Chapter 2
Tony? You in here?”
“Just a sec!”
Steve heard papers rustling as entered the door to Tony’s workspace. Tony was frantically gathering papers and shoving them into a folder.
“You need something honey?” Tony asked, shoving the folder into his desk.
“Just that lunch is here. Everything ok?”
Tony watched as Steve’s bright blue eyes glances to where he had put the folder.
“Who’s joining today?”
Steve raised an eyebrow, detecting Tony’s obvious deflection. Despite his now peaked curiosity, he decided to let it go for now.
“Us, Clint, Nat, Rhodey and Pepper.”
The two made their way to the elevator. Tony could feel the questions radiating off Steve, but luckily he didn’t ask them. He hated not telling the man what he had been doing, but there were some things Tony wasn’t ready to open up about.
After everything that had happened between them, keeping secrets wasn’t something Tony was proud of.
Two years after the fight in Germany, the missing members of the Avengers had returned from Wakanda with a much improved Bucky Barnes.
Tension had been off the chart as the two groups wondered if they could ever be one again.
It had taken Pepper Potts losing her shit to turn the tables. After an hour of the CEO putting everyone in their place, she created mandatory group sessions with the goal of drawing everyone back together.
It had gone terribly for five months before the fights turned to reluctant discussions. Three months later tolerance. Two months after that, acceptance. One month later, forgiveness.
Somewhere in between acceptance and forgiveness, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers found something else.
A year after the return of Steve and his group, The Avengers we’re completely back together and Tony and Steve were completely in love.
No one was surprised.
Now, Tony was keeping secrets from Steve. After five years, he still hadn’t told the man about his private attempts to reunite with Spider-Man. There was no reason to broadcast their history. When Peter joined finally accepted his place on the team, Tony was positive they would come to an understanding. No, he didn’t like hiding things from the team, especially Steve, but Tony Stark didn’t exactly have the best history of admitting fault. It didn’t matter though. His perfect opportunity to bring Peter in was quickly approaching, and Tony had already set his plans in motion.
The sound of raised voices was heard as soon as the elevator door opened. Clint and Rhodey were arguing over which pizza toppings were best while Nat and Pepper watched.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about! The best topping is- of course STEVE would be able to drag Tony out the lab!” Rhodey grinned, catching sight of the two.
“Thank goodness.” Pepper rolled her eyes. “I was getting tired of talking to your forehead when I called.”
“What you got cookin down there anyway?” Clint asked, rummaging through the boxes of pizza.
“Just some suit designs. I can’t get the ideas out of my head.” Tony replied quickly, grabbing a slice of pizza and heading to the table. Steve raised as eyebrow and Natasha watched Tony carefully before turning back to Pepper. Soon, friendly conversation and jokes filled the room.
~~~~~~~~
“What do you know about Spider-Man?”
Steve looked up from the counter he was wiping. Everyone had returned to where they had been while Steve had stayed behind to straighten up. Natasha crossed her arms and leaned against the counter, watching him closely.
“Nothing really. Tony doesn’t really talk about him. It’s obvious though that the two had a falling out.”
“So why’s he so adamant we get him to join the team? It’s especially increased recently.”
Steve looked down at the counter, thinking. Tony rarely mentioned anything about his brief involvement with the young hero. They all knew Tony was the reason the kid had been in Germany. The boy had seemed so eager to impress. Steve would be lying if he had never wondered what had happened between the two, if anything.
“I won’t say I’m not curious, Nat. I’ve wanted to ask, but Tony is extremely tight lipped about it. I’ve considered asking Pepper but I don’t want to betray Tony’s trust.”
Nat nodded. Her brows furrowed for a moment before she sighed. “He’s got plans for a highly advanced suit for the kid.”
“Wha-how do you know that?” Steve asked with wide eyes.
“I make it my business to know when someone is shorting me on information. He keeps the plans in a folder in his desk in the lab.”
“That’s what he was shoving in the draw when I got there.” Steve frowned.
“Why is he so closed lipped about him? Why create a suit for a kid who has turned us down multiple times?”
“Maybe there’s nothing to it. Maybe he’s just hopeful. Spider-Man seems like a good kid.“
“Maybe.” Natasha frowned. “Then again, he doesn’t seem to keep the best company.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Take your chocolate milk, wrap up in your blankie you got there, and get off my counter top. Toddlers sit on the couch.”
Peter pouted as he slid off the countertop and pulled the blanket tighter around him. He took his drink and shuffled over to the couch, partially falling on it dramatically.
“Just because you traded in all your childlike wonder for suits and ties, doesn’t mean the rest of us did.”
“Tell me that when you’re no longer a struggling college kid lying to his Aunt about his piss poor finances. If I didn’t supply you with food you’d be dead from starvation with your metabolism.”
Matt Murdock did NOT pull his punches or his words. Most of the time Peter appreciates the honesty, but this was NOT one of those times.
“Thanks Matt.” Peter deadpanned.
“You know I’d be willing to help you out Pete.” Matt sighed as he joined Peter in the couch.
Peter looked across the couch. Once the blind vigilante had taken him in, Peter had come to see him as a father figure. He hadn’t felt that way about anyone since Uncle Ben had died. He had thought at one time Tony might fill that role, but that had ended quickly. Matt seemed to slip into the roll effortlessly. If he was honest, Peter really liked the feeling.
“I know, but you already help with food and I really want to carry my own weight.”
Matt smiled softly at him.
“It’s late Pete. Just stay here tonight and head out in the morning.”
Peter just smiled into his chocolate milk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter yawned as he left his last class of the day. He stopped at a trash can and dumped the empty lunch bag Matt had left him this morning.
Peter snickered at the parental action.
Daredevil might be an imposing and feared vigilante, but Matt Murdock was a total softie.
Looking at his watch, he decided to make his way to May’s. She had made him promise to join her for supper that evening.
He had just left the campus when his phone began to ring. He checked the caller ID and was surprised to see Harry’s name. He had mixed feelings about Harry these days. After Spider-Man had put his father behind bars, he always felt anxious around his friend. Harry however, had never seemed happier, and Peter tried to keep that in mind.
“Hey Harry.”
“Hey Pete. You got time to meet me for supper tonight?” Harry asked with a smile to his voice.
“I’d like to, but Aunt May made me promise to eat with her tonight.” Peter replied.
“She’d kill you if you missed.” Harry laughed. “How about tomorrow? I’ve got something important I want to talk to you about.”
“If this is your way of tricking me into being your third wheel while you propose to MJ, I’ll choke you.” Peter said flatly.
“Like I’d beat around the bush with that Pete. No, this is something I want to discuss with you.”
“Ok Harry. You got me for tomorrow night. Just let me know when and where.”
“Sure thing. See you tomorrow.” Harry said cheerfully before ending the call.
Peter stared at phone blankly. He and Harry hadn’t spent any time together since Norman had been arrested as the Green Goblin. The young Osborn had been placed in charge of his father’s company, leaving very little time for himself. It seemed odd that Harry would make it a point to meet with him while still in transition.
A ting brought his attention back to his phone. A text from May lit up the screen.
Will you pick up some milk on your way here?
Sure thing.
Shrugging off Harry’s call, Peter shoved his phone back in his pocket and headed to supper with May.