Tony had given Happy specific instructions to not tell Flash why he was being brought to the hospital. The more questions he asked, the less words Happy would use to answer them, or at least that's what Tony thought when he heard a loud voice asking questions and Happy just grunting in annoyance in response. He had stepped out of the room to wait for the kid, wanting to have a little chat with him before he was allowed in to see Peter.

"Why can't you tell me why you brought me here? Is this about Parker? Who are you even? What's going on," came the continuous stream of questions until the kid finally turned and caught sight of Tony, who gave a somewhat forced smile and a clipped wave.

"You-, you're Tony Stark!"

"Really, I hadn't noticed," Tony exclaimed sarcastically, dismissing Happy with a wave. The man never looked so happy to get away from someone, not even Peter. The bodyguard/driver/all-around-whatever man quickly left the area, leaving just Tony and Flash, the former glaring while the latter stared at the man in awe.

"What are you doing here Mr. Stark? What's going on? Was that one of your guys? He wouldn't tell me anything," Flash said and Tony put his hands behind his back, approaching Flash so they were standing less than a foot apart.

"I'm here because my intern was shot," was Tony's blunt reply. He saw how Flash's eyes widened and he winced, probably guiltily. Tony smirked to himself.

"He wasn't lying?" Tony blinked a few times in slight shock.

"Why would you think he was lying? No, he hasn't been, he's actually my intern and has been for a while now." Flash shuffled his feet sheepishly.

"Well I mean, the only one who really believed him was Ned, but I think the principal and some of the teachers did too."

"No one believed that Peter Parker, a brilliant young man, was my intern," Tony spoke to clarify.

"No," Flash muttered in response.

"Why not?"

"I mean, he's Parker," Flash said as if it cleared up everything. Tony only raised an eyebrow in response, gesturing for Flash to continue. Flash cleared his throat, probably trying to think of a way to explain it.

"He's always been top of his class and stuff, but he's not really popular, and no one ever pays much attention to him. So when he suddenly starts talking about his 'Stark Internship' no one really took him seriously, you know?"

"No, I really don't. Why, just because of not being popular, did you not believe he was my intern?"

"Well for one, no one had actually heard about any sort of internship until Peter started talking about it." Tony nodded to himself, thinking about that. It was true. He had kind of made it up on the spot.

"Why else?"

"You're Tony freakin' Stark! You're an Avenger! You saved the world! You're a hero. There's no way that Puny Parker could ever end up interning for you. I mean, you're famous and the only one who really noticed Peter at school is Ned," Flash said and Tony just looked at him, amazed at the ignorance the boy was capable of.

"Wow, just, wow. From what I hear, Peter's a hero too. I mean, he did get shot protecting your dumb ass," Tony retorted, taking pleasure in the guilty look that flashed across the boy's face before he looked down at the ground. "I also heard from a source that Ned wasn't the only one to notice Peter. I mean, you seem to have noticed him a few times, am I right?" Tony gave a small smirk when he saw Flash's face pale as the boy looked up at him in what appeared to be fear.

"A, a few times, but never again. I mean, I won't even bother Peter again, I mean, he saved my life. I owe him."

"I think you owe Allen too," Tony said softly, causing Flash's expression to go from fear to something that Tony couldn't quite distinguish.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"I bet you didn't, but it did happen kid, and, like it or not, it's kind of because of you. I mean, you didn't pull the trigger, but you caused a kid to think that taking a gun to school was the only choice he had."

"Everyone keeps texting me and sending me Snapchats and shit about how lucky I am to face a gun and live, how I was lucky to be alive. Reporters stopped by my house multiple times, but my mom made them leave. No one really knows what happened in the classroom but me and Parker." Tony nodded.

"Hmm, okay, so everyone is telling you you're lucky, how you got out without major injury, when everyone else in the room was either dead, or close to it. Meanwhile, I don't think anyone has asked Peter anything, or asked about Peter, that I've noticed, when he's the person who was in the most danger."

"I asked Ned about him, but I never got a response."

"How'd you even get his number?"

"Friends," was the only reply, accompanied by a shrug.

"I'm just saying, I want to know how Peter is, is he alive? Is he going to be okay? I tried to stop the bleeding Mr. Stark, I really did, but there was just so much blood," Flash said, looking ready to cry, panic on his face as he unconsciously rubbed at his hands.

"He's alive, no thanks to you. Has anyone been asking about Peter at all, or have they all focused on you? I mean, the news had a report on it about the main people involved in the shooting, both shooter and victims, but there was nothing more about Peter other than on the day it actually happened."

"No one has Peter's contact info or anything. I don't think he has any sort of social media anything, and no one actually knows anything. I mean, who believes that Peter actually got shot protecting me. There's a rumor going around that he tried to run, but caught one before getting too far."

"I'm hoping that you tried to quell that rumor," Tony said, his tone rigid and stern. Flash gulped and looked extremely nervous.

"I-I-I," Flash stammered and Tony scoffed.

"Huh, figures. You didn't want to look bad so you did nothing did you? You let everyone believe that Peter was a coward, or at least, didn't do anything to protect you. He saved your life Eugene," Tony said, sneering the boy's name. Said teen flinched and looked down at his feet. The billionaire pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Listen kid, I get that you don't want to ruin your image, and I get, now, that Peter doesn't seem to be very popular at all, but the least you could do for the kid that saved your life is at least tell people what he did. I don't know exactly what happened, only you and Peter do, and from what you've been telling me, no one's going to exactly listen to Peter are they?" Flash shook his head.

