a/n: started out as a tropey wrong-number fic and turned into homecoming texting au. figures

SI

Unknown Number: hgey bed lmme kniw whetn ydhu chcke your phone pleswa

Unknown Number: not drink jist bleleding

Unknown Number: i'n okay!👍👍🤡

Unknown Number: diffnt mean ti send ghe clown emiji

Unknown Number: dshit iggsot to go

SI: Who's this?

SI: How'd you get this number?

Unknown Number: huh???;

Unknown Number: oh yorue noy ned

Unknown Number: are you is nabmed. si????

SI: I'm going to track your number if you don't tell me who is texting.

Unknown Number: cannnt let you do that dude sorrey

SI: Can you spell?

Unknown Number: mean? yroue mean

Unknown Number: am literallt bleeding out rigjt now and yorue makdijg fun of my soelling

Unknown Number: classic nrw yorker, gotta respect it

SI: Bleeding out?

SI: Call a hospital, fun guy. Lose this number.

Unknown Number: lmao it's cool dude this happens all thr time

Unknown Number: you know SI kinddsa reminds mg of tony dtaark

Unknown Number: stayk inffuadries

Unknown Number: oohf vidsokdns gettign blurry man thasts noty fun

SI: Ironic. What do you mean this happens all the time?

SI: Hello?

SI: Did you LITERALLY just die on me?

SI: I'm tracking your number now.

SI: You better not be the scrawny kid whose picture just showed up in front of me.

SI: Peter Parker? In Forest Hills?

SI: Kid. Now's not the time to ignore your messages.

SI: You have an aunt, right? Maybelle Parker?

SI: I'm calling your aunt.

Unknown Number: who thr hell are you

Unknown Number: howware you getting my information

Unknown Number: i can kicj your ass you knonow

SI: Oh great, you're alive. Have you called 911?

Unknown Number: ans re my wuestions

Unknown Number: rigjt now

SI: Calm down. Don't get your underoos in a twist.

SI: Are you Peter Parker?

Unknown Number: no

1 missed call from SI

SI: Tell the truth before I send ambulances to the wrong apartment.

Unknown Number: dont needan ambulance

Unknown Number: toodx spcensive

SI: I'll pay for it. Let's circle back to the identity thing. What's your name?

Unknown Number: ben

SI: Benjamin?

Unknown Number: yes

SI: Last name?

SI: Kid. Answer my texts.

Unknown Number: not a kid

SI: Last name.

Unknown Number: stark

SI: Full name, Benjamin Stark?

Unknown Number: yes now leave me aalone

Unknown Number: or i'll block you

SI: You're so full of shit, kid.

SI sent a photo

Unknown Number: WHAT

Unknown Number: WHZT

Unknown Number: your e lying you are so lyrigng

SI: Not lying, Peter Parker. I'm sending an ambulance to you now.

SI: Then I'm changing my damn number.

Unknown Number: oh i am so grounded

Ned Leeds

jedi pete: dude you are not going to BELIEVE what just happened to me

nedward: why what happened

jedi pete: i think i accidentally got tony stark's number

nedward: ... very funny

jedi pete: dude why would i joke about this

jedi pete: he sent an ambulance to my apartment

nedward: WHY

jedi pete: eh no biggie

[jedi pete sent a photo]

nedward: holy crap you're in the ER?!

jedi pete: they're moving me to a room in a few minutes though so it's really not that bad!! don't freak out, it's all good

nedward: IT IS NOT ALL GOOD????

nedward: let get this straight.

nedward: You accidentally got tony STARK's number

nedward: because you were STABBED

nedward: and then he sent an AMBULANCE to you

nedward: and now you're in the HOSPITAL, TEXTING TONY STARK?

jedi pete: yeah, basically

nedward: holy shit

nedward: i wish that were me

jedi pete: dude

nedward: I mean not the stabbing but like

jedi pete: yeah i get it man

nedward: how do you know that's actually Tony Stark

nedward: what if it's a creepy 40 year old man or something

jedi pete: tony stark is 47, ned

nedward: YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

jedi pete: it's all good

jedi pete: if it was a creepy guy with nefarious intent then i could handle it

nedward: by what, going after him?? Dude you're not Iron Man or something

nedward: or SpiderMan !! That new guy? You're not him, peter you could seriously get hurt

jedi pete: you forgot the hyphen

nedward: what hyphen?

jedi pete: spider-man

jedi pete: it has a hyphen

nedward: you aren't spider-man, peter

jedi pete: yeah

nedward: stay safe man

nedward: can I get tony Stark's number

jedi pete: i don't know how allowed i am to just hand it out dude, i might get sued or something

nedward: damn

SI

SI: Hey, Peter Parker.

SI: How's hospital jello treating you?

Unknown Number: are you really tony stark?

SI: Yeah.

Unknown Number: why does your number say si

SI: Stark Industries. Supposed to conceal my identity a bit more so random high schoolers don't get my number. It's working out great, don't you think?

Unknown Number: awesome

Unknown Number: that's awesome

Unknown Number: i got an ambulance sent to my house by tony stark

SI: So you are Peter Parker. You're a bad liar, Pete.

Peter Parker: in my defense, wasn't expecting to lie to an actual stark with like... tracking tech and stuff

SI: I'm still scratching my head as to how you even got this number.

Peter Parker: i dont even remember

Peter Parker: must have fumbled with the numbers when i was trying to text my friend

SI: Ah, right. That leads me to my next question.

SI: What kind of after school club are you in that causes that much danger?

SI: It's good to read texts that are actually coherent, btw.

Peter Parker: oh

Peter Parker: not a club. it was just an accident

Peter Parker: i'm just clumsy and stuff, you know?

SI: Must be a pretty lethal case of clumsiness.

Peter Parker: i thought you were changing your number

SI: Plans changed.

Peter Parker: hospital jello tastes good btw

Peter Parker: cherry flavor

Peter Parker: yum

Peter Parker: technically i think the blue raspberry is the best one but cherry is good too

Peter Parker: also may told me that the hospital bill really was paid for by stark industries so

Peter Parker: thank you for that, seriously

Peter Parker: she is suspicious as to why stark industries is connected with how i got hurt though, so i told her i got an internship with your company

Peter Parker: i hope you aren't mad! i panicked and lied and that was bad, i'm sorry

Peter Parker: figured an internship healthcare perk thing was a better cover up than my aunt protectively suing or something just cuz i accidentally texted you lol

SI: Lordy, I leave for ten minutes and you flood my notification wall.

Peter Parker: sorry!

SI: Cherry is alright. Never been a fan of the jello, I always preferred chocolate pudding.

Peter Parker: i don't know why but this information is crucial to me

SI: Sure.

SI: That internship lie isn't a problem; it's actually pretty clever. I reviewed your grades and scholarly history and all that earlier. STEM school? Not bad, kid.

Peter Parker: wow

SI: Say something smart.

Peter Parker: oh no the pressure is on

Peter Parker: umm

Peter Parker: uhhh over this past year i recently became very good at doing simple physics in my head?

Peter Parker: i can do them really fast

Peter Parker: specially pendulum problems? linear acceleration. stuff like that i am really good at. not that they're very hard though, i mean, pendulum problems are like some of the very basics of physics

Peter Parker: not super impressive but you put me on the spot so that's on you honestly

SI: Oh?

Peter Parker: i take that back

Peter Parker: gotta go get pain meds suddenly for my awful wound in my side it was so good talking to you though goodbye mr stark!

SI: Geez.

Peter Parker: hey mr stark

Peter Parker: did you change your number yet

Peter Parker: i'm gonna save it as mr. stark

Peter Parker: how was your day today?

Peter Parker: mine was pretty good, i had a precalc pop quiz and absolutely nailed it and then they were serving seconds for lunch in the cafeteria so i got to eat two sandwiches instead of one

Peter Parker: decathlon was a little slow because our captain was out with the flu but that's totally cool, yknow? i hope she gets well soon though. i'm gonna text her that actually

mr. stark: What is this?

mr. stark: Giving me a play-by-play of your class schedule or something?

Peter Parker: lol

mr. stark: you know pre calc at fourteen?

