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Studying biochemistry at MIT was all Peter has ever wished for, even if it was a financial struggle. But he makes it work. His grades are high – even though he has two jobs.
It’s stressful, he sleeps not enough, but he cannot afford it otherwise. Probably he is only able to keep it up because there is nothing he loves as much. He reads everything about it, and some more stuff too (to understand everything, you also need some knowledge in physics and other sciences). He even takes some extra classes in physics and engineering – especially because one of the greatest inventors of their time is holding them. It’s an honour to be able to hear the theories straight from their source.
Tony Stark. A dream of a man.
Due to his mental abilities, of course. His biceps has nothing to do with it.
God, Peter bets his hand cannot wrap fully around it.
Still, he concentrates on his classes. He does everything he can.
Doing everything you can certainly is a bit limited when you only sleep three hours every night. He may love all of his classes, but all this work takes his toll. It’s Wednesday morning, 8:30am, which is a hellish time.
Thus, Peter falls asleep.
He has no friends there, so no one is nice enough to wake him up – instead the sound of people standing up and packing their things at the end of their physics class with Professor Stark wake him up.
Pushing his stuff messily in his bag, he wants to flee immediately – he has never fallen asleep before. How embarrassing. When he glances at Professor Stark, to check if he has noticed, he is met with a smile and a “come hither” motion. Fuck.
With a lowered gaze he plods to the lecturer’s desk and starts to apologise profusely.
“I’m sorry, Professor. I have never done this before, I mean falling asleep, never never. I like your class so much, but –,” he begins.
“Be silent for a second.”
The strict voice is rather unusual for him, so Peter is a bit intimidated. Blushing, he does not know if it’s frightening or hot.
It’s both.
“Hey, I do not want to scold you. What the hell, do I look like I need to prove my authority to other adults? No.”
Opening his mouth to agree, he is disrupted before a single sound leaves him.
“That was rhetoric, Parker. You are self-disciplined. Not the type of guys who sleeps in his classes because he partied too hard. Or are you?”
“Of course not, sir.”
Professor Stark chuckles: “Good.”
In his head Peter added a boy to that sentence.
“I want to help you, if you have avoidable problems. You’re a smart guy.”
Peter smiles nervously. “Just a bit tired, sir. I’m working two jobs and keeping up with my classes is really time-consuming, so I am no-“
Before he finishes, Professor Stark disrupts him again (he really likes to do that to his students). “It is recommended not to work at all beside studying, you realise that? Of course, I know that’s not possible for everyone, but maybe you should resign at least one job? Sooner or later there will be problems.”
“I know, Professor, but it’s really not viable.”
He nods, looking understanding, even though Peter knows this man would not recognise poverty when it hits him right in the face. He had grown up as the son of one of the richest men in the world.
“What are your jobs, Parker?”
“Photographing for a journal and some shifts at a local Deli.”
“Nothing with physics?”
“I’m majoring in biochemistry. But no, I haven’t found anything in science which worked well with my schedule. And a lot of people apply to these jobs and you need a good CV for that. I do not think I have good chances.”
Professor Stark laughed, but it didn’t sound amused at all. “The pressure is high. Especially when a lot of people have mommies and daddies which put in good words for them.”
Peter disagrees, but Professor Stark doesn’t let him.
“Believe me, it’s like this. I have to know. Despite my talent, without a rich father and resources he provided, I wouldn’t have ended here.”
“You are one of the best physicists the world knows. This cannot originate just from a successful father, Professor.”
“I like you for your honesty, not only your perfect answers in class,” Professor Stark chuckles. “Despite the power dynamic you do not just say what I want to hear, that’s rare. That’s why I want to give you an advantage others don’t have.”
Furrowing his brows, Peter asks what he means.
Professor Stark smirks.
“Resign these useless jobs where you waste your potential. I can offer you a job at Stark Industries.”
“But Professor Stark-“
“I need to talk to Miss Potts first, of course, her being the CEO – but a paid internship won’t be a problem.”
“I cannot thank you enough.”
“How about you not thanking me at all? I’m just grabbing the best potential on the market here, why do you think I work as a lecturer?”
Peter grins. “Because you like correcting lazy college students?”
Now, they laugh together. Professor Stark patted his shoulder and sends him off, saying he still needs to grade some work.
Leaving the room, Peter cannot hide his smile.
∆
Last night he slept for seven hours. He cannot remember the last time that happened. Working for Stark Industries does wonders for his work-life-balance – he gets better paid than in both of his other jobs and has less workhours. Nevertheless, he does things he loves.
Of course, he does not have the most complicated tasks in the lab (he is just an intern after all) but at least he does not have to serve sandwiches anymore. Not that it’s not a respectable occupation… but it’s not for him. He knows that.
On Friday he works there, prepares some mediums for the microscopes while being all alone except for one guy at the other end of the lab. He has odd hours, because the internship allowed him to do the work whenever he wants, as long as he does it in a certain timeframe. The staff executive had been so nice and understanding. Without doubt, he needs to be grateful for them being so flexible, but also being able to work at Stark Industries at all. He owes Professor Stark.
It’s already 9 p.m., but he still needs to do a single little thing. Cannot take more than a quarter of an hour. An estimate which only works if there are no surprises. And hell, there the surprise comes.
The door opens and he only notices because his table is placed near it – the doors here are so quiet, unlike the one in his dorm which squeak terribly loud – and he gasps. Way too loud. How embarrassing.
“Professor Stark!”
