Six

"You're up already?"

Peter nodded without turning around from the dresser he was looking in, "This is day one take two."

"You're that nervous?"

"No..."

Tony chuckled, "Well since you're up early, maybe if you get yourself together fast enough we can grab breakfast at that bakery around the corner."

"I will definitely be ready in time!"

"That means no singing in the shower."

Peter's face flushed, "Don't you need to make coffee or something?"

~~~~

"So Peter you have two options," Tony stated when they pulled up to the train station across from Midtown Science and Technology.

Peter looked away from the school building confused, "What are they?"

"Number one I can drive you up to the door. Number two you get out here and walk."

"Why would I-"

"You told me before that everyone seeing you drive up with me sent the wrong message. So what kind of message are you sending here, that you're normal? Or that you've got this wonderful billionaire by your side? And I won't be hurt by either option."

Peter frowned in thought before he grabbed his backpack, "Can we call normal Plan A?"

Tony nodded, "Sure kid, I'll have Happy pick you up from here too alright?"

Peter nodded stiffly as he climbed out of the car, "Alright."

~~~~

"Well how was it?" Tony asked when he got back from work to find Peter eating from the pizza box in front of him.

"It was pretty good," Peter nodded. "I think I made a friend?"

"Why did that sound like a question?" Tony asked sitting across from him and taking a slice for himself.

"Well I mean, I just met him but he seems cool. We exchanged numbers and we share classes. Oh his name is Ned."

"Sounds to me like you have a friend, so what else seems cool about the school?"

"Hmm, I don't know yet. The place itself is really cool. And Ned mentioned there's a decathlon team that he's on which sounds cool, but I don't know I just got there."

"Well you've got time. Once you get used to everything you can decide officially on clubs and things, just be open minded for now."

Peter nodded as he chewed, "That's good advice."

Tony frowned, "Why do you sound so surprised?"

~~~~

"Hey Tony."

"Hey kid, something wrong?"

"No, no things are fine. I just called because I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Well Ned got this cool LEGO Death Star and he said I could help him with it, so I was wondering since it's a Friday if I could go over his place after school and help him with it."

"I've never met Ned or his parents..."

"It'll be fine! He's really nice and I haven't met his parents, but I'm sure they're chill!"

"You've only known him for a few weeks."

"So? You let me go out all the time!"

"That's different."

"How?"

"It just is."

" Please ?"

"...How about a compromise?"

"What kind of compromise?"

"What if he came over to the Tower instead?"

"W-what? Really?"

"I'm home tonight anyway, but I can go to my lab to be out of your hair, but that way you're not over some random people's house?"

"Alright!" He could hear muffled voices before Peter spoke again. "Sounds good. Can you tell Happy, cause I'm sure he wouldn't believe me."

Tony chuckled, "That means he's doing his job right."

~~~~

"This place is amazing!" A voice Tony didn't recognize shouted. "I still can't believe you live here!"

He heard Peter laugh in reply, "I hardly believe it. Now come on, Tony will want to meet you."

"I'm friends with Tony Stark's son."

"He's my foster parent."

"The word parent makes you a son."

"I think it's a bit more complicated than that," Tony told him walking out from his bedroom.

Ned looked normal enough, he was heavy set with honey skin, short dark hair and an amazed look on his face. He held out his hand, "Nice to meet you sir, I'm Ned Leeds."

Tony shook it, "Nice to meet you."

"I'm shaking your hand..." Ned marveled.

Tony nodded and released his hand before turning to Peter, "I'll be with the team if you need anything."

"We'll be fine," Peter promised.

"And Wanda is cooking tonight so Ned might need to head home when dinner starts."

Peter deflated slightly, "Fine."

With that out of the way Tony gave both the boys a wave and headed toward the elevator.

"You're not staying to spy on them?" Nastasha teased when Tony sat down beside her on the couch.

"Of course not," Tony responded moving to the couch. "They are just gonna use legos and hang out... Also that's what F.R.I.D.A.Y. is for."

"I'm still surprised you just let someone you don't know walk into your super secure tower and hang out with Peter," Bruce put in from where he sat in the armchair.

"Once again that's what F.R.I.D.A.Y. is for. Also I rather have them here rather than Peter off being who knows where."

"You do know he can handle himself right? He used to be on the streets."

Natasha nodded, "And he has superpowers."

"He's still a kid," Tony protested. "And-"

"Boss," F.R.I.D.A.Y. interrupted. "Captain Rogers has called for everyone. It seems something is happening with Lady Liberty."

"Precious monument?" Bruce frowned, "I'll stay here."

As others began to appear and rush around Tony hurried to the elevator headed to his and Peter's apartment.

Peter was at the elevator when it opened, "Can I?"

