Welcome home

As a result, they spent exactly forty minutes in Stark’s workshop. But most of the time everyone stared at Parker. And the guy wanted to fall through the ground. The first time he was so glad that they were not allowed to stay longer than the time allotted for a particular floor. Katheryne, who strictly followed the set schedule, did not allow it. The class teacher, meanwhile, still hadn't returned, and Peter was already beginning to think that she had decided to walk to the ninety-fifth floor, otherwise it would have been difficult, to put it mildly, to justify such a long absence. Parker desperately counted the minutes until the end of the damned excursion. He had already grown to hate the initiators of this excursion, although he did not know these people by sight. No, well, what individual in the sphere of thinking came up with this idea? The guy stood pressed against the wall and pulling his hood as tight as possible. He seemed to feel every gaze on him so clearly that he could count them. Despite the fact that some tried to do it unnoticed, while others, on the contrary, were not at all embarrassed, looking at the guy as if for the first time. And there was only one thing that made him happy. For all the time spent here, Flash will definitely not get him again, at least not today. Until he comes up with a «logical» explanation for what happened. Something smarter than «Parker is a billionaire richer than Tony Stark.» And he will definitely come up with an idea. Now Thompson was walking like dumbfounded, walking nervously from one corner of the workshop to the other, pretending to look at everything like the others, but at the same time thinking about something. In truth, Peter didn't hear everything Stark said to Thompson. But judging by the guy’s nervous appearance, this was clearly not an offer to drink together. Katheryne looked around, noticing a suitable place, and headed straight there. The girl climbed onto a small hill almost in the very center of the workshop, brazenly stood in front of one of the exhibition of Marks and raised her hands above her head, loudly clapping her hands, attracting the general attention of the youth. – Time's up! – she announced loudly. Frustrated sighs were immediately heard from the side. – Don’t scatter, gather in pairs and stand behind each other, – Ward commanded. But they still listened to her rather reluctantly; the teenagers continued to look at and touch everything around. And someone extremely brave bombarded Stark with questions, barely making his way to the elevator. Katheryne snorted and added, much louder: – The faster you do this, the more time will be left for the Avengers’ living room. Actually, it was a blatant lie, but the guide had to somehow hurry up the curious tenth graders. After the last announcement, the reaction followed rapidly. The teenagers immediately began to grab each other like a life preserver. Moreover, at times it was so funny that Peter even smiled for a moment. Every now and then, someone would forcibly grab a classmate by the wrist and drag him towards them, forcibly tearing him out of the hands of his comrades and almost dragging him across the floor to himself. – Come here! — a dissatisfied cry was heard from somewhere in the center of the crowd. Peter looked out interestedly, standing up on his tiptoes. It was some guy, whose name Peter had conveniently forgotten, who was pulling his friend by the hem of his shirt with such force that it seemed like the poor fabric was about to tear. – Whoa, whoa. Take it easy. Kat, they are now tearing each other’s hands off. Folks, this is not a biology lesson. Study the structure of the human body another day. – Shut up, Stark. It’s better this way, but at least they’ll get there, – Katya grinned cheerfully, deftly descending the small steps. Tony extended his hand to her, grinning cheerfully. But Katya, pretending not to notice, went downstairs, heading with difficulty towards the gathered children under her responsibility. – Oh, and just yesterday I was at the club, – said Katya. Stark rolled his eyes but didn't say anything. Katheryne, throwing a feignedly innocent glance at Stark, squeezed through, stood at the head of the group and, raising her hand, began to count everyone’s heads, like chickens. – 23, 24, 25... – Peter came to the end of the line that had just lined up, the very last one. The guy was incredibly lucky, and there was an odd number of children in the class. He stood alone at the very end, without a partner. Which means an annoying neighbor who will stare at him like he’s a museum exhibit. There are definitely advantages to this. True, this did not last long. Katheryne, who had finished counting, suddenly called Peter to her. The guy didn't expect this at all. He pointed a finger at his chest, as if asking again, and having received an affirmative nod, he walked towards the girl in confusion. He came out from behind, feeling his gaze following him. Why is she suddenly calling him over? He stands there, doesn’t bother anyone. Doesn't even conflict with anyone, for that matter. Parker, with his hands in his jacket pockets, walked hesitantly towards Ward. – I’ll lose you there, – the girl snorted. Without much ceremony, she grabbed the approaching teenager’s arm and pulled him towards her: – You will accompany me, – she said cheerfully. Peter let out a long breath, closing his eyes for a second. – For what? – He, however, did not