the beginning is always today
”The beginning is always today.”
- Mary Shelly
July, 2013
For the next few months after his unwanted (but necessary) identity reveal, Peter did his best to avoid the Avengers at all costs.
He still participated in missions and attended movie nights with the team but he tended to leave as soon as the gathering was over and had otherwise tried to keep his distance.
He didn’t join Tony in his lab, gossip with Natasha and Clint, have eating competitions with Thor, or run with Steve.
No, he needed to stay as far away from them as he could. He never should have gotten so attached in the first place but before he knew it, over a year had passed since he’d been unceremoniously dropped into the past and he’d done exactly what he told himself not to do.
He knew they had noticed, after all how could they not. But they had been kind enough not to say anything for the most part.
Likewise, James had yet to return to the Tower either and Peter didn’t quite trust Steve enough to give him his address yet. The two World War Two veterans had taken to meeting every few weeks at an ‘undisclosed’ location a.k.a. the coffee shop a few blocks away.
James had been… quiet on the subject of Captain America, mostly just sighing and shaking his head when asked about him. But already Peter could see improvements being made to his mental state and he decided to just be glad that Steve is there to help.
Peter wasn’t exactly sure how Tony was doing with the situation but he knew the man had been accelerating their plans to take down HYDRA bases since he’d found out about his parents assassinations.
He’d become extremely focused, more so than usual, staying in his lab for days on end before holding hours long strategy meetings.
Peter had taken this to mean he was taking his anger out on HYDRA instead of the Winter Soldier. They had been destroying a new base every two weeks for the past two months. Frankly, it was a win in Peter’s book.
Part of him ached to go to Tony and sooth the rough edges of his hurt and grief but this Tony, as close as they’d become, didn’t know Peter the same way Peter’s Tony did.
He was sure the intrusion would be most unwelcome if he tried. He only hoped that Pepper was there for him.
Surprisingly, in the months that Peter had been coming to the Avengers Tower he had yet to meet Pepper Potts face to face and the longer it took the more nervous he got about the inevitable interaction.
Especially with how Tony had been hounding him about working at Stark Industries in the R & D department. While the job would have been a dream at one point in his life, hell, if he hadn’t been dropped in the past he would’ve had that job, it made him antsy to think about.
All other occupants of the house called him an idiot for not immediately taking the job and he couldn’t find it in himself to disagree. Maybe he was a coward but eventually he conceded to their points.
Like Tony, Peter had been spending increasing amounts of time in his personal lab. He was halfway finished with Karen’s hard light hologram and they were both getting more and more excited about that fact.
He’d been constantly upgrading his lab as time passed and it was starting to resemble Tony’s current lab more and more.
He’d also spend a good chunk of time refurbishing the house, redecorating the space so that it suited them better.
He’d completely redone the kitchen to James’ specifications, the area having become his domain.
It was slowly but surely becoming a very obviously lived in space with personal touches strewn throughout the entire large house.
He’d already began to set up rooms for Wanda and Pietro, hopeful that they would choose to stay with him and not the Avengers. With their current opinions on Tony Stark and the team, he thought it probable that they wouldn’t want to live with them. Though, it was looking like they wouldn’t be finding them for a good six months or so.
He hoped what his Wanda said before they’d done the spell was true. There were many nights where that night played on repeat in his mind.
Many times he’d found himself thanking Pepper for having the forethought to send money alone with him. Although, two billion dollars was more than he thought he’d ever be able to spend in a lifetime.
But he was content with the fact that he could support everyone in the household himself and they didn’t have to worry about anything. Not that they’d asked for any money so far, only humbly accepted gifts.
Peter finally understood Tony’s serial gift giving more. When you had the money, why not spend it on those you care about?
“Because, Peter!” America shrieked, pacing in the middle of the living room. “You’ve already done too much for me- this- I don’t even know how to drive!” She said, waving the key around with wild eyes.
“I’ll teach you!” Wade chirped, lying on the couch with his maskless head in Peter’s lap, their hands tangled loosely (platonically).
It had taken a few months but the man was finally comfortable enough to exist in the house without his mask.
“You don’t know how to drive, сумасшедший.” James cut in, rolling his eyes. His accent had steadily changed and was currently a strange combination between a Russian accent and a Brooklyn one. Somehow, it worked for him. “I will teach her.”
“I know how to drive!” Wade squawked indignantly, lifting his face to glare at the other man.
“I definitely can’t teach her.” Peter chipped in, tips twitching at the frustrated scream that left Americas mouth.
“That- that-“ She sputtered, face turning red.
