Chapter Text
Peter stood behind his dad, the leg of Tony's dress pants wrapped tight in the brunet's tiny fist. The boy standing across from them had large eyes-- pale and blue like the ocean-- and his hand outstretched, waiting for Peter to take it. Above them their fathers laughed and Tony bent down to take Peter's hand.
"It's okay buddy. This is Harry, Mr.Osborn's son. Can you play with him while Mr.Osborn and I take care of some work?"
Peter locked eyes with his dad and nodded shyly. His dad smiled and scooted him gently at the other boy, who took one look up and down at him and grinned.
"Come on. I have toys in my room," He said, gripping Peter's wrist as he dragged him upstairs.
Behind them he heard their parents retreating footsteps as they entered Mr.Osborn's office.
Harry led him into a large room, a big four-post bed with a canopy, and toy's spread haphazardly around. He picked up a Superman action figure, pressed it into Peter's hand and then picked up a Batman, before sitting on the floor. He looked up, blue catching brown as their eyes met, and patted the floor beside him.
"Come on, sit."
Peter nodded, and slumped, crossing his legs and holding up the action figure. Harry gave him a wide smile and the tension seeped from his tiny six year old shoulders, relaxing as the blond boy began talking, moving the doll as he did.
That was how Peter met his best friend for going on ten years, Harry Osborn.
~*
Peter slumped in his computer chair, spinning himself in a circle while Harry sat on his bed and texted someone.
"Boreddddd," He mumbled, for what must have been the hundredth time.
"Then why don't we go out and do something?" Harry asked, not as exasperated as his tone suggested. He liked just being in Peter's company. They had the kind of friendship where they could just sit in each others company for hours and not have to talk, so long as both were occupied.
"You know why."
Now he was as exasperated as his earlier tone suggested.
"I know, it's because you're ashamed of being seen with me. I know, I know."
Peter shot him a withering glare. "That's not it! I mean yes, I don't want people to see us hanging out. I don't want media attention. I've managed to stay out of the spotlight for fifteen years, and I'd rather not ruin my streak. As far as the world is concerned, Iron man and Captain America have no son."
"That amazes me still. Why does no one know you exist, Petey? I mean obviously, the name, and second you like...never leave the house except for school. Which reminds me, why do you go to such a crummy school?" Harry commented.
"Not this again. I've explained Harry. I like to avoid attention and by going to a public school-" Peter raised his eyebrows for emphasis, "-everyone just assumes i'm like them."
"Fine, fine. So what do you wanna do, Pete?" Harry asked.
"We can go hang out on the roof?"
"Last time we did that your pop yelled at us."
"He's not here," Peter replied.
Harry was about to comment back when his phone beeped an he glanced down at it. A small smile lit up his features and he texted whoever it was back quickly.
"Who are you talking to?" Peter asked, knowing he was being nosy.
"Just someone. I'm gonna have to go in a bit. I've got stuff to do," Harry answered, setting his phone down beside him as he finished texting.
Peter swirled in his chair again and sighed. "Alright."
They decided they would play a round of video games, which turned into a popcorn fight when Harry used a cheat to kill Peter's character. In the end, they laid surrounded by popcorn, trying to gain back their breath after laughing so hard. Harry suddenly sat up and dusted off the popcorn, and stepped over Peter.
"Okay, I have to get going. Later Pete!"
Peter looked around at the mess and groaned. Of course Harry would leave him to clean up the popcorn. Peter grabbed a trashcan and began picking up the popcorn, making sure he got bits out of the sofa, huffing slightly.
~~*
When Peter got truly tired of just sitting in his room, staring at the ceiling in boredom he decided to call his friend Gwen.
He had been friends with Gwen since the middle of Freshmen year when she stood up for him against Flash,the school bully,who was picking on him once again. Back then it was just verbal abuse, but often lately it had become physical. In the last week Flash had tripped him, punched him in the stomach and split his lip. He tired of the pitying looks everyone gave him, even his own fathers who kept insisting they go down and speak to the school administrators, to which Peter instantly veto'd. He couldn't see that going down well.
Gwen immediately answered his text, and they decided on the movies. They didn't hang out often and Gwen had never been to his home--Stark Tower didn't seem a friendly place to invite his friends, and Harry didn't count because they came from the same back round--but he had been to Gwen's home twice.
The hardest part of actually going anywhere was trying to make it out of the tower quickly. He lived in a constant state of awareness, watching the people around him so they didn't question why awkward Peter Parker was constantly exiting the tower. Most the time that was something that could be fixed by just wearing his ID badge for when he worked in the labs with his dad and Bruce. No one suspected he was anything more than just an intern, and he liked it that way. Though, mostly he did use the entrance in the parking garage.
Gwen was standing in front of the theater doors, bundled up in a pea-coat to combat the cold of winter. She smiled when he approached, and Peter felt himself smiling back. She really was an angel as far as he was concerned.
"Come on, I'll buy," Peter said, waiting for her to follow. He got a pretty decent allowance and felt it no hardship to buy the tickets or snacks.
"No, no, Peter you don't have to-" Gwen protested.
"It's fine. I invited you out anyways. Seems only right I pay."
The lady at the ticket booth looked bored to death, tone flat and uncaring as she gave passed him the tickets.
He smiled still, and wrapped an arm around Gwen pulling her into the warmth of the theater. She let out a relieved breath and rubbed her hands together.
"So cold," She mumbled.
Peter nodded, and bought them popcorn and drinks. At this rate he was gonna meet his popcorn quota for the entire year. Though the popcorn earlier wasn't so much ate as used as ammo.
They started to walk back to their auditorium where the movie was playing in when there was a loud commotion over by the door, and paparazzi members burst through the door, shouting as camera's flashed around them.
Peter swore and ducked his head down, yanking Gwen with him. Was his secret finally out?
Gwen yelped and let Peter drag her towards an alcove, confused as they ducked into and he peeked around the corner.
"Peter?!" She asked, ripping her hand away from him.
He glanced back at her and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Gwen. They surprised me and my fight or flight kicked in."
Gwen huffed and peeked around the corner, following Peter's line of sight. The paparazzi parted just enough for her to see the person they were furiously taking photos of and screeching at.
"Is that Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn?" Gwen asked. Mary Jane was a classmate of theirs from Midtown, and Peter spared a moment to wonder why she was hanging out with Harry.
"Yep," Peter said. He stepped out of the alcove slightly, and Gwen heard him murmur something, before he turned back to her. "Come on, let's go in now."
