open arms, mcu ✓

twenty one

chapter twenty one
╰ ( homecoming )

💫 ━━ TONY enrolled Ryder in school, Paisley too. There was no if - and - or - butts involved. Tony did it, and he managed to get them both into Midtown School of Science and Technology where he knew Peter Parker was attending.

Ryder would be enrolling in his first year of high school, or his freshman year if that's what you'd like to call it. He was pretty excited for it, knowing that he could take some fancy science class that would actually teach him — unlike Tony who handed him a bottle of something and told him to light it on fire.

Paisley would be attending the half day program. It was extremely hard to get into, but for someone like Tony Stark, it wasn't hard. This program was where in the morning, Paisley would attend classes with select children her age and learn things that she would typically learn in her level of schooling. And then in the other half of the day, she would sit in classes with the older grades and learn whatever they learnt. She wouldn't be tested like the older kids were, which was a positive thing in her case. Yet maybe it would help her feel normal.

"Hey, kiddos." Tony walked into the movie room where friday had told him they where. "What movie are you watching?"

"Cars." Paisley muttered, eyes not leaving the screen.

"It's pretty cool," Ryder added.

It was their last day before they would start school. Tony wondered if they were nervous. Whenever he asked they always said they weren't, but he didn't know, and he couldn't read minds. He assumed they were.

"Are you two nervous about tomorrow?" The room went quiet. Still. You could hear a pin drop. Tony tilted his head. "You can tell me, I won't be mad or anything."

"Yeah." Paisley turned and looked at her uncle. "I am."

Ryder nodded at his father. "Me too."

Tony turned a fond, looking over his shoulder. "How about we go get ice cream, huh? To cool down your nerves."

💫 ━━ TONY held Paisley hand as they walked into Midtown School of Science and Technology. Ryder had asked to just walk by his adoptive father, not wanting to be embarrassed by holding his hand. Paisley on the other hand, she was more than excited to hold her uncles hand.

Down the hall along the many many students gathered, Peter Parker is standing at his locker without a clue that the kids he has to show around, are the kids he had met only days ago in Germany.

Ned Leeds is holding a Palpatine Lego figure on Peter's shoulder. He's smiling, and he moves the figure around, imitating the Lego figures voice. "Join me, and together ... we'll build my new Lego Death Star."

Peter tilts his head. Glancing back at his friend. "What?" When he notices the little Lego figure in Neds fingers he smiles brightly. "No way! That's awesome. How many pieces?"

Ned smiles back excitedly. "Three thousand eight hundred and three."

"That's insane." Peter states with awe. 

Ned mimics his expression. "I know. You want to build it tonight?"

Peter frowns, not looking as excited as he was before. "No, I can't tonight. I've got the Stark—"

"Mm-hmm." Ned nods. "Stark internship."

"Yeah, exactly." Peter grabs his texts books, pulling them from his locker.

"Speaking of the Stark Internship, isn't that Mr. Stark right there?" Ned points to where Tony is standing with two kids by his side. Ned is bouncing with energy. "Could you introduce me? Oh wow! That would be so cool!"

Peter panics, but he closes his locker and looks towards where Tony Stark is standing. The little girl by his side waves at anyone who walks by. He recognizes her as the little magic girl he had met in Germany.

"I- uh? Sure?" Peter awkwardly says, walking away from his locker and towards where the billionaire is standing. Ned is following behind him, he's holding the Lego piece as he tries not to drop it in excitement. "Mr. Stark, what - what are you doing here?"

Tony grins, looking down at the spiderling. "Just dropping them off for their first day, but the office is slow. Haven't had time to talk to me, I don't think the desk lady knew who I was."

"Oh. Oh. They're normally slow." Peter says but it's a lie. No one ever gets into trouble, so it's never busy. No one ever had meetings there, so it's never busy.

Ned nods. "He's right, it's very slow."

"Hi!" Paisley beams at Peter and Ned, cutting her uncle off. "I'm Paisley."

"Ned. Ned Leeds. Do you wanna see my Lego!"

"Yes!"