Peter Parker: i'm fifteen

Peter Parker: turned fifteen right before the school year started

mr. stark: Yeah, I saw it. August 10th.

Peter Parker: that's the one

Peter Parker: still don't know how to feel about you knowing everything about me, mr. stark

Peter Parker: you've never even met me

Peter Parker: kinda creepy, sir

mr. stark: Shouldn't have gotten yourself stabbed then, hm?

Peter Parker: ughh

Peter Parker: but that's really no big deal! i promise

Peter Parker: it's already pretty much healed! you sound like may, she's bringing it up every two minutes. i even had to argue with her for an hour about me going to school today

mr. stark: She's right. And I doubt it's pretty much healed, kid. You're talking to someone who's been stabbed a lot in his line of work.

Peter Parker: i cant believe i'm having a casual conversation about me being stabbed with iron man

Peter Parker: again

mr. stark: I can't believe I'm having a casual conversation about being stabbed with a child.

mr. stark: Again.

Peter Parker: low blow

mr. stark: Didn't say anything untrue.

mr. stark: I'm leaving now. I've got a boring corporate meeting.

Peter Parker: text me if you're bored! haha

Peter Parker: joking

Peter Parker: sort of

Liz Allan

peter: hey! heard you were out with the flu :(

peter: that super sucks. i hope you feel better soon! we missed you at decathlon

Liz: thank you, Peter!

Liz: just lots of sniffles and sneezes so far. i missed being at decathlon though! who subbed in for captain?

peter: michelle! :)

Liz: ok cool! she's a great sub-in

Liz: make sure everyone's studying for me! 😊

peter: yeah no problem!😍

peter: weognemoji

peter: wrong emoji i meant tonsend this one! 👍

peter: my bad! haha

Liz: no problem! lol

Tony Stark

mr. stark: Peter Parker. I'm bored. Big government guy is talking about Avengers taxes.

mr. stark: Definitely should not be texting. This is probably confidential information, but it's his own fault that he's boring me to death.

mr. stark: What are you doing, homework? Resting from the big bad gash in your side, which I am still suspicious about how you got?

mr. stark: Wow, no response. Pretty sure it's a federal crime to ghost Iron Man.

Peter Parker: sorry mr. stark!! didn't mean to ghost you, i was doing homework

mr. stark: Um... It's three in the morning, kiddie.

Peter Parker: yeah

Peter Parker: oh shit im sorry did i wake you up?

mr. stark: Shit is a big-kid word. And no. What kind of homework are you working on?

Peter Parker: math

mr. stark: Why did it take you ten minutes to type 'math'?

Peter Parker: multitasking :)

Peter Parker: mk im sitting now

mr. stark: Were you finding X while walking around? Pirate style?

Peter Parker: you ask a lot of questions mr stark

mr. stark: That's because I don't believe you.

Peter Parker: why not! i'm super trustworthy

mr. stark: Ok, Ben Stark.

Peter Parker: ouch

Peter Parker: that's not fair you were a stranger asking me my name

Peter Parker: stranger danger is important, mr stark

Peter Parker: so what was your super secret meeting about

mr. stark: Nope.

Peter Parker: the avengers? that's awesome

mr. stark: Hey, actually—

mr. stark: You live in Queens. Answer something for me.

Peter Parker: hm?

mr. stark: You seen the spider hero around? The one in sweats?

Peter Parker: no

Peter Parker: why?

Peter Parker: i mean i've seen videos

Peter Parker: on youtube

Peter Parker: but that stuff is all fake i thought? he doesn't really exist, y'know?

mr. stark: That's odd.

mr. stark: I cross-referenced where he usually is seen patrolling based on social media and he's in your neighborhood the most often.

Peter Parker: weird

Peter Parker: must have missed him

Peter Parker: what's his name again?

Peter Parker: spider-man?

Peter Parker: yeah i've never seen spider-man around but he's probably above me which is why i can't see him

Peter Parker: cuz he swings and stuff

mr. stark: Why'd you get stabbed again?

Peter Parker: oh j got mugged

Peter Parker: just mugged

mr. stark: Mugged in Queens? And you said that happens often?

Peter Parker: i mean not SUPER often

mr. stark: You said you got stabbed a lot. Kind of weird for someone living in a superhero's playground.

Peter Parker: i mean it is nyc

[mr. stark sent a link: Queens Local Hero Gets Stabbed In Last Night's Robbery! (7 days ago)]

Peter Parker: twinning with spider-man! wow

Peter Parker: what a crazy coincidence

Peter Parker: mr. stark?

Peter Parker: where did you go lol

Peter Parker: that isn't me! i'm not spider-man

Peter Parker: spider-man is probably an adult, you know?

Peter Parker: definitely an adult

Peter Parker: mr. stark???

Peter Parker: you're probably busy

Peter Parker: umm

Peter Parker: night

May

May: Peter?!

May: Get home ASAP or I'm showing our surprise guest your baby photos. 😠

May: Including the ones with the Iron Man mask!

Peter: ?

—

"Hey, May," Peter unlocked the door and walked in. He dropped his backpack at the couch, distractedly frowning at his phone. "I just got your text, what surprise guest?"

He looked up and then immediately froze.

Tony Stark. THEE Tony Stark. MIT Prince of robotic and mechanical engineering, certified genius, name of Stark Industries, billionaire, well-known Avenger Iron Man. Sitting on May's thirteen year old ouch with juice stains on the corners.

Tony glanced up casually. "Oh, Mr. Parker."

Peter slowly took his earbuds out and smiled nervously. "I– What– What are– What are you doing here?"

He looked over at May, who was giving him a tight smile. He looked back over at Tony.

"Figured it's about time we met," Tony shrugged. "You've been getting my emails, right? Well, you've officially been promoted to my personal intern. Congratulations, we're in business."

Then he picked up a crafty ceramic mug May had bought at a garage sale, something wildly different from the entire vibe that a man of Tony Stark's caliber would consider holding in his own hand, and sipped from it. Peter blinked several times.

"You didn't tell me about that," May insisted, looking at Peter with partial surprise and pleasantly-hidden concern. "You didn't tell me anything. What's up with that? You're keeping secrets from me? I thought after the whole hospital incident we'd be more forward with each other."

"I just–" Peter stumbled. "I just know how much you love surprises, so I thought I would let you know... what... Anyway, what does the promotion, um... entail?"

"That's what I'm here to hash out," Tony said, holding his hand out pointedly. He looked over at May and held up the brown square thing. "This walnut date loaf is exceptional."

This is the weirdest thing that's ever happened to him. And he has superpowers. Ones that he's about 90% sure Mr. Stark knows about now.

"Let's talk in private," Tony suggested. Peter nodded quickly in agreement.

They go to his room. Tony shut the door and then narrowed his eyes at Peter, jutting his chin up. "How's the stab wound?"

"Oh," Peter blinked, somewhat in a daze. "Yeah. It's great. I mean– I mean it's healed. All good now. Thank you for paying the–"

"Nuh uh," Tony interrupted, holding his hand up. "Me first. Quick question of the rhetorical variety..."

He held up a holographic video (which... what? Awesome.) of Spider-Man in all his lackluster glory, some compilation of him stopping crime. Tony tilted his head. "That's you, right?"

"Uh... No–"

"Look at you go," Tony said with faux-surprise, watching the masked hero jump around on screen. "Wow, nice catch. Three thousand pounds, forty miles an hour? That's not easy. You got 'mad skillz.'"

"Well, it's all fake," Peter tried, helplessly watching Tony walk around his room with searching eyes. "I told you that over text, you know? It's like those videos..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You mean like those UFOs over Phoenix?" Tony grabbed a wooden rod from beside the wall and then pushed up on the vent above his ceiling. Peter barely had time to move before the suit fell down. "Oh, what have we here."

Busted.

"Who else knows?" Tony questioned. "Anybody?"

Peter shook his head.

"You know what I think is really cool?" Tony tossed a web cartridge at him. "This webbing. Tensile strength is off the charts. Who manufactured that?"

"I did," Peter admitted with a resigned sigh. He chucked it back into the closet.

Tony, annoyingly, kept meddling, studying his suit, picking it apart. "Climbing the walls? How're you doing that, adhesive gloves?"

