Chapter Text
"Oh right, before you all go," Mr Harrington started, "I have a huge announcement to make," Whispers quickly erupted throughout the room. Guesses of what it was, and assumptions of it being something dumb were said.
"So, as you all know; we won the AcaDec Tournament this year." He couldn't contain his huge smile. "And as a congratulations, from the man himself, we've gotten a field trip." Mr Harrington's smile was so big, Peter was sure his cheeks were aching. "AND it's not just ANY field trip, but, it's a weeklong trip to the one, the only St—" he paused and hesitated, but you could tell the place is gonna be so awesome with just the huge smile plastered on his face.
"—actually I want to keep the location secret. Obviously your parents and guardians will be notified with an email, within it will be an NDA, the location and another copy of the permission slip, so if you want to go, make sure you get all of the papers signed! Please do, i'd rather not deal with another issue with the school because some idiot didn't get his slip signed and still went." He huffed, and sat down very dramatically. "Anyway, I need those slips BEFORE next Wednesday, as they’re due Friday, and I still need to organize and overlook them to make sure they’re signed. Okay! Finally, y'all can leave, have a safe and good weekend! See y'all on Monday, I better receive those slipped signs - I mean signed slips in my email."
Finally, and quite loudly, the AcaDec team packed their bags. Grabbing their permission slips, and leaving the room with loud talking and excitement chittering in their veins.
Peter, Ned, and Mj — or as Mr Stark liked to call them, the Golden Trio — headed out the door in an orderly-ish fashion, not similarly to how soldiers march, but definitely better than the rest of their teammates. Not very long after, in true Ned fashion, he began rambling. "Where do you guys think it is? I really hope it's like some cool place. Nothing shitty like Oscorp." He said, although deep down the two knew Oscorp wasn't that shitty.
"Literally." Peter replied, shuddering at the memories that washed up. Peter really hated Oscorp and what it did to him— but at the same time, he's glad it was him, and not someone who'd use his power for bad or someone who probably wouldn't be able to handle the responsibilities being a vigilante withholds, and the sleepless nights or- or whatever.
The trio walked out the main doors and down the steps (oddly in sync), eager to get home because holy shit was it cold outside.
It was early January, so he wasn't surprised by the cold. If anything he would be even more worried if it wasn't at most 41'F outside. Despite that, he's literally shaking. He literally couldn't warm up at ALL so he's really effing desperate to seek warmth within the confines of his (very, very) warm bed at aunt May's. The trio talked as they walked down the street, a few moments later, Ned said his goodbyes and the duo did their handshake before he turned left at the inter-section, and into the little mini-market his mother owned. Ned loved fairly close to the school, and his mother owned a market literally down the street from the school, on small corner of Edgerton Blvd. and Hillside Avenue. It was a small filipino market, but it was their market, and honestly, good money came from it.
So, more often than not, Peter walked with Ned down to the market and the duo split ways.
Not long after, MJ also dipped, leaving poor ole Peter alone. He didn't mind it though. Sometimes he loved being left alone to his thoughts. Like how about the fact that ever since that one gym class in Freshman year, he's caught Betty, Nolan, and Tim staring at him? He's not sure why, but it's already his junior year... wait did they catch on? Do they know he's spider-man?! — No, he doesn't think so. After the trip to London, Peter's been more careful about his identity. Though he is a little weirded out. Because it's not only them, but during his Sophmore year, he's noticed that more people — though very few, had started to show some interest in him. Obviously, he rejected their advances to try to get him tor he talking stage as he's really not ready for the stress of school, relationships, "work", and spider-man to pile on-top of each other.
A text from may disrupted his thoughts, realizing he's at the subway station
__
aunt may 💕 - 2:53 pm
surprise shift at F.E.A.S.T., left money for takeout — or there's stuff to make spaghetti, your choice!! Love you xx
gitc 😜 - 2:41 pm
i made it home safe 😋👍🏼
14 other notifications...
