Work Text:
Peter was sitting in Principal Morita's office. It was about his internship at Stark Industries. Of course, it was about this. Even though he had all possible proof of it, most of the children and teachers didn't actually believe it. It all started 2 years ago, with no actual intention of Peter himself. Tony just insisted on some cover-up in case he needed Spider-Man when Peter was in school. Or, which was a more common reason, when he just wanted Peter's company in the lab or on a day off.
It actually had even more benefits for Peter than just skipping boring school days. Such a privileged internship would definitely benefit him in any college he applies for. Of course, his chances were really high even without it since he was a top student, but a little supremacy over other MIT applicants would never do any harm.
But the problem was the rule about interns Peter himself insisted on adding. It said that any intern who spends two years in Stark Industries automatically gets a job there according to the department they were working in.
Someone would think that two years is too little to know a person's potential. Well, this means that this certain someone had never worked in Stark Industries. The pressure people experience there from the very first day of becoming a part of it is enormous. Doesn't matter if you work in PR or R&D, if your level is even a little not enough for Pepper Potts, you won't last even a year.
Peter sometimes felt guilty for it. For being the only scholar employee there, even though it's against the rules. For not having to work his best to keep his place in the company and among other interns, who actually adored the boy more than he could ever imagine and even didn't think about him being not worthy.
"This kid works for Stark himself; how can he not be enough? I don't even wanna think what he's facing there daily."
And Tony Stark himself always encouraged Peter during his moments of self-doubt.
But school didn't care if he was worthy or not. They cared about what they saw in the documents. And the situation they were facing now was extremely suspicious.
"Peter, I know that you've proven your internship in all possible ways," Principal Morita sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "But an elephant is in the room, you get it. 'Every SI intern who's been a part of the company for at least 2 years automatically gets a job offer there, according to their department'. It's what's written in the official rules, Peter."
"I know, but-" Peter started, but the man interrupted him with a quick gesture.
"I don't wanna hear anything now. Just letting you know: you have a week to get an official approval of your job offer from Stark Industries. Otherwise we would have to invalidate all your internship hours and equate all your internship-related absences with regular absences, which, in turn, will lead to suspension from classes, if not an exception, considering their amount. "
Peter swallowed nervously. He understood the whole precariousness and unreality of his position. He fully understood why his teachers and classmates thought of him as a liar. He really did. But it doesn't mean it didn't hurt every time to hear it.
"I understand, Principal Morita," Peter said, clenching his hands into fists in his lap. "I'll hand in the documents by next Monday."
"You better do. You're a smart boy, Peter. Would really hurt to lose your brilliant future due to such a mess."
He didn't actually believe Peter would get anything.
Peter knew it.
If we're being honest, neither did Peter.
***
Days passed, but Peter still didn't bring the job offer up. It felt wrong to him. Tony had already done so much for him. Made a high-tech suit that cost billions, gave him a chance to prove himself, and became his family.
And asking for a freaking job offer after this seemed to him terribly selfish.
But days passed and his time as well.
So he decided to finish everything that exact evening, just him and Tony sitting in the lab, each one fidgeting with their gadgets, their shared playlist playing in the background.
"Actually..." Peter internally prayed for everything to go okay. "Mr. Stark, I wanted to talk to you about something," he hesitantly started the conversation he'd been preparing himself for for days.
Tony didn't even look at him, seeming completely unbothered by the brought-up topic.
"I'm all ears, kid, but I thought we'd been over this 'Mr. Stark' thing."
"Yes, it's just a 'Mr. Stark, not Tony' question."
Tony chuckled.
"Oh, so we're on business now. Okay, shoot. What is it?"
Peter hesitated, then let out a breath and blurted out.
"My internship."
"What's wrong with it? Is it your school again? We can send them more proof if they need it, but it's starting to get on my nerves, you know?"
Peter quickly shook his head in denial.
"No, it's not about school. Not in this way at least."
Tony shot him a glance.
"Then what is it?"
Peter started in a shaking tone.