She nodded and they entered the dark theater, which seemed to be mostly empty--not surprising as it was a Sunday-- and took seats right in the middle. The doors opened again and Peter's eyes shot to where Harry was going up the theater steps, laughing at something the girl trailing along behind him had said.
They took a seat behind Gwen and himself and he huffed, resigned to hear his best friend flirt relentlessly. Gwen tensed slightly beside him and then relaxed, exhaling softly. Peter smiled over at her in a friendly manner, and then turned to watch the screen as the movie started up.
Behind them Mary Jane laughed and whispered--not much of a whisper if Peter could hear it really--, "So why were you taking so long to text me back earlier?"
"I was hanging out with my friend Peter," Harry answered honestly.
Peter's tensed then, waiting for Harry to say something else. The other boy left it at that though. Peter turned his attention to the movie and refused to acknowledge that his best friend was sitting right behind him.
When the movie was over and the auditorium lights came on, Peter held onto Gwen's arm and sat with his head handing down until Harry and Mary Jane had exited.
"Why do you care if Mary Jane sees us?" She asked. Her eyes lit up and and she smirked for a second.
Peter took back his statement from earlier. Gwen was not an angel; She was evil, and far too smart for her own good if she noticed something was wrong with him.
"Do you like MJ?" She asked.
Well...she was wrong about that at least.
"Nope, that is so not it."
He stood and offered her his arm, and they made their way out of the theater and out into the freezing New York street.
"Then what is it?"
Peter glowered down at her and continued walking, holding out a hand for a cab and pushing her in when one stopped at the curb.
"Please don't push the issue, Gwen," He asked sincerely. He really didn't wanna lie to her. And no, he wasn't lying to her now, he was just...omitting the truth.
She sighed but said a soft, "Fine." And dropped the issue. Internally Peter cheered, and glanced out the window, watching the scenery move past as they got closer to Gwen's home. He didn't like letting her walk home by herself, and the theater they had went to was stationed on the other side of the tower, so they had to drive past.
As they whooshed by the gleaming tower, lights shining down, he looked to the very top, taking note that the light in the common's was on.
"It's so cool isn't it?" Gwen asked, warm breath tickling his ear. He jumped and turned to look at her.
"What is?"
"Stark Tower. Imagine living there. Imagine the view. I mean it's even taller than the Osborn tower."
Peter snorted, barely catching himself from saying, ' Don't have to imagine it, I do live there.' Instead he said, "It's only taller by like five floors."
Gwen pouted. "I know that, I mean, I'm an intern at Oscorp."
Peter flushed remembering that detail. "Oh yeah. Well you can trust me. They aren't that different."
Peter would know. He'd been to Oscorp tons of times with his dad.
"How would you know?" Gwen scoffed.
Peter rolled his eyes and dug into his pocket, finding his ID badge. He pulled it out and handed it to her, raising his eyebrows.
Gwen laughed and handed him back his ID. "I didn't know you interned at Stark."
"It's a new thing," Peter replied. He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at the window, realizing they were almost to Gwen's apartment building.
The driver stopped beside the curb and Peter crawled out, holding the door open for Gwen to slide out. She smiled at him and gave him a big hug.
"I had nice time. Text me when you wanna do it again!"
He nodded and watched her enter the building, and paid their driver. He then started his walk back to the tower.
~~~*
When the elevator doors for the commons room slid open Peter stepped out, and was then forced to duck as a television remote was hurled his way. He looked at the couch where Clint was standing on the back of the couch, Natasha was sitting in the arm chair, arm raised--It was probably her that had thrown the remote-- and his parents were cuddled up on the love seat. He waved at them on his way to the kitchen area. Bruce was standing in front of the stove using a whisk to stir something.
"Whatcha making?" Peter asked, sidling up beside him.
The man turned and looked at him over his glasses and grinned. Peter definitely took that as a bad sign.
"Just a recipe that I found online...."
Peter cringed. It was either gonna be really good or really, really bad. He got a drink out of the fridge and grinned.
"Can't wait!" He managed as cheerfully as he could.
There was a loud crash from the living room. Peter and Bruce stepped back so they could see in. Steve was standing over Clint, Natasha wrapped around his face like an octopus as he struggled to remove her. Tony was still sat on the love seat, though now he was cackling madly as he watched the events in front of him unfold.
Peter sighed and went and sat down at the bar, causing Bruce to look over at him. The short brunet set down his spatula and leaned on the counter in front of him.
The thing about Bruce was that he had the uncanny ability to make Peter want to admit everything that was wrong with a single look. Peter avoided his knowing gaze as long as he could, but Bruce always got him.
Peter stared resolutely down at the counter, feeling Bruce's burning gaze study him. He didn't look up, kept playing with his drink, not willing to break.
But Bruce just sighed, and renewed his gaze, sliding a hand over towards him and placing a hand over Peter's. That was it. He broke.
"Do you ever wish you were someone different?"
"Yes," Bruce answered honestly.
Peter tilted his head up and Bruce gave him an encouraging smile. "Right after my...after the other guy happened, all I could ask was 'Why?, Why me?" His smile changed to a self deprecating one.
Peter waited for him to continue. He could hear the other Avengers in the living room arguing still.
"But I've come to realize that...if the other guy hadn't of happened, I wouldn't be me now. The guy who loves trying new recipes, and yoga, and helps save the world every other week," He added.
He squeezed Peter's hand and stepped back to the stove, whistling as he went. He certainly didn't realize what he'd left Peter to think about.
~~~~*
Peter had to make a mad dash to get to school the next morning. Probably a disadvantage of living with the Avengers is that they all kept weird ass hours, which often involved being awake until the early hours of the morning.
Sometime around one he'd finally bid everyone goodnight and went to bed, exhausted. Of course he kept hitting the snooze on his alarm until Clint had jumped in the middle of him successfully waking up him and making him fall from the bed. Sometimes he hated his family.
He rushed in to the school, skidding to a stop before he crashed into his locker. He grabbed his stuff for English and hauled ass to make it in time, right before the bell chimed.
Panting a little he sat down, trying to ease the burning in his lungs. He definitely needed to do more cardio. His pop could probably run laps on him, and he was ninety-seven.
The teacher raised a questioning brow at him but otherwise left it alone. Peter was immensely grateful and kept his head down for the rest of class. Well...rest of the morning.
His good luck streak ended at lunch when he found Flash, standing over a Freshman, people grouped around them, and beating relentlessly on the poor kid who was curled up.
Now Peter would not consider himself a brave person. He just considered himself a good person. Pop had taught him his philosophy on bullies after all.
"Flash leave him alone!" Peter yelled, stepping to the front of the circle.
