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Peter Parker never wanted to be seen as the villain but society chose his path and he took it with it and ran. He became the villain that stole from the rich and gave to the poor. He didn’t care what people said. He didn’t hurt anyone so the cops weren’t too worried about him in his mind. He was a minor villain but hey who knew what he would do in a few years. Peter just needed to help out his community and Spider-Man helped him with that. The crime rate was down in Queens because Peter helped keep it down in his part of town. Now if only he could say that about the rest of the city. His newest target though was going to be the one that would probably catch him but he had heard Stark was in town and a few bucks off a rich guy was anything. Especially if he could get it without the suit on. He was in civilian clothes for once being Spider-Man because he needed to get some money for his neighbor who needed surgery. He would have worn the suit but this was Avengers Day at Central Park and Peter rather not have to fight the Avengers. He kept his head down until he passed Tony Stark who he passed swiftly as he shot an invisible web at the man’s wallet and pulled it to him. He pulled the cash and dropped the wallet on the grown knowing taking cards would only cause more problems than he needed. He was out of the park before Tony even knew what happened or so he thought.
~
Tony Stark noticed his wallet was gone and saw the kid take the money before running off leaving his wallet. He had FRIDAY track the boy only to find that the boy was off to Queens. Tony called Happy and gave him directions. Once in Queens Tony walked around until he saw a woman telling her neighbor that Spider-Man visited with some cash. Enough to pay for her surgery. Tony listened and realized the amount was similar to the amount he was missing. The boy in question was the masked spider or working for him and Tony knew he needed to find out more about this small-time villain.
“Take me home, Happy,” Tony said as he looked out the window watching as the house passed, not knowing that Spider-Man was in one of those buildings eating lunch with his Aunt May.
~
It was a surprise when a month later, Peter got invited to the tower for an internship interview. Stark Industries was going to hire three high school interns and apparently Peter had forgotten he applied for this opportunity. Peter ran to the tower (well swang to the tower but that was a given) as he was running late. He got there just in time for his interview and apologized to the receptionist for running into the building. She smiled and told him that Happy Hogan would lead him up. Peter smiled at the man and asked him questions but Happy ignored him. Peter was a bit nervous but he didn’t let it show as he entered the room where five people sat. One being Pepper Potts and another being Tony Stark. Bruce Banners also sat with them and Peter didn’t know if he should fanboy over the hero or just stay quiet about how much he looked up to the scientists. Apparently, Peter never learned to shut up.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Banner. I have read all your papers on gamma radiation and the effects of gamma radiation,” Peter said. Before turning to Tony Stark. “Dr. Stark, I have read all of your papers on the arc reactor and how it works and I was wondering if you…” Stark seemed to watch him as he rambled on about changes before Tony held up his hand.
“I will have to look into that Mr. Peter Parker. Now we have some questions for you,” Tony said before turning to Pepper. Pepper went through the questions with Peter and Peter answered them. He knew he was talking a lot but he was nervous and talking made him feel safe. He went through each of the questions just rambling. Pepper wrote stuff and so did the other two that weren’t Tony and Bruce.
“Thanks, Mr. Parker,” Pepper said. Peter nodded as he shook hands with the five before leaving. Peter saw another boy heading to the room looking confident and his nerves came back as Happy led him back downstairs away from the disaster rambling he did.
~
Tony was looking over Pepper’s notes and noticed how much-praised Peter Parker got from her. Bruce was even impressed by the kid. Tony didn’t expect the villain to be this intelligent but now looking over the notes and thinking back to the conversation with the kid, Peter was a genius. If Peter wanted to, he could take over the world. He was smart enough to be able to. Tony was going to have to watch him and he knew he wanted to hire him so when he chose him, Pepper seemed happy about it saying Peter was a good choice. She just didn’t know what Tony knew.
“Well I have my three interns chosen,” Tony said, handing her the files. Pepper took the files and smiled as she looked through them approving of Tony’s choices.
