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“No, no, no, no, no.” Peter’s grumbles grew more frantic as he searched through his backpack, a certain plastic folder not in sight. “No, please be here!”
Peter’s heart dropped in his chest as there was no sight of his project that was due today. He slumped against his locker. His forehead made a bang that echoed down the hallway, drawing a few gazes.
“Dude? Are you okay?” Ned asked, appearing by Peter’s side.
“No,” Peter mumbled into the metal of his locker. “I’m doomed.”
“How doomed are we talking?” Ned asked. “Like grounded I-can’t-see-the-new-Star-War’s-movie like we planned or doomed like I-need-a-spare-pair-of-underwear?”
Peter turned to his best friend, giving him a pout. “I-left-my-project-that-is-due-today-at-home doomed.”
Ned winced. “Oh man.”
Peter can picture it clearly, sitting on the kitchen bench where he left it. He had put it there the night before so he wouldn’t forget it. So much for that plan. He should have just put it in his bag.
“You’ve got time,” Ned said. “Our class isn’t until second period. Maybe just text your mum or dad and ask if they can bring it for you.”
Peter’s heart gave an extra beat as hope washed through him. Both his parents were working at the moment and were really busy but maybe….Peter quickly pulled out his phone and opened up the text thread he had with his mum and dad.
SOS!
I left my project on the kitchen bench!
Can someone drop it off?
Please!
As Peter waited for a response, he put his backpack away and collected his pencil case and books for his first class.
“Anything?” Ned asked as they made their way to their first class.
“Not yet,” Peter sighed.
As Ned and Peter made their way into the classroom, Peter’s phone buzzed. He hurried to take it out, casting a look around for the teacher and quickly read the message.
Got it! – Dad
Peter sunk into his chair, letting out a breath. “Dad got it.”
“Sweet,” Ned grinned, offering Peter his fist.
Peter bumped, grinning right back. His first class went quickly and when the bell rang, Peter picked up his belongings and made his way to his next one. He sent a quick message off to the text thread with which room he was in, and his stomach churned with nerves as he waited.
“Good morning,” the teacher called out as they strode into the room. “I hope we all have our projects on us. Today is the day.”
As the class begun to pull out their projects, Peter swallowed, craning his neck to look at the door. His heart pounded as the teacher started moving about the room, collecting everyone’s work.
There was a knock on the door and Peter let out a breath as it peered opened, and his mother stepped into the room.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Pepper Potts said, smiling at the teacher who had frozen in shock. She held up Peter’s project. “I’m just here to drop this off for Peter.”
Peter leapt out of his chair, grinning as he hurried over to Pepper. “Thanks mum!”
“You’re welcome,” Pepper said, handing it over when Peter reached her. “Just like your father. Next time, be a little more careful.”
“I will,” Peter promised. He darted forward, hugging Pepper quickly. “You’re the best! Love you.”
“Love you too. Have a good day,” Pepper smiled, pecking a quick kiss to Peter’s cheek. She surveyed the room, giving another smile. “Sorry for the interruption. Have a good day.”
Peter hurried back to his table, slipping into his chair, relief coursing through him. He looked to the teacher, only to realise that they whole class was staring at him.
“What?”
“Did you just call Pepper Potts mum?” Gabe blurted out.
Peter frowned. “Yes.”
“No way is she your mum,” Flash argued.
“Why wouldn’t she be my mum?” Peter frowned.
“Oscar award winner Pepper Potts is your mum?” Hannah asked, looking at Peter like she had never seen him before.
As Peter glanced at all his classmates staring at him, it occurred to him that he had forgotten something very important. While it wasn’t exactly news that Peter Parker had been adopted, he had forgotten to mention exactly who had adopted him.
Peter hadn’t always lived in New York. He had grown up in California and had lived with his aunt and uncle when his parents had passed away. Another tragedy had struck, and Peter’s aunt and uncle had been killed in a robbery while Peter had been at school when he was only ten. He went into the foster system where he stayed for a few years before his paths had crossed with Tony Stark.
Tony Stark was a well-known actor who had starred in many movies as a child. What most people didn’t know was that Tony was also a genius and when he wasn’t acting, he was inventing. Peter had loved Tony’s invention and had been following the genius’s work ever since he had learned to read.
When Tony Stark came to Peter’s school for a visit as he was filming a new superhero movie nearby, Peter had been the only student who had asked him about his other line of work. Tony had lit up at Peter’s questions and had happily chatted with him. Peter had ridden that high for the rest of the day and through the rest of the week.
When Tony had turned up at the foster care that Peter was staying at, he had been floored. One visit had turned into another, then another and Peter somehow found himself in the care of Tony Stark and his fiancé Pepper Potts.
