Chapter Text
Pepper Pots sat at the glass table in a pristine conference room. She had a smile on her lips and kept the conversation going, but she could tell Osborn wasn’t buying it.
She had been trying to get this meeting for weeks now. Stark industries and Oscorp working together. It had potential. Unfortunately, a very key person was not in the room.
“Will this meeting ever start, miss Pots?” Osborn broke through the fake conversation.
“I am certain he will be here soon. You did make sure he got a babysitter so he wouldn’t get lost.” She smiled back.
Osborn nodded before turning to his assistant. “Why don’t we ask his guide where they are?”
It wasn’t really a question as much as a command, and the assistant gave a nervous nod before pulling out his phone and start typing. It didn’t take long before a soft ding came from the device and the assistant’s eyes widened a bit as he read.
“Uhm. It seems mister Stark found his way to one of our labs and is not really listening to anyone trying to convince him to leave.”
Pepper sighed silently to herself.
Osborn didn’t seem any more entertained either. Steel eyes pierced the younger man. “Which lab has he managed to stumble his way into?”
The assistant tried hard not to squirm and looked down. “Uh, they seem to be in the… Web-Dab-Lab.”
Pepper blinked. That name did not fit with anything she knew about Oscorp.
She looked to the CEO as he straightened up from whatever reaction he had had and mumbled “I hoped he’d change the name by now.”
He then smiled as he turned to Pepper, and she immediately became suspicious of him. “Why don’t we go to Stark ourselves? He seems to have something against going to meetings.”
She faked a giggle and rose from her chair as she packed her papers back in her purse. In reality she was thinking about how to never let Tony skip a meeting again as they headed for the elevator.
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“Then if you exchange them with hydraulic pumps it should reduce the chances of overheating.”
“But that would take a toll on the power. Not to talk about the space it will need.”
“That’s why you do this.” Tony continued as he reached for a pen.
Pepper was honestly surprised. Ever since she had started talking about the cooperation between Stark industries and Oscrop the billionaire had done nothing but complain and down-talk anyone choosing to work for the place. He had said anyone on Oscorp’s payroll must be in real desperation or a complete loon, if not straight up evil.
Now he was animatedly talking to one of their workers. Waving his hand in circles as he continued an explanation with the shorter man.
“Enjoying yourself, Stark?” Osborn cut through.
Tony halted before turning and plaster an obviously fake smile on his face. “I was, Norman.”
Pepper wasn’t any less surprised when the Oscorp worker turned. Not only was he short, but he also looked no older than maybe 16. She couldn’t quite tell if he actually was young or just had a hard case of babyface. The sweater with “Make like a proton and stay positive” wasn’t much help either.
His messy brown curls reminded her of Tony’s own nest after hours into a project, but the warmth in his young brown eyes shone even brighter than the mechanic’s. Despite this, it was clear that some of the excitement that was just present from their work had faded from the stranger as well.
Osborn stepped forward, closer to the two. “I am sure. But you’re not only making yourself at home in my building to bother youngsters, are you?”
Tony huffed humorless. “Some of us can multitask.” He shrugged. “Besides, I think I found the perfect candidate for our cooperation project in Peter here.”
The worker, Peter as he was apparently called, looked anxiously between the two men. She felt a little for him, empathizing whit his obvious nervousness, but she was doubtful of the suggestion. And not only for his probable young age.
Peter was an unknown. The name rung bells, but not any that fit. She had read through the file of potential workers from Oscorp, but the only Peter on there was a fifty-two year old Peter Chambwosky that specialized in RNA therapy and not whatever that machine with many arms was that Tony had apparently decided to help improve somehow.
Norman kept his strides even as he walked up to the shorter man. “I am afraid that won’t be possible, Stark. Pete here can’t work the hours needed for our project.”
“Common. You can’t hog the good ones all to yourself. You’re the boss, you can sneak him in.” Tony nearly pouted, showing just how little he cared for what the other CEO thought of him.
“Not with this one.” Osborn shook his head slowly before turning sly eyes on the other CEO. “Young Peter isn’t one of Oscorp’s employees.”
Stark raised an eyebrow. “Sure. He just happens to be in a big lab in Your building all by himself.”
The sly look did not falter, rather, Osborn looked even more amused. “Well, it is his own lab. He can come here whenever. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of school.” The last part was directed to the boy who nodded shyly.
Tony was sceptic to say the least. “You just give labs here to anyone? That your new charity case?”
