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English
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Published:
2023-07-17
Completed:
2023-08-17
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4,355
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3/3
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A burden shared is a burden halved

Summary:

A dad's job is to embarrass his son, is it not? Well unfortunately for Peter Tony Stark has taken it to the limit by inviting his decathlon team to SI for a classic field trip. However with cruel classmates and an uninterested and neglectful teacher, will the day end on a high for Peter, or in disaster?

Notes:

My first Peter Parker (and Marvel) fanfiction! I always loved the dynamic between Tony and Peter and the field trip trope is my jam so... here we are! Feel free to comment and enjoy :)

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Peter wanted to die. He knew Tony enjoyed embarrassing him but wasn’t this a bit too far? Inviting the decathlon team on a whole field trip? To here!

“Don’t worry kid, I’ve signed your permission slip,” Tony said cheerfully, ignoring the glare directed at him that was about as deadly as a puppy.

“Oh, well thank you,” Peter snarked back. Tony rolled his eyes while Pepper and Steve gave him a look but Peter stalked out. They all thought he was messing around, just pretending to be annoyed but he wasn’t. Flash would kill him and he was scared. It was pathetic, he was Spiderman for god’s sake, but it was true. What Flash had been doing to him lately was going past even bullying. He took a shaky breath and sank down onto the floor of his room before dialling a number.

“What’s up loser?”

The concerned note in MJ’s voice did it. Peter let out an ugly sob, stuffing his fist into his mouth to try and quiet it.

“Hey. Hey! Nerd, listen, what’s going on?” MJ sounded almost frantic for her.

“It – it’s not important but –”

“Bullshit, you wouldn’t be calling me at 11pm on a school night crying if it wasn’t important.”

“It’s just – Tony scheduled our next field trip to go here. I can’t – Flash –”

“Listen loser, listen to my voice. Now, name five things you can see.”

“Wall, star wars poster, iron man shirt, bed, window.”

“Four things you can feel.”

“Shirt, phone, trousers, floor,” Peter replied, managing to draw in a shaky breath.

“Three things you can hear.”

“You, the avengers, my heartbeat.”

“I really hope that wasn’t done by importance because it feels like it was,” MJ said dryly and Peter gave a small snort. It was accidental but she wasn’t wrong.

“Two things you can smell.”

“Cookies from the kitchen and the apple on my bedside table.”

“Good, you’re becoming more coherent. Lastly, name one thing you can taste.”

“The sandwich I had for lunch,” Peter muttered, knowing MJ wouldn’t like the answer.

“Really loser? You haven’t had supper yet? You’ll starve.”

“M’ not hungry.”

“Eat the apple on your bedside table or I’m telling the avengers and May how much you actually need to eat.”

Peter choked. “No! You can’t, it’s not important.” MJ gave a noncommittal hum which he took as a win, relaxing slightly as he grabbed his apple. Tony already spent way too much money on him, he didn’t need to be spending more on food and he and Aunt May couldn’t even afford to get much more and he didn’t want her to feel guilty about it.

 “You’ll have Ned though and I’ll keep Flash away so stop worrying. You should go to sleep, being tired will just make everything worse.”

“Thanks MJ,” Peter muttered, hanging up before staring at the ceiling. Stop worrying? Ha. Might as well ask him not to breath.

“MiniStark, would you like to ask Boss to come to you? It is protocol after a panic attack that –”

“No Friday! Don’t do that!” Peter immediately began to panic again, jumping to his feet. He had long learned to ignore the different names she called him, courtesy of Clint mostly.

“It is protocol to –”

“Initiate Guy in the Chair protocol,” Peter said, slightly calmer. He and Ned had come up with it and after putting it in the suit they had then added it in for Friday after he had moved into the tower. It overrode every protocol Tony had put in place and he had never been more thankful for it. He didn’t need to bother Tony, and by extension the avengers, with his tiny problems.

“Protocol initiated,” Friday replied before falling silent. Peter breathed a thankful sigh of relief before slipping into bed, trying to sleep. He pretends not to notice the avengers trickling in one by one to wish him goodnight, concern evident in their voices of him going to bed so early. Tony’s especially made him want to cry.

“Hey underoos,” Tony whispered softly. “Noticed you went to bed early this evening. Anything you want to tell me? Is it about that field trip? I’m sorry if I upset you, I’d never mean to.” He paused, then saying quietly, “I love you,” before brushing his curls off his forehead and pressing a soft kiss to his forehead and leaving.

Peter buried his head under the covers after that, tears running down his cheeks. He didn’t deserve Tony’s love.

