An-Tony and Pepper decide they want to adopt a kid, and when they arrive at a nearby orphanage they are shocked at what they find

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Tony was not happy. Pepper had finally convinced him that they should adopt, as long as they got a teenager, he wasn't so fond of the tiny fingers and smearing of paint on walls. Happy also wasn't very happy with driving around to all the nearby orphanages, while Tony found 'the perfect kid'. They had arrived at 'lily's home for boys', and it was the most rundown of the bunch, to Tony it looked like the building could crumble any minute. Tony was following Pepper, who was happily talking about something.

"Oh Tony give it a chance, not everyone has an extra billion dollars in the bank." Tony just grumbled in response. The inside of the building was much nicer if Tony was honest, it was modest but homey. A small fire was burning on one side of the room, and the receptionist was urging them to sit down.

"Lily will be out shortly, some of the younger boys have been getting sick recently, and she's been busy. She'll introduce the boys shortly, one of them is late, but he should be back soon."

After a few minutes, a middle-aged woman came rushing in, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "So sorry for the delay, one of the boys threw up and I needed to change my shirt." Tony just raised a hand in dismissal, while Pepper chatted with the woman happily.

"So what age range are you looking for?" She woman said excitedly, Pepper was going to respond, but Tony interrupted.

"A teenager, don't want someone who can't understand boundaries, don't want little hands getting everywhere." Pepper swatted him on the arm, the woman just nodded, clearly in thought.

"Oh wonderful, we've had a couple of boys here for a long time, but one boy, extremely quiet but has a brilliant mind, he's been here since he was six. Sad story, parents killed in plane crash, uncle and aunt shot in a robbery. He goes to the fancy science school here in Queens, he should be here by now but he has a habit of being late. I can bring in some of the younger boys though until he gets here though I'll go-" Lily was cut off by the front door opening, a young boy dropping to the floor with a thump. He sounded like he was crying, and as he sat up shakily he was clutching a hand to his right eye, the rest of his face was cut up and bleeding. He obviously didn't notice Tony and Pepper looking shocked and scared for him.

"Oh god, Peter what happened?!" Lily said, shooting up from her chair and rushing to the boy who was sitting cross-legged. He just mumbled in response, seemingly crying harder.

"Was it Flash again?" The boy nodded, Lily's face contorted in anger, "I swear Peter if we had more funding I'd sue that school in a heartbeat, but for now, let's get you patched up. Here sit here, don't move. I'll go get the kit, and your favourite band-aids." Peter nodded, letting himself get led to the couch, picking at his pants at the knees, the holes in them fraying further. His eye was just getting worse and he was still crying. Then he saw his bag came into view at his feet he looked up at the hand holding it and almost had a heart attack, moving to the back of the chair.

"Miss. Potts! What are you doing down in Queens?" He said, still holding a hand over his eye.

"Well kid, we were here to adopt, but you came barging in through the front door, and got the attention of that Lily character." Peter looked like he could just about die.

"Mr Stark Ironman sir. I didn't know you were here. This is not how I would imagine meeting my idol, but I guess life has its ways, you know what, I have homework, I'm just gonna go." Peter made a move to get up, only for Pepper to out a firm hand on his shoulder and press him back into the seat. "Nu-uh Mister, you look a mess," Pepper said, his breathing was picking up, and Miss Lily wasn't there to calm him down from an anxiety attack like normal. His vision was getting blurry and he could feel himself crying even harder. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice, Miss lily was crouched in front of him, telling him to breath with her.

"Come on Peter, breath with me, you're ok. Here let me get those cuts on your face, did he face those rings on again?" Peter was calmer now, he just nodded. She sighed, trying to figure another way to calm him down, working her way around the cuts and bruises, placing band-aids on the worse cuts.

"Hey Peter, I heard about that new book you wanted going on sale. I was thinking of getting it for you as an early birthday present." Peter just chuckled, letting out a small laugh.

"You know I hate presents Miss Lily," Peter mumbled, making the woman laugh.

"I told you to stop calling me that. You've known me since you were six. Besides, you know I love seeing your face when you get presents. And you've been talking about that book since he said he was writing another one." Tony realised that this boy was the same that Lily had mentioned earlier.

