Chapter Text
Ned
Ned looked up from his robot as a chair clattered across the room. He saw Peter run outside and into the restricted hallway. Without thinking he made to follow before he was quickly reminded that he wasn't alone in the room. "Ned, please stay seated, I'm sure Peter is alright." Ned slumped back into his seat, stupid teachers and their stupid rules.
Mr Harrington was stood in the hallway, watching the door across the hall that Peter had disappeared into. He looked lost on what to do, the door couldn't be opened by anyone in the lab they were currently in, and if they tried it would cause a scene with security. Peter had told Ned about the time a low level intern had tried to open a restricted door and apparently Happy himself was called to the incident and the intern was dismissed from his role very quickly.
Ned started fiddling with his robot again, if he couldn't help Peter then he could at least keep busy but he was forced to look up again when everyone in the room gasped. Ned's eyes widened, Tony Stark, THE Tony Stark was half hanging out the doorway peter had just gone through. Ned tried not to freak out as his literal idol stood just metres away, calling to Mr Harrington. "Hey teach, could you come in here for a moment?".
Mr Harrington looked like he'd been struck, the shock of not only seeing Tony Stark but being spoken to by the man was clear on his face. He nodded mutely and entered the corridor. Flash wasted no time and immediately started insulting Peter once the door closed behind Mr Harrington.
"Penis must be in so much trouble if Tony Stark is involved. He's gonna get us all kicked out the tower. Who does he think he is breaking into a restricted hallway?" Flash laughed, "Maybe now they will finally expel him, poor little Penis Parker, no money to get himself out of this mess."
Ned saw red. "Shut up Flash! Peter hasn't done anything wrong."
Flash sneered at Ned. "Alls Peter ever does is cause problems, or are you forgetting Oscorp and DC?"
"Neither of those incidents were his fault."
"What so he just accidentally disappeared both times, likely story. Give it up Leeds, the guys a loser who's finally getting what's coming for him. If you knew better you'd stop defending him."
No one had noticed that Mr Harrington had emerged from the corridor. "Enough boys." He said sternly and Ned shrank back, he was never on a teachers bad side and the look Mr Harrington was giving him made him want to squirm. Ned watched Flash's face heat, the boy unused to being reprimanded for his behaviour. Most teachers let him get away with it.
"Now everyone, can we please thank the wonderful people here at Stark Industries for giving you a tour today, its been a fantastic opportunity for you all. " He beamed as he said it, likely having enjoyed the trip as much as his students.
Everyone clapped and said thank you and then they were being led down to to the lobby. There was a gift shop they were allowed to look in before they left and many of Ned's classmates did. Peter had already told Ned not to buy anything, Mr Stark would get him whatever he wanted which is a sentence Ned never thought he would hear.
Betty and Flash were also waiting in the lobby with Ned and Mr Harrington.
"Mr Harrington, why was Tony Stark with Peter? And how did he get into that hallway in the first place?" She asked, the journalistic cogs in her mind always turning. Flash perked up at the question, suddenly invested in the conversation.
Mr Harrington noted Flash's sudden interest and frowned, "Mr Stark said Peter was his apprentice so he had clearance to enter the hallway. That's all I was told."
Betty nodded, before noting something down in her phone. Shit. Peter didn't need anymore attention on himself, not at the moment.
Ned tapped her on the shoulder, "Hey Betty, would it be alright if you didn't do a piece on Peter's internship. I don't think he would appreciate the attention right now?"
Betty smiled up at Ned and he thought his heart might just implode there and then. "Sure thing Ned, I'll save it for when he's ready to talk about it." She gave him another small smile before walking to her friends across the room and Ned watched as she walked away, mesmerised.
Mr Harrington was no longer stood where in front of Ned but had moved to the edge of the room where he was speaking to….Happy? They exchanged a few sentences and then Happy looked over to Ned and nodded. Omg Happy Hogan knew who Ned was. He turned away so Happy didn't see the excited grin that was definitely plastered on his face. Ned didn't think a day could be any cooler than seeing Tony Stark and Happy Hogan and them knowing who he was. Well if Peter was there it would definitely be cooler but Ned had to settle for no Peter. His friend was probably happier upstairs, away from Flash.
"Alright everyone, please head out to the bus." Mr Harrington said and the all scrambled outside, racing for the back seats of the bus first."
The next day.
