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For some background, Peter is in a scholarship program in some college where he enrolled along with mj and Ned because he wanted to be with them and is now almost graduating in his big 22 (college senior) and was invited due to his scholarship along with other scholarship kids .
And also, Peter WAS ‘ADOPTED’ (not legally, but like, more like a mental note) by Tony. Father figure, mentor figure, whatever yall want to call it.
Anyway, enjoy :3
~~~~~~~~~
Peter really wonders how he got into the situation. Because if he said it was a long story, he’d only be lying to himself. No more than an excuse to not discuss what the HELL just happened.
So, he decided to instead, retrace his steps to see where he went wrong, because he did have all the time in the world, in his current position.
——-
It first started around two weeks ago, when his college was offered the opportunity to visit S.I (stark industries) as a part of their new program. (Peter was 99% sure Tony knew NOTHING of this) it was also most definitely a stunt for public relations. But a visit to S.I nonetheless.
Peter really didn’t consider going until he noticed that not only was it a covered trip, but Peter also realised he had missed the avengers. Missed being one aswell. But what made him cave in, the final straw, was when he realised he might never enter the building again as Peter Parker. That this might be his only chance to return to the place, even if only for a while.
But Peter also didn’t want to take the risk being the only kid that didn’t go. It would be weird, right? Being the only one in the whole damn school who didn’t go to this trip. Given the fact that he still has those childish pins on his backpack which consist of the avengers, it would be very, very suspicious if he denied going to a fully covered trip, and It would would raise suspicion. He already had enough of it given his outfits and sleeping in classes.
But Peter didn’t really have much time to think about it after giving in his permission slip, as he was swept up with the whole ‘Jean’ situation as spider-man. When he returned after the hospital, (because Peter was literally SHOT) he only had a matter of days to prepare. Which was far too little. but alas, time never waited for Peter. And so, the day started. And it couldn’t have started worse.
Peter woke up Late, he was out of toothpaste, and he accidentally broke his hairbrush. To add salt into the wound, he really didn’t have time to buy more toothpaste nor could he eat gum because he’s allergic to peppermint like any other spider, so he settled with closing his mouth for the day. Just his Parker luck.
Upon sitting on the bus, his un-luckiness followed him there. Not only was MJ seated next to him, with Ned on the opposite side, but he also couldn’t even return their hello’s because his damn breath smells. On top of that, MJ opened some gum, which, fuck, was mint of course and he had to stop himself from gagging whenever she spoke to him.
The drive was either too long, or there was too much traffic. Peter had settled for reminiscing about his memories. Leaning on the window, he watched how the cars passed them, how the green of trees and plants blended together in his eyes. And so, He remembered memories upon memories, and remembered and remembered and remembered.. memories he’d had dug deep inside his brain. Memories of him, Pepper, stark, and everyone.. memories he’d wished never resurfaced because it hurt too much to bear in this ride. He felt his heart starting to beat a little faster, he felt his palms starting to sweat, he—
His thoughts were cut short as he felt a tap on his shoulder, forcing him out of his haze. He glanced up, only to see MJ, giving him a strange look. Peter quickly looked around, seeing everyone standing up and flocking the exits. Peter looked out the window and realised they had arrived. He stared at the building. It changed so much since his last time being here.
“Uh.. Hello? We arrived.” Mj said awkwardly, Ned giving both of them a thumbs up. Peter looked at them, and nodded. Standing up from his seat.
Following the group of students he was assigned to, they were given a quick tour of the outside before proceeding to the inside. They were stopped by security, as they were given the guest badges. Peter held his badge, the plastic being cheap and all.. he was reminded of his own aluminium card he used to have. The golden card he had, for full clearance. He didn’t get much time to reminisce as it had come his turn.
He looked up, watching the person infront of him pass. FRIDAY’s voice echoing.
“Guest badge, Michelle Jones, approved.” Peter almost flinched at her voice. So cold, so robotic.. so unlike the version he’d heard and known so many (4) years ago. And so, Peter stepped up, put his badge, and got scanned.
Silence..
“Pet-..” FRIDAY quieted down. Her lights flickering. Something was wrong. FRIDAY never glitched. And this was something new. Even their guide looked taken aback. The lights in the building flickered before going back to normal. The receptionist seemingly already made a call, and before security could approach him, FRIDAY’s voice echoed again.
“Guest badge, Peter Parker, approved. Welcome back Peter. Would you like for me to point you to the lab?”
