Hey everyone so this is the sequel to The Aftermath of the Ferry Fiasco and a rewrite of Family is more than Blood. This version is hopefully better written and does have several new bits and changes. I hope you enjoy whether you are a returning or new reader.

-EmptyFridges

Peter mindlessly tapped his pen on the edge of the desk he was seated at as his Spanish teacher droned on about conjunctions. It was Wednesday and the school day couldn't end fast enough, Mr Stark promised him they could spend the evening in the lab tinkering with his webshooters and he couldn't wait.

"Peter….Peter! Are you even listening to me?" Peter was startled back to the present by the sharp tone of his teacher, he looked down blushing as everyone turned to stare at him.

"Lo siento, ¿puedes repetir la pregunta por favor?" He asks cheeks burning as his classmates tittered around him.

The teacher repeated the question and he mumbled back a response quickly to avoid further attention. No attention was better than the wrong sort after all.

Minutes later his spidey-sense tingled which he reluctantly ignored due to being in class and as he expected seconds later a ball of paper hit him on the back of the head. Reaching down he picked it up surreptitiously to avoid another reprimand from his teacher and flattened it out. He drew in a breath, he shouldn't have been surprised really, he had known it would be from Flash, the paper on his desk sported a crudely drawn picture of a boy in frayed trousers, a slightly too short on the arms sweater and surrounded by books with tears running down his cheeks. The words 'Poor Penis Parker' framed the drawing and he didn't need to turn around to know it was Flash sniggering behind him. Flushing he angrily scrunched the paper back up and dropped it into his bag to throw away later. Studiously ignoring the boy and his gang of morons laughing behind him he continued to note down his teachers words, determined not to let the boy see how his taunt had affected him. Showing weakness would just make everything worse, of that he was certain.

Only ten more minutes until lunch, he thought to himself, then another two classes and I can go to the tower. His stomach was in pain from hunger and all he could think about was getting his lunch, breakfast seemed so long ago. Stupid spider metabolism. As soon as the bell rang he grabbed his bag and rushed out determined to meet Ned and join the lunch queue as quickly as possible. So focussed on looking for Ned in the sea of students crowding the corridor he was taken by surprise when a harsh shove pushed him sideways into some lockers. Shocked he turned to see Flash grinning at him and unconsciously curled in on himself slightly gripping his bag tightly.

"Please Flash I don't have time for this, just let me get my lunch, leave me alone" he told the bigger boy tiredly.

The boy's smile became predatory as he leered over Peter.

"You know, I don't think I will Penis" he replied and turning to address his friends continued, "You know what boys? I'm feeling really hungry today what about you?"

Dread pooled in Peter's stomach already knowing what was coming even before they all agreed with Flash. Quicker than Peter expected he was punched hard in the stomach and had to drop his bag in fear of someone suspecting something was afoot. After all if this had happened before Spiderman he was certain he would have been in tears by this point. He would let himself be the victim to prevent someone else being in his place but he refused to give Flash the satisfaction of making him cry. So, he curled up in a ball to cover his stomach, to be fair despite being Spiderman he could still have the wind knocked out of him, it was still unpleasant. He so wished he could just hit him back but he couldn't, right now he wasn't Spiderman he was poor, useless Peter Parker and had to act like he would have a year ago, before he was bitten. As he clutched his stomach he heard the others grab at his ratty bag and open it emptying the contents all over the floor. He saw his blue meal ticket which gave him a free lunch flutter towards the ground and reached out a hand to grab it but was beaten to it by Flash.

"Oooh thanks Penis," he jeered. "I think I'll take this, you'll have to go buy yourself something."

Gritting his teeth Peter ignored the taunt. Everyone knew blue tickets were for people that got free school lunches, so Flash knew by taking it away he wouldn't be able to eat. He also knew Flash knew he was on a scholarship, this school was expensive but assholes like Flash didn't understand, would never understand.

He flinched as a hand came down to rest on his shoulder.

"Only me."

He turned and smiled up at Ned who quickly helped him pick up his things which were strewn all over the hallway.

