Shadows and Suspicions

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The tension from the classroom confrontation lingered as Peter and Morgan walked out into the hallway, their thoughts spinning. Peter could feel the adrenaline still thrumming in his veins, but he knew he had to keep it together—especially with Jason lurking in the background, unpredictable and angry.

That night, Peter couldn’t shake the memory of Jason’s face as he had hovered over Morgan. The feeling of unease clung to him, a weight that refused to lift. He knew Jason would eventually retaliate, but he wasn't sure how or when.

---

The next morning, Peter was at Stark Tower, sitting alone in a quiet corner of the lab. The hum of Tony’s tech surrounded him, and though the usual clatter of machinery and the sharp scent of metal were comforting, today they felt muted.

Tony noticed him brooding and raised an eyebrow. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, kid. What’s eating you?”

Peter took a deep breath and briefly explained what had happened with Jason. Tony’s face darkened immediately, his usual smirk.

Peter stared at the message, his pulse quickening as a mix of anger and fear welled up inside him. It was Jason, without a doubt, and his words left little to the imagination. Peter quickly saved the number, making a mental note to talk to Tony about tracking it later. He knew Tony would insist on taking extra precautions, especially now that Jason’s threats were becoming more explicit.

But for tonight, Peter knew he couldn’t worry Morgan with this. She’d had enough on her plate, and he’d promised to protect her. After taking a deep breath, he set his phone aside, trying to push Jason’s threat to the back of his mind as he closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.

---

The next morning, Peter met Morgan at their usual spot by the college entrance. She greeted him with a soft smile, but he noticed the way her shoulders seemed tense. Ever since Jason’s suspension, she had felt the weight of being in the spotlight, and Peter knew the rumors about the incident were still making their rounds.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked, lightly bumping her shoulder with his.

Morgan nodded, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… trying to ignore all the whispers, you know?”

Peter clenched his fists, resisting the urge to go off on anyone who dared to talk about her. “If anyone gives you trouble, just tell me, okay?”

She nodded, giving him a grateful look, and they made their way to class together. Peter tried to focus on their morning lessons, but Jason’s text kept flashing through his mind, a reminder of the storm that was still brewing.

---

During lunch, Peter was heading toward the cafeteria when his phone vibrated again. He pulled it out, and his heart sank as he read the latest message:

Unknown Number: You think you’re safe, but you’re not. And neither is she.

Peter’s jaw clenched. He looked around, feeling like eyes were on him even though the hallway was nearly empty. His Spidey senses weren’t blaring, but he felt a faint tingle of unease—a reminder that danger could be lurking nearby.

He immediately texted Tony, knowing he couldn’t keep this to himself any longer.

Peter: Jason’s been messaging me. He’s threatening both me and Morgan.

It didn’t take long for Tony to respond.

Tony: Come to the Tower after school. We’ll deal with this.

Peter exhaled, feeling a sense of relief. With Tony’s resources, tracking down Jason’s threats would be easier. For now, he had to keep it together and get through the day.

---

After school, Peter and Morgan made their way to Stark Tower, where Tony was waiting for them in his office. He looked more serious than usual, his arms crossed as he listened to Peter recount everything—Jason’s threats, the messages, and his unsettling presence around campus.

Tony pulled out his tablet and immediately started working, a series of security feeds and tracking programs lighting up the screen. “Alright, I’ll have F.R.I.D.A.Y. run a trace on that number,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “And I’m increasing security around both of you. I won’t take any risks with this guy.”

Peter nodded, feeling a sense of relief at Tony’s quick action. Morgan sat beside him, worry flickering in her eyes as she watched Tony work.

“What if he tries something again?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“He won’t get the chance,” Tony assured her. “Between the Stark Tower security, campus surveillance, and, well, Peter’s ‘Spidey senses,’ we’ve got eyes everywhere.”

A notification popped up on the tablet, and Tony tapped it, frowning as he read the data.

“It looks like Jason’s been using an encrypted network,” Tony muttered. “Smart kid, but not smart enough. I’ll need a bit more time, but we’ll figure out where these messages are coming from.”

As they waited, Peter felt a weight settle in his chest. Jason’s words weren’t just empty threats; he knew the lengths Jason was willing to go. But with Tony’s resources and their family’s support, he felt stronger, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

---

Over the next few days, Peter and Morgan moved with extra caution, sticking together and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Tony had set up alerts on their phones, allowing him to monitor their location in case of an emergency. Peter had even taken to double-checking their surroundings, his Spidey senses constantly on high alert.

Then, on Friday evening, as they were wrapping up a study session at the Tower, F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice echoed through the room.

“Mr. Stark, I’ve detected unusual activity on the campus perimeter cameras. It appears someone is attempting to gain unauthorized access to the main building.”

Tony’s head snapped up. “F.R.I.D.A.Y., pull up the feed.”

The screen lit up, showing a figure lurking near the campus’s back entrance, trying to bypass the security panel. Even from the grainy footage, Peter recognized the face—it was Jason.

Peter felt his heart race as Tony tapped a button, issuing a direct alert to campus security. Within moments, they saw Jason freeze as two security guards approached him, guns drawn. He held his hands up, a look of panic flashing across his face.

“It’s over,” Tony said, leaning back with a satisfied look. “They’ve got him.”

Peter let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, glancing at Morgan. She looked relieved, but there was a lingering fear in her eyes.

“Thank you, dad,” she said softly. “For everything.”

Tony gave her a warm smile, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. “Anytime, kiddo. Nobody messes with a Stark—not on my watch.”

As Peter and Morgan left Stark Tower that evening, they felt a new sense of safety, knowing that Jason’s threats had finally been stopped. But Peter also knew that with great power came great responsibility, and he’d do anything to protect the people he loved.

And with Tony’s help, he knew they could face any threat—together.

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