Peter was having an awful day. It had started out great, then Flash happened. He had seemed more annoying than usual and Peter was already running low on patience. When Flash teased him about not being able to get a permission slip signed because he didn't have a mom, though, Peter had had enough. He had promptly gotten up and punched Flash square in the face.

Even though Peter knew they'd be sent to the office for it, he still tried to argue his way out of it. He had no such luck, however, so now Peter and Flash were both waiting for their parents to show up. Unfortunately, Peter knew his wouldn't be showing up since Tony was on a business trip. Flash didn't make it any better. He mumbled taunts when the adults weren't paying attention and Peter had to remind himself he was already in trouble, he didn't need to make things worse by punching Flash again.

As soon as Mrs. Thompson arrived, Flash returned the ice to his face and pouted.

"Oh, baby!" she cried, running over to Flash the moment she saw him. Mrs. Thompson was teary-eyed as she kissed Flash's head then turned to the principal. "Did you know he was being bullied? Is this the boy that bullies him?" she demanded, pointing at Peter.

Peter shrunk in his seat, wishing someone would come for him soon so he didn't have to do the explaining all on his own.

"Mrs. Thompson, I will explain the situation once Peter's guardian arrives," Principal Morita said.

Mrs. Thompson glared at Peter then went back to fussing over Flash. It took five more minutes before someone knocked on the door and Natasha walked in.

"What happened?" she asked in Russian.

Peter quickly told her that Flash had teased him about his mom and he had punched him in return. Natasha frowned and turned to look at Flash. His nose was crooked and his eye was black, but Natasha turned back to Peter with a small smile.

"Good hit," she said. Peter smiled back and Principal Morita called for their attention.

"He could have killed my son!" Mrs. Thompson said, pointing angrily at Peter.

"I'm sorry," Natasha said before Principal Morita could reply. "But your son has been regularly bullying Peter."

"If that's true, Peter should have brought it up earlier instead of resorting to violence," Principal Morita replied. He turned to Flash and Mrs. Thompson. "Unfortunately, I have reports from other kids that your son has been bullying them."

Mrs. Thompson tried to object, but Principal Morita held up a hand to stop her.

"I have no evidence, so I will not expel him," Morita said, "But I have enough reports I'm afraid I will have to suspend him for two days."

"He did nothing wrong!" Mrs. Thompson screeched.

Peter flinched at her loud voice and Natasha rubbed his back.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Principal Morita said, looking truly apologetic. "The time will also help your son heal from his injuries."

Mrs. Thompson suddenly seemed grateful for the time and thanked him.

"Peter, however, will be suspended for a week," Morita said, turning to Peter and Natasha. "He attacked another student and caused him great injury."

"Principal Morita, that isn't fair!" Peter exclaimed.

"You didn't even hear Peter's side of the story," Natasha said.

Looking rather irritated, Principal Morita explained that he didn't need Peter's side, he had the report from the teacher and Peter was suspended for the rest of the week.

"But what about the field trip?" Peter asked and Principal Morita shrugged.

"You should have thought about that before you injured your classmate," Principal Morita said, "You are dismissed."

Peter and Natasha were the first ones out of the room. Natasha shot out of the parking lot once they were both in the car and headed towards the Tower.

"I'm sorry, Peter," Natasha said. Peter shrugged, looking out the window. "Where was the field trip?"

Peter opened his backpack and pulled out the permission slip. He actually didn't remember where it was as he had been too busy punching Flash to hear the teacher or read the slip.

"It's to the Tower," Peter said, surprised. His dad rarely ever let school groups come to the Tower for field trips.

"Well, then you're not missing much," Natasha said and Peter nodded. "How about we go grab some food then watch movies until someone makes us stop?"

Peter agreed.

* * * * *

All things considered, Peter's suspension from school was going well. He'd had a fun night with Natasha, then his dad had come home and he'd had to explain everything to him. While Tony was less than pleased to discover Peter had gotten in trouble for standing up to a bully, Peter assured him it was okay. After calming down Pepper, the three agreed that Peter could treat the time off as a short vacation instead of being in trouble.

Tony and Peter spent the first couple of days working in the lab until Pepper called them back upstairs. Now it was Thursday and Natasha was busy at SHIELD while Tony had a meeting. Wanting to do something interesting, Peter decided to go visit Bruce in the lab and see if there was anything he needed help with. Even if it was just running errands for him, Peter would still prefer that over sitting in the penthouse alone.