"Sorry I got held up in biology, you can have some of my lunch if you want" The larger boy offered with a sad smile.

Mumbling his thanks Peter pulled himself up self-consciously dusting himself off. He entered the cafeteria to a shout of thanks from Flash who was grinning like an idiot as he bit into a burger, another in his other hand.

"Ignore him, he's an idiot" Ned murmured to him as he pulled Peter towards their normal table.

Nodding absently but still upset at the bully's words Peter sat down as Ned went to grab some lunch for them both. Peter really was lucky to have Ned, he always stuck by him and he didn't think he could ever repay him for all the help he had given him over the years. The other boy soon returned with a full tray of food and Peter ate a few fries to stave off the hunger pains in his stomach and accepted a bag of crisps but left the rest for his friend. After all Ned wasn't the loser who let their meal ticket get taken by Flash and his friends.

Seeing Peter was brooding, most probably about Flash's actions Ned tried to distract him. "So, what's the plan with Mr Stark tonight?" He asked knowing perfectly well asking about Stark would cheer his friend up, it always did. He couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face as his friend's mood did a total 180 and he started to babble about the changes they were thinking of making to the web grenade feature of his suit.

The rest of lunch passed quickly Peter did feel considerably better by the time the bell rang for afternoon classes. If only that could last though.

The two friends quickly made their way to their computer class and their usual seats towards the back of the room, Ned insisted they sat there because he said the computers were faster, but Peter was sure it was just because the teacher couldn't see what you were doing when you sat there. Within five minutes the classroom was full and Mr Smith started their lesson.

Peter found computer class fine, it was fairly easy and he never really had to do much revision for it, he was gen z after all, every teenager knows at least the basics, but it' Ned's favourite class by far. After hacking into Peter's suits all those months ago the boy got really into coding and now regularly codes in his spare time determined to work in the field after school. He was crazy good at it to be honest, if Peter ever needed anything coded or hacked into Ned would be the man for the job.

The class was fairly loud as everyone chatted amongst themselves while doing their work, as long as the work was done their teacher didn't care. Staring at his screen Peter listened with half an ear as Ned prattled on about his new Lego set…"yeah so we could make it this weekend? Are you free?" he asks.

"Can't do this weekend I'm at my internship. Mr Stark said he would take me…" he started before being interrupted.

"Ugh Penis stop this lying!" Came Flash's voice from behind him, he had been walking back to his seat and overhead Peter's words. "No one believes a loser like you actually knows Tony Stark. Why would SI hire you? You'd only be taken on because it's good publicity to hire poor losers." He said cruelly "stop lying for attention. Why would anyone care about you anyway?"

Why would anyone care about you? The words rattled round in Peter's head and he hardly noticed as Flash moved away. He ignored Ned's worried looks and just turned back to his screen in an attempt to look busy as the words kept going round and round in his head.

Maybe he was just a pity project. He thought to himself. Why would Mr Stark care about him? But that couldn't be right Mr Stark has told him he cares about him before. But that could be lies? He lies to the press all the time he could lie to him too. Maybe he just likes Spiderman and Peter is the unfortunate cost.

Wallowing in his misery his earlier excitement for working in the lab after school fades away, unfortunately the rest of computing and the following chemistry class fly by and Peter knows he will be asking Ned for his notes later as he has been preoccupied the entire afternoon Flash's words still in the forefront of his mind. Luckily for him Flash wasn't in his chemistry class and he thought if he rushed he would be able to go to his locker for his books and go out the front of the school to meet Happy without running into the boy. With this in mind he practically ran out the classroom as the bell rang.

Unfortunately, Peter's day could get worse than hunger, a punch and verbal abuse as Flash appeared round the corner just as Peter pushed his locker closed. He turned ready to walk away but saw two of Flash's friends coming towards him from the opposite direction.

"Oi Penis, what are you doing here?" his tormentor called.

Realising he had nowhere to go he stopped and turned to look at Flash. "You know I think I get why you are alternate for decathlon Flash" he replied attempting to act like he wasn't terrified, "I'm standing here in front of a locker with my name on the front, full of my things, holding a school bag full of textbooks from this school, it's almost as if I go to school here."

