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Peter Parker is convinced that the universe hates him. Why, you ask? Well, if losing his parents to a tragic plane crash at age 4, then losing his uncle Ben who had been like his father at age 14, and becoming a mutant human after getting bit by a radioactive spider at the same age didn't completely convince of him this fact, today's "special announcement" during his acadec practice session sure did.
"I'm sorry Mr. Harrington, but I think I am having a stroke or something—did you just say that we are going to the Avenger's Tower? For our field trip that we didn't ask for? This weekend?"
"Yes," Mr. Harrinton replied, excitment pouring out of him like a waterfall, "It's the Avenger's Tower, Peter. Show a little excitement!"
MJ snorted. She didn't even look sorry when Peter glared at her. Granted, her glares are much scarier, but still. At least Ned seemed sympathetic—even if it was a little bit, seeing as even he was excited for this "great opportunity."
Peter despaired over the field trip for the next half-an-hour, while the others vibrated with anticipation for a chance to visit the most secure and coveted building in the world.
Peter did not. He was not anticipating the trip. Not at all. Maybe this was visible on his face, (it definitely was, considering the fact that his girlfriend had been sketching his "best face yet" into her "crisis book"), because as soon as Mr. Harrington left the gym, Flash was by his side, commenting on Peter's "fake" internship with Stark Industries.
"I'll make sure that you get exposed, Penis Parker." Flash gloated, and Peter frantically repeated the mantra of "Please don't please don't—" inside his head. Thankfully, he, Ned and MJ made it outside and away from Flash soon enough, and Peter was spared a panic attack.
"Peter, hey, you okay dude?" Ned asked, voice full of concern as soon as they were a block away from their school. Happy always parked his car two blocks away, for security and secret-keeping reasons, and it was a routine for the trio to walk there together before going their own ways.
"I am fine," Peter replied. He mostly was.
MJ glared at him. And okay, his glare is nothing compared to hers. "You're lying," she stated.
Peter knew better than to lie again. So he just changed the topic.
"What if they figure out my secret?"
"They won't," Ned told him firmly at the same time as MJ counted on her fingers, "Which one, about your family, your night activities or your future job prospects?"
"MJ!" Peter and Ned groaned, but they knew she was right. This was exactly why Peter wasn't thrilled about the field trip. Speaking of… who even approved it? He knows for a fact that his mom has to approve every group that asks for a tour group at their home, especially now that she's extra worried about her own safety since she found that she's expecting, but why would she do that?
Before Peter could voice these thoughts to his friend and girlfriend, they arrived at the discreet parking spot of one inconspicuous looking car, aka Happy's car. Happy might be family, but he was not a patient man, so Peter said his goodbyes and got in the car, greeting Happy before turning around.
He waved at Ned and MJ until he would be visible to them, and then he fell into a complatative silence. That seemed to jar Happy, because the man who rarely spoke a word or two other than their usual greetings initiated a conversation.
Small Talk.
"So, uh, how was school, kid?" And he seemed interested in the answer, too. Peter narrowed his eyes.
"Good," he replied, and looked Happy directly in the eyes through the rearview mirror. Happy quickly looked away. Peter shouted out in agony. "Ughhh! Happy, whyyyyy? Why would you do this!"
"I don't know what you're talking about, kid," Happy tried, and if Peter hadn't agreed to auntie Nat and uncle Clint's "How To Be A Spy" classes that they had every other weekend, he wouldn't have realised that Happy was lying.
For a guy who worked in the security detail, hell, was the security head of Avenger's Tower, Happy sure did lie. A lot. Sure, most of the lies consisted of lying about going out on a date with aunt May (and Peter bought them, but that is not important, okay), but the point still stood.
Happy was lying, and Peter knew that he was lying.
"Happyyyyy," he whined, puppy dog eyes in full force. Even uncle Bucky caved to these babies, and uncle Bucky never caved to anyone. Unless that anyone was uncle Steve, but that was because nobody could say no to uncle Steve—he even made the stupidest things sound so reasonable. That was totally his super-power, other than the whole super-soldier thing.