understand why he suddenly needed to be brought to the front row. It feels like everyone knows Peter's intentions to be shown as little as possible, and that's why they're dragging him right into the center of all the events. Peter shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, feeling curious glances at his back. Although, if he think about it, so far he was the only one creating problems for himself. Parker, without removing his hood, pulled at his curls, words cannot describe how much he hates it. The elevator doors opened in front of them once again, inviting them inside, but instead of going in, Katya suddenly turned around. – Tony, – she called out to the man. – Are you with us? Stark, meanwhile, was rummaging around on the main table in search of something, it was the widest of all and more rounded in shape, and usually everything that was possible and impossible was lying on it; the man prudently removed all the items from the second category. In response to Katheryne’s question, he simply waved it off, without raising his head and said: – No. I'll get right there later. Katya nodded silently, immediately turning her attention back to the students. – We go in carefully, – she warned once again. And, pulling Parker by the sleeve towards her, she stepped aside to let the children pass. The tenth grade, having received the command, immediately rushed inside the wide elevator, but even despite this, all of them could not fit into it. So Katheryne split the class in half, and they rode in the elevator in two groups. The first group went upstairs, and a minute later the elevator went back down. Having worked here and taken excursions, Peter was absolutely sure that this was the best elevator. An elevator that knows exactly who to take first and who can wait. Parker shook his head. It was he who, out of panic, began to think some kind of devilry. But although... It seems like it has always been like this. The rest of the teenagers went inside, and Katya and Peter were the last to stand, right at the doors. The elevator went up. And Peter frantically wondered if there was any point in trying to merge with the wall, as on the floor earlier. Or it's already too late. After traveling a couple of floors, the elevator stopped at the desired floor. Parker couldn't come to a decision, still hesitating between three options: try to pretend to be a statue and not react at all, just make as little noise as possible, or relax and act as normal. This means that everyone will definitely look at him all the time... Okay. He was thinking about two options. But Friday, as if nothing had happened, announced the floor number and opened the doors. Peter cursed quietly. Sometimes the AI was also the enemy. It was impossible to stop even for a minute. Parker pulled his hood tighter and left the cramped cabin. The Avengers' floor itself was huge, but most of it was taken up by a spacious living room. That was the only part of their tour today, because further down the hall, to the right and left, were the Avengers' own rooms (except for Stark's), private bathrooms, and a kitchen that, frankly, no one used. During the day, the living room was illuminated by huge panoramic windows, which were the far wall, and at night - by a huge chandelier and a couple more large lamps. In the very center was a wide sofa, on either side of it were two armchairs and ottomans, which were strangely scattered throughout the entire floor. One stood by the wall, on which Wanda sat, and the second by the sofa. Clint, with his feet up on the ottoman, was sitting on the sofa. The man had already changed from the gym and was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans. He sat there, staring intently at the screen and loudly clicking the joystick. From the dissatisfied expression on the archer's face, Peter could tell Clint was losing again. Sam was sitting next to him, unlike his friend, he looked much happier. Peter often played with him when he first arrived or left after an internship. A little further away, Wanda was sitting on another ottoman by the wall, with a steaming cup of coffee next to her and some old book in a shabby binding. The witch put her mug on the floor, periodically sipping and reading with concentration, turning the pages. The witch didn't immediately notice the arrival of the teenagers, apparently she was so engrossed in the old reading. Parker turned his gaze back to the sofa. To the right of the tense Barton, Natasha sat, her arms languidly spread out along the back of the sofa in different directions. The spy, wearing only socks, had one leg tucked under her and, trying with all her might not to resort to insults, was advising Clint something, every now and then trying to give him a slap on the back of the head for a crooked blow. However, as Parker himself believes, there was no hint of advice there, more like threats. The guy couldn't help but grin. A little behind, at the bar, sat Steve and Bruce. The men were quietly discussing something, periodically glancing at their phones. As Peter assumed, reading something. In general, a normal day of the floor. But this idyll was quickly broken, as soon as the teenagers appeared. Upon seeing them, everyone immediately put their business aside, turning their attention to the tenth grade. Well, in general, tours are not usually held in the tower, so this will not be a big waste of time for the Avengers. Everyone thought so, except