash almost shouted a smug smile dancing on his lips.

"Wrong. Anyone else." MJ responded sharply. She had to swallow a grin at Flash's put out expression when Peter immediately buzzed in.

"the floating zone crystal process."

"Correct."

The rapid-fire questions continued for another ten minutes until MJ had asked all the questions on her cards. "So practices Monday through Thursday next week then a day off before the competition Saturday, I better see all you losers here for every practice." Peter cringed slightly as almost the whole team turned to look at him in unison.

"Hey I haven't missed a practice in ages!" he defended himself. It was true as well, as soon as his mom found out he occasionally skipped practice to go on patrol she scolded him and forbid him from ever doing it again unless the world was quite literally ending in which case he wasn't allowed to be Spiderman anyway and was to head straight home. He had to sit through a twenty minute lecture from her on the importance of teamwork and the importance of commitment, he had almost been reduced to tears when she told him how disappointed she was in him and how she was disgusted he could let his team down like that. She had threatened to get Uncle Happy to escort him to practices and sit in on them to make sure he wouldn't ditch his team. Just the thought made him shudder he would never live down the embarrassment of having a babysitter…suffice to say he hadn't missed a single practice since that conversation.

Thankfully Mr Harrington clearing his throat took all the attention off himself. "So tickets how many does everyone want?"

Mr Harrington turned to each pupil noting down the number of tickets requested before turning to Peter, he always asked the boy out of politeness but had already written zero next to his name. Everyone knew his Aunt had passed away, it really was heart-breaking the kid had lost so much already but even before she died Peter never asked for tickets she was always working. So, when the teen asked for two tickets his jaw dropped, huh whoever the kids foster parents were had to be supportive which was a surprise he had heard horror stories about the New York CPS. He wasn't actually certain Peter was being fostered, he had no idea who looked after him now it wasn't his job to know but he was glad the teen had someone supportive in his corner after losing the last of his family.

Peter blushed when the whole room froze at his answer, he couldn't really blame them though, he had never asked for tickets, not once so he knew everyone would be curious. Eventually his teacher nodded dismissing them and Peter swung his bag onto his shoulder and struck up a conversation with Ned in an effort to avoid being questioned.

Unfortunately they hadn't even turned the corner in the corridor when Flash caught up with them, Peter flinched as the other boy's hand came down hard on his shoulder, it hadn't actually hurt it was more in anticipation for the undoubtedly cruel words the other boy was about to spout. "So Penis, who are the tickets for? Who have you paid to pretend they care about you?"

"Shut up Flash, what's it to you?" Peter grumbled shrugging the boy's hand off his shoulder.

Flash shoved him hard into the wall ignoring Ned's shouted protests, "don't talk back to me Penis. What am I saying? You have no money, whose dick did you suck to convince them to go to decathlon for you?"

Peter made a disgusted face at the very idea, seriously what was Flash's problem? He kept his mouth shut and let Flash push him back into the wall and spit on the ground in front of him before he turned and left. "Can't hang about Penis, my dad will be here to take me to dinner. You know what that's like?" The boy put on a fake laugh "oh silly me, of course you don't."

Peter simply stood stock still against the wall he had been shoved into ignoring Ned's questions. "Look, Ned, its fine, just leave me alone, anyway I better go Happy gets annoyed if I'm late." He replied numbly, the boy's words were not true but they did still hurt unfortunately.

ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ

"You nervous Pete? You're picking at your food there."

"hmmm, oh yeah, a little," Peter replied hardly paying attention, the state final was tomorrow but it wasn't the competition he was worried about, not really. He zoned out as his parents and Uncle's chatted over family dinner, all week Flash had been claiming Peter either didn't have anyone coming at all so his tickets should be given to someone who had a family or claiming he had had to resort to sexual favours to get anyone to come to the competition. He was just sick of it, the competition would be a relief because he wouldn't have to actually interact with Flash during it as he was only the alternate. But nervous? No, he didn't think he was nervous he knew he knew the material they had been practicing all week. Then again it maybe wasn't the questions or even the competition he was nervous about, he was slightly apprehensive about his parents being there or maybe them not being there? Sure if they didn't turn up Flash would never let him live it down but if they did what if he didn't win? Or got an easy question wrong? Or made a fool of himself? What if they decided he wasn't worth it?