"I'm really glad to you that you provide me with all these internship hours; I really am. I enjoy spending time with you in labs and working on my suit. It will be perfect for my portfolio, both for a university and a job."
Tony, still quiet, was listening to the boy talking.
"And not only because of this, actually. The thing is that I was thinking about where I wanna work in the future, and the best variant I can come up with is Stark Industries. Of course I won't give up being Spider-Man, but I'm not getting paid for it, get it? You have some projects here I'm personally interested in and will be able to make a great contribution if you let me."
The more Peter spoke, the more perplexed Tony's facial expression became. When the boy finished his speech, Tony raised a glance at him.
"Why are you even bothered by stuff like that? Of course you'll be able to contribute to any project you'd like to; why is it even a question?"
Peter's face lightened with hope and relief.
"So does this mean I'll be able to get a job offer in some department here?" Peter personally preferred R&D; it appealed to him the most, so he really hoped he'd get there.
But Tony just laughed.
"Hell no, why on earth would you work in just one department? You'll just control how other people work. But of course I won't restrict you from regular tasks; I just won't be able, but still seems odd to me."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think the owner would be interested in hanging out on the lower floors all day."
...What?
"Excuse me?" Peter looked at Tony with wide eyes. What does he mean by 'the owner'? He must've misheard something.
Tony looked at him with a grin.
"Hey, it's ok, as I said, I'm not judging. It'll all be yours, so you'll be free to do whatever you want."
"What do you mean It'll all be mine?" Peter stood there looking sick. He was pale, with shaking hands and wide eyes.
"You're the heir, so what else could I mean?" Tony said, shooting glances at Peter, and only now did he notice that the boy was about to pass out.
"You knew that, right?" Tony asked, already knowing that no, he didn't and that it wasn't the thing you find out about like that.
"N-no, I didn't?! I mean, I thought about being an employee, like, a regular one, but the heir?! You'venever acknowledged it!"
"I'm sure I did!" Tony made a look of disbelief on his face. "FRIDAY, did I?"
The AI's voice muted the music in the lab a little.
"I'm sorry, Boss, but it seems like you didn't, even though you signed the very first emergency protocol for Peter's hypothetical inheritance claim almost a year ago"
The lab fell silent for a moment. Peter and Tony had been looking at each other, waiting for the other to finally say something.
"Well... Congratulations, I guess?" Tony awkwardly laughed; his smile softened when he saw that Peter also relaxed a little. "Can we consider this matter settled?"
"I suppose so," Peter answered with a faint smile, drawing all his attention back to his web-shooters, "but I'd need you to sign some more documents for my school."
"Oh God, these people are driving me crazy, kid," the man said, ruffling Peter's hair teasingly.
***
"Oh, hey, Penis Parker, what do you have here? Some more fake documents about your fake internship in Stark Industries?" Flash asked with a laugh when Peter entered the principal's office with a folder.
Peter just ignored him and headed straight to the man in the chair.
"Sir, I brought you some documents you were eager to see," Peter gently moved the folder closer to the man, "It’s about my internship."
Principal Morita opened the folder and started looking through the documents; his eyes widened the more he read.
Of course, Flash couldn't notice this.
"What's this, Parker?" He tilted his head to see the words written there, but his mind couldn't put everything he saw there together.
'...Peter Parker...'
'...since the beginning of this year...'
'...officially the heir...'
"What the fuck is this, Penis?!" Flash exclaimed in astonishment and disbelief.
"Mr. Thomson, language!" Principal Morita glared at him. "Thank you, Mr. Parker. And sorry for all the misunderstanding we had with this."
"I get it, Principal Morita. May I be free now?" Peter asked, holding his laughter from the way Flash looked now, all red, with an ineffable look on his face.
"Sure, you can go."
Peter closed the door on his way out. Meeting Ned, waiting for him at the main entrance, they headed to the boy's house to start a new Lego model Peter bought last week.
While they were talking, a notification popped up on Peter's phone screen.
"Hey, kid. Pep wants to have a chat with you. Since we're taking our heir seriously from now on ;-)"