Clint, Sam, and maybe partly Nat. The men didn't even look up, obviously immersed in the game, and the girl smiled welcomingly, quickly looking over the teenagers. Noticing Parker, she raised her eyebrows in surprise and nodded in greeting, returning to the game. The girl frowned with displeasure as she watched the results, but still, unable to resist, she nudged the archer with her hand, actively suggesting that he «not play like a five-year-old who just picked up a joystick» to which she received a portion of verbal anger in response. Parker's emotions quickly varied from animal panic to tense and hopeless. Now it was more like the last stage. The guy swallowed loudly. However, he had nothing to be afraid of anymore. Stark alone had been more than enough to ensure a restless school life for himself. One could only imagine with horror how many people would ask Parker to bring an autograph of this or that superhero. The second group finally exited the elevator, which immediately closed and went back down. Reacting quickly, Peter moved to the wall, letting his excited classmates pass. Carefully moving along it to the very back of the room, closer to the corridors, not wanting to show too much. Parker carefully watched each of the Avengers, so as not to be accidentally noticed. But he missed Steve, who, among other things, recognized the guy among the first and was heading to say hello. Somehow he came up just at the moment when Peter had almost disappeared into the corridor. And he exhaled, leaning against the wall. – Hello, Peter. – Rogers put his hand on the boy's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. Parker, who hadn't expected it at all, jumped in surprise. He looked at the man with fear and suppressed the disappointment with difficulty. – Is this your class? – Steve asked. Pretending not to notice the strange reaction. The man nodded towards the crowd of classmates. Parker smiled tensely. – Yes, – the guy nodded affirmatively. – But I think that... – The teenager hesitated, choosing his words, but he didn't let him finish. Romanoff came up to them, and judging by the eyes blazing with indignation, Clint lost and got a couple of slaps on the back of the head. The girl broke into a sly smile, glad that she was finally able to switch to a new target. – That's it, Steve, – she immediately, without a second, ran her hand through Peter's curls. Cold hands touched his head, causing Parker to flinch in surprise. The guy's cheeks instantly turned red. Damn it, that's what he was afraid of. He hopes Stark doesn't react. Rogers looked at the girl in confusion. – You've talked enough. I'll take him from you, – she grinned and, while simultaneously running her long fingers through his curls, pushed Parker toward the sofa. Peter swallowed. Well, Tony wasn't there, and he probably wouldn't come. Just as the guy was thinking about it, the elevator opened as if on cue, and Stark came out, carrying something in his hands. Romanoff immediately caught his eye, grinning slyly. Parker's face seemed to reflect the entire color palette at once. How many times a day he has been stealing all the attention? What happiness... Why does the heavens hate him so much? – Peter, you left your notebook with me, – Tony began immediately, exiting the elevator, but stopped short when he saw Natasha's hand in his intern's hair. – Oh, you!.. – No one heard these quiet words or what followed them. But it was not necessary. The billionaire's gaze itself spoke volumes. – Oh, yeah, that's right! – The red tint didn't leave Peter's face, realizing it, the guy quickly headed towards Tony. To the silent indignation of the spy. Natasha wanted to intercept him, but didn't have time. Her palm slipped, hanging in the air, and Romanoff cursed quietly. Peter approached Stark, taking the notebook. – Thank you, – he muttered awkwardly. After a short pause, the guy suddenly realized that he could quite legally escape. Peter suddenly thought it was such a brilliant idea that he didn't even hesitate. – I'll go put the notebook in my backpack, – he quickly muttered and was about to return to the elevator. Still, the constant stares of almost thirty people immediately became tense. – Oh, come on, Peter. You can put your notebook later. For now, let's continue the tour, – Tony walked up to the teenager and stroked his head, running his hand through his thick curls. At the same time, he turned to Natasha and smiled triumphantly at the spy. Romanoff snorted and, crossing her arms over her chest, made an indifferent face, heading towards Katheryne. The girl glanced at Parker, looking for the right moment. – Um. Okay, – Parker did not argue. The guy lowered his head again. Again curls, his poor hair. The only ones that, in his opinion, suffer more than their owner. The guy carefully slipped out from under Stark's arm, to Stark's displeasure, and, slipping between his classmates, tried to hide in the farthest corner. He pulled up his hood, continuing to feel envious glances on him. But it was not to be. – Parker! – Clint was heading towards him. The man was roughly pulled away from the game and dragged to the teenagers. But Sam got away with a couple of guys with notebooks and continued playing. – Hey, boy, be a friend. Play for me for two minutes. – Before Peter could open his mouth to politely refuse, Barton, without waiting, thrust the joystick into his free hand and pushed him towards the couch. – Clint, – Katya called. – Spend