September 23, 2019, 6:02 p.m.
Tony got out of the car, slamming the door dramatically and trying to ignore Happy, who always grumbled at him because of that habit.
Well, what was wrong with it?
He was a cool billionaire, after all.
He had to live up to the image.
It did not matter that he had done it to impress the kids, who were already shamelessly staring at the ridiculously expensive car.
Tony was ready to admit that maybe he should not have exposed Peter quite so much during that field trip, if only because this Mr.
Harrington had turned out to be a very unreliable person.
Perhaps he had done the right thing by informing the principal that Parker’s legal guardian was that Stark.
And, probably, Tony even understood and shared his position.
However, now that he had been made to go to the school for a conversation with the principal, everything had become kind of complicated.
Seriously, he had hated conversations with principals ever since his own school days, and the prospect of meeting with one again because of Peter was not attractive at all.
Like, not even a little.
Stark walked through the school rather slowly, putting off the conversation with the principal until the very last second.
They had not even explained why he had been called in.
Had Peter done something?
Unlikely.
He was not good enough at lying to hide something like that from Tony.
Maybe they wanted some kind of donation?
Well, to Tony’s taste, the school looked a little plain, but it did not seem to need any major renovations.
Once again convincing himself that he should have brought Happy along, at least so Happy could pretend to be his lawyer and handle the conversation for him, Tony casually knocked on the office door bearing a nameplate with Mrs.
Collins’s name.
Great.
Now he only had to remember it and later make F.R.I.D.A.Y.
check her records.
A quiet “Come in” sounded from behind the door, and Tony strode into the office, pulling his glasses off his face.
Pepper had said he was obligated to make a good impression on the principal of the school where their son planned to stay.
In general, Tony thought that if she wanted to make that good impression so badly, she should have gone herself.
“Oh, hello, Mr.
Stark.” Surprise and just the tiniest bit of delight appeared on Mrs.
Collins’s face, though she tried her hardest to hide it.
“Um, we didn’t expect you to drop by so soon.
You are a busy man, after all.” “I was nearby.” Tony smiled, sitting down in the chair offered to him.
“My wife told me you wanted to see me, but she didn’t say why.
Did Peter do something?” “Yes and no,” the principal said evasively, taking some documents out of her desk.
“Peter has some minor behavioral issues.
He is often late and has gotten into fights with Mr.
Thompson a couple of times.” “Because that boy bullies him,” Tony answered immediately, realizing that interrupting someone and making a good impression were not exactly the same thing.
“Sorry.
I’ve just heard plenty about their conflicts, and I take it a little too close to the heart.” Well, almost true.
He really had heard plenty.
Although Peter and Pepper were very fond of assuring him that he had that very heart.
And in general, after Peter had appeared in his life, he had almost stopped doubting it himself.
“It’s all right.
I understand.” Tony wondered how many other parents this woman had soothed with that little smile.
“Actually, I invited you here for a different reason.
In light of the circumstances that have come to light, I need to know whether certain documents are valid.
I have papers signed by May Parker, as well as documents about Peter’s internship at your company.
How legal are those documents, Mr.
Stark?
Are they authentic?” Right.
Clear enough.
Everything had come down to bureaucracy again.
Tony was even somewhat disappointed.
Why was no one interested in the emotional side of Peter’s life?
In some parenting books, which Tony of course had not read, it was mentioned that adoption was a very serious psycho-emotional burden for a child.
“May is still one of Peter’s legal guardians, don’t worry.
Obviously, Pepper and I did not strip her of her rights to the kid.” Tony smirked, imagining what May would have done to them if they had even tried something like that.
“And Peter really does have an internship.
Despite his status in our family, he is also still my personal intern and an intern in several research departments.
His internship, which began before my decision to adopt him, is still continuing to the same extent.
Believe me, the only privilege he gained after the adoption was permission to choose what music plays in my lab.” Tony was being sly.
Peter had always had that privilege.
But Mrs.
Collins seemed satisfied with his answer.
She broke into a good-natured smile and held out several papers to him.
Tony looked at them with a distrustful squint, waiting until she placed them on the table.
He did not like taking things from people’s hands!
“This is a document stating that you are aware of the requirements our school places on students and their guardians, and that you agree you bear full responsibility for Peter’s behavior outside school grounds and for his mastery of the material during absences.” Tony signed it and handed the documents back to the principal.
She nodded with satisfaction, putting them into a folder with Peter’s name on the spine.
A rather hefty one.
Well, of course, Tony knew the kid had some discipline problems, but a folder that thick?
Stark hoped Mrs.
Collins had not noticed the flash of pride that flickered through his eyes.
“Now that the paperwork is finished, let’s talk a little about Peter.” Mrs.
