An Intern Named Peter Parker

The quantum energy hummed and dissipated, instantly replacing the laboratory's frigid air with a blazing heatwave.

He landed safely through Tony and Steve, still carrying a faint glow from the Quantum Realm. The timing was perfect; the quantum clock showed: 10 minutes and 10 seconds had passed.

"Welcome back," 2B's voice rang out as she looked up from the console. "You are five minutes later than expected. Master just contacted us to inquire about the situation."

Tony smiled and said, "It was a little accident, but nothing serious. Is your son Chen worried about his Uncle Tony?"

2B, her pure white eyepatch calmly facing him, said, "No, Master left a message: Tony Stark, your champagne tower is being dismantled by Mr. Wilson and Pietro."

The air froze instantly.

"What?!" Tony's smile shattered faster than glass. "My tower?! Friday! Locate the champagne tower! Calculate the optimal rescue path! Activate the emergency protocol 'Bubble Defense Battle'!" He roared, his demeanor even more urgent than when facing the Skrulls.

2B added, "Master's exact words were, 'Watching them play is so much fun.'"

"Get Chen Tian to do it! Stop them! Protect my tower!!! Now!!" Tony didn't even finish listening; he had already rushed towards the laboratory door like a cannonball. Sensing his urgency, the armor components quickly covered and assembled on his body.

Steve sighed and rubbed his forehead, nodding apologetically to 2B, but his movements were swift as he chased after him. He knew Tony's "champagne obsession" all too well.

Chaos reigned in the center of the party.

A huge and magnificent champagne tower gleamed on a long table, but it was now under unprecedented attack.

Pietro, his figure so fast it left a silvery-white afterimage, was frantically circling the champagne tower, the air currents he created causing the champagne in the glasses near the top to slosh wildly, threatening to overturn them at any moment.

As he ran, he excitedly shouted, "Wade! Do you think this tower can withstand my sonic attack? Want to bet?"

"Shut up, Silver! The bet is my new uniform! Destroying the tower is the real business!" Deadpool, in an extremely ergonomically contorted position, was trying to reach for a glass of champagne at the bottom of the tower with his mouth. His hands weren't idle either; one hand was holding a small cake he'd somehow acquired, which he was placing on the tower, while the other was frantically taking selfies with his phone. "Cheese! Guys, watch how I elegantly destroy Stark's symbol of wealth! Send me a Rocket Boy video of him performing a waterspout!"

The champagne tower trembled and teetered on the brink of collapse under the combined physical and mental attacks.

"Wade Wilson! Pietro Maximoff!! Stop!!!" An angry roar came from afar.

Boom!

Tony landed on the terrace outside the party in the style of a superhero – he didn't fly into the party, for fear of shaking the tower.

He went straight for it, using his armored arm to block Deadpool's "claws" and the gusts of wind generated by Pietro.

"Hey! The great Tony Stark's back?" Deadpool nimbly dodged with a backflip, grabbed a glass of champagne, and swirled it cheekily. "The party's just warmed up, and the main character's already here? Don't be so stingy, sharing is a virtue!"

Pietro slammed on the brakes in front of Tony, a mischievous grin on his face. "Tony! We're testing its earthquake resistance! Doing your quality control!"

"My tower doesn't need your quality inspection! The quality inspection report says it will stay intact until the end of the party!" Tony stared nervously at the swaying wine glass at the top of the tower, carefully reaching out to steady it.

Just then, Pietro's mischievous side resurfaced. He moved swiftly, creating an even stronger gust of air, his target the highest cup at the top of the tower!

"Pietro--!" Tony's heart jumped into his throat.

Swish!!

A red and blue figure was faster than Pietro!

Steve arrived at the last second, his shield flying in a precise arc with just the right amount of force, landing softly on Pietro's shoulder, causing him to stumble and veer off course. The resulting gust of wind only made the wine glass at the top of the tower sway slightly.

