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This can’t be right.
Peter was sure there had to be a mistake somewhere as he stared at the sheet of paper that had just been placed on his desk.
It has to be a mistake right?
Except it wasn’t a mistake. The page on the paper was his, his name still neatly signed at the top and the giant glaring red C- circled right beside it. The page was littered with little red slashes marking his every slip up.
72%.
He had gotten a grand total of 72% on his quiz.
His science quiz.
Science. His favorite subject. The one he was supposed to be a so-called ‘genius’ in.
“Oh man,” The sound of Ned’s voice was enough to slightly bring Peter back to the present. Peter glanced at his friend to see he was also staring down at his paper. “That quiz was brutal. I barely got an eighty.” He complained and Peter felt a pit form in his stomach. An 80. Ned was upset he got an 80 and Peter had gotten a full 8 points less than that.
I got a C. And not just a C, a low C. A C that was very nearly a D kind of C.
“Peter?” Ned asked, his voice once again breaking through Peter’s spiraling thoughts. Peter finally looked away from the small sheet of paper that was currently ruining his life to look at his friend and see him staring back at him with a kind smile tinged with concern.
It was the concern part of that expression that made Peter realize he had been silently staring at his desk for a bit too long.
“Uh, yeah,” Peter said very intelligently. And you wonder why you got a 72. “Um, I mean, yeah it was pretty hard.” Peter corrected and had to resist cringing at how his voice cracked slightly. Ned was kind enough not to comment on it and instead just politely ignored it.
“You ok? You seem kinda…spacey.” Ned settled on after a second of trying to describe what was probably an expression of pure dread adorning Peter’s entire existence. Peter made a quick decision then that there was simply no way he was telling Ned just how badly he bombed this test. He subtly flipped his paper over before he answered him.
“I’m fine, guess I’m just a little tired.” Apparently that was just the right thing to say to change the subject because Ned instantly sat up with interest.
“Yeah? Did you stay out late doing you know what?” Ned lowered his voice in a poor attempt of a whisper at the mention of Peter’s nighttime activities. Peter would've scolded him for his complete lack of subtlety but class had just ended since they got their quiz results and everyone was too busy packing up to leave or chatting with their friends to pay them any mind so Peter let it go.
“Something like that, let’s not talk about it here ok?” Peter quickly changed the subject with exactly zero intentions of ever talking about this again. Ned didn’t need to know that though. He just readily nodded and moved to quickly begin packing up so they could make it to their next class. Peter does the same, taking an extra second to grab his quiz and shove it at the very bottom of his bag.
Peter spent the rest of the day trying to figure out what possibly went wrong to explain his grade. He used his enhanced hearing to listen in on a few of his classmates(something he usually tries extra hard not to do as eavesdropping doesn't seem like a very responsible use of his powers)to try and gauge how everyone else did on the quiz.
He hears a few people comparing letter grades with a mix of dread and total apathy for their education. He doesn’t hear anyone say they got above a B+. Maybe everyone did poorly?
And that makes it ok that you failed?
He was supposed to be smart, gifted, a genius. He attends one of the most prestigious schools in the country on a scholarship he earned for his exemplary intelligence. A scholarship he can lose if his grades drop enough. It doesn’t matter if everyone else failed. They were allowed to, he wasn't. He was supposed to be smart.
He was supposed to be better.
By the time school let out Peter’s stomach was in knots. The little pit of dread he’d had since seeing his grade and grown into a full blown tree. He just didn’t understand.
It was science, he loved and even excelled in science. Admittedly, he hadn’t exactly been making school his top priority. He’d turned a few assignments in late, missed a question or two here and there, but nothing like this. Crime around Queens had been picking up lately so he had been patrolling more than usual. The day before they took this test last week he had missed curfew and stayed out extra late helping with a fire. He had been exhausted, he remembered thinking the test was a little challenging but he hadn’t thought he’d done that bad.
He felt sick.
