#also my mentor and her name twin got me some earrings last week

[dooxliss]

OH SHIT HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I HOPE ITS GOOD AND FUN AND FULL OF PRESENTS AND CAKE 🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊🎈🎈🎈🎈🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎂🎂🍰🧁🧁

YAYYYYY TY 🩵🩵🩵

[guessimjoiningthespidermanfandom]

It Takes Two to Tango

Peter Parker x bisexual!reader

Peter Parker x fem!reader

Peter Parker x black!reader

Peter Parker x villain!reader 

Warnings: Language, guns, knives, violence, self destructive behavior, mentions of mania and depression, mentions of bipolar disorder, descriptions of tattoo guns, slight slut shaming maybe, a bong, allusion to corrupt government, mentions of prostitution, mentions of parental neglect, and mentions of piercings.

Word Count: 6.5k

Songs: Drew Barrymore- SZA, No Role Modelz- J.Cole, Baby Blue- Action Bronson, Little Dark Age- MGMT, Gansta- Kehlani, Shutter Island- Jessie Reyez, Good Days-SZA, King’s Dead, Kendrick Lamar, and Saint Bernard- Lincoln.

“Which was odd because usually he talks the most on these rides. After we got over the initial awkwardness of the whole fire and Vulture thing we fell back into the way of things. Well if he was going to play this game I would too because what’s that saying? It takes two to tango.”

A/N: Hold on tight a lot goes down and it’s not looking up anytime soon. 

Series Masterlist  Previous Part   Next Part 

I was running faster than I’d ever had before the heels I had been trying on? Not helping my case. Since this is apparently my brand now I backed myself up onto the edge of the building. 

I had a gun trained on me.

“Come with us Y/N please,” 

“No! Who the fuck is Y/N?”

“Don’t play dumb ma’am we’ve done extensive research on you and we see you’ve done the same with us,” 

I rolled my eyes.

“Fuck you! I have no idea what you’re talking about and this is harassment,”

“You’re cornered there’s no way out,” 

The man wasn’t going to shoot me. No one would’ve come all the way out here and have chased me for this long when they had a gun if they were really planning on killing me. They would’ve done it already. And if this was who I thought it was I was not going with them. 

“Just come with us, we’re on your side, we’re not trying to hurt you,” That sounds exactly like someone who was going to hurt me would say.  

“Yeah says the man who has a gun aimed at me,” I rolled my eyes. 

“This is simply a safety precaution, just make this easier for everyone,” 

I looked back at him before making my decision. I was getting the hell out of here now. 

I bent backwards towards the street underneath me. Instead of free falling I put my hands behind me going into a backbend kickover grabbing onto the ledge. 

Using my legs as a propeller I launched myself closer to the wall. I’d gotten lucky and the walls had protruding bricks that I could scale. 

The man who I think was from SHIELD was hot on my tail. So I had to move fast. I scaled my way to the nearest balcony jumping into the pool in a leap of faith. 

I’d made it in thankfully. Guess my story wasn’t over.

Then I had to run. I was running down the streets. Thankfully this was New York and no one would bat an eye at someone who was drenched head to toe running down the street. They’d just pass me off as another nut job and go about their day. 

So much has happened I feel like this is an episode of shameless. You really were too busy to tune in last week you skank ass bitch? I almost died twice and I still managed to check in, whatever, just pay attention to the next clip. 

“So that building exploded and that loud siren noise I think I told you about was going off in my ears and when I left the plane with Vulture and Spidey were fighting by a crashed plane and Vulture put too much power onto his wings and they were gonna blow up. And I got mad like fucking top of the anger iceberg mad. So when I was like on the verge of blacking out like fucking fire came out of my hands and disintegrated those wings. Like they turned to ash before my very eyes. Then I had a panic attack of course and that’s pretty much it,” 

“Uh… I just called you here to tell you I found something about that SHIELD guy who came after but, I’m glad you’re okay,” Felicia told me.

“Sorry… I guess I got too excited,” 

“What'd you find?” I moved over to her in her spinning chair. 

“Look and see for yourself,” She moved out the way.

I sighed plopping down onto the small twin bed.

“I know what you’re doing,” I said, picking up a piece of popcorn. 

“What are you talking about?” Carmen asked as if she was genuinely confused. 

“You’re trying to trick me into eating and sleeping, which is totally not fair because if I want to wallow in self pity I should be able to,” 

“I know what happens when it gets bad and I’m not letting you get there again,”

I sighed again. She is always claiming that she sees herself in me and she wants me to be the best version of myself. 

She acts like since she’s one year older than me that she’s my mentor or something.

 Plus she also thinks I have an undiagnosed and untreated bipolar disorder so who’s to say everything else she says isn’t a lie also. 

We were watching a Wrinkle in Time and I knew I was going to cry when the girl’s dad came back. I always did and I didn’t want to cry today. 

“Wanna go do something?”

“Sure... Where are we going?” 

“Out,” 

I tried on a lot of Carmens clothes and ended up wearing the most extravagant outfit I’d ever worn. I felt extremely giddy for no reason in particular. I was wearing a puffy skirt and corset. We were walking about the streets of Brooklyn with no clear destination in mind just talking.

“I just find it funny that all you have to do to be famous on Tiktok is be white and skinny like smoke a cigarette in a subway station or some shit,”

“Why don’t we get famous?” 

“Now how would we get famous,” I poked. 

“I’m offended that you don’t think we could,” She stopped on the side of the street. 

“Gimme your phone,” She demanded in a kind way.

I plopped it into her palm. 

I’d honestly forgotten where I was for a second because I’d zoned out yet again. She put the phone back in my hand and she had made a Tiktok account for the both of us. 

She was only checking to see if I liked the account name because she took the phone right back afterwards.

I didn’t mind. 

“I should get a tattoo right?” I asked, putting another one of the chamoy gummy worms in my mouth. 

“How many do you have now?” 

“I think like twelve?”

“And that’s not enough for you?”

“Noo! I like the ones I have. I just want a bigger one.” 

“Then do it?” 

We were actually in walking distance of a tattoo parlour I just didn’t trust them. Never cheat on your nail tech or hairstylist and it goes the same for tattoo artists. 

Two subway rides later we were in Queens. I walked up to the front desk and was about to ask for my go to artist but she walked out the back room before I had the chance.

“Y/N, ‘s that you?” She asked. 

“The one and only,” I twirled around in my dress. 

“This dress is very different than your usual style but I can’t say I don’t love it,” She pulled at the fabric then glanced up her eyes, lighting up in recognition. She gasped “Is this Carmen?” 

I nodded “My bad lemme introduce you to each other. Carmen this is Enchantress and you already know Carmen apparently,” 

I’d played a Russian roulette sort of thing with my tattoo Pinterest board just clicking one with my eyes closed. Then there was the buzzing of the gun moving along my skin. Puncturing it in a way that felt extremely bittersweet. 

I never understood people who said tattoos hurt. I could always barely feel them. They felt like a simple scrape over your skin. Also at this shop they still give you the wrapping for your tattoo but it’s filled with ink still so you can move it around in the bubble. I like messing with the ink sack. I think that’s why I come here so often.

