Chapter 24
Your dad had gotten you the sweatshirt as a joke. ‘No Boyfriend, No Problem’. But he had gotten it after you had already started dating Peter so you had never had a chance or reason to wear it, until today. So you shrug it over your shoulders and pull the sleeves up. It’s a little warm for a sweatshirt since summer is creeping in, but you’ll suffer through it for this to work. Plus anything was better than dealing with Keiron again. Yes it might a little more than three months until school lets out, but it won’t really feel like the year is over until you finally finish having to listen to his bullshit day in and day out.
Your dad glances at the sweatshirt with a confused look on his face as you eat your breakfast but doesn’t say anything as Morgan chatters through breakfast. If you and Peter are having problems, he’s not going to force you to talk it out in front of your little sister. But before you head out the door to head to school, he asks you quickly, “Anything you need Iron Man’s blaster to take care of?”
“I’ve got it. Bye Dad. Love you.” You kiss his cheek, before making your way out to the car where Happy is waiting to take you to school.
It’s become a habit that when Peter sees you in the mornings, he looks at your shirt, knowing that if you aren’t wearing a band tee, there’s a high chance your shirt says something funny or sassy. However your shirt today confuses him. “What did I do?” He asks the moment you’re out of the car. He racks his mind for something to tell him what he did wrong, but he can’t think of anything. Last night you had hung out together and worked on homework, but nothing had been off when he left. In fact, he would have said everything was good. So why are you voicing frustrations with him through a sweatshirt?
“What did you do?” You throw back at him, instead of saying anything. He points to your shirt.
“I had to do something wrong to warrant that. Please, tell me and I’ll apologize and fix it. What did I do? Also when did you buy that anyway?”
“Dad bought it. As a joke when we started dating.” You say, ignoring the other part of his question as you walk towards the school’s doors.
“Baby, please, what did I do?” Peter begs as he follows after you. He reaches to take your hand and you know one side of you is saying you should not take it, but he already sounds so defeated.
“I think you already know.” You say but take his hand anyway, hoping he can figure out from the fact that you took his hand that you’re not actually mad at him.
“I literally can’t think of anything. But whatever it was, I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t do something to hurt you or anger you on purpose.” He pulls the two of you to a stop. “Wait, does your dad know you’re mad?”
“He saw the shirt this morning at breakfast.” You again skate around the fact that you’re not actually angry.
“So Iron Man is going to come after me when I come over to help him this afternoon?” Peter’s voice becomes almost dejected as he states this. That’s a good point. Maybe you should text your dad and clarify that this isn’t something you need Iron Man on.
“You’re coming over today?” You ask, seeing as Peter was just over yesterday. “Don’t you have… internship?”
“Your dad is on a deadline and needs my help to make it on time.” This puzzles you since there aren’t any SI deadlines but maybe the Avengers have your dad working on something. “I promise I would tell you if I could. But your dad made me promise.”
“It’s fine, he’ll tell us when or if he’s ever ready.”
“I think it’s more of a when not an if.” Peter says before turning the conversation back towards the two of you. “But back to our previous discussion, please tell me what I did. I hate that I hurt you and I didn’t realize I did it.” His eyes go to that puppy dog look that you love normally, but today it just makes his face look too sad and you know that you can’t keep this up much longer. “Please.” He begs once more.
“Babe, April Fools.” You say with a smirk. The realization of everything hits him and relief washes over his face.
“You’re going to be the death of me.” Peter says with a grimace.
“I could have played that so much longer.” You say placing a kiss on his cheek.
“And I would have been distracted all day trying to figure out what I did to hurt you. I never want to hurt you.” He pulls you into his arms, holding you close, a kiss landing on your hairline. “I love you and hurting you, the mere idea of hurting you, hurts me.”
“I know babe. That’s why if something you did actually upset me I wouldn’t tell you like this.” You motion down to the sweatshirt. “I just figured using the shirt as a prank was the only way I would ever use it.” He lifts your chin up to place a kiss on your lips.
“Better be. Because I can only think of one other use for that shirt.”
“And that is…?” You ask, interest suddenly piqued.
“To announce that I’m no longer your boyfriend, but your fiance.” You smile at him.
“I’ll keep that in mind Parker.” He kisses you, the same smile mimicked on his lips. As he pulls back, his smile grows. “What Parker?”
“You realize that we could totally prank your dad right? He doesn’t even keep track of the date, so I doubt he’s figured out that this was an April Fool’s joke.” You think about it for a moment before speaking.
“What did you have in mind?”