Others in the vicinity laugh quietly around them and he watches smirking internally as Flash flushed in a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"Shut up Penis" he shouted back getting up into Peter's personal space and promptly shoving him hard. The smaller boy puts on the stumble back as he could have easily stood his ground as Spiderman but of course Penis Parker could not. Flash sneered down at him and pushed him again making him fall to the ground.

"That's where you belong Penis, remember that. No one cares about you. You are nothing." He snarled spitting on the fallen boy before walking away.

Ashamed and uncomfortable with the others in the corridor staring at him Peter dragged himself to his feet up avoiding eye contact and jogged away just as his phone beeps.

Where are you kid? – Happy

He doesn't bother replying but speeds up and waved half-heartedly as Happy's car came into view. With a mumbled hello he climbed into the back seat throwing his bag down forcefully.

"Good day?" Happy asked eyeing him in the rear-view mirror.

"Hmmm? Yeah fine Happy" he sighed as he turned to look out the window, Flash's words still repeating in his head.

Why would anyone care about you? You are nothing.

As he drove back towards Stark Tower Happy kept looking at the teen in the backseat in the rear view mirror unsettled with the uncharacteristic quiet from the boy, it was usually difficult getting a word in edgeways around his ramblings, he was a little like Tony like that. He wouldn't admit it to the boy or anyone in fact but he had grown fond of the kid's non-stop chatter. He had been driving twenty minutes and Peter was still looking forlornly out the window it was worrying.

"You alright kid?" He queried watching as the boy plastered on an obviously fake smile. He had been Tony's personal body guard for years he knew a fake smile when he saw one.

"Yeah great totally fine Happy." Yeah the kid definitely wasn't fine.

Peter couldn't stop himself fidgeting as they got closer to the tower fiddling with a loose thread on his sweater as Happy pulled into the private garage. Grabbing his bag, he swung it onto his back as he climbed out the car, following Happy to the elevator and stepping inside. They both stand in silence for several seconds before Happy looked down at him and raised an eyebrow. He remembered the first few times he had come to the tower he thought Happy had been saying some sort of super-secret password he wasn't allowed to know to get the elevator to work but then found out Tony set everyone's passphrases as the elevator was voice-activated. When he began coming over regularly he was given his own password resulting in Happy refusing to use his own when with Peter, when he complained Happy just told him to suck it up. To be honest having his own access code for Stark tower sounded really cool but it was just embarrassing having to say either Peter Parker picked a peck of pickled peppers or Spiderbaby every time he visited (the phrase depended on whether or not he was in his suit). He supposed Happy's refusal to use his own password unless he had to made sense. Of course this wasn't the only security measure, Peter knew F.R.I.D.A.Y assessed whether they were themselves with brief scans while they were inside the elevator.

Happy's impatient cough brought Peter out of his musings and he mumbled his code blushing. Before he knew it they were at the second to highest floor where Mr Stark's lab was located and he immediately saw the man himself on the far side of the room a cup of coffee in his hand as he looked over some blueprints projected onto the wall.

"Well if it isn't my favourite Spider" Tony said as he turned around at hearing their entrance, eyes warming slightly as he looked at the teen. "Have you eaten?" followed immediately and at Peter's shake of the head he walked over putting a hand on the boys shoulder. "Upstairs, now. You know where the snacks are. Bring down a few, we might be here a while." He lightly turned the boy and pushed him back into the elevator as he told F.R.I.D.A.Y. to take him upstairs.

Spinning to look at Happy as soon as the elevator doors closed he started quizzing the man, "so whats wrong? You look worried. Your shoulders were tense when you walked in."

"It's the boy…" Happy started.

"What? Is he hurt? Why didn't you say something sooner?" Tony asks frantically as he cuts the man off, worry clouding his face.

"No he's fine" the bodyguard assured smiling slightly at his Boss's overprotectiveness. "Well maybe not fine he was quiet on the way here. I think something is bothering him."

Something is bothering him? Tony thought to himself. "Okay, no problem, I got this. Don't worry. I have this."

