20

Peter Parker never thought his life would change so drastically. And it was hard to tell if it was for better or worse. On the one hand, even if he had been bullied before and the girl he liked didn't pay attention to him as a guy, but then everything was simple and clear. The kind of "comfort zone" he'd read about in psychology books. The name is inappropriate because a person is often completely uncomfortable in this zone but habitual. Yes, the habit zone would definitely fit better. Habits are harmful and useful, but they all have one thing in common - it is not easy to eliminate them. It's the same with a habitual life. It is clear you know your place in it and what to expect in the future.

Now Peter is in a completely different world. It's as if a frog, who has been in a well all his life, suddenly found himself in the ocean. First, the meeting with the idol, who in ordinary life turned out to be as imposing and charismatic as he imagined but kind and helpful. What Mr Stark had done for Peter just casually in his life had only been done by Aunt May. But no matter how grateful Peter was to the woman who had replaced his mother, he still understood that they were relatives, and she loved him madly. And here, a complete stranger, and even a public figure, a billionaire, just like that, saves his life and reveals the secret that he is Iron Man! Then he offers his help in restoring justice. And it didn't just end with collecting evidence and allocating a lawyer, Mr Stewart. They had a private flyer at their disposal, on which they flew all over Los Angeles and any restaurants and cafes of their choice.

And that's not to say it was unpleasant, just unfamiliar and unclear. Why the honour? Just as a young girl, who had not been favoured by a man's attention, was afraid and uncomfortable to accept expensive gifts from a man, even if she was assured of their complete gratuitousness. Hence, Peter thought, what would he have to pay for such an honour? And even if he had signed a contract with Mr Stark, even if he honestly said that he would use his brains to the full, for which the guy would have to study at MIT for excellent marks, but still such an attitude was alarming. It was like a feral house cat who had been petted instead of beaten with a stick for the first time in a long time.

Besides, the courts. They weren't pleasant in themselves and, given their cause and the identity of the accused, even less so. Parker almost shuddered when Flash came to him. And it was entirely possible that the guy would have baulked and taken the lawsuit... Except Thompson couldn't even apologise properly.

- Parker, you're so... Sorry, I guess," his abuser and his mates gritted through their teeth, picking Peter up as he came to retrieve his things from the room.

The tour was for a few days, so the schoolboys had been assigned rooms in an inexpensive hotel. It was obvious how difficult it was for him to "humiliate" himself in front of the school "bum" that he had humiliated for so many years.

- Well, it's, you know, your fault too... And in general, we don't have much money in our family now; I've been saving for college, so be a friend and take the application back. I promise I won't touch you again.

- And if I don't? - Parker asked.

Peter might have been scared before, but now he realised that one punch from him and Flash Thompson's face would turn into a bloody mess. That gives you courage. And the fear that he'd actually do it.

- You been eating a lot of limousine, Parker? You may be brave now, but what about your aunt? Queens, you know, it's such a dangerous neighbourhood... There are all sorts of people walking around, aren't you afraid for her? - Flash hissed, bringing his face close and breathing booze and cigarette smoke from his mouth.

- I... I'll take the statement," Peter replied, lowering his face and holding back his anger.

Oh, he wanted to wipe the smirk off Thompson's face. But he wasn't a fool, no. A coward, maybe, but not a fool. If he were to be the instigator, a fight of any kind would only make things worse for Peter and might ruin the whole case in court. Which would devalue not only his suffering but also the efforts of Mr Stark, or rather his lawyers.

- Good for you," Flash patted Parker on the shoulder. - I knew you were a smart guy. Don't worry; if anyone touches you, I'll be there. Let's go, boys.

- Did you really decide to take the lawsuit? - Asked Ned, who'd been in the room the whole time, pretending to be invisible.

His only friend... And was he even a friend? 'More like a mate,' Peter realised. He could talk to him about video games, films, or superheroes, but if anything, the fat Asian guy would play dumb. And before Parker transferred, Ned was Thompson's main victim, so he took the heat for trying to protect him.