"It's a long story, I was uh–"

"Lordy," Tony interrupted with disdain. He had the Spider-Man goggles pressed to his eyes. "Can you even see in these? BLUARGH, I'M BLIND–"

"Yes," Peter snatched it away defensively, shoving it into his laundry pile. "Yes, I can– I can see in those. It's just that, when whatever happened, happened, it's like my senses have been dialed to eleven. There's way... Way too much input. They just kinda help me focus."

"Listen, kid. You're in dire need of an upgrade. Systemic, top-to-bottom, 100-point restoration, that's why I'm here. You need something that's gonna protect you next time you take a tumble and end up in the emergency room." Tony scratched his chin. "Like... training wheels, or something. A baby monitor."

"I don't need any of those things."

Tony sniffed. "Well, we'll see. Now, why're you doing this? I gotta know. What's your MO? What gets you out of that twin bed in the morning?"

Peter sat on his bed with a huff. "Because... I've been me my whole life. I've had these powers for a nine months– I– I read books, I build computers. And yeah, I would love to play football, but I couldn't then so I shouldn't now."

"Cuz you're different," Tony reasoned.

"Right. But I can't tell anybody that, so I'm not." Peter sighed and looked down for a moment. "When you can do the things that I can, but you don't, and then the bad things happen– they happen because of you."

Tony worked his jaw around. He swallowed heavily. After a moment he nodded. "Alright, Spider-Man. Let's talk design."

—

Ned Leeds

jedi pete: HOLY SHIT

jedi pete: HOLY SHIT

jedi pete: NED

jedi pete: NED ANSWER YOUR TEXTS

nedward: what?!?! what happened?!?

jedi pete: TONY STARK SHOWED UP TO MY APARTMENT, NED

nedward: holy SHIT

jedi pete: MAY GAVE HIM WALNUT DATE LOAF.

nedward: NOT THE WALNUT DATE LOAF😟

nedward: pics or it didn't HAPPEN, PETER WHAT THE WTF

[jedi pete sent a photo]

nedward: AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

jedi pete: AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

nedward: DUDE WHAT?!? WHAT IS YOUR LIFE

jedi pete: he gave me an internship! from the September foundation?!

nedward: I thought that was only for college students bro whatttt!!!!!!

jedi pete: so did I!!???

nedward: is tony stark different after the whole thing with the avengers?? and the whole airplane terrorist attack thing in Germany

jedi pete: idk! i haven't seen him in person since 2010!

nedward: woahh

jedi pete: he didn't seem different? he had a black eye though

nedward: People said he nearly died dude that whole thing was insane

jedi pete: yeah. it was insane

nedward: do you think spider-man is an Avenger?

jedi pete: i mean, basically

nedward: he didn't help with the accords thing though

jedi pete: maybe he wasn't invited

nedward: DO YOU THINK YOU COULD MEET THE AVENGERS

nedward: NOW THAT YOU HAVE AN INTERNSHIP WITH TONY STARK?

jedi pete: i'll ask for you, dude

Tony Stark

mr. stark: Spider-Man.

Peter Parker: iron man.

mr. stark: Peter Parker.

Peter Parker: tony stark.

mr. stark: Intern.

Peter Parker: boss.

mr. stark: Kid.

Peter Parker: elder.

mr. stark: Excuse me?

Peter Parker: sorry i was joking i'm sorry

Peter Parker: hey can i say something?

mr. stark: Can you? Yeah, you just did.

Peter Parker: i just wanted to say thank you for the suit

Peter Parker: it's really really awesome

Peter Parker: but i was just wondering, why? i know i'm not the only one out there with super powers and i'm sure there are people out there way more capable than me of being an avenger

mr. stark: You aren't an Avenger.

mr. stark: Pretty sure nobody's an Avenger at the moment. Everyone and their mom knows about the accords.

Peter Parker: i mean

Peter Parker: my mom doesn't know about it probably

mr. stark: Did you just?

Peter Parker: ok, so even if i'm not an avenger, why did you make me a suit? because if anything that makes it more confusing

mr. stark: Just be grateful, kid. You got the suit because you deserve the suit. It's not as complicated as you're making it out to be.

mr. stark: I'm going to forward you over to Happy for any more 'business inquiries.' Don't stress him out, I've seen his cardio gram.

Peter Parker: yes sir

mr. stark: Little bit of superhero advice?

Peter Parker: hm?

mr. stark: Don't do anything I would do, and definitely don't do anything I wouldn't do. There's a little grey area in there and that's where you operate. Capiche?

Peter Parker: i think so?

mr. stark: Great. Talk to you later, kid.

Peter Parker: oh! bye mr. stark!

Peter Parker: suit is still awesome btw :)

Happy Hogan

Peter Parker: hi mr happy, my name is peter parker? mr stark gave me your number for 'business inquiries'

Peter Parker: if you know what i mean

Peter Parker: you know. spider-man stuff

Peter Parker: 🕷🕸👊

Peter Parker: this is the right number, right? oh god i hope so

Peter Parker: if it's the wrong number then that was a joke i'm not spider-man

Peter Parker: i mean i don't work for spider-man

Peter Parker: mr stark says it is the right number

Peter Parker: happy?

Peter Parker: you're busy probably. i'm gonna go patrol now

Peter Parker: bye!

Peter Parker: 😎

Peter Parker: ok i'm back here's my report

Peter Parker: tonight i saved a girl from getting mugged

Peter Parker: and helped an old man bring up his groceries to his apartment

Peter Parker: he gave me a dollar for it and said "thank you young man" like in the movies

Peter Parker: overall really quiet night! you haven't texted me back yet but i hope everything is good!

Peter Parker: that's all i guess, uh, night! text me back please

Peter Parker: hey it's me again! you haven't responded but i don't think you blocked me so you must be happy hogan like mr stark said

Peter Parker: do you know if i get to go on avengers missions or not? i'd be more than willing! super dedicated

Peter Parker: i quit band practice in case you or mr stark need my help! and to have more time to patrol

Peter Parker: just uh

Peter Parker: cleaning up queens! like i dooooo

Peter Parker: i get out of school at 2:45 btw

Peter Parker: pm

Peter Parker: i'm going on patrol now!

Peter Parker: hello?

Peter Parker: ok finished patrol! here's my update

Peter Parker: stopped a corner store robbery, got a free package of gummy worms

Peter Parker: returned a lost cat to this college guy, he was really worried so it was nice to help him out

Peter Parker: his name was whiskers

Peter Parker: the cat, not the college guy

Peter Parker: you probably knew that

Peter Parker: wow you must be pretty busy huh?

Peter Parker: big news! quit marching band

Peter Parker: to have more time for crime-fighting 👊

Peter Parker: i'm very committed to helping out.

Peter Parker: call me if you need spider-man on a mission!

Peter Parker: i'll respond any time

Peter Parker: text me back when you can

Peter Parker: mr happy? are you getting these messages?

Peter Parker: i just realized you might not be

Peter Parker: mr stark would tell me if your phone was broken though right?

Peter Parker: hope everything's good at avengers tower and stuff!

Peter Parker: it's peter parker btw if you haven't saved my contact

Peter Parker: i stopped a bike theft today!

Peter Parker: helloooo?

Peter Parker: mr happy?

Happy Hogan: Wow, a bike theft? Thrilling

Peter Parker: osh it

Peter Parker: hello! nice to meet you

Happy Hogan: Do you always send so many texts

Peter Parker: 😬

Tony Stark

Peter Parker: did happy tell you i stopped a bike thief?

Peter Parker: i really think i'm ready for big time stuff

Peter Parker: i don't think he likes me btw

mr. stark: Can't imagine why

mr. stark: Everyone loves a Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

Peter Parker: really?

mr. stark: Hero to bikes everywhere.

Peter Parker: thanks i think

Peter Parker: so happy never actually clarified but are there any missions coming up that spider-man can help with?

Peter Parker: because i'm not busy! like at all! i'm totally free

mr. stark: Right.

mr. stark: Let's just stick to bike thieves a little longer, K?