I was admiring the tattoo on my lower abdomen in the mirror when I was startled.  

“Wait!” Enchantress exclaimed, starling me “I just realized you got a piercing. Come here,” She beckoned. 

She turned towards me 

“It’s actually super straight, did you do this?” 

I opened my mouth to respond when Carmen answered for me.

“No, some girl did it for her in her school bathroom,” I really gotta stop telling her everything. She’s always snitching on me.

“I want to be mad but I can’t because it actually looks super healthy,” She titled my chin up to get a better view “However if it gets infected I’m beating your ass,” 

We exited the shop after I paid well, Carmen paid but I’ll pay her back. There was a pretty hefty discount too, because Enchantress loved me apparently, I loved her too. She’s an older sister figure like my role model. I mean she was when I was a few years younger. I think I’ve grown out of role models.

I felt a sharp uncomfortable sensation in my body which sort of felt like those anxiety brain zaps but located in my abdomen. 

I looked behind me and there was something off about this man who was standing a few feet behind me. I accidently made eye contact with him and he bolted off. 

Weird. 

“Y/N are you even listening to me?” 

“Huh,” I turned in Carmen’s directions “Sorry what'd you say?” 

“I was saying that since you got a tattoo, I’m gonna cut and dye my hair,” 

“Cool what color?” 

“I don’t know yet let’s go just to CVS ‘nd decide there,” 

I was sitting on the kitchen counter behind the chair Carmen was in as I applied the bleach to her hair singing along to the song playing. 

Why is it so hard to accept the party is over?

You came with your new friend

And her mom jeans and her new Vans

I set the bowl of hair bleach onto the counter hopping down to get ready for my favorite part of the song. 

And she's perfect and I hate it 

I sang it loudly moving my hands around like I always do releasing my energy. It was almost like therapy. Who am I kidding SZA is therapy. 

I used the bathroom and I couldn’t find soap. I looked under the cabinet and found the soap. I also found something else I wasn’t expecting to see. I brought it back into the kitchen with me.

“You have a hello kitty bong?”

She grabbed it from my hands examining it. 

“Well actually I stole it from my sister,” 

“No way, this is Dinah’s? Because she just got ten times cooler,” 

“All I know was she got back in college, then she just stopped using it,” 

I finished Carmen’s hair which for some reason she trusted me enough to cut curtain bangs for her honestly they didn’t look too bad. It was just very time consuming. 

“Okay but are you sure, how’d you know he’s gay?” Harry questioned leaning back to look at the kid again. 

“Just watch,” I raised my voice just enough for him to be able to hear me “Charlie!” 

He turned around as if he were stunned that I was talking to him. 

“Who me?” He asked.

“Yes you,”

“Oh,”

“So can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah sure I guess…”

“What’s your favorite Percy Jackson book?”

“The answer Lightning Thief is pretty basic but it’s my favorite or maybe the Titan’s Curse, I’m not sure,” 

“Okay cool, thank you,” I turned back to face Harry “See,” 

“That doesn’t prove anything but okay,”

“He knew more than one book in the Percy Jackson series that tells me all I need to know,” 

“I know more than one Percy Jackson book,” He eyed me.

“Yeah and you’re gay,”

He just huffed. Got him there. 

“He still wouldn’t fuck you though,” I sat tucked my legs underneath me.

“Whatever shouldn’t you be in your class? Which is it again?”

“Physics,” 

“Oh…”

“Oh what? Don’t oh me,” 

“You’re avoiding Peter,” 

“I’m not avoiding Peter,” I totally was. Just Harry thinks I’m doing it because I like him. I didn’t tell him that but I might've let him believe it, because how do you even go about telling someone Hey I’m avoiding the person because fire came out of my body and they saw it.  I’d sound insane. 

As I was walking to the gym and by to, I mean away from, but that’s not the point, I could’ve sworn I saw the same man from Saturday in the window near the crowd of students. 

Accompanied by the same gut feeling. 

I pushed my way into the gym. To avoid him. I bumped into someone. Off instinct I got defensive but then I heard an 

“Oh, sorry. Sorry!” Once they’d turned around I realized it had been Peter. Just my luck. 

“You’re fine that was basically my fault anyway,” 

I was going to just walk over to one of my friends but they weren’t here and Liz literally just left the school. So I had no escape. 

Well there was one escape. There’s always a way out.

“Y/N!” The female gym coach called. 

“Yes?” I rolled my eyes.

“Where are your gym clothes?” 

“Probably in the locker room...” 

“Why aren’t you wearing them?”

“I didn’t feel like it,”

“You need to change for your grade, participation is important,” 

I picked up my backpack off the floor before pushing open the doors to the girls locker room. Instead of going towards my locker I headed straight for the metal doors leading into the hallway. I went to the space I always seemed to drift to when I had nowhere else to go. 

The teachers bathroom. 

I know that sounds weird but it’s the only one I can lock. I stole a key a while back when I went to get my phone back from one of the teachers. 

I guess Carmen was a psychic or something because one of the videos she’d posted on our group account of us eating in the dresses, me getting that tattoo, and dying Carmen’s hair had blown up. 

I did not see her take any of the clips but the proof was right in front of me. 

The video had half a million views and I assumed that was because of all the comments helping pushing the algorithm.

Some of them were nice like

hey lol 

you’re both gorgeous omg 

That tattoo is cool af 

I want to be you 

I should pay you to do my hair lmao

I can't tell if i want to be you

The other half were like 

No child should be getting a tattoo you look so young

That is the devils sign I’m praying for you. 

Why please Go To God✝️✝️🙏🏻🙏🏻♥️

Im praying for you 

At first I was confused as to why half of the comments were people praying. Then I realized it was because Carmen had on her pentagram necklace. 

I’m definitely not complaining about the comments though because they got me that many views, likes, and follows, but the ignorance upsets me. A pentagram only represents Earth, Air, Water, and Fire it’s about balance. 

 I think it’s cool, kinda like the Avatar. It has nothing to do with Satan. I didn’t really want to think about Fire. I was still freaking out about Friday. It hadn’t happened again so maybe I dreamt it or something. 

Somehow I spent the rest of gym and half of what should’ve been me heading to detention responding to every Christian’s comment with something dumb or witty. 

I was walking towards the detention room and was startled by Peter. Again.

“Hey Y/N?”

“Yes?” 

“Um… this is gonna sound insane but,” he paused looking down fiddling with his hands. 

My face twisted up in confusion as to why he still hadn’t spoken. 

“Are you gonna to speak…”

“Oh. Oh!” He looked back up “Yeah you remember my internship right?”

“Yeah…” I guess he was going to act like I didn’t know about him being Spiderman again.

“So now Mr. Stark is interested in you and wants you to come with me upstate,”

“Why me?” 

“I’m not sure, but if you’re coming someone is outside waiting for us,” 

I’m sure this was just another attempt to lure me into some SHIELD mess. However Peter had no idea about Thorn or any of the other fucked up shit I’d done. So it would look suspicious if I didn’t go. Because what kid or any other person wouldn’t want to meet Tony Stark. 