At the same time, Steve himself darted to the other side of the long table like a cheetah, catching a glass of champagne that Deadpool had accidentally knocked over while taking a selfie and was sliding off the third tier. The clear liquid drew a graceful arc in the glass without spilling a drop.

"Party time, be careful, kids." Steve steadily set down his glass, looked at Deadpool and Pietro, his tone calm but carrying an old-school lecture, "Tony's champagne tower, no stress tests."

Tony let out a long sigh of relief, wishing he could put an energy shield on the champagne tower. He glared at Deadpool and Pietro: "You two! Stay at least five feet away from my tower!"

Not far away, Chen Tian leaned against the bar with his arms crossed, watching Steve and Tony frantically "defend" the champagne tower. He laughed heartily and said to Rhodes (who arrived shortly after Tony left), who looked helpless, "Hahaha, why does Tony love his champagne tower so much? It seems more precious than his armor."

Looking at his friend's anxious expression, Rhodes couldn't help but roll his eyes. "He's always been like this. Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist... plus a severe champagne tower anxiety sufferer."

The party music started playing again at just the right moment, masking Tony's "threatening lecture" to Deadpool and Quicksilver.

The crisis was over, and the party continued. But Tony would occasionally glance warily back at his precious champagne tower, as if it were a priceless treasure that could be attacked by a mischievous child at any moment.

F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s voice crackled inside Tony's helmet. "Boss, Champagne Tower physical integrity: 98%. Risk assessment: Temporarily safe. Additional warning: Mr. Wade Wilson is dragging Mr. Pietro Maximoff toward the DJ booth. New risk level: High."

Tony: "..." He felt his blood pressure spike again.

The troubles in his own family are truly endless. He has seriously considered whether to create a document on a 'bratty kid management plan' specifically for unreliable brats like Chen Tian, Quicksilver, and Deadpool.

After the party incident, life seemed to be on fast-forward.

The world is at peace, and Chen Tian has nipped the biggest external threat in the bud.

Those "superpowered criminal gangs" that need to Armageddon? They've basically disappeared.

The Arbitrators' daily routine has been downgraded from saving the universe to... well, maintaining world order (Tony's words). The work has become "smaller," but the media attention has increased.

The Watcher Platform scans global hotspots around the clock; Steve leads his ground squad in precise strikes;

Thor occasionally intervenes, unleashing a bolt of lightning that shatters drug cartel hideouts or warlord camps with astonishing efficiency;

Chen Tian's team became the most awesome global disaster relief team; wherever there was an earthquake, tsunami, or volcanic eruption, these 'superheroes' of all styles were always the first to arrive.

As for Natasha? Intelligence infiltration combined with the Red Room's silent "persuasion" made dealing with those disobedient politicians and warlords a piece of cake.

Citizens watch the news in the morning:

"Shocking! A robbery gang was Chiaotzu and wiped out by the Iron Legion that descended from the sky. They didn't even get the money, and they were blinded by the gold and red paint scheme!"

Breaking news! Kingpin Captain America have dismantled Kingpin's Vibranium smuggling network. It's said that when Captain America knocked out the last henchman with his shield, he said "Morning."

"Breaking News! Border conflict in a certain Black Continent country? With a single swing of Thor's hammer, the warlord leaders on both sides shook hands and made peace amidst a burst of lightning (physical)."

"Touching! Pacific Ocean tsunami submerged a small island, and a blue-flame giant carried three cruise ships to evacuate the people, afterwards saying 'it was meaningless'."

Positive energy Tenten, heroes Tenten.

The Arbitrators's reputation Rocket; a global idol? That's an understatement. Fan clubs are spread across continents, and even the social atmosphere has improved considerably.

The most obvious change? Imitators have emerged.

Especially the New York.

In late 2015 and early 2016, a new term began to appear in the mouths of Big Apple City: "Friendly Neighborhood".

The tone of news from Queens suddenly changed:

"Hey! I saw that red and blue bodysuit again! The old man at the convenience store said that short guy helped him get his stolen cash register back, and he was as fast as a spider!"

