"Ah!"
Peter watched in horror as Mona picked up the splash of red beside the backpack he had accidentally dropped on the floor.
Holding the suit by its shoulders, Mona shook it in front of herself, then shot a sly look at the boy clutching his forehead in distress.
"Why don't you explain what this is, Mr. Parker? It certainly can't be our school uniform."
"Uh..."
Peter walked over as "casually" as he could and took the suit from Mona.
"No, no, this is actually the sportswear I take to gym class... yeah..."
Tony immediately clicked his tongue at that, and Mona followed with a sigh.
Under their disapproving stares, Peter finally gave up struggling.
"Hey, kid, I think what you just said was downright insulting to our intelligence."
Tony patted the conflicted Peter on the shoulder and took the suit from him for a closer look.
The more he looked, the more shocked he became. This kid went out every day to fight thieves and robbers in equipment this crude, in clothes that offered no protection whatsoever... look, even the crotch seam was coming apart!
Good thing he had arrived in time. Another couple of days, and he might have found videos online of Spider-Man exposing himself in the street.
"So, you're..." Tony gestured at Peter's height, sounding unsure.
"Spider... kid?"
"Uh, yes, that crime-fighting Spider... boy?"
Peter took a deep breath, trying to settle the turmoil Iron Man's choice of name had stirred inside him.
He tried to muster an easy smile, but clearly failed.
"What's wrong with your memory, old man? It's Spider-Man."
"Old man?" Tony turned to stare incredulously at Mona's haughty little face. "You don't mean me, do you, sweetheart? The big Popsicle didn't come along."
Mona pursed her lips. "Just admit you got it