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Peter undeniably believes that Mrs James was out to get him. She was extremely harsh on his assignments. She’s an old cranky English teacher who can barely read Peter's chicken scratch handwriting. To be fair, Tony is the only one who can do it with no problem. She marks Peter as late even if it’s right after the lunch rush. So he wasn’t even shocked when she added a rule, forcing students to answer calls they received in class at the front of the classroom on speaker.
Ned had just said it wasn’t worth it and stopped bringing his phone to class all together. Peter however, could not do that. Between being Spider-man and also an important part of Tony’s forever chaos-organized lab he needs it. Tony would have to fire himself without Peter.
“Ughhh” Peter throws his bag down, jumping into his spinning chair and groaning. He slams his head onto his desk.
“What is it Bambino?” Tony asks Peter, lifting his welding mask and turning off the gas. He rolls his own chair over to Peter, placing a hand on his shoulder and gently pulling him back up from his place on the desk.
“My English teacher! She’s evil!” Peter cries, flinging his arms into the air and pouting like a little kid. Tony chuckles, taking it as a dramatic teenage thing.
“What did she do now?” he asks, still laughing. Peter does not appreciate the giggles. This is serious! He’s going to have every single one of his classmates find out about his current living situation.
“She made a rule that we have to answer calls in front of everyone! I’m going to like- tell everyone some government or Stark Industries secret!” Peter groans, spinning fast in his chair.
“No one even calls you during school” Tony scoffs. Giving him a look that says ‘you’re more dramatic than me’.
“Tony, you call me at school once a week, minimum” Peter stops the spinning immediately, deadpanning at Tony. He cannot be serious right now. Last time Tony called Peter during school it was during his study, he answered quietly assuming it was an emergency. It was Tony asking Peter what flavor of ice cream he wanted.
“Yes! Asking where a project is, what paperwork or project you were supposed to be doing or even just asking where a charger is! You have called me to ask about my favorite color!” Peter is flabbergasted. Tony’s lack of time management is… wow.
“Oh. Didn’t realize I do that. You probably should have your phone. Pepper will go to you before she comes to me” He shrugs. “Just keep it on silent.”
And that was that.
So only a week later while Peter is working on a book report in class, he shouldn’t have been shocked when Tony’s call blasted through his phone's speakers. He is about to turn it off when Mrs James calls out.
“Mr Parker! You know the rule!” Mrs James smiles too wide.
Peter sighs, standing from his desk and dragging his feet to the front of the room. He slowly takes his phone out of his pocket and taps accept on the screen.
“Hey Bambino!” Peter winces. He should tell Tony that it is an in-person nickname exclusively.
“Do you need something?” Peter sighs. He always greets him happily, but Peter is avoiding names right now. Tony should get a watch.
“Aw, not happy to hear from me? That hurts my feelings bud” Tony pretends to whine. Peter can feel himself shrinking into nothing.
“I am at school. In English class” Peter aggressively pronounces English class. He can almost hear the light turn on in Tonys head. Peter feels a pit of regret in his stomach.
“Oh my god!” Tony laughs hysterically. “Hi Pete’s English class!” Tony shouts. Peter sighs again. “I’ll be using this to my advantage. But I’m busy right now so I need to know where you put that paperwork from yesterday” Tony sounds more business right now which means Pepper yelled at him.
“Under the arc- yeah on your desk by the door” Peter probably shouldn’t casually talk about arc reactors in front of his class.
“Found it! Thanks kiddo. Have fun in english!” Tonys smirk can be heard through the phone. Peter hangs up and sits down, smacking his head against the desk. No one brings it back up. Why would they? Just sounds like an embarrassing Dad or Uncle or even boss.
The one thing that had Peter’s class gripping their desks is that Peter has no Dad (anymore). No Uncle either (anymore). And the only thing anyone knows about Peter having a job is his Stark Industries internship that only a few kids know about from their previous field trip.
Peter’s class looks at him a little differently. It’s like they're watching him. So when Peter’s phone goes off again, everyone holds their breath.
“Mr Parker. You know the rule, yes?” Mrs James beckons him forward. He sighs, accepting the call.
“Ah my young padiwan. How are you on this fine day at 9 am?” Tony asks once the line connects. He is completely aware of where Peter is. A very intentional, English class call. Peter internally groans and puts his head into his hands.
“What could you possibly have lost?” Peter sighs.