The amused glimmer did not leave the man’s eyes and it irked the Avenger. “Not any charity case. It’s just normal for a parent to want to pamper their kid some.”
Tony blinked. “You’re not getting the dad of the year award I see. Pretty sure your son’s name is Harold or something.”
Norman was clearly enjoying this too much and the inventor really couldn’t see why. “My first son, yes, is called Harry. This little miracle’s name is Peter, less you forgot.”
Blinking twice more, Tony still argued; “How can he be yours? He is so smart and friendly. You know, anything not you.”
A small frown broke through Norman’s sly mask. “He is great, yes.”
Red dusted Peter’s cheeks. He looked to the floor and started to mumble. “I’m not really…”
“And humble.” Osborn cut in as he stood behind the kid. Hands snaking over the small shoulders, fingers digging in slightly.
Now, Tony may not be as trained as Natasha or have the natural observation skills of Clint, but he had enough experience to notice the kid’s small flinch at the CEO’s action.
“Besides that,” Norman continued. “-he is too young. He has to finish high school, before I send him off to any time-consuming job.” The fake smile crept back on the man’s face. “Not that that will take too long. Since living here, Peter has gotten proper support and has finally skipped a grade. Even in an already advanced school.”
“You must be proud of him.” Pepper chimed in. The man’s eyes filled with humor again as he looked at the woman.
“Of course, he is mine after all.”
But she knew that wasn’t the whole story. Even as Norman rested his hands comfortably on the boy’s shoulders, Pepper couldn’t help think it was fake. The picture was wrong somehow. And it was not only the redheaded man. Peter had a thin smile that could be seen as being him being embarrassed but proud of all the compliments, but his body was strung too tight. Like he was holding himself frozen in place, afraid to move too much.
Tony scoffed. “Adopted, I’m guessing. Or did you have some secret affair and just recently got custody?”
Norman stood up straight, putting on a more serious expression. “I believe you were here to discuss our potential partnership, not my family.” He let go of Peter’s shoulders, shifting one hand to the boy’s back instead. “And I am sure neither Pete nor I want to indulge in your intrusive questions.”
Contrary to the redhead, Tony turned more flippant. “Intrusive? They’re just basic questions. Anything you would ask a friend or first date.”
“Well, I am thankfully neither. And asking if a boy you’ve just met is adopted isn’t really your best show of tact.” Norman retorted before looking gentler to said boy. “Now, why don’t you go and find Harry, Pete? He’s been in his room since the two of you returned from school.”
Peter nodded meekly as the man pushed his back, leading the boy straight to the elevator. He turned around at the door, eyes lingering at the mechanic for a second before saying a short good bye and exiting all together.
“Now, are we going to talk, or should I just show you the door out?” Norman asked almost condescendingly.
Tony crossed his arms in his fitted suit. “I wouldn’t exactly mind not having to-“ he was quickly cut off by Pepper’s elbow to his ribs.
“We would like to talk, mr Osborn. Maybe back in the conference room, where there were less distractions?” she suggested in a humble, yet professional tone.
Norman nodded and gestured for them to move. Pepper started, but Tony didn’t quite follow. “Well excuse me for having questions. Pretty sure no media outlet has even mentioned you having a second son and now one just shows up out of nowhere?”
The broad-shouldered CEO stopped in his track. “They haven’t, and I hope we can trust you to not sell this news like a prostitute as soon as you get out of here.” The man turned and sent an icy glare at the slightly shorter.
Tony only crossed his arms again, although a little more wary under the surface. “And why not? Afraid you’ll ruin your pretty image with a rumor of infidelity?” he challenged, prodding the topic.
Norman stood tall for a moment before coming to some conclusion and sighing. “He’s adopted. He was my son’s best friend for years earlier and always welcomed here. But then he lost it all. His family, his home, all that he used to have was harshly taken from him.” He started, tone growing more somber. And it seemed honest, but something in Tony just didn’t want to trust anything about the man.
The taller continued as he looked around the lab. “He’s getting back to normal, and does not deserve to have some stranger intrude on his safe-space and question about all that he has tragically lost.” He then turned accusingly to the billionaire. “And he does not deserve to have his entire life on a platter for everyone to see, judge and scrutinize. As I am sure someone of your legacy knows will happen if any media gets their claws in his story.”
Tony didn’t respond, but he did know. He himself had grown up with little privacy. Everything he did in the open to be torn into and feasted on. Finding all that was wrong, even the few times he’d tried his best. It was not really surprising that he could count those he trusted on one hand. Or his history with alcohol and scandals for that matter.
