Pew!
Peter shuddered and hurriedly pressed his palm against his mouth when the shooter, who was so thoughtlessly rubbing in his hands as if confirming his words, fired a sharp shot.
And a white, sticky web blindfolded Tony's whole chest and right arm.
The room was so quiet, you could hear a pin fall.
Peter was sure that everyone in the room was finally convinced that he had just signed his own death warrant. A few months ago, he himself would have thought the same thing.
But now he was trying his best not to laugh. Tony threw a glance at him.
- Yeah, you didn't have to show it, kid, - he said, rolling his eyes, and Peter ran his hand over his hair in embarrassment.
- Tony, I'm so sorry! I'll get the solvent now.
- That's what I was talking about, - Tony told the class as Peter dug through the glass cabinet looking for the right fluid. - While he's trying to get this thing off me, does anyone else have any questions?
- Is Parker in trouble now? Will he be fired? - Flash asked, staring at Peter.
Tony looked at him as if he had said something strange.
- No, of course not. It was just an accident, an easy to repair one. It happens. Next time he will be more careful. Or the one that will be after the next one.
He threw a slanting glance at Peter, who carefully tried to free Tony from this sticky trap.
- Stop laughing!
- I'm not laughing!
- Well, no, I know you, Parker. You laugh in your head. I hear it. Stop it!
- Okay, Daddy.
The phrase came out on the machine, and none of them even noticed it, but the rest of the people in the room had their jaws on the floor.
- More questions? - Tony asked, stretching his hand when Peter had finally removed the remnants of the web.
Flash had one. Well, who would have doubted?
- Why was Parker your personal trainee? - He asked, and his face creased as if he had swallowed some very bitter fruit.
- Can you explain that? - Tony said, bowing his head slightly sideways.
- What was so special about it? He's not even that smart, there are smarter guys in our school,- Flashed spit out , throwing an evil look at him. Peter only wrapped himself tighter in a sweatshirt. - And you're Stark, and you wouldn't hire a high school student.
Tony squinted.
- First of all, for twenty years of my life, I've only heard what Stark can and cannot do, and frankly, I'm tired of listening to it, especially from someone who doesn't even have the right to drive without a mommy sitting in the passenger seat. Second, I'm not sure we're talking about the same person, - he said, and his voice was colder than ice. Tony grabbed Peter's arm by the shoulders, and his aversion to this Thompson only increased when he noticed Peter's outspoken relaxation at his side.
- This Peter Parker is one of the most damn smart people I've ever met, and I've met myself. He's only sixteen, but he's already capable of helping me in almost everything I do and offering valuable advice, so I'm sure he'll be better one day than I am. He is already better than me, because he is kind, generous, responsive and so damn selfless that I would like him to treat himself as well as he treats other people. What is so special about Peter Parker? And what is not so special about him? If this child does not come of age to work in SI, I will buy any company he will find a job with.
In the room again came the dead silence.
Peter's face was burning, but he also felt warmth in his chest, and a lump in his throat, and Tony's hand on his shoulders, which seemed to land and at the same time protect. He smelled the engine oil, and he didn't want to be here so much, and at the same time he wanted to stay here forever.
- Well, uh, we're out of time for the tour, - Kate said indecisively, holding herself together faster than the others.
- He'll stay with me, - said Tony Miss Warren, nodding at Peter. - I've already discussed this with his aunt.
Miss Warren looked at the messages that Tony had shown her and said that Peter could of course stay, so it was soon just the two of them.
- Was that Mr. Stark's way enough? - Tony asked. His voice was soft, like he was guessing what Peter was thinking right now. Maybe he was.
Instead of answering, Peter grabbed Tony's arms as tightly as he could without breaking his ribs. A gentle hand began to stroke his hair.
- I love you, - he mumbled in Tony's shoulder.
- I love you, too, kiddo. I love you, too.
https://ficbook.net/readfic/7478910 (original text)