at least a couple of minutes with the kids. – The girl crossed her arms over her chest, looking at the man with displeasure. The teenagers behind her were shuffling around modestly, waiting for their turn. – Yes, I'm coming, I'm coming, – the archer rolled his eyes. – Go ahead. – Barton unceremoniously pushed the boy toward the couch. – And win the good way. – He winked encouragingly at the boy and headed toward the bar, where Katya was waiting for him. So that everyone could take turns giving autographs to the more modest children. Parker swallowed, looking around helplessly. Maybe a miracle would happen, and the class teacher would finally return, who had disappeared for an unknown reason an hour and a half ago, or Katheryne would call him over to help with something, but alas. The girl was busy urging the children to come over, as if to say: «a chance like this doesn't come along often.» Parker, still uncertain, froze in place, and shifted his gaze, but Sam, on the contrary, waved the gamepad, beckoning the teenager to him. He was clearly impatient to play again. Especially since they hadn't played this game yet. Parker bit his lip in confusion. Well, anyway, there was no way back anyway. So why not play once? Trying with all his might not to think about the fact that he would now play with the Falcon in front of all his classmates. Peter, grabbing the notebook under his arm, hurriedly went to the sofa. – Okay, – he finally gave in, throwing the notebook on the coffee table in front of the TV and falling onto the couch next to Wilson. – Just once, – he warned, adjusting his grip on the controller. – Tony Stark! – Katheryne called, a little wearily, but definitely not losing her commanding tone. – Let your great person deign to grant the children an autograph, – the girl sarcastically. – And then you can continue to pester poor Parker. He's already all red. Because of you and Nat. – Peter himself, fortunately, did not hear this, being overly carried away by the game. And if he had heard, he would have definitely died of shame... For the fiftieth time that day. Katheryne called the most modest of the class to her. And, taking everything into her own hands, she called the Avengers they were interested in to her. Meanwhile, Wanda was already surrounded by curious children. The witch smiled amiably and calmly demonstrated her abilities to the delighted and enchanted sighs. Naturally, carefully. But Natasha, somehow too quickly finishing with Katheryne, managed to both talk and help the children. She deftly flashed between the senior students and, as if by chance, looked out for Stark. The plan was to take the lead over the situation again. The girl carefully approached the sofa and looked around. Finally, she found the billionaire behind a bunch of tenth-graders around. Katya, among others, called the man over, and even without her, someone was constantly hanging around him. But Natasha, for now, was no longer needed. And the girl intended to openly take advantage of this. Having relaxed a bit, Peter was already playing with Sam in full swing. He stuck out the tip of his tongue tensely, peering at the screen, despite clicking the buttons. At the same time, muttering something under his breath, the guy leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Just a little more and… – Damn... — Sam, not finishing his sentence, indignantly threw the controller away from himself, leaning back on the sofa. — Ha! — Parker raised his hands triumphantly, not letting go of the gamepad. Just came and immediately won. That's what it means — you can't drink away experience. – Victory! – He smiled cheerfully. It should be noted that after the victory, the guy's mood was quite elevated. He was about to get up and leave, as he promised, after playing the round. But Wilson stopped him. – Wait. – He picked up the discarded joystick again. The man clearly did not want to give up so easily. – Let me get even. I just relaxed. Peter froze uncertainly. The excitement of the game gradually passed, and he again felt a huge number of envious glances on himself. A chill ran down his spine, making him involuntarily wince. Of course, not everyone can play with the Falcon himself. – Come on, Parker. – Natasha crept up behind him like a predatory cat that had spotted its prey. The spy, as if by accident, pushed Peter back onto the couch, putting her hands on his shoulders. – Give the «kid» a rematch. – The teenager involuntarily fell back and still gave in. – Okay. One more time, – Peter returned to his original position, intercepting the controller. – But only one, – the teenager repeated his recent phrase and, receiving an affirmative nod from Wilson, launched a new round. Romanoff grinned, reveling in her powers of persuasion, and sat down next to the teenager. Throwing her arm over the back of the couch behind Peter, the spy ran her hand through his curls. The girl relaxed, crossing her legs, watching the game and running her fingers through the boy's dark curls. Now Sam was playing better. The man seemed much more focused and was pressing the buttons with effort. Wilson was sure that he couldn't beat Hawkeye a lot of times and lose the only two times to a teenager. Who, moreover, was seeing this game for the first time. As it turned out, he could... But Steve got less attention, he was occasionally looked at askance. Especially those who were lucky enough to often stay after school for bad behavior or truancy. And