- What do you care? Watch your Chinese porno films," Peter said angrily, picking up his bag and leaving the room, slamming the door harder than he meant to, nearly breaking the handle.

Parker was angry not even at the fat man anymore but at himself. Now it seemed that all those years of insults and humiliation were just pointless. He could have complained long ago, asked to be transferred to another school, or even graduated a few years ago. The reason for that, though, was because of.....

- MJ?

So immersed in his thoughts was Peter that he almost collided with the girl heading in his direction. Beautiful as ever. He almost floated again, as he usually did with girls, let alone the one he was in love with, but his anger and not-so-happy thoughts sobered him up.

- Peter, I'm so glad you're okay! Flash kept telling me you were fine, but I didn't believe him because you weren't breathing! - she said excitedly. - It's like a rock fell from my soul!

- Thank you, they told me that you did... Well, artificial respiration... - still, it was awkward to talk about such a topic. - You were the only one trying to help me.

- Well, how could I not? We're friends," she grinned. - By the way, I hear you're using Flash. They say he's accused of attempted murder, but it was an accident, right? Why don't you forgive him? He did realise, and it was all over.

- Did he tell you that? - Parker asked, arching his eyebrows.

At the moment, Peter was hiding his changes with a baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants. Besides, he was always slouching, so it wasn't a problem. But now he straightened up, and it turned out that he was as tall and built as the football team captain. His brain, which had been working well before, but was now modified by the serum, was feeding him moments from the past. Yes, Mary Jane had kept him safe while she'd been around. But that didn't stop her from seeing Flash. Even if they had nothing going on, which he sincerely wanted to believe, even if the facts were otherwise, Peter now saw it as a betrayal. How could he call Flash a moron in front of Peter, defend him, and then jump into his car laughing?

And then it hit Parker. It was as if a long-delayed puzzle had finally clicked together. Hero complex. She just enjoyed protecting weak little Peter, making herself look like the protector of the weak, which, given Thompson's influence and sympathy for her, was easy enough and didn't threaten her. And even now, she was trying to cover for Flash. Apparently, her conscience had been weighing on her earlier. Still, when she saw a healthy Peter, she forgot about it. With Thompson gone, she'd go from being the team captain's girlfriend to being just an ordinary, unhappy girl with family problems. She never saw him as a boyfriend; she realised he was no longer a boy but not yet a husband. Like a hammer blow to the head, this realisation came over him. Even if Peter opens up to her and proves that he has become strong, brave and has a lot of money, that's what she will love, not him.

- Yes, he is. Why is that not true? Peter? Tiger, hello, are you there? - Waved the girl's hand in front of his face, smiling.

- Oh, yeah, sorry, I was thinking," replied the boy, whose silly smile that usually appeared when he saw MJ was suddenly gone, but soon a new, sad one appeared. - Hey, why don't you go out with me?

- I... I promised my friend I'd attend the concert, so I'm sorry! - Mary Jane apologised, folding her hands together. - So what about the lawsuit? You realise it will ruin your reputation at school, right? Flash is a jerk, but is it worth ruining his life over? We're about to graduate anyway!

- I already promised Flash I'd take him," replied the boy, who could barely keep from screaming that Flash didn't care when he was ruining HIS life.

He didn't care about all the pleading and begging to get off Peter's back. Even a trial was just a demand for justice and compensation that wouldn't change or undo the years of humiliation. It wouldn't make him forget that it never happened. No matter how many years pass, all his classmates and he will remember "Smack Parker". And even if he punched Flash in the face and dunked him in a jolt, they wouldn't change their minds, except they'd shy away from the 'psycho'. He didn't say all that, however. He'd known Mary for a long time and knew her habits and behaviour, but he'd tried to ignore it. Fooled himself.

MJ always looks up and to the right when she lies. A movement uncontrollable by her, and a rather quick one at that. But now the guy's reaction time was faster, and he could see it clearly. He had already decided to see this through to the end, no matter what it took or how much he was persuaded. But what about Mary? He could not bring himself to hate her, especially as she had really helped him, even if that help made Thompson even angrier. But he couldn't call her a friend now, either. Friends don't go out with someone who bullies them. Maybe it was teenage resentment or heartbreak; it didn't matter to him; she had chosen her side.