"Outrageous! The bank robber had just pulled out his gun when a person hung upside down from the ceiling, spewing a string of insults and spraying the robber's face with white silk! When the police arrived, the robber was tied up like a dumpling!"

"A dramatic scene unfolded on the Brooklyn Bridge! A school bus went out of control, and a red and blue figure appeared in a flash, clinging to the vehicle with his bare hands to rescue passengers! The guy even left a message saying, 'You're welcome, I'm Spider-Man!'"

This talkative "Spider-Man," swinging between skyscrapers and wearing a red and blue uniform with obvious DIY marks, quickly became a new internet celebrity in the New York. He appeared more and more frequently, solving all sorts of Eight Gates, from catching thieves to rescuing kittens, perfectly embodying what it means to be a "community-friendly hero."

But while the public sees Spider-Man as a righteous little hero (perhaps because of his short stature?), some media outlets view him as a 'clumsy imitator.'

The Daily Bugle is the media outlet that dislikes Spider-Man the most.

"He's a hero? Then why is he covering his face? Is he shy or ugly? Hiding himself like this, and yet he dares to dream of being a hero? He's just a clumsy imitator of the 'Arbitrators,' trying to steal the public's attention from the 'Arbitrators'!"

Jonah James, the owner of the Daily Bugle, said this dismissively to viewers during a Daily Bugle.

Regardless of how the Daily Bugle evaluates Spider-Man- Man, his act of justice still caught the attention of the Arbitrators.

Tony was drinking coffee on the top floor of the Arbitrator Tower when Friday happened to see a blurry video taken by a cell phone in Queens: a figure nimbly leaping between two buildings in the sunset, even performing a highly difficult aerial somersault.

"Boss, Queens' newest vigilante, codenamed 'Spider-Man,' is increasingly active. Data analysis shows his mobility and strength far exceed those of ordinary people, and his origin is unknown. Threat level assessment: extremely low. Public feedback: very positive."

Tony raised an eyebrow, put down his coffee cup, and snorted, "Another brat who wants to be a superhero? Fine, Friday, keep an eye on him. Don't let him get beaten up by some gangsters one day, and I'll have to clean up the mess. The New York's security... tsk, looks like it's been too easy."

Steve watched the news footage of Spider-Man saving the school bus at the gym, a gentle smile playing on his lips. Young, energetic, righteous, and rooted in the community... that's good.

Perhaps this is what the peaceful world they protect should look like?

Chen Tian, sipping his cola, said, "Isn't this great? To paraphrase a great leader, 'The world is yours, as well as ours, but in the final analysis, it belongs to you. You young people are full of vigor and vitality, like the sun at eight or nine in the morning; our hopes are pinned on you.' So, Tony, we can add some new members."

These words struck Steve like a stone, landing precisely in his heart, especially the phrase "hope rests on your shoulders." The veteran's eyes lit up, his sense of responsibility instantly surging. "That's right. This kid... this 'Spider-Man,' has potential. I'll go and reach out to him, to give him the right guidance and training." He immediately reached for his shield, his decisiveness as ever.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Chen Tian quickly stopped him, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. "Captain, this matter... let Tony handle it."

Steve was taken aback. "Tony?"

"Why me?" Tony raised an eyebrow, pointing to the blurry red and blue figure on the screen. "What does this have to do with me?"

Chen Tian's smile widened, "Friday, retrieve all surveillance footage near Midtown High School Queens, and focus on analyzing the correlation between 'Spider-Man's' behavior patterns and the appearance of 'Iron Man' related items."

F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s efficiency was amazing, swish swish swish!

Several images popped up: Iron Man poster flashing by in the corner of Peter Parker's bedroom; a miniature reactor ornament hanging on his backpack; and another time, next to the crooked, hand-painted spider logo on Spider-Man's suit, the outline of an erased Iron Man helmet could be vaguely seen...