He had never wanted to go to school less than tomorrow.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Notes:

Just posting chapter 2 straight away since it's done and ready to go and otherwise it won't be posted for weeks lol. Less certain on the future of the final chapter but hopefully will be delivered in the next week or two. All comments are appreciated and please, enjoy! :)

Chapter Text

“You’ll be fine Peter, what’s the worst that could happen?” Ned asked, trying to help him.

“What? Apart from them finding out about Flash? They’ll ruin him.”

Ned glanced back, seeing Flash laughing about Peter and mocking him with his friends. Exactly as he had done ever since middle school when he had joined. “Maybe some people deserve it.”

The look Peter gave him made him shrink back. “He’s right loser.” MJ’s voice floated over to them. “You really should’ve told them to avoid all this. Anyway, I’ve never met anyone who’s asking for it quite as much as he is.”

Peter just stared at his shoes, only next looking up when they pulled up to Stark Towers. He had never been less excited to see the building.

Upon entering, he saw the receptionist, Kayleigh it was today, wave at him. He gave her a small smile back, though at seeing her now concerned face it must have been a grimace at best. They stopped in front of the security machines, the sight making him feel sick. He had forgotten to ask Tony to change his access to what would be deemed normal for an intern. He was screwed.

Being so preoccupied, he didn’t notice Kayleigh making a quick phone call up to the easiest avenger to reach, Bruce. If only he had.

“Hey Penis! Don’t see your buddy Tony Stark here for you!” Flash yelled out and Peter sighed. He had known Flash had been too quiet for too long.

Ned glared at Flash while MJ raised an eyebrow and told him to shove it, effectively shutting him up for a little. Peter just folded into himself, shoulders sagging and head hung low. It was depressing how none of the decathlon team noticed considering how common a sight it was, it was what they thought he acted like. Mr Harrington however made no move to either stop Flash or rebuke MJ for her language, apparently not taking any interest in his students. Just like any other day, Peter thought bitterly.

Another intern named Katrina entered, Peter assuming her to be a tour guide. All interns had to run a tour once, he had as well even though Tony told him he didn’t have to. He liked Katrina, having messed around in the computer labs with her and Ned though it wasn’t his speciality. She smiled nervously upon seeing him, intimidated by the group of students surrounding her.

“Hello everyone, my name is Katrina and today I will be your tour guide. These passes I’m giving to you right now will need to be kept on you at all times and need to be seen or you will be escorted out of the building by security.” As she said this she walked around, handing out plain white passes with Guest printed on them. She by-passed Peter and Ned which immediately caught Flash’s attention, calling out “Hey Katrina! Penis and fatso haven’t got a pass!”

Katrina whipped around at his voice, eyes wide with disbelief at what he said. “What?”

“They have their own passes dumbass,” MJ said and Peter gave a thankful glance at her which got him a shrug.

“Well, now we need to go through security,” Katrina said hesitantly, still looking worriedly in Peter and Ned’s direction, knowing Mr Stark would be furious if he found out about what that boy had said.

“FRIDAY, Mr Stark’s AI will announce you as you go through so don’t be scared,” she warned them before scanning her own pass, showing them how to do it.

“Katrina Jones, Intern, permanent access.”

The Decathlon Team began to trickle through slowly, Peter being one of the last to go through. This was not by choice, he’d have rather gone in the middle where no one would notice his status, but due to him being shoved by Flash and barely keeping his balance he was now at the very back of the queue. With his enhanced hearing, he swore he heard Kayleigh mumbling something suspiciously like she was threatening someone. Just before he went through, he shook his head violently at her, sighing at the deadpan look in response.

Gulping, he swiped his card, hearing FRIDAY’s Irish lilt say “Peter Parker, Miniboss, permanent access.”

Peter wanted to die. Whispers broke through the Decathlon Team as MJ strode through with Friday declaring “Michelle Jones, guest, temporary access.”

She and Ned then stood by Peter, acting as bodyguards to prevent Flash from getting physical. It didn’t however stop him from opening his mouth. “What the fuck Penis? I would ask you how you hacked the AI but that would require a brain and since your aunt can’t even afford to send you to school with lunch you clearly didn’t pay ‘em so what did you do? Suck Stark’s di–”

“Mr Thompson that is enough!” Katrina snapped, anger bleeding through her voice. “Peter is a gifted kid or he wouldn’t be the only high school intern in SI and never imply he would do anything like what you were about to say! We don’t condone bullying at SI and this is your first strike. Two more and you’ll be waiting in the bus.”