Liz Allan

Liz: hi Peter! when do u want to go over the chemistry project? we should start this week

peter: hey! whenever your're free is good for me!

peter: your're

peter: YOU'RE

peter: ugh, autocorrect

Liz: ok goofball

Liz: ☺️

Liz: let's meet Tuesday after school

peter: sounds great, i'll be there!

Happy Hogan

Peter Parker: daily report thing

Peter Parker: stopped a kidnapping! pretty stressful

Peter Parker: the kid got home okay though😊 the mom was very grateful

Peter Parker: i still need to learn how to swing with people though because that could have been really bad

Peter Parker: i'm working on it though! very committed to improving my

Peter Parker: what's the word for it

Peter Parker: talent??

Peter Parker: CRAFT

Peter Parker: i'm very committed to improving my craft.

Peter Parker: won't be on patrol on tues, i got a thing

Peter Parker: not a date jsut a school project

Peter Parker: not that you would have thought it was a date but i just wanted to clarify anyways

Peter Parker: ok gtg have a good night mr happy

May Parker

May: I feel like I haven't seen you in weeks! You're always cooped up in your room at night.

May: Can we please plan a family movie night soon?

Peter: ok! lots of homework this week but i'll try and make some time

May: ❤️

Ned Leeds

nedward: are you done with your chemistry project i need help on something rq

jedi pete: yeah! liz helped me with mine on Tuesday

nedward: wha

nedward: you didn't tell me that!! how did it go?

nedward: you didn't tell her did you?? peterrr you're my right hand man you gotta tell me these things

jedi pete: no dude of course i didnt tell her!

nedward: ms. warren wouldn't get off my back about you being absent again today btw

nedward: if i tell her you're sick any more times she's gonna call the ER

jedi pete: oh man sorry! things are so crazy with the stark internship now

nedward: yeah dude you quit band and now i'm practicing with the kid who eats onion sandwiches at lunch

jedi pete: at least he's nice?

nedward: speak for yourself, dude. i was late one time and he locked me out of the practice room as "penalty"

jedi pete: sorry 😭

nedward: oh also

nedward: we should go to the movies on Saturday

jedi pete: yeah i'm down!

nedward: you better be there 🔪🔪

nedward: wait is it bad to send knife emojis at you when you've literally been stabbed before??

jedi pete: dude

nedward: is it?!? sorry

jedi pete: it's fine ned, you're good man LOL

nedward: how was I supposed to know!

jedi pete: 😂

jedi pete: see you on saturday lmaoo

nedward: cya

Happy Hogan

Peter Parker: daily report! really easy night, nothing going on

Peter Parker: didnt even get hurt once, not including the time i missed a web and fell face first in the middle of the street

Peter Parker: i got a bloody nose but that's totally nothing

Peter Parker: because i'm very strong

Peter Parker: and capable

Peter Parker: text me if a mission comes up

Happy Hogan: Hey, kid?

Peter Parker: oh, yeah?

Happy Hogan: Why don't you switch these daily texts to voicemails?

Peter Parker: ok! np mr happy i can definitely do that

Peter Parker: so, anything going on?

Peter Parker: happy?

Michelle

Michelle: hey

Michelle: loser

Michelle: loser

Michelle: loser

Michelle: loser

Michelle: i'm sitting right next to liz you know

Liz Allan

Liz: hey Peter! please make it to decathlon today, there's a non optional meeting with mr Harrison about the upcoming Washington trip. 🙂

peter: ok! i'll be there

Michelle

Michelle: of course she gets a text back

Tony Stark

Peter Parker: saw you on the news!

Peter Parker: pretty cool

mr. stark: Bike hero! Great to hear from you.

mr. stark: Been meaning to get in touch.

Peter Parker: really??

mr. stark: Yeah. How's your Aunt doing?

Peter Parker: good! she's good

Peter Parker: so is there like a mission or anything??

mr. stark: No. Just wanted to make sure you haven't gotten yourself stabbed since the last time we chatted.

Peter Parker: you're not gonna let me live that one down arent you

mr. stark: Be lucky you HAVE the option to live it down, kiddie. How's the suit working out?

Peter Parker: perfectly! it's really awesome, thank you

mr. stark: Good.

Ned Leeds

nedward: thanks for leaving me hanging at the movies man

nedward: you know i hate going to the movies alone

nedward: you know the type of person to go to the movies alone?

nedward: michelle

nedward: know how i know?

nedward: cuz she was also there. and saw me. and wouldn't let up about me being a loser.

nedward: you're buying me popcorn next time

nedward: AND JUNIOR MINTS

jedi pete: dude that blows

jedi pete: i'm really sorry

jedi pete: add gummi worms to the IOU

nedward: YES. AND GUMMI WORMS

Liz Allan

Liz: Mr. Harrington's meeting today is mandatory! where r u?

Liz: Ned is saying you quit

Liz: Really? right before nationals?

peter: i'm really sorry, liz.

peter: if mr stark needs me i have to make sure that i'm here in nyc, i can't be in dc

Liz: Any changing your mind?

peter: i already talked to harrington about it :(

Liz: Sigh. okay

Michelle

Michelle: hate to make your ego any bigger than it already is, but we need you at decathlon man

peter: i told you. this internship is killing me

peter: i can't swing it anymore

peter: you guys will do fine without me

Michelle: fine

Michelle: but flash is insufferable without you here

Michelle: suddenly he thinks he's the smartest person in the room

peter: ha! whatever

peter: even if he were alone he wouldn't be the smartest person in the room

Ned Leeds

nedward: we're still doing the death star right?

nedward: i'm at your front door dude let me in

nedward: if I sit out here any longer I think your neighbor is gonna call the police lmao

nedward: may said you were at your internship so now I'm hanging in your room till you get back

nedward: dude does it really usually take this long?

Happy Hogan

Peter Parker: pick up NOW

Peter Parker: i just stopped a bank robbery on 21st street and there is very important big stuff you need to know

Peter Parker: NOT KIDDING ‼️⚠️

Tony Stark

Peter Parker: called happy about this but i don't think he listened so i wanted to let you know that i stopepd a bank robbery and these guys were using really dangerous weapons

mr stark: K

Peter Parker: likereally dangerous mr stark they cut my favorite sandwich shop in half

Peter Parker: thought you should know about it

mr stark: Thanks for letting me know

Peter Parker: right

Ned Leeds

nedward: dude WTFFF

nedward: i can't believe you're SPDIERMAN

jedi pete: *spider-man and please ned

nedward: IM SORRY I JUST CANT BELIEve it

jedi pete: i'm swinging over to your place to give you the remains of the death star

nedward: haha 'swinging'

jedi pete: yes pls leave your window open

nedward: oh shit you meant fr

nedward: this is so cool my best friend is a superhero

jedi pete: ughh

nedward: is Tony stark training you then?? like superhero camp?

jedi pete: no, ned

nedward: wait so likeyou really talk to tony stark like on a regular basis?

jedi pete: yeah pretty much

nedward: SICK

nedward: you know now that I think about it the time you got stabbed makes a whole lot more sense wtf

jedi pete: is your window open

nedward: you're HERE ALREADY?

jedi pete: yeah

nedward: I'm gonna have to tell you don't text and swing😭 what is my life

Michelle

Michelle: study group tomorrow

Michelle: don't forget

peter: not sure i can make it, something came up

Michelle: you've been MIA a lot lately. what's going on with you?

Tony Stark

Peter Parker: everything good? you stopped texting me in the middle of meetings

Peter Parker: did the boredom get to you

mr stark: Yes.

Peter Parker: oof

mr stark: Word of advice?

Peter Parker: hm?

mr stark: Don't have friends who get in trouble with the law. The paperwork is a pain in the ass.

mr stark: Sorry, shouldn't swear around children.

mr stark: A royal pain in the behind.

Peter Parker: lmao

mr stark: How's kiddie activities doing? Getting good grades and all that?

Peter Parker: oh! yeah definitely. of course mr stark

May Parker

May: I feel silly asking but...

May: Our neighbor Greg said he saw a strange masked figure outside your window last night...

May: He's crazy right?

Peter: yeah that guy is weird

Peter: definitely no creepers around

Peter: 😂

May: LOL!