Flash turned his scowl on him, and then kicked the kid again, right in the stomach. The kid grimaced, tears sliding down his face as he tightened into a ball.
"Eugene! Leave. Him. Alone!" He shouted, gripping Flash's shoulder.
He really should have expected the fist that came flying at his face. His glasses flew off his face and he was knocked back, and out of the corner of his very fuzzy vision he saw the freshman jumping to his feet and taking off into the crowd. He smiled briefly, but stopped when another punch collided with his cheekbone.
"What do you think you're doing Parker? You don't have any friends here remember?"
Peter shook his head, glancing Gwen, who looked ready to pounce. He shook his head at her and held up hand, shifting to his hands and knees. Flash got a kick at his stomach and leered over him, leaning down so he was closer to Peter to hear. He heard a crunch and spared a brief thought to his glasses.
"You don't have anyone do you? I bet no one knew that did they? That geeky little Parker here is adopted," Flash yelled, his voice getting louder. Peter wasn't sure how Flash even knew he was adopted. Files like that should be kept in the office, along with who he was adopted by.
Peter coughed and glared up at Flash, gritting his teeth. He stood up, shaking like a new born deer.
"Yeah...Yeah I am. So what? I was adopted by people who love me. My dad's love me!" Peter shouted, vision swimming slightly. He really hoped he didn't have concussion.
Flash's face shifted for several seconds and then he began laughing. Peter was hesitant to ask why.
"What-What-" He started.
Flash bent low and full body laughed. "Dads? Your parent's are gay? Ha! They probably made you gay too! You're gay aren't you Parker!? Everyone know's gay people can't raise ki-"
Flash rolled in agony on the ground, Peter standing over him, knuckles bloody.
"Don't you ever say a fucking thing about my parents ever again," Peter spit, venom in his tone.
He fell back, landing on his back. The faces around him were taking on a morphed look, and the entire world seemed to be spinning like he was on a teacup ride. He closed his eyes and tried not vomit.
He heard teachers shouting and groaned, heard them march over and help Flash off the ground, one of them carting him to the nurse. Another leaned over him, and when Peter blinked his eyes open he realized it wasn't just a teacher but the principal, who was pale and terrified looking.
Peter reached up a hand and grabbed hers. "It's fine. They won't be mad. Promise."
The school principal--who had accepted him into the school in the first place, even willing to double up security for him-- was probably the only person who knew who his parents were at the school. The files were locked up tight in her office, and though she had never met with his parents she had met Pepper and she was probably as terrifying as any of the Avengers.
Mrs. Sanders helped him get to his feet, an arm around his torso to support him. His knees nearly buckled and his head was pounding but he managed to walk with her to the nurses office.
The nurse looked between the tall blonde with an ice pack on his face, one eye already swelling shut, and Peter, whose lip was split (Again. Dammit Flash.), had bruises forming, and was holding onto his stomach, and tutted at them.
She cleaned him up, and gave him an ice pack too. When they were both as patched up as they could get, Mrs. Sanders led them into the office. An assistant principal was leaning against his desk, looking thoroughly displeased with them.
"Right. Both your parent's have been called."
Peter sighed. No telling who'd they'd send instead. Flash was sitting in the office chair beside him, picking at a hole in his jeans and ignoring everyone. There was a knock at the door, and it slid open to reveal a tall brunette woman. She looked pissed, eyes locked on Flash. They shared similar features, their eyes and noses almost exact. She marched in and took a seat next to her son.
They waited fifteen more minutes, each second ticking by on the clock feeling like forever. There was another knock on the door, and Peter heard the voice before he saw the face.
Happy stood at the door, smiling down at Peter and waving his hands at the secretary outside. He looked around at the other adults, with their scowling faces and his smile dropped.
"Now that everyone is here. I'm Mr. Clark the assistant principal," He held out a hand for Flash's mother who nodded.
"Sonny Thompson."
He looked at Happy, hand held out. Happy looked at his face and then back at his hand.
"Huh? Oh sorry. Happy Hogan. I'm not exactly Peter's father, but i'm on his emergency contact info," Happy stepped forward and shook the man's hand.
The man frowned but continued anyways.
"The boy's here, are in trouble for fighting. Now seeing as Flash started it he will be receiving a three days suspension followed by a week of detentions. Peter you-"
"I was defending my parents! If he hadn't said my dad's weren't fit to raise a child-"
"He said what?" Happy interrupted. He glared at the blond boy to Peter's right. "Does he even know who your parents are?"
Peter gave Happy a pleading look, begging him to stop talking, but Happy looked ready to continue.
"Happy! Stop!" Peter yelped, covering his mouth. Happy's eyes widened and he looked apologetic, shaking Peter's hand off.
"Sorry kid. Forgot."
Everyone else in the room had taken on a semi-confused vibe and Peter cleared his throat to get things back on track.
"What's my punishment?"
"Yes. A week's detention."
Peter nodded and they filled paperwork.
They stood up to leave and Sonny wrapped her arm around Flash, whisking him away, barely waiting until they were out earshot before she began complaining. Happy gave Peter a grin and led him to his locker to grab his stuff.
"Come on. I'll sign you out for today."
Out in the parking lot Happy gave him the choice on if he wanted to sit in the back or in the front seat with him. Peter chose the front, not wanting to be alone in the back. Happy opened the door and let Peter slide into the passenger side.
"I'm kinda surprised they didn't come themselves," Peter said, laughing slightly. Happy sat stone faced, looking at him. The divider window between the back and front slowly slid down and his dad poked his head through.
"Oh,we did. We just stayed in the car. Now turn around and let me see your face."
Peter groaned into his hands and tilted his head up towards the ceiling.
~~~*
His parents had a tendency to coddle him. Pop kept offering to make him food, and his dad was threatening to show up at Flash's house in the Iron Man suit. He accepted the ice pack for his face and sat down at the table, watching them frantically rush around talking loudly.
"You guys it's not a big deal!" Peter asserted.
Both is parents gave him a look but continued talking. Peter decided a trip to lab was in order. Going to the lab always made him feel better.
He could hear faint typing from the other side of the room and he followed the sound. Bruce looked up from the computer and smiled at him. He waved and Bruce's nose wrinkled when he saw the ice pack.
"What happened to you?"
Peter sighed and squinted at the words on the computer monitor above Bruce.
"Got in a fight," He breathed.
Bruce nodded and waved a hand in front of his face to get his attention (And wow, has his vision gotten that bad without his glasses or is everything else that fuzzy and unfocused for another reason?), waiting for Peter to look at him.
