Chapter Text
Friday afternoon, the official start to the weekend. The hallways are buzzing with news of whatever party is happening over the weekend. When Peter had first started here at Midtown he thought that it would be a school of nerds considering the test people have to pass just to get in. Instead he was met with types like Flash Thompson who remain the stereotype of a high school bully even when they’re on the same playing field. Both are on the decathlon team and they even share most of the same class. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t stop him from picking on Peter every chance he gets.
“Penis Parker!” Flash shouts while slamming Peter’s locker closed. The metal clashing with the rest of the lockers sends a shrill down the hallway that has Peter flinching. His spidey senses are sometimes too sensitive for such sounds.
The nickname has been around just about as long as they’ve known each other. It’s stupid and transphobic considering Peter’s current status but that doesn’t stop Flash. No teachers care enough to bench one of the best decathlon players and also the kid of the people who donate the most money to the school. It would be a showdown that Peter would lose every time.
“Flash,” Peter says while he turns to face the other student. He’s about half a head shorter and his normally black hair has been bleached down to an ugly blond color. It’s just short of orange. “What do I owe this pleasure?”
Flash rolls his eyes but goes on, “You know Spider-man and I want to meet him. I’m throwing this awesome party tonight and I think you should call him up and invite him.” It’s almost an invitation to one of Flash’s notorious parties.
The cops have shown up to shut them down numerous times and there always the talk of the halls on Monday. Peter knows better though. This isn’t an invite. It’s a loaded suggestion to get Spider-man there but not himself.
“No. I refuse to call Spider-man up when he’s busy simply to just show up and take a few photos with you while your wasted. Besides he’d have to report you for underage drinking. It’s his job.” It’s not his job but Flash would believe anything Peter said about Spider-man.
Flash believes fully that he’s an intern at Stark Industries and that he works side by side with him and Bruce Banner in the labs. While he does usually assist Bruce Spider-man rarely makes an appearance. There’s to many prying eyes for him to be warrant showing up in full costume - though he does usually keep it underneath his clothes. Flash doesn’t need to know any of this though.
From behind Flash, Peter can see Ned walking up with MJ not far behind. They had all made a plan to go to Stark Industries after school and work on their homework. The tower always had better snacks than their families could afford and Ned got to see a superhero in between rounds of math homework. It’s nothing short of a win-win situation.
Peter slaps a hand against Flash’s shoulder, “I got to get going. Happy is picking me up and he doesn’t like it when I’m late. Have fun at your Spider-man-less party though. Sure it will be a blast.”
There’s shouting form behind him when he catches up with his friends who have passed them up and headed closer towards the exit doors. Everyone knows better than to step into a conversation with Flash Thompson. It’s social suicide if he finds something about you he can attack. Hence the nickname that’s stuck around since they met in elementary school.
“What was that all about?” MJ asks while slinging an arm around Peter’s shoulder to draw him in closer. He can smell the sweet perfume she wears and the faintest hint of mint. It has him drawing back a little. “Is it my gum? Sorry, I forget sometimes you react to just about every spider sense they have.”
Peter shrugs his shoulders. It’s easy to forget. He never thought he’d have to worry so much about spider killer or even mint chewing gum when he got bit. Now though there’s a ban in Avenger’s Tower and the training compound on any and all bug killers unless it’s been approved by Antman or Spider-man. Not many are allowed in actuality.
MJ spits her gum into a trashcan just as Peter’s and Ned’s eyes find Happy at the edge of the school yard. Just beyond the black fence line is an all black half limousine with Happy standing just out front of it. He looks bored out of his mind and also hyper vigilant to the crowd of teenagers and parents eyeing him down. Even after two years of this Peter isn’t even used to it so he imagines the same goes for the other students and parents who only get to see the full effects of his internship.
Together the three climb in and buckle up. Ned starts going off about superhero statistics and occasionally MJ will join in with some morbid fact. Peter tries to ignore those though since they stick in his head while he’s out on patrol. The last thing he needs to be thinking about while hundreds of feet in the air is how likely he is to fall to his death at any given moment. It’s not exactly a confidence booster.
Happy keeps quiet the whole drive to the tower but Peter can see him glancing back and smiling at them whenever Ned or MJ crack a joke. Eventually they arrive at the tower and Peter is running the elevator with his friends not far behind him. None of the assistants or clerks spare them any extra attention. They’ve been coming here for the last few years and by now everyone knows Peter’s name and how he’s off limits from any questioning. He holds the same security clearance at Happy does which is impressive in it’s own right. No one wants to question the guy who can easily access weapons of mass destruction.
“Peter! Glad to see you!” Tony calls out, arms stretched open wide. Peter smiles and leans in for a hug just as a familiar shiver runs down his spine. His eyes focus in on the door that’s shut behind them. “Oh, I see you’ve noticed we have a guest for today. He’ll be out soon but he’s a close friend, practically another son to me. His name is Harley Keener and he’ll be here for the whole summer learning about the company.”
On the second floor of the resident quarters is a room specifically for Peter. There’s a queen sized bed, a dresser, full walk in closer stacked with clothes, and an en suit bathroom attached in the farthest corner. The window even opens for easy access to swinging in an out at a second’s notice. This is where he drags Ned and MJ off to before the door to Pepper’s office can open for him to meet Harley. They spend the whole afternoon squared away in there talking and hanging out. No one questions Peter because even oblivious Flash would be able to see how tense Peter’s shoulders are and how he’s gripping the pencil in his hand until it snaps. MJ just runs a hand down his back while they talk about movies and math and Ned doesn’t mention a thing about Captain America or Thor.