Tony watched his son out of the corner of his eye as they ate dinner, Peter was hardly paying attention and wasn't participating in conversation which was unusual for the boy because he loved Friday Dinners with his uncles. When Peter mumbled a non-committal response to Pepper's question about nerves he knew with just one look the boy was getting lost in his own head again. "Hey, Peter….Peter." He reached out and tapped his son's hand to get his attention grinning slightly at the deer in the headlights look his boy sported. "Forget whatever you're thinking about underoos. You'll be fine tomorrow we're proud of you regardless of how you do. Me and Pep will be there to cheer you on don't worry, I promised we would be there and we will be, nothing will stop us coming to see you leave every other school in the dust."

Peter smiled at his dad's encouragement, "thanks dad."

"So Peter, what sort of things do they ask at these competitions, I'm gutted I can't come it's just bad timing, when you get through to nationals I promise I'll be there."

"It's fine Uncle Rhodey honestly, you don't need to."

"I want to though Pete, now tell me what do they ask?"

ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ

Peter couldn't help the grin that spread across his face when he got another one of MJ's questions correct. "Don't know what you're smiling about Penis, you ready to be seen as the loser you are for wasting two tickets for no reason." Flash snarked when he saw Peter's expression.

"Piss of Flash, you're just sore he knew the answer and you didn't."

Peter grinned at MJ laughing lightly as she shrugged in response.

He just ignored Flash's words, his parents had promised they would come and as his dad said he had never once broken a promise to Peter so why would he start today? In fact both his parents were looking forward to coming, Gregor had brought it up during his internship hours telling him his dad had been going on about it for ages in a meeting the day before…sooo embarrassing. His parents had wished him luck before he left home and told him they would see him after the competition, his dad was worried about press so they planned to arrive as late as possible but promised multiple times they would be there in time to see him compete.

"Take a break, you've done enough practicing, don't overdo it" Mr Harrington called from his position behind the wheel. Peter grinned at his words relieved to stop for a little while and took his phone from his pocket. Four texts…huh who even texts in 2018?

Good luck kiddo, make sure to tell Tony he's a soccer mom for me – Uncle Rhodey

I'm sure you'll do great Peter, you're a science bro after all – Bruce

Good luck маленький паук, make me proud - Nat

Kid if you don't win you're walking home from school no matter what your dad says - Uncle Happy

Peter stretched as he stepped off the coach his neck cracking as he did so, he may be Spiderman and able to quite literally bend over backwards but over three hours on a bus was uncomfortable for anyone. Sure they had got this far last year but he felt much more nervous this time around, it was probably because he had people there rooting for him, he knew his parents wouldn't care if they didn't win but he still felt like there was much more pressure on his shoulders. Also after the whole Washington incident last year it felt like the entire team were watching him like hawks to make sure he didn't vanish.

The team followed Mr Harrington into the large building the final was being held in to check in before grabbing some chairs and setting themselves up in a quiet corner. Peter relaxed into the familiar rhythm of practice, he could feel the pressure on him ease as he focused solely on the questions MJ was throwing at them.

After about half an hour the room was considerably louder than it was when they came in as other teams began to arrive and practice themselves. They had been told there were three smaller halls the earlier rounds would be held in throughout the day and the final two teams would compete in the grand final that evening in the auditorium.

Another forty minutes passed before they were called up for the first round of competition. The team followed the official into a side room where they were to wait until they were announced. "Flash and I have to go find our seats, good luck." Mr Harrington said causing Flash to grimace and pink a little in embarrassment as his spot as alternate was clearly brought up. Peter was relieved however that their teacher's close proximity would prevent Flash from running his mouth off, sure he usually shrugged off the things the boy spewed but he didn't want the hassle straight before competing.

Once their teacher left the room MJ turned to the team and declared "if any of you fuck this up you're dead to me and your body will never be found" in a bland tone as if discussing the weather. Peter heard their opponents at the other side of the room fall silent at MJ's words and grinned to himself. They looked perturbed and rather worried, MJ was a genius…although saying that he wasn't one hundred percent sure she was joking. Even if she was he didn't want to be the one to fuck up…mainly because Flash would be unbearable if he took his spot.

Five minutes later the same official from before told them to line up then enter and take their places when they heard their school being called.

ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ

"Tony, you do know being Iron Man won't get you out of speeding tickets right?"

"Well duh, of course I do. Being Tony Stark will though Pep" the man replied rolling his eyes "plus I don't want to be late."

"We left just after Happy dropped Pete at the bus, we will get there before him at this rate, calm down."