listen to his recorded lectures on proper behavior ten times a week. Peter, by the way, was also there quite often, but in his defense he could say that combining Spider-Man, father and school without a single absence was on the verge of impossible. But, however, Parker never missed a moment to recall this «thirty-minute brain-wracking», as he himself secretly nicknamed it to the captain. But he changed the subject as quickly as possible, referring to the fact that Peter himself was to blame when he allegedly got there. To the amusement of all the Avengers, during dinner, by the way. *** Flash, who refuses to believe until the very end that some loser Parker could be familiar with the Avengers, does not miss the opportunity to prove to everyone that Peter cleverly (and, apparently, in some non-existent ways) deceived everyone. – Mister Captain America. – The guy, throwing his head back importantly, accompanied by the same, apparently, emboldened guys, was heading towards Steve. – Yes? – Rogers, distracted from signing autographs and answering questions to the teenagers who had approached, turned his attention to Flash. – You know Parker? – Thompson pointed his finger unceremoniously at Peter, who was sitting on the couch. True, because of Natasha sitting next to him, it was much worse to see him. But Rogers already knew who he was talking about. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. – Peter? – he asked again. – He's Stark's intern. We all get along well with him, – Steve answered. Flash frowned with displeasure. The guy was seriously determined to find out some dirt on the guy and then tease him about it until the end of school. – But if he's just a worker, why is he treated specially? –he growled angrily. Rogers didn't answer, but Wanda did it for him, suddenly coming up. The witch, like a night mist, slipped up to them just as quietly and unnoticed and stopped next to them, standing a little behind Thompson. – What exactly do you call special treatment, guy? Peter is just a kind and very smart boy. Such people always attract, mainly because they are in the minority... – He? He... – Thompson stopped short. Apparently, the guy still had some sense. Since he reacted in time, not to blurt out dirt, this time on himself. Thompson snorted, but his face reflected obvious uncertainty. The guy hesitated, not daring to add anything. *** Meanwhile, Stark approached Peter and Sam, who were playing. He wasn't going to admit Nat's victory. Who was she to oppress Tony Stark himself? – Nat, Clint called you, – he said brazenly, coming up to them. Of course, these words weren't true. – He said he can't handle the fans and he needs your help. The spy turned to the billionaire and raised an eyebrow in disbelief, casting a piercing glance at the man. Even an idiot would have realized that Stark was lying, but, no matter how you look at it, it was necessary to double-check, so after a slight hesitation, the girl nevertheless stood up. Romanoff cast a smug glance at Stark. As if to say: «You've been blinking your eyes too much, Tony Stark.» And proudly crossing her arms over her chest, she headed towards Clint. By the way, as was to be proved, the archer did not invite her, and was quite surprised when she told him what was going on. But Romanoff still need take the lead. She lets intern, with his lovely curls, out of sight too often. The girl leaned against the counter next to Barton, piercing Tony's back with her gaze. As soon as Nat left the couch, Tony immediately took the place of honor next to the teenager, patting him on the head. Victory! And let the spy choke. – And you play well, boy. Great reaction. Maybe we should make another Avenger out of you? And you would be a good superhero in my opinion. – Tony Stark strokes Peter's head. – The two guys who had been hanging around Wanda for a long time, not noticing anyone else around them, suddenly turned their attention to Peter. They opened their eyes wide and whispered, and after them, the whole class was not too quietly discussing the boy who suddenly found himself in the center of attention of most of the superheroes. – Before that, there was Black Widow, – added the girl next to him. And the whispering increased by three, or even four, as the guy had feared, everyone was looking only at him again. But Parker, overly carried away by the new game, and perhaps this was even good. *** – Parker what? – Steve asked. – What did you mean? – Thompson swallowed nervously. Still, he hoped that he wouldn't ask him again. – Just Parker, – Flash hesitated. He had clearly expected a different answer from the very beginning of the dialogue. But the guy still found something to say: – Why Parker? He’s a truant, and go… twos… he often skips classes, a lot of them. – Rogers frowned, a disciplinarian, he clearly didn’t like such a statement, but Wanda, on the contrary, unexpectedly broke into a smile. But that smile looked more threatening than friendly. The girl, with her very appearance, warned the guy that it would be better to shut up before it was too late for him. – Be careful with your words, Flash. – She put her hand on his shoulder. – Especially in front of Stark. He's clearly of the opposite opinion from you. – The witch squeezed her hand with effort and, without saying goodbye, turned softly on her toes and headed towards the teenagers who were already waiting for her. *** – A-a-a-and. Victory number two! – Peter laughed, jumping