"How could I not, Bruce Banner is the most renowned scientist of our generation, beside Tony Stark. I mean have you read his works on Gamma radiation?!" Peter exclaimed, making Pepper and Tony share a glance.

"I tried Peter, you even tried to explain it to me but I couldn't get it, remember?" Peter just rolled his eyes, allowing her to continue putting band-aids on him, and rub salve in. He continued to ramble about the books however, making a soft smile rest on Tony's face. When Lily took the seat next to him he stopped, realising who else was in the room, flushing a deep red.

"Nice band-aids kid," Tony said, smirking. Peter didn't say anything in response, just looking down at his knees, he glanced at Lily.

"Miss. Lily, I actually do have a lot of Homework. Mr Hamilton was annoyed that I got full marks and wanted to prove a point." He said quietly, Lily just threw him an annoyed glance.

"We both know you can do that in under half an hour. We have a rule, Peter." Peter just crossed his arms over his chest.

"I know, no reading or writing until one hour after an anxiety attack." Peter resigned to staring up at the ceiling. Lily just pet him on the knee, turning back to Tony and Pepper.

"One nasty anxiety attack kid," Tony commented, Peter just huffed in response, earning a glare from Tony, Lily just waved a hand.

"Don't mind him, he gets like this when he can't do his work. He's been having them since he was a kid, they say it's because of separation anxiety, he doesn't like being around people he doesn't know, and sometimes blacks out during them. Another reason he hasn't been adopted." Pepper and Tony shared another look.

"I don't see any reason why that is a problem. Peter, is it ok if you tell us about yourself?" Pepper said gently, Peter looked up at her and shrugged.

"There's not much to tell. I'm not all that interesting. I only have two friends, I get straight A's, do college-level work instead of classwork. I dunno, I like Star Wars and Lego, I like red and blue, nothing else." Lily threw him a disappointed look.

"Nonsense, Peter is the most hard-working and resilient boy I know. Genius in my opinion, he does gymnastics, trust me it's freaky when he does the splits. Mightly flexible, he also does dance, he got free ballet classes from a studio in Brooklyn." Peter snapped his head up again to look at Lily.

"You promised you wouldn't tell anyone! You know I hate it when people know." He mumbled the last part, flushing even redder, Pepper just laughed.

"Nothing to be embarrassed of kid. Nat would love you, plus I'd like to know more about this genius stuff." Peter looked at Tony surprised, Peter wasn't going to answer, but Lily did for him.

"He got his IQ tested at school for something, they estimated around 270, but they couldn't gage it fully. Tony's eyes bugged out of his head.

"Pepper, I want this one." Pepper swatted him again.

"He's not a toy Tony. Peter, would you like to be adopted by Tony and me? Only if you wanted to of course. You could keep going to your school, keep all your extracurriculars and you'd move into the Tower with us, you could even-" Pepper was cut off by Peter's confused voice.

"Why me?" He said quietly, forcing the room into quietness.

"I'll leave you three," Lily said, swiftly leaving the room.

"Listen, kid, I'm not that fond of kids, but you're different. You're smart, heck you're smarter than me. You're kind and not afraid to show your emotions. God, you're even sassy like me. I can tell you and I will get along. I don't care about your past, and I don't care that you're damaged. You're a good kid." Peter was left speechless by Tony's words.

"But, you could pick someone so much better," Peter said quietly.

"There isn't anyone better Peter," Pepper said, making Peter smile a little, standing up so he could draw Pepper into an impromptu hug.

"Where's my hug?" Tony said Peter smiled before drawing Tony into another hug.

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Peter was settled in his room, looking around in awe, his black eye already almost gone. He'd been at the tower for three days, and Tony had ordered everything he could think of that Peter had mentioned to him already. He knew a lot already, the kid never shuts up. Pepper was there too, talking with him about something, Tony was there as well, but he obviously wasn't paying attention, based on the swivelling in the wheely chair.

"So, Peter, is there anything else we should know about you?" Pepper said, drawing Peter out of his thoughts.

"I'm kind of allergic to peppermint. Spider thing." Peter smirked at the confusion evident in Pepper's face and the curiosity in Tony's, "Oh, you should probably know. I'm spiderman."