"Who was it?"
The brunet took a seat in a chair and leaned his head on his hand. "Flash."
"Who started it?" Bruce asked, turning back to his work. He began typing again, but was obviously still listening.
"Flash was picking on another kid and I stepped in to try and get him to stop--or you know, just give the other kid time to get away--and he punched me. Then he started saying some...awful things about me and I...I hit him back," Peter explained.
Bruce nodded, gave him a glance over his shoulder. He scooted his chair until it was beside Peter's, still giving him sad look. "You know what ever he said to you isn't true."
Peter snorted. "Some of it's at least a little bit true."
Bruce raised his eyebrows but dropped the subject, demanding Peter come help him if he wasn't too badly injured. Peter smiled and threw his ice pack on the counter and sat down beside him.
~~~~*
The next day at school was a blessed break from Flash, considering the other boy had been suspended for three days. Peter didn't get hit once. Instead he just got every name under the sun thrown at him. A kid in his first period English called him a 'Fairy'. One of the cheerleaders walked by him in the hall and called him a 'geek' (like he hadn't heard that one before; Besides, liking science didn't make him a geek). The only break he got was when Gwen-- sweet, sweet Gwen-- sat down beside him at lunch.
"Hey," She greeted. She picked up her wrap then and began eating, leaving Peter feeling very confused.
"Um Gwen? No offense, but why are you sitting with me?" He asked, staring around at the other tables. He spotted her usual table watching her with scowls on their faces.
"My table is being rude. Plus, this is the first time I've seen you actually eat here all year. Usually you just hide in the library, don't you?"
Peter gazed down at his food. "Usually," He answered.
~~~*
They walked towards their next class together, and the names and things being said at Peter stopped. He was thankful.
Until they started up in the form of countless notes being tossed at him. Gwen sat in front of him so she wasn't seeing them come flying at him from his right, his left, and some from the back, hitting him the head. He sighed and tucked them all onto the corner of his desk, not even bothering to find out who was doing it.
When class ended he had a large stack on his desk, and Gwen was giving him a pitying glance, one that made his stomach churn in slight anger. He hated that look.
It's the same look he got either of his parents went on a mission, and he was left wondering if they were ever gonna come back.
He dumped all the notes in the trash and walked out with his head held high, straight to his locker to get his things for his last class.
The notes kept happening during his last hour, only it was a mix of both people whispering about him and notes being tossed at his desk. The blonde sitting beside him was leaned away from him but it didn't stop him from hearing the word 'fag' fall out of her mouth several times during the class period. By the end of the class his knuckles were white, and the hand he had punched Flash with was bleeding. He gathered up his things and left, heading for the detention room.
The teacher that was running the detentions was running late, and Peter took it as an opportunity to use his phone before he was told to turn it off. His first text was to Gwen, thanking her for sitting with him at lunch. Then he sent a text to Harry to see if he would be free.
He wasn't expecting much from the latter considering how busy Harry seemed to be schmoozing Mary Jane Watson. Their faces had been plastered all over the newspaper, everyone saying they were dating (and heck, Peter didn't know, maybe they were) or speculating who she was, who her parents were. Because that was what the media wanted to know. If she came from a wealthy background, because obviously Harry would never speak to her if she wasn't (That's definitely what they thought). It was the major reason Peter didn't like doing stuff in public with Harry. First they would speculate, and then they would dig, and then suddenly everyone knows who he is. Not only would it be a major security breach for him, and he would probably have to change schools but it also meant no more just walking around freely. Peter liked his freedom.
The teacher stormed into the room, throwing his things on the desk like he a personal vendetta against it, and scaring everyone in the classroom. Peter jumped and tucked his phone away, while the teacher began giving them instructions to start doing some kind of work.
He pulled out his Physics work and began working on it, when he felt his phone vibrate. The teacher was steadily ignoring them--headphones in, and reading-- so he decided to take a chance to text back.
He was surprised. The text was from Harry and he was asking what he wanted to do. He text the other boy back quickly, and they settled on hanging out at Harry's.
One thing Peter was not good at was being sneaky. As evidenced by the fact that'd he'd never gotten away with anything as a child, and that he still never got away with anything.
The teacher had ripped his phone away from him mid-sentence, huffing an annoyed sigh. He felt kind of bad; They were just doing their job after all. He felt less bad when the teacher glanced down at his open messages, where he was currently trying to refuse Harry's offer to send his driver to pick him up, protesting that he would get Happy to drop him off. The teacher raised his bushy eyebrow and marched back to his desk and placed his phone in the corner of the desk.
"You'll get this back at the end of class Mr. Parker," The man said, voice slightly smug.
Peter grumbled. He hadn't even got to send his message, though he figured it could wait. There was only twenty minutes until detention was over.
~~~*
He walked out of the detention classroom, roughly being pushed as people shoved around him. Harry hadn't text him again and he quickly sent the message from earlier--with an apology as he had his phone taken-- when Harry text him.
-Did you want me to pull up to the school or stay down the block?
So he was already here. Well that was fine with Peter. It would take longer for Happy to arrive anyways. He thought about just telling Harry to stay down the block but he really didn't feel like walking even that far, and it was after school anyways. No one was gonna see him.
He walked outside and stood leaning up against the building, waiting in the same parking lot Happy had parked in the day before. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a large group of students come waltzing out of the building, talking loudly. He ducked his head, and hoped they would move on, but not fast enough apparently, because suddenly Gwen was standing beside him. She had someone standing beside her too, and he realized it was Mary Jane.
"Peter! You know MJ right?" Gwen asked.
Peter nodded and stuck out his hand stiffly. "Peter Parker."
Mary Jane offered him a friendly smile.
"We're just about to go get some pizza with the debate team. You wanna come?"
"Sorry, Gwen. I'm hanging out with a friend. He should actually-"
A car horn honked out in front of them, and Peter recognized the stiffly dressed chauffeur that got out and walked around to the side door, waiting.
"That's him. I should go," He gave them both smiles and ran down the steps, feeling their gazes on him. The door was held open and Peter practically threw himself into the vehicle, huffing.
Hands placed along his arms shoved him to the other side of the car, and when he raised his eyes Harry was scowling, sunglasses askew.
"Sorry. Strategic retreat," Peter giggled.
Harry leaned so he was hovering over Peter's lap and staring out the window.
"From who? Who's the blonde and the redhead Petey?" Harry purred, one eyebrow tilted over his sunglasses.
"The blonde is Gwen, you know who the redhead is, Har," Peter answered, not willing to play the game Harry was encouraging.