You take a breath before racing into the cabin that afternoon. “Can you just talk to me? I can’t even figure out what I supposedly did wrong and you’re saying we’re over.” Peter raises his voice as he storms into the cabin behind you.
“If you don’t know what you did, then what’s the point of talking?” You start climbing the stairs, not even looking at Peter, knowing you’ll lose it if you do. “Stay the hell away from me Parker.” You sternly throw over your shoulder before finishing storming up the stairs.
Tony peeks his head around the corner, looking at his mentee with confusion. “What just happened?”
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t talk to me at school all day and then I finally got her to talk to me on the drive here and next thing I know she’s telling me we’re over. And she was wearing that stupid sweatshirt all day. I don’t even know what I did. She won’t tell me either. She said I should already know. But I don’t. I can’t think of a single thing that would have upset her. Not to this level. I should go talk to her.” Peter starts to climb the steps when a firm hand lands on his shoulder.
“No you don’t kid. She said stay away from her. So you go out to the garage and start on our project. This seems more like a dad and daughter moment anyway.”
“Whatever you can do, please do. I can’t lose her.” Peter says truthfully.
“I make no promises, kid. My daughter’s wishes are going to come first, you have to know that.” Peter nods. You and he had basically guessed that your dad would say that since he was predictable when it comes to you. This next part however is all up to you. And Peter doesn’t know what you’re going to do which makes it so much worse. He doesn’t know to make the reaction more real if Tony comes after him, but still. It’s scary not knowing what you’re going to say.
“Can I come in kiddo?”
“Go away.” You say, not really meaning it at all for the prank to work.
“No can do.” Tony says as he walks into your bedroom. “You cause a scene like that in the living room, I have to see if you’re alright. That’s my job.”
“No it’s not. Your job is inventor for SI and the Avenger-” your voice comes from under the pile of blankets on your bed before your dad cuts you off.
“My job is your dad and Morgan’s dad first and foremost. Anything else comes second. Always has, always will.” He lays his hand on what he hopes is your back and draws small circles hoping to calm you down so you’ll talk to him. “Wanna talk about why you broke up with your boyfriend who you’re so much in love with?”
“Daddy... it’s bad.” Your voice sobs from under the covers and even you’re impressed with yourself for your acting skills. Having to learn how to cry for that play back in middle school really is coming in handy. Tony, on the other hand, feels his heart breaking at your tears.
“Tell me everything. I can blast him as far from here as the gauntlets will send him in a heartbeat.” You push the covers away from your face and reach for your dad. Tony pulls you into his chest, holding you close with his arm. You let another sob rip out of you.
“Daddy… it hurts.”
“Shhh. It’s going to be ok.” Tony is used to being called Daddy from Morgan, but hearing it out of your lips is something different. Whatever Peter did, he is going to kill him for hurting his daughter bad enough to break her like this. “You can tell me and I won’t judge you for it. Peter is a different story, but whatever it is, I’m here for you.”
“There’s this girl who’s a senior- Alisha Simmons.”
“Did Peter look at her or something?” Tony hopes it’s something naive like that; something that you and Peter can get over.
“She asked Peter to go to prom with her.”
“That doesn’t sound like something to break up with Peter over.”
“He said yes.”
“If it’s senior prom-”
“That’s not the point. The point is she knew he has-had a girlfriend so she shouldn’t have asked him. And he shouldn’t have said yes. But it doesn’t matter now, because we’re broken up.” You force a new batch of tears to fall.
“You don’t sound like you want to be broken up though.” Tony points out.
“I don’t. But if he is willing to go to a school dance with someone who isn’t his girlfriend, then what’s next? Going on dates with someone who isn’t his girlfriend? Kissing someone who isn’t his girlfriend? Doing mo-” You choke off, not even being able to get that out. You and Peter haven’t gone that far, but you know he wouldn’t cheat on you like that. Saying it feels wrong, but to your dad it seems like you’re too heartbroken to say it.
“I get it.” He pushes your hair from your face. “I’m going to go have a talk with Peter, ok?” You nod. He leans over to place a kiss on your forehead before standing to walk towards your bedroom door.
“Dad,” He looks back at hearing your voice, “don’t hurt him?” You ask not wanting this prank to get out of hand.
“I won’t.” He promises only because hurting Peter would hurt you.
You wait for him to make it down the stairs before making it out of bed. You know he’s heading to the workshop and you want to give him a bit of a head start before following.
“Peter Benjamin Parker, who the fuck do you think you are?” Tony’s voice comes out harsher than he means for it to, but it’s his little girl that Peter hurt.
