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Peter looked at his schedule for the week and groaned.
He had a million projects or exams due, and on the day that he didn’t have Academic Decathalon after school to train for their upcoming meet, he was scheduled for his internship with Tony. And that wasn’t even counting Spider-Man duties.
“Tony, I’m going to actually die this week. Can I, like, fake my death and then come back in a week and a half with everything done?” Peter said after complaining to his mentor about everything on his agenda.
The man just chuckled. “I’d much prefer you alive, even if the death is fake.” His tone was light, but Peter knew Tony’d had a hard time during the five years he was gone, and could hear the strain behind the words. “How about during internship time, we just take it easy. I gotta finish up a prototype for SI, but it’s almost done, anyway, and shouldn’t take us working together more than a half hour. We’ll finish that and then how about I quiz you for that decathlon meet, or work with you on one of those millions of projects.”
Peter sighed, gratitude for his mentor filling him and giving him confidence that he'd make it through the week. “Yeah, that’d be great. Thanks, Tony, you’re the best! I love you.”
“I love you, too, kiddo.” Tony’s voice was soft and mushy, and Peter secretly loved that he got to hear it like that. He grinned to himself as he hung up, then took a deep breath, turned on his “focus” playlist, and got to work.
***
TS: Hey kid, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m gonna have to rain check on lab day this week. SI meeting that I absolutely can’t get out of, “even for Peter.”
Peter stared at his phone, disappointment on his face. He’d worked so hard that week, and had been looking forward to a relaxing day with Tony, and having some help studying. He really needed to go over his notes to be ready for the meet- AcaDeca had taken a back burner for Spider-Man, and he’d been wanting to put forth a more concentrated effort to help his team.
Now he wasn’t so sure he could do that. But before he could wallow too long in his thoughts, his phone buzzed with another text.
TS: But before you get all mopey, Underoos, Bruce agreed to take my place and study with you tonight. And I’ll get out of my meeting before you know it!
TS: And don’t forget to breathe. I know he’s “Bruce BANNER!” But he’s still just a guy. Don’t freak out. You’ll do great.
TS: love ya kid
Peter was left staring at his phone again, this time not in disappointment but in disbelief for two reasons. 1. It was scary how well Tony knew him. He probably should be used to it by now (they’d both reached the point of handing each other tools without needing to ask for them) but it still surprised and touched him whenever it happened. And 2. BRUCE BANNER?!
He took Tony’s advice and just breathed . Tonight was going to be awesome.
***
“Hey Dr. Banner!” Peter said as he bounced into Bruce’s lab in the compound. “Thanks again for helping me with my chemistry notes. Tony said he was forced to go to a meeting with Pepper, so I really appreciate you agreeing to help me!”
The doctor looked up, an easy smile on his face. “Of course, Peter. I’m glad I could help.”
Bruce had met many, many people in the course of his work as both a scientist and an avenger, but none of them ever really made him smile like Peter Parker did. The boy was just always happy. He talked a mile a minute, but Bruce found it more endearing than stressful, unlike other people. And the hero worship in the kid’s eyes did wonders for his self esteem. Especially since Peter looked at Bruce that way, not The Hulk.
“So, it’s just for academic decathlon. We have a meet coming up soon and I need to review the chemistry questions,” Peter said.
“Not a problem. I need to finish this first, though, if you don’t mind.”
Peter nodded and began pulling stuff out of his backpack, sitting in the chair the doctor had pulled over for him.
Once Bruce finished his project, he looked over at the young boy who had been patiently waiting for him. Only, Peter wasn’t looking through flash cards like he had expected. The kid was staring at the wall.
Is this normal for him? Some sort of spider thing? He thought. Peter snapped out of it as soon as Bruce called his name, though, so he didn’t bring it up as he took the cards and began quizzing Peter. The kid was smart, and Bruce was very impressed. His lightning answers were almost always correct, and though he had to explain a few things for some questions, the spiderling absorbed it quickly.
About an hour in, Bruce began to notice more things that were off about Peter. The boys words began to slur a little, or he would need Bruce to reask the question, or forget something that he very clearly knew.
The doctor was starting to freak out. Was the kid sick? Had something happened on patrol- some injury he was hiding or some poison he’d been exposed to? It wouldn’t be the first time.
Tony’s gonna kill me!
Bruce knew how much Peter meant to his mentor, and he was pretty sure not even the hulk would be able to keep him safe if something happened to the boy. He was this close to forcing Peter in the med bay for some tests when he was startled by a loud snore.
Bruce looked up in shock. He’d evidently been zoning out in panic, staring at the cards, and suddenly all of Peter’s symptoms made sense. He mentally kicked himself for not putting two and two together. The kid had had a rough week, after all, of course he‘d be exhausted.
Some doctor! He thought ruefully, but ultimately decided to consider it a side affect of the superhero life.
The man packed up the flash cards and then stared at the sleeping boy, unsure what to do. Peter didn’t look comfortable, his neck was leaned forward at an awkward angle, and his legs were crossed and sure to fall asleep.
Sighing to himself, Bruce gently slid his arms under Peter’s and lifted him up. The spiderling was incredibly light thanks to his spider DNA, and the doctor had no trouble carrying him thanks to the gamma radiation in his DNA. As he was lifted off the chair, Peter whimpered slightly, and then wrapped his legs around Bruce’s middle, nuzzling into his neck.
“Okay, kiddo,” he murmured. “This is fine.”
He carried his precious cargo to the elevator and up to the common area, deciding to let Peter nap while he made a snack and watched a movie. However, it quickly became apparent that the boy had other plans.
As Bruce tried to put Peter down on the couch, his shirt was very nearly ripped off his body by sticky fingers.
“Pete, you gotta let me go, kid.” There was no apparent change. “C’mon. Let go. Give me back my shirt.” After a few more murmured pleas with no luck, Bruce accepted his fate and laid down on the couch, clingy Spider and all.
But for all his discomfort, the man had to admit that he really did love Peter, and he didn’t mind the innocent physical affection, which was fairly rare for him. That door had been closed for years by his big green alter ego to ensure everyone's safety. He found himself relaxing under the light weight, the kid’s steady breathing making it easier for him to breathe, too. He found himself more relaxed than he’d been in months. (It’s honestly amazing what some physical touch can do when you’re touch starved).
Bruce was very nearly asleep when the door opened and caused him to almost jump off the couch. Luckily, he didn’t, and Peter continued sleeping peacefully.
“Hey,” Tony called from where he was kicking off his shoes by the front door. “Is he asleep?” Before Bruce could answer, Tony walked over, and a knowing grin spread across face when he saw Bruce’s current predicament. “Kid get sticky on ya?”
The doctor nodded, patting said kid’s back gently.
“Yeah, he does that.”
Bruce could tell Tony wasn't just talking about the sticky super powers. Peter had a way of working his way into everyone’s heart.
“Yeah, he does,” he whispered.
Tony put a blanket over the cuddly spider and his unfortunate victim, and then the two adults settled in to finish the movie, Peter still firmly attacked to Bruce’s shirt. But Bruce didn’t mind.