Happy? Birthday
"I can't believe she got you customized donuts!" Ned exclaimed taking the 20th picture of his Spiderman donut. Peter smiled next to him still in his pj's munching on the ironman one.
"Yup, anything for my Petey!" May responded walking into the room, she ruffled Peter's hair in a light scenting, "and I totally didn't just go get them because I burned the birthday pancakes." She deadpanned.
"Is that what that smell is?" Peter questioned with a sly smile.
"What smell?" She countered narrowing her eyes.
He chuckled at her antics as she went to grab her keys, "I have to run a few errands today but I will be back before the birthday dinner. You two behave." She paused at the door, "and Peter, remember today is your day off."
Peter rolled his eyes, his body moving with him, "I know Aunt May."
She closed the door while blowing kisses and Ned turned to him quickly, "Are you going?"
Peter blinked, "Going where?"
"On patrol!" He motioned almost dropping his donut.
"Not today." He lifted his hand to his sore shoulder. This morning he had checked it and where it was bloody and burned before, only a darker pink patch was left. Magic ointment indeed.
Ned nodded glancing at the shoulder, “That’s very mature of you, I would’ve thought you’d be all over those alien weapons!” He shook his head staring off at the wall with a smile, “how cool.” He froze then added quickly, “Not the almost getting vaporized or that poor deli...Oh hey you said you met the magic Alpha, but you didn’t tell me a lot about him. Tell me more!”
“Well,” Peter started, pausing between bites, “I didn’t get to meet him very long.” He definitely didn’t meet him long enough to see the similarities between him and Tony. Not just the nice facial hair, but the demanding presence and sarcasm. It was almost like having two Ton-nope, he was not going to go there! He doesn’t even really like the guy...he shifted in his seat a little to get comfortable, and tried not to notice Ned’s nose wrinkle. “Something does need to be done about those weapons...Mr. Stark said he was on it, but I think I should help!” he added quickly, trying to bring the conversation back around.
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with the party Wednesday.” He noticed Peter’s blank face and made a strangled noise, “The pre-Thanksgiving party Liz is having cause her parents will be out of town! Peter!” He whined, “I’ve been telling you about this for weeks! You nodded when I asked if you’d go with me!”
“Okay-yeah! That party-” Peter nodded taking one last large bite so it stuffed his cheeks, “mmhmm.”
“-ony Stark-” he heard in the distance on the tv and turned on the stool craning his neck so he could see, “-welcomes the newest members of the New Avengers, Hope Van Dyne who will be joining the ground force as ‘The Wasp’ and Jane Foster, a renowned scientist who will be helping to spearhead the science division of this newly forming team. This is following the official announcement of the Iron Patriot officially joining and Dr. Strange, who is an on call Avenger.”
Tony’s face appeared on screen at the press conference,“these women are some of the most brilliant people that I’d ever met-” Peter clenched his jaw, he was smart too, intelligent even! “We will be relocating for some time to the Avengers compound, which has just been finished being renovated-again. To help us to work together bet-”
“Wait!” Peter shouted, “They’re leaving?!” He didn’t even realise he got closer to the tv until Ned stepped beside him, he looked over at Ned with wide eyes, “He never said anything!”
“Dude, is he just going to leave you behind? What about the alien tech?”
“I know!” Peter screeched.
“Peter,” Ned said calmly, putting his hands on Peter’s shoulders, “go to him.”
“I-what if Aunt May-”
“Aunt May said not to go on patrols today, not that you couldn’t go out to talk to a ‘friend’” he winked at Peter, “Plus you’re like eighteen now, omega up!”
“You’re right-I think.” Peter ran to the door then stopped quickly looking down at himself, "Clothes!"
♧♤♧♤
Over a month, Peter shuffled nervously in front of Stark Tower, it had been over a month since he'd last tried to see Tony. Boss is busy echoing in his head making him squirm, maybe he should've just called! Tony is a busy guy geez he didn't think this through-
"Peter." A familiar voice cut in.
"Dr. Strange?" Peter let the hand that was grasping at his hair fall to his side, "what are you-"
"Doing here?" Strange finished with a smirk, "I could ask you the same thing little omega."
Peter straightened his posture, lifting his chin, "I-I'm here to see Mr. Stark."
Strange looked at him for a moment before motioning him to follow. Peter scrambled to keep up then noticed something strange about the Alpha, with a few more subtle sniffs his brow furrowed.
"You wonder why you can't pick up my scent little omega?" Strange glanced back at him looking slightly amused.
"It's Peter," he started defiantly, "not little omega, not kid, just Peter." He stopped just before smacking into Strange's back who now stood still. "And you know, maybe a little."
"Okay Peter," Totally didn't give him chills hearing his name from the doctor, "As a doctor you don't really want your scent to overwhelm a patient." He started walking again, "I used to use different scent blockers alternating so I didn’t grow resistant, today I can actually use magic."
"Really? With magic, man do you like do it once and it's good for a while or do you have to keep like doing it constantly-wait, if your not a doctor anymore why-"
"We're here." The elevator doors opened to Tony sitting at a table with Hope. Peter froze for a moment, he'd seen footage of the Wasp, Tony was right to pick her for the new Avengers.
Tony turned his head, lips turning to a tight smile, Peter felt his heart sink. So Friday told him he was here and apparently not welcome..he felt a hand on his back nudge him forward encouragingly.
