Story 2: Spider-Man/Iron Man: Passing Grade Part 2
Spider-Man's eyes widen under his mask as he puts his arms up as he starts standing back up.
Spider-Man: Holy crap! That's the invincible Iron Man! He's Tony Stark's bodyguard and one of the greatest Avengers ever! Wait… Did he say he sees me as a criminal?
Spider-Man: Wait wait. I didn't participate in the break in! It was Adrain Toomes aka the Vulture ad right now, he's getting away!
Inside Iron Man's armor, Billionaire Anthony "Tony" Stark looks at the young crimefighter as he looks at his HUD AI assistant named Jarvis.
Tony: What's the situation Jarvis?
Jarvis: Cameras and other security devices are down in the entire building, sir.
Tony: Ok, what's the scan on this punk?
Jarvis: Based on the height, weight, and vocal tone, he's just a teenager, around the ages of 15 or 16. His heart rate is beating by average. He's telling the truth, sir.
Tony: Hmm… then how come I can't identify his face?
Jarvis: Unknown, sir.
Iron Man puts his hands down before he crosses his arms.
Iron Man: Ok pal, how about a deal? I won't turn you into the police or SHIELD yet IF you take off your mask and talk about this like the grown up you really aren't.
Spider-Man: No time! He's getting away!
Spider-Man turns around as he runs and jumps out the smashed window as he swings off. Iron Man walks up to the window.
Jarvis: His speed is quite fast, sir.
Iron Man: Gee, I think I can see that, Jarvis.
Iron Man activates the thrusters under the boots of his arm as he hovers upwards and flies after Spider-Man.
Iron Man: Look kid, I had a long day of saving the world and all that and I don't really want you to become a pancake on the pavement so… You're just going to keep fleeing, huh?
Spider-Man: Chasing is the correct term, sir.
Iron Man: Ok then, kid, time for a nap.
Iron Man stops as compartments in his legs open as he fires small projectiles towards Spider-Man that were meant to stun, not kill. Spider-Man's Spider-Sense tingles as he dodges the projectiles mid air.
Spider-Man: Look, I never want to break into Stark Industries. One, I am no criminal. Two, I'm a big fan of Tony Stark, he's a genius. Three, If I was breaking in, I wouldn't leave that Arc Reactor prototype thing looked cool. Vulture didn't steal it either, only some weird case with plans, so it wasn't an average smash and grab.
Spider-Man lets go of his webline and lands on the side of the building and looks back.
Spider-Man: Vulture is the guy you want. If you don't believe me, ask him yourself.
Spider-Man points at Vulture nearby as Iron Man turns his head.
Iron Man: True, I did like the compliments on the Reactor. Okay. Hand over the plans, Turkey-Man.
Vulture: snitch.
Vulture throws a dagger at Spider-Man before Spider-Man jumps out of the way and lands on another wall.
Spider-Man: Anytime Adrian!
Vulture turns around and throws another towards Iron Man.
Vulture: As for you, tin m-
The dagger plinks off Iron Man's armor as Iron Man just stops mid air.
Iron Man: Seriously, old timer?
Jarvis: That was as you have phrased it "That almost tickled" sir.
Iron Man turns around towards Spider-Man who was still on the wall.
Iron Man: Ok, so you were truthful after all.
Spider-Man: I told you I'm not a criminal.
Iron Man: That still remains to be seen. For now, want to team up?
Spider-Man: Wait.. seriously?! A team up?! HECK YEAH!
Spider-Man jumps off a wall and shoots some webbing while Iron Man shoots some repulsor blasts as Vulture barely dodges both.
Spider-Man: Question: How do you upgrade your super hero rank? Answer: Team up with an Avenger! Grade: Every single A in existence!
Vulture flies and slashes some tires off some cars below as they start swerving out of control and one starts flying overhead and is about to land on some civilians. Spider-Man jumps and shoots a webline as he swings down and tackles the civilians out of the way as Iron Man flies down and catches the car.
Iron Man: I got it.. Catch him!
Spider-Man nods as he pulls himself and swings after the Vulture.
Spider-Man: Wait.. does this mean I'm an Avenger now? Do I get paid with it?
Spider-Man slings a webline and pulls as he does a web zip kick at Vulture, making him crash into a rooftop as the briefcase starts falling down towards the street. Spider-Man lands onto the rooftop and shoots a webline and starts pulling it up towards him.
Spider-Man: I got you.
Spider-Man's Spider-Sense tingles as he sees the Vulture start walking towards him.
Vulture: Thanks, now hand it ove-
Vulture gets hit by two energy beams from behind, destroying his wings and his vulture suit as Iron Man stood there with his hands aimed.
Iron Man: I think we're done here. Thank god I didn't say a joke at your expense.
Later
Law Enforcement and SHIELD agents are arresting Vulture as they load him into an armored van as a blonde female agent in shades walks towards Iron Man.
Iron Man: Agent Sharon Carter. Bird Man's all yours.
Sharon: A pleasure, Iron Man. How's the new guy?
The two look at Spider-Man who was taking selfies with nearby civilians.
Iron Man: Guy? He's just a kid. But, he did build an electromagnetic coating in his mask that prevented my face ID from recognizing him.
Sharon: So, he's smart like you.
Iron Man: Pfft. No. No one's smart like m- I mean Tony Stark.
Sharon: So uh, Do we keep an eye on him or do we arrest him?
Iron Man turns around and starts walking away.