"So you saw the papers?" He sat back into his spot and watched Peter.
"And the news, and the internet articles, and the trending lists on Twitter, and you guys on a date at the movies," He remarked. He knew he sounded snippy about it, and really he didn't care who Harry was dating, he just wanted to know why the other boy hadn't told him.
"You were at the movies? With who?" Harry made a face like he had suddenly seen something amazing, "Wait! You were sitting in front of us! You and blondie!"
"Her name's Gwen, and yes we were."
Harry laughed and patted him on the shoulder, and then changed the topic of the conversation.
~~~*
They were sitting on the couch watching a movie, Peter's head in Harry's lap, slightly dozing. They had argued on what film to watch until they decided on Superman. Harry was rubbing Peter's head, making comments every so often which Peter halfheartedly replied to.
"I wish my parents were superheroes," Harry whispered.
Peter cracked his eyes open and looked up at Harry. The other boy's face was sad.
"You really shouldn't. Having heroes for parents sucks," Peter muttered. He reached up and gripped Harry's hand in his, bringing it until his palm was hovering above Peter's face, and tracing his fingers along it. It was something they had done forever--since they were little kids-- and hadn't managed to grow out of, as it comforted them both in times of distress.
Harry sat silent above him, letting his hand be traced. Peter didn't know what he was thinking but it was probably about his own father. Norman Osborn wasn't a very good parent. He ignored Harry a lot of the time, or was always away on business trips, and when he was home, and actually acknowledging Harry, he was belittling the boy. No, Norman Osborn was a bully, and Peter didn't like bullies.
The movie played in the background but neither of them were paying attention to it. Harry was slowly falling asleep and even Peter could feel his eyes beginning to slide shut. In there half asleep states they didn't notice knocking at the door until the person had already entered. Peter sat up, nearly ramming his forehead into Harry's jaw when he sat up suddenly too. One of the Osborn's employee's stood in front of them, waiting.
"Yes?" Harry asked. He was using what Peter had dubbed his 'spoiled rich kid voice'. Peter elbowed him and the other boy yelped and jumped.
"Your father wishes to speak to you, Mister Osborn," The man responded.
Harry nodded and stood dusting off his pants. "Okay, I will be right back."
Peter glanced the man and he turned to Peter stiffly. "Will you be staying for dinner, Mister Parker?"
Peter checked the time on his phone and realized it was nearly eight. He should probably be heading home. "No. I should probably be getting home. I'll call Happy."
The man bowed--honestly bowed to him-- and left the room, shutting the door softly behind him.
Peter pulled out his phone and texted to ask if Happy would mind picking him up. He got up and started looking for his shoes. Hopefully Harry would come back before Happy arrived.
Fifteen minutes later he was sitting on the couch again, playing a game on his phone. He was fighting sleep, still holding his phone up over his face just barely. Harry's bedroom door crashed open and the other boy stomped through, face red and cursing. Peter sat up and hesitantly looked over the back of the couch towards the bed where Harry was currently pacing and still cursing away.
"Um...Har? What happened?" Peter asked. He slowly got up off the couch and walked around to lean against the back of it.
Harry jumped and spun around to face him. "Fuck! Peter you scared me. I thought you already left."
"No...Happy's on his way. What happened?" He asked again.
Harry chewed his lip like he was debating telling Peter something but he shook his head and sat on the bed.
"Nothing. Just my dad being a dick again," He said. His voice held and edge to it like he was getting ready to cry and Peter fast walked towards his best friend and pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay buddy."
He rubbed his hands up and down Harry's back and waited until his shuddering breaths turned even. Peter felt his phone vibrate so he pulled it out of his pocket, still running his hands up and down the blond's back.
"Are you gonna be alright here or do you wanna spend the night at mine?"
Harry exhaled and thought it over for a second. "I think i'll be fine here. But you wanna hang out again tomorrow?"
"Yeah sure. We can go to mine tomorrow," Peter said, "Though you'll have to remember I have detention right after school."
"Okay."
Peter gave the other boy one last tight hug and stood, grabbing his backpack. He walked outside and crawled in the car, giving Happy a reassuring grin. He felt bad leaving Harry to deal with...whatever it was he was dealing with. His dad must have said something that upset him.
Happy gave him a quick goodbye when they arrived, watching Peter until he got in the elevator in the parking garage and went up. He still had to do his homework, but he went and got a quick snack from the kitchen first and then up to his room. He wrote part of his essay for English, and showered fast, all while still wondering what Norman could have said to make Harry so upset. Maybe Harry would tell him when they saw each other again.
~~~*
It seemed the student bullies at Midtown were getting braver. He'd been pushed into a wall as soon as he entered the building, and promptly smacked his elbow hard enough to make his entire arm tingle. There was most definitely gonna be a bruise there.
He scowled at the small crowd that was walking past him, giggling the whole way. He could still hear them calling him names; Apparently they'd graduated up from saying it under their breath and were calling them right to his face now.
He could have dealt with the names being thrown his way if he wasn't still getting enough notes to keep the US Postal service busy for a week. Every class he was being bombarded with notes, and after each class he tossed them in the trash. And he thought he would be chalk free with Flash gone for three days.
At lunch Gwen sat with him again, and he actually managed to hold up a decent conversation for the first half, until she brought up his 'Friend' (Why are you doing air quotes around Friend? He's actually my friend!) despite his unwillingness to talk about it.
"So...who is he?" Gwen asked, dangerous glint in her eye.
Peter chewed his food thoughtfully and swallowed, glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. She was watching him with an almost predatory look. It made him nervous. He shifted in his seat and stuffed his mouth with more food, ignoring her.
Just as swallowed his next bite, Gwen reached down and pinched his elbow, his bruised elbow. He will deny squeaking like an injured animal and nearly falling off his seat until he is on his deathbed.
"Ow! Don't pinch me!" He yelped, catching the attention of the groups seated around them.
He looked around self-consciously and rubbed his arm, glaring down at Gwen. She was smirking mischievously, and made a pinching motion with her fingers when she caught his eye.
"Fine. He's just a kid I've been friends with since we were both little. Our dads worked together for a bit," He said. Not lying, just omitting the entirety of the story. Like that their dad's owned two huge multi-billionaire dollar companies.
He thought that telling Gwen what she wanted to know would wipe the smirk off her face, but if anything it just got bigger. She raised her eyebrow at him in a non-believing manner.
"Can you stop grilling me please? I'd like to eat my lunch in peace."
Gwen pouted. "Can you blame me? You know pretty much everything about me, and I barely know anything about you Peter. You've really got the whole 'mysterious' vibe going."
