Work Text:
Ever since Peter introduced you to the Avengers after they teased him about not having any friends besides Ned, you'd been a fixture at Stark Tower after school hours. If you weren't there doing homework, spending time with Wanda, or patching up Peter after his nighttime activities, you were there napping and eating all the snacks.
Tonight is no different and Tony finds you on the communal floor, sitting in the sunken pit- books, binders and your laptop scattered all around you.
"Don't you have a home, kid?"
"Yep," you answer without missing a beat, "but the WIFI is loads better here."
You can hear Tony hum before he walks towards the kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator. "Well at least you're here and not out on the streets. What are you working on?"
"Had some essay questions I needed to answer for English Four, two pages of Algebra problems that I barely got through and now I'm struggling with some Chemistry equations that I'm definitely going to need Peter to help me with."
"Let me take a look. I got some time." Tony drops onto the couch a few feet away and you exhale with relief as you pass over the Chemistry book. He passes you a water bottle in return and you're quick to crack it open, sipping from it for a few seconds before capping it once more. You're surprised when Tony then leans over after a few seconds and grabs a notebook, flipping it open to a clean page before grabbing a pencil and writing the equation out on the paper. "Here, this is how you're going to work it out."
Tony Stark takes you step by step through solving the equation, making sure you understand exactly what you're doing. It takes you a bit until you get somewhat of a grasp of it and then he has you solve the next couple on your own. There's a few hiccups, but on the third equation you finally work it out correctly. You cheer and thank Tony for his help, but all too soon you're distracted by Spiderman dropping down in front of you.
Peter holds his hands out in front of him, already attempting to calm you down before he speaks. "So, uh, before you get mad, just know that it was an elderly couple I was helping."
You stare at him with a deadpan expression before you sigh and set your homework aside. Then glancing up at your best friend a moment later, you wince when you see his face mask is cut in a couple of places. "Let's see the damage then." Peter pulls off his mask and you shake your head when you see the cuts along his cheekbone and jaw. "If you're hurt anywhere else, you better strip and get comfortable."
Tony makes a scandalized noise and you swat at his head while climbing out of the pit. You quickly grab the first aid kid from one of the cabinets and a bottle of water from the fridge, and you make your way back to where Peter is waiting.
Climbing back into the sunken pit, you sit next to Peter and have him face you. You gently grasp his chin, turning his face this way and that way to see what you're working with. And when you realize that no stitches are going to be needed, you get to work.
You grab a piece of gauze and pour some water on it, wiping the blood from his face. Then grabbing an antibacterial spray, you tell Peter to close his eyes. He does and you spray the cuts, lightly dabbing at them with another clean piece of gauze. Then when that's done, you spread a little bit of antibacterial ointment over the cuts before applying butterfly bandages.
"There. All done."
"Thanks, YN." Peter leans in and kisses your cheek, hurriedly getting up and completely missing the blush that erupts on your face. "I'll be right back with my own homework. Don't leave just yet."
As Peter rushes to the elevator, you can't help but watch him go and sigh longingly. Your best friend has been the star of your daydreams since the eighth grade and it's only gotten worse over the years. He's dated and you've dated, but something never felt right. There was a sense of ease that your mother always spoke about feeling with your father that was missing for you, but it was a feeling you only ever felt with Peter. And when you told your mother about it, you knew you were in deep when she smiled knowingly at you.
A gasp of sudden realization from beside you knocks you out of your thoughts and you're suddenly too afraid to meet Tony's gaze. Instead, you gather your homework once again and attempt to figure out the next equation while also trying to will your blush away.
"So when's the wedding?"
"Shut up, Tony."
"Aw. Come on. You two would be absolutely adorable together!"
"He's my best friend."
"But-"
"Tony!" You finally meet his gaze, shaking your head with a hurt expression. "Peter's got a type and I definitely don't meet the criteria. If I did, something would have happened by now. Just please let it go."
You watch as his playfulness vanishes at the look on your face and he sobers up some. "You don't see it, do you?"
"See what?" You sigh. He definitely wasn't letting it go.
"The way Peter looks at you. He looks at you like Clint looks at a pot of coffee in the mornings."
You snort, heart aching at his words, but quickly focus on your work once more. There was no need to get your hopes up. "Don't meddle, Mr. Stark, or else I'm gonna have to bring in Pepper. And we all know how Pepper feels about you meddling after you set me up with the grandson of that CEO you were trying to butter up."
"Ugh. Don't remind me. Pepper, Peter, Wanda and Natasha gave me the cold shoulder after that disastrous date of yours."
"That cold shoulder was well deserved. Now shush, I still have a few problems before I can call it a night."
It's the weekend when you find yourself at Stark Tower yet again, standing at the kitchen island with your laptop open as your lunch heats up in the oven. Prom is a little under three weeks away and you're browsing the internet for the perfect dress.
"Ohhh. What's the occasion?" You glance over your shoulder, smiling at Pepper as she peers around you to get a look at your screen. Walking towards the refrigerator is Wanda who looks like she just finished a workout.
"Prom," you say.
"Did someone ask you?" Wanda wonders right before her eyes widen. "Please tell me it was Peter."
You and Pepper both laugh at Wanda's eagerness, her excitement about anything dealing with you and Peter not making you defensive at all since you knew she really wanted the best for you. "Actually, Peter and I made a pact when we were freshmen. We saw the upperclassmen panic over finding dates, so Peter said that if we were both single by the time our senior prom rolled around, then we'd go together. I agreed."