"It was Pepper's idea!" Happy finally caved. These were definitely the longest two-minutes of Peter's life.
"Mom?" He repeated in shock. He'd maybe expected dad, or even auntie Nat or uncle Clint, but definitely not mom. "Mom?!"
Happy shrugged. "Can't say no to her,"
"Can't or won't," Peter whispered, and he knew that both of them were thinking back on the night of The Reveal—mom had literally exploded at uncle Clint and uncle Thor after they'd destroyed the common area with their "friendly match" and after that, well… even auntie Nat was now scared of her, and literally nobody could say no to her. If MJ and Ned said that Peter had all the Avengers and Co. wrapped around his little finger, then they continued that train of thought with Pepper Potts keeping the Avengers and Co. on her leash.
Peter pouted at Happy for betraying him when they reached home, Happy rolling his eyes at him as they walked towards the elevator. It was controlled by FRIDAY, and she knew without saying where to drop them off—Peter in the Avenger's floor, where the labs, training areas, and etc. where, while Happy went to the living quarters (floors).
"Hey, Fri?" Peter asked once Happy was gone.
"Yes, Mini Boss?"
"Can you not call me that this Saturday?"
"I'm sorry, Mini Boss, but Boss has instructed me to call you "Mini Boss" throughout this month with no exceptions."
Of course she had. Peter didn't even groan at that, resigned to the ways of his mom. She was scarily prepared for every scenario. Even the tame-weird ones.
"Where's dad?" He asked instead. If dad was in the lab, they could work on the latest Iron-Man suit, one with better eye-sight friendly features. Otherwise he would go to his own lab to distract himself.
"Boss' husband is in the lab," FRIDAY answered. Peter snorted out of habit; dad had changed his title from "Boss 2" only one hour after having set it, and then decided that he liked being the trophy husband when uncle Bucky commented how whipped Tony was for his wife.
Dad had even changed uncle Bucky's title then. Now it was "Captain America's Bitch" and uncle Steve was "White Wolf's Chew Toy." Neither of them actually minded it.
Peter made his way to his dad's lab, detouring long enough to his own to deposit his bag, and jumped straight into work.
This was their routine. When they worked, there were no words shared, instead they bobbed their head according to the AC/DC song playing at the moment around the lab, focused completely on their individual projects. This went on for hours on end or for no time at all, but either way Peter felt his heart fill with love and appreciation for the man he could now call dad—Peter's biological dad, Richard Parker, wasn't really his dad because in a way Peter didn't actually remember him, and while uncle Ben would always be his father-figure, Tony was just something… more.
Today happened to be the day when his dad was willing to put work on the backburner for a while. So, Peter did too. He could complete the nanotech necklace Iron-Man suit—like King T'Challa's Black Panther suit—later.
"Hey bambino, do you think you could fill in for me?" FRIDAY instantly lowered the volumes of the song currently playing. Dad leaned "casually" against his workbench.
Peter narrowed his eyes. "Why? And what would I be filling for?"
Dad huffed at him. "Can't you just trust your old man?"
Peter pointed an accusing finger at his dad's chest. "Last time I did, I ended up going to that meeting with what's-his-name," He pouted. "He was so boring! And he wouldn't even let me talk,"
His dad's face changed from amused to "Try and fuck with my kid" scary look so fast at that Peter had to take a step back. Nobody messed with Tony Stark, and definitely not with his kid or wife.
"He won't do that this time, because he is in no position to do so."
Peter winced. Mr. Bowell wasn't that bad.
"Don't even think of lying to me," his dad told him firmly. Sometimes Peter forgot that he now had people who knew him intimately and would call out his lies if it was necessary. "I saw the footage, and that man was that bad. He should be grateful I didn't fire him and just demoted him instead"
Peter smiled. "Thanks, dad," he said shyly. His dad—the man that everyone called heartless and cold and so many, many other unkind words—smiled back, and pulled him into a bear hug. Peter loved the bear hugs. When they seperated, he asked, "Okay, so when is this? The meeting that you want to avoid?"
