Chapter Text
Flash lay his head against the cold table, eyes half closed. As a backup member of the Academic Decathlon team, he spent more and more time like this, barely awake.
“---think it doesn’t really make sense, you know?”
Parker’s voice cut through his sleepy haze. Flash raised his head, smirking at the other boy. Peter’s brown hair was curled over his eyes, and he was wearing baggy grey Spiderman sweater. He looked… cute. Flash shook his head.
“What doesn’t make sense, huh, Penis?” he asked, barging (physically) into the conversation, almost knocking over MJ in the process. She rolled her eyes at him, shoving back just as aggressively.
“Well if everything is possible in the multiverse, isn’t there a universe where the multiverse doesn’t exist? It’s a paradox!” He waved his arms excitedly as he spoke, and forced Ned to take a step back, dodging a flailing elbow.
Flash cocked his head, thinking carefully. He knew he should make a bad joke or insult Parker, but he made an interesting point. Evidently, the other teens viewed his silence as skepticism, because Parker stepped in, trying to explain.
“I know it’s ridiculous, Flash. You- you don’t need to tell me. Just leave please?”
“Sure thing, Parker, you nerd. I can’t believe Tony Stark and all the Avengers like you.”
He rolled his eyes, going back to his seat and thudding his head against the table. Flash could see MJ watching him. That girl seemed to know everything. It made him extremely uncomfortable.
A short while later, Mr Harrington slammed his hand down on the table, and Flash lifted his head, confused. He made a sound which resembled “hng”. Ever since the field trip to Stark Tower, he’d been feeling off. He prayed it wasn’t showing to Mr Harrington or Parker or the rest of the Decathlon team.
“As you all remember, we visited Stark Tower recently. They mentioned a high school internship position was opening up for one of the students in this group. A few members of the Avengers, as well as Riri Williams, will be coming down to let us know who got it!”
Everyone laughed and clapped excitedly. Even Parker and his friends looked happy - maybe they knew something about this. They could tell him if he was getting that internship. He needed to get that internship. To prove his intelligence and make up for how everyone at Stark Industries viewed him.
As everyone left, Flash ran up, grabbing Parker by the shoulder.
“So, Penis. Do you know who got that internship?”
Peter looked at him, confused. After a second, he waved a hand at Ned and MJ, telling them to move on without him.
“No. I don’t. T- Mr Stark didn’t tell me anything. Sorry. I’m sure you’re in the running though, Flash.”
He clenched his teeth, uncomfortable. As Parker turned away, smiling kindly at him, Flash left, hiding his worried expression. It was crazy, but he really wanted that internship. Whatever it took to get it.