"Do not."
"Do so," She fired back. "It's just...I thought we we're pretty close friends. You've met my parents and I don't even know your parents names."
Peter pushed his food around on his plate. She was right of course, and Peter hated it. But they were close friends. Maybe he could invite her over? She was trustworthy.
He chewed his lip in thought. "Fine. Do you wanna come over for dinner tomorrow night? My parents probably won't mind. If they're in town that is...," Peter added as an afterthought.
Gwen's answering smile could light the entirety of New York City. She nodded her head frantically.
Peter smiled at having made his friend so happy. "Okay. I should probably tell you some preliminary stuff so your not shocked. But...," Peter glanced around, "-Not here. Come on," He made sure she was following him and they went up a mostly empty hallway and sat. Gwen was still eating her lunch, but Peter was playing with his food trying to think of things to say.
"My parent's....They aren't normal. They won't expect you to dress fancy. You could come in sweatpants and they honestly wouldn't give a shit. Oh yeah, my parnets friends are probably gonna be there. Well...most of them. One of them is always commuting back and forth between our home and his... Business trips I guess you could say."
Gwen nodded, encouraging him to continue.
"They may seem weird or-or crazy, but I promise, they are perfectly fine. My Pop will probably squish you if he hugs you--so sorry about that in advance-- and my dad may make a joke or two but he's really harmless. Um...," He looked over at her, "Also what i'm about to tell you stays between us. Like literally you can't tell anyone."
Gwen nodded frantically again, clearly more interested in what he was about to say then finishing her lunch.
Peter looked up and down the hallway, making sure that it was actually empty. He inhaled deeply and leaned towards Gwen.
"My dad is Tony Stark."
Gwen's eyes widened and she let out the beginning of a shriek, which Peter quickly muffled with his hand.
"Please, don't do that," He whispered. She nodded and he took his hand away, waiting for her to say something. She punched his arm- his bruised arm, dammit- and scowled at him.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner!? Wait this actually explains so much! Oh my gosh!"
Peter nodded, and let her go through her own list of 'Why Peter Acted Like He Did.' as she had dubbed it. The rest of lunch was spent with her having a small freak out, but Peter felt relieved. It was nice to let people in, to finally let someone know the secret he had been sitting on for a very long time.
~~*
Peter decided that instead of taking the subway to go home he would have Happy pick him. He figured that after yesterday, and the all the close calls he gotten lately, that he was definitely pushing his luck but he couldn't help it. Taking the subway sounded like the last thing he wanted to do. Happy pulled up at the curb beside him and Peter crawled in, tired from his long day of school.
"Rough day kid?" Happy asked.
"Something like that. Dad and Pop home?"
Happy shook his head. "Fury called them in. Something about a giant squid terrorizing San Francisco," He said. "You can probably learn more about it later on the news."
Peter nodded and laid down in the back, ready to let sleep take him.
~~~~~*
Harry was already there when he arrived. He was sat on Peter's bed, flipping through the channels. Peter face-planted onto the mattress beside him, groaning.
"Sup dude," Harry said.
Peter grumbled and turned his head to the side, to look at Harry. " 'm tired, my stomach and arm hurt from getting the shit kicked out of me, and my eyes are burning from my contacts that I have to wear while I wait for my new glasses to come in."
Harry huffed a quiet laugh, and placed his hand on Peter's head, ruffling his hair. But he didn't move it, instead he kept it on the brunet's head, running his fingers through his locks. Peter hummed and relaxed, knowing he was dozing but not really caring. He heard Harry set the remote down, and then felt the other boy wrap around him like an octopus. It was familiar, having Harry clinging to him. They'd fallen asleep like this many times - mostly after one had a particularly bad day. Each year on the anniversary of Peter's birth parents, or Harry's mom, passing's they would pick a home, and spend the night watching crap films and sat close to each other, just enjoying the silence.
~~~~~*
Someone was patiently rapping on a door, drawing Peter from his slumber. He blinked his bleary eyes open and surveyed his room, not finding anyone. He smacked his lips together and hugged whoever was next to him closer to his body and closed his eyes again.
Someone cleared their throat and his eyes shot open again and he jolted, careful not to sit up and throw off the person using him as a life-size teddy.
"Thor! Warning!"
"I did not mean to upset you Peter. I was sent to retrieve you for supper," Thor said. He was giving Peter his sad eyes, and looked almost like a golden retriever.
"It's okay. We'll be down in a few," Peter said, smiling at Thor politely. The Asgardian nodded and left the room, shutting the door softly.
"Is he gone?" Came the muffled voice from his chest.
"Were you awake the whole time?" Peter asked, stretching his limbs and getting ready to sit up.
Harry squeezed him closer and buried his face into Peter shoulder before he let him sit up. "Only when you tried to jump up. Scared me awake."
"Sorry. You hungry?" Peter asked getting out of the bed. He looked over his shoulder at the other boy, who was being strangely silent -even for just waking up. Harry was sitting on the bed with his legs folded underneath him, but what really made Peter grin was that his eyes were closed and he was swaying side to side slightly. Not to mention his hair, which was sticking straight up, rumpled by the bed.
Peter laughed loudly and Harry's eyes cracked open slightly, just enough to send the other boy a glare. He moved off the bed, holding up his middle finger at Peter as he shuffled to the en suite.
"That's rude," Peter shouted at him.
"Deal with it Parker!" He shouted back.
Everyone was sitting at the table when they finally made it down to dinner, and the only two seats were left between Bruce and Natasha. Peter took the seat next to Natasha and let Harry have the seat next to Bruce. The team looked a little beat up after their fight earlier in the day, but they were all in good spirits.
Dinner with the Avengers went wild fast. Halfway through the meal Clint threw a large glob of mashed potatoes at Thor, and he retaliated by throwing the peas - the entire bowl of peas- at Clint
They spent most of dinner ducking as food was thrown across the table. Of course once it was over, Steve made them clean it up, ushering everyone else into the living room for a movie.
Peter and Harry claimed the corner of the half-square couch shaped couch, Steve and Tony stretched out over the rest of it. Natasha was sat in the arm chair, sitting on her feet. Bruce had opted to sit in the floor, head leaning back against the sofa, semi-dozing throughout the film. Thor and Clint could be heard in the dining room, loudly arguing followed by a squeak--presumably from Clint-- while they cleaned.
Harry had his head resting on Peter's shoulder, his eyes flicking back-and-forth between open and watching, and closed, fighting sleep. When the film credits rolled everyone began getting up to go to bed. Peter carefully shook the boy asleep on his shoulder, watching as bright blue eyes sprung open.
