Dinner time
When I entered the living room, everyone was already there. Clint and Natasha were having a quiet conversation in the corner. Stark has draped himself over Ms Potts, Colonel Rhodes and Banner on the sofa, and he seems to be cooing and murmuring to his mug of coffee. Wanda and Vision have curled up together on the loveseat. Sam just sat on the floor. I ended up sitting on the armchair.
“Barnes, Where’s the old man? Having trouble with his joints? Lover’s spat?” Stark asked playfully. I snorted. Him and Peter would be great friends. Peter had a good sense of humour, and an adorable laugh. His nose always scrunched up, as he grinned and giggled.
“Stevie doesn’t like to be told news that disagrees with him. I’m sure he’s just sulking.” I responded. No use lying. Even IF my heart, body and soul didn’t belong to Peter, I wouldn’t think of Steve that way.
“So, it IS a lover’s spat?” Stark asked, intrigued. I shook my head resolutely. Thinking of Peter. Maybe, if I tell them, they’ll lay off the jokes, so they don’t become a habit and upset Peter. Peter’s always been insecure, took him months to believe that I love him. But how could I not?
“Can you please stop making jokes about that? I see Steve as a brother. I have never seen him as more and I never will.” I said, annoyed.
The others looked a bit sceptical, but they changed the subject.
“The Thai is here, Boss.” FRIDAY said. "Would you like me to inform Captain Rogers, sir?"
"Yes, baby girl!" Stark said, grinning. It is sort of sweet how Stark sees his Roomba's and AI as his children.
Stark spent the minutes until Steve got downstairs, debating with Banner and Ms Potts. Stark was arguing that Centaurs indeed should be considered arachnids. Peter would love that. He got his powers from a spider, ever since he'd felt a strange comradery with them. Always talking to them, it was always so cute. He once spent 3 hours discussing the tensile strength of his webs, versus a normal spider's web. Apparently he lost that one, not that I could tell one way or the other.
"Even if you were right, we can all agree that spiders are creepy little buggers!" Sam interjected. I frowned.
"Language!" Steve admonished as he entered the room.
"I'm personally quite fond of them, myself." I added. Thinking of my favourite little spider. Natasha cast a knowing look my way, while Sam sputtered.
Dum-E whirred into the room, holding out the food to each person. Steve sat on the floor next to Sam.
The conversation lulled as everyone dug into their food. As everyone finished their meals, I leaned back in my chair, and Stark curled up between Rhodes and Ms Potts.
"Let's get to know each other, better." Nat suggested. "And we should probably start using actual names, too"
Mutters of agreement filled the room.
Stark jumped up. "I'll start! I always mix this up, but which of you are actually taken?" Stark asked enthusiastically.
Wanda, Vision, Clint, Pepper, Rhodey, and I all put our hands up. Everyone stared at me except Steve (who looked distinctly uncomfortable) stared at me. "Wanda and Vision are all lovey-dovey; Clint is married; Pep, Rhodey and I are together. But who are you with???" Stark asked, curiously.
I sighed. "We got together about 17 years ago, we were friends before then, though. Around the time they found a new form of cryofreeze, it meant we could stay conscious in our cells, but we wouldn't age. We were put in a cell together, and the rest is history."
"Is that why you came back? To find him?" Bruce asked.
I nodded, before leaving. There was only so much social interaction I could handle.
-------
I lay in bed, holding a pillow, imagining it was Peter. Imagining I had my love in my arms as I drifted in memories.