Chapter Text
Chapter 1
I’m so dead. So so so so dead.
On the scale of stupid things Peter had done before, this had to be one of the top three. Right up there with the ferry disaster. And that was saying something.
“Don’t I get a lawyer?” Peter blurted out, squinting a little as the fluorescent lights were starting to give him a headache.
The cop who had brought him in simply raised an eyebrow as he sat across the desk from him. He leant back, lips quirking up a little. Peter eyed his name tag again. Ross. Hmm just like in friends. He wondered if that was a good sign.
“Why would you need a lawyer kid?”
“Well…you arrested me…and my friend…don’t I get a lawyer or something? And a phone call!”
Ned had been brought in too, but he had left a little while ago after his mom came to get him. Maybe Peter was in the most trouble. It was his idea after all. God he was so dead.
“You watch too many movies kid.” Officer Ross shook his head still smirking. He tapped a pen against his desk as he eyed Peter; “Tell me, did I put the cuffs on you?”
Peter frowned and shook his head.
“Did I take your fingerprints or your photo for booking?”
“Well..no…”
“Did I explicitly say to you, you’re under arrest?”
“…No.”
“Then you’re not under arrest kid.”
“Then why am I here?” Peter was glaring now, leg bouncing with nerves; “Why can’t I just go home?”
Officer Ross sighed and his smiled dipped. Then he leant forward with a kind smile; “Look kid. You’re not under arrest but you are in some trouble. You and your friend were trespassing.”
“It was an abandoned house.” Peter challenged. Ok yes, he knew it was wrong, but they weren’t hurting anyone or breaking into someone’s house.
It was like this. Recently him and Ned had gotten hooked on the show MythBusters, and there was this abandoned house near school. Of course, that meant there were all these rumours around school that it was haunted. Ned and Peter wanted to go inside and film a little and prove it wasn’t. Just like MythBusters.
The idea may have taken route after Flash had overheard them discussing the idea at school and called them out on it, that they were chicken.
They had barely gotten past the fence and inside the house through some broken bits of wood when they heard the sirens. From there it was all a blur to the police station.
Tony was going to kill him.
“Yes, it was abandoned. Do you know why?”
Peter shrugged; “People at school says it was because everyone who’s ever lived there has been murdered.”
Officer Ross reared back and did a double take. Then he snorted and shook his head. Wiping his face he laughed; “Wow kids today. So much imagination. No, look kid it wasn’t anything like that. It’s abandoned because it was condemned. It’s unsafe. The last owners didn’t die; they were an elderly couple. There was a fire a few months back and they moved into a care home. They still own it, but the city had it condemned because it’s dangerous. Loose floorboard, unsafe wiring, smoke damage and when the fire happened, part of the roof caved in. Don’t you see kid there’s normally a no trespassing sign for a reason? To keep you safe. You and your friend put yourself in a lot of danger going into that house. It could have collapsed, another fire could have happened, or you could have tripped and seriously hurt yourselves.”
“Oh.” Peter’s shoulders sagged in realisation. He knew the rumours at school were a lie, but he just didn’t think about the dangers when he and Ned went inside. Now he felt terrible for putting Ned in danger.
“I’m sorry. I…didn’t know.”
Officer Ross shot him a sympathetic smile; “I know kid. That’s the thing you’re just a kid, you don’t know any better. And whilst you’re not under arrest, you did do something wrong. So, like your friend, I just need to call your parents and have them come get you.” He smirked at Peter; “This is where that phone call you wanted comes in. I need to call your parents. But you gotta work with me here kid. Your friend has already gone home because he levelled with me. But I can’t help you if you don’t even tell me your name or your parents’ number.” He was frowning impatiently now.
Peter looked away around the room. There were other cops walking around, carrying files, walking handcuffed people around, on the phone. It was a busy night. Peter felt a twinge of guilt that he caused this Officer trouble, keeping him from helping other people tonight.
“Kid?”
“Peter.” Peter blurted out before he could stop himself.
“Sorry?”
“My name….is Peter.”
Officer Ross brightened sitting up and immediately writing it down; “Ok Peter what?”
Peter bit his lip and remained silent.
The Officer stopped writing to look at him and sighed again.
“Peter. Come on. Don’t you want to go home? I told you you’re not under arrest this won’t even go on your record or anything. I just need someone to come get you. Tell me your parents name at least, or their number?”
“My parents are dead.” Peter said before he could stop himself.
Well, it was true.
Officer Ross’ eyes bugged out and then saddened; “Oh kid. Peter. I’m sorry. Recently?”
“No when I was like 4 or 5.”
Officer Ross’ eye flicked between his a few times before nodding slowly; “Foster kid?”
“What? No.” Peter frowned at him shaking his head.
Humming Officer Ross raised an eyebrow leaning forward again; “Another family member?”
“She’s dead too.” Peter whispered looking down at his shoes; “My aunt. She died during the blip.” She hadn’t snapped like Peter, but the person driving the car that hit her did. She died instantly. It still haunted Peter that he hadn’t saved her. Even months after coming back.
“Oh jeez.” Officer Ross looked around clearly feeling out of his depth. Rubbing the back of his neck, he grimaced as if afraid to ask; “Then who are you living with? A guardian? Foster family?”
“I’m….adopted.”
The relief on Officer Ross’ face was palpable across the desk; “Ok good. So, tell me their names, their number?”
Peter hesitated.
The Stark had adopted him almost instantly after Peter came back and he learnt May died. Peter still got whiplash from the whole affair. From his point of view he and Mr Stark had only started to get close, now suddenly he’s calling him his son and telling him he has a sister. Now Mr Stark was his dad.
It took some getting used to for Peter to adapt to everything, all the changes. Not to mention accept that Mr Stark truly cared, along with Miss Potts-sorry Stark, and Morgan. But Peter had been practically smothered in love from Mr Stark ever since coming back, so Peter knew the man cared. He knew the man now loved him like a son, hence why he adopted him.
Peter had come to accept the Stark family loved him and accepted him. Hence why he just started calling Mr Stark dad, and Pepper mom, and even Rhodey and Happy ‘Uncle’. Things were going ok.
Until now.
Peter had secretly feared the Starks only adopted him out of guilt, because May died and he had nowhere else to go. He had tried to be good for them, to not cause trouble. Because he was so lucky and fortunate they took him in.
But god how would they react to this? Ok so he wasn’t under arrest. But still, he did something wrong. Trespassing, and he was still at a police station. They would be so mad. His dad would be…furious. Maybe just like the ferry. Or worse. Disappointed. That was always worse. He didn’t really know why it just felt worse, knowing he left Tony down.
Then there was the press aspect. The Starks kept a low radar. They lived out in the middle of nowhere, and no one knew where. They never took Morgan out into the city or around the press. They kept Peter’s adoption from the press. If this got out that he was Tony’s son and at a police station it would be all over the news. Peter couldn’t do that to the Starks.
“Peter?”
Peter jumped and looked back at Officer Ross, who eyed him with concern.
“Are you alright?”
It was then Peter knew he couldn’t tell Officer Ross the truth, he wouldn’t believe him anyway.
Peter had to think of another way. And well, he just said the first thing that came to mind.
“James Rhodes. My dad’s name is James Rhodey. He likes to go by Rhodey. I can give you his number.”