- That's good! If he touches you again, you tell me! - The girl said with her chest out, and a fighting look on her face. - Cheer up, Tiger.

- Yeah," Peter replied, going downstairs.

Returning to her room, Mary Jane remembered that she had seen Parker's packed bag and hadn't asked about it. As she went downstairs, she noticed the latter getting into a flyer and flying it off into the sky. She suddenly felt bad that she hadn't agreed to go out with him because then she would have been able to fly like she had with her father. But then she would have had to agree to a date, which she didn't want to do because she didn't see Peter as a possible boyfriend. And there was also a purely intuitive feeling that she was wrong tonight. However, Flash and his friends and the cheerleaders soon came by to pick her and her friend up, and then they were off to a club to party, so those thoughts were quickly put out of her head.

***

Walking out of the Los Angeles courthouse, Peter sighed heavily and loosened the tie that had reached him. The air conditioning in the courthouse was working, but it was still crowded and hot. Given the evidence, Flash had been ordered to do three hundred hours of community service and awarded two hundred thousand dollars in damages for unintentional harm that could have resulted in death. Intricate wording, but it was not possible to prove intentional attempted murder. That's just the beginning, though, because the systematic bullying trial was still the main focus.

- You held up well, Mr Parker," said the lawyer who had left the building, fixing his tie and smiling dryly at his client. Even though the sum was not large, and the case was simple, he, on it, rested and remembered his youth. - In our business, this is the most important thing. You can't imagine how many crimes have gone unpunished because the client was scared or decided to take pity on the criminal.

- And did it lead to something? - Peter asked.

- In my memory, taking into account the stories of my colleagues, only three criminals have come to their senses and decided to change their lives. The rest just became convinced of their impunity or became more cautious. We have two more cases, but that won't be for a while. We've got a lot of ground to cover, witnesses to interview, you know... I'll see you in New York.

- Thank you very much, Mr Stewart.

- You're welcome," the lawyer said with a smile. - It's my job. And I'm paid very handsomely for it, to tell you the truth. By the way, Mr Stark asked me to tell you that he strongly invites you and your aunt to visit him. The flyer will arrive at the hotel at six o'clock.

- I'll be there! - replied the lad to the lawyer getting into his Mercedes.

He was a retrograde and preferred to drive himself rather than trust these new-fangled autopilots.

- Where are you going? - came a tired voice from behind.

It was Aunt May who had finished signing all the papers. Since Peter is a minor, a guardian represents him in court. Parker's parents had died when he was still a child, and he had been adopted by his aunt and uncle, Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Uncle Ben was a brother to his father, but even after his uncle's death, his aunt did not give up on him. They took him in and raised him as their own, maybe because they had no children and could not have any because of his aunt's infertility, or maybe just because they were good people. One thing was certain - Peter saw May as a mother, older sister and best friend. This was due in no small part to the woman's age and her easy-going, young and kind character - she was only thirty-three. Her slim figure, naturally beautiful face and gorgeous form made her look even younger.

At the moment, she was wearing a grey pencil skirt, a white blouse with ruffles and large but stylish glasses with a metal rim. Many men paid attention to her, especially her lower and upper hemispheres. Had she not been his aunt, it was quite possible that she, and not Mary Jane, would have been the cause of his wet dreams. But, alas, the widow saw no one but Uncle Ben by her side, and to this day, though four years have passed, he hears her crying in the kitchen sometimes. He makes her hot chocolate at such times and sits with her in his arms. As the woman herself once did after Peter lost his parents.

- Mr Stark invited us to his place. He saved me, appreciated my ideas and labour, and invited me to work for him. And he's the one who assigned his own lawyer!

- That's what confuses me," Auntie frowned. - Did he offer you anything? Didn't he touch you anywhere?

- Auntie!

- Auntie, what? Look at Michael Jackson inviting kids to his house!