A horn honked loudly enough to make Peter flinch and he glanced up to see Happy impatiently waving him over. The sight of it made Peter’s stomach drop into the ground. He had nearly forgotten it was a lab day today. Suddenly the test innocently sitting at the bottom of his bag felt a whole lot heavier.
Still, he knew if he didn’t pick up the pace Happy would just honk again but longer so he quickly jogged up to the car and climbed in the back.
“About time, what you daydreaming up there?” Happy snipped as Peter quickly fastened his seatbelt.
“Sorry, Happy,” Peter apologized, his hands struggling to get the buckle in right away as his anxiety caused him to fumble. His mind was elsewhere thinking about what would happen if Tony found out about his botched science test. Found out he wasn’t as smart as he thought.
“Kid?” Happy asked and Peter pretended he hadn’t jumped. In fairness, even if Peter hadn’t already been in his own head, Happy suddenly voluntarily speaking to him would be enough to surprise him on its own. “You ok?” Peter was not prepared for this line of questioning so he’ll admit he probably wasn’t the most convincing when he went-
“Huh? I uh- yes.” Happy sent him a very unimpressed look and Peter barely managed not to cringe. “Sorry, I meant yes I’m fine, really.” Forget finding out about my grade, Happy will just tell Mr. Stark I'm not that smart. Peter thought as he mentally berated his inability to get a grip. With quick thinking like that it’s a wonder he’s lasted this long. Happy, understandably, didn’t seem convinced.
“You sure? You’re not usually this distracted.” Happy pressed and Peter just wished Happy would drop it. Of course the one time Peter wants to ride in silence, Happy is determined to interrogate him.
“I’m fine, honest. Just a little tired.” Peter said, going with the same excuse he gave Ned and hoped Happy would accept it. The man gave him a look, but he thankfully didn’t ask him again. The rest of the drive to the Tower was spent in relative quiet.
When they finally pulled up to the Tower, Peter couldn’t get out of the car faster, desperate to leave the tense air of the car. He spared a second to give a rushed goodbye to Happy(because his Aunt taught him manners) before retreating to the elevator.
“Hello Peter.”
Peter was thankfully passed the days when hearing the AI abruptly speak would startle him. He allowed a small smile to grace his face as he glanced upwards towards the ceiling despite how many times Tony had told him that’s not how that worked.
“Hi FRIDAY,” Peter had always found it easier to talk to FRIDAY and Karen when he was feeling particularly overwhelmed. It was probably because he knew they lacked the ability to judge him (even though he swears Karen has definitely sounded judgy when Peter has chosen a ‘risky’ fight plan or patrolled too long). “Do you know what the plan is for today?”
“Boss hasn’t mentioned any specific assignments for you today, however he did ask that I deliver you to the lab to see him the moment you arrive.” FRIDAY’s voice was as calm and kind as it always was but Peter still felt his stomach drop.
“He wanted to see me right away?” Peter repeated, his earlier nausea returning full force. While Peter did tend to go straight to Tony so they could get started on lab work, Tony didn’t usually care if he stopped at the penthouse to grab a snack first, or stopped by his room to drop off his things.
Why is today different? There was no way for him to have heard about his test result already, right? Peter knew that Tony had been added as his secondary contact at the school earlier last term when Tony and May had finally started getting along. Which was a good thing most of the time. It made it easier for Tony to pick Peter up in the middle of the school day if the need ever arose(it also made it to where Tony was also called if Peter ever skipped school for hero work but he chooses to ignore that bit). But a C isn’t enough to warrant a call home is it? Honestly since Peter had never gotten such a low grade he didn’t actually know. Or did May actually give him access to my student portal? She had joked about it before- at least Peter had thought it was a joke- had she been serious?
He could already feel his palms start to sweat and he began to feel vaguely light headed.
What if he knows and wants to talk to me about it? Peter’s mind was racing as he ran through all the reasons Tony would ask to see him about. What if he’s firing me? It would make sense. Tony Stark can’t have someone incapable of getting better than a mere 72% on a science test as his personal intern.
