Chapter Text
Natasha curiously watched Stark and the kid from the shadows of the halls.
Even though she had been informed several time that Peter Parker was just an intern and nothing else, the spy couldn’t help the suspicious that kept growing the more she observes.
Natasha never interacts, just sits there with the look on her face as if she’s figuring out a puzzle, which the spy is.
She had mentioned the kid to James Rhodes in a passing conversation which he replied with a shake of his head and with a breathy laugh, “don’t go looking around too much, he’s just a kid, and anyways, Tony will chase you in his one of his suits if you touch a hair on that kids head.”
Which was strange Natasha thought since after years of knowing the billionaire he tends to not let himself get emotionally attached to many people, especially a teenage boy.
She tore herself from her thoughts when the spy saw the two others heard towards the door. She crept towards the kitchen quickly then sat herself down on a stool at the kitchens island with a Vogue magazine.
Not even a few beats later Stark and Peter walked in, the kid rambling to the older man.
“—So then MJ says ‘you clearly don’t have as many brain cells as us’ which made the whole class burst out in laughter! You should’ve seen Flash’s face!”
Stark laughed and was about to reply when he noticed Natasha, his face falls into a cold expression.
The kid looks over to her and his eyes widen. “Y-your Black Widow! It’s um it’s nice to meet you.”
Natasha raised an eyebrow and lowered her magazine, “likewise,” she raised her chin “and you are?”
“Leaving.” Stark said sharply before Peter could reply.
Peter looked like he was going to argued but the older man and the kid exchanged a look, he kept glancing back at the spy then back to Stark, and after a few moments Peter sighed and walked towards the hallway.
“It was—it was nice the meet you.” He gave Natasha a small smile then closed the door.
The spy and Stark wait a few minutes until the latter poured himself a glass of water and came and sat down across from the former.
“What do you want with him Natalie?” He asked and raised the glass to his lips.
Natasha almost cringed. The billionaire has the habit of using the spy’s fake name she had gone by when she went undercover at Stark Industries.
The spy leveled him with a stare “I don’t know why you would think that,” she put aside her magazine “we’ve only just met.”
Stark rolled his eyes. “Don’t think I don’t notice you watching him like some crazy stalker.”
Natasha once again rose her eyebrow. “Oh?”
She had known Stark was on to her with the way Natasha has been around more frequently. She had mostly only come to the Compound for mandatory things, like help keep Ross away from Steve and the others.
Natasha crossed her legs and leaned farther towards the granite countertop.
“What make you think that I’ve been watching him, not anyone else in this building?” She asked.
Stark glared, there was a protective glaze in his eyes that reminded her of Clint when he found out his daughter was being bullied, then finally Natasha gets it.
She started to grin, “do you see yourself as a parental figure, Stark?”
Stark choked on his water, his eye wide in shock.
“No,” he managed to cough out. “Absolutely not.”
Natasha smirked and tilted her head, “well, I’m certainly feeling that vibe from you.”
She uncrossed her legs then stood up.
“Think on it.” She told him and took the opportunity to open the door, taking one last look back at Starks speechless expression, then walked towards the entry hall.
When she got down there she saw Peter there fiddling with his backpack strap.
Natasha went to stand near him and he looked up at the sudden presence.
“Can i—can i help you?” He asked politely.
She shook her head, “just want to properly meet,”the spy held her hand out “Natasha Romanov.”
The brunet eyed her warily but reluctantly went to shake her hand. “Peter Parker, it’s nice to, ah, meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.” she offered passively.
They stood there with Peter, avoiding the others gaze, and Natasha, who was watching him curiously.
“So I’ve heard Stark had an intern, I’m assuming your them. What made you decide to come and work for him?”
He blinked and cleared his throat. “Oh, he ah kinda showed up and ask—asked me cause I uh applied so.” Peter abruptly cut himself off, gesturing his hands.
‘This kids really doesn’t know how to lie’ Natasha thought, why he did, left the spy confused.
“It’s going to do wonders on your college application.” She responded dryly instead of expanding the thought.
He let out a shaky laugh, relaxing his stance into a more comfortable one, tightening the strap on his bag.
Before either of them could continue their conversation Happy Hogan, who Natasha knows is Starks driver, came through the entrance and hollered “I don’t have all day kid!”
“Sorry, I’m coming” Peter yelled back and looked back to the spy with a smile. “It was nice talking to you, have a good day.”
“You too.” She replied and returned the smile.
Natasha watched him sprint off, gears turned in her head as she tried to figure out this kid. Something just wasn’t adding up, and as she stood in the empty room she pulled out her phone and decided the spy needed to make some calls.