“Okay then, what are we waiting for?” 

The ride there was completely silent. I spent the whole time texting Carmen as she complained about her boyfriend. I really hated him oh my God. Peter had gone into the building about 15 minutes ago. 

“Okay, if he’s always getting on your nerves and trying to control you why are you still with him?” I asked in the snap meant for Carmen. 

“You know why, I’m not going to say it because then you’d get mad at me,” She sent a video back.

“Thank you I do not want to hear about your boyfriends dick-,” I was interrupted by a knock on the window “Okay I can’t talk got to go,” I sent the video before sliding across the seat pushing the door open. 

“What happened?” I asked as Peter sat back in the car. 

“It was a test,” He said, providing no further elaboration. 

The back window was rolled down and the guy who drove us here. Happy, I think. There is no way that was his real name. He stuck his face in the window. 

“Hey, the boss wants to see you now,” 

I turned back to Peter and whispered.

“The boss? Am I about to walk into some mafia meeting,” 

He just laughed at that. 

“We don’t have much time,” Happy urged. 

As we began walking the halls of the giant building as I pocketed random trinkets that I could sell for a quick buck. 

“So what’s your real name?” I asked Happy since this whole time he was leading me it was a silent ride. 

He continued to ignore me.

So I asked again. I could tell from his body language that I was getting on his nerves. 

I asked twice more and by the time the last sentence came out of my mouth we’d already reached our destination. He walked away not before mumbling a quick I hate kids. 

“Y/N it’s nice to meet you,” Tony greeted as he reached out to shake my hand. I allowed it.

“You’re a lot shorter in person,” I pointed out after releasing his hand. 

“Not the first time I’ve heard that,” He reached for a bowl putting something in his mouth. “Grape?” He offered.

“No thank you,” Not like they’d be poisoned  or anything, no one had even gotten the chance to question me yet. Also there was the fact that he was eating them but this could be a Princess Bride situation. Not taking any chances. 

“Okay,” He clapped, dusting his hands. “Let’s get to the point now,” 

“So I’ve been informed that you had an instance with pyrokinesis,” He continued after I nodded. “I was hoping to research this to get to the bottom of this,”

“So you want to use me as a lab rat?”

“No of course not, the research would be used purely for your personal benefit,” 

For my benefit my ass. They were going to turn me into a lab rat or a soldier.

“Okay I’ll think about it,” Thought about it. A hard hell no.

“If you do choose to do so since you are a minor I’ll need parental consent,” 

“Of course,” I nodded.

There was a pamphlet that I wasn’t going to read. I wasn’t really going to ask for permission. Was I? If I wasn’t then why was I back at ”my” house. 

I just missed my bed, it was messy but it was mine. 

I started sobbing for no reason at all. Maybe it was the old sketchbooks on my bed, or my mom's broken jewelry box. It could’ve been the smell of incense that never left from the lack of ventilation. It was probably the pile of crystals on my dresser. Then again it could’ve been the nazar eye amulet from the broken bracelet on the ground or the hole in the wall where I used to keep my favorite knife. Maybe it was all of those things. Maybe it was so much more. Maybe it was something different entirely. Maybe it was the colors of the wind. Who knows. 

My eyes stung as my eyeliner dripped down and into them. I blinked the tears away as I went through all my clothes and I mean ALL my clothes. 

I found another bodycon dress. I slipped it on after stuffing a few other articles in my bag. I continued searching to the very back of my closet and I found an old purse. There were at least $50 in the back pocket and in the front pocket there were- Oh. 

There was a small plastic bag with at least 500gs of Xanax. I must’ve left them there after Washington.

 I wasn’t going to take them. I really wasn't; I just put them in the bra. You know for safe keeping. I heard the front door open and made a break for the balcony. 

Although I’d regularly seen my sisters. I still hadn’t seen my dad since I’d left. They’d seen him a couple times though he was fine with the idea of them staying at our grandma’s for who knows how long. He doesn’t care as long as he’s still got that girlfriend of his. I can only imagine what he told her about us not staying with him.

 I jumped down the stairs of the fire escape and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. As something hit my calf. 

I looked down to see it was just Salem climbing up my leg. I lifted her up to my chest nuzzling the top of her head. 

“Hiii baby!” I cooed in a baby voice. 

I now more carefully made my way down the steps so as to not disrupt her. Now I was going to go straight to my grandma’s house to drop off the clothes, but I wanted to go shopping before it got too late.

 I already had no money so I have no idea why I thought it was a good idea but there I was with a $300 charge on my credit card. 

I probably looked insane walking around the mall with a cat in my backpack and black streaks underneath my eyes. 

If you’ve never done this I highly recommend it. Every subway train comes with carts and the last cart is a door with railing and no other restrictions. You can just sneak into the very back. 

The wind hitting your face is the most freeing thing in the world and you can scream as loud as you want and no one will hear you. That fact can be unsettling to some but to me it’s beautiful. 

Releasing your true emotions to no one but you and yourself. I closed my eyes holding onto the railing with one hand and Salem in the other. I put her back into my backpack before sitting down. 

Since the app is addicting, and you can’t tell me it’s not, I opened Tiktok and the first thing I saw is a guy pouring what I hoped wasn’t I thought it was into a bowl. 

So naturally my first reaction was to make a video about it because who doesn’t overshare on the internet. 

“Tell me why,” The track rumbled underneath me, making Salem whine, I picked her up letting her cuddle into my chest. 

“Okay, I have a cat now but-” The track rumbled again “It’s so fucking loud but tell me why I opened this hellfire app and see some dude pouring cum into a bowl, I hate everyone,” 

Within like six minutes of me posting it I had multiple likes and comments. 

The only reason being is that Harry dueted.

 I gotta say being the kid of a mayor and a multimillionaire gives you some form of clout. So he had a pretty heft following.

Harry’s similar to me in the way that we’re mean to our friends. So naturally  we’re ”mean” to each other. 

“You look stupid,” Harry claimed in his video “Also who’s fucking cat did you steal put it back and get in the trains properly and go wash your face,”

I hadn’t even realized I was on my new account at first. 

Of course I made a response video. 

“First of all this is my cat, her name is Salem and she’s adorable” I mean not really but she belongs to no one else, and I feed her. “Second, ignore my eyeliner. I actually think it looks kinda cute,” Lie, It just made me look crazy. “Also how'd you even find this account so fast? Stalker. I’d advise you shut up before I post your phone number then you’d have to ward off groupies. I’m sure you’d like that though.” 

I’m pretty sure the majority of the people in our comments thought we were being serious. So in turn they commented things like I have no idea who you are but I’m on your side, is this gonna be another scandal, or here before the news is talking about it. 

I’m not complaining. His history of scandals got me to 5k followers for the pure assumption that I was involved in some other secret. 

My mind was moving at 100 miles per hour. It felt like I was on a whole bottle of adderall.  I was going somewhere. At least I remember I was supposed to be somewhere. I’m pretty sure my grandma’s house was where I was going. Right?