What if he thinks I can’t handle being Spider-Man and stay on top of school? One of May’s biggest conditions for Peter being allowed to be Spider-Man was that he still do well in school. It was right up there with ‘always be as safe as possible’ and ‘still have a life outside the suit’. And Tony had been in full agreement with her. If they decided Spider-Man was becoming too much of a distraction…
What if they tell me to stop being Spider-Man?
By the time the elevator opened to the lab, Peter was pale, slightly trembling, and about three seconds from losing what little bites of lunch he managed to force down earlier. He wanted to go right back up and out the door to avoid this conversation for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately he had already been standing there too long and FRIDAY had started to ask if he wanted her to get Tony for him.
Peter was quick to decline before he very reluctantly stepped out of the elevator.
He could already hear the muffled sound of AC/DC playing far too loudly as he approached the door. It took him two tries to get the code right as his nerves made his hands more uncoordinated. The moment Peter opened the door the volume lowered considerably making it so Peter could enter without hurting his over sensitive hearing.
At his music suddenly getting quiet, Tony turned from where he had been working at his bench to send Peter a smile and wave him over.
“Roos! I was starting to think you stood me up.” Tony greeted and Peter did his best to swallow his nerves as he walked over. He knew from his tone that Tony was only teasing but Peter still felt the need to apologize.
“Sorry, Mr. Stark. Guess I got a bit distracted.” Distracted trying to figure out if I was getting fired. Is what Peter did not say. Tony frowned slightly at the explanation which did not calm Peter down at all.
“Yeah? Happy said you were doing a lot of that on the way here.” Happy is a rotten snitch. “Wanna tell me what’s up?” Tony didn’t sound particularly upset like Peter would expect if he was about to be fired for being too stupid to work at Stark Industries. Maybe he doesn’t know? Peter wondered and immediately decided that if Tony didn’t know then he was not about to tell him.
“Not really.”
“Eeeh! Wrong answer, try again.” Tony said, making a loud mock buzzer sound and crossing his arms in an ‘X’ shape. Peter gave him a pout and Tony sighed. “Kid, I’m gonna be honest: You look like crap.” Tony’s tone wasn’t unkind despite his words. “So what’s eating ya? Is it Spider-Man stuff?” Tony asked and Peter shook his head, deciding to give up on denying anything was wrong altogether. Clearly Tony wasn’t buying that anyway.
“No. That would be easier.”
“Ok, so that leaves Peter related issues then.” Tony mused out loud before apparently deciding to just guess at Peter’s problems. “Is it friend trouble?”
“No.”
“Fight with your Aunt?”
“No.”
“...Girl trouble? Because you know you can tell me if you have any questions-”
“Mr. Stark! No!” Peter decided to end this little guessing game here before he became permanently scarred.
“Well then what is it? I’m not a mind reader here. I can’t help if you don’t give me something here.” Tony huffed annoyed before going right back to blindly spotting off ideas. “Something happen at school?” Peter couldn't help the way he tensed as Tony finally hit the nail head. Tony of course immediately noticed this change in body language and instantly latched onto. “Alright so it was something at school then?” Tony clarified, but he clearly already knew the answer.
“I- It’s- not exactly?” Peter struggled to answer, his anxiety once again creeping up now that he was very quickly approaching the reality of telling Tony about his biggest academic failure to date. How would he react? Would he be disappointed? Of course he’ll be disappointed. Stupid question.
Rather than get annoyed at Peter’s continued fumbling, Tony just gently grabbed Peter’s arm and guided him to sit in the nearest chair and then pulled another right next to it so he was sitting facing him.
“Tell me what happened.” Tony’s voice was firm but not commanding. In fact it was almost gentle. Honestly Peter would have preferred a harsh order, a demand to just tell him what was bothering him and stop beating around the bush. That would have been easier to refuse. As it was Peter just felt his throat close up and his eyes water against his will as he desperately fought them back.
