Peter was not entirely sure how he felt about all of this, but Tony’s desire to make him an official public figure — a recognized part of his family — was incredibly flattering.
And deeply touching.
Pepper supported the idea too, arguing that sooner or later they would have to do it anyway, and it was better to arrange the circumstances on their own terms.
Peter did not want to think about what sort of ‘circumstances’ would be less suitable, though he had a few guesses.
None of them cheerful.
May did not object either.
She only warned Peter not to ‘let it go to his head.’ As if he planned to.
The public reaction was frightening, of course, but somewhere inside Peter felt certain that whatever happened, Tony would be able to fix it—or turn it to their advantage.
That was reassuring.
More than that, Peter could not quite wrap his head around the fact that Tony Stark’s presence had somehow become a calming influence.
And this was his life now.
Holy crap.
For the conference, Peter even compromised his principles about clothing and left everything to a Tony who practically glowed with happiness.
Perhaps taking pity on the kid, Tony did not change his look too drastically.
He merely multiplied the price of every item and added sunglasses.
At first Peter could not understand why he needed them.
Then it clicked.
First, they emphasized the resemblance between them.
Second, there would be cameras.
Flashes.
Right.
Being a public figure was difficult when enhanced vision meant a camera flash could physically hurt.
Tony had even thought of that, which naturally proved all over again how caring he was.
Peter might have cried over that level of attention if Rhodey had not announced that Stark was such a mother hen.
Along with the glasses, Tony had given him contact lenses that were supposed to help.
Well, they would find out.
*** Peter felt a faint tremor run through him when the car stopped outside the venue Tony had chosen.
No one had ever answered Peter’s question about why they could not hold the whole thing at the Tower.
Though he suspected Tony needed the dramatic experience of stepping out of a car into a storm of camera flashes in order to feel sufficiently cool.
Just a theory.
Tony noticed Peter’s nerves and reassuringly ruffled his hair.
Peter had given up trying to explain that he should not do that and had simply begun accepting that his hair would always be a mess.
As though he had a choice.
Happy had already opened Pepper’s door so she could emerge first and strike everyone dead with her regal magnificence.
Now it was Tony’s turn to shine, followed by Peter.
Stark climbed out looking impossibly cool, immediately waved at the crowd, and waited a few seconds for Peter.
The instant Peter stepped out, Tony put an arm around his shoulders to steady him.
Together they joined Pepper and went inside, leaving the crowd behind to shout in delight—and probably upload hundreds of photographs and videos accompanied by guesses about Peter’s identity.
He would not remain an unknown teenager for much longer.
Something told him that life as Tony Stark’s kid was about to become even more entertaining.
*** Peter and Pepper took seats behind the podium while Tony stepped up to it.
It was his press conference, after all.
He had been waiting for the chance to introduce Peter to the public for a long time.
Let the show begin.
Stark cleared his throat, calling for silence, and lazily waved at the reporters.
As usual.
“Hi.
Miss me?” Tony smirked and winked into the cameras.
“Probably not.
I’ve been all over the news this entire week.
Though technically, I suppose it wasn’t even me.
Oh, forget it.
No opening speech today.
You have questions, so let’s hear them.” “Did you call the press together to comment on the avalanche of social-media stories about your assistant?” “Yes and no.” Tony shrugged, clearly doing his best to irritate the reporters with his behavior.
Peter giggled quietly while Pepper merely rolled her eyes.
“I planned this conference before the internet situation.
And he isn’t exactly my assistant.” “Mr.
Stark, we have all noticed the young man sitting beside your wife,” another reporter began, and Peter allowed himself a wave.
“May we assume that this is the ‘not exactly an assistant’ in question?” “Yes, I assume everyone noticed the entire teenager sitting there.
It would be strange if you hadn’t.” Tony glanced briefly at Peter to make sure he was all right.
“And you’re correct.
That’s him, in the flesh.
Please try not to burn out his retinas with your flashes.
Thank you.
He’s stressed enough already.” “I’m not stressed.” Peter remembered that he had been given a microphone and decided to interfere with Tony’s performance.
Tony probably would not mind.
“I’m just embarrassed by your behavior.” Tony laughed and pointed toward another reporter who was clearly desperate to ask her question.
“And what exactly is the purpose of this press conference?
Did you want to show off your assistant?” “You know, my life is endangered rather frequently,” Tony began from a distance, smiling slyly.
“So Pepper and I thought it might be wise to name and publicly announce the heir to all of this in advance.
I assume you understand why we’re here now?” The room erupted into murmurs.
No one seemed prepared for that turn of events.
Tony and Peter exchanged a brief glance before another journalist spoke.
“As far as we know, you do not have children.
Are you planning to leave the company to a friend or associate?” “Oh, don’t be ridiculous.
My friends are an extremely unreliable bunch.
They might die before I do.” Tony snorted and nodded toward Pepper and Peter.
“Did you honestly think I brought a kid here for no reason?” “You told me we were only stopping for pizza,” Peter cut in, prompting a wave of laughter.
“Sorry, Tony.
Please continue making me the richest teenager in the world.” “Yes, thank you for clarifying.” Tony smiled.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce the future owner of all my assets.
Peter, memorize their faces.
These are the people who will refuse to leave you alone for the next twenty years.” “What is Peter’s relationship to you?” The reporter looked between them, comparing their faces.
“Oh, lots of things.
He interns for me, occasionally works as my assistant, he’s a family friend, my friends’ favorite person, and Pepper 2.0.” Tony laughed softly when he caught Peter smiling.