~
Peter couldn’t believe it when he got the letter telling him he got the internship. He walked in on his first day and got his badge from Happy who was telling him not to lose it. Peter would never lose his badge, not when he cared so much. It was a great honor to have the badge that he was holding. Peter smiled as he looked at the lab he would be working in. Harley and Riri were already there and apparently, they would be working with a STEM group from California for the week and Peter was just excited for this whole thing.
“You must be Peter,” Harley said. His accent surprised the young spider.
“Yeah,” Peter said as a group of kids and Shuri, Princess of Wakanda. Shuri smiled as she talked to the teens and introduced herself. What really surprised Peter was Tony Stark came down and worked with the teens as well.
“You know I took in some of your considerations,” Tony Stark told him. “I think you have a bright future, Parker. I would highly suggest you don’t do anything stupid to ruin that.”
“I won’t sir,” Peter said. It made him think about how he had stolen from Tony Stark. What if Tony Stark knew about that. Peter went to say something but Harley appeared and Peter didn’t want Harley to know. He didn’t need that so he figured he would talk about it to Tony Stark the next day.
~
Peter stopped stealing as Spider-Man figured he could take from the criminals he was taking down. He was following a lead on a drug dealer and ended up stealing his money and making sure the people in Queens got the money he needed and started making money appear where he stole from. The only place left was Tony Stark. Peter walked in and found Tony Stark working in the lab before he dropped the envelope. Tony Stark looked at him confused.
“Do I want to know what that is?” Tony Stark asked.
“I found it on the floor of the lab,” Peter lied, not able to tell the truth. Tony Stark picked it up and counted it and looked at him.
“Where did you really get it, Parker?” Tony Stark asked.
“Your wallet a few weeks ago,” Peter lied.
“I’m sure that is a lie since that money was donated to a woman who was having surgery. She has been cared for with new Stark tech at a hospital that is paying for all her expenses so please try again Mr. Parker,” Tony Stark asked.
“I didn’t steal it from a bank or anyone who didn’t deserve it,” Peter said.
“Look I know you have been doing better but wherever this money came from it will only cause you trouble, Kid,” Tony Stark told him.
“Just take it so I can stop feeling bad for stealing from you,” Peter shouted before walking out leaving the money as he knew he needed to swing away.
~
Tony watched the kid leave not knowing that Pepper had heard everything. She walked in, looked at the envelope, and then at her fiance.
“Is there something that you need to tell me?” Pepper asked.
“No,” Tony said.
“Parker has some dirty secrets,” Pepper said.
“He is doing better. He probably stole this off a drug dealer based on the recent reports I heard about his alter ego,” Tony said.
“Alter ego?” Pepper asked.
“Peter is spider-man. I found out a while ago and that is why I suggested the internship,” Tony said. Pepper still didn’t like this but she nodded as she walked out going to find Natasha for assistance. Tony wouldn’t know though.
~
Peter didn’t think Tony would believe him but he needed help so he went to the tower and ran up the stairs when he was stopped. Natasha Romanoff was looking at him judging him.
“Look I need to see Dr. Stark,” Peter said.
“I can lead you to him. He just left though so we will have to head to the compound,” Natasha said. Peter nodded as she led him to an SUV. As they got close, Peter’s sixth sense went off and he turned only to feel someone grab him and a syringe go in his neck before it went black.
~
Tony watched the news as did Harley and Riri. The two weren’t worried like Tony was. Peter should have arrived for their internship. Tony knew the last conversation wasn’t their best but Tony wouldn’t tell anyone besides Pepper who Peter was and he knew Peter was innocent.
“You think Peter got lost,” Harley teased.
“He has been acting strange these past few weeks and he had more bruises and a limp here and there,” Riri told Harley.
“You don’t think his dad is beating him,” Harley asked.
“His dad is dead,” Tony said. The two shut up as they watched Tony who was concerned as he watched the tv. The two became quiet as the news talked about Spider-Man killing a man who apparently crossed him wrong. Tony didn’t believe Peter would have killed someone but the news was saying he did.