“No weapon against you shall prosper mija,” My grandma squeezed my hand “You are stronger than you know,”

“I know. Thank you,” 

I’d got here and we had a 30 minute conversation about my mental health without outright saying anything about mental health. It was just mostly her taking shots at my dad. With the exception of her telling me I was dressed like una furcia. 

“Okay well,” I pushed up off the couch “I just came to bring some clothes and I need to get back anyway,” 

“Get back to where, where are staying?” She asked. 

“Oh you remember MJ right?” I lied. 

“Oh yes, I like that lil’ girl,” 

I went into the guest room to where my sisters were staying. I could hear rustling as I got closer to the room. I flicked on the lights. To see both of my sisters asleep. It was only 10:30 so that was highly unlikely.

“I know you’re not sleep it’s just me,” 

They peeled open their eyes, sitting up. 

“I come bearing gifts,” I announced kneeling down next to the bag. 

I placed the bag on the floor carefully so I wouldn’t hurt Salem.

Sapphire squealed when she saw her. 

“You got Salem? I missed her!” 

“Well actually, I just brought clothes,” I dumped them on the bed “Aaliyah come here?” I asked. 

She hopped down from the bed. 

“All of Sapphire’s clothes are over there but I know we’re like the same size so pick what you want,” I told her. 

She took at least half of what I had but I wasn’t complaining because at least she wasn’t going behind my back and taking them. 

“Okay but like am I really allowed to hate my father like cause,” I tried to move only to immediately lose balance “Shit- but like can I even hate my dad if I do the same shit he does, like maybe, maybe it’s like some contractual blood magic shit and I’m just destined to be a shitty person,” I was sending videos to some group chat I didn’t know who was in it because I couldn’t really read the name I just know Harry was the only one responding. 

“I get it being like your parents is scary but you’re not and I won’t let you be like that, now get some sleep please,” Harry reassured. 

“NO! It’s like,” I struggled to get the sentence out “It’s like crazy because before I existed it like someone fucking planted this, like it- it’s a-,” I hit my forehead on each word as if I could physically knock them out. “It’s a seed in my brain and it’s only going to grow as I get older and I’m just gonna be an asshole, it’s fucking happening already and I-“ Carmen came into the living room I flipped the camera onto her “Say hi!” I slurred. 

“Y/N you okay?” She said making her way over to me. I stopped the video and sent it. 

“I’m fine how are you?” 

“I thought you went to bed,” she ignored my question. 

“I did. Then I couldn’t sleep,” I leaned back onto the couch. She crouched down next to me feeling my forehead.

“You have a fever,” She claimed.

“No I don’t! Why does everyone keep saying that?” I whined. 

“Are you high?” She moved closer to my face. 

“No I’m not fucking high,” 

“You’re slurring your words,” She pointed out moving into the kitchen “What’d you take?” 

“What?”

“I said what’d you take,” She going into one of the cabinets “I know you’re not drunk because you don’t smell like alcohol and you don't smell like weed, so I’ll ask you again,” 

“I didn’t take anything, I'm not high!” I explained. 

“It was Benadryl wasn’t it?” She came back into the living room and handed me a glass of water. “You know that stuff kills people,” 

“Yeah I think I of all people would know that,” Truth is I wasn’t lying. I didn’t take anything. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, maybe sleep deprivation.

“True,” She sat down on the floor next to me “You know how I said I can tell when it’s getting bad,” I nodded. “Well like I was saying before it’s getting bad for you-”

“No it’s not,” I interrupted “I’m literally the happiest I’ve ever been today,” 

“I was getting there,” She held her hands up in an attempt to placate me “That’s just the calm before the storm it’s mania,”

“I’m not manic! Stop trying to psychoanalyze me I’m perfectly fine,” 

I must've woken Salem up because I could hear her footsteps as she paddled over to me and sat in my lap. It’s like she knew when I was getting angry. 

“That’s the thing you’re not fine, just let me know when you’re ready to admit that,” She pushed off the ground using her hands “Try to get some sleep please and thank you,” 

I think it was the weight and warmth of Salem on my chest that finally lulled me to sleep like a weighted blanket. 

“Sapphire!” I yelled to catch her attention “Stop running you’re gonna hurt yourself,” 

She slowed down before making her way back to Aaliyah and the other kids at this birthday party. 

I sat back down on the table’s bench before getting back on my phone. I saw this post one time about how people use technology to distract themselves so they can't have the chance to have a depressive thought. Then I decided to prove that theory wrong so I put my phone up and I thought. 

And boy did I have a lot to think about. The biggest thing on my mind was why. Why did Tony Stark come after me? Why did the guy with the gun come after me? Why did my mom feel the need to make an “Incase I die” video? Why did she have connections to people like Kingpin? Why did she even know Wade? Wasn’t he some science experiment gone wrong? 

Then that got me thinking what if I was a science experiment gone. What if that’s why Tony Stark wanted to experiment on me. What if that was under the orders of someone from SHIELD, because how would he have known about me otherwise. 

Welp, there was only one way to find out. 

“Okay I’m in,” I settled. “What do I have to do?”

“Uh are you sure?” Tony asked.

“Positive,” I affirmed. 

“Well first we would probably do some blood tests and an MRI. Then see where that takes us.” He looked back over at me “Can you do this tomorrow?” 

“Yeah tomorrow works for me,” 

“Great,” He clapped his hands together “I’ll send Happy to pick you up from school,” 

“No it’s fine I can get here myself.” 

“It’s a different location,” He revealed. 

“Okay tell me where it is and I’ll make it there myself,”

“I can’t not even I know where it is,” 

“Fine, I’ll do this, but only if I can bring a friend,” I requested “You know for safety reasons?”

“Safety reasons? Do you not trust me?”

“Not really…” 

“Wow okay, you can bring this friend,” 

“Who doesn’t trust Iron man?'' I heard him mutter to himself as I made my way out of the building. 

I always thought the apocalypse would come in colors. The sky flashing from red to pink to purple to orange. Then there would be a loud sound almost like the Big Bang. Then nothing. I had a vivid imagination when I was younger. 

I guess I was wrong though because it was already here and the sky was as blue as ever.  And the air was as humid as ever in this crusty ass building. 

“I told you already I’m not a soldier you’re gonna have to pay me for this,” I spoke into the comms.

“Shh,” Tony hushed “Just wait for your target.”

Life hadn’t been all that bad. Just for the past two weeks I’d been training with Peter since at the end of the week that I agreed to testing, Spiderman joined in the Avengers officially. Which, good for him I guess. 

Trying to get my brain back on track now. I’d been training with Peter and now we’re going on our first mission. I was not loyal to Tony at all. Nor would I ever be. I’m not calling him Mr. Stark like Peter does either, he doesn’t deserve it. I was trying to look up my mom with the information Felicia gave me and I saw she was listed as level orange in a shield file. Whatever that means.

One thing it meant was I couldn’t back out just yet now.

This would be one deep inside job.

“Peter?” I whispered into the comms

“Hello?” He asked.

“Where are you?” 