- Michael Jackson was acquitted, and Mr Stark's not like that! And anyway, once you get to know him, you won't say such nasty things. - Peter realised what his aunt was implying.

But he's not like that, is he? Right? Parker persuaded himself. It was hard to believe that someone could help just like that, just like that, and without asking for anything in return. No matter how sad it is, but such a society now, that from the surrounding people expect, at best indifference, and at worst - a spit or a knife in the back if you have a problem. Without money or some kind of profit, they won't even take you to the hospital; they will leave you to die in a ditch. Of course, there were some good people. But they were so vanishingly few, so invisible, that it seemed they didn't exist.

- Then let's go to the shop, you can't go to a billionaire's reception in normal clothes!

- But I have normal clothes! - Peter was indignant.

The lawyer had brought him a business suit, so Peter didn't even know that it was custom-made and cost as much as a clerk's salary for a month.

- Who's talking about you? I'm talking about me! - his aunt winked at him.

- Oh, no," Parker sighed, imagining the amount of shopping he would be dragged through. But a thought immediately occurred to him.

- Oh yes, darling, that's my compensation for making you worry and not discussing the lawsuit with me.

- But you didn't mind.

Yes, it was his fault.

- But that doesn't make it any less your fault! - The woman gave a thumbs-up to make it more convincing and then extended her hand, stopping the nearest taxi.

Sure, there are call apps, but she was still getting used to them.

A few hours later, Peter, completely exhausted and devastated, and his aunt, in a red dress and in full parade, in the form of curled hair and a visit to a beauty parlour that made men's heads spin, found themselves at the door of the Stark mansion. The flyer, bypassing the gate, flew straight to the entrance. The door was opened by Tony Stark, dressed in shorts and his favourite washed-out SpongeBob T-shirt.

- Why are you dressed like you're going to a reception or a funeral," Tony asked, and when he saw May, he didn't get confused at all: "And you brought a top model with you! Well done, lad!

- That's my aunt!" Peter said, a little louder than necessary. - Aunt May.

- She looks more like a sister. I'm sorry I'm like this; I just thought we were having a little family get-together, and I should have been more specific about it to Stuart. Oh, well, come in. I'll just get changed.

- Not at all," May said with a smile, who was quite happy seeing a man's fit body.

Even if she didn't want to get married again, it didn't mean she didn't have men. And she was no stranger to the banal contemplation of beauty, and she had no hope of getting a billionaire to marry her. Stark has younger and prettier women on his doorstep. Besides, the woman didn't know Tony for what he really was. Maybe he's into boys. Young boys.

- You're the owner. We're guests.

- Yeah? Well, come on in. The restaurant delivery just arrived.

Tony Stark didn't give a damn about etiquette and behaviour. So if his guests are comfortable with his appearance, why shouldn't Tony be? On the contrary, it's more comfortable for him.

- Take a seat at the table; it's mostly empty anyway.

Stark unpacked the bags of food, inside of which were good, albeit plastic, plates of decorated dishes. Given the three Michelin stars, it couldn't be otherwise - even the delivery was top-notch. However, Tony ordered from there only because of pizza to feed the guests... Well, you can at the second meeting. Moreover, not everyone had such a tin stomach as he had, so there were a lot of dishes for every taste and cuisine. Stroganina, real Kamchatka crab with truffle sauce, tartare, vegetarian salad, steaks, fish, potatoes, pasta and much more. But considering the restaurant portions, it couldn't be said that the table was bursting with the amount of food. Seeing Stark with the plates, May immediately stood up and helped him, even though she was in a dress.

- Oh, this must all be very expensive... - the woman had only seen such dishes on TV.

- Never worry about the food price if they give it to you for free. All the more, it doesn't cost that much.

"For me," he thought. Stark was no idiot, and though he had grown up not just in affluence but in outright luxury, unlike many of his peers from the golden youth, he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty and stoop to mere mortals. His friendship with Rowdy was especially helpful.

- By the way, do you guys pray before you eat?