At first, Peter hadn’t believed it. Life with Tony and Pepper was everything that Peter had missed with May and Ben. There were some ups and down’s as they came together as a family. On Pepper and Tony’s wedding day, Peter got to stand up the front with them where they also shared the surprise that they were adopting Peter.
They had come to New York when a new movie role for Pepper came up and Peter had enrolled at Midtown Highschool of Science and Technology. He had only been at the school for about six months but had had finally found his best friend – Ned.
Tony and Pepper had gone to great lengths to keep Peter out of the media spotlight. While it was mentioned that they had adopted a son, there were very little pictures of him on the internet.
“I don’t want your childhood to be like mine,” Tony had said.
And so, Peter often forgot that his parents were famous when to him they were just mum and dad.
“They adopted me back in California,” Peter said, a flush creeping up his neck. “You can Google it.”
“Okay class, that’s enough,” the teacher said, quickly pulling herself together. “Peter’s home life is not the topic of today’s lesson. Projects please!”
Peter handed his over as they teacher passed his desk and he spent the rest of the lesson with his head down, aware that his classmates were whispering.
When the bell rang, before Peter even had a chance to stand up, a few of his classmates hovered around his desk.
“Is your mum going to pick you up today?” Hannah asked, looking wide-eyed.
“Can I come over today?” Seb asked.
“Peter’s coming to mine after school to build a Lego death star,” Ned said, glaring at the group. “Come on, Peter. Let’s go.”
Peter was grateful for Ned, letting his friend act as a barrier as they hurried to their next class. They slipped into their next class, finding a table at the back.
“Thanks, Ned,” Peter smiled gratefully.
“Any time,” Ned grinned right back. “And it will die down.”
“Yeah,” Peter said. He understood. Sometimes he still had to pinch himself that Tony and Pepper were his family and he counted himself lucky every day that they had come into his life.
The first time Peter had brought Ned over for a sleep over, Tony had been there, and Ned had made an odd squeaking noise. Tony had been amused by it and by the time Ned and Peter had crawled into bed, Ned had gotten over his shock. Yet, every time Ned came over, he was still a little awestruck by his parents. Peter had felt the exact same way when he had first met them.
By the time school had ended, Peter had gotten a few more questions about his famous parents and he really hoped that Ned was right and that they would lose interest soon enough. After school he went to Ned’s where they quickly did their homework and then started to build the Lego Death Star.
Peter’s phone chimed with a message later in the afternoon and he pulled out his phone to look at it.
“My dad is here,” Peter said, climbing to his feet. “Thanks Ned! This was fun.”
Ned climbed to his feet, grinning at Peter. “We nearly finished it. One more afternoon and we can finish it off.”
Peter held out his hand for a fist bump. “I’ll ask my dad if I can come over again tomorrow.”
“Text me,” Ned said as they headed out of Ned’s bedroom.
With one more goodbye at the door, Peter hurried to the car that was waiting, slipping into the passenger seat.
“Hey kiddo,” Tony greeted him warmly. “You have fun with Ted?”
“Ned,” Peter corrected, amused. “And yeah! We nearly finished it!”
“Good job,” Tony said. “You get your homework done too?”
“Yes,” Peter nodded.
“How was school?” Tony asked as he pulled into the traffic. “Get your project handed in?”
“Yes. Mum came just in time,” Peter said. He shifted in his seat, picking at his seatbelt. “My class knows that you are my parents.”
Tony gave Peter a side-long glance. “That wasn’t the plan?”
Peter blinked at Tony. “Huh?”
Tony gave a casual shrug. “You’ve been at this school for a while. And we aren’t mad or upset. Pep and I thought it was sweet.”
Realisation dawned on Peter. “You thought I wanted to let my class know my parents were famous.”
Tony gave a grin. “You’re older now. And while Pep and I still want you out of the media so you can still grow into the person you are without everyone else snapping pictures of you 24 hours a day, we don’t mind if you want to tell your classmates.”
Peter’s heart fluttered. “Thanks. But, uh, that wasn’t my plan. I kind of forgot you and mum are famous. You’re just mum and dad.”
Peter expected Tony to laugh but instead Tony’s expression became fond, and he gave Peter one of those looks that his Uncle Rhodey called his ‘gooey and paternal’ face. Peter loved that face.
“I’m so happy you feel that way, kid.”
Peter smiled, a flush working its way across his cheeks. “I love you guys.”
“We love you too,” Tony promised.
As Tony drove them home, Peter decided he didn’t care if everyone found out that he was adopted by Tony and Pepper Stark. He knew they loved him with all their hearts and that was all that mattered to him.