“I’m guarding the entrance like I was told too?” He asked more than stated. 

“Well, come here,” 

“But Mr. Stark said-“ 

“I don’t care what Mr. Stark said come here,” I interjected without even thinking about the fact he could’ve been listening in somehow. 

“Yes?” He questioned once he was standing in front of me.

“Take my role for a second,” I pulled my gun out the holster “You know how to use a gun right?”

I thought back to the last time we’d actually fought as our alter egos. Except then he didn’t know it was me and he still doesn’t. He definitely didn’t know how to use a gun then let’s just hope he did now. 

“You know what, I don’t have time just take it,” I placed the gun in his palm before speeding off.

“Wait!” He called out “Aren’t you defenseless now?” 

“I’ll be fine baby boy,” I called back.

I made my way into the farthest depths of the warehouse. I’d been here once before. That was before I knew Felicia and we’d gotten into a scuffle about a diamond. Let’s just say I was young and I went home bruised that day. 

Apparently I was under the impression she had it and she was under the impression I had it this whole time. So maybe. Just maybe it was still there. It was somewhere in the back last time I checked.

 There it was. I grabbed it and recoiled when I heard a voice accompanied by the sharp zap in my body. 

“Looking for something?” They asked. I turned around only to be faced with a large burly almost Frankenstein looking man. 

“Oh yeah I was looking for you actually, you just made my job a lot easier,” 

As if my words were a signal for him. They probably were. He lunged forward towards me with his left side fully open. I evaded and left a sharp kick to his side. 

He wailed out in pain before slinging me backward as I tried to reach for the diamond off the floor. 

I skidded across the floor before hopping back to my feet. 

“I found the guy,” I spoke into the comms.

“Who are you talking to?” The target teased. 

“Your mom,” I taunted. 

“Hey!” He cried. 

“Where are you?” I heard Peter ask I didn’t get a chance to answer because the man swung at me again. 

That hit made contact with my shoulder. He continued to swing and I continued to walk backwards. I realized almost too late that I was backing myself into a corner.

I’m not sure where or who I heard this from maybe Wade but sometimes the only point your opponent has his guard down is mid punch.

 I scrambled for my knife, fingers dancing around the holster on my waist as my feet continued to slide along the pavement underneath me. Just as the man swung at me again I sent my knife towards his torso. Except it didn’t make contact. And I had never missed before, especially not from this close. 

I was confused until I realized it was because I heard that all familiar wet sticky sound of Spider-Man’s web shooters except this time I was glad to hear it. 

Peter webbed the man's arms and mouth all while my fingers went lax in shock for only a moment but one moment too long. 

The knife clattered to the ground making a noise that drew Peter’s attention. I tried to swipe it away with my foot but Peter had already grabbed it. 

“This is Thorns knife,” He spoke calmly and I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me or if it was for himself.

“And how would you have Thorns knife unless you were,” I saw his eyes light up as he made the connection. “Wait, you’re Thorn, holy shit, I’m so stupid how’d I not notice before,”

“Peter seriously you can’t tell anyone,” 

He looked up as if he were just noticing I was still there. 

“Don’t worry I won’t be saying anything at all,” 

Yeah, this was definitely the apocalypse because I don’t know if it was just me but life was ending.

Another silent ride and I realized exactly what he’d meant when he said he wouldn’t say anything. He was giving me the silent treatment. 

Which was odd because usually he talks the most on these rides. After we got over the initial awkwardness of the whole fire and Vulture thing we fell back into the way of things. Well if he was going to play this game I would too because what’s that saying? It takes two to tango. 

Taglist: 

@tomdiddlyumptious​

[yezielmoore]

Prompt #23: Shuffle

Vesper Bay is a hive of activity, as per usual, one X’lial ignores.

She reaches the Walking Sands’ entrance and let’s herself in, resisting the urge to knock like some stranger, and waves half-heartedly to the lalafel receptionist, who returns the salute with at least ten times more enthusiasm. Right. As she reaches the branch in the hallways, her ears flicker in the direction of the Common Room slash Cafeteria, easily picking up the roar of many conversations going on at once, the sound barely dulled by the barrier of wood.

Thankfully the corridors aren’t overtly crowded or her fur would be standing on end even more than it already is. X’lial is self-aware enough to know that she’s gone more than a little feral in the two, almost three, years she roamed the countryside and little backwater towns of the mainland, from the Black Shroud to Thanalan. Finally venturing into Ul’dah had been excruciating. At least in Vesper Bay there’re many nooks and crannies one can use to hide in.

X’lial nods in the general direction of the guard stationed outside the Solar, receiving a nod and a smile in return, so either he recognizes her or Minfilia let him know she is expected. Probably the latter, to be honest.

She shuffles nervously in front of the door and compulsively checks and rechecks that her gloves have no holes in them (they don’t). She steels herself, takes a deep breath to calm her nerves and, finally, she pushes the door open.

The silence inside the Solar is most welcome and X’lial finds herself relaxing almost against her will. Her ears flicker back and forth, but she hears nothing save for her own steps and the sound of Minfilia’s writing and breathing. Tension she wasn’t aware she had accumulated bleeds off her frame and her tail resumes a lazier swaying.

Having heard the door, Minfilia puts the pen down and goes around the desk, where she waits, hands clasped in front of herself.

“X’lial! Full glad I am to see you!” Her smile is warm and so genuinely happy to see her that X’lial has to resist the urge to look behind herself for the true recipient of such sentiments.

She nods instead. “Antecedent.”

“It’s Minfilia,” she corrects, not for the first time and probably not for the last.

She’s a weird one, Minfilia, and the same can be said of their relationship, in X’lial’s humble and inexperienced opinion. Hard to be anything but weird when that inconvenient Echo thing decided it’d be nice and dandy to throw them into each other’s head at first contact. X’lial knows a great deal about Minfilia now, more than anyone barring her closest friends and dead mentor. The opposite is also true and even know, months later, X’lial is still grasping with her feelings over the violation of having her life on display, if only to one person.

Minfilia had been greatly understanding when X’lial bolted out of the door before the meeting concluded and didn’t reappear for a week, and when she made only sporadic reports to her elbow for the remainder of that first month. But there’s only so much awkwardness X’lial could tolerate, so it was almost inevitable she ended gravitating towards this woman she knows so much about and yet doesn’t know at all.

They are friends, she thinks as she follows her leader to one of the benches positioned against the stone walls, where they sit side by side. It’s hard to judge such things on nonexistent experience.

In some weird stroke of fate, all the girls in her tribe had either been much older or much younger, the only one her age had been her twin brother. He had been… is her best friend. Her only friend. And after Dalamud… well, it’s quite hard to make friends when half your words die in your mouth and the rest turn incomprehensible if you speak them out loud, made harder by never staying in one place for long.

It’s nice, if strange, to add another name to the list.

Minfilia fidgets with her hands for a moment, expression pensive, before apparently reaching some conclusion.

“I didn’t call you here to discuss business…” she pauses for a second, reconsiders. “Not Scion business at any rate.”