Iron Man: He's just a kid. Leave him alone.
Iron Man walks towards Spider-Man who just finished with the selfies.
Iron Man: Excuse me, can I borrow this punk for a sec?
Spider-Man: Wait.. wha..?
Iron Man: Rooftop. Now.
Iron Man: grabs Spider-Man by the arms and flies up until he lands on the rooftop and puts Spider-Man down.
Spider-Man: Crap, Is this where I go to jail? Calm down Pete. He doesn't know that you don't know what you're doing.
Iron Man: You don't know what you're doing, don't you?
Spider-Man: No. Yes. What?
Iron Man: I understand. Us heroes have to start somewhere.
Spider-Man: Does this mean you're going to recruit me onto the Avengers?
Iron Man: No way.
Spider-Man: But…
Iron Man: Not in a million years.
Spider-Man: I…
Iron Man: Kid.. shut up.
Iron Man sighs and crosses his arms.
Iron Man: You did good work today. Also, you're smart. Kind of remind me of someone I-
Spider-Man: Like your boss?! Tony Stark's a genius!
Iron Man: Yeah.. him. He IS a genius. Knows everything. If he was here, He would tell you to be safe. Okay?
Iron Man starts hovering into the air before Spider-Man stops him real quick.
Spider-Man: Hey.. uhm… Iron Man?
Iron Man: What is it kid?
Spider-Man: Are you around Tony Stark all the time?
Iron Man: Always.
Spider-Man: Is he good with dating girls?
Iron Man: It's his trademark.
Spider-Man: Uhm… do you have any tips on asking a girl out?
Tony just stares in disbelief.
Tony: Oh my god, he is a teen…
Jarvis: Be nice, sir.
Iron Man: Fortune favors the bold.
Spider-Man: What the heck does that…?
Iron Man: It means ask her before someone else does.
Iron Man flies higher before he flies off, leaving Spider-Man on the rooftop.
Midtown High, The Next Afternoon
In History class, Mr. Marquez starts handing back the tests from the day before as he puts down MJ and Peter's tests before giving a small smirk as Peter received an A on it.
Mr. Marquez: I have to say, Peter, I'm impressed.. With your tutor. Good work, Ms. Watson. Hope Peter was able to return the favor.
Peter and MJ do a fist bump as both smile.
Mary Jane: An A plus! Cool! We make one great team, Pete!
Peter: Yeah. a Team. We're a team. DO you want to go to the dance with me? Do YOU want to go to the dance with me? Do you WANT to go to the dance with me? Freaking pick one Peter Parker!
The bell rings as the two got up and walked out of class into the hallway.
Peter: okay. Calm down. Fortune favors the bold.. Wait.. did he say anything else? No matter, just do it!
Peter: Hey, uh, MJ?
Mary Jane: Yeah Peter?
Peter: Do you.. Do you want to go to the dance with me?
Peter's face goes red a bit before he smiles awkwardly before she does the same.
Mary Jane: Yeah.. I mean I do want to go.. But, I.. told Harry I would go with him after I rejected Flash yesterday.
Peter's eyes widen as his smile fades.
Mary Jane: Why do you ask? Are you going? Pete?
Peter: Oh uh.. No. no. Just thought.. Maybe we could go have one of our old FRIENDLY movie nights that night, if you weren't, if We weren't… ugh.. I'll just.. I'll just see you tomorrow okay?
Mary Jane: oh uh okay. Hey Pete, uh, we did it. We passed!
Later that Evening
Peter: And I Failed.
Peter, in his Spider-Man suit and unmasked, sits on a rooftop as he looks down, hurt and rejected, as the sun sets for the day.
Peter: Tests. I want no more of them. I just want to punch something… anything! Please…
Peter sighs before his Spider-Sense goes off as he hears a loud clank noise behind him. Peter puts his mask on quickly and turns around as he sees Iron Man standing there.
Iron Man: Someone else asked her, didn't they?
Spider-Man: Pssh… What? No… a little.. Yes..
Iron Man: yeah.. I've been there before.
Spider-Man: Wait. Seriously?
Iron Man: All the time. Well, some of the time. Actually, just once.
Spider-Man sighs and sits back down with his head down. Iron Man walks over and sits next to him and pats his back.
Iron Man: Hey kid, ever punched a monster before?
Spider-Man: huh?
Iron Man: Come ooon.
Spider-Man looks up at the Armored Avenger.
Spider-Man: Like an ACTUAL monster or a figurative one?
Iron Man: REAL one. My AI assistant just notified me that Googam or whatever it's name is is trying to smash Harlem. Come on, it'll be fine. It will cheer you right up.
The two heroes head off until they see a big reddish orange arm pit-winged monster throwing cars around and smashing things.
Spider-Man: Question: How do you get over the feeling of getting rejected? Answer: Find and PUNCH a big red monster.
Spider-Man: Hey Iron Man, am I in the Avengers NOW?
Iron Man sighs.
Iron Man: Please shut up.
Spider-Man: Grade: Partial.. For now.
The End!
Next Time on SM:ATU: Black Panther!
Author's note: You may be wondering "Shouldn't people know Tony Stark's Iron Man?" Well, I decided to go with his old secret identity trope he used to have from the 60s all the way to the 90s of where Tony considered the cover story of Iron Man being a bodyguard at this point in the timeline. So he isn't public knowledge YET. So yeah, in his early adventures as Iron Man, no one knows who he is. Just wanting to clear that up, Stay Safe , my Web Army!