He didn’t like to listen to Osborn, but he would let it go for a moment. For the sole reason that he wasn’t about to screw up a kid just to get at the slimeball in a suit. So, for the moment he let it go and kept pushing at Norman about their collaboration, without going as far as risking the deal that Pepper wanted.
----
Drained, Tony finally got to slump into the leather backseat of his car. He closed his eyes, listening to Pepper entering after him and the door being closed for her.
“Do we have to do this?” Tony complained. (aka. whined)
Pepper didn’t look up from rummaging through her purse as she answered: “It is a great opportunity. For everything you dislike about mister Osborn, they do have bright minds and resources. Not to mention their experience.”
“And they also have Norman. Who I apparently must meet with often with this deal.” Tony argued as he finally opened his eyes.
Pepper hummed as she pulled out her phone and a few papers. “Can’t you at least try to focus on something good in this?”
The mechanic looked on her typing into her phone as she read off one of the sheets. “Like what? Even their coffee was bland.”
Flipping through a few sheets, she found something new that was apparently more important to type about than to look to her boss. “Well, you could probably show off some to them. Heaven knows how much you only like to interact with people when you can awe them.”
Tony huffed and turned his head to look out the window. “Pass. Not worth it for dealing with that prick.”
Pepper flipped some more before thinking out an answer. “Well, you could probably meet that Peter kid again. Maybe find out his deal without alerting any media.”
A few more buildings flew by the window before the brunet answered with some excitement entering his voice. “Or I could just do that now.” He immediately straightened up and pulled up a holoscreen by activating a switch on the seat in front of him.
“Tony.” Pepper warned.
“Don’t worry. It’s not like the media can ever get a hold of my search history.” Tony said as he typed. “I’ll get Jarvis to look into it too. Supersecret and super-safe.”
“Tony, you shouldn’t-”
“Parker.” Tony cut her off with excitement. “Peter Benjamin Parker. 15 years old. Born and raised New Yorker, son of… Parkers. Some scientists in the bioengineering field before they died. They died… hmm”
Tony’s excitement died as he read on, turning into thoughtful suspicion. And Pepper shouldn’t encourage his stalking, but his reaction got her curious. “What? We already knew they died recently. Mister Osborn straight up told us when mentioning Peter being an orphan.”
“That’s just it.” Tony answered as he stared at the screen. “He made it sound like he recently lost his parents and got adopted, but the Parkers died ten years ago.”
Pepper blinked. “What? So Osborn has had a secret son for ten years?”
Humming, the mechanic flicked to change the screen before he got the answer. “Ah, no. Looks like he got taken in by mr. Parker’s brother. He and his wife became Peter’s guardians until… oh.”
Tony stopped talking and just kept reading in silence, to Peppers annoyance. With a light slap to his arm she demanded him to continue. “Until what?”
“Peter’s aunt and uncle died almost a year ago. Just a week apart. His uncle was shot on the streets, apparently with the kid there to witness it all. And the day before the guy’s funeral, the aunt died when the apartment complex they lived in was burned nearly to the ground. It was during the day, with the woman resting after a nightshift. A nurse apparently. And Peter was still in school at the time the firemen rolled up to the scene.”
Sucking in a breath, Pepper leant back in her seat. “That’s a lot.”
“Yeah.” The man agreed as he flipped through more pages. “But how did he end up with Nerdman?”
Pepper fiddled with her papers, stocking them neatly. “Osborn said it himself. He was his son's best friend. And the CPS prefer that the ones wanting to take on someone are already known to the child. The comfort of familiarity is good for the child, the new guardian knows who they're taking in and what to expect and the whole legal prosses is over much faster.”
“One day fast?” Tony asked as he read through documents.
“What?”
“One day. From May Parker to be declared dead to Peter being adopted, it didn’t even take a full 24 hours.” The man explained.
“I- Maybe Osborn threw around some money and used his contacts. You’ve done it for more than one legal battle.”
“Yeah. When I need bullshit and Slapp suits over fast.” Tony argued. “What’s Normans rush? He could have just let Peter stay under his roof for the time it took the papers to be signed normally.”
“Maybe he just wanted things to settle around the kid so there were fewer things to bother the boy while he was dealing with his loss?” Pepper suggested.
“Hmm. Maybe…” was all Tony mumbled. He didn’t believe the argument at all, but that was only because he didn’t think Norman could do something nice for people if it didn’t benefit himself.
He had no evidence, just his gut. But what could Norman, rich CEO, want from a poor teenage boy?