“Hm?”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, Peter! But I can literally make a portal and go wherever I want! Why in Vishantis name would I need a freaking car!” She said, hands gesticulating.
“I-“ Peter frowned, sharing a look with the other two men. “I admit I didn’t really think of that. But, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the gift anyway.”
“But Peter it’s just too much, I can’t-“
Peter cut a hand through the air. “Here. How about this.” He said, webbing the keys back and twirling them around his finger. “This will be the family car. We can all share it. Hey, you and I can even learn to drive together. I never got the chance to learn, uh-“ Tony was supposed to teach me but then I died and then I came back but then he died “yeah.” He gave a winning smile.
Americas face had softened slightly and she quickly darted forward, shoving Wade out of the way to give Peter a hug.
“Thank you.” She whispered. “Thank you.” She repeated, pulling back to smack a kiss onto his cheek.
“Yay! New car!” Wade squealed, clapping his hands.
Peter sent the scarred man a look. “You will be careful or you will not touch it.”
Wade looked at Peter from under his lashes, blinking innocently. “I love it when you get all bossy.” He purred.
Peter blushed bright red and cleared his throat, looking away and not responding. He caught James’ eye and lifted the key to the new bright red Volkswagen Beetle he had bought earlier that day. “You up for teaching us both?”
James nodded and Peter smiled gratefully. “I appreciate it.” He said honestly.
With another nod, James quickly left the room, heading for the gym that Peter had installed last month in one of the empty rooms.
America also left through a portal, stating that she had a training session with The Ancient One scheduled for that evening and letting Peter know that she was spending the night at Kate’s house.
Once it was just Wade and Peter, they quietly decided to throw on a movie. Sitting closely on the couch, they enjoyed each other’s company, filling the air with mindless chatter.
It was moments like these where Peter forgot to miss the future that he had come from. The future that most certainly no longer existed.
He’d already changed or prevented some major events and he’d seen the butterfly effect do its work.
It was… terrifying; the vast amount of power that he held.
But that place, it was still his home. Even if this new timeline was slowly and surely making its mark on his bitter heart. He cared for these people, even ones that didn’t even know him yet.
He had been keeping tabs on a lot of people from his future; even his past. Daredevil and the Defenders, Harley, Ned, MJ, May, Ben, Peter, not to mention the Avengers.
Maybe it was a bit weird but he couldn’t not. Not when he had the power and the technology to do so.
His chest ached.
He was glad to be startled from his thoughts when Wade started snapping his fingers in front of his face.
“Welcome back.” Was all he said before going back to the movie, babbling about how the main female character was an idiot for choosing the boy next door instead of the guy with the motorcycle.
Peter grunted his agreement, eyes focusing back on the movie.
The movie had just ended and Wade had fallen asleep cuddled into his side when he got a video call from Tony. Doing his best to get up without waking Wade and evidently succeeding, he quickly made his way down to his lab before ordering Karen to answer the call.
“Got it, Peter.” Karen chirped before a holographic image of Tony appeared on his desktop.
“Spidey!” Tony said happily. “You actually answered!”
Peter bit back an offended squawk. “I answer!”
“Not in the last two months you don’t.” Tony replied in a singsong voice. “But that’s not what I’m calling about.”
“What is it?” Peter questioned. “Is it a mission?”
“Woah, slow your roll cowboy. There’s no mission. Well, there’s no mission except my mission to get you to accept a job from me.” Tony answered, twisting a pen around his fingers.
Peter sighed and shook his head decisively. “I don’t want a handout.”
“It’s not a handout and I have a way to prove it!” Tony said with a flourish.
“Out with it, then.” Peter grumbled, ignoring the way his mouth twitched at Tony’s relieved smile.
“What if you put a normal application through, all I’ll do is make sure it passes Pep’s desk but I’ll have nothing to do with her decision. That way if you get the job it’ll be on your own merit. Though, I know you’ll get it.” Tony explained reasonably.
Peter frowned. “Miss Potts doesn’t know who I am?” He asked disbelievingly.
Tony frowned back. “I wouldn’t tell her that. It’s your secret identity.”
“Oh.” Peter cleared his throat nervously. “Thank you, then.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. So?” Tony said, leaning toward the camera.
Peter rolled his eyes but couldn’t find a reason to say no. He knew Pepper would never play along with something like this. “Fine.”
“Yes!” Tony said, pumping a fist in the air before saying, “Cool beans!” and hanging up.
Peter blinked dumbly at the spot where Tony’s face had been a few seconds prior, his brain blank.
After a few minutes he decided to go on patrol a bit early that day, not having anything else to do to occupy his mind.