Chapter Text
“You said that there were two more people you were adding to the team?” Peter said, perching on the edge of the desk and leaning over to catch a glimpse of the viewscreen.
“Someone we ran into on Mars, right Bud?” Vespa said, sliding down in her chair and propping her feet up on the desk.
Buddy hummed an agreement and gently pushed Vespa’s boots off the desk.
“He helped me on that job with the Curemother, when you almost stabbed him getting the briefcase, remember darling?”
Vespa smiled slightly at the memory and propped her feet back up on the desk.
“She did stab him, quite deftly. He needed several stitches afterwards,” Jet added from where he was working on a small piece of machinery.
“He’s made quite a name for himself on Mars— even took down a new AI that Jet had on his radar to keep an eye on— but I’m really interested in his secretary, she seems rather brilliant! I really do think they’ll both make spectacular additions to the team.”
Peter craned his neck even farther trying to get a good angle as Buddy subtly turned the screen more directly towards her and Vespa laughed.
“He’s going to get a crick in his neck Bud, give Pete an answer before he falls off the desk.”
Buddy smiled as Peter made a scoffing sound and straightened himself, crossing his arms.
“Oh alright darling, I suppose you’re right. He’s a private detective by the name of Juno Steel, a remarkable lady-”
Any further comments that Buddy might have made were cut off by Peter actually falling off the desk and dragging himself upright again.
“You’re hiring my EX ?”
Vespa cackled as Buddy calmly explained that, “The two of you seemed to work exceptionally well together last time, I thought Juno would make a delightful addition, especially since he’s proven to work well alongside everyone else as well,” and Peter spluttered.
“Yes but- Mother do you really expect me to work well with him after- after everything that happened?”
“Pete darling, you’re both adults,” Buddy drawled drily, “and besides, it took Vespa and I several tries before she stopped threatening to stab me.”
Vespa blushed and Peter dragged his hands down his face dramatically.
“I can’t believe this.”
“You’d best start believing it, Pete. We hit Mars in a week to pick up our new crewmates, if Jet’s estimates are correct.”
“There is no reason why they would be incorrect,” Jet assured her as Peter straightened up abruptly.
“A week ? I have to go.”
Peter turned and stalked out of the room as Buddy and Vespa shared an amused look.
“Hello, Juno. It’s been a while.”
Peter sat posed on the hood of the Ruby 7, smiling like a fox, as Juno, covered in dust and still wheezing slightly, stared up at him. Behind Peter, Vespa leaned over and whispered to Buddy.
“He gets the dramatics from you, I was never like that when we were dating.”
Buddy smiled and leaned against Vespa, who wrapped an arm around her waist, and they watched Jet bring their new crewmates aboard the ship together, Juno and Peter interacting oh so carefully.
“And to think,” Vespa said, smiling, “You were so hesitant about starting a family.”
Buddy hummed thoughtfully.
“I suppose you were right after all, darling. I'm glad we kept him.”