May: Ok, I'll tell him to calm down.

Peter: can you drop ned and i off? we got invited to a party

May: Abso-LUTELY!

May: So proud of you. ❤️

Ned Leeds

nedward: we need to make an appearance at the party

nedward: spidey should too don't you think?

jedi pete: no way man

nedward: come on. it'd be huge!

nedward: LEGENDARYYY

jedi pete: i'll think about it

nedward: so wahat are your powers exactly

nedward: Can you spit venom

nedward: Can you summon an army of spiders

nedward: ..can you lay eggs???

jedi pete: no, ned. no😂

nedward: Can I try on the suit?

jedi pete: only if you stop asking questions

nedward: bad ass!!

nedward: so when can I try it on?

—

"Then he– He swooped down like a monster, and he picked me up, and took me up like a thousand feet and just dropped me!" Peter explained, squeezing the water from his mask with distress. He looked up with furrowed brows, shivering and curling in on himself, "How'd you find me? Did you put a tracker in my suit or something?"

"I put everything in your suit," Tony said casually. "Including this heater."

Warmth flooded through the chill of his bones, and instantly Peter sighed with relief. He inhaled shakily, still shivering, and nodded. "Yeah, that's better, thanks."

"What were you thinking?" Tony asked, a certain edge to his voice that warranted danger. But considering Peter almost drowned, this danger was the least of his worries.

"The guy with the wings is obviously the source of the weapons! I gotta take him down."

"Take him down, now, huh?" Tony scoffed. "Steady Crockett, there are people who handle this sort of thing."

"The Avengers?" Peter asked dryly.

"No, no, no," Tony waved his hand off. "This is a little below their paygrade."

"Anyways. Mr. Stark, you didn't have to come all the way out here, I had that, I was fine," Peter sniffed assuredly.

"Oh, I'm not," the Iron Man masked flipped up, revealing an empty suit, "here. Thank God this place has WiFi, or you would be toast right now. Thank Ganesh while you're at it. Look, forget the flying vulture guy–"

Peter scrunched his face up with an offended confusion. "Why?"

"Why? Because I said so!" Tony snapped. He huffed. "Sorry. Talking to a– teenager. Look, stay close to the ground. Build up your game helping the little people. Like that lady who bought you the churro?"

"But I'm ready for more than that now!"

"No, you're not. Listen, if you come across these weapons again, call Happy."

Peter opened his mouth, about to argue a retort about how the man never answers his phone, but is interrupted by the roar of an engine. Confusion and curiosity won over, and Peter's eyes narrowed. "Are you driving?"

"You know, it's never too early to start thinking about college. I got some pull at MIT. End call."

"No, Mr. Stark, I don't need to go to–"

"Mr. Stark is no longer connected," a cool feminine voice replied. The Iron Man mask slid back down. The suit then blasted off, leaving Peter alone on the jungle gym of a closed playground.

He sighed. "That's awesome."

—

Tony Stark

Peter Parker: sorry you had to pull me from a lake

Peter Parker: at least i wasn't stabbed, right?

Peter Parker: that was a joke

Peter Parker: mr stark?

Ned Leeds

nedward: dude can you stop ditching me for five minutes PLEASE this is unbearable

nedward: i'm gonna have to get a ride home from onion kid this is the worst day of my life

[jedi pete called nedward, call lasted 1:23]

jedi pete: ill explain more in school. do you still need a ride?

nedward: thankfully not, my lola is picking me up

nedward: had to wake her up though, she's probably not happy with me

nedward: wbu?

jedi pete: swinging home

nedward: o rite

nedward: should've guessed that but I still can't believe UR SPIDERMAN

nedward: SPIDER-MAN*

jedi pete: yeah. and i seriously need a shower so extra reason i probably shouldn't have headed back to the party

nedward: ?

jedi pete: long night

Liz Allan

Liz: Peter! wanna come with us for food tonight?

Liz: haven't seen you lately

Liz: i convinced everyone to go to that thai place we both love!

peter: sounds good! i might have family night with my aunt tho

Liz: i get it. my dads been busy working late these days

Liz: i haven't seen much of him

Liz: anyway. thai food! be there!

May Parker

May: Movie night tonight?

Peter: yeah! you pick

Peter: ned's gonna be over after school but right after we can watch a movie with dinner

May: Okay 😊 Have fun!

Peter: we will! ❤️

Ned Leeds

jedi pete: come over to my place after school, guy in the chair business

jedi pete: i put a tracker on those guys who dropped me in a lake

nedward: i can't believe you got dropped in a lake

nedward: this is AWESOME

jedi pete: dude

nedward: i can apologize but we both know I'd be lying

jedi pete: im

nedward: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tony Stark

mr. stark: Just don't make me fish you out of another lake.

mr. stark: Seriously; forget the flying vulture guy. I thought Happy was supposed to be keeping you in check.

Peter Parker: in check???

Peter Parker: i don't need to be in check

mr. stark: Kid, in the time we've known each other, our main line of communication has stemmed from you getting yourself into lethal situations. I don't want to hear it.

mr. stark: Small-time. Like that lady who bought you the churro. Got it?

mr. stark: When I said stay on the ground, I meant literally. I don't want to be standing in the middle of a meeting and get an alert that says the suit being worn by a fourteen year old is 2000 feet in the air.

mr stark: I have enough to worry about without a kid's blood on my hands.

Peter Parker: i'm sorry sir

mr stark: Never again.

Happy Hogan

Peter Parker: i joined decathlon again

Peter Parker: i got put on the bench so nothing to report for patrol

Peter Parker: has mr stark done anything about the illegal weapon guys?

Peter Parker: happy?

May Parker

May: Good luck at your match! Tell me how it goes ❤️

May: I'll call you as soon as I get off work!

Peter: ok! we're just on the bus now

May: Very cool. Tell Ned I said hello!

Peter: he says hi back :)

Ned Leeds

nedward: ok so i know you only just left like a few minutes ago but how is everything going

nedward: did you find their secret villain base yet

nedward: michelle just texted me that everyone is hanging out at the pool

nedward: i'm not going though. I'm sticking it out with you dude, just in case you call me or need a guy in the chair

nedward: 😎

nedward: i'm gonna play beastslayers

nedward: i'll log in on ur account and get your dailys

nedward: ok so it's like 12am now is everything good lol

[1 missed call from nedward]

nedward: i'm gonna get some sleep you better be here in the morning or else the team is gonna be pissed

nedward: uhhhh ok text me when you can i guess

nedward: DUDE it's like seven in the morning and you're still not back?!?! did something go wrong?!?! did they hijack you and take you to their evil lair????

[1 missed call from nedward]

nedward: youre not picking upppp aHHHHGGGGG

nedward: people are getting ready to go dude what am i supposed to tell them

nedward: i'm telling them mr stark called you and sent a private jet to pick you up and bring you back to ny

nedward: they are not happy with me cindy is giving me evil eyes

nedward: you owe me big time dude

nedward: okkkayyy we're leaving now i couldn't stall them any longer we're already gonna be late

nedward: call me back soon i guess??? don't die that isn't cool

Michelle

Michelle: hey loser why'd you ditch?

Michelle: you better not have made us lose by pulling whatever stunt this is

Michelle: p.s i know you're hiding something.

Michelle: ned is awful at lying.

Liz Allan

Liz: where r u??

Liz: missed you at the pool party last night 🙁

Liz: pls answer your texts!!

Liz: we're gonna be late! Peter don't do this right before the championship, we're all counting on you

Liz: i shouldn't have to tell the smartest guy on the team what the definition of team means

Liz: honestly kind of worried. Tell me what's going on when you get the chance, peter

Ned Leeds

[1 missed call from jedi pete]

[1 missed call from jedi pete]

[1 missed call from jedi pete]

jedi pete: CALL ME!!!!!!

jedi pete: SHYT

jedi pete: NED

jedi pete: call me ASAP

[jedi pete called nedward, call lasting 1:14]

May Parker

May: You didn't call me back! What's up with that?

May: I hope you're having fun regardless!

May: Good luck– Break a leg, my favorite little brainiac 😊

May: WTF!