up on the couch from an excess of emotions. – How is that possible? – Wilson cursed, throwing the controller away in irritation. Parker broke into a satisfied smile. Another victory was no less gratifying than the first. Especially over the one who had previously wiped everyone's nose. Parker crossed his legs with satisfaction on face, throwing his head up. Well, at least something joyful for the day. These victories clearly brightened it up a lot. Just at this moment of Peter's triumph and Sam's silent discontent, Clint returned. Interest in the archer, albeit a little, but still died down, so he was able to fight back for a while and return to the long-awaited game. *** – Mr. Banner, can you turn into the Hulk? – one of the teenagers hanging around the professor asked modestly. It was obvious that the boy was very embarrassed by this question, but in the end, curiosity overcame fear. – Er... – Bruce hesitated for a moment himself. – I could, of course, but I doubt it's safe to do that in a room full of kids. No, let's not disturb the Hulk for now, okay? The boy nodded in response and, having received his autograph, left, giving the others the opportunity to talk to one of the Avengers. – I see they’re not giving you a break either, – Steve commented on the situation as he approached his friend. – Yeah, I have time only for signing. I think if one of them slips me a loan application, I won’t even notice, – Bruce grinned. – That's true, – Captain America chuckled. – But Tony's already done his job, I think. No one's even bothering him and Peter. Look at them, like father and son, by God. – Yeah, that's right... Wait, «by God»? Seriously? – Oh, no... – Steve shook his head with a sigh. – Just don't tell anyone, please. Especially Stark, – and he left before a new avalanche of jokes could rain down on him. But Bruce still managed to shout at him: – You're getting old, buddy! *** Katheryne, who was now acting as a pusher, approached Stark. The girl unceremoniously stood right in front of the billionaire, blocking his view. – I don’t want to disturb your idyll, – she grinned, crossing her arms over her chest. – But, Mr. Stark. We have a crowd of teenagers here who want your autograph. – Can’t these parasites wait? Can’t you see, I’m busy, – Tony didn’t even move. – They can't, – Katya said in a harsher voice. It was a clear warning, the consequences of which were impossible to predict. Tony realized that it was better not to tempt fate, argue with Katya not worth his time. Therefore, although without much enthusiasm, he got up from the sofa and headed towards the group of schoolchildren, patting Peter on the head at the end. *** Clint dropped unceremoniously onto the couch next to Parker. Stark had just gotten up, so he nudged the guy a little and moved closer to the TV screen. – So? How bad is my score now? – he grinned, peering at the numbers on the edge of the screen. – Glad to have you back, old man, – Sam chuckled. The man was clearly pleased that he wouldn't have to lose again. And Barton, dumbfounded, turned his gaze to Peter. – You won everything twice?! – he was taken aback. The thing is, the game was completely new, both for the Avengers and for regular consumers. Peter saw it for the first time in his life, and in all the time since buying it, Sam was the one who mastered it best. In two days, everyone managed to play with him, even Natasha, who had previously preferred to stay on the sidelines and just watch. And every single one of them lost to him in a crushing manner, and only Parker managed to get out of this rating of «defeats and failures.» Peter handed the gamepad back to the archer and immediately came to his senses. A wave of goosebumps ran through his body. Damn, having recovered a little from the excitement of the game, the guy was just beginning to understand what had happened while he was playing. The puzzle came together in his head in a flash. First, Nat was sitting with him, ruffling his curls, and literally a minute later Stark. Parker, already out of habit, pulled at his hair, trying to bring himself to his senses. The bruise on his head intensified the sensations, making them more acute. Peter had learned one thing for himself: in his entire, so far short life, in any hopeless awkward situation, pain was the only thing that helped. It helped to put his brain in order, and sometimes worked as a punishment when the guy thought that he had screwed up too much. The teenager somehow did not think that this could be bad. He pulled his curls as hard as he could, looking around. Oh no! His guesses were confirmed. Tony and Natasha were throwing smug and passionate glances at each other. They had started that childishly stupid fight again. A fight, damn it, for Peter's poor curls. It turned out that Stark was the last one. So now he had to hide from Natasha. The spy was just looking at the guy through the crowd. Peter picked up the notebook that had been lying on his lap and, while no one was looking, tried to get away. But it was useless. – Peter! Where are you going? – Katya called out to him once again, ruining the guy's plans. The girl was keeping a close eye on every teenager here, counting them every ten minutes. Of course, she couldn't let him go, because she was responsible for every miracle child. Besides, their class teacher, what was her name... Miss Brown, had safely left on business. According to her, her son works here, and she sees