Chapter Text
Accept or Deny?
Peter did not know why he was accepted out of what was probably thousands of applicants. I mean he knew he was pretty good at chemistry and math, but he only did okay when I came to his reading and language courses. Before the incident he knew he was only making a barely passing grade in P.E., even with being able to get out of certain parts of the curriculum due to his asthma.
After the field trip, when he was bitten by the spider, his grade in P. E. had improved. IT had given him all types of cool abilities, it also healed his vision and asthma, plus he developed muscles overnight. Aunt May had gone ballistic, she though he had taken up steroids and had held an intervention with Uncle Ben, though he was a little calmer. They had explained that any kind of drug is dangerous and then had him do a drug test.
Peter had tried to explain that it wasn’t drugs, he had just gotten really into working out but still May had insisted on the test. When it came back clean, May had tried to take him to the doctor but Uncle Ben said that they were wrong, and that Peter was obviously fine. Aunt May had relented but said she was going to keep an eye on Peter from there on out. Then Uncle Ben was shot and both Peter and May had fallen into grieving.
After Ben’s death Peter had gone out and had become Spider-man. He helped stop muggings, burglaries, and even just did small, good deeds, like help elderly people cross the street, or save a kitten from a tree. After he stopped a bus from crashing, that is when the Avengers had taken notice and had tried to contact him. One day while on patrol, he saw a box on one of the building’s rooftops he frequented to sit, watch and, listen for anyone who needed help. He walked over to the box that his name written on it, carefully he examined it until he heard a ringing from inside. Dropping it because of his sensitive hearing it took him a minute to realize there was a phone inside.
He opened the box, picked up the phone and answered it. On the other end was Tony Stark. He explained to Spider-man that the Avengers wanted to know who he was so they could help him if he needed it. Peter had declined because he did not want them knowing who he was, and they seemed to respect it. Tony told him to keep the phone and stay in contact so they would know that he was up to. Peter agreed and had sent them an email about once a week debriefing them about what he did that week.
After everything, Peter had totally forgotten about the internship until he was called to the office at school.
“Ooh, Penis Parker, what did you do?” Eugene ‘Flash’ asked as he got up to leave. Peter rolled his eyes trying to get passed him and would have fell on his face, if it weren’t for his enhanced senses. Flash had stuck out his foot to trip him, but Peter had hopped over it in the last second to avoid it. Flash looked pissed but Peter didn’t care, too worried about why he was wanted in the office.
As he exited the class, he heard the teacher resume teaching and not even reprimand Flash for his inappropriate language because his dad donated a lot of money to the school. Peter let it go, as he did most things Flash did, and tried to figure out why he was getting called to the office. He hasn’t been late in a while, and he is passing all his classes. He continues to stress out as he finally arrives at the office. The secretary ushers him into Principal Morita’s office, where the principal and Aunt May are talking. Morita is leaning a little bit over his desk with his suit bunching up around the bend in his elbows with his hands folded together on top of his desk. Aunt May is sitting in the chair closest to the wall in her scrubs and her arms crossed in front of her.
Peter swallows the lump that formed in his throat, whatever he did must be major if they called Aunt May from work. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry and I won’t do it again, please don’t expel me. I’ll attend after school detention and in school suspension just don’t expel me!” Peter was planning on continuing his plea, but Aunt May couldn’t hold it together anymore and lost control of her laughter, Principal Morita follows suit, and both are howling with laughter for a good ten minutes before they get a hold of themselves.
Aunt May gestures to the seat next to her and Peter sits down, utterly confused. “Mr. Parker you are not in trouble, we thought we might try scare you but clearly it worked a little too well.”
“We’re sorry Peter.” Aunt May says and takes his hand.
“If I’m not in trouble, why am I here? And why are you here?” Peter questions them.
“Well, I had a short shift today and, on my way home, your principal called me to let me know about an amazing opportunity for you.” Aunt May explained but just left Peter still confused.
“Peter, do you remember the application that you filled out at the beginning of the school year for the personal internship with Tony Stark at Stark Industries?” He asked and waited for Peter to nod, continuing when he did. “Well, out of all the applicants you were selected for the internship.”
May sat there smiling at Peter waiting for his excitement but it didn’t come. “Peter, aren’t you excited? You were practically bouncing off the walls when you brought it home in September. Now you just look scared.”