“I think spider-man is being framed,” Harley said. Tony looked up. “I met Peter and some of his friends in Queens once and they all said that Spider-Man is actually an anti-hero like Robin Hood. Peter even said he would never harm a fly.”
“I know. The kid is being framed but he hasn’t been in touch,” Tony admitted before he realized his slip up.
“You know who Spider-Man is?” Riri asked.
“I met him once or twice. He tried stealing from me but I ended up helping some people in Queens,” Tony said. “The kid has a big heart but he just doesn’t know how to help. He is doing better now though.” Harley and Riri nodded as they watched the news hoping Spider-Man was out there.
~
Drip. Drip. Drip. Peter opened his eyes and looked around the room. He felt tired as he turned to see his arms tied down. He tried to break them but he felt weak.
“Relax Mr. Parker,” A man said.
“Where am I?” Peter asked, his voice cracked from being dry.
“The raft. It’s a prison for people like you,” the man said. “My name is Ross and my friend here is Dr. Osborn. He is here to learn about your advancements.” Peter tried to get out and call for help only for the other man to come over and take some of his blood and smile.
“Don’t worry. No one can hear us down here, Mr. Parker. It is just us and the ocean,” Dr. Osborn said laughing. Peter looked scared as the man took his blood to a computer. Ross left them alone as a guard came in to protect Dr. Osborn.
“You can take him back to his room. We will run some more tests tomorrow,” Dr. Osbron told the man after he did some other tests. Peter tried to fight but they had sedated him and were keeping him sedated somehow. He did get a punch in and the guard seemed to growl as he dragged him back before punching the boy back. Peter whimpered as he hid in the corner. The guard smiled.
“Just know that you are here with me and the ocean. I don’t play nice if you don’t,” the guard said, leaving Peter alone.
~
May had contacted her late husband’s friends but none of them had any luck finding Peter. She remembered that he worked for SI so she went up there to apologize for him not being in when she ran into Happy.
“Can you let Peter’s supervisor know that he is currently missing and the police are looking for him?” May asked. Happy brought her to a room and before she knew it Tony was there.
“What is going on? Where has Peter been? I know we were arguing but I’m not mad at the kid. I just don’t want him going down a path he might regret later,” Tony told her. May stopped. Tony Stark cared for her kid.
“He is missing. Been since Monday. He said he was going to his internship but he never made it home,” May explained. Tony looked at her confused.
“Monday?” Tony asked.
“Yes, why?” May said.
“He never came in on Monday,” Tony said, realizing what happened. Peter must have run away. Tony told May that he would find him.
“Please do,” May said. “I can’t lose him. He is all I have.” Natasha heard that and watched Tony run up the stairs as she looked down at her phone and knew that it was time. She had her proof now but first, she had a little spider to save.
~
Peter lay in the cell when the door opened. He knew he was covered in blood and bruises. Anyone could tell him that.
“Well this is definitely going against the accords,” a new voice said. Peter looked surprised and scared as he crawled up to the corner of the room terrified. Natasha Romanoff huffed.
“I thought you murdered someone,” Natasha explained. “Now can you get down so I can get you home before your aunt has a breakdown and we can take down your tormenter for good?” Peter nodded as he dropped but he was still nervous as he tried to walk. Finally, Natasha picked him up concerned with how little the boy was as she carried him out letting Rhodey know she picked up the package.
“When you said we were grabbing a package you never said kid,” Rhodey said when she got on the Quinjet as they flew away. She watched as the scientist evacuated from the prison.
“You didn’t ask. Now I’m going to call Helen and have her meet us. He seems to be underweight,” Natasha told Rhodey. Rhodey nodded as Peter muttered May.
“He must have been there for a while,” Rhodey said.
“He is calling for his aunt,” Natasha said before calling Helen and letting her know the situation.
~
Peter woke to a hospital bed and Natasha Romanoff beside him. He looked over to see a doctor checking his vitals.
“Your blood sugar is low,” the doctor said. “I’m Helen by the way. Natasha says your name is Peter. Can you tell me a bit about your advancements so I can make the right adjustments?” Peter went to speak but his mouth was dry. She nodded as she got him some water and helped him drink it before he explained his advancements. She told him about some friends she had with advancements. He smiled as he fell back to sleep feeling safe.