"Sorry it's just the first time we're going to see our son do something like this, I don't want to let him down."

Pepper snorted at her husband's words "you could never let that boy down, he looks at you like you hung the moon."

Tony hummed noncommittedly in response unsure how to answer but did slow down to just under the speed limit earning a smile from his wife.

An hour later they arrived in Albany two and a half hours before their son would even step onto a stage. Tony sighed to himself, logically he knew leaving so early and rushing to get here was ridiculous because now he had two and a bit hours to waste in Albany during which he had to try and remain inconspicuous. They didn't want to be followed and quizzed about why he was attending an academic decathlon after all. He wasn't ashamed of his son, he would show him off to every person he met if he could, Peter was amazing after all but he himself had lived his entire life in the spotlight and wanted to shield Peter from that. If he was asked he wouldn't lie of course but it was easier to just avoid the topic. Reaching over he opened the glove compartment and took out a hat and sunglasses earning himself an eye roll from his wife.

"Is there an avenger handbook somewhere that says a cap and sunglasses is a fool proof disguise?"

"It's not failed me yet. And it's so obvious people convince themselves Tony Stark would never just use a cap and glasses as a disguise. Anyway enough talk, coffee?"

ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ

"and welcome onto the stage…Midtown School of Science and Technology."

Peter swallowed nervously but looked out into the applauding crowd as they stepped onto the stage and took their places behind the table. Unfortunately the spotlights being used in the hall made it impossible to make out individual faces and he knew his parents would probably sit at the back to avoid being seen. "I can't see my parents either, you never can at these things, don't sweat it dude." He grinned softly at his friend's words, he hadn't even needed to say anything, one look at him and Ned knew exactly what he was thinking. Before he could mumble a thanks the audience were silenced and all attention fell on the question master.

"We all know the set up buzz in if you know the answer, one point for the correct answer and two for a steal" Both teams nodded, the opposition school had presumably also been practising nonstop and obviously won their area competition to get to the state final anyway.

Tony held his fiancée's hand in his own as he watched Peter and his teammates. Sure he had heard the boy practising before with FRIDAY and had offered to quiz him but always been turned down yet he was still amazed at how much the teens in front of him knew. No wonder Peter had to practice all the time this was intense. It did become clear to him fairly quickly though that Midtown were a far better team than Newburgh Free Academy as they quickly gained a lead over them. Each of these rounds leading up to the final would only take half an hour but by the ten minute mark it was clear Midtown were going to go through.

Peter grinned as the final buzzer went signalling the end of the round and their win. He laughed a little as he heard Ned's mom practically screaming with enthusiasm. "You may not be able to see her but she's sure as hell here Ned."

"Ugh so embarrassing." Ned groaned palming his face as they walked back into the side room from before "Tony would never do that to you, it's so uncool."

"Pffft yeah sure, he embarrasses me enough. Last week he thought I was ill and took my temperature in the middle of an Intern Meeting! An intern meeting! It was awful, everyone started putting their hands on my forehead and cooing."

Ned opened his mouth to reply before being shushed by Abe as another official walked in. "The second round starts in fifteen minutes you're in the same hall here are your phones I'll be back for them in ten."

Peter grinned as he grabbed his phone from the box ignoring the jealous looks of some of the other members of the team at his top of the range StarkPhone. To be honest, his old phone had been perfectly fine if a little battered but his dad had turned up one day with this new one and told him to product test it, which of course meant it was for him and that was a cover. It was pretty cool though, Karen was in it and it could connect to FRIDAY, the only downside was that his parents could hack into it easily and disable it whenever he was meant to be asleep or doing school work.

Tony blushed as his phone dinged rather loudly. Mumbling apologies as Pep hissed "if that had gone off during the competition I would have killed you, you could have put Peter off." Sliding his phone out his pocket he put it on silent before opening his messages.

We got through, second round starts soon in same hall and third if we get through –Spiderbaby

He was sure Pete would be mortified if he knew that was the name he was saved under in his phone but what the boy didn't know couldn't hurt him.

Well done, you did great, we are in the back row – IronDad

Peter grinned at his dad's message. Sure his parents promised to be there and he shouldn't have doubted them but actual confirmation felt great. He aimlessly scrolled through his twitter and Instagram for a few minutes to distract himself before their phones were once again confiscated so they could re-enter the hall. Game time.

