Tin Can boy || Peter Parker

two

The photographer on the roof was a thing that soon faded from memory, or it would have been if Tate didn't see something else two days later. It was a school day and three days until his birthday. Callum had won their little argument and the group was busy arranging a party for him. Not that they would tell Tate where it was, what the plans were or what they would be doing. Apparently it was supposed to be a surprise but he already knew that they were planning something. It was hard to keep many things from him and it was precisely because of this, that Peter had been tasked with distracting Tate that afternoon while the rest of their group did whatever. (Probably with Tony's help. The man loved planning parties). 

So Peter and Tate were walking to Peter's house. (No spider shenanigans that day on order of boyfriend privileges and ironman's backup) Their hands were linked and while Peter was walking, Tate was stood on his skateboard and being pulled along in a familiar way that had grown less common the more his legs healed. But this familiarity was nice. He liked that Peter could easily tug him along, that he could lean on the other boy without worries of breaking him. His free hand was scrolling through his music selection on his phone. One bluetooth earphone in each boy's ear and the familiar dramatic tones of My chemical romance emitting from the tiny speakers. 

Peter was steering them both round the corner towards his apartment complex when Tate looked up. "BTS?" 

"Seventeen", Peter countered. (Tate and Callum had introduced the boy to Kpop in there beginning of their friendship. They were very proud of the corruption). 

Tate pulled a face. "Not hugely in a mood for them, other than 'Change up' maybe. How about Day6?" 

"I wait", Peter grinned, hair flopping and shining in the sunlight. 

"Of course", Tate beamed back. He tightened his grip on Peter's hand as they reached the doors to the apartment complex. As the notes echoed in their ears, Tate hopped off his board and bent down to pick it up. As he rose, he glanced down the street and caught sight of a black scruffy van down the street. It was a small van with scratched paint and darkened windows. A gleam of sunlight reflecting off metal drew his eyes. Tate narrowed his gaze to a camera lens that was sticking slightly out of a window and was pointed straight at them. 

As if something had poked him, Peter turned sharply and his gaze landed on the van without Tate having to point it out. "Tate", his voice was low and his expression had turned into a frown. "Wait here". 

"It could be paparazzi", Tate offered but it came out weak. "More rumours of Dad having a son have been drifting around. Maybe someone saw me at Stark Tower?" As he said it, he knew that it wasn't that. He didn't like the look of that van and his instincts were telling him that something was off. The suddenness of which Peter had picked up on what was going on didn't help. (He had tried to explain the tingle thing but it was a hard thing to put into words. "Like a spider sense?" - "Thank you! May keeps on calling it my 'Tingle'. That makes it sound so weird".) If Peter had picked up on it, then it was probably not good. 

Peter narrowed his eyes as he let go of their hands and took a step forwards, gaze trained on the van down the street. Tate scooped up his skateboard and watched as he backed slightly away in the direction of the apartment block doors. Just as Peter stepped onto the road, the van suddenly pulled out of it's parking space and drove past them. The camera lens reflecting back both boy's faces as it past. Then the van was down the street and turning a corner, both boys loosing sight. Tate exhaled a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "What was all that about?" He sighed. 

"I don't know", Peter scowled. He jogged back to Tate and relinked their hands. "Come on. Lets get inside". 

"You're not going to go and suit up to follow them?" Tate asked as they began climbing the stairs. (The lift was broken. The lift always seemed to be broken in this building. Back when his legs would get tired, Peter would give him a piggy back up the six flights. Super strength came in handy sometimes). 

Peter shook his head with a huff. "No. I got the license plate though, so I'll text it to Happy to check when we get inside. I can go after it if you want me to though?"

"Na", Tate shook his head. It would be quicker if they just sent the plate to Happy. Tony's technology was useful that way. Was it legal? Most likely not but Tony had never been one for rules. "I'm sure it was just paparazzi. The rumours about me have been big lately". Peter gave an answering hum as he began rummaging in his pocket for keys. The fact that Tony and Pepper were now married had only increased the rumours of there being an adopted stark heir out there. It had been months but the gossip had yet to die down. 

Peter pushed open the door to his flat. "Hi Aunt May! I'm back and I have Tate with me". 

May appeared from her bedroom, one hand carrying a basket of washing. She beamed at the two of them. "Hey boys! Remember! No sex in the apartment!" 

Her teasing was interrupted by Peter's whined "Aunt May! Really?" 

She laughed at Peter's bright red face and waved a hand. "Anyone fancy takeout this evening?" 

"If you have ingredients then I can cook", Tate volunteered. At his side, Peter was hurriedly dragging him to his room to escape the embarrassment. 

May leaned over to pinch Tate's cheek. "Aww you're just adorable. If you want to honey then go ahead. Whatever you'll make will definitely be better than anything I can attempt. Peter, do you have any colors I can add to the load? Want me to wash your suit?" Peter had abandoned Tate in the hall and disappeared into his room. There was a muffled thud as he tripped over something, then a strangled noise. 

"Yes. Hang on!" 

Tate and May exchanged fond rolled eyes. How could a boy with enhanced reflexes be co clumsy? It was a mystery for the ages. After another thud and a curse as something clattered and broke, Peter re-emerged in the doorway to hand over a bundle of clothes. "Here", he huffed, still pink cheeked and hair ruffled. Tate grinned, resisting the urge to giggle. 

May dumped the bundle in the basket. "Alright boys, I'm off to the washing machine room. No canoodling!" 

Tate burst out laughing as Peter cried out a very whiney "May!" The woman waving as she disappeared out the door. 

"Your aunt is great", Tate grinned once she was gone. 

"You're only laughing because it wasn't Tony telling us that", Peter grumbled. Both boys exchanged looks and grimaced at the reminder of Tony teasing them about their relationship. That had not been funny, just mortifying. At least May was joking. Tony tended to get a bit too graphic and then try and tell them stories about his past relationships, which if Pepper caught them, always ended up with her casing Tony with a pillow. (Fun times). 

"I love my dad but he's so much", Tate sighed. He peered round Peter's door and his eyes caught sight of the lego star destroyer that was now lying half in pieces on the carpet. "Shall we rebuild your star destroyer before I start cooking?" (He maybe rich but Pepper did make sure he had enough skills to live by himself. If it was left up to Tony, they'd both starve). 

Peter sighed at the reminder. "I knocked it off my desk". 

"Come on, lets rebuild it", Tate set his board down on the floor behind Peter's bedroom door and took a seat on the carpet. Peter following, sitting close enough for them to touch knees, and the two of them started rebuilding the ship. The familiar task relaxing the incident with the van from their minds. 

unedited