~
May got the call when she was with Tony. Harley and Riri were there as well, wanting to know about their friend. Tony watched as May seemed to sigh in relief.
“Can I talk with him?” May asked. Tony, Harley, and Riri all perked up. “Hey, baby boy… she explained most of what happened……. I’m fine, I’m with some friends……. I won’t be mad at you ever………. You are who?...... Peter Benjamin Parker, what do you mean you were kidnapped?” Tony froze as May seemed concerned. “Where are you currently?....... I’ll be there soon……… I will have Tony fly me out beside him and your intern friends are concerned……. I’ll let Ned know you are fine as well…….. See you soon.” May hung up. “Get me to the Avengers Compound now.” Tony nodded as he led her and his two concerned interns to the quinjet and had FRIDAY fly them. Pepper and Happy had seen them leaving and joined in.
“Rather not have you doing this alone. Besides, I feel this is partly my fault. He disappeared right after I told Natasha,” Pepper said.
“Natasha was the one who found him,” May said. “She didn’t tell me all the details but he isn’t in the clear yet.”
“Where has he been?” Tony asked.
“In the Raft is all I was told,” May said. Tony knew about that. It was a prison. It was a prison that is for advanced individuals.
“I hope he is okay,” Tony said.
“He sounded fine but Natasha told me he was bruised all over when she got to him,” May said. Pepper still was concerned but hopefully, they would see him soon and he would be fine. They landed and May was to medbay before the others could all get off. May found Peter laying down with an iPad playing some game and complaining about something. There weren’t many bruises but she could see some scarring. Tony was right behind her and looked at Peter sitting there resting and looking like he wasn’t just kidnapped. Besides the bruises.
“Well look who survived getting kidnapped,” Harley said. Peter looked up and then set the iPad down as he smiled.
“May!” Peter said. His voice was tired and Tony could see he was exhausted.
“You look better than I was expecting,” May said smiling before hugging her nephew. Peter held on tight and was crying. “I got you. You will be home as soon as I get the paperwork done. You filled out the paper that Matt gave you?” Peter nodded. “Good now I got to fill out my half of the papers. Once this is taken care of though things are going to change. You will have a lot of things you are going to have to do.” Peter nodded. “Now Tony, Harley, and Riri were concerned about you so let them verify you are alive before they have to leave. I’m going to talk with Matt. Luckily Natasha could get a hold of him because I don’t know what we would do without him.” Peter nodded as she left and Tony checked on him.
“Everything alright?” Tony asked.
“I’m fine,” Peter said.
“Therapy,” Tony said. Peter looked at him confused. “You were just kidnapped by the government kid, you are going to need therapy and Bruce is not a therapist or so he tells me but maybe that was just him getting annoyed with me…”
“Tony,” Petre said. “I’m already going to be starting therapy. It’s part of my court agreement.”
“Court agreement?” Harley asked. Riri seemed to smile.
“I called it,” Riri said. “Spidey and you are just too much alike.” Harley looked at him surprised.
“You have a court agreement?” Tony asked.
“Part of me signing the accords,” Peter explained. “Since I’m a superhero now and part of the Avengers. Well, an avenger-in-training.” Tony was about to ask more when Helen said that Peter needed his rest.
“Can Tony stay until I fall asleep or until May gets back? I don’t want to be alone,” Peter said. Helen nodded as everyone else left them.
“Make sure the evil guard and scientist don’t get me,” Peter said. Tony told him he would be safe. No one would hurt one of his kids again. He would make sure of it. May came back after Peter fell asleep.
“He has a long road ahead of him,” May said.
“Yes, but he is a hero deep down and he knows right from wrong. I think he just needs a bit of guidance sometimes. Hopefully, the Avengers can give it to him,” Tony said. May agreed as Tony went to get up but May asked him to stay as she sat on her nephew’s other side. Tony agreed as he stayed there protecting his kid from the night terrors of the real world.