Pepper relaxed as she sat herself down in one of the comfortable chairs in the large auditorium. Well comfortable was a stretch but it was much better than the hard wood ones they had been sitting on for hours during the other rounds of the competition. Tony had already text pretty much everyone that had ever met Peter to tell them his team was in the final but unfortunately they couldn't speak to Peter himself. There had been cases of cheating in the past so after the second round teams were isolated and their phones were kept locked away. It was to start in ten minutes and she couldn't help the bubble of excitement growing in her chest. Two years ago she would have laughed if someone told her the highlight of her month would be going to watch a high school Academic Decathlon competition but here she was.

Peter groaned as Flash strutted into the room. Dinner had been provided for the team and it hadn't been clearly marked it was Cream of and not just normal tomato soup, Cindy had eaten a bowl and became violently sick alarmingly quickly due to being lactose intolerant. So here was Flash.

"Couldn't do it without me I see?"

MJ kept looking at her nails as she drawled back "clearly we can as we got this far and if you fuck this up for us Flash you won't be anywhere near this team again."

That sure shut him up.

ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ

Tony bit his lip nervously, he never expected High School competitions to be this stressful and he wasn't even competing! The final was just half an hour of quick fire questions and at twenty minutes in the teams were very evenly matched. Midtown would have been several points ahead but this kid on the team who hadn't been on it for the previous rounds had buzzed in several times and given wrong answers leading to steals from the other team. Peter had got a lot of questions correct however and had even buzzed in before some of the questions had ended on some of the science ones.

Peter could feel the tension in the air there was only three minutes left and the teams were neck and neck, hopefully there would be several science questions or art and literature MJ was the queen of those, as long as it steered clear of music that was Cindy's best subject and it seemed many of the Emma Willard School team were strong on it.

"This ethnic group was a victim of genocide during WW1"

Abe buzzed in immediately "Armenians"

"This branch of philosophy considers the nature and beauty of expression"

MJ thought for a second before buzzing in she didn't want to cost them points like Flash had twice already. "Aesthetics." She grinned at the ding signalling a correct answer they were now two points ahead.

Tony grinned it looked like the team had it in the bag until they were suddenly hit with two music questions in a row. A minute to go and the teams were drawing once again he found his lip between his teeth as he tried to mentally egg on his son.

"This scientist is called the father of Modern pathology"

Peter buzzed in narrowly beating the opposition team member "Rudolph Virehow"

Ding

Tony did a small first pump to himself and immediately wondered how this had happened to him but couldn't find it in himself to regret it. He was thankful Bruce and Rhodey weren't here to see it though they were still teasing him about having a box of healthy snacks in the lab for Pete and for the whole taking the boys temperature in the middle of a meeting…well more for the latter offence, but in his defence he had looked peaky!

"In this rhythmic characteristic, emphasized notes fall on weak beats"

"Syncopation" a blonde girl from Emma Willard answered.

"This type of music lacks a fixed tonal center"

"Atonal music" the same girl said with a grin.

Peter tried not to let his mind go there but there was only going to be time for one more question, if they got it right it would be a draw and go to sudden death which they didn't want as the questions then revolved through categories rather than randomly which could risk them being stuck with music again.

"Hershey and Chase used these two laboratory tools to separate the virus from the bacteria in their experiment."

There was silence for several seconds and Peter could see a boy from the other team eyeing them up. Then it came to him Tony had mentioned it once in passing months ago so Peter went to press the button but was narrowly beaten by the opposition team. He was confused for a second the boy opposite him had looked lost when the question was read out, after a second he realised it was a time waster. He had buzzed in not knowing the answer and having glanced at their team thought none of them knew. He thought by passing they would win.

"Pass"

Peter could see his teammates slump next to him, he knew they thought they'd lost as none of them knew. He pressed his buzzer.

Tony held a breath waiting for Peter to answer. He had no idea if the boy knew he couldn't remember it being in any homework the boy had done or hearing FRIDAY quiz him about it while doing decathlon practice.

"A kitchen blender and centrifuge."

Half the room erupted at the ding. Peter's answer had put them one point ahead, Midtown were state champions. Peter grinned as his team hugged him practically screaming in his ear.

"How on earth did you know that?" He just shrugged in response too elated to bother explaining and he was sure if he did Flash would just be an asshole anyway.

They shook the hands of the other team offering commiserations and accepting their praise before sitting down once again for the awards ceremony. This happened at every competition and it was the worst, it took forever but the elation of winning would perhaps make it bearable Peter thought to himself. They gave out awards for the best in each category as well as overall most correct answers before giving the final trophy to the winning team. Unsurprisingly the girl from Emma Willard won the music one.

