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The applause that thundered through the studio made Peter’s ears ring as he panted behind the heavy costume mask. Adrenalin ran through his system and he couldn’t help the grin that spread across his lips.
If someone had told Peter that he would be a contestant on The Masked Singer, he would have laughed in their faces.
Becoming a famous singer wasn’t something that Peter had ever expected to become. He had always had a nice voice, so his Aunt and Uncle had told him. It had started off just at home, then Peter had joined the school choir which turned into competitions. Peter had never thought of becoming a singer as a career. It was just a fun little hobby. A hobby that Peter had on whim decided to post on social media. He had been little nervous and so he had created an anonymous account under the pseudonym Silk and instead of showing his face, had projected his silhouette onto his bedroom wall.
Peter hadn’t expected the videos to go viral. Hadn’t expected everything that had come afterwards.
“ANT! What a performance,” The host said over the crowds cheers.
Peter bowed as much as the exaggerated costume would allow. His grin grew when he remembered how Scott Lang had cheered when Peter had shared what his costume was going to be.
“You could have been Ironman,” Tony had said with a mock, sad shake of his head. “And instead you ended up as this idiot.”
Peter had laughed as Scott had ran around the Compound crowing to everyone that Peter was going to be an ant.
“Antonette is going to be thrilled,” Scott had beamed.
And while Peter wasn’t supposed to share with anyone who he was supposed to be, not telling Tony Stark wasn’t an option. When Peter had become Spiderman, hiding behind a mask had been easy since he had been doing it for years. But when Tony Stark had found out his identity, Peter had been shaken.
“Whoa, kid,” Tony had soothed. “I’m not here to out you to the world. I just want to help.”
And Tony had. He had helped Peter become the Superhero he was today and the two of them had grown closer. When Peter had finally shared is other alter ego, Tony had been just as supportive. Tony had helped him keep both his identities a secret and help him juggle both lives as well as trying to be a normal teenager.
Since Ben’s death, it had just been him and May trying to figure it out. Peter had stopped singing, disappearing from the lime light and had thrown himself into Spiderman instead. It had been Tony who had encouraged him to get back into singing. With Tony’s help, along with Pepper’s, they had written a new song and re-introduced Silk.
The offer to be a contestant on The Masked Singer was a big opportunity that Tony, and all the Avengers, had encouraged him to take. And so Peter had joined the show and had managed to make it to the top five.
“Judges! What did you think?” The host asked as the cheering finally calmed down.
“Ant that was an incredible performance,” the judge in the middle said, the crowd cheering loudly in agreement. “Your range is what every singer wishes they had. From last weeks pop song to this weeks classic! Whoever you are, I am a fan for life!”
The crowd cheered and Peter jumped up and down with excitement. His heart was racing in his chest. And he thought throwing himself off buildings on just a web was heart pumping.
“The rumour mill is popping,” the first judge crowed, fanning themselves. “And I have to say I am here for it.”
“Yes!” The judge on the other end of the long table agreed. “My favourite is that you are vigilante Spiderman!”
Peter’s stomach swooped.
He had forgotten that there was a clip out there of Spiderman singing one of Silk’s songs with a group of tourists. Peter had been out patrolling and it had been a slow night of crime. He had heard the tourist group singing and though it would be fun to join them. He hadn’t expected it to go viral.
“Peter,” Tony’s voice filtered through the ear piece under the mask. “Play up to it. Do your web gestures.”
Peter swallowed around the icy feeling in his chest and did as Tony instructed.
The crowd went wild.
“See,” Tony’s voice came through his ear and Peter could hear the grin. “You’re doing great, kiddo.”
Peter felt himself relax slowly. Having Tony in his ear while he performed had been his idea. Tony, having been in the spotlight all his life, knew how to work a crowd much better than Peter did and so he had begged Tony to be there in the studio with him.
“Of course, kid,” Tony had assured him. “I’ll be there and when you’re onstage, I’ll be in your ear. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
And every night Tony had been.
“Ant, thank you so much for your performance tonight,” the host said, bringing Peter back to the present. “Head back stage and the results will be coming up after the break.”