[1 missed call from May]

[1 missed call from May]

May: Are you okay? They aren't telling me anything

May: I'm on my way to DC. Stay with Ned and your teacher.

Peter: i'm ok

Peter: i'm totally safe, btw don't text and drive it's not safe

May: I'm pulling over.

[May called Peter, call lasted 13:03]

Happy Hogan

Happy Hogan: Just saw the news about DC. Good work.

Happy Hogan: Don't do anything stupid.

Peter Parker: ...thanks happy

Michelle

Michelle: hey loser

peter: i can't txt rn i'm in spanish

Michelle: wow that's so crazy considering how it took you exactly all of four seconds to reply

peter: it's a quiz.

Michelle: i texted ned and he said you were glaring at the window

peter: i'm not glaring

Michelle: oh my bad

Michelle: you're not glaring

peter: yep

Michelle: you're just about to pop a blood vessel by sheer force of will

peter: 😒

Liz Allan

Liz: you're going to decathlon today, right? Mr harrington invited a counselor, it's going to be a low-key meeting just for fun and support after the thing that happened in dc

Liz: i know you technically werent there but it might be good to hang out?

peter: i can't, i'm sorry :(

peter: detention

Liz: oh, i see.

Michelle

Michelle: you know you can't just leave detention right

Michelle: you're just gonna be called back in for longer lol

Michelle: not that i care

Michelle: means i get more material for my portfolio

Tony Stark

mr stark: Hey kid. I saw the news about DC. I've been working on something, wanted to talk to you about it later if you're not busy hopping from roof to roof.

May Parker

May: I just got a call from the school that you left detention?

May: I wasn't even told you had detention. What's going on, Peter?

May: I've just had to leave work.

May: You aren't home? Where are you?

[Missed call from May]

Tony Stark

[mr stark called Peter Parker, call lasted 0:23]

mr stark: Oh, it's like that?

May Parker

May: Peter??

May: Are you with Ned? The decathlon meet ended already

May: Please don't tell me you're on that ferry.

[1 missed call from May]

May: Ned doesn't know where you are. I called the school, two of your teachers say you excused yourself from class for your internship? I thought we agreed you wouldn't do that?

May: Please tell me what's going on!

[1 missed call from May]

[1 missed call from May]

May: Peter Benjamin Parker! Answer your phone!!!

Ned Leeds

nedward: dude?? May is really worried, she just called my mom

nedward: is everything good?? do i need to come up with a cover story?

nedward: this is spiderman stuff right??

nedward: *spider-man sorry

nedward: uhh call me when you get the chance

Michelle

Michelle: wtf

Michelle: i didn't even know may had my number? did you give it to her?

Michelle: i don't care if you tell me what's going on, but whatever it is you should tell her. she sounded really stressed out.

Michelle: idk. just some advice

Michelle: don't die, loser.

Tony Stark

Peter Parker: the fbi is still going after the bad guy though right?

Peter Parker: mr stark?

mr stark: As far as you're concerned, you're done with Spider-Man.

Ned Leeds

jedi pete: hey. sorry

nedward: peter! you're ok!! I was starting to get worried too lol

nedward: what ended up happening?

jedi pete: mr stark took my suit away

nedward: 😨

nedward: what??!? why??

jedi pete: didn't you see the news? the guy with the wingsuit tore the staten island ferry in half, people almost died

jedi pete: it was my fault

nedward: you literally just said it was the bird guy though

nedward: wait does this mean you arent spider-man anymore??

jedi pete: ugh

jedi pete: i don't know

jedi pete: i'm just gonna go to bed, alright? i'll see you tmrw in school

nedward: OK. see you tomorrow man😢

jedi pete: yeah.

Michelle

peter: not dead

peter: sorry may called you, it wasn't an emergency

Michelle: sure sounded like one

peter: why do you care?

Michelle: i don't

peter: 😐

Michelle: so why'd you leave detention early anyways

peter: doesn't matter

Michelle: was it your "internship"

peter: we really don't need to talk about it

Michelle: did you get fired

peter: why are you even asking

Michelle: because i like to keep my tabs

Michelle: you're a weird dude

peter: i got fired

peter: can we drop it now please

Michelle: fine

Michelle: so how long are you stuck in detention for

peter: four weeks

Michelle: ouch lmao

peter: could be worse i guess

Michelle: true. i'll see you there loser

Flash Thompson

Flash: HAHA L

Flash: DID YOU GET EXPELLED YET

peter: literally how did you get my number

Flash: Liz gave it to me because I'm cooler and better than you

peter: 😑

Liz Allan

peter: hey did u give flash my number

Liz: oh! Yeah I did :)

Liz: he said he was worried about you and wanted to check in

Liz: did he?

peter: 🙂

Liz: yes?

peter: yep!

Liz: cool :) Glad to see the team friendships strengthening and all that, i read it was really important after a traumatic event like we all went through

peter: mhm!

Ned Leeds

nedward: are you going to homecoming

nedward: should we wear matching stuff

jedi pete: pretty sure people only do that with their dates, ned

jedi pete: idk if i'm going, i guess if you are

jedi pete: what color is your tie gonna be

nedward: thinking either a yellow or red bowtie

nedward: plus we didn't ask anybody to go so who would we match with anyways

jedi pete: i'd ask liz if i ever got the courage

nedward: i still think if you told her you're Spider-Man she'd say yes like, IMMEDIATELY

jedi pete: with what proof, ned

jedi pete: mr stark took my suit and now he isn't answering my texts

nedward: idk you could like walk on the ceiling or something dude

nedward: you've got superpowers outside of the suit don't you???

jedi pete: well yeah but

jedi pete: whatever

jedi pete: you should wear the red bowtie and i'll wear a blue tie

nedward: spider-man colors...

jedi pete: can't help that they're just the best ones

nedward: haha

nedward: true dat 😎

nedward: btw michelle dropped her notebook today and i saw like eight drawings of you fall out

nedward: when did she even get the time

jedi pete: detention

jedi pete: she draws people in "crisis" and decided i'm her favorite

nedward: explains why you're frowning in all of them then :[

jedi pete: i think it's exaggerated

nedward: ehhhhh idk man you kinda look like a kicked puppy

jedi pete: dude 😕

Happy Hogan

Peter Parker: is the stuff with the illegal weapons dealers getting taken care of?

Peter Parker: mr stark didn't answer me but it's really important that those guys are taken down

Peter Parker: they escaped on the ferry, have the fbi found them yet?

Peter Parker: happy?

Ned Leeds

jedi pete: NED

jedi pete: NED NED NED

jedi pete: NEDSSDDDDDJ

jedi pete: NED!!!!!!‼️‼️‼️‼️

nedward: ehatS HGOING ON

nedward: IS THERE ANOTHER GLOWY THING

nedward: IM NOT PUTTING IT IN MY BACJPACK AGAIN PETER ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN

jedi pete: NO

jedi pete: I RAN INTO LIZ IN THE HALLWAY

nedward: ??!JUST NOW?

jedi pete: YES

nedward: AND?

jedi pete: i don't know what came over me but i. MAY HAVE. asked her to homecoming

nedward: *WHAT*

nedward: how how how how omg

nedward: wait does she know you're ?;??;?

nedward: you know!!!

nedward: Thwip Thwip

jedi pete: no but i told her i liked her😎

nedward: oh my godddhgh

nedward: and she said yes??? she said yes right? even though you're just peter

jedi pete: ok ow? but yes she said yes 😭

nedward: you know what i MEAN

nedward: AHHHHH YOURENGOING TO HOMECOMING WITH LIZ

jedi pete: i'm going to homecoming with liz holy sh

jedi pete: oh my god

jedi pete: i need to get ready

jedi pete: it's tonight

jedi pete: ned it's TONIGHT

nedward: u gotta ask aunt may.

jedi pete: AUNT MAY

Liz Allan

Liz: hey! You remember my address right?

peter: oh! yeah i do, no worries :)

Liz: ok cool :) I'm super excited!!

peter: me too!

Liz: 💓

peter: <3

Liz: my dad's going out of town tonight so he'll be able to drop us off at the event

peter: ok sounds good i'll be there at seven!

