(I just...stan Tom with hedgehog hair??? Idk why???)

Tony Stark didn't like interviews or conferences too much. A room full of vultures trying to pick apart their latest catch bit by bit wasn't too appealing.

Then Peter, good old angelic Peter, had just taken down one of the biggest drug rings in New York. He had been searching for them for about three weeks non-stop before he predicted where they were going to be next. Tony remembered Peter looking at the screen intently with bloodshot eyes before a ding resonated from the tablet. It was a stretching silence as Peter looked in between Tony and the StarkTablet. It was a matter of seconds before Peter let out a cheer and raced out of the lab like a madman.

The police were celebrating with Spider-Man about the latest solve, and the vultures caught a whiff of Spider-Man.

It was complete and total anarchy. All the talk was of Spider-Man and how he took down a drug ring. There were multitudes of articles and media posts about it.

It also happened to be a drama central for rumors. There were a lot of people who still gave Spider-Man shit.

"Spider-Man planted drugs on them."

"Spider-Man killed some of them!"

"Apparently Spidey set those guys up?"

All of these were obviously fake.

It honestly drove him up the wall. The popularity he was okay with, Peter deserved some good publicity about him. A lot of cops actually were on his side now, though the warrant for his arrest was still there.

It was the media that was driving him crazy. Unbelievable headlines talking about totally made up things concerning Spider-Man. How can they take Peter's huge accomplishment and throw it down the drain?

Peter had said it didn't really matter what the media thought about him, all that mattered was helping people.

The kid was so kind it irritated him. He didn't even care what they were saying! Any good publicity would go down the drain, and having a good reputation helped a lot in the superhero business. Even if Peter didn't see the problem, he did.

Tony was about to have a long sit down and just lecture Peter about bullying.

"But Mr. Stark," Peter had said nonchalantly. He scribbled some notes down for a test he probably didn't need to study for.
"I'm kind of used to that sort of stuff now. There's always gonna be bad headlines, it doesn't really matter."

Tony went silent for a minute before changing the subject completely. He was internally losing his shit.

"I'm kind of use to that sort of stuff now."

Goddamit! He wasn't going to let his kid get used to being treated like shit if he could do anything about it. So he proposed an idea.

A conference sounded good. A conference to clear up what had happened that night and to give the media satisfaction about the Spider-Man craze.

It was perfect.

Two days later Peter came back to the compound for some modifications on his webshooters. He had ended up getting them done early and they still had a few hours to spare.

Tony had sprung the question up to Peter when he was watching TV, stuffing his face with ice cream.

"I'm gonna hold a conference,  okay?" Usually it didn't bother Peter at all. The only different factor was that Peter knew exactly why. It was enough to make Peter choke on his rocky road.

"It's taking place next Wednesday and then you're going to just answer some reporters questions and the everything will be all fine and dandy!"

He should've known Peter would object. Even he didn't like conferences, it would be apparent there would be resistance.

Peter looked up at him in alarm and started sputtering, the ice cream tub almost falling out of his grip. "Wh-wait, what?!"

"I'm pretty sure you know what I said." Tony coyly smiled. This would be good for Peter. It would get him out and about with the media, but thanks to the secret identity it would only be Spider-Man and not Peter Parker.

"Yeah, no thanks." Peter snapped harshly. "I'd rather not be center of attention for people who only care for drama."

Okay, that wasn't what he was expecting. Peter sassed him a lot but he never was downright blunt about anything unless he was literally serious about it.

"Huh?" That was all Tony could get out. Very few topics could get this type of reaction out of Peter. One of those things being his uncle, so this had worried him.

"I basically have crippling social anxiety and you expect me to go up and answer people's personal questions about my life that I don't exactly need to get out into the public." Peter finished quickly before jabbing his spoon into his ice cream. He shoved the spoon in his mouth and his teeth clacked against the metal.

"Peter, with everthing the public is spitting at you, a conference could be super important." Tony tried. But Peter held strong.

"No, Mr. Stark. For the last time, I don't care, and you shouldn't care either. It's just some stupid rumors that people make up because they have nothing else better to do. All that matters is that I help people."

Tony wasn't shocked by the answer itself, mainly just one part of the answer. "Why shouldn't I care?" He said carefully.

Peter's head snapped up with something like guilt. It made Tony's gut churn uncomfortably. It seemed like Peter didn't mean to let it slip.

"I-I, it's just...it doesn't affect your reputation, or even you at all. I just don't get what why you care about this. I sure as hell don't." Peter could take what was thrown at him as Spider-Man. Because Spider-Man could do anything, he could help anyone.

It was just Peter Parker that was the problem.

"Do it for my old man heart. Please." Peter immediately met Tony's eyes. He could immediately see the conflict swirling in his brown eyes, because Tony Stark never said 'please' in his life.

It was quiet for a minute, with Peter looking torn between what to do. Tony felt his heart ache for the resignation that fell upon Peter's face. The brunette sighed before clenching his jaw.