him, unfortunately, rarely. «I'll be quick, I promise,» she smiled and that's it, she disappeared. Like a hedgehog in the fog. Gone and you can't find her. Katya was madly indignant about this. Well, it's not for nothing that these crazy tenth-graders are assigned two escorts. And Katheryne kept a particularly close eye on Parker. – Uh-uh-uh. I'll go find the class teacher, – Peter blurted out the first thing that came to mind, and it turned out that something useful came to his mind very rarely... No, and if it's true, then where does she go for so long? How can you leave your own class? Did she go home or something? To rest and sleep. Parker looked carefully at Walter and, judging by the tour guide's face, she was of exactly the same opinion. – Oh, why do you need her? – Natasha's flattering voice rang out from behind the guy. Peter almost jumped in fright and quickly turned around. Romanoff was great at catching the free seconds when Stark was neutralized and Parker could be entirely hers. Natasha instantly took over Parker's curls, sending a wave of pleasant goosebumps from her own icy fingers to the guy, and with her other hand she grabbed his shoulders. – Come on, help me, – the girl said contentedly and, smiling, winked discreetly at Katya, leading Parker away behind her. Katya grinned and headed closer to the bar counter, counting the children again, realizing that everyone was in place and no one had died (the exhausted Avengers didn't count). The girl folded her hands to amplify the sound, and announced as loudly as possible: – Citizens children, you have ten minutes left until the end of the tour. No! We won't give you more, because the poor Avengers will go crazy. They count these seconds until the end more actively than you. Believe me! So, let's shake the last autographs out of them and line up at the elevator. – The girl lowered her hands, but there was no reaction, so Katheryne, without thinking twice, repeated the action, shouting: – When the time is up, if you don't stand by the elevator, you will uncompromisingly lose your main souvenir of the day - the passes and leave this tower faster than the others. – She smiled villainously, but her triumph did not last long, the girl was almost knocked off her feet by a running teenager. – Damn! The teenagers who had previously stood aside, hesitating to approach, rushed to their feet, each one eager to get an autograph from their favorite superhero, and some even for the second time. This time, the loud teenagers swarmed everyone without exception, even Sam and Clint, who were sure that they had done their job and answered all the questions. But it was not to be. The men sat and played, gritting their teeth so as not to accidentally utter swear words. A couple of times, Clint actually missed, but immediately made sure that no one heard it, and continued playing. The men almost finished the final round, when suddenly they were both surrounded by teenagers, shoving albums and notebooks with pens under their noses. Yes, so much so that it was impossible to miss anything on the screen, but at least it would be a draw. Clint would definitely be happy about that. Natasha, by the way, was also surrounded from all sides. The spy was so taken aback that she even let go of Peter out of surprise, and he, of course, took advantage of this. Jumping aside, Parker rushed to the elevator. He had long since realized that walking slowly and carefully was a bad tactic, he needed to run! However, Peter had perfectly time to notice the smug look the spy threw at Stark. And Stark, naturally, noticed it and was going to correct the smug expression on Romanoff's face. But Tony was the least lucky of all. The man was surrounded several times more than the others. Glancing around the room, Parker noticed that the least was around Steve. But, it should be noted, not by much. – Hey, take it easy! You're tearing me to pieces. Take turns, don't crowd here! – Stark was not so much irritated by the presence of children, as by the endless noise and hubbub that arose in the living room. He was used to the fact that this room was an official place for rest, and strangers usually did not come here. And here a whole gang of teenage children was brought, and all their mouths could not close. – Katya, how much longer until the tour ends? – Tony asked, trying to shout over the general hubbub. – Six minutes, – the girl shouted. And only after receiving an affirmative nod, she realized that she had been heard. Because in such noise, she couldn't even hear herself. The Avengers were giving out the last autographs and sometimes even answering questions, those that they could recognize. Their class was not small, almost forty people. Well, okay, thirty-five. And when they all started shouting... Ugh. Parker, just in case, without even looking back, jumped into the open elevator as quickly as possible. Having received the command, Friday directed him to wait for the teenagers. So Peter flew inside and pressed himself against the far left wall. The elevator was wider than the passage into it, so there was a small pocket there, standing in which he could easily remain unnoticed. And the guy needed it more than ever. He hadn't forgotten at all how Stark had said something about «needing to ask you to leave.» So Peter wanted to slip away unnoticed before Tony remembered it. Now he was distracted from his thoughts... from all thoughts. The billionaire was now thinking only about when