“Personally, I prefer to call him a walking disaster or my son.
Depends on the day.” “Where did you get a grown son?” “Him?
Grown?
Are you joking?
He’s tiny.” “I’m sixteen,” Peter protested.
“Tony just refuses to accept that and calls spying on me the ‘Baby Monitor Protocol.'” “Stop ruining my reputation.” Peter stuck his tongue out at him, making Tony grin.
“Your tongue is blue.
And which one of us is supposed to be the adult?
Also, no, he isn’t my biological son.
You can tell immediately, because Pete is much better-looking.
I adopted him about two years ago.” “Are you not planning to wait for real heirs?” “Yes, I’ve been telling them the same thing,” Peter immediately agreed, making Tony and Pepper laugh.
“Peter is our child,” Pepper said suddenly, joining the conversation after remaining silent.
“Should we have another child—a ‘real’ one, as you put it—I am certain they will get along perfectly well, and Tony and I will be capable of deciding how to divide the company between them.
But I would like to make one thing clear: Peter is a real heir, no less than any possible future child of ours.” “Ms.
Potts, as always, you are completely right.” Tony motioned Peter toward the podium.
“Any questions for him?” Hands shot up throughout the room, and Peter flinched slightly.
Tony pointed to a young woman who had not spoken yet.
“Sorry, how should I address you?” she asked, looking uncertain.
“My name is Peter Parker, but Peter is fine.” He smiled, then glanced sideways at Tony.
“Do not even try to make me change my last name.” “Rename my Tower,” Tony warned, narrowing his eyes while apparently deciding how to word the threat most creatively, “and I’m canceling your Netflix subscription.” “All right, Mr.
Parker,” the reporter interrupted their playful argument.
“Tell us, what is it like to become the son of Tony Stark himself?” “Tony is incredible, without question.
Though if Pepper weren’t around, I would probably have lost my mind and run away by now.” Pepper giggled and smiled while Tony gave Peter an expression of theatrical outrage.
“Honestly, he’s probably doing an amazing job as a father.
I mean, I’m not exactly the easiest example of a child, so with absolutely no experience, this must have been genuinely difficult for him.
And Tony is handling it brilliantly.
He even went to see my principal.” “Yeah, that trial was not for the faint of heart,” Tony muttered, and Peter nudged him lightly in the side.
“I’m praising you, and you’re doing this, as usual.” Peter puffed out his cheeks in offense.
“At first I was completely stunned.
First, he was my childhood hero.
Second, I grew up in a family that didn’t have much money, so it takes time to get used to people throwing money at you or refusing to let you into the laboratory because ‘DUM-E has orders to burn every item of clothing that cost less than a hundred dollars.’ I’m still adjusting to everything.” “You live in the Tower, correct?” Peter nodded.
“Have you met the Avengers?
What kind of relationship do you have with them?” “I call them puppies.” Peter laughed at the reporters’ astonishment.
“I think they like me.
The first time we met was unbelievable.
Tony didn’t warn me they had come back.
I woke up in the middle of the night, walked into a room full of superheroes in my pajamas, failed to notice them, and decided to use Tony as a pillow.
It was fun.
And a little humiliating.” “You asked us to rate your humiliation in adorable puppies,” Tony said cheerfully, ruffling his hair.
“I think they were completely won over that very second.” Deciding he should be allowed to choose reporters too, Peter nodded toward a short man who looked as though he had already given up hope of asking anything.
“How do you feel about your sudden inheritance?” “Well, first I tried to talk them out of it, but Pepper is immovable.” He smiled gently at her.
“Second, they told me several weeks ago, so I’ve had time to get used to the idea while burying myself deeper and deeper in the books Pepper gave me.
I wouldn’t say the news was completely unexpected.
Tony says things like that fairly often.” “Do you consider Mr.
Stark your father?
Do you actually call him that?” “Sometimes, yes.
But I’m fairly sure that if I called him ‘Dad’ every time, he would have dissolved into a puddle of pink goo by now.” Peter smiled wickedly and bumped Tony with his shoulder.
“Do I consider him my father?
I think I’ll decline to answer that.” “Yeah, just look at him.
He adores me.” Tony gave him a brief, knowing smile, then waggled his eyebrows and returned to his cool-guy act.
“All right, I think that’s enough questions for the kiddo.
You may torment me or Pepper for a little longer, though I suspect you’re all too shocked to come up with anything worthwhile.” Peter offered one final smile and returned to his seat.
He needed to wait until Tony and Pepper were free and then ask for pizza.
Yes.
Pizza was definitely what he needed.
Although perhaps he should start thinking like Tony.
In that case, what he needed was a pizzeria.
*** “Tony Stark: ‘Personally, I prefer to call him a walking disaster or my son'”—#1 on the Trending tab.
OfficialNewYorkNews Comments: JLaw I am in complete shock.
Just.
Oh my God.
They’re so adorable.
And so unexpected.
And just AAAAAA.
Show 2,769 replies FamBuis I suspected something like this might happen, but when I actually saw it, I started screaming like a little fangirl.
Show 864 replies VLogE “Please continue making me the richest teenager in the world” absolutely killed me, oh my God.
Show 622 replies TRueMJ Am I dating the richest teenager in the world… #anotherroundofcoolnessforme Show 6,557 replies SpidyGator My bestie is a celebrity.
LMAO.
Show 3,862 replies FlaT Honestly, I don’t even know how I’m supposed to talk to him now.
Show 1,264 replies PetPark Guys, imagine how shocked I am… Show 17,964 replies