- No," the woman sat down right between Peter and Tony.

She had only had breakfast today, so she was hungry before that, too, so she grabbed her fork and waited for her host's permission.

- That's good; I never liked that.

Stark's mother was Catholic, but as much as he loved her, praying before eating always annoyed him.

- What was the point of thanking God for food? The gods are not the ones who burn pots.

- Are you an atheist? - May asked after chewing the steak, which was not overcooked yet melted in her mouth.

Peter did not interfere in the conversation of the "elders". Yes, and he was thinking more about the past trial. Especially about the way Flash had looked at him. Not pitifully, not remorsefully, but angrily. Thompson never realised or accepted that he had only himself to blame for his problems. How many times had Parker begged, pleaded with him to leave him alone? It was all in vain. But his face, when the judge announced the verdict, he remembered and imprinted in his heart. Yes, there's something good about dealing with problems adultly.

- I'm an agnostic. If they can prove God exists," Stark said, waving a crab phalanx at her, "there is a God. If they don't, there's no point in thinking about it. You don't think about whether there are winged pink unicorn ponies somewhere in the universe, do you? So what's the point of thinking about God?

- But have you ever wondered what's out there after you die? I think about it quite a lot.

And Tony understood her. Losing a husband who had previously lost his brother and sister-in-law at a young age is hard. He knows that.

- I thought about it," Stark was sad for a moment but immediately regained his joker's mask, "But I realised it was pointless, too. My parents are still in my heart and in my memories. However, I've recently learnt that there is definitely an afterlife.

- What?" May asked, almost choking on her wine, a bottle of which cost more than her monthly salary.

Peter's spider ears perked up too.

- 'Before I answer you, let me ask you, Peter. Did you tell your aunt about what happened to you?

- No, I thought it was a secret," the boy apologised.

- It is. But not to the one who replaced your mother. Or is she the chatty type?

- No, Aunt May can keep a secret!

- So, what are you talking about? - the woman knew in her gut she wouldn't like what she said. And so she did.

- So I'll have to tell myself. Aye-aye-aye, Peter, what a naughty boy, taking it out on me. All right, well, listen carefully. I won't tell you twice." And Stark recounted the circumstances under which he met Parker.

And his clinical death and miraculous rescue. And how he saw potential in the guy and invited him to work, whispering in May's ear that he did it also to keep the guy's head clear. He didn't go outrageous or, on the contrary, heroic for nothing, but he had an adequate goal - to become a very rich man, doing what he liked.

- So, after the third glass of wine and two napkins, as the woman was overexcited, she could swallow the lump in her throat.

The realisation that the one and only person she loved had almost died and that only Stark could have saved him, and the hospital probably wouldn't have been able to help him, hit the woman who had lost her husband very hard. To lose Peter as well, she couldn't have done it; she would have just put her hands on herself. Parents, which is what she considered herself to be, shouldn't bury their children. The reverse wasn't sugar either, but still, no one could avoid it.

- He'd really almost died.

- 'Mum,' Peter hugged the woman; he didn't like it when she cried and, agitated, called her Mum, which caused more sobs. - It's all right, do you hear? I'm even stronger now! It's all over well!

- It could have been bad! Why didn't you tell me directly who was bullying you? I saw you come in beaten, and you kept quiet!

- I was ashamed," Parker averted his eyes.

- Peter was a victim; he was intimidated and convinced that resistance is not only useless but also dangerous;- Tony decided to stand up for the guy. - That's what pisses me off more than the violence, is that it goes unpunished, ignored. All the most heinous crimes are committed because of the inaction of others. My men are gathering evidence and interviewing students from Peter's school. We can already tell that everyone saw and knew but turned a blind eye or tried to ignore it. Those who tried to complain were shut up by the principal, and the team coach, a strong captain and a good player were more important to them than the welfare and mental health of a few kids.

- I'm afraid I'm going to have to transfer Peter to another school because of this," the woman complained.

- We will. Peter is almost a grown-up boy and could have graduated alone long ago. He'll finish his last year at a public school. If it's not enough compensation, I'll pay for it.