Happy grinned nodding wondering which of them Tony was trying to convince. As Peter came back granola in one hand and a fistful more in the other Happy turned and left in the elevator the boy just vacated.

"Okay my little Spider let's get to work."

A small smile works its way onto Peter's face as he dropped the granolas down on the table in the corner they had christened the snack table several months before. He quickly made his way over to his usual work station and projected his webshooter designs in front of him. The first time he had come in all the fancy tech had blown his mind, but he was getting more used to it now, occasionally he would come down and Mr Stark would have added something new and he would geek out, he didn't think there would ever be a time he wouldn't to be honest. He grabbed a pen from the drawer and begin making notes and small sketches not noticing the billionaire looking up at him with worry every few minutes.

"So what are you trying to do underoos?" Mr Stark asked twenty minutes later making Peter jump as the older man's words pulled him back into the lab.

"Oh umm just I want the webshooters to make it easier to replace web cartridges so I don't have to stop to do it. I'm trying to make it something I can do with just one hand. The idea is if I flick my wrist a certain way it will drop the empty cartridge and then…."

Tony looked at the kid fondly as the teen rambled on about his intended improvements a strange feeling he couldn't quite name in his chest. He had noticed that happened a lot these days especially around Peter. "That sounds great buddy, you really are good at this." He grinned as the boy blushed at the praise and looked down shyly. He had started praising the boy more in an attempt to boost his self-confidence, but he wasn't sure how well it was working to be honest. "Well I won't distract you, get on with it."

Peter nodded and continued soon getting lost in his work again.

After another twenty minutes Tony looked over at the boy, he had been extremely quiet today usually the boy talked a mile a minute about anything and everything.

Peter continued working but it seems less fun than usual, less exciting. No matter how hard he tried Flash's cruel words wouldn't leave his head. After all, why would Mr Stark care about useless Peter Parker, he's a busy man Peter should be grateful the man is putting up with him, grateful he even lets him in the building, grateful…

"You know you can tell me anything Peter right?" Tony's words interrupted his spiralling thoughts and he nodded distractedly continuing his work.

Tony left it at that and continued to watch the boy work rather mechanically and without his usual enthusiasm for the next ten minutes. "Peter what is it? You've been quiet since you came in, whats wrong?"

Peter's head whipped up as his face paled, "n-nothing Mr Stark."

"No. Come on somethings wrong. You can tell me, Peter." Tony insisted as he watched the boy bite his lip clearly wrestling with himself. Tony stayed quiet as he looked at the teen a single eyebrow raised, waiting. Peter would cave, he always did.

"Do you only care about me because I'm Spiderman?" The boy blurted out after almost a minute of silence.

Tony blinked slowly, shocked at the words that had just come out the teen's mouth, he opened his mouth to reply but Peter started talking again before he could.

"It's okay, I understand sir really, why would you care about me? I'm no one just a kid from Queens…"

"What no! Peter look at me. No." Tony wouldn't listen to this, he couldn't listen to this. He took a step forward and lifted the boys chin with his fingertips forcing him to look him in the eye. "No Peter, I care about you. Peter Parker. Yes, you are Spiderman and we would probably have never met without you being Spiderman but of course, I care about you. Why else would I make sure you eat enough and keep an eye on your grades. If I didn't care about you I would not punish you for getting in dangerous situations, I would not have you staying over every other weekend or invite you into my lab."

Tony was sure his heart was breaking as he looked down at Peter who had tears running down his face wiping one away he continued, "Where did this come from Peter?" Peter looked down embarrassed and mumbled an apology. "No, I don't want an apology Peter, why did that even cross your mind? Where did this come from? Tell me."

"A boy at school was just running his mouth, saying stuff."

Tony held back a sigh, the boy was being bullied. How could he have missed this. This perfect boy was being bullied and he the supposed genius hadn't noticed. "What was he saying Pete?"

"He said I was a liar and my internship wasn't real, he said I'd only be hired because I'm a pity project. That no one cares about me because I'm just a useless loser"

Tony pulled the kid into a hug and smiled softly as the boys arms circle him, he couldn't help but reflect on how far they'd come since he turned the boy down in the car all those months ago. "Peter I care about you so much. May cares about you. Happy cares, he was worried when you were quiet today Pete, we all care about you. Peter Parker. Your friends care, don't listen to that boy."

