(a/n Okay guys so school just started back up, and I just don't have enough energy right now to finish the next chapter, so this is like an omake of moments that Pete goes through while getting trained by Stark, before we get back with Alex and continue the main story. Sorry for the inconsistent upload schedule.)
Peter Parker POV:
-o-
Day 1.
Today was my first day of hero training? Stark Internship? I don't actually know what to call it. When I called him the other day, Mr. Stark just told me to pop in whenever, and since I kinda have a packed schedule, with school and gym and stuff, I asked Mr. Stark if he could get me as an official intern so I can just skip school for "work studies".
I mean, all the stuff they teach at school I already know, so it should be fine.
As I walked up to the front gates of Stark Industries for the second time this week, I had to look up and admire how amazing the whole building looks. It was so tall that even after looking straight up, I could barely see the Stark logo.
I must look like a dork just looking straight up in the front of the stark tower. I turn my gaze back down. Somehow, while I was looking up, something snuck up on me. Something, not someone.
A few meters in front of me, a goddamn goose was waddling down the runway like it owned the place, gaze full of supiriority.
It was bigger than usual, coming up to my waist, with pure white fur, no, feathers, and radiating an aura of arrogance.
How did I even sense the emotions of the goose? Was this another part of my new spider powers? Wait, get my mind back on task, What the hell was a goose doing here?
It made eye contact with me. It honked judgementally and walked past me, as if asking "whatchu looking at".
My gaze followed it as the goose flaunted its avian ass like a model, with something in his mouth that wasn't there before. It waddled off into the sunset.
Eh, that was strange. I turn back and make my way into the main entrance of the building. A wall of sound hits my senses.
The sleek and futuristic building I saw during the field trip was nowhere in sight, and all that was left was chaos. The speakers were blaring with an automated voice, talking about some security breach on repeat. All the robots were knocked over and broken, sparks were flying out, the employees were running all over the place, and some just having a panic attack right there in the middle of the lobby.
I listened more closely to the announcement.
"Warning to all active personnel: Containment failure in Lab 4. Experiment #26 has neutralized security drones. Do not engage. Repeat: Do NOT engage."
What the heck happened?
I step forward to help the closest employee, and feel something mush under my feet.
It was a greenish brownish log of... oh.
now that I look, this wasn't the only place it was. It was scattered all over the lobby, the stench permeating the air.
Suddenly, Ironman, in his not-so-sleek-and-shiny-anymore mark six suit, comes flying in.
"Hey, kiddo, not the best time. The incarnation of the devil just broke containment. Come back tomorrow, and let's start then." He talked hurriedly, and without even waiting for my response, rushed out of the building.
O-okay, I guess. I turn around and decide not to think about it any longer. It didn't seem like anybody was hurt, though.
I pat my back pocket as I get ready to board the bus, Looking for my compass card.
Where the fuck did my wallet go.
-o-
Day 4.
I decide to give them a few more days to recover from whatever that was before going back.
This time as I came to the building, I was escorted through the still recovering lobby and up the levels, and I find out that the ground level wasn't the only one in repair. All the other levels all look somewhat in disrepair.
I get that stuff out of my head, and get escorted to the top floor of the tower.
There, Mr. Stark was waiting for me, back turned and looking out of the window mysteriously.
"H-Hey Mr. Stark, I'm here." I announce my presence awkwardly.
He turns around. Hey, Peter. Sorry about the mess last time. Something escaped containment.
He starts walking towards me. Now that he's closer, he has a big red beak mark(?) on his forehead.
"Sadly, we couldn't re-capture it, but we have every camera in New York scanning the streets for it. Also, Stop calling me Mr. Stark. Call me Tony or something." He continued, while motioning me to follow him.
"The first thing you need to learn before becoming a hero is the basics. How to fight hand to hand. If you don't know how to fight, with powers or not, super suit or not, you won't be able to win against anybody with more skill than you."
"I alread-" I try to cut in, but he just continues.
"I've seen your school grades, and you're a genius. Almost my level. maybe a little lower than me." He looks back at my baffled face and corrects himself. "Scratch that, a lot lower. And you don't look like the type to be able to fight."
He leads me into a room with a boxing ring in the middle and throws me a pair of gloves.
"Now, go all out on me with everything you got. I'm a professional boxer." He smirks and gets in the ring.
"Are you sure?" I question him. "I've been training to fight for half a year now, and I'm pretty strong. I could hurt you. N-not trying to say you're weak-"
"And I've been training for decades, kid. just come at me with all you've got." He says, as he gets in a boxing position.
"O-okay..." I mutter as I hop in the ring.
"Alright, kid, let's see what you've got," Tony taunts, bouncing on his heels. I hesitate for a second, then throw a quick jab to test the waters.
Tony's smirk vanishes.
"Oh sh-"
30 seconds later
Tony was knocked out cold on the ground, his nose bent in a weird direction.