“I…I got a test back today.” Peter eventually managed to force out, voice quiet because if he spoke any louder he’s pretty sure he would lose the fight against his tears. Tony looked at him confused.
“A test? This is about a test?” Tony repeated and Peter nodded, face heating up in shame as he looked at the floor. Tony reached over to rest his hand on Peter’s shoulder in a silent command to regain his attention which Peter hesitantly listened to. “Ok…did you do badly on this test?” Tony very accurately guessed and apparently that was the last straw for Peter.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Stark,” Peter choked out and he saw Tony’s eyes widen slightly in surprise before his vision became too blurry from unshed tears. “I- I really hadn’t thought I did that bad. I swear I usually always study before a test but it was a surprise and I wasn’t prepared, but I know that’s not an excuse. So now I’m probably gonna get expelled and then Aunt May is gonna be so disappointed and you’ll realize I’m not smart enough to work here and please don’t fire me-” Peter was distantly aware he was rambling which was only working him up more but unfortunately he had reached some kind of flow state and was entirely unable to stop himself.
Thankfully Tony was kind enough to put him out of his misery.
“Hey, hey, slow down now.” Tony rushed to calm him down, hands quickly finding their way to Peter’s shoulders and pressing down, something Tony did whenever he felt Peter needed some help feeling grounded. It helped a bit and Peter was able to take a deep shaking breath and wipe his eyes with his sleeve. “Ok that was…A lot. So let’s break that down one at a time, yeah?” Tony asked but even in his distress Peter knew it was rhetorical.
“Absolutely no one is getting fired. And certainly not over one little test, that’s ridiculous. Where did you even get that idea?” He asked and Peter didn’t really have one single answer. At least not one that was reasonable.
“It was a science test.” Peter explained carefully only for Tony to give him a completely blank look that clearly said that hadn’t cleared anything up at all. “You’re literally like the greatest scientist of the 21st century. Pretty much everything we do together is work on projects that all involve advanced knowledge of chemistry, biology, among other largely science based subjects.” Peter elaborated, hoping Tony would catch on. It seemed he didn’t because when Peter paused Tony just made an impatient ‘go on’ gesture. “I figured once you knew I wasn’t smart enough to work here you wouldn’t want me as an intern.” There. He finally just came out and said it. Surely now Tony would understand why it was a waste of time to keep him around when he couldn’t even pass a high school quiz. Would tell Peter he was right, he obviously wasn’t up to being an intern at Stark Industries let alone for Tony himself and tell him to leave.
Except that’s not what Tony did. In fact Peter would say Tony did the exact opposite of that.
“Alright so first of all:” Tony abruptly began, counting off on his fingers. “I don’t strictly keep you around because you know your way around the lab. Yes, that’s a definite perk and I love getting to work on actually interesting subjects with someone that can keep up with me but it’s far from the only thing we do.” Tony corrected firmly, continuing before Peter could even think about contradicting him. “Last weekend we spent two days on the couch watching movies and eating junk food. Did that require ‘advanced knowledge' on science?"
“Well, no, but-” Peter tried to argue that was different but Tony just talked right over him
“But nothing. As hard as it may be to believe, I happen to enjoy your company regardless of your value as my science buddy. Something I can’t say about everyone.”
Tony blatantly admitting to enjoying spending time with him, a random fifteen-year-old that happened to have spider powers, had Peter’s heart doing a weird happy flip. Obviously the more reasonable part of Peter’s brain knew Tony had to somewhat like having him around or else he wouldn’t keep inviting him over. As Tony has told him countless times: ‘Tony Stark doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to’. That didn’t mean he ever expected Tony to actually admit it though. That involved feelings and Tony wasn’t big on those.
“More than that grades are not everything. Tests have been proven to not be a good gauge on intellect so I don’t want to hear you say you’re not smart enough to be here again, got it?” Tony continued and after a second of him expectantly staring at him Peter realized a response was in fact required.