“I know my name, Parker. But nice to see you here. Just wanted to check the labs.”
The other guy in the lab wears headphones, but seemed to hear their conversation, however, he just waves to greet Stark.
“Eh, not a lot of people are here right now.”
“Really?” His voice is dripping with sarcasm and Peter asks himself if he lost every braincell with Professor Stark’s appearance.
The jawline is stealing away his attention, honestly. How dares he?
“How is it going?”
“I’m preparing some material for Dr. Maguire, nothing special.”
“Still important.”
“But too simple for Dr. Maguire, so I am doing it.”
“Your potential is grande, I bet you can compete with Tobey in a few years.” With a wink he adds: “Please don’t tell him I said that.”
Grinning nervously, Peter nods. Professor Stark nods too, glances at the other guy, but says nothing to him.
He already turns around to leave when Peter stops him.
“I have already begun writing my essay for your course, sir. Can I get an appointment to talk my idea through with you? I am a bit unsure; physics is not my major after all.”
“Of course. Next Thursday, 2 p.m.? I can’t in the mornings, I have classes. And when I don’t have classes, I sleep.”
Peter chuckles at the disgusted face he made when he mentioned morning classes. “Not a morning person?”
“Not at all.”
“But yeah, 2 p.m. works for me, Professor.”
“Alright. Good evening, Peter.”
“You too, sir.”
∆
When Tony closes the door, he shakes his head. God, the kid has wrapped him around his little finger.
And he doesn’t even realise.
∆
During their appointment, they talk through the topic of his essay. Professor Stark is impressed, even though Peter thinks it isn’t that much of a deal. Some sentences are a bit off-putting and not specific enough, so he helps him with his wording. He gives him some advice about literature he could use and Peter writes down anything he says.
The talk about his essay barely lasted half an hour, then they switch the topic to his internship.
“If you do well, maybe Pepper, Miss Potts, will give you a job graduation.”
“That would be very nice, but I barely started interning, I probably need to prove me first. And Stark Industries has a lot of applicants, there are no better places.”
Smiling, Professor Stark nods. “I am glad I don’t have to read them anymore. And I only had to read the best ones. But you have good chances, interning is a great jumping board. Even though I cannot do anything about it then – personal choices are not my business anymore, I don’t have a real function at SI anymore.”
Peter argues that he still got him the internship.
He shrugs. “Technicalities. I just gave them your application.”
“That’s an advantage.”
“Told you I will give you one. Other people have other advantages.”
“Nevertheless, I am very grateful.”
Stark frowns at that. “I do not wish to think you need to be grateful. You are not in my debt, you know that?”
“It’s difficult to demand that, sir. Even if we ignore it, it is how it is.”
Sighing, Stark agrees. They talk a bit more about the work, how his co-workers treat him. It only lasts for five minutes, then Peter leaves. He still needs to do some work for his Chemistry III course.
Tony sighs as soon as Peter has left the room.
∆
His essay is graded with a 1.0, just like most of his work. Of course, he is proud, but the feeling is dull. Nowadays he is used to good grades which makes him immune to their effect.
The next semester has started, it’s his last one. Just a few courses and his thesis are the last thing between him and his graduation. Feels a bit unreal.
With this workload, he cannot afford any extracurricular classes anymore - but he still works at Stark Industries. It is going great. The doctorand of his lab is really pleased with his work, Dr. Maguire praises him and even let him take some notes about his research. Maybe he will publish it in a journal soon.
In the middle of writing his thesis, he gets an e-mail from Professor Stark. He invites him for a coffee, mentioning a little café at the border of the city.
Peter agrees, wondering, what he has done wrong.
∆
On a Monday, they met at the café. Professor Stark is ordering for him – which is not doing anything for him, of course.
Peter is a lot (period), but not a coward. He had been very afraid, but he still came to the meeting, because whatever he may feel, he is not a coward. So, he asks immediately, if he has done anything bad. Deep inside, he fears that he takes away the internship. But he wouldn’t do that, wouldn’t he?
Professor Stark chuckles, not unkindly, and assures him, that everything is good.
“I have asked around a bit, everyone in your lab talks about you in the highest praises.”
Peter blushes and they continue to do some small-talk, but Peter is still left wondering what exactly is the cause of this meeting.
Until Stark confesses. “Peter, I admire you a lot. In every class, you show a lot of motivation, you know more than everyone else. Still, you give me enough sass. I like sass.”
Peter is speechless. Professor Stark takes his hands, but not before he looks carefully around.
“When you graduate – which is fortunately not that far away – I’d like to take you out. I wanted to wait to tell you. It’s embarrassing, but I couldn’t stand it anymore.”
“Profes-“
“Tony. You don’t have any courses anymore, you work at my company. Tony.”
All the emotions don’t seem to fit into Peter’s chest. This is not what he expected.
“Tony, yes. Of course, I didn’t think –“
“Stop thinking, Peter, just accept it when fortune comes your way.”
“Have you just called yourself a fortune?”
“True, definitely wrong wording. Obviously, you are the fortune that comes my way.”
Blushing, he tries to change the subject into something which does not involve complimenting him. He hopes the compliments continue in a… more private setting.
“I thought it isn’t your company?”
“I’m not the CEO, but it’s Stark Industries, Pete.”
“So, you are my boss after all?”
“Is that important?”
“Maybe I like it that way.”
He says cheekily; nevertheless, he blushes furiously.
Tony starts to laugh. “You little shit.”