"Hey kid." Tony said and Dr. Strange chuckled behind him. "What?"
"Nothing," Strange crossed over to fill a glass of water "just thinking of things from earlier." He waved a hand dismissively.
"You must be Peter." Hope said, extending her hand which Peter took with wide eyes.
"How did you-"
"I told her about one of my best interns that may swing by from time to time." Tony remarked with subtle a wink.
"I-its nice to meet you Ms. Van Dyne, that paper you did on the Quantum realm and the dynamic of human molecules when changing-"
"Okay kid," Tony interrupted, setting a heavy hand on his good shoulder.
"I'm flattered Peter and impressed," she said with a smile, "not many people at your age would even comprehend half of what I wrote."
"I'm not that young." He mumbled as a glass was set in front of him.
"You looked parched Peter." Strange started, ignoring Tony's eyebrow raise, " Ms. Van Dyne if you would follow me I have a few things I think we should sort out in the lab." Hope glanced at Tony and Peter before hopping off the stool and exiting with a polite smile.
"So kid-"
"You do know I'm not a kid, right?" Peter picked up the glass taking a sip.
"Well I guess Sixteen just feels a little-"
"Sixteen," Peter set down the glass, "was when I got my powers. I'm eighteen."
Tony looked at him shocked, "Since when?"
"Since...today." Peter looked down shyly.
"Today as in," he shook his head then smiled at him, "well happy birthday then uh, Peter. I assume you didn't come here to discuss birthday plans, or maybe.."
"No no no, I was-you." He cleared his throat, "you're leaving to the compound? What about the alien tech, the attack on the bank? They could come back and-"
"Ki-Peter. Don't worry." He stood up, "I have people on that."
"People." He deadpanned.
"Yes, believe it or not a few pieces of alien tech is below Avengers paygrade, but there are people out there doing their job. So don't sweat it, let them figure it out.”
“But, I-”
“Peter, just leave it.” Tony turned to him seriously, “How’s the shoulder?”
“I’m fine.” He turned his head to the elevator then groaned, “I forgot to thank him for the thing. It, it really helped.” Tony took a step toward him lifting his shirt sleeve, finger lingering on the pink skin that’s now barely marred. Peter watched him feeling his cheeks heat up, “M-Mr. Stark…” That seemed to snap him out of it, Tony drew back his hand like he was burned then strode to the elevator.
“I do have things to go over, so uh, if you don’t mind.”
Peter walked slowly toward the doors, “What about me?” Peter muttered.
“You’re the friendly neighborhood spiderman.” Tony reminded him, “Just be that for a little while longer, you graduate this year right?” Peter nodded, “Great, finish school then we’ll talk.”
“So, you guys are gonna go Upstate, and I-I’ll just stay down here?” Peter felt himself getting worked up.
“Mr. Stark, Miss Potts on the line for you.” Friday’s voice cut in gently.
“I gotta go Pete,” Tony said, turning away from him and hitting the button to the elevator, “but Happy Birthday.”
Peter stared at Tony’s back for a moment longer before stepping in the elevator, “thanks.”
Peter hung his head down the elevator and all the way back to the apartment. Tony wanted him to wait seven months! Seven months of sitting back and saving cats. This wasn’t fair, he was spiderman! He helped Tony in Germany, he fought Captain America and the insect guy! He could even, he could even...take on those alien weapon dealer guys. He opened the door to his home and saw Ned playing one of his video games.
“Hey dude!” Ned said, pausing the game and lowering the headphones, “That was quick, you beat your aunt home.” He studied Peter's face, “What did he say?”
“He’s leaving and wants me to stay out of stuff.” He plopped face down on the couch beside Ned.
“Man, that sucks and on your birthday too.”
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me.” Peter said sarcastically.
“Was that always there?” Ned said suddenly and Peter jumped up anticipating danger. Two boxes both relatively small, but nicely wrapped were laying on his counter. His spidey senses weren’t tingling, so bomb or anthrax was out of the question. Huh, there's a note.
Peter,
Happy Birthday from the best facial hair guys you know.
“Did he magically put these in here?” Ned said next to him, making him jump, “Do you think he has like the cloak of invisibility?” He smacked Peter's arm then whispered, “do you think he’s in here now?!”
“Ned, would you-” he smacked him gently a few times then picked up the rectangular box, tearing off the sheet he saw another piece of paper.
You’ve been carrying around that iPhone monstrosity long enough. Only the best for the best.
-You know who.
“A stark phone!” Ned squealed, “That doesn’t even look like any version on the market either!”
Peter flipped it around a few times to study it, “It’s been modified.” Ned held out his hand and Peter handed it over, “Let me look it over and I’ll give you a rundown on the upgrades, it looks insane, the payment for this is-” Ned whistled. “What about the other box?”
Peter blinked, still feeling dazed he reached for the other unwrapping it.
For clumsy omegas, this can be better than the salve.
-Strange
It was a box, inside laid a necklace, an intricate design on the front and a white gem lay beneath. Ned squealed again, “Magic necklace! Magic necklace!” Peter ran his fingers across it and felt a warm tingle run up his hand.
“Maybe it's not so bad of a birthday after all…” Ned said amazed.
Peter thought about the new recruits, Tony and Strange all leaving for the compound. Leaving him here, in Queens...seven months. He held the necklace closer, seven months seemed like a lifetime. He could hear May coming up the stairs. Well, time for dinner.