“Got it.” Peter mumbled it and he could tell Tony wasn’t satisfied but he did give him a pass for now.
“Now, second: Walk me through how in any world one bad grade gets you expelled?” Tony either didn’t notice or didn’t care that his last statement was still breaking Peter’s brain because he just moved right along to the next thing. Still, the question demanded an answer.
“I’m at Midtown on scholarship, my scholarship is dependent on keeping my grades up. If my grades drop too much I would lose it and Aunt May can’t afford to send me on her own so I’d have to change schools.” Peter said and just saying it out loud had another ripple of anxiety shooting through his stomach. He didn’t know what he would do if he actually got expelled or otherwise forced to leave. Midtown was where Ned and MJ were. Losing Midtown would be…devastating. Peter didn’t get to spiral too much that time before Tony once again interrupted his thoughts.
“What, was this test ninety-nine percent of your grade or something?” Tony asked in utter disbelief that a class would do something so unfair.
“Um, no, I think it was only worth about two?” Peter said hesitantly, suddenly realizing he just may have blown this out of proportion. Just a tad. For a second Tony didn’t speak. He just stared flatly at him for a long uncomfortable second.
“Two? As in two percent?” Tony checked as if he could have possibly misunderstood. Peter nodded. Tony closed his eyes and took a very deliberate deep breath.
“Mr. Stark?” Peter asked but Tony just held up a hand to silence him without opening his eyes.
“Give me a second please.” Tony stayed that way another few moments before he slowly opened his eyes again. “Okay, I’m good. You do realize that’s insane, correct?” He said and Peter frowned at him with slight confusion. It wasn’t insane, he may have jumped the gun a little but it wasn’t crazy to be worried about his place at his school when he was there based on grades. “I mean seriously that would never happen.”
“It could.” Peter argued just to be contrary but Tony merely rolled his eyes at him.
“No, it couldn’t. Even if you somehow got grades low enough to lose your scholarship -and that’s a big if- I would just pay your tuition for you.” Tony said it like it was a simple fact and instantly Peter protested.
“Mr. Stark, I could never let you do that.” Peter vehemently denied. He never wanted Tony to think he was after his money. “It’s too much.”
“Too much? I think you forget who you’re talking to.” Tony scoffed and completely ignored Peter’s attempt to speak yet again. “How much is a term anyway? A hundred grand? Two?” Tony guessed and Peter was appalled at the mere idea of his schooling costing that much per term.
“A hundred grand-“
“I spent more than that tipping a waitress at a private event to piss Hammer off. And that was on something stupid and petty so do you really think I wouldn’t be willing to give just as much and more for something as important as your education?” Tony’s tone left no room for argument. “And before you say it, because I know how you get, it wouldn’t be because of charity or pity or whatever absurd thing you’re worried about. It would be because you happen to be one of the brightest and kindest people I have ever met and you deserve to have the best environment to improve your knowledge.” Peter paused a bit at that. He…hadn’t actually considered that Tony might actually want to help him.
Sure he figured if he asked Tony probably would help him. He’s much kinder and more generous than the media gives him credit for. But Peter never wanted to make him feel obligated to. He hadn’t actually entertained the possibility Tony might want to entirely because he thinks Peter deserves it. That Tony in fact actually thought of it as the most obvious next step if Peter did ever find himself without his scholarship.
“The point is that no matter what you are not getting kicked out of school, ok? So just abandon that thought now. It’s not happening.” Tony finished and waited until Peter gave an acknowledging nod before he gave a deep sigh. “Alright, glad we established that. Anything else you need me to talk you through?” Peter felt his face go red as he shook his head. In hindsight he probably didn’t need to stress so much over this.
“No, I’m sorry I freaked out over nothing.” Peter apologized, his face hot with shame. He has more important things to do than help you with high school drama. Tony however didn’t seem to appreciate Peter’s attempt at an apology.