Flash just snorted at that but fell silent while Kayleigh quietly asked FRIDAY to send the footage of Flash to Mr Stark, see what he made of it. All surrounding SI employees warm countenance swiftly turned cold towards the tour and many had filmed the exchange, sending it to their bosses with the hope that Mr Stark or Miss Potts would be shown the video.

Peter was too preoccupied with attempting to communicate with Katrina with his facial expressions to say she shouldn’t get annoyed at Flash but the deadpan expression and raised eyebrow he got in return made him give up his efforts. His shoulders slumped, Peter trailed after the tour as Katrina led them to the museum, Ned trying to cheer him up. MJ meanwhile was on her phone, ignoring the nasty looks she got from Mr Harrington as they were told to go and look around.

As soon as they were out of earshot, MJ turned to Peter. “I’ve texted Pepper about what Flash said and that it should be in FRIDAY’s footage if she wants to look at it. She hasn’t read it yet as she’s in a meeting so I was wondering if I could have Stark’s number since he’s never in meetings.”

Peter choked. He had done so much work so the Avengers along with Pepper and Tony, who were basically his parents at this point, never found out about Flash. How mortifying it would be if they found out Spiderman – who was supposed to be a superhero – was being bullied? “You can’t do that?”

“Peter, I’ve let you handle this by yourself for a long time. I have respected your decision to not tell your Aunt or Stark and Pepper. However, not only has he been getting steadily worse recently to the point I’m honestly scared for you but he is now doing this in front of employees and with the amount that were filming Flash having a tantrum earlier Stark will certainly hear about it whether it’s now or later.”

Peter swallowed at the serious tone MJ took. Just her use of his first name, not Parker or loser showed him just how upset about this she was. Swallowing his pride, he took out his phone only for it to start ringing, the name displayed being ‘Mr Stark :)’.

“Shit man,” Ned whispered urgently and Peter wanted to cry. The look on MJ’s face suggested she realised that and she pushed him into the corner of the museum, blocked by an exhibit while she and Ned kept an eye of Mr Harrington.

“Mr Stark?” Peter answered, hating how wobbly his voice had become.

“Underoos, Kayleigh asked FRIDAY to send footage of some kid bullying you in the foyer. How long has this been going on for?” Tony’s tone was dead serious and Peter could hear the slight tremor of fury underneath the calm façade.

“Bullying’s a bit of a stretch,” was all he could squeak out when the phone was grabbed from his hands.

“MJ. Is this Stark?”

“Yes –”

“Great. Now ignore everything Peter was saying and let me explain.”

Tony was livid.  After talking to MJ Bruce had come in, explaining the receptionist had called him about Peter being bullied. He insisted on staying and helping Tony find anything he could on the kid ‘Flash Thompson’ – what kind of name was that? – though the slight green tinge would’ve usually worried Tony, he didn’t care anymore.

Searching up his name they discovered he had nothing on his school record but his father made regular donations to the school. Smelling bullshit Tony began to search deeper. Hacking into the school camaras, Tony felt sick to the stomach at watching his kid be taunted, shoved into lockers, kicked to the ground and beaten up behind the school. Not once did the teachers do anything, instead looking the other way just because his father was a rich bastard.

Bruce was trembling next to him, pacing up and down. Though they all knew Tony was Peter’s favourite they all adored the little spider and someone hurting him was someone hurting them.

“Tony?!”

Tony spun around to see Pepper looking horrified at him, blinking back tears, iPad in her hand. “What are you watching?!”

She moved forward to the computer but Tony slid in the way, hoping to delay the news to her. “Tony, show me,” she demanded. “I’ve already seen what that boy did to him.” She waved her iPad at him, the clip of Flash mocking Peter playing.

Neither having seen the clip, Bruce and Tony crowded around, Pepper playing it to them. Tony’s blood boiled as he listened to the abuse his son was subjected to. His mouth fell open when Flash not only insulted Peter’s intelligence, but then said ‘What the fuck Penis? I would ask you how you hacked the AI but that would require a brain and since your aunt can’t even afford to send you to school with lunch you clearly didn’t pay ‘em so what did you do? Suck Stark’s di –‘

“How dare he,” Tony seethed. “As if Peter would need to do any of that. While he may not be able to code Karen or FRIDAY –”

“He can’t code Karen?”

Tony and Pepper glanced at Bruce in confusion. “No? What about it?”

“But he and his friend Ned were talking about their improvements to her –”

Tony froze. He immediately moved to his computer, getting up Karen’s code. Pepper and Bruce watched him worriedly as he compared it to his original code and cursed.