"FRIDAY, take me to Uncle Bruce," Peter said, stepping into the lift.

Instead of taking him to the private lab, the lift opened up on the floor of the R&D labs. Peter frowned.

"Doctor Banner is in lab 137."

Following FRIDAY's instructions, Peter walked down the halls until he found lab 137. He walked in and found Bruce huddled over a desk, working on something under a microscope.

"Sorry, my lab is being renovated after an untimely explosion," Bruce said without looking up. "I'm using this lab until it's fixed."

"Is Dad responsible for the explosion?" Peter asked. At his voice, Bruce looked up and smiled.

"Yes, he is."

Peter laughed and walked over to Bruce's desk.

"I didn't realise you were here today," Bruce said. When Peter explained what had happened, Bruce frowned. "Well, you're more than welcome to help me."

"What are you working on?" Peter asked, peering down at what Bruce was working on.

"We're trying to see if there's a way to change a plant's DNA to produce multiple different flowers on one stalk," Bruce explained and Peter stepped back.

"Sounds neat," Peter said.

Bruce nodded and went back to working on his plant.

"Can I work down here?"

"Sure," Bruce said, not looking up from his work.

Peter walked over to the other desk and had FRIDAY pull up stuff from his own personal log. Once everything was synced, he began working on his new web-shooter design while Bruce continued with his plants. At least now he wasn't alone in the lab.

* * * * *

At 1:45 pm, Bruce and Peter took a lunch break. Neither had made major breakthroughs, so they decided to join the others for lunch. Fortunately for them, Steve had made spaghetti and meatballs for the team and it had just finished when Bruce and Peter walked in. Tony had eaten already with Pepper, so he sat in the living room while everyone else ate.

"We all have to be down in the conference room at 2:30," Tony announced. When asked why, he shrugged. "Pepper didn't say."

"Is it another team meeting?" Clint complained and Tony rolled his eyes.

"I don't know, Katniss."

While Tony was called away a few minutes later, the others finished up their meal then went down to the conference room early. No harm in being there fifteen minutes before they needed to be.

"Can I come too?" Peter asked. He didn't want to be left alone and bored again.

"Tony didn't say no," Natasha said.

Peter grinned and loaded the lift with them. It was a tight fit and as soon as the lift doors opened, everyone hurried out. They poured into the conference room and in order to pass the time, they began a game of Pictionary. Peter was in the middle of drawing when someone behind them cleared their throat. The team stopped yelling their answers and turned to see Tony standing in front of a group of kids.

Peter capped his marker and felt his heart race as his dad said, "This is our 2:30 conference."

"Hello," Steve said, waving at the group. Everyone else awkwardly waved as well and Peter tried to hide under the table.

"Peter?" Mr. Hanson asked, "What are you doing here?"

Peter stood up from where he had been about to crawl under Steve's chair.

"You're suspended."

"Uh, hi, Mr. Hanson," Peter said shyly, "I'm just working on my internship."

"False!" someone yelled from the back and as the kids moved, Flash announced, "He tried to kill me and now the Avengers are about to arrest him."

"That's not what happened," Natasha argued.

Flash's eyes widened when he recognised Natasha and he looked around the room.

"Can I go?" Peter asked his dad quietly.

Tony nodded and Peter tried to escape, but Mr. Hanson stopped him.

"You aren't supposed to be on this field trip, young man," he said. Peter felt his face get hot as Mr. Hanson continued. "Go home now."

"He is home," Clint spoke up.

Peter turned around and gave Clint a furious look, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Unless you want to kick Tony Stark's kid out of his own home in front of all of us," Clint said, "I suggest you stop."

"Tony Stark's—" Mr. Hanson stopped and his eyes widened as he realised his mistake. "I am so sorry, Mr. Stark. I was unaware Peter was your son."

"Peter Stark?" Sam asked, looking unamused. "You didn't think Peter Stark was Tony Stark's son?"

"Sam..." Steve warned.

"I'm truly sorry, Mr. Stark," Mr. Hanson said, looking rightfully embarrassed. "Should we be leaving?"

"No, stay and do your Q & A," Tony said, but he did send Peter back upstairs.

The next week when Peter returned to school, Flash didn't both him and fortunately, neither did Mr. Hanson or any of the other teachers.