“Hey, no, that’s not-“ Tony started but broke off with an annoyed huff that Peter wasn’t sure was at him or himself. “Look, anxiety gets to all of us. It doesn’t need to make sense. In fact most the time it doesn’t. You don’t have to apologize for something that happens to everyone.” Tony explained it away like it was an easy simple fact. Maybe it was. Nothing about Tony’s posture suggested he was judging him or just placating him.
Peter had walked in fearing the worst only to find nothing but completely calm reassurance. He had only one more thing to address.
“…Did you really spend over a hundred grand tipping a waitress?”
Tony just stared at him.
“Is that really your take away from this? Seriously, that's your main concern?” Tony asked in exasperated disbelief that after what was definitely the closest thing they’d had to a genuine heart to heart, Peter’s focus was on Tony’s spending habits.
“If it was a hundred grand then yeah kinda.” In Peter’s defense, they were talking about a tip to a waitress. Not that the likely overworked service worker didn’t deserve it, she probably did but still it was an insane amount of money to spend like that. Tony seemed to realize Peter was not going to let this drop so he let out a deep exasperated breath before reluctantly answering.
“It was technically a hundred and fifty thousand, but in my defense Hammer started it by trying to show off and give her a ten grand tip.”
“And that escalated to a hundred and fifty?”
“As a matter of fact, it did. Because it was a- Know what? No. This isn’t about me.” Tony started to defend himself but apparently gave up just as fast. “This is about you and your test that is absolutely not the end of the world. What grade did you even get anyway?” And just like that Peter’s good mood was gone. Heat rose to his face as he looked away.
“Um, I got a uh, Igotaseventy-two.” Peter mumbled it all quickly at the end so it was an indistinguishable mess.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Can you say it again with actual words?” Tony prompted only mildly impatiently, which was actually pretty good for him. Peter steeled himself with a deep breath before repeating himself clearer.
“I- I got a seventy-two.” Peter closed his eyes and braced for judgement, sure this was where Tony’s surprising kindness ran out and he went into full sarcastic mocking mode. He was a science geek who couldn't even get a good grade in science.
Tony didn’t mock him or make a sarcastic remark or even scoff.
Actually Tony didn’t say anything. At all.
After about sixty seconds of dead silence Peter opened his eyes to find Tony just sort of looking at him.
“Mr. Stark?” Peter hesitantly prompted after another minute of Tony saying nothing. It seemed to be enough to snap him back to reality because Tony blinked before finally opening his mouth.
“Seventy-two? You got a seventy-two?” Tony repeated and Peter slowly nodded. “That’s a C. You got a C.” Peter didn’t understand why Tony felt the need to rub that particular fact in.
“It’s a C- but yeah, I got a C.”
There were a few seconds where they merely stared at each other. Then Tony’s mouth very noticeably began twitching up as he fought to keep a neutral expression.
“It’s not funny!” Peter immediately protested, his face now going red for an entirely different reason. This tragically seemed to only make it worse as Tony actually began laughing.
“I know, I know it’s not,” Tony very unconvincingly wheezed between laughs. “I swear I’m not laughing at you. This is a very big deal that obviously really upset you and I’m not laughing. I’m not-” Tony had to break off because he was, in fact, laughing too much. Peter did his best to glare at the man but it tragically had no effect. Someday maybe Peter could see how he had grossly overreacted and how that might be a little funny, but today was not that day so Peter just continued to pout while the genius billanoire failed horribly in his attempts to collect himself.
Eventually Tony did manage to calm down and offered to go over the quiz with Peter. It took them all of thirty minutes and Peter realized he actually knew most of the material, he just had either put partial answers, or misread the question. Which he supposed is what happens when one doesn't sleep the night before. The closest thing Peter got to a lecture about the whole thing was Tony reminding him to try and get more sleep in the future and not stay out so late.
Evidently, he had worried himself sick when he hadn’t needed to. But he did get to watch Star Wars with Tony for the tenth time because the man felt bad for laughing at him so he supposed it wasn't a completely terrible day.