- No, that's all right. You've done enough for us.

- As you wish, but take your time. Graduating from a good school with honours will give him a big boost to get into MIT or any other university he wants, even Ivy League.

- You do so much for us. Why? - May finally ask her most vexing question.

- Firstly, because I can, and I want to. Maybe you haven't noticed, but I'm not poor," he grinned, waving his hands as if to show the situation, and his aunt and nephew chuckled. - Secondly, I have realised how many mistakes I have made in my life, and I want, if not to correct them, at least not to make them again. So I help people as much as I can. They don't talk about it much, and I don't spread it much, but I've already given hundreds of millions to charity. But, alas, the media are more interested in who I went to the next party with and what I did there. And finally, the most important thing. I saw potential in St. Petersburg. Many companies, including mine, are looking for and fighting for geniuses. Here fate slipped it under my nose. Consider it an investment in a promising business. Just so you know, in our business, if at least one startup out of ten fires, it is already considered a success. And I'm not talking about the fact that you have to keep an eye on it because nobody guarantees that the mutation won't start again. I don't think you'd want your nephew to start spiderwebs out of his anus or get extra limbs and chewing teeth.

- Could he?

- Who knows? - Stark shrugged. - I just saw a guy made of metal a week ago, an old man who controls metal and throws lightning, a telepath and a girl who walks through walls, so nothing surprises me. Peter, by the way.

- Yes, Mr Stark?

- How would you like to start training with one of my employees? Your strength requires control. God forbid you hit someone, and the hotel's had a lot of complaints about you breaking the remote control or the doorknob.

- Um, yeah, sure," Peter said, embarrassed.

- Is she like Peter? - To the woman's honour, she didn't use the word "mutant".

The word itself is commonplace and perfectly describes what happened to her nephew. Still, the word has been used mostly in an insulting sense for more than half a century. Which is not conducive to building relationships between ordinary people and X-Men, as mutants are also called. On the one hand, ordinary people feared and hated them, and some radicals, often occupying high positions in the government, wanted to destroy or control them. On the other hand, mutants did not always want to fit into society. Only some people were available, especially if the appearance was different, as in the same Henry McCoy.

Moreover, many mutants considered themselves a superior race and radicals - that ordinary people should be destroyed or become slaves. Attempts by neutrals or loyalists to reconcile the two groups often encountered active opposition from radicals on both sides, further aggravating relations. The world war did not start only because of one man, the world's strongest telepath - Charles Xavier. On the one hand, he was loyal to the common people. For example, he wanted cooperation, preventing the radicals from setting up a nuclear war. On the other, his balls were definitely not enough to destroy the radicals, so the war turned protracted and cold. But Stark realised once Xavier died or was out of commission, a war of annihilation, a true genocide, would begin. Unless a way could be devised before then to block or awaken the X gene in all humans, which was the same thing.

- No, she's an alien altogether," Tony replied, finishing his beluga and black caviar sandwich.

- Are you kidding? - May almost be choked on her crab.

- Why are you so surprised? Two huge monsters fought in New York a few months ago and tore everything apart. I'll tell you more, there are a lot of alien species, but for most of them, Earth is still in the Stone Age, if not in the Stone Age, then somewhere near it, and it's at the back of the galaxy. And our species is pretty aggressive even for space.

- You won't make Peter a superhero like Captain America or the X-Men, are you? - the woman squinted suspiciously.

- God forbid," Stark retorted. - Teenagers, even those with special powers, shouldn't be involved in risky endeavours.

- What about the police or the emergency services? - Peter objected.

- Police officers are paid and have pensions, insurance and a voter-given right to their jobs. Plus, if they abuse their powers, they are tried even more harshly than ordinary people. Who will judge the superhero? Who will make amends for his activities?

- Captain America didn't have a problem with that, and you... - Peter almost said that Tony was Iron Man but immediately stopped himself.

And he remembered that he only helps when others can't handle it. He doesn't go after small-time purse-snatchers. Also, Stark didn't mention it; he's covered by the Shield. So he's on semi-official duty.