—
He replied with a quick thumbs up to Ned's message and an "okay see you tonight love you" to aunt May's. May's apartment isn’t too far from the school, so that was a huge plus. But what sucked was the subway train. He had to be there a specific time, and if he missed it he’d be late. Not only that, but it can get pretty expensive. Especially during the holidays, and the summer when tourists from around the world come. He swears it’s so much cheaper — and funner — just swinging to and from school. But he can’t. May would have his head if he got late to school because a poor kitty was stuck in a tree and i couldn’t not stop to help. Swinging home from school was a whole different story.
Anyway.
Peter hopped off the subway, and began the last 5 minutes of his trek from the subway station to May's apartment. Another notification popped up on his phone. However, this time it was just a notification on Stark Industries's official instagram account posting a new story. Suddenly, he had a bad feeling, and his mind began nagging him about the field trip.
He was excited about it yes, but, he was also worried. What if it was some horrible place? Or even worse... to SI itself! Peter shook his head. Nah, he doubted it'd be a trip to SI, how would Mr Harrington even manage to get them a tour there? It would've taken months of planning in advance and shockingly, at least a bake sale or two. Imagine though, how ironic.
He waved away his thoughts, entering the apartment with the spare key. He was hit with the very fine scent of mint and roses. Yes, mint usually made him feel queasy and like he was about to die, but the smell of the rose drowned out the mint, giving it this wonderful minty-flowery type smell.
May loved her rose and mint candles, so she had multiple. But, when Peter began getting sick due to the mint candles, May began using one very mint candle and two large rose one's. This way, the mint wasn't overwhelming and making it hard to breathe for Peter, but her home would still have that sweet spearmint smell. Which Peter didn't mind. Honestly, back before the spider bite, if you asked Peter his favorite scent it'd probably Spearmint. Of course, now it's been replaced by the scent of roses.
He breathed in deep, his body finally warming up from the biting cold air outside. He began debating if he should really go on patrol today — well obviously he had to. He can just use a hoodie over his suit. He should really talk to Mr Stark about adding some thermo-lining of some sort to his suit so he can be at least some-what warm during the winter.
The rumble of his stomach interrupted his thoughts. He hasn't eaten since this morning, and even then breakfast was a banana he ate on his rush to get to the subway station. Oh, and the grapes Ned gave him during lunch. Yeahhhh… That wasn't good for his fast metabolism, he should probably eat something. Yeah, okay, he'll eat a quick meal, and then finish some homework and finally, head to patrol right after.
—-
Patrol was so far uneventful. Well, not really. There was a few muggings here, a few near car accidents there, and a couple lost tourists here and there. He didn't know if it was because of the sudden uprise in vigilantes, or if it was so cold criminals had enough common sense to stay inside today. Though, it might be the former. Actually, if he thinks about it most vigilantes are based in New York. However, he's heard word about the fastest man alive down in Missouri, and a group of vigilantes over in New Jersey. Oh, and the super people in Illinois. Damn. Oh hey, he loves that album.
His mind drifted towards the field trip again. Where is it? Mr Harrington almost said the name earlier it was like St- something. Is it STAR Labs? He's heard it's really cool there. Or is it the all cliche Statue of Liberty? Nah, it'd probs be some science-y place like SI. So — wait. SI.
Oh.
Hell.
No.
Nuh uh. No way. No No No No No. There's no way in hell they're going to the tower! How'd Mr Harrington even manage? It’s shockingly a costly trip — and involves so much planning ahead. Unless you have connections. Wait, no he couldn't. Like he said, it’s costly and involves months of planning. They're not going. Yeah, that'd be stupid. He can imagine it. Oh how embarrassing. The irony.
"New message from aunt may, would you like me to read it to you?" The AI asked, suddenly disrupting Peter's thoughts.
"Yes please, Karen." He replied
"Alright," She paused for a second.
"From aunt May: You're going on a field trip to stark tower?! laughing emoji, laughing emoji." Karen relayed, and a holographic image of the text popped up in his vision. Attached to it was a screenshot of the email.
"What the fu-!"