"Analysis shows," Friday calmly announced, "That the target is your (Boss's) biggest fan, with a 99% probability."

Tony's lips slowly curled into a smile, the curve a mixture of smugness and self-righteousness. "Oh? Big Fan? Tsk," he shrugged, spreading his hands, his tone utterly irritating.

"Who in this world isn't one of my fans? But..." He glanced at the figure nimbly leaping between buildings on the screen, "Alright, I've got some free time lately anyway. Being a 'life mentor' for kids isn't out of the question."

He stood up, his golden-red nanotech armor instantly covering his entire body, leaving only his face, which screamed "I'm awesome!": "Friday, locate the areas he frequents. Create a separate surveillance file, codenamed 'Underoos' (a children's underwear brand from the United States). Assess his ability data, and while you're at it, see if that tattered uniform can withstand my lab's 'friendly modifications.' So that if something happens to him, I don't have to rush to the rescue and embarrass myself."

Before the words were even finished, the person had already walked onto the terrace.

Steve watched Tony's smug back, shook his head helplessly, but his eyes held a smile.

Chen Tian winked at him, giving him a "see, it has to be him" look. Everyone knows that Tony Stark is most susceptible to this kind of thing—fan worship combined with his restless, worrying father mentality.

Want to handle Spider-Man? Leave it to your idol, his number one fan – you can't go wrong.

Peter Parker's day is always exceptionally "fulfilling".

Peter had just pulled the convenience store lady's cat down from the top of the old oak tree (the little guy meowed in protest, Peter could only mutter "sorry, sorry" under his breath) when his modified old watch vibrated.

It's Aunt May, and there's even... the sound of glasses clinking in the background?

"Hey, Aunt May! I'm almost home! I just... uh... helped the neighbor find something!" Peter lowered his voice, glancing guiltily at the still-shaken kitten in his arms.

"Peter," Aunt May's voice carried a strange...smile? "We have a guest at home, who came specifically to see you. He said...he's from Stark Industries."

"Clang!"

Peter nearly dropped the kitten from his arms.

Stark Industries?! Tony Stark?! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! A hundred possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant, and he even suspected that his friend Ned was up to some new trick.

"Aunt May? Who are you talking about?"

"Stark. Tony Stark, dear," Aunt May's voice held a hint of teasing, "Your idol is sitting on the sofa in our living room right now, drinking the tea I made. He said he's waiting for you to come back so we can have a good chat."

The call ended.

Peter froze for three seconds. His idol? Tony Stark?! In his house?! Drinking Aunt May's tea?!

"Aaaaaah--!" With a suppressed scream, Peter leaped off the tree at a speed beyond his usual limits, without even using his Silk, and sprinted home.

Pushing open the familiar apartment door, Peter felt as if he had stepped into a parallel universe.

In the living room, the man in the casual suit, legs crossed, leisurely Mark instant coffee... who else could it be but Tony Stark?!

"Peter!" Aunt May greeted him warmly, her eyes darting back and forth between Tony and her dumbfounded nephew. "Stark has been waiting for you for a while." Her face held a teasing expression that said, "You've been hiding this well, haven't you?"

"Stark?!" Peter stammered, his voice like a tenor, his face flushed red.

An idol. Alive. In his living room. Drinking instant coffee. The world has gone mad!

Tony put down his cup, stood up, a playful smile on his lips, "Mr. Parker? Peter Parker?"

He looked the seemingly harmless high school student up and down. "Busy on your way home from school?"

"Uh... I... that... yes, yes, yes! School activities! Clubs!" Peter stammered, his mind blank.

"Hmm." Tony chuckled and gestured towards Peter's bedroom. "Would you mind coming in and talking? About your... Stark Industries internship?" He emphasized the words "internship."

Peter felt the blood rush to his head. "An internship?! For me?!" He almost took off again.

"Yes, here you go. Come with me." Tony didn't give him any more time to be shocked and went straight to Peter's messy bedroom, typical of a teenage boy.