Peter
Peter was barely making it through the day. Everyone that had been on the trip the day before was giving him strange looks, like he had somehow changed in the last 24 hours. Sure his internship proved to be true but that didn't mean he was suddenly a different human. Peter laid his head on the table whilst he waited for Ned and MJ, hoping it would stop the creepy feeling of being watched. It didn't.
Thankfully Ned and MJ were only a few minutes behind and he lifted his head as they sat down opposite him. "Sup loser." MJ said, completely unbothered by the looks their table was receiving.
"Dude, how cool was yesterday. We got to see like everything and Mr Stark was there for like 2 seconds and Happy nodded at me." The words were rushing out of Ned in one excited tumble.
Peter laughed, "They do know who you are Ned. You are my guy in the chair after all."
Ned's eyes went wide and Peter found himself laughing again. Ned could cheer him up by simply being himself.
"You two are such dorks you know." MJ said, picking up the sad looking bun on her plate.
Peter lifted an eyebrow, "Yet you hang out with us. Must make you pretty dorky too."
"The trio of dorks." Ned added and MJ groaned.
"Hey Penis Park…urghfff." Flash doubled over and MJ punched him in the gut.
Flash looked up, rage twisting his features. "What the fuck was that for?"
MJ looked terrifying as she said, "Say anything to Peter again and you're dead."
Flash rolled his eyes, "Really, defending your pathetic little boyfriend, Michelle."
"Walk away Flash, wouldn't wanna mess up that expensive shirt."
MJ's face was murderous and Flash begrudgingly backed away from their table.
"Thank you MJ. You don't need to do that though."
"Someones gotta defend you Loser, and he's had it coming for a long time. Don't worry about it."
Peter thought he had earned a peaceful rest of his lunch but he should have remembered that Parker Luck made peace literally impossible. The intercom in the cafeteria crackled to life and Peter groaned and he and Flash were called to Principle Morita's office. Great just what he needed, a meeting with Flash.
He grabbed his bag and headed to the office, Flash's footsteps echoing in the hall behind him. The door was opened for him by the secretary and he came face to face with May and….Mr Stark?
"Mr Stark, May, what are you doing here? You didn't say anything this morning."
May came over and hugged him. "We didn't want to stress you out and I wasn't free to come into school till lunchtime." She offered an apologetic smile.
A knock sounded on the door and Mr Morita called out for Flash to enter. When Flash stepped into the room he went pale. Mr Stark's and May's presence couldn't be anything good for him.
Mr Morita cleared his throat. "Ah Flash. Mr Stark and Mrs Parker have brought me some interesting footage from yesterday. Whilst I expect you know what it contains I will spell it out plainly for you. The footage contains continuous harassment towards Peter throughout the day. Crude comments and blatant lies being constantly hurled in his direction from you. That behaviour is beyond unacceptable and after speaking to other staff members I have been informed that this is not an isolated incident. Am I wrong about anything?"
Flash stuttered. "Sir I didn't mean it as harassment, it was just a joke you see. Peter's never been bothered before."
Mr Morita's gaze fixed on Flash. "I'm afraid I disagree Mr Thompson, your comments go beyond joking they are incessant and they are frankly disgusting. Your parents have been called to come and collect you and as of today you are no longer a student at Midtown, I will not tolerate bullying, especially on this scale and I'm only sorry it was not brought to my attention sooner." He threw an apologetic smile in Peter's direction. "Please go and wait outside Mr Thompson."
Peter was stunned, he couldn't believe that Flash had actually been expelled.
Mr Stark rubbed his shoulder. "You okay Roo?"
"Yeah, I think so. Little shocked to be honest. I can't believe you came. Flash isn't that bad."
Mr Stark turned Peter to face him. "That's where you are wrong Roo, Flash's comments were malicious and you could see them pushing you down. No one deserves to be treated like Flash was treating you. Me and May won't stand for it, in your home no less."
May was smiling at Peter, and he moved to hug her and then the tears started falling. "Thank you both. So much. Thank you."
Speaking into his hair May said," Don't worry Baby, it's what parents are for. We fight the hard battle with you. Don't you every forget that."
He squeezed her tighter and let the relief was over him. Flash wouldn't bother him anymore and everyone knew that he wasn't a liar, that he really did work with Mr Stark. Peter smiled as he realised maybe, just maybe, Parker Luck was on his side this time.