Collins frowned slightly.
Tony understood that she was not especially fond of the kid.
“Your ward has some issues with aggression.
He has repeatedly gotten involved in fights.” She wanted to say something else, but Tony decided he did not want to listen to it and cut into her monologue.
Hopefully Pepper would forgive him for the not particularly pleasant impression he was about to leave behind.
“My son.
I prefer that he be called exactly that,” Tony noted dryly.
“Has no issues with aggression.
My child has repeatedly been bullied by one of his classmates, but tried to hide it and ignore it.
As far as I know, on those occasions, the fights were not provoked by him, but by the aforementioned Mr.
Thompson.
Besides that, I know the fights happened because of insults directed at my son’s best friend, and he only tried to verbally explain that it was unacceptable.
Speaking of which, I insist that Mr.
Thompson’s parents be called to the school, or that some form of warning be issued to him, because if the school itself is incapable of stopping bullying, I can use the services of my lawyers.” Tony fixed the principal with a strict look, hoping she was smart enough not to start arguing with him and provoke him into any “billionaire” antics, as Peter called them.
Mrs.
Collins nodded.
Was that respect in her eyes?
Tony was not imagining it?
“The school will certainly take action, Mr.
Stark.” Okay, that really was respect.
Oh God, had he actually made a good impression after all?
He would have to tell Pepper.
“I assume you are handling your son’s punctuality and attendance yourselves.
It has noticeably improved in recent months.
I believe I have one last question, and then you can return to your business.
I hope this is not too much trouble.” Tony nodded, noting that he still had to make Happy pick up Peter and MJ, who also needed to be sent home from Ned’s place, and Happy hated driving to Ned’s house.
He hated driving the kids home even more.
No one knew why, but Happy was always like that.
Such a very “positive” person.
“Based on certain notes in his file” — Tony clenched his teeth.
Oh, he knew about those notes and always reacted very unpleasantly to any mention of them — “I can assume that Peter may have some issues with his psychological state.
He has a tendency toward distrust, anxiety, and panic attacks.
The most important thing for him is to feel safe, in a place that is comfortable for him.
I know the Avengers live in your tower.
In addition, adoption is often a traumatic circumstance, especially adoption by a figure as famous as you.
Do you think there is any threat to Peter’s safety or to his psychological state?
And are you capable of preventing it?
Please don’t take this too personally.
It’s just that suddenly raising a teenager with that many traumatic circumstances in his past is not easy at all.” “Actually, I consider that a very personal question, and in another situation, I would not answer it.” Tony drummed his fingers on the tabletop.
“I’m familiar with Peter’s file, and even before the adoption, I understood that this might not be easy.
But I don’t think you need to worry.
My tower is equipped with the most advanced security protocols, and F.R.I.D.A.Y.
informs me about all of Peter’s problems, even when he tries to hide them.
I’ve been dealing with his nightmares quite successfully for about two years now.
Peter has a personal bodyguard assigned to him.
The kid has completed several self-defense courses in case something unforeseen happens.
I also have an enormous medical staff, including a psychologist.
If I can’t handle something, I know whom to turn to.
My wife has also prepared several action plans for various situations.
I’m not trying to be overprotective or anything like that, and if Peter is uncomfortable, he can always tell us.
I hope my point came across.” Mrs.
Collins blinked in astonishment for a couple of seconds, struck by how unusual this conversation had been.
Usually, parents simply stated that their home was a safe place, that they talked to the child, and that the child knew to call the police if anything happened.
God, she really had not expected this.
Although perhaps she should have.
“That was quite impressive, Mr.
Stark.
I suppose Peter really has nothing to worry about, except for the approaching exams, and he is a smart boy.” She gave Tony a smile.
“Then the final check we arrange for all parents.
Where is your son right now?” “He’s at Ned’s with MJ.
They’ve already finished their chemistry lab report and are now building a LEGO castle while waiting for Happy and me to come pick him up and take him home,” Tony answered immediately, earning an approving look from Mrs.
Collins.
“Since the questions are over, I should go.
I assume we’ll see each other again and perhaps discuss my contribution to this institution.” “See you soon, Mr.
Stark.” Tony left the office and headed downstairs.
He hoped that during the time he had been stuck here proving his competence as a parent, the kid and his friends had not managed to plot anything suspicious, like that one time when they had all solemnly presented him with the most hideous custom-made red T-shirt, featuring the Iron Man helmet and the phrase, “And if you take it off, what are you?” with the answer, “Genius, billionaire, Spider-Man fan.” Did it need to be said that it was now Tony’s favorite T-shirt, which he had even worn to some terribly important conference?
The Avengers, of course, had laughed like lunatics.