Rewind (Post-Endgame timeline fix-it)

The Beginning of My End (Field Trip part 1)

PLEASE FORGIVE THE FIRST PERSON IT WAS AN AWFUL BET 10/10 WOULD NOT RECOMMEND

I had given up on the field trip. 

The only reason I would go was because it was required. I wasn't looking forward to the inevitable shenanigans that would follow the Academic Decathlon team and the Avengers within a mile of each other. 

Why the hell did we have to go to school and then back here? Stupid.

I paused and adjusted my backpack on my shoulder as the other students stepped inside the dazzling lobby of Avengers Tower. A spray paint can rattled quietly inside and I froze. Fuck. No one even turned around, thank fuck, but that luck was about all I was going to get.

Peter tried to shrink into MJ's shadow, still clinging on to the faint hope that he might go unnoticed. I felt sorry for him, Ned was sick so he was sticking (heh, sticking) with us today. Alex stopped at the door and turned towards me, raising an eyebrow.

"So..." They began, shrugging.

"So." I gave a small smile and nodded, glancing down at their watch.

Green and black bracelets today, ok. 

He shrugged. I sighed out a small chuckle, shook my head and started walking again to rejoin the group. Several students' mouths had fallen open as they took in the room. Maybe not pretentious or showy, but so, so, so Tony. Alex nudged me with an elbow and nodded towards the visitors' info desk.

Shit.

Brianna was walking towards our group, the nametags in the plastic bin rattling with her steps. Holy fuck, she looked pissed. She scanned the small crowd, frowning. Her face suddenly lit up as our eyes met, "Jay! Thank god- Chris s'gone, can you take this one?" Seeing me hesitate, she quickly added "-but I could go find someone else, I guess-"

"No, I can, it's fine." I forced a smile and shrugged. I've given a tour once, maybe twice, (both times were showing people I know around. Fuck). She sighed in relief and shoved the box into my arms, already halfway back to the desk.

"Thanks so much! See you at 1!" 

Alex grinned like the little shit he occasionally is.'F-u-c-k you,' I signed. He shrugged.

"Everyone, I'm going to give an exposition dump on passes as I give you them. 

"The security levels are numbered 1-5, most employees have a 1 or 2. Level 5 cards are the highest, held by Mr. Stark, Ms. Potts, the Avengers, and some that specifically work with them." I winked dramatically at Peter. If I'm stuck with doing this, then dammit, he will too. "You all have level 1 cards; they expire in 6 hours and allow you to be in the building. You need to be with someone of higher clearance to even get out of the foyer. 

"You can keep them after the tour if you want," I explained as the students passed the bin around. Hasn't been 5 minutes and I hate being a tour guide. "Okay, scan your passes and wait by the elevator, I guess." 

I walked through, hoping FRIDAY wouldn't pull the stupid name joke again.

Jay Carter, Five. Welcome back, Mr. Carter. The team, per their request, have been alerted.

A few students stared at me with a mix of curiosity and disgust. I wasn't sure whether to hope it was about pass level or- Fuck. Hannah might've showed them already. Fuckfuck- FUCK- The names continued on as I tuned out for a moment, consumed by my own thoughts. 

Eugene Thompson, Zero. No weapons.

Peter Parker, Five. Confidential, zero threat. Shall I-