Work Text:
Peter had to give up a lot to care for Mayday. MJ wasn’t ready to be a mom and he didn’t blame her. He just couldn’t let a spiderling lose on some unexpecting couple and if SHIELD was watching him who knew if they would go after his baby girl. So he gave up some of his dreams and stopped patrolling and asked Pepper for a full time job. She got him one pretty quickly which gave him his own income so he could afford an apartment. He knew he didn’t want to oppose on May for long. She would say he was fine but he didn’t want her to just be fine. So for thirteen years, he took class when he could and slowly got his masters. He rarely went out as Spider-Man unless it was an Avengers emergency or when MJ wanted to spend time with their daughter.
~
Mayday was failing her science class with Mr. Keener. He was really concerned to the point he wanted to talk to her father about it. She was worried cause Mr. Keener was a guest teacher for the year. One of the perks of going to Midtown Middle school. She knew she was failing but science wasn’t her thing. She was an art kid through and through unlike her dad, but her dad always smiled when he talked about science so she tried so hard and now she was failing science. Her dad was going to be so disappointed.
“Can’t you meet with my mom,” Mayday tried. Mr. Keener seemed surprised.
“I thought you lived with your dad,” he pointed out. She did and that was going to cause her problems now cause she now was stuck with him coming and being disappointed in her.
“My dad is busy. He has a really good job but it keeps him busy,” Mayday tried.
“I’ll work around his schedule,” Mr. Keener told her. “Now I have a meeting at my other job that I have to get to. Will that be all Ms. Mayday.” She mumbled a yes as Mr. Keener slipped away.
~
“...and then the kid tried to get out of me meeting with her father,” Harley told him. Peter just nodded. In the past ten years, Harley had met Peter and chosen him as his rant center.
“She must be really concerned about her parents knowing her grades,” Peter told him.
“Just her dad. She lives with him I guess,” Harley said. “I just don’t know why she is worried. She is a good kid. She just isn’t getting the lessons and I think she just needs tutoring. Her parents would understand a bit of extra help being given to their kid.”
“Maybe she is just worried that her parents won’t take her needing help well. I was the same way when I was younger,” Peter said.
“Maybe. I got to meet with her dad still,” Harley said.
“Maybe he will be hot and you can flirt with him instead of me,” Peter teased.
“No one is as sexy as you, Darlin’,” Harley said, winking at him. Peter felt the blush but he knew he couldn’t be with Harley. Harley didn’t know about Mayday and he wouldn’t take a teenager well. He would probably freak if he found out about her.
“I’m sure there is someone out there, Princess,” Peter told him. Harley rolled his eyes before kissing Peter’s cheek which caused him to go red before he left for another meeting with Pepper.
~
“Mayday,” Peter called. He had got a message from one of her teachers asking if they could meet about her grade. Apparently she was failing science. Mayday walked into the room and looked nervous.
“Yes?” She asked.
“I just got an email from your science teacher. You are failing your science class,” Peter said. “I’m meeting with him tomorrow about how we can help you get your grade up.”
“Okay,” She said.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were struggling with science?” Peter asked her. Mayday shrugged. So he was not getting an answer tonight. He decided it would be best to order food and try again with a teacher there to figure out what was going on and why Mayday was failing her science class.
~
Peter knew he was young for a dad. He was seventeen when he held Mayday for the first time. Now he was thirty and had thirteen year old. He had heard from many of her teachers that he seemed more like an older brother than her father, but he was. He cared about her and had sacrificed so much and now he was meeting with another teacher who would probably comment about his age.
“So are we going to talk about why you didn’t tell me you were struggling or are we going to wait until I hear what Mr. Keener has to say,” Peter asked her one last time. Mayday stayed silent as they entered the classroom only for Peter to freeze. Mayday seemed confused until she saw Mr. Keener looked up smiling before he froze.
“Peter?” Mr. Keener asked. Mayday was confused at this point.
“Harley?” Peter said. Mayday realized that her dad and Mr. Keener knew each other.
“Please tell me, you are Mayday’s dad and she didn’t hire someone to pretend to be her dad,” Harley said. Peter seemed to snort.
“Sadly, Princess, Mayday is my daughter,” Peter told him. Harley seemed to nod as he held out his hand signalling them to take a seat. Peter did so but Mayday waited a bit before she sat down next to her Dad.
“Am I missing something?” She asked. Peter and Harley looked at her before she sat down next to her dad.
“Harley works at Stark Industries when he isn’t teaching you,” Peter explained.
“I got a teaching license so I could occasionally teach since I enjoyed tutoring kids, but I do a lot for Stark Industries when I’m not here,” Harley explained to her. “Your dad and I work together there. I was just surprised to see him. He never mentioned having a daughter in the ten years I have known him.”
“So you don’t tell people you work with about me,” Mayday teased her dad.
“Just Harley. I show everyone else the embarrassing pictures of you when I get a chance,” Peter told her. “Now about why we are really here.” Harley pulled out some papers and next thing Mayday knew Harley and Peter were talking about her and how to get her grade up.
“I think tutoring would be the best option,” Harley finally said.
“What? No,” Mayday said. Peter looked at her surprised.
“It's just extra help. It won’t hurt you,” Peter told her.
“I don’t need help,” Mayday said.
“Why do you think you don’t need help?” Harley asked. Mayday froze as Harley seemed to realize something.
“Did you ever get help in school?” Harley asked Peter.
“I struggled with English in High School. MJ used to tutor me and I helped her in chemistry,” Peter responded. Mayday was surprised but she turned to Harley and asked about tutoring options with him. Peter asked to see her science and she got nervous as she handed it over as he looked at it surprised to see the art in it.
“You know maybe we can get you into some art classes,” Peter said. Mayday seemed surprised. “I’m sure MJ knows a place or two.” Mayday nodded as Peter and Harley talked a bit more on how Mayday could get her grade up before they ended up leaving. Mayday seemed curious on the way home though as she asked about Harley and who he was to her father.
“He is just a co-worker who likes to rant to me about his life,” Peter told him. Mayday rolled her eyes but smiled.
“Should I be calling him my step-dad soon?” Mayday teased. Peter seemed to ignore her but his cheeks revealed a lot. Mayday just smiled thinking about how she would have to get her grade up soon.
~
Harley walked in to Peter work on the web fluid. Harley figured Peter was Spider-Man, but he never guessed why he quit. Not until he saw how proud he was of his daughter while looking at her artwork.
“So I met with that parent and you were right he was hotter than you,” Harley teased.
“Very funny,” Peter said. Harley just smiled.
“Almost asked him on a date but his kid was there and didn’t want her freaking out that her dad and teacher were an item,” Harley told him.
“Don’t worry she probably asked if you were going to be her step-dad on the way home,” Peter told him. Harley chuckled.
“Well am I?” Harley asked.
“Have to take me on a date first, Keener,” Peter said.
“Oh I definitely will Parker,” Harley told him. “Friday night work. I heard a rumor that your kid had her first art class that night. We can pick her up after the date.”
“Or I can always have MJ,” Peter said.
“It’s her first art class. You will want to know how it went with her,” Harley reminded him. Peter looked at him and realized maybe he finally found someone after being a single dad for so long.