Peter Parker One Shots

Biology Test

"Hey, Tony!" Peter chirps as he runs into their lab, his backpack slinging haphazardly across his shoulders.

"Hi, kid," Tony says, looking up from his work with a smile. "Why are you so excited?"

Peter grins and pulls up his stool to sit across from Tony. Peter grins, his legs bouncing with excitement, "We're doing this awesome new project in science! I can't wait to see what the results are, especially since the spider bite definitely altered my DNA and I-"

"Woah, woah, woah," Tony says with a laugh, "slow down. What project?"

Peter takes a breath, "We're doing this project where we compare someone our DNA with someone we're related to and then with someone we aren't related to! I'm so excited to see what changed the spider venom made to my DNA!"

Tony smile at Peter's excitement, "You're a nerd, kid."

Peter grins and laughs, "I know!"

"You get back to me with the results, okay?" Tony asks. Peter nods enthusiastically. Tony shakes his head, "Go get started then!" Tony gestures for Peter to shoo and he turns back to his work.

They work in silence for a few minutes. Tony can hear Peter's pencil scratching against the paper of his notebook and his quiet muttering under his breath. Peter's words roll over in Tony's head and he realizes something.

"Kid?" Tony asks, sitting up.

"Yeah?" Peter responds, not looking up from his notebook.

"Who's DNA are you using for your experiment?" Tony asks. Peter sighs and looks up, setting his pencil down.

"I don't know." He shrugs, "I, um, I don't have any blood relatives left." Peter looks down at his lap. He takes a pause before continuing, "But I, um, talked to my teacher. Um, she said that I could just pick two people and use their DNA. I'll probably use May, even though she's only my aunt by marriage." Peter tugs on the end of his sleeves so that they cover his hands. Peter sniffs and rubs his eyes. He's crying, Tony thinks.

Tony gets out of his chair and kneels in front of Peter, his hand on his knee, "Peter?"

Peter tips his head back, "I'm sorry, I'm fine. I, um, I just," he takes a short breath. "It's hard. Everyone heard me asking the teacher and they all stared at me and..."

"I know, kid." Tony says, "I know," Tony stands up and pulls Peter into a soft hug.

"Thanks, Tony," Peter says, pulling back and wiping his eyes. Tony sits back on his stool.

"Why don't you use my DNA?" Tony offers. Peter's wide eyes fly up to Tony.

"Really?" He asks hopefully.

"Sure," Tony says.

"Thank you so much, Tony!" Peter exclaims, jumping to his feet and tackling Tony in another hug.

...

The next week, Peter comes into the lab with considerably less excitement than the week before. It almost seems to Tony that he doesn't want Tony to acknowledge him. It doesn't work.

"Everything alright, kid?" Tony asks as Peter pulls out his notebook. Peter nods without looking up at Tony. Tony sighes, running his hand over his face. "You want to try that again?" Tony asks Peter as he walks over to him.

"I'm fine," Peter insists, but his voice breaks on the word fine. Tony crouches beside Peter's chair. Tony looks up at him expectantly. It doesn't take long for Peter to break. "We did our experiment with DNA today."