Peter sat in the back seat of a modern black car, trapped between four moving walls. He was now alone, Clint abandoning him after getting him in the car. The driver didn't even acknowledge him, closing the window that separated him from the boy. Peter almost laughed at that, it wasn't like he wanted to have a chat with the man, he would gladly sit here in peace and quiet, but regardless it was a bit rude action of the driver.

Peter didn't know how long the drive would take or where he was being taken to, but seeing that he would be meeting the king, he presumed that he would go to the palace. He didn't know what the terrible man that started this all wanted with him, nor he didn't know if this was a current practice that all the selected had to go through, Harley didn't mention anything, but they didn't talk much to start with, so Peter was in the dark.

Maybe he should see this as an opportunity, maybe he could convince that he wasn't supposed to get selected and his score was wrong, he certainly wouldn't want someone not smart on his section. Perhaps that was the reason why he was going to see him, for the man to break down to him the terrible news that he wasn't really selected, and he would have to go back to section one.

For once, Peter felt more relaxed, the possibility of returning home lift his spirits. He knew that it was a dangerous game he was playing, deceiving himself, giving false hope, but he couldn't help himself, he just wanted to go home and at the small window of opportunity to dream about going home he would take it.

Now more at ease, Peter took in the view from the window. While the academy appeared to be more isolated surrounded by a small forest, they appeared to be arriving in the city. Peter couldn't help but gasp at what he was seeing. The city alone was the complete opposite of section two, the streets were immaculate, the buildings were new and well treated, there were no beggars, or people poor dressed. Peter felt like he was in another world, sure he knew that section one was richer and more developed, but not at this scale.

He was mesmerized looking at the expensive cars that paced by him, or the grand scales TVs that were displayed on top of buildings. Eventually, much to peter distaste, they left the city and were back to seeing trees in both sides.

Suddenly they stopped, but Peter couldn't see why since he was unable to see the front. His curiosity turned to dread as they started moving again and Peter saw it, the royal guards, they had arrived at the palace.

Peter couldn't see much as they drove forward, just the massive, well-tended garden that probably contained every plant known to man. He could also see the royal guards dressed in red and gold, the colors of the kingdom.

They stopped again and this time he heard the sound of a door opening and closing before his door was opened. The driver was there telling him to get out of the car before handing him to a guard.

It happens to quickly and sooner than he realized he was being walked into the palace, a guard on each side of him. He felt like a prisoner while being escorted by two armed guards. He didn't get the all the precautions, it was not like he would try to run; Peter was smart enough to know that the guards could kill him in the snap of their fingers. So of course, he would stay in his place, while surrounded by guards in probably the most guarded place of the country.

They stopped in front of a door knocking before opening it telling him to get inside, or more likely pushing him inside, before banging the door shut once again.

For a moment, Peter thought that he was alone in the room. He was in an office, a massive one, but cozy, nonetheless. What draw his eye was the shelves full off books, and a closer look he almost squealed from happiness at seeing the titles. It was full of the biggest scientific books, books that Peter would die to get his hands on. He was about to take one when a voice startled him

"I'm glad you like the books, but don't treat me like a ghost"

Peter screamed, dropping the book on the floor, before turning to see who the hell had pop up from nowhere.

It was the king, in the flesh, he was in the king's office, he touched the king's private property. Oh god, that had to be a crime, he was probably going to lose a hand for that.

"Your majesty, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there, and I didn't know that these books were yours-" Peter started rambling in hopes that he would be spared from the sword.

"Relax kid, you can touch the books all you want, hell you can even take it with you, god knows when was the last time someone read those" the man dressed in a pristine suit gets up from his seat behind the desk, bending down to pick up the book, now stood in front of a terrified Peter "uh you got a good taste, kid" he said reading the title "you like this kind of books?"

"Yes, your majesty, we don't get these books back home" Peter responded trying not to stutter

"Don't call me that, kid, I'm not into the titles, Tony is fine" Peter was horrified, no way in hell he would treat the king with his first name, he may not like the man, but that level of disrespect could get your head chopped off.

"Are you liking your stay at the academy?" this was Peter chance; he could plead his case and maybe the man could find it in his heart to send him back home

"Look, Mr. Stark, there must have been a mistake in the scores, because there is no way I got enough to be selected I'm just average" Peter tried to explain his situation the best he could, but the king just sat back on his chair and looked at him

"Come sit, kid, there is something I want to show you" Peter had no choice but to obey the man sitting opposite to the king himself.

A monitor was turned to him making him almost gasp when he saw what was playing it was him, writing his Exam, more accurately erasing his correct answer to replace them with the wrong ones. He had been caught, he didn't know that they would be seeing him to catch what he was doing.

Peter just watched the screen, not knowing what to say, he just wanted to bolt out of the room to escape these images.

"Look at you go, changing all your answers" Mr. Stark said ironically looking at him with a smirk

"I'm not doing it on purpose, Mr. Stark, I genuinely thought that they were wrong" Peter explained hoping that the man would buy it.

"You got one thing right, Peter, you didn't score enough" a folder was pushed in front of him, it had his name and a copy of his exam with a red stamp saying rejected on the top corner. Peter wasn't selected, that meant he would go back home, right?

"But you were caught I can't say cheating, but you tried to bride the system"

"Mr. Stark I-"

"The adult is talking right now Pete" he said holding a hand up, making Peter instantly shut up "so what are we doing right now, is that you will be making another exam, in here right now"

Peter would be having a do-over exam, well that was great, it was the same thing as if the man sent him home. He would have just written the wrong answers and this time he would not get excited he would just do it wrong the first time

"I can see what you're thinking, so let me warn you off something, a piece of advice." He leaned on the table closer to peter, "if I see that you try to sabotage your way out of it, let's just say you wouldn't want anything happening to your lovely aunt, would you?"

