His Protective Dad (Starker FF) Completed ✓

A Step Towards Trust

The days that followed marked a new beginning for Peter. His worries weren’t completely gone—he still had secrets, responsibilities, and fears that weighed on him. But the foundation of trust he’d begun to build with MJ, Ned, Morgan, and his dads was making a real difference. Little by little, he was allowing himself to share more, to trust that the people around him were there not just out of loyalty, but because they genuinely wanted to support him.

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Early Morning at Stark Tower

Peter awoke to the faint sound of laughter drifting up from the kitchen. As he made his way downstairs, still bleary-eyed and stretching, he found Tony, Steve, and Morgan sitting around the kitchen table. Steve was flipping pancakes, Tony was reading the news, and Morgan was gesturing animatedly as she told them a story from college.

“Morning, kiddo,” Tony greeted, glancing up from his tablet. “Looks like you finally decided to join the land of the living.”

Peter grinned, rubbing his eyes. “What’s with the early breakfast gathering?”

Steve looked over his shoulder, flashing a smile. “We thought we’d have a family breakfast. It’s been a while.”

Peter grabbed a plate and joined them, feeling the warmth of the moment settle around him. For the first time, he let himself fully enjoy it without the constant feeling that he was on the verge of some crisis.

As they ate, Tony nudged Peter’s shoulder. “So, how’s college treating you? Still trying to save the world between classes?”

Peter chuckled. “Trying to keep the saving-the-world stuff to a minimum. But yeah, college is… a lot. Good, though.”

Morgan leaned in. “You’re doing great, you know. And not just in college. We’re all proud of you.”

Peter felt his face flush, but he nodded. “Thanks, Morgan. That… that means a lot.”

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Later that Day

At school, Peter found MJ waiting for him outside one of his classes. She gave him a quick smile, her eyes searching his face as though she were assessing him. Ever since he’d started opening up to her, she’d been more attentive, like she could sense his moods even before he did.

“Ready for lunch?” she asked, falling into step beside him.

“Definitely.” They made their way to the cafeteria, where Ned and Harley were already waiting. As they settled in with their trays, Peter felt a familiar surge of gratitude. Despite everything he’d gone through and all the weight he still carried, these moments with his friends grounded him.

Over the meal, Harley looked at Peter with a raised eyebrow. “So, we’re thinking about a little road trip after exams. You in?”

Peter paused, feeling a flash of anxiety. Part of him felt he shouldn’t leave the city, in case something happened. But then he caught MJ’s eyes, encouraging him, and he remembered what they’d all been saying—trust them, trust himself.

“Yeah,” he said finally, his smile growing. “Count me in.”

The group cheered, and as they began planning the trip, Peter felt a thrill he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in ages. He wasn’t running from his responsibilities, but he was learning that it was okay to live, to enjoy, to trust the people who’d chosen to be part of his life.

And as he looked around at his friends, he felt that he was truly on the right path—not just as a hero, but as Peter Parker.

As the days passed, the excitement of the planned road trip became a focal point for Peter and his friends. They spent lunch breaks discussing their destination, activities, and everything they could do to make the most of the trip. The planning sessions were filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional debate over music choices for the drive.