The silence stretches again and X’lial can practically see the frustration grow ever higher in the sky-blue eyes of her friend. Tentatively, she rests a hand on Minfilia’s closed fists, pats her once and tries to smile reassuringly. She isn’t sure how well it comes out, but at least some tension bleeds off Minfilia’s shoulders and the smile returns to her fair features.

“It’s… a delicate topic and I– I don’t know how to say it.” She exhales. “I’m afraid you’ll be mad at me.”

There’s only two topics that X’lial considers off limits and Minfilia had assured her, as soon as she came back from her Echo related freak out, that she has all the freedom she wants to keep up with her search for X’liam. That leaves off her other… difficulties.

She can’t help the way her hackles rise up and her ears fall flat against her skull. This is most definitely not a topic she’s fond of. Minfilia obviously sees this if her wry smile is any indication.

“I don’t want to overstep my bounds, but I like to think we’re friends… and I have a suggestion that may help, if… if help is something you wish for.”

X’lial gives the other woman an unamused look. “Fix.”

“No! It’s not a fix! You’re not a broken vase we can glue together again and call it good, I know that. But–” Minfilia looks away, unshed tears shine in her eyes. “I know how hard it can get,” she says, referencing that blasted echo vision. “Obviously nothing like what it really is like, but I think I got the gist of it and…” Minfilia locks eyes with her, determination and compassion burning in their depths. “I don’t want to fix you, because there’s nothing to fix, but I’d like to help, to make it easier to live with. If that’s something you want.”

X’lial holds her gaze for a moment before looking away. It’s not that she hadn’t thought about it, how could she not? When she spent almost an entire year bedridden, waiting for broken and shattered bones to mend, for wounds to close, burns to heal and nerves to stop firing up in pain with every breath every single second of the day. And then she waited longer, relearning how to use a body that was alike that of a newborn in strength as well as familiarity. In the end, with time and patience, her body got better and stronger, leaving behind the scars as testament to what had happened.

But not everything healed. Her speech didn’t return. Not whole. She’s lucky to have improved this much, that she knows from the accounts of those that took care of her catatonic self those first months. She had been like a broken Orchestrion Scroll, repeating back words listlessly, forgetting things as soon as they disappeared from sight, getting lost inside the wreck of her head for days on end. Or so she was told.

X’lial doesn’t really remember those days beyond a distant fog of exhaustion with the occasional flash of frustration and deep-seated terror she can only assume were moments when she was lucid but trapped in the cage her body had become.

She prefers to not dwell on that time.  

And she wants. Of course she wants to recover her voice but. There’s always a ‘but’.

The encampment that hosted her while she recovered didn’t have the means to keep her longer than they did, or the expertise to help her. She didn’t have anything, not money nor resources to pay for a direct trip to the Conjurer’s Guild, much less pay them for any kind of treatment, if such a thing existed. All she had were borrowed clothes, a pair of worn cesti and an abyss in place of her heart that she had filled with rage, hatred and unending determination to find her missing family.

With an objective in mind, she had buried that kernel of hope and left, just another ‘adventurer’ on the road to fame or whatever.

But hope was a weed more persistent than any other it seems.

“Possible?” X’lial asks, quietly, still not looking at Minfilia.

“I won’t lie, I don’t know if it’s possible, but the Conjurer’s Guild specialize in the healing arts, if anyone knows of a treatment, or a kind of therapy for the mind, it’d be them.”

X’lial nods absently and looks at Minfilia in the eye. “Money?” Because nobody did anything for free, that’s just the way the world worked. Money, goods or ability, you always had to pay with something for services rendered. She doesn’t think of those do-gooders that scrapped a ruin of a miqo’te from the aftermath of Dalamud for no other reason than they could, doesn’t think of how they helped, how they provided all she needed and more. Doesn’t think of kindness and support. Doesn’t think how she left without even a goodbye.

“X’lial,” Minfilia calls and her attention returns to the present, “you’re one of us now. I know it hasn’t been that long, so it may sound unbelievable, but you are part of the Scions and we take care of our own,” she says with conviction burning in her eyes. “What we lack in gold we have in connections. It’s no trouble to make contact with the Conjurer’s Guild, to investigate this matter and move forwards if that’s your desire.”

For the first time Minfilia breaks character and impulsively grabs one of X’lial’s hands, which makes the miqo’te stiffen, tail lashing about in the air with agitation. Noticing this, Minfilia lets go but doesn’t retreat.

“It’s not a requirement nor an order. You may seek their aid or not, but you can and I need you to know that,” she says, full of quiet stubbornness, before quietly adding, “just… keep it mind, yes?”

Almost mechanically, X’lial nods. Mind whirling with thoughts and chest tight with too many feelings. “T-t-thank…” she presses her lips together, cutting off any other words that may want to escape.

Minfili smile is like the first rays of dawn, gentle and bright.

[superhusbands4ever]

Okay but what abt Tony going in to Peter’s school for career day? Like where the parents talk abt their jobs?

lmaooo this was supposed to be a quick prompt but then it turned into a full-fledged little fic and now it is 2 AM, so I will finish the rest of these prompts tomorrow (later today technically I guess)

“Hey, May?”

May looked up from spreading butter on her toast.

“Yeah Pete?”

“I was just wondering,” Peter started, fiddling with the fork in his hand, “next week is career day at school… they’re having a bunch of kids parents come in to talk about what they do, you know, try and give the students some idea where they might want to work after high school. Do you… do you think you could do it? They asked our class to bring our parents, so….”

May sighed as she sat down her knife. Peter dropped his eyes back to his eggs, disappointment burning in his stomach as he already knew what May was going to say.

“Peter, I… I wish I could,” May said softly, “I really do, but I can’t afford to take off work right now. Money has been a little tight lately, you know? I can’t afford to lose more shifts than absolutely necessary, you know?”

“Yeah,” Peter said, gesturing with his fork and trying to appear nonchalant, “yeah, I get it. Work is more important.”

“Peter, that’s not what I–”

“No, no,” Peter rushed to reassure her, guilt burning through him at the pained look in her eyes, “I didn’t– I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean, you know, money is important for… for living, so going to work is important. Besides, it’s not like everyone’s parents are going to be able to show up for the same reason, right? It’s alright, May.”

“I’m sorry, Pete,” May said quietly, reaching over to place a comforting hand on Peter’s arm. “I know its hard for you when these kind of things happen. You know if I could, I would.”

“Nah, it’s fine, it’s alright,” Peter said, staring at her hand on his arm. He tried to ignore the burning in his eyes, not really succeeding. It always sucked when he wasn’t able to participate in the parent-child functions the school put on, especially since Ben died, but he knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault. He knew May would be there for him if she could, but he also understood why she couldn’t.

He cleared his throat and glanced at the clock on the wall. Shoving the last of his eggs in his mouth, he stood and grabbed his backpack from the back of his chair.

“I should head out, I’m gonna be late,” he said, proud at how steady his voice sounded.

“Okay,” May smiled, pushing her glasses up her nose as she watched him go, “have a good day! I love you.”

“I love you, too,” he shouted over his shoulder as he rushed out the door.