Liz: I'll see u then ☺️

May Parker

May: Ok! I saw you walk through the door, heading home now.

May: Tell me when you need to be picked up😚

May: Have fun! Remember the rules! Oh, and take lots of pictures!

Michelle

Michelle: did you just sprint out of the auditorium?? you look like you saw a ghost

Michelle: liz is crying in the bathrooms, not even betty can get her to leave

Michelle: i know you're a loser and all but what did you even do

Ned Leeds

nedward: ????

nedward: dude WHAT

nedward: you just ditched LIZ!

nedward: are you okay?!?!?!? why in the world did you blow your one shot at dating your dream girl

nedward: why are you not answering your texts peter this is really weird of you

nedward: ok that's it I'm going looking for you

nedward: michelle said you looked like you were going out the back exit sooo hopefully you're there

—

Unknown Number

[Flash called Unknown Number, call lasted 3:29]

[Contact Deleted]

[Call History Deleted]

—

Ned Leeds

nedward: you'll never believe what I just said to Ms warren dude 💀

nedward: guess we'll be detention buddies

nedward: did you find the vulture?

nedward: oh right your phone is gone

nedward: well call me when you get these then

nedward: flash looks HILARIOUS btw

nedward: he's telling everyone in sight that Spider-Man stole his car and phone and nobody believes him 😭😭

nedward: poetic justice

—

He knew it was a bad idea to sit up on the Cyclone. Someone's bound to see him eventually, if he stays here, and he will move, but for now– His head pounded with the ferocity of 10 multiplied concussions. He kept replaying the fight in his head. All of it, because every second had a mark on his body.

His upper right arm was scraped from the sliding of Flash's car. It wasn't intense, it barely even hurt, but it had left a raspberry patterned road rash underneath the torn sleeve of his sweatshirt.

The building left a crushing feeling on his ribs, uncomfortably crushed even though the weight was no longer there. He kept trying to take deep breaths in an attempt to steady himself, to prove to his mind that he no longer was stuck under the warehouse and that he was okay. It also left a nasty gash in his shoulder, a cut on his forehead, the back of his skull, the side of his calf, all of which admittedly he barely could feel because when it happened he had so much adrenaline and fear pumping through his body.

It got worse.

His arms burned from lifting the building off of himself, or maybe it was from the weight of pulling the plane's wing back, or maybe some lucky combination of both. It was fair to say that every muscle in his body hated him at the moment, and retaliated by pulsing with pain and ache.

His face felt weird from the pinpricks of sand hitting his face when the plane went down, as he rolled and tumbled across the entire beach at high speeds like a kicked sockerball. Patches of skin all over were tight and numb from the burns of fire and hot metal, his fingertips worst of all, blistering already. Smoke burned his lungs.

Other than that, his stomach and chest were the thing that really hurt.

Peter's no stranger to stab wounds, as it took him a while to get a hang of the timing that went along with his sixth instinctual sense, but they were nothing in comparison to–

Getting slammed into the sand with the full weight of The Vulture's heavy suit, then lying helplessly as he flew over him and dug his hydraulic talons into Peter's body with a sickening wet squish to pin him down. The metal gauntlet on his fist making forceful impact with his jaw, his nose, his cheek. Then he's being picked up, and there's nothing to grab onto, nothing to secure himself on but the flight suit, and Peter's holding on by one hand while the Vulture swung him around like a ragdoll, before finally being crushed back down into the blood-stained sand–

Peter ran into fire to save him anyways, because Spider-Man is Peter Parker, and Peter Parker's biggest fault is his ability to see humanity in the worst of people.

He shivered. Leaned his head back against the sturdy pole of the rollercoaster. The last of the firetrucks drove away, and he pulled on his mask.

He needed to find his phone. He needed to sleep; he felt like he could sleep for a thousand years.

He hoped Happy got his message. Maybe after this he could put big-time behind him... it seemed to leave a mark that he wasn't quite ready to heal from.

—

May Parker

Peter: oh uh, ned's mom ofgered ro drive me home

Peter: you can gte some rest, no need to stay up for me :)

May: ...Mhm

May: Be safe, please!

Peter: i'm not drunk i swear

Peter: that would be very irresponsddible

May: Yes it would be. Are you positive you have a ride home?

Peter: hold on

Peter: ok i'm not moving anymore i can see my screen better 😂

May: Much better texts, lol

May: Are you having fun?

Peter: yeah! lots of fun

May: I'm glad. You deserved a break to relax with your friends! 😊

May: I'm going to head to sleep, but I'll keep my ringer on and under my pillow. Call me if you need me for anything, alright? Even something small?

Peter: course

Peter: larb you may

May: Larb you too, Peter. ❤️

Happy Hogan

[Happy Hogan sent a picture]

Happy Hogan: Got your message.

Ned Leeds

nedward: WHUH

[nedward sent a link: Spider-Man and The Vulture Show Off in Dangerous Plane Crash Scene on Coney Island! (2 minutes ago)]

[nedward sent a link: Adrian Toomes 'The Vulture' and Spider-Man Face Off at Plane Crash Site (7 minutes ago)]

[nedward sent a link: Stark Jet Grand Theft Thwarted by Local Queens Hero (4 minutes ago)]

nedward: DUDE YOU BROKE RHE PARACHUTE JUMP 😫

nedward: AAAAA THE WRECK PHOTOS ITS SO COOL BUT ALSO

nedward: you could have DIED

nedward: are you OKAY?

jedi pete: been better

jedi pete: i feel awful for liz. she doesn't deserve any of this

jedi pete: they're leaking his name and everything

nedward: guess the news are the real vultures

nedward: heh

jedi pete: good one

nedward: thank you

nedward: are you actually like okay and everything or are you gonna text me tomorrow saying that Thor brought you to a hospital on Asgard or something

jedi pete: technically thor's been missing since the battle of sokovia

nedward: technically my best friend has tony stark aka iron man's number

jedi pete: technically tony stark aka iron man isn't texting me anymore

nedward: 💔

jedi pete: i'm ok though

jedi pete: no hospital visits, i promise

jedi pete: i'll be healed by monday

nedward: what kind of superhero wounds do you have

jedi pete: what

nedward: you know! superhero wounds

jedi pete: ?? like my injuries?

nedward: yeah like how Luke Skywalker has scars on his face from hoth? fighting the wampa?

nedward: or like how iron man has scars on his chest from the arc reactor

jedi pete: ummm

jedi pete: i don't know i have a whole bunch of little scars and stuff from patrol

jedi pete: i don't really notice them anymore

jedi pete: the wingsuit kind of clawed really bad into my chest so that might scar, i'll check tomorrow

jedi pete: and there might be one on my shoulder because some concrete really dug in there when the warehouse fell

jedi pete: oh and one from the stab wound when mr stark and i met

nedward: what warehouse??

jedi pete: i'll tell you tomorrow

jedi pete: i'm really tired and sweaty and bloody so i'm gonna shower and go to bed

nedward: yeah fr sure get some rest

jedi pete: night man

Liz Allan

peter: hey i just wanted to say i'm really sorry

peter: about everything that happened last night

peter: i hope you're doing okay, let me know if i can do anything

Flash Thompson

Flash: Are you still friends with Spider-Man

peter: i said i met him not that we were friends

Flash: He stole my car

Flash: and my phone

Flash: Before he fought the vulture the other night

Flash: I'm practically his best friend now

peter: did he say that

Flash: Yeah he did

peter: wow

peter: good for you flash

Flash: He didn't mention you once

Flash: maybe I'll ask him about your little internship

peter: you definitely should do that

Flash: We text all the time

peter: wow that's crazy

Flash: bet Spider-Man never stole your car and phone

peter: can't say he's ever done that, no

Flash: You don't even have a car

Flash: Did he tell you about me

peter: haven't talked to him in a while

Flash: Ha. Sucks to suck

Flash: I talked to him last night

peter: as i've heard

Flash: Whatever

peter: 😐

Ned Leeds

nedward: iiiitttts MONDAY

nedward: how's your Luke Skywalker scars

jedi pete: i was right about the ones on my chest but they're super faint so whatever

nedward: you going to school?

jedi pete: duh

jedi pete: meet you at the entrance?

nedward: you got it😎

Michelle

Michelle: be at decathlon today

peter: okay

Michelle: cool

Tony Stark

mr stark: I'm not someone who's really all that great at the touchy-feely stuff, so I'm gonna make this quick.

mr stark: I'm sorry. Shouldn't have taken your suit.

mr stark: ... And Potts just informed me this is not a conversation to have over text.

mr stark: Happy'll be picking you up from school. Get your stuff ready, you're going on an internship field trip upstate.