those tenth graders would leave as soon as possible. He definitely doesn't have time for Parker now. And when he remembers, it will be too late. In the end, the classmates still went into the elevator, time was up and, no matter how reluctantly they did it, they still had to go in. – Okay, let's go in, – Katheryne ordered, herding the excited crowd inside. They rode in two groups, too, alas, the elevator did not increase in size, and they still did not fit in it. So, as expected, Parker found himself in the first group. But as soon as he breathed a sigh of relief and thought that everything was fine, his classmates, who had been looking at him all this time, immediately bombarded him with questions: – Are you really an intern? – How long have you been working here? – How did you get a job here? – Do they still accept interns? – You're his son? – The last question made Parker choke and cough, his eyes widening. He definitely didn't expect that. He understood, of course, that until his classmates got an answer, they would bombard him with questions. But he certainly didn't expect them to start building such crazy theories. He's Tony Stark's son?! Where is he, and Tony damn Stark. The guy seemed to regret for the first time that Flash wasn't around. Even though he would have insulted him, he would have at least tried to convince everyone with complete confidence that Peter was a liar. He would have started convincing them that Parker was just the son of some worker here, and that he had once run into them... He doesn't know... sweeping the floors, for example. The teenager bit his lip in panic and counted the floors, frantically waiting for the coveted «1» to appear on the board and for the doors to open after Friday's announcement. There was only a little bit left, and his classmates did not retreat, even though Katheryne tried to stop them. Peter's breathing was constricted, he was surrounded from all sides so much that there was simply nothing to breathe with. When the treasured doors finally swung open, the guy, trying with difficulty not to run, passed through the opened turnstiles as quickly as possible and rushed straight to the bus. It was good that the others had to go through with passes, this was probably the only time Friday's services were useful to him. At least today. The boy was the first to jump into the school transport and, as quickly as possible, sat on the farthest seat, grabbing his backpack and clutching it tightly in his hands. If only he could get home safely. Peter was so tired that he was sure that when he got home, he would just fall down and fall asleep. He was terribly nervous today. *** After the students left, the long-awaited silence reigned in the living room. For a while, no one even moved, afraid to disturb this beautiful idyll. Clint was the first to speak. He leaned his hands on his knees and exhaled heavily. – Am I the only one who feels like I've saved the world five times? – Well, I don't know about the world, but the end of the excursion saved us, – Steve chuckled. – Please, let's not do anything like that again. – I second that, – Natasha nodded. – I've heard enough teenage speeches to last a year. Although one of them has very cute curls. Right, Tony? – Go to hell, Romanoff. – the businessman waved his hand. – By the way, where's Peter? Realizing that the teenager had almost safely slipped away, Stark ran to the elevator and began aggressively pressing the button. That boy! He was told not to leave! And what did he do? He left. Tony took out his phone, found Katya's number and pressed call. – Hello? – a puzzled voice came from the receiver. – Katya, have the students left yet? – Not yet. They've boarded the bus, but they can't leave. We're waiting for their class teacher. Where the hell is she? – Great. Then get Peter out of there for me. And if he will say no, tell him I'll talk to the teacher. Katya promised to warn Peter, but the rest would be for his consideration and hung up. Tony rode down with a calm heart, and when he got out of the elevator, he bumped into Miss Brown. The woman was standing in front of the mirror and fixing her makeup. – Good afternoon. Miss Brown, right? – Tony said, approaching her. A smile blossomed on her face. – That's right, Mr. Stark. I haven't had the honor of seeing you today. What is your matter? «And she doesn't spend time on talk. Straight to the point,» the businessman chuckled to himself. – I want to ask one of your students, Peter Parker, to leave. He's also my intern, and he'll have to come here again today. I thought: so the guy doesn't have to run around, wouldn't it be easier to stay in the tower right away. What do you think about that? – Wow! I didn't know Peter was doing an internship with you. He's a talented boy, of course, but he's too secretive. And has some problems in his family... – the young teacher started chatting. – Problems? What kind? – Well, I don't know either. I only know that the boy has only father and they don't live well. Peter doesn't like to talk about his family. – I see, – «doesn't like to spread» is putting it mildly. Whenever they talk about family, the guy immediately changes the subject. The only thing Tony knew was that the guy didn't have a mother. – So what about Peter staying? – I don't mind, of course. Just keep in mind that he will be completely your responsibility, – having said a few more pleasantries to each other, they headed towards the exit of the tower.