May rubbed her hand over her eyes as she sat back in her chair. She knew it was hard for Peter when he had to be alone on days when parents were asked to visit classes, ever since he was a little kid. Her and Ben always tried to work it out so at least one of them was available to go with him, but they couldn’t always make it. She hated the thought of Peter sitting alone in class while all the other kids got to show off their parents and what they do, but they really just couldn’t afford to lose any money at the moment.

Looking at the clock and grimacing at the time, she got up to gather her stuff for work. She grabbed her purse off the counter, not realizing it was upside down, and cursing when everything fell out of it. She crouched down to gather all her stuff when he saw her phone light up with a text.

Tony StarkHey May, just making sure we’re still on for Peter coming to the tower after school today. Let me know if I need to pick him up.

She stared at the name on her screen, an idea popping into her head. It was probably a long-shot, Tony was a busy man, but it was worth a try at least.

Before she could change her mind, she unlocked her phone and pressed the call button. She held it up to her ear and waited as it rang.

“Hey, Tony? Yeah, it’s me. Wha– no, no, Peter’s fine. Yeah, he can go to the tower, that’s fine. Listen, I uhh… I kinda need to ask you a favor, if you’re willing. For Peter.”

{read more below}

~

Peter sighed and tried to bury his face further into his arms on his desk as he listened to Brooke’s dad go on and on about being a firefighter in New York. Out of all the kids in his homeroom, he was one of only two kids whose parents/guardian weren’t able to come in. And the only reason the other girl’s parents couldn’t come in was because her dad was in the Army and currently deployed overseas, and her mom was a stay at home mom with twin three-year-old boys. So, really, the only parent-less one in the class was him.

Which, really, he was used to by now. This wasn’t the first time May, or even Ben when he was alive, hadn’t been able to come in for whatever event the school was doing. Still, it wasn’t easy being reminded of the fact that his home life was different from everyone else’s. Especially when all the parent/guardians were told to sit at the desks with their kids, and he was sitting all alone in the back of the room.

He was jolted out of his melancholy thoughts when everyone started clapping around him. He looked up and noticed that Brooke’s dad had finished his presentation, so he clapped politely along as they waited for the next person to set up.

“Alright,” Peter’s teacher sad from the front of the room, “so next we’re going to have Flash’s parents come up and talk about being lawyers–”

She was interrupted by a knock at the door. Everyone stopped to look at the door as Ms. Abernathy went to open it. She froze at the door, a shocked look on her face, but Peter couldn’t see who was standing outside from his seat.

“Hey, sorry I’m late,” Peter’s enhanced senses picked up the familiar voice from outside the door. “I had a meeting this morning and then I got lost looking for the class… anyway, I’m here for Peter? Peter Parker?”

He frowned at hearing his name, still unsure what exactly was going on. He watched as his teacher continued to stand and stare out the door for a minute before seemingly remembering herself and taking a step back.

“Of course! If you could just go sit next to him until your turn, he’s in the back on the right side.”

The man stepped through the door and Peter gaped with the rest of the class as Tony Stark, in his signature suit and goatee, sporting a pair of red sunglasses and carrying a suitcase walked through the door.

Tony nodded at the shocked faces of Flash and Flash’s parents at the front as he walked to the back of the class, put his suitcase on the desk, and calmly sat next to Peter, pulling out his phone to silence it before looking up to wait for Flash’s parents to begin speaking.

Everyone sat in awkward, stunned silence for another minute before Ms. Abernathy cleared her throat.

“Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, you can go ahead and start whenever you’re ready.”

Flash’s parents sort of jolted out of their stupor before haltingly launching into their presentation, Flash standing to the side controlling the slides on the power point.

Peter turned to Tony.

“Mr. Stark, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here for career day, Pete, what does it look like I’m doing,” Tony said, reaching up to take his sunglasses off and tuck them into his jacket pocket, “and what did I tell you about that ‘Mr. Stark’ crap?”

“How did you even find out about this?” Peter asked, ignoring the Tony’s last comment.

“Your aunt mentioned you were bummed she couldn’t come, so I said I’d go instead.”

Peter felt a sudden rush of affection for both his aunt and his mentor.

“Mr– Tony, you really didn’t have to–”

“Well I did, and now I’m here, so don’t worry about it,” Tony said, crossing his legs and leaning back to rest his arm on the back of Peter’s chair. “Now, pay attention. This is important for future career decision making.”

Peter rolled his eyes at Tony’s words and matching smirk, but sat back and paid attention to the Thomson’s presentation anyway. Or, at least, he tried to. It was a little hard to pay attention when half the class and their parents kept glancing back to stare at both him and Tony, but Tony seemed to able to ignore them, so Peter just tried to do the same. He even tried to ignore the looks Flash and his parents would throw to their corner of the room every now and again.

Peter was once again jolted from his thoughts when everyone started to clap politely, Flash’s parents presentation over. As they were cleaning up, Ms. Abernathy stepped forward again.

“Alright, who would like to go ne–”

“We will!” Tony said, throwing his hand up like a – well – high school kid. Peter felt his face burn as his whole class seemed to turn as one to stare back at them.

“Alright!” Ms. Abernathy said, a little overly-cheerfully, “up next is Peter and Mr. Stark!”

“Call me Tony, please,” Tony said with a smile as he walked to the front of the class, suitcase in hand, Peter following meekly behind.

When Tony got to the front, he set down his suitcase and flipped it open, pulling out what Peter recognized as the latest versions of the Stark Phone and Stark Tablet, and a watch that looked suspiciously like his gauntlet watch. Peter stood to the side, and slightly behind Tony, waiting for him to begin.

“Alright!” Tony clapped before unbuttoning his suit jacket and putting his hands in his pockets. “For those of you who don’t know, my name is Tony Stark and I am the owner of Stark Industries I run the R&D department, come up with new ideas for the Stark brand, and I am also the figurehead of and unofficial-official tech guy for the Avengers Initiative. Oh, and sometimes I’m the superhero known as Iron Man.”

Peter’s class let out a few laughs at the joke and all gave a quick applause. Tony smiled and gave them a little bow.

“Thank you, thank you…. Now, at Stark Industries we employ over 200,000 people in the New York/tri-state area alone, and hundreds of thousands more at various locations throughout the US and all over the world. Working for Stark Industries could mean working in places like Dubai, Argentina, Japan, or even Canada, if you want to get really exotic.”

A few more kids let out a laugh and the tension of the room started to go down. Peter stared at Tony in awe of how easy it was for him to take complete control of the room like he did, and without ever once looking uneasy about it.

“Of course, as I’m sure you were all wondering, it is possible to come and work for the Avengers Initiative - not necessarily as a superhero, mind you - but because it is a government associated agency, there are governmental jobs for working within the Initiative. Now, working with Stark Industries may actually be a safer, quicker, and easier bet than trying to work in the Avengers Initiative. This is purely because with the Initiative you would have to start out at a regular, boring old government level - FBI, DOD, CIA - job, and you’d have to work your way through the ranks and be placed into working with the Initiative. Working for the Avengers is not just a job you can apply for, it’s one you have to work hard and be specifically picked for based on your experience, skill-set, knowledge, and training. At Stark Industries, however, you can always…”

Peter tuned out Tony’s speech as he went on to talk about the specifics of working for Stark Industries, the different kind of departments within, what qualifications were needed to be considered for what job in whatever department, average salary, and a bunch of other stuff that Peter either already knew or didn’t really need to worry about.