"Do you wanna stay the night? It's kinda late and we can just have Happy drop you off at yours in the morning or you can just get your uniform dropped off here?"
Harry nodded, though Peter wasn't sure to which. His eyes were bloodshot and he still looked very disoriented.
"You know what. You don't get the option. You look wrecked, Har."
He led the blond up to his room, and they got ready for bed silently. Harry threw back the covers on the bed and let himself fall forwards onto it. It was an entertaining sight; He was usually so well mannered and laid back about everything.
Peter crawled into the other side of the bed and pulled the covers up over them both. He reached over an shut off the bedside lamp, launching the room into darkness, except for the bits of light darting in through spaces where Peter's curtains were.
This high in the sky--combined with the wonderful soundproofing the tower offered-- you couldn't hear any sounds of the city below, despite it's constant bustling activity. Sometimes Peter would sit in front of the window and stare down at the people below. Tonight, he stared at the boy in front of him as he slowly let himself slip into unconsciousness.
~~~*
His alarm began blaring Queen at five forty, making both him and Harry jump and roll from the bed onto the floor. He owned a King sized bed, and somehow they both managed to hit the floor. It might have helped if they hadn't have been wrapped around each other again. More often than not, both of them gravitated towards the other person in their sleep.
"Peter you're laying on my arm," Harry grunted.
"Your knee is in my stomach," Peter huffed.
"Here just roll us-no the other way-ouch! Dammit why are you so bony!"
"Sorry, sorry, here let me- the blanket is still around my foo- Fuck!" Peter crashed to the floor, landing on his face.
"Ow."
Harry giggled but offered him a hand to help him up. His nose was sore, and if he was lucky it wouldn't bruise too badly. He'd managed to not break it.
They each took turns using the bathroom while they got ready. Harry made Peter hold the hairdryer while he worked the comb, styling his hair into his usual neat look. Peter put some product in his hair, ran his hands through it and called it good. It made Harry roll his eyes and smile which was an added bonus.
Someone had dropped off a uniform for the blond and once he was in it--shirt tucked into pants, blazer and his sunglasses on his face-- he was ready to go. He looked like he'd been asked to model for Prada, and Peter didn't wanna admit he might be jealous of Harry's ability to make even a school uniform look nice.
"Come on. Happy will drop us off."
"You sure? Don't you wanna take the subway or something?" Harry asked, swinging his backpack up on his shoulder.
"Ha-ha. Yes i'm sure. Now get your ass to the car, rich boy," Peter said, swatting Harry.
"Hey, you're a rich boy too. You get your ass to the car."
Peter smiled mischievously. "Race you."
"You're on," Harry said, and he took off running.
Of course, Peter won - if only because he had the advantage in the leg department.
"You...suck," Harry panted, leaning against the car.
Peter cackled and got in the car.
~~~*
Harry hugged him goodbye and fast-walked inside his school. They were caught behind a limo in the line, and another simple car like the one Peter used to take him around.
"What'ta ya think Happy? We gonna make it?"
"Yeah. You want me to drop you off a block away?" His driver-bodyguard asked.
"If you will, Hap."
Happy hummed in agreement and turned the car, slowly heading toward Midtown High. He pulled up next to a curb a block from the school--just like he said he would-- and Peter got out. He had about ten minutes to make it to the school on time, but he could do it.
He saw that there was some other kids walking-a group of four. Two large boys, who Peter recalled being on the football team because he had photographed them for yearbook, a short brunet male, and a lanky red-head female.
He made sure he had all his things before shutting the door and beginning his walk. He noticed Happy didn't drive off yet, and was about to turn around and wave to say he could go when he was tripped. For the second time that morning, Peter's face was smashed into the ground, and by some miracle, it still didn't break. No, it didn't break, it just began to gush blood profusely.
He heard the female laughing and looked up. She was standing over him with one foot out stuck and giggling.
"Oops," She said, with a tone to her voice Peter could only describe as bitchy, "Sorry. I'm such a klutz."
He heard a car door slam from somewhere behind him. "Fuck," He cursed softly, under his breath.
He felt hands helping him stand and the girl let out an annoyed protest. The two football players were helping him stand up and the short brunet handed him a some kleenex to press against his nose.
"Thank you," Peter said, pressing the tissue to his nose. Happy cleared his throat behind them and Peter spun to face him.
"I'm fine," He exclaimed.
"Good. I don't feel like explaining to your parents how you broke your nose," Happy then turned to the redhead, "And you! What gives you the right to go around tripping people? Keep that up and you might just trip the wrong person."
The girl rolled her eyes and locked her jaw, ignoring what he had just said.
"Your gonna be okay? I can take you down the rest of the way to school-"
"No!" Peter shouted. He glanced around at the boys around him, who looked surprised at his outburst. "I promise, i'll call if I need anything."
"Alright," Happy said finally. He glanced down at his watch and grimaced. "Your dad is gonna me kill me though if I make him late for his meeting. Gotta go squirt."
Peter groaned and watched Happy trek back to the car and slide in, start it and drive away. He forgot he wasn't alone for a moment, and stared at the group surrounding him.
"Um...Thank you guys for helping me up. And thanks for the tissues," He said. He gave them a grin, and turned around, recalling that he had less than five minutes to get a block to school, inside, and to his class.
He could hear the three boys behind him talking, but the girl stayed quiet, while they chatted--probably angry at them for being good people and not tripping him like an asshole.
He slid into his first class with thirty seconds to spare and sat down, getting out his materials. The class was silent and when Peter spared a glance around he realize they were all staring at him.
"Mister Parker? Are you alright?" The teacher asked, concern clear on her face.
He raised his eyebrows but then he realized he was still holding the tissues to his nose.
"Yes.I'm fine. Just took a fall," He smiled.
She didn't look convinced exactly but began class anyways. He was thankful when the attention was off him.
~~~*
He sat down next to Gwen at what he had claimed as their own table, she was deeply absorbed in a book. He watched her turn pages with one hand and eat a sandwich with the other, her eyes never leaving the page.
"Hey Gwen," He said, picking up his own sandwich and munching on it.
"Hey," She replied distracted.
"You still coming for dinner tonight?" He asked. "I still have to ask my parents if they mind. I didn't get a chance last night. Too busy hanging out with Harry."
Gwen marked her spot and looked up. "Yes! Of course i'm still coming. Who's Harry?"
Peter realized he hadn't actually told her who his 'friend-since-they-were-little' was.
"Harry's my friend. You know the one who picked me up the other day?"