Tony’s blood boiled. He’d removed the ‘Training wheels protocol’ and the ‘Spider baby protocol’ and replaced them with ‘Guy in the chair protocol’.

“Guy in the chair?” Bruce questioned, looking at Pepper and Tony in confusion. Pepper just turned to Tony who was scowling.

“I’m guessing it was Ned, his best friend. While Peter doesn’t have the computer skills to do this, he has.”

“What do we do about that?” Bruce voiced, finally speaking, gaze flicking anxiously between Tony and the computer.

“Sort out the bullying first, then move onto why he removed Tony’s protocols that were put in place for his safety and also,” Pepper’s face turned morose, “why Flash said Peter was so poor he couldn’t even afford to bring lunch to school.”

At that Tony’s head jerked up, pulled out of his anger at Peter. “What? But he would’ve asked us if he needed money right? I have plenty to spare. God, he’s inheriting the whole damn thing when I’m gone!”

“Did you ever tell him that?” Bruce asked and got his answer by the way Tony’s face fell. “Maybe he doesn’t think he could come to you about that?”

“Or maybe he just doesn’t see me like that,” Tony grumbled, his mind already spiralling. He’d seen Peter as a son for months now but clearly Peter didn’t feel the same way. He felt so stupid that he had finally let someone in, why in the world would Peter feel the same? He was an unstable, emotionally repressed random guy he had met, nothing more than a mentor at most. And yet he couldn’t even get that right, not realising his own code had been overridden.

“Whatever you’re thinking, its bullshit.”

Tony jumped at Natasha’s voice next to him, even Pepper and Bruce looking surprised. “When did you get here?”

“I’ve been here the whole time. And I’ve sent all the avengers everything and they’re on their way. They’re all worried for him,” she clarified. “Wanda’s gone to get him from the tour, he doesn’t need it anyway and she’s bringing Ned and MJ with them just in case. I’ve got confirmation from their parents to stay the night here.”

Tony nodded grimly. They needed a serious talk with Peter to see why he had been hiding all of this. Grateful as Pepper took his hand in hers, he collected himself before saying with his usual false bravado set in place, “Well then, time for an intervention.”

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Notes:

And finally the last chapter is up! Apologies for taking so long haha I really did think it would be up sooner. Thank you for all the wonderful comments, kudos and support, I love all of you! Now, enjoy! :)

Chapter Text

Peter twitched nervously at the edge of the group while Katrina led them to the next room. Ned and MJ flanked him, attempting to shield him from Flash. It was a nice thought but his enhanced hearing could still hear the snide comments and pointed jabs, though nothing like his earlier comment. It made Peter feel sick to think about it. God, he just wanted to go home. Go up to the Penthouse and just hide under the covers of his bed, tucked up against Tony and just cry. It was pathetic but still. He wanted it.

“Kid!”

Peter jerked around at the cheerful voice, mouth falling open as Tony strode in, dressed to the nines. Flinching slightly when Tony clapped a hand on his shoulder he then leaned into the touch, so relieved he wasn’t on his own anymore. Tony was here. He would make everything better.

“Sorry to break up such a fun trip however I need to borrow my intern here for a bit. Unfortunately he will be unable to return to the tour. And Mr Thompson?” his gaze settled on Flash who looked like he was about to vibrate out of his skin in excitement.

“Yes sir?”

“Stay the fuck away from my kid.”

And with that Tony spun around and stalked out, tugging Peter along with him. The moment they were alone and out of earshot, Tony pulled off his sunglasses and looked at Peter, a devastated look on his face.

“Bambino, kid, why didn’t you tell me that – that boy was bullying you?”

“You called me your kid,” Peter responded in wonder, not even processing what Tony was saying. He had called him his kid. Did Tony see him the same way he did? All he’d ever wanted was a father and when he’d found one he’d been so scared to tell him, to be rejected. His heart couldn’t handle another loss, especially not one so important.

“I – of course I called you my kid! You are. I mean,” suddenly Tony became hesitant, eyes falling to the ground, “unless you don’t want to be? I can –”

There was a flump and Tony coughed as Peter flung his arms around him, squeezing him. Choked up Tony wrapped his arms around his kid – his kid! – uncaring about the wet patch steadily growing on his shoulder. He may never have been comfortable enough to cry around his father, to hug him, but he’d be damned if Peter suffered the same.

However it soon came time to part for the hard conversation. “Pepper thought it would be better if it was just us three for the conversation and she can tell the others separately if that’s okay?”