Peter was looking around the room and trying hard not to enjoy the shocked jealousy that was making its way across Flash’s face when the sound of his own name brought him back to the present.

“…Mr. Parker there, though, is my own personal intern/assistant, so his job is very different from what you guys would be doing if you were to get an internship at SI. Regular interns would be placed within a specific department studying and working under a specific group of people on one or two projects over the course of the school year. Peter works with me, specifically - he helps me work on new blueprints for different tech for our StarkTech line, he works with me to come up with new ideas and prototypes, and occasionally gets to help me take a peek at the Iron Man armor and try to figure out ways to improve or add to it.”

Peter tried not to flush under the weight of everyone’s gazes as the whole room, including the parents and Ms. Abernathy, seemed to turn as one to stare at him in awe.

“Of course, he still does the regular, BS intern stuff, like get me coffee and doughnuts when I need it,” Tony added with a smirk in Peter’s direction.

The class laughed again as Tony reached back to put a hand on Peter’s shoulder blade and guide him to stand next to Tony beside the suitcase and the gadgets pulled from inside.

“So just really quick, I’ll show you a couple projects that both SI and the Initiative are working on right now. This, of course, is only one small example of the types of things we create at SI and of what I create for the Initiative. Peter here is going to show you some of the features on the newest version of the Stark Phone, which will be available for purchase in a couple months. Peter, could you grab the phone and pull up the accessibility features… yeah, the updated text reader - this particular function was Peter’s idea actually….”

Peter held up the phone and the tablet and ran through the newest and improved features as Tony explained what they were and how they were different from previous versions of the tech. Before Peter knew it, Tony was finished with the StarkTech and was reaching down to pick up the watch from the table.

“Now, the part I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for,” Tony smiled as he held up the watch, “my latest work for the Avenger Initiative. Don’t worry, anything weaponizable about it is deactivated, so while it looks cool, this thing is basically useless in a fight right now unless you punch really hard.”

He turned to Peter and held out the watch. “Peter, if you will.”

Peter looked up at Tony with wide eyes, glancing down at the watch an lifting his eyebrows to ask Tony if he was sure that’s what he wanted.

Tony rolled his eyes and reached down to grab Peter’s wrist, lifting it to fit the watch on as he kept talking to the class.

“Now, this particular version of the watch is actually my own personalized version, so no one else in the Initiative has a watch that does what this one does except for the Avenger Colonel James Rhodes, otherwise known as War Machine. You’ll see why here in just a second.”

Once the watch was on Peter’s wrist, Tony took a step back and gestured towards Peter.

“Pete, if you would be so kind as to demonstrate.”

Peter stared at Tony for a moment before he lifted his other hand to the face of the watch, tapped in the correct sequence, and pulled the nanotech down over his hand as it took the form of a replica Iron Man glove around his hand. The class gasped as Peter held the hand up and moved his fingers around - the whirring of the mechanized hand could be heard throughout the room.

“The watch is designed to offer protection to whoever is wearing it so that they are never unarmed if they are ever caught unawares. This particular watch has a miniature, less powerful form of the Iron Man glove stored inside of it using nanotech that forms to the shape of the hand of whoever is wearing it. It usually is weaponized similarly to my Iron Man glove but don’t worry - all weapon capabilities are turned off, so no one is going to accidentally get shot.”

The class gave a nervous chuckle.

“This watch has the ability to shoot less powerful versions of the power blasts that usually come from the repulsors on my Iron Man suit, which is why it is a little different from the standard issue watch we use at the compound. Usually standard issue has a built-in laser, taser capabilities, is waterproof, fireproof, shock absorbent - practically indestructible, it’s connected with the AI installed upstate, and is used as a communicator between agents who work in the Avengers Compound. It also has a holographic interface that projects from the screen - Peter?”

Tony gestured at Peter, and Peter pressed a button to retract the glove and pressed another to start up the projection, showing the date, time, and what the weather was like outside. He pressed another button so the screen changed to show he had a new text message from Bruce Banner, a voicemail from Steve, and three new emails from Rhodey and Pepper. The glass oohed and ahhed as Peter showed off the watch using the holographic interface projected above it.

“And that’s about it!” Tony said as Peter turned off the watch, took it off, and put it back in Tony’s briefcase with the phone and the tablet. “Any questions?”

The room sat in stunned silence for a moment before everyone leapt to their feet in applause. Peter tried not to blush as he smiled out at the audience and tried to look like he wasn’t completely shocked by how the whole day had gone. Tony simply smiled and nodded, shutting his briefcase and locking it before going to stand next to Peter.

Alright, well if no one has any questions for these two how about we go ahead and thank Mr. Stark for taking the time to come down here and talk to us all,” Ms. Abernathy said once the claps had died down. “Let’s give the other parents another round of applause and then we can go ahead and break for lunch!”

Everyone gave another, less enthusiastic round of applause for the rest of the parents before standing up to leave for lunch. Peter turned to Tony, a huge smile on his face as he stepped forward to hug the man before he could think anything of it. His smile grew impossibly bigger when he felt Tony raise his arms to wrap around him in return.

“Thank you so much, Tony, for coming down here. I know you must’ve been really busy and I don’t want to keep you away from your work, but-”

“Don’t worry about it, kid,” Tony said, raising a hand to ruffle Peter’s hair and he pulled out of the hug. “I told you, if you ever need anything, I’m here for you. Even if it’s just that your aunt is unavailable and you need someone to come visit your school for a couple hours.”

“Still, thank you,” Peter smiled, feeling that familiar, comforting feeling in his chest he was beginning to associate more and more with Tony, “you didn’t have to do all that.”

“I know I didn’t,” Tony said softly, “but I wanted to. For you. So. Don’t complain, you’re welcome.”

Peter laughed and Tony winked at him before glancing down at his watch, same as the one inside his briefcase.

“I should head back to SI,” he said, frowning as he read the email from Pepper, “I got another board meeting in an hour.”

“Oh,” Peter said, trying not to let his disappointment show. The man did just take half his morning off just to come help Peter, so he really couldn’t complain. He’d taken up enough of his time. Still– “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for lunch?”

“Ew, and eat high school cafeteria food!?” Tony asked incredulously before closing the email and smiling up at Peter. “Sure, why not. Lead the way.”

Peter nodded and turned to walk Tony to the cafeteria. He felt that familiar sense of comfort and safe wash over him again when Tony put his arm around Peter’s shoulders and ruffled his hair. Peter tried to ignore the stares he could feel himself getting from the rest of the school and their parents also on the way to lunch. Though, he took pride in the jealous glare Flash threw his way when he walked by him and his parents.

The day hadn’t turned out quite so bad after all.