Peter!" Aunt May shouted from the kitchen; "You're going to be late for school!"
When she got no response, she sighed and headed to Peter's room. She knocked before opening the door. But the room was empty.
Frowning, she stepped into the room seeing the bed was made, like it hadn't even been slept in and a note was on the top.
May,
Out patrolling. Heading straight to school. Promise not to be late.
Will see you later.
Peter.
May sighed as she read the note. At first, she hadn't been happy learning Peter was Spider Man. The danger he was putting himself in. He was just a kid. But after speaking at length to Peter and Tony Stark, who she learnt was training Peter, which she wasn't happy about either, she agreed to let Peter stay Spider Man. On the condition he doesn't put himself in unnecessary danger, and his school work was not affected.
He had a history test today too.
She was definitely going to be having words with Peter about this. And someone else.
Pulling out her phone, she dialled Tony's number which he had given her after learning the truth about Peter.
Tony Stark meanwhile was in his lab Avengers Tower, looking at some specs for his new Iron Man suit.
"Boss you have a May Parker calling." FRIDAY said out loud.
Tony smiled, he always liked May; "Put her on."
"Ah May a pleasure to here from you."
"Oh don't try that with me." May huffed.
There was a beat of silence on the other end of the phone as Tony froze, He frowned totally confused by the venom in her tone.
"Is something wrong?"
"Where's Peter?" May demanded.
"School?" Tony offered slowly trying to think. The last time he spoke to Peter was a few days ago when he was here at the Tower going over some changes to his suit.
"Who knows!" May shouted; "I go in his room this morning and he hasn't even slept in his bed! He left me a damn note saying that he was out patrolling and would see me later! Don't even try to deny not knowing anything about it!"
Tony set down the part he was holding and glowered. Peter had been out patrolling all night? He thought he spoke to Peter about not patrolling on school nights. Per May's insistence. He wanted to deny it, not liking May insinuating this was his fault, but that would mean Peter was in big trouble. And then May not let him be Spider Man again. Not that Tony cared or anything...but there was something about the kid that had Tony wanting to take him under his wing.
"I must apologise deeply May. It is entirely my fault. I forgot it was a school night and.."
"He has a history test today!"
"Right." Tony said having no idea; "The history test."
"When I agreed to let him continue with this whole...thing, I thought we had an agreement that his school work would not be affected!"
"Yes you are absolutely right. And I will have a word with Peter about this. It will never happen again. I promise."
"It better not."
May hung up and Tony was left standing there in shock for a moment. Damn. May was a firecracker. He really didn't want to get on her bad side. Peter was in big trouble.
"FRIDAY would you track Mr Parker's suit?" Tony grumbled slamming his tools down on the desk.
"Yes boss." There was few chirping sounds and then; "I have located Peter Parker's suit. It is currently in an abandoned warehouse in the Bronx."
"Vitals?" Tony said concerned, fearing Peter had gotten himself injured.
"Slightly elevated, indicating some minor injuries resulting from his activities."
"Activities?"
"There are 7 reported incidents of Spider Man intervening in criminal activities last night. One of which details Spider Man being possibly injured in a stand off with a gang trying to sell guns by the docks."
Tony huffed rubbing his forehead.
"Call Peter." Tony said aloud.
"Boss I am unable to complete the call. It seems Mr Parker has turned off his phone."
Tony sighed; "Show me what he's looking at." He walked over to a desk where there was a large monitor propped up at an angle. And footage appeared with a blurred edge, or what looked like a warehouse floor.
Tony tilted his head frowning.
"FRIDAY? What am I looking at?"
"Given the angle I would infer Mr Parker is hanging up side down."
Suddenly, the camera moved and Tony saw Peter's legs hanging upside down as he hung from a web from the ceiling, and he raised a book in his hands to the camera. It was a history book.
"Atleast he's studying for his test." Tony huffed.
"Mr Stark the bell for Mr Parker's school will ring in approximately 3 minutes, and he will be late for school and his history test."
"Right." Tony nodded typing in a few codes to get access to Peter's suit.
"Activate the microphone."
"How's the studying going?" Tony asked crossing his arms, and it had the desired effect.
Peter jumped hearing Tony's voice and so loud, that he dropped his history book and lost his balance. He yelped as he swung from the web, before jumping away from it and landing sideways on one of the pillars. Peter looked around startled.
"Mr Stark?" Peter said confused wondering where he was; "Where are you?"
"Do you know your Aunt just called me to inform me you were out patrolling all night?"
Peter paused and realised; "Are you inside my suit?"
"Yes, now did you hear what I said. Apparently you have a history test this morning and you're about to be late for school."
Peter gasped in realisation; "Oh jeez. I lost track of time." Peter quickly jumped down to pick up his history book and used his wrist webs to pull his backpack down to him.
"I gotta go Mr Stark." Peter tried to hang up not wanting to get into a big conversation. But nothing happened.
"Oh no you don't." Tony said; "I'm controlling your suit right now so you can't hang up me."
"You hacked my suit?" Peter said outraged as he swung out of the warehouse and down the street.
"No. It's my suit. Besides, I don't think you want to get into a discussion about who hacked the suit first do you?"
"Er right sorry Mr Stark."