- Everyone knew who Captain America was. And he was first more of a symbol and a banner for our soldiers. Afterwards, he ran away to the front and, by the way, quite pointlessly.

- Why? - even May was surprised. - Didn't he destroy the Hydra and its head, the Red Skull?

- What could one man, even a superhuman, do? He had a whole group of experienced thugs and saboteurs, troops to back him up, and the last battle might not have been necessary at all. Russian troops were already on their way to Hydra's base, and, in fact, its capture was mostly necessary to keep it and its technology out of the hands of the Communists.

- What about Iron Man? - Parker couldn't help but say.

- He's a hypocrite, a scoundrel and an unconscious man who almost died a few times," Stark glared at the teenager and fell silent.

- You say that like you know him," May continued, nibbling a prawn on her fork.

- Oh, we're good acquaintances. I know him like I know myself," the man chuckled and decided to change the subject: "So, do you agree?

- We're going to New York...

- And that's great, the instructor is already there. She'll contact you, Peter, as soon as you arrive.

Next, having satisfied his hunger, Stark mostly asked about his aunt's life with his nephew, embarrassing the latter and diluting the dialogue with his own amusing life stories. After that, standing up from the table and assuring him that he didn't need help with cleaning, as there were people to do it, and that they were paid for it, he suggested playing the console. What surprised Tony was that May was the first to say yes. She'd also done him in Mortal Kombat five times in a row. Granted, he didn't take advantage of the half- titan's reactions, but it was still frustrating... And pretty fun.

- Yeah. Who's the boss?! I am the boss! - exclaimed the joyous woman, waving her gamepad, and then faltered: "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr Stark!

- I haven't had this much fun in a long time. Peter, do you want some?

- Playing with your aunt? Oh, no, I couldn't beat her once. Why don't we watch a film?

- Oh, you're such a coward," May waved her nephew away. - You know, Mr Stark.

- Just Tony.

- Tony, you know, you're not what I thought you'd be.

- Wait, wait, wait, let me guess. Did you picture either a boring and serious snob or a never-serious hustler?

- The second one," Peter ratted out his aunt. - And she also thought that you liked young women.

The woman immediately shut the teenager's mouth with her hand.

- Don't listen to him. He'll talk rubbish! Well, if it's a film, it's a film!

Stark chose a classic, the back to the Future trilogy. Tony had his own cinema with holographic projectors and screens instead of walls, floors and ceilings, so it created a feeling of full presence, for which Jarvis additionally processed the films to turn a flat image into a three-dimensional one. But while Tony and Peter had inhuman conditioning, May was normal, and the long day, a hearty dinner, and half a bottle of wine had done their damage. She fell asleep halfway through the first film. After sending the woman into the guest room with levitating charms, Stark was able to speak to Parker alone.

- Peter, can you talk your aunt into moving in?

- Do you like her that much? - Parker sneered.

- Growing teeth? Good for you. Just don't break them," the man praised him, sitting on the couch. - No, she's a good woman, but I already have a lover. The point is different; you live in a dysfunctional neighbourhood. Even now, you have your detractors, and there are muggers and drug addicts in the neighbourhood. She won't take my money either; I've seen that breed of people, I know. So it's up to you to talk her down. Say whatever you want, that you'll feel safer and more secure, or that you can buy a new house now that you've got the money.

- Okay, I'll try, but it's gonna be hard. She can be very stubborn at times.

- Just try. Now, let's decide which area your bright head's more interested in. Where do you want to go?

- Biology. Dr Connors previously offered me a lab technician position in New York.

- Speaking of him, I've been meaning to talk to him too. Can you give me his contact?

Parker nodded his head.

- Well, then it's settled. Biology, so biology, I recommend the direction of genetics. It's very promising, especially since you can be a research subject. Nothing motivates you like learning about yourself; I know that. And now I think it's time to go to bed; it's not a child's time.

- I'm not a child!

- Who's talking about you? I'm sleepy myself. You can lie down in the next room next to your aunt.