I kneel over him, trying to check for a pulse. Nothing. My brain short-circuits—oh my god, did I just kill Iron Man?
Wait. Right. He has a metal heart. Duh.
I check the pulse in his wrist, and thankfully, he's alive.
"ohmygoshimsosorryimsosorry" I mutter over and over.
"Mr. Parker, it might be better if you come back and visit again in a few days. Mr. Stark has to recover his injuries and his pride." A robotic voice comes on the speakers.
This must be the AI assistant that Tony talked about in a few of his interviews. "...yeah- Tell Tony that I'm really sorry."
I scurry out of the building at maximum speed, terrified that I'll get into trouble for beating up the CEO.
-o-
Day 7-Present.
For the next few weeks, we spent all of our time designing my superhero suit. What did I expect? I'm interning with the guy who does suits as his career.
-o-
"So, Kid, what are you gonna use as your main weapon, other than, you know, your fists?" Tony starts.
"So- Uhm, after learning that my powers came from a spider, I've been thinking-"
I pull out the vials of web fluid that I made in chemistry class from my back pocket.
He gives me a deadpan stare.
"Look, I get that you're a hormonal teenager and all, but a masturbation addiction isn't healthy. Howd you even collect that much? And you're going to use these as your main weapon?" He raised his eyebrow.
I stare back. "This is web fluid. It gets really sturdy and sticky when it comes into contact with oxygen. It's a great capture weapon."
"Sure. So, web shooters. I assume they come out of your hands because you're boring?"
"Huh? of course they come out of my hands-"
"Wrong. An actual spider spins webs from its ass. If we're going for authenticity, the web shooters should be right here." He points at my ass, with a shit eating grin plastered on his face.
"We are not doing that."
"Coward."
Turns out the Tony Stark I knew was only a facade, and the real one had the humor sense of an 8th grader.
-o-
"So, basic suit functions," Tony said, clicking through a holographic list. "We need strength enhancement, durability- oh! How about a built-in piss n shit disposal system?"
I stared at him. "What."
"You never know when you're mid-swing, fighting a villain, and bam! The Chinese food from last night wants revenge. What are you gonna do then, huh?" He tapped his temple. "That's called thinking ahead."
"What's wrong with you?"
He waved a dismissive hand. "I'm putting it on the list."
"Take it off the list."
"Too late. Legally binding."
-o-
After hours of actual work (mostly tony proposing some useless feature and me shooting him down), we had a working prototype.
Tony tossed it to me.
It was… spandex.
Shiny, skin-tight, metallic blue and red spandex.
About what I would expect if someone made an iron man themed latex suit.
I held it up, horrified, eyes wide.
"What? It's aerodynamic, it's durable, and it shows off your-"
I narrowed my eyes. "Finish that sentence, and I'm punching you again."
Tony raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. So what do you want?"
I pulled out my notebook and flipped to my sketches. "I was thinking something less tight and more casual. Like a hoodie. Something flexible, easy to move in, and with a hood so I can hide my face when I'm not wearing the mask. And look cool. Mostly look cool."
Tony arched a brow. "Oh, so we're going for 'Broke College Student Who Also Happens to Be a Superhero' aesthetic?"
"Yeah."
"Fine. Hood it is."
He made a few quick adjustments to the hologram, shifting the design into something bulkier, like casual clothes. A hoodie over mask, more relaxed instead of second-skin tight.
"Also, we're slapping an Arc Reactor in the middle."
I blinked. "Wait, what?"
"For power. Duh." He zoomed in on the suit's chest area, inserting the mini-reactor design. "Your web shooters will run on it, plus I can add shock absorption and a built-in heater so you don't cry about the suit being cold."
"…That actually sounds useful for once."
"See? Not all my ideas suck."
"You also suggested a built in silencer."
Tony frowned. "And you're telling me that wouldn't be useful? Silent but deadly, baby."
-o-
After a few days of making the changes, I finally got the suit. And it was perfect.
It fit like a second skin but wasn't too tight. The hoodie gave it a low-key street hero look, and the Arc Reactor hummed softly in the middle, powering everything.
The bright metallic colors were dulled for better infiltration, and there was considerably more black on it than last time. A massive spider logo was drawn on the chest of the hoodie, the legs wrapping around and reaching my back.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
"Damn," I muttered.
Tony clapped his hands. "Alright, suit's done. Now go try it out, and come see me later for some actual hero training."
I grinned. "Thanks, Tony. This means a lot."
Tony waved me off. "Yeah, yeah. Just let me know when you're ready for Mark II."
I paused. "Mark II?"
"You know, for when you finally accept that the webs should come out of your ass. Like an actual spider."
I groaned and swung out of the lab before he could say another word. That was a lie. I wouldn't try it for the first time from this high of a building.
I rode the elevator down.
(a/n I actually got kinda carried away when I was writing this- I made it longer than the usual chapters. I should be doing my physics hw rn.)