Chapter Text
Tony Stark's lab is dimly lit. With a single light above him as he works. The blue lights from the desk illuminating him. Peter paces around as he rambles. "And then you were all 'Stop right there' with your arm out. They were totally scared. It was like a classic old timey super hero movie."
"Yes, kid, I was there." Tony doesn't look up from what he is working on. "F.R.I.D.A.Y., add twenty five percent more durability."
"I'm just saying we make a great team. You and I." Peter stops pacing and sits on one of the tables, watching him.
"Until your web shooter got jammed." Tony still doesn't look up, but he smirks. Peter looks down at it, flicking his wrist to the side.
"Mr. Stark, that could've happened to anyone."
"Seems pretty inconvenient when the guy ties up the villains runs out of rope." Tony turned to Peter.
"It wasn't a big deal. They were committing petty crimes at best."
"With my tech in the back of the truck. Just be glad they didn't shoot you." Peter sighs.
"I think I just ran out of web fluid. But I'm developing this better one in chemistry." Peter swings his feet back and forth.
"Shouldn't you be paying attention?"
"Why bother? I already know all the answers." Tony continues to work without responding. "Why don't you leave your web shooters here tonight? I can try to figure out what made them jam and fix it." Peter got up from his seat.
"Mr. Stark that would be amazing."
"You better use this as an opportunity to get your Spanish paper done." Peter's face falls slightly. "You forgot, didn't you?"
"What? No, of course not." Peter's voice wavered. "I had it all under control."
"Good. Because your Aunt May said she's gonna cut back on letting you come on missions with me if your grades start slipping." Peter takes off and hands his web shooters to Tony. Tony nods and puts them in the desk to examine. "Alright get home. But fix your face. I don't want May to see any dried blood." Peter nods. He starts to move towards the stairs, but stops for a second. "I'll call Happy to give you a ride. Don't keep him waiting. You know how he gets." Tony sends him off with a smile before returning to his work. Peter smiles before leaving.
He stops at the bathroom on his way out the door. Grabbing paper towels and putting them under the sink. The water misses the paper towel and when he moves it the water turns off. "C'mon." Peter says under his breath. He shoves his hand and the paper towel under the faucet, which seems to do the trick, but leaves his hand more wet than he wanted. He looks at his face in the mirror. A busted lip and a cheek scratch isn't half bad considering the five v two. Peter wipes the dried blood off and just stares at his reflection. His slightly greasy curly hair could definitely use a wash.
There was an unspoken tension between Peter and Tony. At least on Peter's end. With everything that has happened between them, overtime he started seeing Tony more as a father figure than a mentor. He just couldn't bridge the gap without fear of Tony pulling away. As he often does with softer emotion. Maybe Peter should stop kidding himself. The Tony Stark did not need a child on his hands. He was just a mentor so Peter didn't go off the rails. That's all he'll ever be.
Peter took a deep breath and swallowed the spit in his mouth. Throwing out the paper towel as he walked out of the bathroom. The night sky greeted him through the giant glass door. A slick black car waiting for him. He opened the door and called out. "Happy! Did Mr. Stark upgrade your car?" The hairs on the back of Peter's neck stood up. He turned to his left and jabbed the man approaching him in all black. He stumbled back as Peter turned to his right, instinctively flicking his wrist. "Shit." He said, feeling the skin on his palm. "Mr. Stark!" He called out. The man on the right grabbed his right wrist as the other hit him in the head with the grip of his gun. White stars filled Peter's vision before he collapsed.