Silence.. Peter could hear the crickets. Everyone was looking at him. “Peter?” He could hear the professor say, confused. FRIDAY’s voice was full of warmth, just like he remembered it. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. He also spoke again, but remembered his mouth still stinks, so he closed it right back up. He was just as surprised as everyone else.
Not so shortly after, A staff member approached him, asking him to follow her. The guide had no say in it, nor did the school. Though they were informed that nothing would happen to Peter.. for now at least. For all they knew Peter had hacked FRIDAY. Which he didn’t. The guard didn’t listen to him, only grimaced as Peter was reminded his mouth STILL stank. And so, he was placed in a waiting room. Well, it looked more like an interrogation room. He was sitting alone. He could hear voices outside but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.
And that’s how he ended up here. Right from where we started.
Recalling the whole situation helped Peter pass the time, and just in the right moment, he saw someone enter the room. He heard him before he entered. He heard the oh-so familiar buzz of his heart before he saw his face. Entering the room he was in was Tony stark.
———🔩———
When Tony stark felt FRIDAY flicker above him, he felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Confusion.
This was the first time in years since FRIDAY flickered, the last time being from when he was still making her. Upon checking FRIDAY’s code, he noticed.. something. The code, as if it had come alive, was re-writing itself. Adding parts and files in her database he didn’t remember making. Files like “spider-suit 101” and “experiments with web” being the first to catch his eye. In those files, there was this boy, who looked oh so familiar, using HIS lab, and talking to Friday. He went through the first file, first recording.
“Miss Friday, are you recording?” The boy’s voice echoed in the speakers.
“Yes Peter. Spider suit number one, experiment number one.” FRIDAY spoke.
“Alright, okay..” the boy— Now known as Peter— exhaled a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. “Experiment number one, electro-webs, here I go!” …..
The more time passed, the more did Tony see. The more files were recovered. The more he watched, the more he discovered. One of the discoveries being that this Peter kid was actually Spiderman, and that he had not only worked with Friday, but also had notes from him? Notes Tony doesn’t remember giving? And the more memories he Doesnt remember having with this Peter, the more videos surface up to point the opposite. Tony had to talk to this kid. Because, either he had some unfinished business with him, or he had hacked Friday so well, that he had to ask him how.
And so, here he was, standing outside the door, he felt his palms sweating. He was nervous. Tony stark was NEVER nervous. Why was he nervous? Ugh.. Tony decided not to dwell too much, and opened the door.
Upon entering the room and laying his eyes on the kid, Tony felt his body freeze. He looked so.. so familiar. An instinct deep inside him urging to go a ruffle the kid’s hair. Something was tugging him towards the kid, and he didn’t know what. But he held himself. He was Tony Stark after all. And this kid was either a villain or could potentially become one. So, he settled with sitting across from him.
———🕸️———
Peter couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Tony sitting across from him, looking at Peter with deep concentration, as if searching for something in him. Peter didn’t dare speak first. He didn’t want to speak altogether, because, of course, his breath still stank.
“So.. how did you do it?” Peter was snapped from his thoughts at the sound of Tony’s voice. His heard almost leaping out of his body. He wanted to go and hug Tony so tight, and never let go. Instead. He settled for a sentence. Or a half sentence.
“Uhh.. what do you mean?” Peter grimaced at the sound of his own voice. Seemingly startling Stark himself. Peter felt his face gaining color in embarrassment. He would never live this down. He cleared his throat, trying to assert some dominance in this conversation but failing miserably. Realising his failure, he decided taking a sip from the water they had provided was the only way to avoid the embarrassment, or the conversation altogether. The tiles on the floor suddenly becoming very interesting.
Tony shook his head. Sighing. “How did you do it, kid? How did you hack Friday? How did you make her self-code? How did you import files of you being in the lab? Wait, no, scratch that. How did you even break into the lab?” Peter stared at Tony. Confused.
Peter was completely caught off guard. He chocked on the water he was currently sipping. Coughing and sputtering as he tried not to die, because that would be the most embarrassing way to die. And Peter didn’t NOT feel like dying today. “Wait.. I did what? You— FRIDAY has what files now..?”
As if on cue, Friday spoke. “Peter, Boss is talking about ‘spider-suit 101’ , ‘expiriments with the web’ , ‘iron-spider version 2.0’ and so on.”