“What?” Peter drops the screwdriver he had been holding at the sound of Tony’s voice. Whatever lie you came up with was enough that Tony was pissed. “What are you talking about?”
“What am I talking about? Does the name Alisha Simmons ring a bell?”
“She goes to our school? Besides that, no.”
“So you didn’t tell her you would take her to senior prom? Ignoring the fact that you have a steady girlfriend who happens to… oh yeah, be my daughter?” Tony is livid, but in a manner that almost scares Peter, because of how his voice pours out of his chest instead of screaming out of him. His voice is harsh, but unwavering. It’s a voice that Peter has only ever heard him use when the universe was at stake, one he only uses with villains.
“I swear I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that to Y/N.” Peter’s hands are raised, resting beside his head, trying to reassure Tony that he would never betray you or Tony like that. Behind Tony’s back, Peter can see you with tear streaked cheeks smirking at this interaction. You made yourself cry? No wonder Tony is livid. Peter can’t help the smile that’s threatening to break through. He bites at his lip trying to keep from breaking.
“Something funny Mr. Parker? My daughter is upstairs sobbing and you think this is some laughing matter?”
“No, of course not.” Peter says as a laugh breaks through on it’s own. “It’s not funny.”
“Then why are you laughing?” Tony’s voice turns threatening.
“Because April Fools, Dad.” You say before Tony attacks your boyfriend. Tony spins around to look at you standing at the door of the garage with a smile on your face.
“April Fools?”
“Yeah, the holiday that happens every year on the first of April?” You say, before making your way over to Peter’s side where he now stands with a hesitant smile on his face.
“Today is April Fool’s day?” You and Peter both nod.
“I thought for someone who likes pranks you would keep a better track of the days” You look around the workshop for a calendar, “but apparently…” you trail off when you see the red and gold metal sitting on the workbench that Peter had been working at before your dad came in. “What the actual fuck Dad?” You pull yourself out of Peter’s arms and square off to your dad.
“Y/N, I can explain. It’s not what you think it is.”
He doesn’t have a chance to explain. You have already put the story together in your head. “You promised no more Iron Man. You’re a fucking liar. I hate you.” You spin on your heels and run up the stairs back into the house. You’re about to run back up the stairs to your room when FRIDAY announces that Steve Rogers is at the door.
“Y/N, please just give me a chance to explain.” Your dad calls from the top of the stairs from the workshop.
“Someone you actually care about is at the door. Don’t keep him waiting.” You say over your shoulder as you run back towards your room. You know if your dad is already up the stairs from the garage, Peter probably isn’t far behind him and with his super abilities, he’ll follow you and try to defend your dad if he has too. So you make it into your room and lock the door. “FRIDAY keep Dad and Peter out.”
“Emergency protocols will override-”
“Fine, but unless that happens keep them out.”
“Yes Y/N.” You climb back into your bed, pulling your quilt and blankets over your head. You never should have gotten out of bed today. Without all the pranking, you wouldn’t have ended up in the lab and you wouldn’t have learned that the secret your dad was keeping and therefore making Peter keep from you that Tony is bringing Iron Man back into the fold. You thought by now that your dad’s promises meant something, but apparently not.
Your doorknob jiggles and Peter’s voice comes from the other side, “Baby, please open the door. I swear it wasn’t what you thought it was. Your dad can explain everything, but I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to come downstairs.”
“Go away Peter. I hate you too! No pranks. No bullshit. Go. Away.”
“Babe-”
“Go the fuck away.” You shout, cutting off whatever he was going to say. But then a voice you weren’t expecting to hear ever again speaks to FRIDAY.
“FRIDAY unlock the door please.” The door unlocks and suddenly, a head covered with red and blonde hair sticks their head in. “Am I not allowed in either?”
“Aunt Nat?” You pop up, staring at the face you were told was gone forever. “But Uncle Clint said you were gone forever.”
“I was supposed to be. But apparently bringing everyone back means not letting people die either.” She shrugs before slipping into your room and locking the door behind her. You jump out of bed and run across the room, throwing your arms around her.
“I thought I lost my favorite aunt forever. I was really pissed about it.”
“I’m back for good, it seems.” She says as she wraps her arms around you.
“How?”
“Apparently, Steve returning the stone got me back. A soul for a soul. But we can talk about that later. I want to know why you told your boyfriend, who I happen to know you’re very in love with, to quote, go the fuck away, unquote?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have plenty of time for one of my favorite nieces.”
“You might want to take a seat.” And you get ready to tell your aunt the whole story.