The door closed, shutting out Aunt May's curious gaze.

Peter stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, his backpack still slung foolishly over his shoulder. Posters, science magazines, scattered parts... his idol had seen everything! How embarrassing!

Tony seemed quite at ease, casually glancing around the room. His gaze fell on the poster of himself in the corner of the wall, and his smile deepened.

"Peter Parker," he turned around, his tone relaxed, "Friendly Neighborhood from Queens, quite capable, and with a strong sense of justice. We Arbitrators have taken notice of you."

Peter's heart pounded. "The Arbitrators?! You mean... you know me? Uh... I mean... Spider-Man?" He was still struggling, trying to play dumb.

Tony didn't reply. Instead, he walked to the center of the room and looked up at the ceiling—or more precisely, at the loose panel on the ceiling. He reached out and pulled on the rope hanging from the panel.

"Thud."

A square partition fell to the ground and landed on Peter's bed.

A crumpled, red and blue homemade bodysuit also fell off, lying crumpled and spread out on the blanket.

The room was deathly silent.

Peter felt the air freeze. He looked at the lump of fabric on the bed, then at Tony's half-smiling face, and the blood rushed from his head to his toes, his face turning as white as paper.

"Oh God..." he cried out in despair, clutching his forehead, his voice barely a whisper, "It's all over..."

Tony bent down, picked up the rough fabric, crooked stitches, and a barely recognizable spider pattern on the chest of the suit with two fingers, and shook it.

"Wow." He raised an exaggerated eyebrow, his tone full of "shock." "This is Spider-Man's secret weapon? It looks like... um... a handmade item?"

Peter wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Tony tossed the "suit" back onto the bed, clapped his hands as if they were covered in something unclean.

He walked up to the petrified Peter, his expression finally becoming a little more serious, but his eyes still held that familiar hint of teasing.

"Listen, Underoos. Your community service is commendable, but going out in the street to fight bad guys in this... let's call it a 'battle suit'?" He shook his head. "It's embarrassing. It's a disgrace to me."

Peter looked up abruptly. "Disgrace you?!"

"Of course!" Tony declared matter-of-factly. "What if you get shot by some thug with a shotgun one day? What will the news say? ' Iron Man fanatic's homemade gadget attempts to imitate the hero backfires spectacularly'? No way. Absolutely not."

He paused, looking at Peter's shocked and confused eyes, and then threw out the real bait.

"So, I'm personally offering you an internship at Stark Industries. And the important thing is... I'll make you a real suit of armor, one that won't let you worry about your backside tearing during a fight. And by the way," he leaned closer, staring into Peter's eyes, "I'll teach you how to be a superhero who's not so easily killed, deal?"

Peter stared, his mouth agape, only one thought swirling wildly in his mind: Tony Stark! Make me armor!!!

He could only nod frantically like a chicken pecking at rice, unable to utter a single word. His idol personally recruiting him, even throwing in top-tier equipment? This was more outrageous than winning the lottery!

Done.

Tony straightened up with satisfaction and patted Peter on the shoulder.

"Very good. I'll contact you later. Don't go out in this shabby outfit again, okay?" He gave the "battle clothes" on the bed one last disdainful look, then glanced at Chen Tian's poster next to his own. He pursed his lips, "I hope next time I come here, my poster will be hanging right in the center."

With that, he turned and walked out with a flourish, leaving Peter Parker, stunned by the overwhelming happiness, bewildered alone in the messy room.

Three days later, a black Rolls-Royce came to a stop in Peter's apartment building.

Happy Hogun, his face practically screaming "the whole world owes me money," turned from the driver's seat and muttered to Peter was nervously getting into the car, "Seatbelt. Don't drop crumbs in my car. The boss's in a good mood... if you don't mess this up."

"Yes, Mr. Hogun! Cleanliness guaranteed!" Peter's voice trembled, feeling like a prisoner being escorted. An internship? He knew this was definitely not a proper internship!

The car drove all the way to Malibu.