Dad sighed. "If only," he mused. "Pepper's started to show much more, as you know, and she can't go out in public much."
"So there are two important meetings and you can't miss those," Peter concluded.
"Try a dozen,"
Peter's eyes bugged out. "What?!" His dad only chuckled ruefully.
"Yeah, but we've mostly figured it out. Mostly me and the Chew Toy, since Pep and Nat are busy buying maternity clothes and doing the other things that scary women do," they both shuddered at that thought; mom and auntie Nat are a force to be reckoned with. "Cap and me will be attending most of the meetings, with either Bucky or Nat attending some to up the scary factor, but this Saturday… why are you perking up like that?"
Peter forced himself to stay calm. Saturday, what a day. Either he could go to school and come back here for a field trip to his own home and get bored and simultaneously insulted by Flash and become the indirect reason of the Avengers murdering a teen, or he could attend one meeting that day and avoid seeing his classmates and not let his secrets be revealed.
"Nothing," he tried, but Tony Stark wasn't a genius for nothing. So Peter sprinkled in some truth. If his dad didn't know that meant mom hadn't told him, and who was he to deny himself some much needed good luck? "Uh, it's just that we have a field trip this Saturday, and after what happened on the last one I went to—I just don't wanna go, dad," he pouted, and turned on his puppy dog eyes to their full power.
Of course his dad caved.
"Oh, Petey," dad pulled him in for a hug again, and rubbed his back to comfort him. Even if Peter didn't exactly need it, he melted against the firm chest and the light hum of the arc-reactor. "Of course you can stay. Just write your teacher a note, okay? Otherwise Pep will have our heads."
Peter nodded and peeked up at his dad when he let go. "So, what's this meeting about?"
***
The Day of The Field Trip
***
"Dude, I so wish you were here," Ned rambled on the other end, and Peter listened to his best friend speaking through the speakers on his phone while he got ready for his meeting with the CEO's of the top-ten Technological Companies—after Stark Industries, of course. It would start in twenty-minutes. "But I am also, like, super glad you aren't here. Flash is being more of a dick than normal."
MJ chimed in then with an ominous, "He won't be for long," right then. Peter chose to ignore his cryptic girlfriend.
"Alright, I need to go right now, guys. See you later!"
Ned and MJ said good-bye to him, telling him they were crossing the tenth floor at the moment—the Avenger's Museum—and before Peter knew it, he was standing in one of the meeting-rooms in front of Hope Van Dyne—CEO of Pym Industries—and chatting with her while the rest of the people trickled in.
When Mr. Stark and Mrs. Potts had come to him with the papers to make him the heir to Stark Industries, Peter had been terrified. Firstly, he wasn't a Stark, and second, he was a kid. He was only fifteen. But those fears and thoughts had been nipped right at the buds when they convinced him they already saw him as their own child, and that they thought that he was the bravest of them all.
More than a year later, and Peter was now legally a Stark and also the most favorite superhero in all of America.
But he was still terrified.
"You'll do good," Aunt Hope comforted him. "I hear Pepper's been teaching you for a while now, and you're already a genius like Tony. You'll do good, okay? But still, if you feel overwhelmed, I am right here. Okay?"
"It's my first big meeting," he admitted.
"Scott says you've done braver things than face a bunch of boring, numbers-loving humans,"
Peter let out a small laugh. "Yeah, yeah I have. Thanks, auntie Hope. And tell uncle Scott thank you as well."
She squeezed his shoulders in acknowledgement before taking her seat, right by his side.
And then the meeting began.
***
"I'll kill him, I will seriously murder him if I have to hear Flash talking about Pete again," Ned promised to MJ, and they both shot matching glares at the back of Flash' head. The other students were ignoring the lies and insults spewing out of his mouth, but MJ and Ned were Peter's best friends; it was hard to ignore all of it. Even Mr. Harrington's insistence hadn't made Flash stop.
Flash really put his parent's money to use.
"I will too," a sudden voice came from behind him, and Ned paused and turned, only to be met with Mrs. Potts.