"Back to the point. What were you doing patrolling all night? On a school night? Especially when you have a history test! We have a deal kid." Tony said pacing.
"I know I know." Peter murmured as he landed in a crouch on top of a coach bus.
"Why weren't you studying or sleeping for that matter? Like normal kids?"
"I was. Studying that is. I couldn't sleep. But then..."
"Why couldn't you sleep?" Tony stopped pacing.
"I couldn't turn my brain off. Anyway, I heard sirens and on the police scanner it said there was a robbery in progress. I couldn't just ignore it."
"Yes you could. And you should. It's what the police are for. And we had an agreement no patrolling on school nights."
"But..."
"No buts. You owe me."
"I owe you?" Peter swung between more buildings as he neared school.
"Yes I covered for you with your Aunt so you could be the spiderling."
"Spiderman." Peter murmured.
"Yes well if you want to continue doing whatever this is. You better stick to May's wishes and don't fail that history test."
"For your information I've been studying for this history test the last month." Peter quipped; "I was just having one night to myself."
"Your idea of a night off is out patrolling and getting shot at?" Tony smirked.
"Mr Stark I gotta go." Peter said as her finally reached the school as the bell rung.
"Good luck on your history test." Tony replied; "Oh and one more thing. Stop by the tower after school. I'll have Happy pick you up."
"What why?"
"Well you still have your Stark Internship don't you? Just because you know the boss doesn't meant you don't have to put in the work. Plus we need to have a talk."
Tony hung up and Peter took off the suit, quickly changing into his normal clothes before running into the school building. He tried not to think about what Tony wanted to talk to him about. He knew it was probably about his patrolling all night. But what did Tony care? He was his mentor sure, but he wasn't his dad.
0o0o0oo000o-SPIDERMAN-0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"What's that face?" Tony looked up as Pepper walked in. He smiled innocently.
"What face?" He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms kissing her.
She smirked gently hitting his arm; "Don't try and charm me mister. So come on..." Pepper walked away; "What was the face for?"
"Seriously I don't know what face you're talking about?"
Pepper perched on a stool eyeing him; "You know the face you make when you're both amused and frustrated at the same time. So is it the new spechs? Are they not working out?"
"Mr Stark." FRIDAY suddenly said; "Mr Parker is now starting his history test."
"Yeah thanks FRIDAY." Tony said quickly cutting her off.
Pepper raised an eyebrow smirking; "Ah so it's Peter?"
Tony sighed; "That kid is going to be the death of me."
"Why?" Pepper frowned; "Is he ok?"
"He's fine. If I don't kill him first."
"What happened?"
Tony walked over and leant against the desk beside him; "I had an angry call from May this morning. Apparently the kid was out patrolling all night! FRIDAY even said he had some wounds from trying to stop some guys selling guns."
"Was he injured?"
"Only minor injuries thank god." Tony sighed; "But...I don't. I don't how to do this. I mean I told May it was my fault to cover for him. And I don't even know why."
"Maybe because you care about him." Pepper murmured softly.
"No." Tony straightened up; "I mean I don't want to see the kid get killed..."
"Hmm." Pepper murmured a knowing smirk; "And I wonder why."
Tony sent her a look; "I'm serious Pep. I don't know what to do with this kid. I mean May had me promise to keep him safe. I don't even know how I wound up being this kid's mentor. You and I both know I'm not exactly a good role model. Now I'm expected to talk to him and warn him to not do something stupid. And I'm like the king of stupid."
"You're worrying about being a hypocrite?"
Tony shrugged; "Well aren't I?"
"Let me ask you this. Are you the same person you were before you became Iron Man?"
Tony looked at her; "No."
"You've changed Tony. Anyone can see that. Just look at us. Getting married in a few days. By the way you have to invite Peter."
"What? Why?"
"Because he's your protégé and friend."
"He's not..." Pepper raised an eyebrow in challenge and Tony stopped; "He may not even want to come."
Pepper chuckled; "He'll do anything to hang out with you. You have no idea how much Peter looks up to you."
"Isn't that the problem? He should be looking at anyone else but me. I'm not a good guy."
"Tony! Don't say that." Pepper stood up and cupped his face; "You're the smartest man I've ever met, you care about your friends above all else, and you're Iron Man for god's sake. You're a hero. And I love you." Pepper leaned into kiss him, resting her forehead against his.
"What am I supposed to say to him?" Tony said wrapping his arms around her, relishing in her embrace.
"The truth. You don't want to see him get hurt. And he shouldn't be in such a hurry to grow up. He should enjoy being a kid for a while."
"Oh that's good." Tony said smirking; "Hey I got an idea. Maybe you could do it for me." He leant in to kiss her and she pulled away.
"Oh no no no. Nice try. But no." She patted his arm and paced away; "You're his mentor not me."
"But I love you and you're better at words than me."
"Hmmm no. I've got meetings to go to. And you have a teenager to discipline." Pepper started towards the door.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"Maybe. I'll see you later. Love you."
"Love you too." Tony said smiling after her. And god he really did love her. He was everything to him. His whole world. He couldn't wait to marry her and spend the rest of his life with her.
But first...like Pepper said. He had a teenager to discipline.