Peter made sure to wave to the crowd before he was guided off the stage. The crew took him to his dressing room where May, Pepper, and Tony were waiting for him along with the makeup artists to help get the costume off him.
When the giant head was off (his identity still hidden by a crafty bit of technology that Tony had created using nanotechnology to create a thin mask that distorted Peter’s features) the make up artists left, leaving Peter with his family. He quickly pulled the nanotech dots from his face, his features becoming his own once more.
“Baby I am so proud of you,” May beamed, pulling Peter into a tight hug.
“Thanks Aunt May.” Peter hugged her back tightly.
When the hug ended, Peter was pulled into another by Tony. “You did amazing, kid. You are going to win this thing for sure.”
Peter blushed, ducking his head when he pulled out of the hug. “I don’t know about that.”
“Nonsense,” Pepper said, giving Peter a quick hug. “You can win this. We are so proud of you.”
As Peter looked around his family, his heart swooped with how lucky he felt. Never in his life did he think he would be here and he couldn’t have done it without the man who had become a father to him.
“Thank you,” Peter said, sincerely. “For everything.”
Tony’s face softened, as if he could read Peter’s thoughts. “Anything time, kid.” Tony clapped him on the shoulder, squeezing it gently. “Drink up and cool down. We’ve got to get that head back on soon for the results.”
Peter accepted the drink that Pepper pressed into his hand. Even if he didn’t win, Peter felt like he had already won.
The results were in and Pete had made it to the top three. His nerves had only increased but Tony had been there to keep him from freaking all the way out.
“Hey,” Tony said before Peter went out on stage to learn where he had ranked in the finals. “No matter what, we are so proud of you, kid.”
“Thanks,” Peter said. “For everything. I mean, now way I would have gotten this far without.”
Tony shook his head. “No. You would have made it here all by yourself kid. It’s just a privilege for me to be along for the ride.”
“I love you, dad,” Peter said, cheeks flushing hot. It was the first time Peter had called Tony dad, but in that moment, it felt right. And judging by the way Tony’s face lit up, it had been the right moment.
“Love you too, kid,” Tony said. “Now go get them.”
Peter, decked out in his full costume, allowed the crew to guide him onto the stage where he joined Tiger and Wolf. They were beautifully designed costumes and Peter felt honoured to be standing next to two amazing talents.
“And it’s finally come down to Tiger, Ant, and Wolf,” the host said. “And it has been incredible to see these three perform but sadly we will be saying goodbye to one of them. And tonight, that is…”
Peter’s heart pounded and his palms sweat.
“Ant!”
Peter let out a breath. While disappointed, Peter still felt his heart soaring as the crowd went wild for him. He had made it into the top three which was nothing to be sad about. He had done his best and he had come further than he had ever dreamed off.
“It’s time Ant. Take it off!” The host cried.
“TAKE IT OFF! TAKE IT OFF! TAKE IT OFF!” The crowd chanted.
Peter grabbed his giant ant head and started to tug. With his strength his could have popped it off in an instant but he played to the crowd just like Tony had coached him and finally he pulled it free.
He spun towards the crowd who screamed.
It had been Tony who had come up with the idea.
“They all think Silk is Spiderman,” Tony had grinned. “Why not play to it?”
Peter had donned his Spiderman mask under the giant ant mask to throw the crowd off.
“NO WAY!” The judges screamed.
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME!”
“SPIDERMAN!” The host laughed into the microphone.
And just as they had planned, the lights plunged to darkness. A spotlight appeared on Peter and then behind him, his silhouette projected behind him thanks to some more of Tony’s technology. With tiny drones that Tony had programmed, they lit up and formed Peter’s stage name in coloured lights.
SILK
The crowd lost it.
“Ladies and gentleman, give it up for Silk,” the host called out above the crowd.
Peter may not have won the competition, but with the way the crowd was going off, he may as well have. And as Peter glanced over his shoulder, he saw Tony, May and Pepper in the wings, clapping loudly, Peter had won so much more.