Peter shook his head and put on a tight smile, “Yeah, of course. It’s exciting. Its just…” He trailed off. May looked at him expectantly. “Can I have a few days to think about it?”
This question took both by surprise, but the principal was the first to recover, “Of course, Peter, that’s fine. You have until Friday to come back with an answer.”
“Thank you, sir.” Peter said then got up to leave.
“I’ll be right out, give me a second.” Aunt May said. Peter left and waited in the lobby still able to hear her talking to his principal. “I’m sorry, I thought he would be more excited than that.” She said to Morita.
"It’s fine Mrs. Parker, really it has been ten months ago now and I’m sure with everything that happened he forgot about it. I must send in an acceptance or rejection by Friday, so I can inform the runner-up of his acceptance for the position.” Morita explained.
May didn’t say anything for a minute but Peter heard the chair being scooted back as she stood up. He heard her turn the handle then asked, “If I may, who is the runner-up?”
“I really can’t tell you but if I were you, I would tell Peter to make a flash decision.” With that he heard May finish opening the door and walked out. “I’m going to be checking Peter out for the rest of the day.” May informed the secretary, who presented her with the checkout list. “Go get your stuff from class Peter and meet me outside.
The secretary handed Peter a note for his teacher. When he got back to the classroom, he gave it to her and then went to gather his things. “Finally getting kicked out Puny Parker?”
“Flash, that’s enough!” The teacher said. Flash gave Peter a scowl but turned back around in seat. As Peter left the teach gave him a smile, “See you tomorrow, Peter.” Peter didn’t see it, but he felt Flash’s glare on his back.
He quickly sent Ned and MJ a text, letting them know May checked him out and he would not be there at Lunch or AcaDec. Ned sent a thumbs up and MJ sent a question mark. Peter responded with ‘tell you later’ and she sent back a thumbs up as well. He stepped outside as he put his phone back in his pocket.
May stood up from the bench as Peter approached her. “Let’s go to lunch and talk about why you don’t want to do this internship anymore.”
They made their way to their favorite Thai place ordered and sat down. "What's up baby? You were so excited about this internship before..." She trail\ed off not having to finish the sentence when both of them knew she was talking about before Ben died.
Peter sighed, "It's not that I don't want to do it because I do, it's just I made plans with Ned and M.J. this summer and it's not fair to them to have to change plans or cancel them." He knows it's a lame excuse as soon as it comes out of his mouth, but he has to say something.
"Nope, I know you know both Ned and M.J. will be fine to change or cancel plans if it comes down to it for you for this internship. Plus, this could really help you get scholarships to college after high school."
Peter shrugs then smiles. "I know Aunt May, your right."
"Glad you agree with me, now eat your larb!" They smile and enjoy some small talk while they eat. After lunch, May has to go back to work and Peter puts on his suit to go patrolling. Immediately he spots an older woman entering his building with a bunch of groceries, so he swings down to the front door to help. “Here let me help.” Peter said as he opened the door for her.
“Oh, such a kind young man.” She said as she walked through and then let him take the groceries. “I’m on the third floor”
He followed her up and helped her put them away. After she sent him on his way with a couple of cookies. After he left, he swung to the building where the phone was and plugged the wireless charger into it. After a few minutes, the phone came to life and there was a text from Tony Stark about last week’s email and how it left out Sunday’s dog search and rescue. He chuckled and sent a detailed text about how a 12-year-old boy had come running up to him as he was walking home because he had run out of web fluid and begged him to look for his missing corgi who had made its way onto a subway train when the boy had tripped and let go of his leash. It took about an hour and a half, but they had found the missing dog. After, the boy had posted video online talking about how amazing it was that Spider-man had found his dog. It had even made the local news. Even the Daily Bugle had to admit it was a good deed.
When he finished his cookies he swung around the city, stopping every now and then to give directions or point out a nice tourist spot. He also posed for a few pictures before heading back home to meet May for dinner.
As he waited for May, he texted Ned about winning the internship and that he was going to tell Morita tomorrow that he was accepting it. He also told him that Flash was a runner-up and that was a major reason for Peter accepting it so Flash couldn’t. They had a small back and forth with Ned congratulating him. The conversation came to an end and Peter started on his homework. M.J. came by to drop off the classes that he missed, and they talked for a bit with her also congratulating him and her insulting Flash for coming in second to Peter yet again. Aunt May came home and invited M.J. to join them for dinner. Afterward she went home, and the Parkers settled down for the night.