As the view outside the window shifted from the hustle and bustle of the city to a luxurious coastal mansion, Peter's heart pounded like a pile driver.

The car eventually stopped in front of the Arbitrator Tower on the coastline, which Los Angeles the Hollywood sign and became the new sign for Los Angeles.

"We're here, Pajama Baby." Happy turned off the engine, still maintaining that cool and smug expression. "There's a surprise inside."

Peter was speechless as soon as he got out of the car, overwhelmed by the technological fortress before him.

The streamlined exterior walls gleamed with a cold light, and the huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the Pacific Ocean, as if the air itself was filled with the aura of "I'm rich" and "I'm awesome".

He was still in a daze when the lobby staff led him to the elevator that went directly to the top floor of the building.

As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, the automatic doors on the top floor slid open, and Tony was already waiting there.

He wasn't wearing armor, but casual clothes, a slightly mocking smile on his lips, "Welcome to the adults' playground, Mr. Parker."

"Stark!" Peter bowed on the spot.

"Save your energy, come with me..." Before Tony could finish speaking, a red and black figure suddenly crashed down from the ceiling vent with a "thud!"

"Surprise!!! My Spider-Man- Man!!! I missed you so much!!!" Deadpool lunged at Peter in an extremely exaggerated manner, trying to give him a bear hug.

Peter was so startled that his Web-Shooter almost activated instinctively, but Tony reacted quickly, grabbing Deadpool by the back of the collar and lifting him off the ground a few inches like a cat.

"Wilson! I said keep your distance! Three meters!" Tony gritted his teeth. "And who told you to walk through the ventilation duct?! Friday! Disinfected ventilation system! Top level!"

"Hey Tony, don't be so formal!" Deadpool wiggled in mid-air, his voice smug beneath the mask, "I'm Spider-Man's number one fan and best buddy in the universe! Don't you know about ceremony? Newcomers deserve a warm welcome! By the way, Spider-Man's body is even more shapely than I imagined..."

"Shut up, Wade!" Tony yelled.

Tony tossed Deadpool aside dismissively. "He was an accident, ignore him." He turned to a bewildered Peter, "The internship is simple: learn some real skills, and don't embarrass yourself in those rags. By the way, get to know these troublemakers." He led Peter to the top-floor lobby and pointed to the group sitting on the sofa.

Peter then noticed that there were a few people sitting scattered over there:

Steve smiled and nodded gently at him.

Natasha raised her coffee cup at him with a scrutinizing look in her eyes.

Kiana and Saitama were eating when they heard Tony's words. They looked up and smiled at him.

Chen Tian, who was sitting in the lobby playing video games, glanced at him, smiled, and said, "Welcome," before continuing to play his game.

"Wow..." Peter felt like he was about to suffocate. These people, whom he had only seen on TV and in posters, were right in front of him!

"Alright, stop standing there like idiots." Tony clapped his hands to get attention. "Parker, I'm mainly your 'trainee mentor.' Everyone else, don't give my people any orders unless you have to." He glanced deliberately at Deadpool Captain America, who were eager to get started.

"First, let me show you something good." Tony turned and walked towards the adjacent laboratory corridor. The door slid open automatically, revealing a futuristic interior. "Let's retire those handmade clothes."

Peter's eyes lit up instantly—his idol was going to make him armor! He followed in a daze, completely ignoring Deadpool's excited shouts from the sofa:

"Hey Peter! Want to go on a mission tonight? I know a really good burrito place in Brooklyn..."

Tony's voice echoed back, "Wilson! Stay away from my intern! Friday, reinforce the 'Deadpool Expulsion Protocol' within five meters of Peter Parker!"

"Tony! You're just jealous of our friendship!" Deadpool pounded his chest in frustration.

Peter followed Tony into the technologically advanced laboratory, with Deadpool's wails and Tony's sarcastic remarks all around him. It felt like stepping into a crazy yet fantastical comic book story.

This internship is way too stimulating!