"You owe me big time."

~~~~~~¤~~~~~~

"Okay ladies, gentleman, and that one alien in the back! I called in this conference in to discuss the recent Spider-Man craze." Tony called out to the crowd.

Reporters noticeably tensed up as he mentioned Spider-Man. Men and women got out their notepads and pens at the ready. They had all been apart of the community of Spider-Man and the fact that Tony Stark had just issued a conference about it gained their attention.

"There have been multiple rumors and things going around about his latest achievement, the fall of a major drug ring here in New York." Tony clenched his fists against the podium. He was angry at the media for what they did, and he also felt guilty forcing Peter up here. It was obvious he didn't want to be here. Not on the account that he was nervous but the fact that he viewed the entire thing as a complete waste of time.

"To help clear up what really went on on his huge drug bust, I have brought the amazing Spider-Man here today."

The reporters went nuts. Flashes and the yelling of questions filled the room, it made Tony's eyes hurt even if he was used to it. He was grateful he adjusted Peter's sensory protocols in advance.

Then Spider-Man in all his glory walked out from behind the stage, and everything got ten times worse. The reporters seemed to get louder and the cameras flashier.

Except there was a difference with Spider-Man. While he was wearing the usual suit he also wore a navy blue hoodie and blue jeans over it.

And for some reason he looked good?

The questions and flashes erupted again but the protocols couldn't stop Peter's ears and eyes from pounding. He flinched slightly and grit his teeth. All he had to do was bear it.

"Hi guys!" Peter greeted, making sure to sound happy. Even Tony looked surprised at how authentic it was.

Parker was a fucking actor. Another thing to add to the list of surprising things, right next to him being a mutant vigilante who goes to high school.

Tony internally sighed, he could've been a normal billionaire. Now he was a billionaire that partially parented a spider-kid with sense of justice.

"Okay, so we will now be taking questions. Make them quick, please and thank you." Tony snapped sassily. He was reminded of how much he hated these things, why did Peter have to sit through this? Oh yeah, because he forced him here! Great job, Stark.

Dozens of hands shot up with multiple screeches. Peter was pretty sure those were questions but they literally sounded like complete gibberish.

"Uh, green polo!" Peter chose, hid hand pointed at a man with a green polo shirt and a brown bun that sat on his head messily.

"Hi, David Holland with Metro New York! How did you find the drug ring to begin with?"

If this is how it was going to be for the rest of the conference Peter could do this. "I ran into one of them and overheard their conversation a few weeks ago, so I placed a tracker on them and started searching."

More flashes of a camera, more hands raised. "Pink tie!" Peter pointed to a lady with a dark pantsuit and a disgusted look on her face.

"Amelia Ramirez with the Daily Bugle."

Oh no...

The Bugle was one of the main media outlets that slandered Spider-Man and his rep. There were definitely others but the Bugle is the most mainstream.

Peter made sure to look attentive, maybe she's not like JJJ? Either way he couldn't be rude unless he was given reason to.

"You are aware that being a vigilante is illegal, correct?" Ramirez's gaze hardened and she smirked a bit. Okay, this wasn't going to be easy, but that is what Spidey's signature snark is for.

"Yep!" Peter replied cheekily. He had to keep up that mischievous persona, even if this person was honestly starting to annoy him already.

"Then you're aware that you're also a criminal? What makes you any different from them? There is a literal superhero standing next to you and yet you haven't been arrested for your crimes."

Peter narrowed his eyes at the woman and bit back his remark. "Well, I do what I do with good intentions. I want to help peo-"

"So your saying people can go and break the law if they have good intentions? That seems very ignorant on your part. You yourself have fought people who thought what they were doing was right!"

Ramirez brought a recorder out from her pocket. She gently pressed the button and held it towards Peter. A dangerous look appeared in her eye as she gave a little grin.

Screw biting back retorts, Spider-Man was about to make a full appearance.

"Well Ms. Ramirez, there is a different meaning between 'vigilante' and 'villain'. I know they may sound similar to you, but surprisingly there's a real difference. So if you could stop with the bullshit you and the Bugle have been spouting, that'd be nice."

The eyes of the mask narrowed into a threatning look. Ramirez looked gobsmacked at the reply and slowly put the recorder away.

Tony looked shocked for a bit before a shit-eating grin made it's way onto his face. Of course Peter handled it in the best way possible. Though this would be a PR disaster for Spider-Man haters, it would be a field day for the supporters. Just thinking about it makes him feel giddy.

Peter continued to stare down Ramirez for a few seconds. Honestly, he had just let his mouth run on autopilot for a few moments. Ramirez looked downright infuriated with him.

"Next!"

AN: Honestly I'm just procrastinating on my job shadowing project that's due this Tuesday. I have had over two months to work on it and I'm starting it two days before the due date. End me now.