The Road to Recovery

Press

Peter stood in front of his bedroom mirror, straightening his shirt out. Tony was gracious and said he didn't have to wear a suit, just a polo and dress slacks. There was a knock at his bedroom door as it creaked open.

"Pete, almost ready?" Tony asked, stepping behind him. "You look sharp, kid."

"Thanks Mr. Stark." Peter smiled nervously. Of course, Tony told him it was normal to have butterflies, that he'd be worried of Peter wasn't, but it felt like those butterflies were playing rugby inside him. "Mr. Stark?" Peter turned and stared at his mentor, "What if-I mean suppose-what will happene-"

Tony interrupted the kid, shoving a red and blue ball with a spider design on it into his hand. Peter glanced down it, "Uh, what's this?"

"Stress ball, you seem pretty anxious, thought it might help." Tony offered.

Peter smiled happily, "Thank you, again."

"Also," Tony went on as he wrapped an arm around Pete's shoulders, leading him to the elevator, "I made these," Tony handed him air pods and sunglasses, "the ear pieces are modified to cancel out all noise, and the sunglasses will help with the flash. Speaking from experience, you'll probably want to constantly wear the glasses."

Peter inserted the ear pieces and wore the sunglasses, immediately the bright room darkened comfortably and he could no longer hear Tony's voice. "Mr. Stark, these are awesome!"

Tony just smiled in return, knowing his kid wouldn't be able to hear any words he might say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tony stood on stage, giving his part of the press conference, but Peter wasn't listening. He saw his Aunt, Happy, Ned, and MJ all in their designated seats in the front row. His heart pounded, Peter's nerves definitely getting the best of him. And then he heard it.

Those words.

His cue.

Peter plastered on his bravest smile and walked onto the stage. Instantly, brights lights began flashing. If not for the glasses and ear pieces, he knew he would have been curled on the floor, experiencing a terrible sensory overload. Peter made it over to the podium and raised a hand for silence. After receiving the go-ahead from Tony, Peter removed the tiny pieces from his ear. "H-hi everyone. I'm Peter Parker, also known as Spiderman. Now, I assume you probably have questions for me, so let's just jump right in. Oh, but um, please be quiet unless I pick you." He recited. They had written and practiced word for word the small introductory, so Peter wouldn't scramble for what to say.

Luckily, they obeyed, only a few noises escaping them. "Uh, you there, in the nice maroon sweater."

"Hello Mr. Parker, Mara Sanchez from the New York Bulletin. How old were you when you became Spiderman?"

"Well, I started as the friendly neighborhood Spiderman only weeks after I received my powers and my uncle died." Peter replied as the reporter nodded. "How about you sir, lovely suit by the way."

A small round of chuckles rolled through the crowd. "Thank you, Mark Hammer from the Daily Bugle. Just how exactly did you receive your sureal abilities?"

"I was actually on a school field trip to a company, whose name I won't disclose, when a radioactive spider crawled onto me and proceeded to bite me. I would like to inform that the company has since stopped creating genetically modified animals and disposed of all previous ones. So no worries folks, your kids won't spontaneously climb on the ceiling like spider freaks after getting bit." Peter pointed to another person once he was finished.

"Joshua Carson, USA Today. What is your favorite part of being Spiderman?"

"Other then being able to give Mr. Stark heart attacks by climbing to the top of Stark Tower, I'd have to honestly say the fact that I can help people. I know I'm making a difference, making New York a safer place, bringing a smile to people's faces." Peter finished. "Ok, how about one more. You there."

"Hello Mr. Parker, Bridget Smith from The Chronicle. How do you feel about a drunk playboy being your mentor?"

The crowd was silent. This idiot must have some brave stupidity. Tony was about to step forward, figuring Peter might be uncomfortable answering the question. Instead, Peter, place his hand on Tony's chest, keeping him at bay, while his eyes never left the woman. "Before I answer that let's get a few things straight," Peter said, deathly calm. "1. Ever since I came around, Tony hasn't touched alchohol, even though he went through hell between civil war and Thanos. 2. You must be a crappy reporter if you don't know that Tony and Pepper are happily married, and have been together for upwards of 10 years. Tony Stark is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He's like my father-figure, and I love him like one." Peter finished and stormed off the stage.

Tony wanted desperately to follow, but he needed to say one more thing. Stepping up to the microphone, he warned, "Anyone, any journalist, paparazzi, news media person, anybody, who follows Peter to his school, his home, his friends home, Stark Tower, his favorite sandwich shop, or the like, I will make your life hell. Thank you, now leave."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Authors note:
I've finally done it, I updated. I sincerely apologise for how long it's been. Thanks for reading, let me know what you think in the comments.
Lots of love,
Siri