Gwen looked surprised, and then suspicious. "Wait....friends since you were little...dad's worked together....Holy crap! Peter, is your friend Harry-" She glanced around at the tables around them and leaned in closer,"-Osborn?"
Peter nodded. "That would be him."
"Wow. No wonder you looked peeved the other day when you saw him and MJ out together."
"Yeah. He didn't tell me he had a date when he ran out on me."
Gwen's face turned sad. "I'm sorry, Peter."
She didn't say anything else on the topic and Peter was left confused about what she had apologized for.
~~*
When Peter arrived home he went and put his things in his room and then went to find one or both of his parents. First he looked in the kitchen, knowing that his Pop liked to be there baking or cooking a new dish. The kitchen was empty, so he went to go check the labs. It was also empty, which was surprising. He decided to check the practice room next. Someone could always be found in there sparring.
He opened the door slowly so he didn't surprise anybody, and found that all the Avengers were sitting on the benches lining the walls watching as Natasha and his Pop fought.
He sat down beside Bruce and leaned towards him so he could hear over the cheering around him. "Who's winning?"
"Nat. She's pinned him four times already," The dark haired man said. They flinched as Natasha brought down his Pop again, smiling and tapping his nose as she stepped back to let him stand.
"Damn," Peter said, "He's really off today."
Usually Steve could win at least once, but it didn't look like he was gonna be taking down Natasha anytime soon.
Peter looked up down the bench and got up, running until he was next to his dad. He squatted next to him and his dad looked over at him.
"Hey Petey. What's up?"
"Is it okay if I have a friend over for dinner?" He asks.
"Harry?" His dad asked with his eyebrows lifted. "You don't usually ask if Harry can come to dinner."
"No it's not Harry. It's my friend Gwen."
"Gwen huh?" He waggles his eyebrows making Peter blush. "Sure. I don't see why not. Does she know-?"
"It's not like that. And yes, I told her," Peter replied. He willed his blush to go away. Sure Gwen was rather pretty and sweet, but Peter didn't feel that way about her. At least not anymore. He'd realized that around the time they became good friends.
"Alright. Dinner's at six."
Peter nodded and stood, leaving the practice room as Natasha pinned his Pop again. The red-head was on a roll it seemed.
He text Gwen real quick to tell her he would meet her down in the lobby of the tower, and then escort her up. She wouldn't be able to get by security otherwise. Or Jarvis for that matter.
~~*
At five forty he was standing down in the lobby, looking causal--as much as one could while being pushed by annoyed employees ready to leave for the day-- as he leaned against a wall. People kept scowling and glaring at them, sneering. Peter ignored them. He couldn't exactly judge his future employees for watching him like that. He did look suspicious.
He finally spotted Gwen and he shouted her name, watching her look around before she spotted him.
She fast walked over to him and smiled. "This place is cool."
Peter looked up at the high ceilings of the lobby and agreed. "It is pretty cool. But the view from upstairs is cooler. Come on," He said, tugging her over to a restricted hallway. He entered in a code, and the doors slid open.
The elevator deposited them off on the fiftieth floor, and they hopped into another elevator. The higher you went in the tower the more access was restricted. That elevator dropped them off on the eighty-eighth floor--where the business areas ended and living spaces began-- and they hopped into a private elevator. Peter pressed the numbers for the team's communal area, where they usually all ate dinner.
"Do you have to do that every time?" Gwen asked.
"Nah. Most the time I come up from the parking garage. No one sees me that way."
"Ah," Gwen hummed stepping out of the elevator behind Peter.
He could hear shouting from the kitchen already and he edged forward slowly, keeping Gwen cautiously behind him. He peeked his head around the corner, finding most of the team in the kitchen. He stepped into the doorway so he could be seen, though everyone probably knew he was there and that he had someone with him.
"Hey guys, I have a new friend for you to meet," He said, trying to contain his nervousness. Hopefully they all like Gwen.
The room went quiet and they all stopped talking, waiting for Peter. He grinned at Gwen and then pulled her in front of him. "Everyone this is Gwen. Gwen this is my family," He said, introducing them.
The team waved and he saw his pop stand up from his spot along the counter.
"Hi, I'm Steve, Peter's pop," He grinned, and held out a hand for Gwen to shake.
"Gwen. Nice to meet you," She said, accepting the handshake.
That brought about everyone walking around and shaking her hand as they introduced themselves.
"I'm Tony. Though you probably knew that," His dad introduced himself.
Peter rolled his eyes. "Way to sound totally not narcissistic."
"What? It's true. Unlike you, my face is everywhere. Yours will be too when you take over," Tony said, grinning.
Peter rolled his eyes again. He brought Gwen over to stand next to Bruce and suddenly they were talking about science. And then Peter was roped in, which led to his dad walking over. They were all huddled up and talking, with Natasha giving input here and there, and everyone else was having their own conversations ignoring them. Finally Steve called them to help set the table, Gwen and Peter taking care of dishes and silverware, while everyone else carried the food to the table.
They sat down to eat, and Gwen was smiling at Peter the entire time, and Peter was sure she was enjoying herself. Everyone ate their fill and the dinner conversation continued on, never settling into a lull, or boring. Peter could tell Gwen was relaxing more and more, and it made him relax too, happy that everyone was getting along.
Gwen was telling his Pop about herself--what she liked to do with her free time, what classes she was in, about her family-- and Pop was looking charmed.
When Gwen looked at the time and said she should probably be heading home all the Avengers stood up and hugged her. When Peter said he would go with her, not wanting her to have to travel alone, his Pop tugged him back by his shirt collar before he got in the elevator.
"She's a nice girl, Peter. I think she'd be good for you."
Peter laughed nervously and shook his head. "It's really not like that. I don't like her that way. And she doesn't like me that way," He said.
His Pop smiled and wandered off, obviously ignoring him. He got in the elevator still frowning at his Pop's reaction.
Gwen grinned at him. "They're nice. I had a great time."
"Good," Peter said, grinning back at her. Though some of his inner turmoil must have shown on his face because Gwen raised her brows at him.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing, nothing. It's just...my Pop thinks I have a crush on you."
"Oh," Gwen said after a moment, "He's wrong. You don't have a crush on me. And no offense Peter, but I don't have a crush on you either."
"Yeah. Wait, how do you know I don't?" Peter sputtered.
Gwen patted his shoulder and sighed. "You'll figure it out soon."
Peter stared after her in confusion when the doors slid open and she walked out, already heading for the street to catch a cab.
He regained his senses and ran out after her shouting, "Hey! What do you mean by that!"
~~*