Peter Parker: wait

Peter Parker: like upstate-upstate?

mr stark: Yeah.

Peter Parker: wow

Peter Parker: umm i'm in decathlon right now but it ends in forty minutes

mr stark: Easy. See you then.

Peter Parker: okay!

Michelle

[peter changed Michelle's name to MJ]

MJ: loser

peter: hmmm pretty sure you can't call me that anymore

peter: friend :)))

MJ: whatever

MJ: friend

Happy Hogan

Happy Hogan: Ready?

Peter Parker: always 😎

—

The Avengers Compound was one of the biggest buildings Peter's ever been to, which was saying a lot considering he's lived in New York since he was even a twinkle in his mother's eye. High-tech, sleek, modern, the embodiment of a future that he had longed for ever since the spider bit him.

The famous Quinn-Jet took off into the air and Peter watched from the lobby window with all the wonder and awe of his inner kid, suddenly feeling eight years old again, and very grateful for his life played out to get him here.

"Don't see that everyday," Happy commented. He looked at Peter differently than when they first met— now he almost looked fond.

"Oh, there they are."

Peter's head turned, and Tony Stark came strolling towards them with a casual grin. The starstruck feelings he had are somewhat of an afterthought now, caught up with the amazement of everything else going on, but he still smiled nervously at Mr. Stark because: He didn't know he was here, yet.

Last time he saw Mr. Stark, it was extremely clear where his "internship" position had ended up, sinking down the Upper Bay waters with the cars left from the Staten Island Ferry's destruction, beeping in miserable alarm and becoming distorted and desperate, then lost for good.

Then the Vulture happened.

Now he was here, and Tony was looking at him with a swaggered look of neutrality, cocking his chin upwards in question. "How was the ride up?"

"Good," Happy said warily, eyeing Tony with more knowledge about the man's emotions than Peter would ever hope to learn. (He supposed it came with the many years of knowing him.)

Tony finally looked away from Peter. "Give me a minute with the kid."

Happy blinked. "Seriously?"

"Yeah," Tony shifted. "I gotta talk to the kid."

"I'll be close behind," Happy said stiffly.

(Peter was getting nervous now, not knowing whether or not he was in trouble or if he was getting his suit back, and the stunted conversation between the adults in front of him wasn't clearing things up.)

"How 'bout a loose follow?" Tony suggested with a nod. He walked forward. "Alright? Boundaries are good."

He turned his attention on Peter and gave a scrunched up grin, supportively punching him lightly in the shoulder. Relief rushed through him and he finally smiled back.

Tony put an arm over Peter's shoulders and trudged forward down the hallway.

"Sorry I took your suit," Tony spoke up. He took a breath. "I mean, you had it coming— Actually, turns out it was the perfect sort of tough love moment that you needed, right? To urge you on, right? Wouldn't you think? Don't you think?"

Peter fumbled for words, trying to grasp whether he should forgive the man or explain what happened.

"Let's just say it was!" Tony squeezed his shoulder. He sighed loudly. "You screwed the pooch hard. Big time. But then you did the right thing, took the dog to the free clinic, you... raised the hybrid puppies... Alright, not my best analogy."

Tony threw a hand in the air and the screens in front of them lit up with blueprints and schematics for the Spider-Man suit. Peter's mouth fell open a bit and he looked back up at Tony.

"I was wrong about you," Tony said with insistence, and it was everything Peter ever needed to hear.

"I think with a little more mentoring," Tony paused. He patted Peter's arms and the glass doors opened in front of them. "You could be a real asset to the team."

Peter's brain short-wired. "To the— To the— To the team?"

"Yeah. Anyways," Tony said simply, as if he wasn't about to completely change Peter's life for the third time. He moved his arm away from Peter and tapped his watch. "There're about fifty reporters behind that door, real ones, not bloggers— and when you're ready, why don't you try that on?"

A large metal case opened up and revealed the most incredible suit Peter had ever seen in his life. Metallic, an armored version of his suit with a large spider logo symmetrically stretched across the chest, gold trimmings, glowing blue eyes. Peter's heart was skipping beats at the mere thought of using it, much less finding out it worked, how much thought was put into it, the differences between this one and his old one.

"... and I'll introduce the world to the newest official member of the Avengers: Spider-Man," Tony finished.

Peter let out a stream of incoherent stumbled sentences. He walked toward it, looking over at Tony with his disbelief.

"Yeah," Tony said encouragingly, sounding immensely pleased, "give that a look. After the press conference, Happy will show you to your room. Your new, uh, quarters. Where's he between? He's next to Vision?"

"Yeah." Happy stepped up behind them. "Vision's not really big on doors."

"It's fun," Tony sniffed.

"Or walls," Happy added from behind.

"You'll fit right in."

All Peter could do was stare in front of him.

It was as if Tony gave him the whole universe as a gift, and all Peter had to say was yes. Everything he could have ever wanted, handed to him in metal packaging.

It was too easy.

Peter faltered, looking downwards with thought.

Ned would miss him, he realized. They have another Spanish quiz next week. Michelle—MJ, would miss him too. He already promised her he'd stop screwing around with Decathlon and take it seriously, and he really did mean it. May was already worried enough without the prospect of him moving away. He screwed up enough this year to make her worry. Too many panicked texts.

Was it really so bad to be happy with what he had?

Who's gonna look out for Queens when the Avengers are busy with stuff that matches their "paygrade"?

Peter's finally learned that all this time wanting more, he never really appreciated it. He never understood that he only ever needed to be himself.

Peter swallowed. He turned away from the suit. Looked over to Tony.

"Thank you, Mr. Stark," Peter said with sincerity. "But I'm— I'm good."

For the first time, Peter watched Tony hesitate.

The man stared. "You're... good? Good—How are you good?"

"Well, I mean," Peter moved on his feet, fidgeting with his sleeve. "I'd rather just... stay on the ground, for a little while. Friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Somebody's gotta look out for the little guy, right?"

Tony widened his eyes and took off his shades. "You're turning me down? You better think about this. Look at that."

Peter followed his hand to look back at the suit.

"Look at me." Tony stared at him with full conviction. He looked bewildered. "Last chance, yes or no?"

"No."

Tony blinked. "Okay. Kind of a... Springsteeny working-class hero vibe that I dig. Uh... Happy'll... take you home. Yeah?"

Happy nodded. "Yeah. Mind waiting in the car? I need a minute."

Peter smiled and went to shake Tony's hand. "Thank you, Mr. Stark."

"Yeah," Tony said blankly, still clearly recovering from the momentary shock of being told no. "Yes, Mr. Parker. Very well."

"See you around," Peter grinned, knowing that he really would be seeing Tony more in the future. He clapped his hands and turned around to leave.

The suit was shut away behind him, and a thought occurred to Peter. He furrowed his eyebrows and turned around. "That was a test, right? There's, uh... nobody back there?"

"Yes, you passed," Tony said immediately. He rolled on his feet. "Alright. Skedaddle there, young buck—"

"Thank you, Mr. Stark, thank you—"

"Yeah, thank you—"

—

Ned Leeds

nedward: so what did Tony stark have to say!!

nedward: did you get your internship back??? are you an avenger now???

nedward: text me when you get home so can do the movie thing

nedward: Junior mints and gummi worms don't forget

jedi pete: fuck

nedward: ??

nedward: what happened

nedward: did the meeting go bad or something hfjgdh

jedi pete: uhhhhhh

nedward: ?

jedi pete: i'm gonna have to reschedule that movie

nedward: why??

jedi pete: pro, i got my suit back

nedward: YOOOO

jedi pete: con, i don't think may believes it's a cosplay

nedward: huh?

nedward: wait

nedward: OH NO