He sighed as Peter sobbed into his chest and gently manoeuvred the boy so they could sit on the sofa in the corner. He whispered assurances in the boy's ear as he ran his hand through his unruly hair, it always soothed the kid. "You are not and will never be useless Peter. You are worth ten of that boy. Was it just words though Peter? You need to tell me, was it just this one time?"

Peter was sure there was nowhere safer than inside Mr Stark's arms but he was still too embarrassed to tell him just how awful Flash was so he just nodded into the man's chest mumbling that it was just words nothing else.

"You would tell me though if it was more wouldn't you Peter?" The Tony asked worried relaxing ever so slightly as Peter nodded again into his chest and started to doze off. A few more minutes pass before Tony feels the boy relax completely and he hears his breaths even out. Untangling himself from Peter he arranged him, so he was lying comfortably on the sofa.

"I care about you so much it hurts Peter." He whispered assuring himself that if it was anything more Peter would tell him. Wouldn't he? Why wouldn't he? Yes he definitely would.

ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ-ʘ

Peter didn't know what to tell Mr Stark. Several weeks had passed since the whole crying into the man's chest incident and Flash was only getting worse. He had become more physical and it was impossible to hide it now. He looked at his feet as the elevator rose Happy's hand resting on his shoulder, he didn't know whether it was to reassure him or keep him from running. He knew the man had probably texted Mr Stark already to warn him what he looked like. Should he just try and shrug it off? Say it was from patrol? But he hadn't patrolled last night and Mr Stark would know that. He was sure the man also knew with his enhanced healing he wouldn't look this bad if the injury was two days old.

Tony sat on the couch in the lounge wringing his hands, as he heard the elevator arrive he turned and couldn't prevent the small gasp that slipped out when he laid eyes on Peter. The kid looked awful. His right eye was swollen shut and blood leaked from his lip. It was quite the shiner he was sporting and he could feel fury bubbling up inside himself at the sight. How could anyone hurt Peter? Peter was kind, thoughtful, perfect. Why would someone do this? He walked towards the teen and gripped his shoulders as he checked the boy over for other injuries. "FRIDAY scan for injuries, other than the shiner."

"m-fine Mr Stark." Peter mumbled.

The man let out a snort, "If this is fine I never want to see not fine Pete. Sit down and put this on your eye." He said as he handed Peter the bag of peas Happy had just given him.

Peter sat himself down on one of the couches as he held the peas on his face. He didn't know how to start, how do you tell your idol you're too weak to stand up to one normal un-enhanced fifteen year old and a few of his friends? He started a little as he felt the cushions dip down beside him as Mr Stark decided to sit alongside rather than opposite him. He was unsurprised when Happy sat down on the other couch, the two had grown closer in recent months so he wasn't surprised the man wanted to know how he ended up with a black eye.

"Pete who did this to you?" Tony demanded.

He looked down biting his lip wondering whether he should just lie and say he snuck out of school to go on patrol. But Mr Stark always knew when he had been on patrol so he doubted that would work and last time he lied he spent twenty minutes in the corner, he would prefer not to have to do that…maybe no answer was better than a lie.

Tony looked down at the boy and gently removed his lip from between his teeth, "don't do that Pete, come on who did this to you? It had to have happened at school. You can speak to me, would you prefer if I called May? Would you tell her?"

The boy shook his head frantically but still refused to answer, he wasn't a snitch.

After several beats of silence Happy spoke up. "It was that boy wasn't it? With the stupid name?"

Peter's now chalky white complexion was answer enough for the two men.

"The one from a few weeks ago?" Tony asked anger clear in his tone. "You told me it was just words! What's going on Peter? You haven't been yourself in a while. You've been quieter, paler, thinner. You can talk to us buddy. Why did he hit you?"