Peter was now completely confused. How did she access those files? He was pretty sure every piece of information about him had been both deleted and not accessible anymore. And so, Peter started mumbling, without realising. Too caught up in his own world till he felt someone shaking his shoulder, and standing infront of him. It was none other than stark. The man sighed, finally giving in and ruffling the kid’s hair.
“Kid you should-“ Tony started, before grimacing. “Your breath stinks.” Peter wanted to disappear right then and there. He wouldn’t mind the blip re-happening if it meant he was removed from this awkward situation. And then, his spider-sense started hissing as Tony reached into his pocket and took out gum. MINT FUCKING GUM. As Tony opened the box to give him one, he was cut off as Peter gagged, pushed his chair away from Tony, and almost hissed. Tony was completely caught off guard. Peter’s instincts were screaming for him to get away, to climb the damned wall if it meant that he’d have a few more inches away from h to terrible smell.
Friday perked up before Tony could ask. “Boss, Peter is allergic and hates the smell of peppermint oil, citrus, and vinegar, chestnuts, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree. These allergies started from his spider-genes.” While Friday was talking, Peter’s insticts were screaming at him to get out of that room, and he had without realising, gripped the chair and, basically, it was now unusable.
Peter fought with his spider instincts, trying not to succumb. Trying to prevent the dark from spilling into his pupils. FRIDAY, on the other hand, had turned on the ventilation system to get off the scent.
———🔩———
Tony stared as the boy bended the chair as if it was paper under his palm. Now he was 100% sure this guy was Spiderman. He’d love to ask this kid a few more questions, But for now, the first priority was to calm this kid the fuck down before he put a whole in the wall, and/or maybe destroyed the building on his way out.
As the ventilation system worked, the kid that was now sitting on the floor (surprisingly), his breathing laboured and gripping the remnants of the metal chair in his hands as if it were slime. No borax no glue needed.
Upon finally calming down, the kid realised what he’d done to the chair, and apologized profusely. Tony decided it wouldn’t hurt taking Peter for a stroll around the grounds, as it would help the Peter ‘warm up’ to Tony. Unbeknownst to him though, Peter knew Tony far more than Tony knew he knew.
———🕸️———
As they were walking around the premises, Peter recognised many of the rooms, plus the changes. FRIDAY walked him through the changes the premises had in the time he hadn’t visited. How the labs had changed place, how the guest rooms were moved on the third floor, and yada yada.. Tony, who was walking beside Peter through this whole ‘introduction’, was taken aback to how much information FRIDAY was giving this, well, ‘stranger’.
Peter, on the other hand, had engaged in small talk with FRIDAY, referencing multiple places a ‘stranger’ wouldn’t have known of, and inside jokes Peter shouldn’t be aware of. Like, for example, how pepper is called pepper because she pepper sprayed Tony. That’s not something open to the public. Nor is the fact that Tony likes nicknames.
But their walk was cut short as a guard approached Tony. This guard.. his spider-sense was warning him about this guard. This.. this was not a guard.. he definitely didn’t work here. The guard ocn the other hand, froze when he saw Peter walking with Tony. And instead of making the smart decision of leaving he did not. Instead he went straight ahead, and tried killing Tony. Peter of course stepped in soon after, but he was unable to protect Tony from a head injury.
From what he learned later, the guard had been a terrorist who had been somehow wronged by Tony in the past, and had spent years infiltrating to try and get revenge. Typical Thursday, if you ask Tony.
Peter had managed to slip away, and return to his school group, who didn’t really question anything because they hadn’t even noticed. On the ride back, Peter had felt bad for leaving Tony alone in the medbay, but it was for the better. Tony didn’t remember him anyway.
———🔩———
Tony did not expect this.
He didn’t expect the fact that today— a terrorist would
Upon waking up, Tony felt his head burning. He felt like it was on fire. When he opened his eyes, everything was too white, too loud. He felt nauseous. All of this felt like too much and then.. then it hit him.
Memories upon memories, hours and weeks and months of Peter Parker. His Peter Parker. The Peter Parker who climbed walls, the Peter Parker who was a genius, the Peter Parker who was his kid.
And so, even with his joints groaning and feeling like he died, he opened his eyes. As if on cue, FRIDAY’s voice echoed through the room. Informing him that Peter left earlier with his school. Tony was almost disappointed, but he realised that now Peter can’t hide from him no more. Because now.. now he had a mission. Now he had a kid to collect (even though he wasn’t a kid anymore).