Peter just nodded, wrung out from the day. While he adored the other Avengers they could be a lot, he just needed a bit of family time first before being treated to their – most likely overbearing – reactions. In silence father and son made their way up to the penthouse and upon stepping out the lift were greeted with the sight of Pepper, alone, on the sofas with her iPad at the ready.

“Hey Pete,” she said softly, ruffling his hair. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” Peter said, shrugging. He let himself be steered onto the sofa, sandwiched between the couple. Curled into Tony with Pepper’s hand running through his curls he’d never felt more safe. Content.

Silence settled for only a brief moment before Tony shifted, lips pressed tightly together as he considered what to say. Peter remained silent. Scared. He never wanted to disappoint Tony. It was why he kept the entire bullying thing secret in the first place!

“Why did you never tell me?”

Oh god, his voice. He sounded so, so broken. Peter gave a small sniff, Tony’s shirt bunched up in his hands. Focusing on Pepper’s hand running through his hair, he gathered up the courage to say the words.

“I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

Tony thought he was about to be sick. God, it was his childhood all over again. Not wishing to fail his father, let him down, be a disappointment. How had he let this slip by? How had he not noticed Peter was struggling with these thoughts? Why hadn’t he been better?

“I – I want you to know,” Tony finally managed to choke out, chest tight, “that I love you so, so much Bambino and – and I want you to know you could never disappoint me. Ever.”

“And that goes for me too darling,” Pepper said gently, tears sparkling as she looked at the precious boy between them. Peter let out another sniff, blinking his own tears away fiercely.

“I want you to know,” Tony began quietly, heart heavy, “that this is not okay and I will be fixing it, whether you think it’s a big deal or not,” he hurriedly added, seeing Peter about to protest. Squeezing his shoulder, he took a deep breath. “That’s not all we need to talk about though. the kid’s shoved you in lockers, punched you and kicked you. Even with your healing factor you shouldn’t have healed instantly which means you must have been hiding injuries from us. That will stop, not up for discussion alright?”

At getting a small nod he continued, twisting one of Peter’s curls around his finger. Just like he was wrapped around Peter’s finger. “He also bullied you about – about being unable to afford food. Peter, is that true? I need to know,” he pleaded.

Seeing Peter’s head drop down, the telling pause held a mighty weight. “I’m sorry,” he eventually whispered. “I didn’t want to bother you guys with my problems, and Aunt May has always been… disagreeable about receiving charity, Ned’s mum has already tried. She refused to let me get a job to help out either, though I got one under the guise of an after school club and put the money in her account since I have access to her card.”

God, how bad had he failed his kid?

Taking a shaky breath and exchanging a heartbroken look with Pepper he tried to hide his voice trembling as he said “Well, if she refuses charity then I’ll just have to pay you for your internship then hm? You’ve already been doing so much for SI anyway, hence why you’ll be taking over the company from me.”

“What?” Peter squeaked, and for the first time since finding out about all this Tony found his lips quirking into a – albeit miniscule – smile.

“You’re the heir to Stark Industries. Perhaps you could get MJ to take an internship to Pepper, become you’re CEO when you take over?”

Letting out a chuckle at Peter’s squeaks of denial and Pepper’s amused look he turned serious again when catching sight of the list of things he and Peter needed to talk about.

“So, kiddo, along with no hiding injuries and bullying know that you can always come to us whether it’s for homework, a shoulder to cry on, new clothes or food. We’re here for you, capiche?”

At Peter’s mumbled agreement Tony brought up what he was dreading. “So what’s this Guy in the Chair protocol on Karen kid?”

His heart hurt at the instant protests and denials leaving Peter’s lips.

“I know, I checked her coding. Was it Ned that did it? I’m not mad,” he added hastily at Peter’s white face, “I just need to know because those protocols you removed were put in place for your safety, Pete. We just want you safe, alright?”

At the snuffling response of agreement he relaxed a little. He knew he and Peter would no doubt need another conversation about this but for now, it looked like everything was going to be okay.

“Oh, and tell me when you want to invite MJ over by the way. I can clear the penthouse.”

“Mr Stark! OMG no!”

Laughing at Peter’s mortification he decided it was now or never.

“Well, I was rather thinking that instead of the whole ‘Mr Stark’ stuff, we could go for dad?”

 There was a pregnant pause before Peter flung his arms around him for the second time that day. “I’d love that. Dad.”

God, did he love this kid. Heart full, he gave a proper smile – not his paparazzi one – to Pepper. he loved them so much. Finally, he had a family.