"Mrs. Potts!" Ned shouted. Then he winced. "Oops," now the others were looking at them, confused as to who this woman was. Mrs. Potts looked a lot like a relaxed woman than an uptight businesswoman, and honestly, good for her.
"Mrs. Potts." MJ greeted her hopefully soon-to-be mom-in-law casually. And coolly. She did it everything coolly. Ned sometimes envied her.
"It's okay, Ned, and hi, MJ." She said just as the rest of the acadec team, Mr. Harrington and their tour guide realised who she was.
"Wow, you are fat. Is that why you haven't been seen on TV lately?" Flash was the first to recover from his shock, and that is what he opened with. Ned shook his head at Flash' idiotic act. For a dude who was in their school, Flash was very stupid. Even if Ned hadn't known beforehand, it's very clear that Mrs. Potts is pregnant.
"Your head's too big and you're still out. Maybe you should have stayed home," MJ cut in, and Mrs. Potts put her hand on MJ's shoulder, her other coming up on his own shoulders. She ignored Flash, and instead marched them up to their tour-guide.
"Carla, right?" She asked politely. Carla nodded, awestruck. According to Peter, Mrs. Potts didn't come down to the lower levels often. None of the Avenger's did, other than Hawkeye, who liked to travel through vents for some reason. "You can take your break right now. I'll be taking over this group for a while. FRIDAY, inform Carla when she has to take over from me."
"Sure thing, Boss." FRIDAY answered. Everyone but him, MJ and Mrs. Potts jumped.
"Oh, so you're Boss now?" He asked, excited. Peter had told them, but he hadn't visited after The Reveal happened—he didn't need to face an even scarier Pepper Potts, no thank you.
"Dope," MJ said, and went back to her book. Coolly.
"Yes, Han Solo. Mini Boss has also updated Scary Princess' alias," FRIDAY informed them.
"Dope." MJ repeated, this time softer. Ned squealed with happiness. Mrs. Potts laughed at them.
"What—did that voice just—how the fuck do they know Pepper?!"
"Ma'am for you," Mrs. Potts whirled on Flash. And ah, yes. This was the "scariest shit I've ever seen in all my life. Even uncle Thor agrees. Uncle Loki doesn't, but he is the God of lies, and anyways even he cowered under her gaze!" that Peter had talked about on many occasions.
Especially since The Reveal.
With another whirl, she power walked to the elevator.
"Are you all coming or not."
"You are the best." Ned proclaimed, and smiled when his comment made Mrs. Potts smile.
"Of course she is, she is Pepper fucking Potts." MJ agreed, and then slowly but surely their stunned classmates and one teacher stumbled inside the elevator.
"If I may…" Mr. Harrington began, and at Mrs. Pott's nod continued, "where are we going? I was told we could only go up to floor 50,"
The elevator was crossing floor 60 at the moment.
"First, to Legal. You all need to sign NDAs. Except Ned and MJ." Ned could feel all the stares. "Then I have a special destination in mind."
Ned also had an idea about what this special destination could be.
"Dope," he and MJ said in unison, and with what he thought would be matching maniac grins. Though MJ's would look cooler, because, well. She is MJ.
"I can't wait to see Flash' stupid face when he sees," MJ said.
"Wait, you knew!" Ned accused, and while the two of them waited in the back of the room for Mrs. Potts to hand-over the NDAs, both of them chatted freely about how Peter would be kicking ass today—verbally, of course.
***
Ned, MJ and Mrs. Potts watched in half-amusement and half-awe as they watched the acadec team and Mr. Harrington watching the live-footage of Peter's meeting being aired in the cinema room.
"Is that…?" Abe was squinting at the screen, as if thinking it was showing him something that wasn't there.
"Peter Benjamin Parker? Hell yeah it is," Betty said from one of the seats.
"I knew he was hiding something," Sally murmured.
"What the fuck?" Flash and his buddies were the most fun to watch, though. They looked like they'd just found out everything they knew is a lie.
Which was somewhat true.
They'd all been skeptical up until this point, but now everyone who didn't already know about Peter's secrets now were sure that Peter Parker was an important asset to SI.