"The Art and Literature prize goes to Michelle Jones!"

The team erupted as their captain stood up to collect her trophy her usual disinterested façade slipping slightly. Once she took her seat again they continued with the awards.

"And the student with the highest overall score in the State of New York is…Peter Parker"

Tony cheered as soon as his son's name was read out snapping a quick photo of the boy whose jaw was practically on the floor.

Peter blushed as his team cheered and slapped him on the back and he was fairly sure he could hear his dad cheering from the back of the room somewhere. He shook the judge's hand as he took the trophy smiling for the camera while being one hundred percent certain his dad would get FRIDAY to hack into a system somewhere for a copy of it.

Once the team were awarded with their winner's trophy they had to stay for a little longer to pose for photographs, Peter and MJ also got some just the two of them with their awards both blushing slightly due to the friendly jibes from Ned. Finally they were able to leave the stage after another round of congratulations to go back into the side room and wait for their families.

They had barely set foot in the room Peter still grinning proud of his accomplishment when Flash started talking. "Don't know what you're smiling about Penis, and why did you even pose for photos who is gonna see them?"

Peter opened his mouth to retort when he heard an angry voice from the other side of the room and cringed.

Tony was furious. He must have heard that little shit wrong…he probably shouldn't call teenagers that but this one was definitely a little shit. "Sorry, what did you just say to him?" In any other situation he probably would have grinned at the awestruck yet terrified look on the boy's face but he was too angry to do anything but glare murderously.

"oh…ummm" Flash sputtered unable to form words.

"Please, leave it, its fine." Peter pleaded quietly blushing furiously once again.

"It most certainly is not fine! I can't believe that little…" A sharp cough from Pepper made him pause "punk said that to you."

"He's just jealous. Leave it. Please."

Tony opened his mouth furious but snapped it shut when Peter took a step forward and grabbed his arm lightly. "Please, dad leave it. I don't care what he says he's full of shit."

The whole room went silent as he spoke every student and parent in the room turning to look at the pair their eyes wide and jaws hanging at the use of the word dad. The quiet was broken after several uncomfortable seconds by Pepper "Peter, seriously? I just stopped Tony using that word."

Peter could hear Ned's muffled laughing somewhere to his right as his mom scolded him in the silent room with everyone's attention focussed on them. "Sorry mom." He mumbled looking at his feet ears burning.

Pepper pulled her son into a tight hug seeing how uncomfortable he was and whispered in his ear unwilling to embarrass him anymore than they had already "I'll let that one slide because it's true, but just this once baby." She could feel her son relax in her arms and hugged him tighter. "Well done." She pulled him away holding his shoulders to look into his eyes. "We're so proud, your dad has already text your uncles, Bruce, Gregor and Nat. I'm fairly sure he shed a tear."

Peter laughed at his mom's words turning to look at his dad who was just pulling away from Flash who looked terrified and mumbled a quick apology at Peter before rushing off to see his own parents who had just entered the room. Peter opened his mouth to say something but decided he probably didn't want to know what his dad had said to his long time bully. The man looked like he was going to say something else on the matter so he quickly jumped in to distract him. "Did you really cry dad? That's embarrassing. Iron Man. Crying."

"I wasn't crying! It was allergies!" Tony replied with fake outrage.

"Sure dad, whatever you say." The teen replied rolling his eyes.

Tony pulled the boy in for a hug holding him tight. Sure he was still furious about that little shit…ugh I can't believe I said punk, he thought to himself…Steve says punk and he's one hundred. What have I become? The elder man rested his chin on his son's head savouring the moment, he was angry yeah but his son was his priority. His son who he was immensely proud of…but who he would be speaking about that Flash kid with at some point in the next few days.

"You did so well Peter, you were amazing. How did you know that last one?"

"Oh you told me months ago, when you went on a tangent about Dum-E making you smoothies, you said the only time a blender should ever be in a lab was with a centrifuge Hershey and Chase."

Tony looked down at his son eyes wide. "And you remembered that?"

The teen looked up at his dad in confusion "well of course I did, you said it" he said simply.

Tony opened his mouth but closed it again quickly fairly sure he would cry if he tried to speak. He simply opened his arms and let his son fall back into them. He turned his head slightly to hear better as Pepper whispered in his ear "I told you he looks up to you as if you hung the moon."