He was threatening his aunt, and Peter could see that it wasn't an empty one. Furthermore, he was terrified, of letting anything happening to his aunt, it would kill him. So, he only shook his head furiously, fearing that if he took too long to answer the man would make word of his threat

"Good, I'm glad we're on the same page" the king said smugly, and honestly peter wanted to jump to his throat, but he just took a deep breath and tried no letting his tears show.

Stark, silently pass him his new exam and a pen, which he reluctantly took.

As Peter wrote his answers, he felt the eyes of the man buried in him, observing his every move, honestly, the boy was physically trying to stop his hands from shaking. This time, he was trying his hardest to not fail, he couldn't risk it with a threat on his aunt, he could live with himself away from her but knowing she was safe.

He checked his answers twice this time, trying to find any possible mistake that he could have missed, when he couldn't spot one, he just announced quietly that he was finished

"Done, already, that was quick" the king said more to himself than to peter, before moving to pick up the piece of paper from Peter.

"Here, while I grade this, you can read it." Mr. Stark said, handing him the book that he previously had attempted to grab it. Although now Peter had no will to read it, especially with the man in front of him grading his exam, the same one that his aunt safety relied on. Regardless he opened the book, but a few pages in, despite his need to distract himself he couldn't concentrate on his reading, always stealing glances at the king grading his test trying to read the expression on his face. The more he thought of the situation the more he found it weird, why had the king opened his office to Peter just for him to do his exam again, and on top of that grade it himself. Couldn't he have sent someone to do it? Or having Peter do it at the academy. Why was he wasting all this time just for one student? As the king, he must have enormous amounts of work, Peter presumes.

"See Peter, when you put real effort, you always manage to succeed" the king announce all off the sudden, making peter look up from the page that he was trying to read for the third time.

The test was pushed back on his direction this time with the score on top '100%' it read. Peter didn't know if he was relieved or terrified by the simple red ink. Maybe a mixture of both, while he was more than relieved that his aunt would be safe, he would be stuck here away from her. It was a loss either way, at least for Peter.

"It will be a pleasure having you at the academy, Peter, I'm sure" Mr. Stark monologue while rearranging some papers "It's a great institution, I design it myself, with the inspiration of the place I studied when I was your age" he was handed another folder, similar his old one only this time were previously said the words rejected now said "accepted". Is fate was sealed, he was trapped.

"Do me a favor and hand off that to Clint, don't try any funny business Kid, that is just a copy, throwing it in the trash won't change anything. You may go now; someone will escort you back" Peter quickly put down the book he was still holding and replace it with the stupid folder before got up to hurry to the door, just as he stretched his hand to turn the handle the king stopped him again

"Peter, why don't you take the book with you. You can turn it back when you finish it" Peter wanted to take the book with him, he really did. He wanted the opportunity to really focus on it, eat all the wise words written on it. But he didn't want to come back here, he didn't want to have to look in the eyes of the king. A man with so much Power on the tip of his fingertips that could do anything he wished to the boy and get away with it, more importantly he could hurt his aunt. So, Peter didn't want to risk it, not for a simple book

"Thanks Mr. Stark, but I don't really like to read" Peter said simply. A lie, that what it was, because that what Peter was a liar, to his aunt, to his friends.

"Uh, I thought that you liked these kinds of books, you know, since you didn't have them in section two" it was said innocently, but Peter knew he had been caught again. Of course, he had said that, how could he forget.

"I was just admiring them, they were pretty never saw one like that" Peter knew he should learn to lie better, because looking at the ugly shade of green the book was anything but pretty. And the king seemed to thought so, given the look he gave Peter.

"I suppose you don't like going to the library either" Peter loved going to the library, they had a small one back home, it didn't had much, and the books were often missing a few crucial pages,

But Peter didn't mind, it was his safe space since not many people share his passion, so the library was mostly empty.

"No, sir" Come on, he was so close of the door, but the king just didn't shut up. He seriously just wanted to get out.

"So, you did all your schoolwork without reading books!" Peter didn't really see where this conversation was going, but if he was honest, it was starting to freak him out.

"Yes, Mr. Stark, never really need them" he answers simply

"OK, Peter, just one last thing. I expect you do well in your classes from now on, if you don't, I will know" It was a threat, Peter could tell, but he just nodded and got out of the room finally breathing of relief, that was the stressful conversation he ever had.

"You're finally done, kid?" he almost screamed when the guard showed up to his face. Seriously, didn't this people had no respect for personal space. Regardless, he nodded silently, he was done talking.

The trip back, was not as enjoyable as the first. This time he didn't look out the window enjoying the view, instead he spent all the drive looking at the folder resting on his lap. Perhaps the king just gave him that, just to taunt him. He didn't want anything else.

When he arrived once again back to the academy, Clint was there waiting for him, honestly, he was starting to get tired of seeing the man.

"Peter how did it go meeting the king" Clint exclaimed happily as he walked to meet him

Peter didn't answer the stupid question, instead he gave the man the folder he had been clutching all the drive here, "I was told to give you this"

Mr. Barton looked at the result on the paper and exclaimed, "a one hundred doesn't come by every often, Peter. And one on a test made by the king himself, can't say I ever saw it before"

Well great, what ever Peter did he only managed to stick out even more.