"No," Tony answered immediately, his eyes flickering past Peter to Ned who sat on the floor surrounded by LEGOs. Tony lowered his voice, "You're not ready for this yet. Plus you've got a friend over. I'll be back later."

"But Tony-"

"Nope, if we aren't back at a decent time order some food."

Peter crossed his arms as he frowned.

Tony wasn't fazed, "As adorable as you are pouting won't work."

" Fine-  I am not adorable!"

"Sure."

~~~~

When Tony returned hours later he had mentally prepared himself to kick Ned out as it was getting late and the kid needed to get home, though surprisingly the boy was gone.

According to Peter once they finished the Death Star Ned had taken a cab headed home (Tony made a mental note to pay the boy's family back).

"You did tell him to keep everything quiet right?"

"Course," Peter nodded. "And despite his enthusiasm I think he will."

"Good. Well... maybe next week you can bring him to KJ's?"

Peter's eyes lit up and a smile stretched across his face, "That's an awesome idea! Lee would love him! Speaking of which can we go tomorrow?"

Tony blinked surprised, "Sure kid, tomorrow afternoon?"

He nodded in response, "Tomorrow afternoon."

~~~~

"You didn't win."

"What do you mean I didn't win?"

"We tied ."

"No I think you're pronouncing win wrong, what are they teaching you at that fancy school?"

Peter rolled his eyes, "What should we do now?"

"Well, I still need to finish some stuff in the lab, wanna come with and you can help me or work on your web shooters?"

"Sounds good."

"Do you have to do that on the ceiling?" Tony asked glancing up to Peter who stood on the ceiling a few hours later.

"I don't have to," Peter shrugged.

"Is there anything you can't stick to?"

Peter paused in thought, "I've never really tried sticking to a person cause I don't wanna hurt anyone. And of course not water... Wait! Do you think Bruce would let me stick to him as the Hulk? I could hang from his arm easily!"

Tony chuckled, "That's a hard maybe."

"Will you ask him for me? He always gets confused when I ask him things."

"He's not used to having fans, not everyone is as amazing as me... Come look at this for a second."

Peter rolled his eyes as he lowered himself down from the ceiling and moved next to Tony, "What?"

Tony motioned to the designs before him, "I'm making upgrades to the Tower, as you can see this is our floor here. Is there anything you think I should add to it?"

"You make it sound like its not already amazing," Peter smiled.

"So you don't want me to add anything then?"

"Can we have a hot tub in the living room?"

"As much as I want to say yes, I know everyone who isn't us will give us shit about it."

"So that's a no then?"

"It's a no."

"Hmmm... what about an arcade?"

Tony nodded and was about to make edits when he paused, "If we make an arcade then..."

"Then we wouldn't go to KJ's," Peter frowned. "Scratch that, make us a home theater."

"Now that's a good idea."

"No problem," Peter smiled moving to sit down at his spot before he frowned. "I sound like you."

"How so?"

"You say no problem a lot."

Tony shrugged, "Is that a bad thing?"

Peter shook his head as he continued examining his web shooter. "No, just something I noticed."

"If we make a home theater I'll add enough seats for the team," Tony thought aloud. "It would also work if you have friends over."

"We need a popcorn and snack stand."

"Snack bar slash regular bar," Tony agreed. "We can have a movie and video game closet. Anything else?"

"I think that's all," Peter smiled before he gave a slight laugh, "Things have really changed a lot for me haven't they?" he asked softly.

Tony's eyes flickered to Peter, but he stayed silent letting the boy sink into his own thoughts. He watched as Peter smiled to himself, "I doubt this what May ever expected for me..."

"May?" Tony couldn't help but repeat to which Peter froze for a moment before he gave a low curse in response, he hadn't intended to speak. "You don't have to tell me," Tony said in Peter's silence.

"She- she was my aunt," Peter started slowly not taking his eyes off what he was doing, but it was clear he wasn't really looking at it. "She and my uncle took me in when my parents died, then uncle Ben died... So it was just me and May, until..."

"Something happened?" Tony prompted to which Peter nodded.

"Yeah, and then I was put in the system. They bounced around between places none of them good nor bad. And one family seemed pretty okay, I liked them a lot, but then I was bit by the spider. And when my powers started... they called me a freak... And they told me I had no place near them." Peter gave a sniffle and Tony wanted to say something but he couldn't find the words, and something in him told him that hugging Peter wasn't the best idea, so he only sat listening incase the boy wanted to say more.

"They all turned on me that quickly." Peter continued. "So I ran, and I never went back, and eventually I met Lee and then you..." Peter finally looked up to Tony with a smile as he wiped at his eyes. "So I guess it all worked out okay."

"I won't turn on you," Tony promised. "This place is just as much your home as it is mine."

Peter looked back to his web shooter still smiling, "Thanks."

"No prob-" Tony cut himself off and then took a breath. "You're welcome, Peter."