Father!Tony and Peter: Protection

Summary: Peter accepts a dare from Flash and is injured. Tony picks him up from school.

Peter frowned at the fence in front of him. This would be so much easier if he was wearing his suit. The fastest way out was forward and above that fence, but it wasn't the most legal way out. On the other hand, he didn't have that much time before class started. Peter rolled his eyes. So much for being nice, safe, and legal. Tony would kill him if he found out.

Fifteen minutes left until class started and Peter ran like hell. Everything was going to be fine. Peter would be done with this stupid dare. He was gonna make it to class on time like the A plus student he was. And he was gonna- oh shit.

Another fence loomed over Peter, larger and more menacing than the first. The barbed wire curled like the sinuous curve of a viper and seemed to taunt him. The spikes gleamed in the early morning sun.

'No going back now, little spider,' crooned the fence, 'Are you going to wait here and get arrested or get caught in my web?'

Peter looked at the fence. He craned his neck back to see the top of the fence. It looked difficult, certainly impossible for the average person, but maybe doable for spiderman.

Peter took a deep breath and psyched himself up. Twelve minutes left until he needed to be at class. Peter launched himself at the fence, the barbed wire zooming at him far too fast for Peter's comfort. Peter braced himself. He was going to make it!

Peter's foot caught on the barbed wire and dug deep in it. A blinding pain hit Peter a couple seconds after, and Peter's epic leap quickly became a tragic fall.

The trees swooped by and bloodied scratches appeared on Peter's arms. It was lucky for Peter the trees broke his fall, since he would've surely broken an arm if he'd landed on it without the trees. As it was, his arm was merely bruised.

Ten minutes left. Peter resigned himself to being late.

(Thirty minutes after class starts)

Peter quietly opened the door. Thankfully today wasn't a test day. Even still, Ms. Russo, a middle-aged brunette, paused mid-lecture and turned to semi-glare at Peter who, cheeks flaming, handed her a tardy slip and crept to his desk.

"Now as I was saying, the current political climate makes things very interesting for Congress, and the House in particular . . . "

Peter tuned her out. He was more focused on making sure his scratched arms were covered by a baggy sweatshirt.

"Oh my god, is that blood?" the girl sitting next to Peter shrieked.

Peter glanced down. Of course his foot was bleeding.

"Mr. Parker, please escort yourself to the nurse."

Followed by the stares of his classmates, Peter limped out of the room and flashed a thumbs up to Ned on the way out. Mr. Stark was going to kill him.

This was bad. This was very bad. Peter winced as the nurse cleaned the wound with hydrogen peroxide.

She glared at him, muttering something about stupid teenagers.

"Now, Mr. Parker, we have to call your parents."

At least she was only calling Aunt May.

"Huh, your primary contact isn't answering."

Peter prayed for Mr. Stark not to answer, but knew the chances were slim. Mr. Stark always had some piece of technology on him and would doubtlessly be able to do something as simple as answer a phone. Peter couldn't believe he'd agreed to the dare in the first place. He'd let Flash egg him on until his anger rose to the bait.

"Hello, this is Nurse Sandy calling from Midtown School of Science and Technology. You are listed as the secondary contact for Peter Parker. He's gotten into an accident and needs to be picked up." After a pause, she put the phone back.

"Well your secondary contact is very prompt, Mr. Parker."

Peter groaned and rubbed his head with his hand. He was so screwed.

Tony was not expecting a call from anyone in the middle of a conference, let alone Peter's school. Tony liked to think of himself as a chill guy, but he was mildly panicking at the nurse's information.

Tony abruptly stood up.

"Gotta go, kid issues. FRIDAY, represent me. Love you Pepper."

He blew her a kiss.

The circle of greying men looked at Tony in bemusement while Pepper rolled her eyes. Tony hastily walked out of the room, unknowingly mirroring Peter's actions. He broke into a sprint the second he slipped out of the door.

As Tony's suit melted onto him, he called Happy to drive to Midtown School of Science and Technology.

Tony stormed through the school, startling teens on break. Once they realized who he was, he was swarming with fans.

"Hey!" he raised his voice just above noise level, "Get out of my way. I am here to pick up my- my child, not sign autographs."

Well, Peter was practically his child.

Miraculously, the crowd cleared and Tony was able to make his way through the blob of astonished high schoolers.

Tony reached the nurse's office.

"Peter! You're alright."

He hugged Peter ferociously, because even though he knew Peter wasn't mortally injured, there was still a niggling suggestion that he could be.

The nurse coughed. Tony grinned at her, a relieved, exhausted grin. A red flush bloomed on her cheeks.

"Mr. Stark. I wasn't aware that you were Mr. Parker's secondary contact."

Peter groaned into Tony's shoulder.

"I'm here to pick Peter up. Are there forms I need to sign, 'cause Happy's waiting outside . . ."

He trailed off and looked at her expectantly.

"Oh, of course. Go to the office and sign him out."

"Oh no. It's still break," moaned Peter.

"Embarrassed to be seen with me?" Tony joked, "Don't worry kid, we'll be home soon."

Peter cautiously opened the door. There were about fifty kids standing outside all waiting to get a peek of Ironman. Flash was one of them, Peter noted with amusement.

Tony shouldered his way past Peter, careful not to jostle him too much.

"Come on kid, Happy won't wait forever."

Peter chuckled a little and hesitantly followed behind Tony, who confidently strutted through the halls. It was like Peter was a celebrity. Voices began murmuring as the crowd parted for Tony and Peter. Peter saw glimpses of people he knew, all staring in amazement as Tony, the real celebrity here, took Peter home.

"Yo," Tony snapped, "Stop staring. Are you people for real?"

Everyone hurriedly looked away. Before they did, Peter noticed a gaping Flash and inwardly giggled.

Tony and Peter carried on, striding (or in Peter's case limping) through the school. The halls seemed far longer than usual and Peter couldn't wait to get out.

At long last they reached Happy and the limo. As they settled in, Peter glanced at the school and saw more wide eyes and phones out, probably recording Peter getting in the limo.

"So, what happened kid?"

"I, uh, did something stupid and I really regret it. It doesn't have anything to do with Spiderman though, don't worry."

Tony laughed.

"Okay, we'll worry about it later." Beat. "I'm just glad you're alright."

Tony hugged Peter awkwardly to his side.

"At least you're less of a trouble maker than I was, but I still have to tell your Aunt May," Tony said, suddenly stern.

"That I can deal with," said Peter. He knew he would be in trouble later, but for now, he leaned into his surrogate-father's side and closed his eyes. Life was pretty good.