"No, they won't. I promise that I'll tell everyone what Parker did for me, and I won't bother him anymore."

"No, you won't bother anyone anymore, got it? The least you could do for both Peter and Allen is give up your bullying ways. If I catch wind that you've been messing with anyone, especially Peter, ever again, I can assure you that I will make your life miserable," Tony seethed, towering over the kid who was cowering with wide eyes.

"Yes sir," Flash replied softly.

"Now, I didn't actually want you here."

"What?"

"Yeah, the only reason that you're here is because Peter wanted to see you." Now Flash looked even more confused.

"Parker? But why? I mean, of anyone, why does he want to see me?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I think he needs to talk to you about something or other."

"Then why are we talking?"

"Because of your little bullying problem. I didn't know about it until about an hour ago, and I have a feeling that Peter's aunt is going to be less than pleased as well, but we are here, having this chat, so I can personally show you that Peter is a better kid than you, and will probably be a better man than me," Tony said softly, 'if he doesn't get himself killed before then', he thought with a grimace. "I just wanted to have a little chat with you, making sure you won't be bothering anyone else anymore. I have been clear on that right?" Flash nodded rapidly.

"Yes Mr. Stark, crystal clear."

"Alright then, Peter wants to talk with you." Tony opened the door to the room, causing all inhabitants to stare at the newcomer.

"H-hey Parker."

"Flash." Tense silence fell over the room.

"How about we give the two boys some space," Tony said with a clap, startling everyone in the room from their glaring or staring. If looks could kill, May would have murdered Flash multiple times. Ned just looked to Peter, who nodded at his friend with a small smile. The two were shuffled out, Tony giving one last glance at Peter, trying to convey that if the teen needed anything to just call. Peter smiled at him and the door shut with a click.

"So," Flash drawled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. Peter just sat, waiting. "Mr. Stark said you wanted to talk to me?"

"I just wanted you to see that I'm fine, it was actually my aunt's idea." Flash nodded and the two fell into more awkward silence.

"Are you okay Peter?" Peter gave a short laugh.

"I think that's the first time in years I've heard you actually call me by my actual first name." Flash winced sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"Seriously though, I'm doing alright. I feel about as good as someone can after being shot and going through all the shit that we did."

"You nearly died Peter. Because of me," Flash stressed, wondering how Peter could be so calm about it.

"Yeah, but I didn't. Everything's probably going to hit me at some point, but for now I'm doing alright, I'm coping."

"I don't understand you Parker. I mean, why would you put yourself between me and Allen. I've never been nice to you, and yet you take a bullet to save me. Why?" Peter shrugged.

"I don't really know. I mean, I couldn't just let Allen kill you, you have a family, friends, people who care about you."

"And you don't?"

"Not as many." Flash ran a hand through his hair, sitting in the chair next to Peter's bed, facing the teen.

"I heard you talking to Allen," Flash said softly and Peter's faint smile faltered slightly before falling all together. He seemed to age well beyond his years in mere seconds, eyes clouding over with pain and expression turning into one of exhaustion. He still managed to put a small smile back up, but it was one filled with sadness.

"Yeah…."

"Does anyone know?" Peter shook his head with a sigh.

"No, no one does."

"I know that we aren't on the best of terms, but you can't keep that stuff hidden Parker, it's not safe."

"I know I just, I can't tell anyone, and you won't tell anyone about it," Peter said forcefully, making Flash think about how Peter could be kind of terrifying if he wanted to be, almost as much as Mr. Stark.

"I won't, unless you make me."

"Good. That was actually one of the reasons I wanted you to come here. I wanted to make sure that if you heard something, you can be assured that you didn't hear anything," Peter spoke softly, yet sternly.

"Got it, didn't hear anything." Flash wasn't sure what to do. On one hand, he knew it was Peter's thing to tell, but on the other, he wasn't sure if Peter was a hazard to himself or not. I mean, he got himself shot without hesitation because 'Flash had family and friends who care' almost like he didn't. It was a little terrifying. The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Peter broke it.

"Are people asking about me at all? I don't expect them to, but I want to know the rumors that are going around." Flash swallowed nervously.

"People are saying that you tried to run and got shot on the way out of the room. They don't believe that you would protect me." Peter nodded.

"I kind of expected that."

"But I'm going to tell them what happened." Peter raised an eyebrow and shook his head this time.

"No, don't do that."

"What? Why not? I mean, you saved my life, you tried to save Allen, and I'm pretty sure you saved everyone else in the class, and maybe school. Peter, you're a hero and everyone thinks you're a coward."

"Yeah, but as soon as you tell them that I protected you, you'll probably lose popularity, and I might gain it, but I don't want it. I don't want to be the center of attention, I just want to be me, Peter Parker, bottom of Midtown's food chain, blending into the background."

"I don't understand you Parker, and I don't think I ever will, but I'm still going to tell people."

"Tony threatened you didn't he," Peter said blatantly and Flash blushed with embarrassment.

"Yeah."

"Figures."