Chapter Text
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The bell rang in Midtown Tech, sign of the end of that usual, utterly boring Thursday, and brought Peter Parker’s mind back to Mr. Harrington’s science class he was currently attending.
With a look around the class, he saw that his classmates didn’t look any more interested than he was, some of them hiding their phones on their lap, or absently looking at the window. His eyes scanned the room, until he found the one he was looking for.
Since the beginning of the year, Wanda had joined him at school, and since they were the same age, the Avengers had been able to enroll her in the same class as Peter, even though she was quite behind in academic knowledge after her years in the streets and Strucker’s experiments. They were telling everybody that she was Peter’s cousin from another country, and that she had to move to America after her parents had died in an accident. That actually could explain her accent, that was slowly beginning to fade.
The two teenagers were the only Avengers still able to lead kind of a normal life, as Peter always wore a mask when he was Spider-man, and Wanda had always managed to keep her face and name hidden, thanks to the help of the rest of the team.
Said girl was currently doodling something in her notebook, her head propped up on one elbow, paying no attention to him or anything around her, until the bell brought her back to reality.
As everyone started to put their stuff in their bags, Mr. Harington began talking again, raising an arm to catch his student’s attention.
“Before you leave, it’s time to announce where the class will have its annual field trip, as it’s the tradition in this school, as all of you are well aware.”
Whispers of excitement ran in the room, replacing the groans of boredom, and grumpiness for being held back after the bell.
“This year, and for the first time ever, we have the extreme privilege and honor to have been granted an invitation to visit Stark Industries, at the Stark Tower itself, also known as the Avengers compound.”
He hadn’t even finished his sentence that whispers became shouts all over the classroom. Peter’s eyes went wide, and he whipped his head so fast towards the back of the room that he thought he had pulled a muscle, but right now he didn’t care. His eyes met a pair of green orbs, as wide as his.
Wanda had gone white when she heard the location. How could they keep their life a secret if their field trip was to happen in their own home? It was almost impossible.
Mr. Harrington went on: “The slips are on my desk, take one before leaving, and I want them signed by tomorrow. The trip will be on next Monday, the whole day.”
Everybody got up, took a slip, and left the room. Peter was waiting for Wanda just outside the door, as she was always slower to pick up her things.
As he was leaning against the wall, he was shoved by Flash that towered over him, looking at him straight in the eyes.
“So, Parker? Ready to be exposed? Everybody will know that your internship was only a lie. And same with your precious little cousin too stupid to defend herself.”
Peter was about to answer when he felt. A hand on his shoulder. He looked down and recognized Wanda’s slim ring-covered fingers. When he turned around to face her, she just shook her head.
“He is not worth it, Peter, he will just see on Monday” she said, slipping her hand in his and pulling him in the opposite direction.
Indeed, everyone knew that Peter worked at Stark Industries as an intern, even if very few actually believed him. But that status had to be extended to Wanda when one of their classmates had saw her enter a Stark car, when Peter was not there to be her excuse.
Flash particularly enjoyed questioning that piece of information, telling everyone that Wanda was way too dumb to work there, and that her English was not even good enough to be understood. Peter always stood up for her, knowing how her education was a sore topic for her. Wanda herself rarely fought back, afraid of the possibility that she might lose control and cause an accident that would have terrible consequences for everybody.
Once they had made a few steps in the hallway, and that they were far enough so Flash’s voice didn’t reach them anymore, Wanda let Peter’s hand go and they walked together to the school’s gates.
“I’m so going to kill Tony, he has to be the one that set that trip up” Peter said, sighing.
“Probably, but I am sure he isn’t the only one involved, the others must have backed him up.” Wanda answered, nodding her head.
“They only did that to embarrass us, and that’s just not cool. Why does it have to be us?”
Wanda couldn’t help but laugh at Peter’s pouting face, even though she felt exactly the same, and she could have done without the extra attention that the trip would surely bring on her.
But it really sounded like their team to plan such a thing just to annoy their youngest members.
School was over for the day and Wanda and Peter took out their skateboard. It was something that Peter had taught Wanda in the early stages of their friendship, and both of them now enjoyed wandering in the streets when neither of them had a mission or patrol. They had decided that they would go to school like this when Happy couldn’t take them, and that was the case today.
Quickly enough they were at the tower and they headed for the back of the building, where there was their usual smaller lobby, reserved to the tower’s inhabitants, the Avengers team. They entered and after flashing their badges and saying hi to FRIDAY, they entered the elevator. In a few minutes span, they were at the top, where the living quarters were, happy to finally be home after that exhausting day.
But one problem remained: how could they tell their fellow Avengers about that one field trip? And more importantly, how could they make sure they that wouldn’t interfere?
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"Je t’ai vu tracer le long du paysage
Une ligne des aimées qui détruisent ton langage
Et quand tu chantais plus fort dans ton silence
Je voyais les larmes couler toujours à contresens"
Coeur de Pirate, Crier Tout Bas