Ned was so damn proud of his best friend.
"Damn, he looks good in a suit," Betty noted. Ned could only laugh when MJ countered with, "Yes, my boyfriend does look good in a suit."
Betty shut up immediately.
"Oh, look! That's the Wasp, isn't she?" Abe pointed at the screen. Ned confirmed it. He kind of felt bad eavesdropping on his best friend's conversations like this, but what could he do? This was so worth it, honestly.
"Scott says you've done braver things than face a bunch of boring, numbers-loving humans,"
Peter let out a small laugh. "Yeah, yeah I have. Thanks, auntie Hope. And tell uncle Scott thank you as well."
"Auntie Hope?! Uncle Scott?! What, is he gonna say next that Captain America is his dad or something?" Flash exclaimed. Ned so wanted for Flash to shut up, becauae otherwise he was going to get himself killed.
"Close, but no. Steve and Bucky are like grandparents to him. Tony is Peter's dad. And I'm his mom," Mrs. Potts told Flash firmly. Flash sunk low in his seat. "Anyways, my favorite part is going to start in a few. Watch." She ended with a smile. She was still scary, but a little less now.
Flash seemed to have it gotten through his thick skull that any taunting of Peter would not be tolerated, and Ned watched in relief as Flash kept his mouth shut for the rest of the time.
The meeting began then, and nobody spoke other than to marvel at the way Peter Parker—the skinny nerd who always got beat up by Flash and bullied daily and who can't even hurt a fly, according to the whispers emanating in the room—which made Mrs. Potts incredibly twitchy when she heard about the bullying and beating—commanded a whole room of grown-up people, and not just any people, but the CEOs of the top-ten leading companies in the world of technology.
Even Ned hasn't seen this side of Peter, and he knows Peter the best. He has to admit, watching his best friend step-up like this is prideful.
The meeting goes on and on for about half-an-hour when Mrs. Potts excitedly whispers, "My favorite part!"
Everybody leans forward to listen better. Not that it's helpful in any way, but still, as Mr. Stark likes to say, it is the principle of the thing.
"—And that is our plan for this year. If you have any questions, feel free to ask." Peter smiles charismatically at everyone and gives up the proverbial stage by taking a seat.
There's a beat, and then one of the women present—Dr. Shetty, CEO of the leading company in chemical engineering—claps.
"I have to be honest, Mr. Parker. When I first saw you here as the representative for SI I was doubtful of your capabilities. But I have to say, you have blown them all to water." Then she stands up, her long, dark hair billowing behind her as she walks towards the projector. "I'd love to see what the heir of Stark Industries is capable of. What do you say to a round of quiz, Mr. Parker?"
Ned already knew about Peter being the heir to SI. MJ knew too, and of course Mrs. Potts knew. But they still look at each other and smile widely when Dr. Shetty calls Peter the heir to SI. Not many know about it, only close friends and family and the companies SI is aligned with—with signed NDAs, of course.
But the thing is, nobody else in this room knew about it. So, of course, everyone starts screeching incoherently at the reveal—even Mr. Harrington.
Flash looks like he is trying to die discreetly, but is being unsuccessful. That is Ned's favorite part.
Mrs. Potts shushes them all. "Hush, let me listen to my baby being a genius."
"He is always a genius," Ned pointes out.
"But he doesn't get to be all dorky about it all the time," MJ adds, and yeah, sadly that is true. In school Peter actively avoids showing his genius tendencies.
Everyone stops making noises and listens and watches as Peter aces every single question. Then everyone cheers and promptly make unhappy noises when Mrs. Potts tells FRIDAY to ask Ms. Carla to come and take back her group.
And that is how everyone stops underestimating Peter Benjamin Parker. And Ned doesn't have the heart to tell his best friend that their acadec team now knows who his parents are or that he is the heir to SI, especially when Peter believes that everyone has just "matured," even Flash.
MJ just informs Ned that the day Peter figures it out, she would be ready with her "Crisis Book." Ned can't say he is surprised, honestly.