"Because I didn't give him my lunch ticket." Peter replied, he tried so hard to keep his emotions in check but his voice cracked part way through and he shuddered as he let out a humiliating sob. He was Spiderman he shouldn't cry over one stupid meal and one stupid bully.

"Oh Peter…"

"I'm sorry Mr Stark I should have just given him it, I was just so hungry it's been weeks and I haven't had lunch at all, it's every day. I'm so sorry." The boy word vomits hardly thinking as the words tumble out.

"Woah no. Peter you don't apologise for not giving him your lunch. This is not okay. Why didn't you tell someone he had been bullying you?"

"It's fine it's not that bad, if I had just given him the ticket I wouldn't have a black eye, it's fine Mr Stark. I'm not a snitch."

Tony sighed running his fingers through the boy's hair soothingly as he thought about what to say to make the boy understand. "What if it was Ned he punched Peter? Would that be okay?"

"No of course not, Ned doesn't deserve that."

"Exactly" Happy stated with conviction, "and you don't either kid, you haven't done anything to deserve that. Is it just you or does he bully others too?"

"Just me"

"Why?" Tony demanded outraged that anyone would pick on his kid. His? Woah where did that come from? How could anyone pick on this kid? Wonderful, selfless Peter?

"Because I exist" Peter replied in a strange detached voice as if he was quoting words he knew by heart, "I'm just a useless, nerd, Penis Parker who no one cares about, poor, an easy target."

Silence. Neither man says anything as they look at Peter in total shock, a tear runs down Tony's face. Peter looked into the man's eyes and flinches as sadness turns to fury in seconds.

"Peter you are never to say that again okay!" he says gripping the boys shoulders and forcing him to maintain eye contact so he can see the conviction and honesty behind his words. "You are Peter Parker, you are amazing, smart, selfless, Spiderman, you are my intern." He is heartbroken that some little punk thinks it's okay to make this boy's life miserable, and for no real reason at that. He feels awful, he should have noticed. It had been weeks, himself and May had spoken about Peter acting weird but they had initially put it down to hormones or something, not this. Never this.

Happy watched the pair, Peter slumped dejectedly on the couch, Tony's arm around his shoulder holding him tight in a quasi-hug. It looked so domestic, it wasn't a scene he had ever expected to see Tony a part of, yet the man looked so natural. "How long has it been going on Peter?"

The boy shrugged looking at shoes "a few years?" as he feels Tony's grip subconsciously tighten around his shoulders in anger he quickly continues, "but that was just words, he has only hit me once. Just today. That's it."

Tony grips the boys chin forcing him to meet his eyes once more. "Do NOT lie about this Peter, tell the truth, you are not to protect this boy. What's his name and how long has been hitting you? If you don't tell me now you will stand in that corner until you do and for every minute you're there that's a week you're grounded from the suit."

Happy's mouth dropped open at the threat knowing from the other man's tone that was a promise.

Peter seemed to come to the same conclusion and his shoulders slumped as he replied "Flash, Eugene 'Flash' Thompson and a few months. But I can handle it." He assured the older men voice rising towards the end.

"This is not handling it." Tony replied furiously gesturing to Peter's eye. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I'm not a grass, Mr Stark!" Peter replied outraged "I don't care how angry you are at me. I am not a grass."

"Pete.." Tony sighed feeling exhausted all of a sudden. "I'm not angry at you I'm angry at this kid who thinks it's fine to beat you, bully you and steal your lunch every day! Why didn't you tell us? May loves you, Ned loves you, heck…I love you Peter, we can fix this, it's not a weakness asking for help."

At those words Peter broke down and threw his arm's round Tony's neck as he cried years of tears over Flash's bullying. Tony rubbed his back soothingly and with a single look at the man Happy made his exit stopping to run his hands through the distraught boy's hair. "I'm here for you too Pete" he told the teen quietly before leaving.

"Ssh Peter it's okay" Tony soothed the child in his arms, because that's what he was right now. He was a scared bullied little boy needing comfort. "I'll sort this out. No need to worry okay, just have a nap…I'll wake you for dinner."

Within minutes the boy is asleep and Tony grabbed his phone to call May then Peter's school. This will not happen again. Not on his watch.