“Nothing, actually. Just wanted to check in on my favorite intern!” Tony pitches his voice up. Peter physically cringes this time, biting on his hand to keep from screaming.
“Well, I’m in class so we should both get back to work” Peter says quickly, hoping that Tony will get the hint and follow.
“Oh no I don’t think so young man. I do have a question actually” Tony pauses and Peter can hear him thinking. This asshole. “My question…” Tony pauses. Peter can hear him thinking. This guy is such a dick.
“You don’t have a question. Please get back to work or you know she’ll yell at you” Peter rolls his eyes, trying to avoid names yet again.
“Who will?” Tony asks. Peter can hear the smirk, edging him on. Tony wants to brag about Peter. While he is very flattered
“Your wife” Peter deadpans, sighing and hovering his finger over the end call button.
“She’ll be okay. I use you to get out of trouble with Pep all the time!” Tony says happily.
“Please go to work or ask me your real question please” Peter is basically begging him to shut up. Tony refuses to hear the signs of Peter actually wanting to hang up.
“Okay okay I can tell you’re annoyed with me kid. Do you know where the files for the wings are?” He asks. “I wanted to add an upgrade because they keep breaking.”
“Under his file name.. you knew that. You’re not that disorganized. Bah-bye” Peter says sassily.
“Yeah yeah bye Kiddo! Bye English class!” Tony replies happily. Peter hangs up.
His class looks even more suspicious. One more call like that and his class will definitely know about Tony Stark basically being Peter’s dad. (Oh if only he knew).
“If Tony calls me one more time I think I’m going to work for Oscorp” Peter groans to Ned as he sits down. It’s only been a week since Tony’s last call and no one has forgotten.
“You wouldn't,” Ned gasps dramatically. Peter shrugs, pulling his notebook out and putting it on his desk with a thud.
Peter’s phone begins to go off the moment the bell rings, signaling the start of class. Peter tries to silence it, seeing Mrs James had not noticed.
“Peter’s phone is ringing!” Abe calls out from a few desks over. Peter gives him a glare sharper than Black Panthers claws. He gulps as Peter makes his way up to the front of the classroom.
A yawn cuts through the classroom. Ah, great. Tony has just woken up. The third most dangerous Tony (first is angry Tony, second is heavily sleep deprived Tony)
“Bambino!” And another yawn comes from Tony. “Good morning kiddo! I was wondering if you wanted to come to my meeting later with Mayor Mamdani. We wanted to talk about some issues around the city and I think you could really help” Tony actually seems to be genuine, not thinking about the time or the day.
“I’m in class” Peter grumbles and sighs.
“Sorry Petey, what was that?” Tony asks.
“I’m in class Tony” Peter replies slightly agitated, barely realizing the name slip. Whatever, he knows that he’ll never be able to hide it after casually being invited to a meeting with the Mayor. Tony needs to fix his sleep schedule. He loves the man, he really does. But boy is he stupid for being a genius.
“Ah! Oh I forgot. My bad. No meeting appearance? It’s at like- 2:30. I could come pick you up early. Or just call and dismiss you or whatever” Peter can hear Tony moving his blanket covers in the mic, obviously getting up and finally coming to his senses.
“You know what, sure. Yeah let’s do that” Peter sighs. “Does he know I’ll be there?” Peter is more in his business talk mode now. Might as well. He already said Tony.
“I’ll let him know when he gets here in a few hours. I’ll come pick you up too!” Tony says sleepily, but happily.
“Okay, I have to go. I’m in class please start checking the time before calling” Peter sighs.
“I’m Tony fucking Stark I can do whatever I wan-“ Tony says before Peter fumbles with his phone, not hanging up fast enough. Peter stares down at his phone like he can take it back.
He slowly looks up, finding his class wide eyed.
“What the fuck?” A kid asks. Mrs James stares in horror.
“Tony Stark and Mamdani? What?” A girl in the front row asks in disbelief. Peter cries inside. Maybe a little outside too.
“Your internship is real?” A guy in the back shouts. Peter rolls his eyes.
“No” Peter sticks his tongue out, walking back to his seat. “Don’t even talk about it” he says to Ned. Ned looks like he’s going to implode.
Peter gives Tony a serious talking to. He has finally promised to try to not call during school hours unless it’s completely necessary. However, this does not stop other people living in the tower from calling him during school hours. It is not funny receiving a lecture from Steve in the middle of class. He should ask Pepper to have his class sign NDAs.