Pepper nudges you playfully. "And you're both single, aren't you?"
"Yep."
Wanda proudly beams and you shake her head at her, she laughing at herself a moment later. Pepper and Wanda then proceed to sit on either side of you, the two of them nixing dresses left and right until they seemingly find the perfect one. It's perfect, both in size and color, and Wanda hits the final button to approve your purchase when you hesitate.
Next you look for shoes, but when Pepper finds the perfect ones you realize they're out of your price range. And when you mention it, Pepper purchases them for you.
"You guys spoil me," you say a bit later, eating a slice of pizza.
Pepper's having a salad whereas Wanda is eating a bit of both. "It's Prom. It's a very special occasion and you deserve the best."
"I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"Watching you with Tony is enough payment. I love watching him explain your schoolwork to you when you need help and then seeing how lighthearted he feels afterward for accomplishing something not related to the Avengers."
The three of you are laughing over your food when the elevator dings, Peter rushing into the kitchen a moment later. "Ha! I knew I'd find you here," he says.
"Well duh. Where else would I be?" You muse as you turn around on your stool. "What's going on?"
His good mood seems to be more than a little infectious and you can't help but return his giddiness. Well, at least up until the next words come out of his mouth. "So I know we have a pact to go to prom together, but Liz just moved back and she asked if I had a date because she didn't want to go alone and now I'm her date." The words are rushed and he's obviously nervous for your reaction, but you can't find any words to say. The silence lingers and he deflates. "I can tell her no if-"
"No!" You jerk to attention, forcing your smile to not break. "No, it's fine. That's- that's good," you say, gulping down the bile threatening to come up. "Liz and Peter. Peter and Liz," you force yourself to chuckle. "It's what you've always wanted."
"Yeah?" His giddiness is suddenly back tenfold, but deep inside your own heart is breaking.
"Besides.. it's not like I bought a dress or anything yet. You're good, Parker. Have fun."
"Thank you." He rushes forward, cradling your face in his hands while pressing a kiss to your forehead. "I'll make it up to you. I promise."
"Mhm." You wait until you hear the sound of the elevator before letting the first tear fall, quickly reaching up to wipe it away before you turn back around. Clearing your throat, your gaze stays on your plate of food that is still half full. "Well, uh, that totally just killed the rest of my hunger."
Gathering up your plate and glass, you dump your half eaten food in the trash and then take your dishes to the sink.
As you're rinsing your dishes, someone sidles up next to you and wraps an arm around the back of your shoulders. "He's a fool." Wanda. You'd know that accent anywhere.
You sigh and lay your dishes in the sink, resting your head on her shoulder. "He's not. He's just in love with her. I can't exactly stand in the way of that."
"But you're in love with him."
"Yeah," you say, tired of denying it. A few more tears fall and you reach up to wipe them away before turning off the faucet. "I'm, uh, I think I'm just going to head home if you guys don't mind. I don't feel up for much of anything right now."
"Yeah. Of course. Text me when you get home?"
"Duh."
Wanda hugs you a little tighter before letting you go and when you turn around, Pepper is smiling sympathetically. "Your dress-"
"Can be donated to someone less fortunate," you tell her. "It's not like I'll have any use for it. But the shoes- I'll find a way to reimburse you for those. I'm sorry you spent all that money for nothing."
Pepper looks like she wants to say something else, but she wisely keeps quiet. She pastes a smile on and briefly hugs you, letting you know that everything is going to be okay.
Over the next following weeks, Peter follows around Liz like a lost little puppy. You spend all your time with MJ and Ned, and the two of them are offended on your behalf when they realize why you keep dodging your mutual friend. And then at the tower, Wanda, Pepper and Tony are the only ones who know what happened and why you're suddenly spending so much time at your own home.
Unfortunately for you, your time of seclusion doesn't last long.
The day of prom, you're locked away in your room with snacks and Netflix when you get a text from Wanda. She sends you an address and tells you to get there within the next twenty minutes or else you'd suffer Natasha's consequences. So after moaning and groaning, you get up and make yourself barely presentable for the public. You're set on walking to the location that's about seven blocks away, but when you walk outside your building you're surprised to see Happy waiting for you.
It's just a little after two in the afternoon when Happy pulls up in front of a salon that's been closed to the public for the day- Pepper and Wanda waiting there for you just on the other side of the salon's window. Confused, you climb out of the vehicle and join your friends, and Wanda tells you that every girl- herself included- deserves to get dressed up for a prom.
All your objections for the impending pampering you're about to receive fall on deaf ears, and you only fall into a chair when Tony video calls you and tells you to suck it up. You spend the next several hours having your fingernails and toenails trimmed, buffed and painted. Your hair gets a wash and a trim before it's styled, your eyebrows are plucked and your face painted.
It's only when you're all made up does Pepper go to the back room, coming out with a black plastic bag in her arms that could only be shielding one thing. "It was too pretty to go to waste," she tells you. "So while you won't be attending Midtown High's prom, you'll be attending our own prom for those who never got to experience it in high school."
"Which is really just me and you, Vision, Natasha, Clint, Steve and Bucky," Wanda says.
You're too stunned to do nothing other than laugh, taking the bag from Pepper and walking to the back room where you're able to change. And once you're back there, you're not surprised to find the very expensive, very pretty shoes Pepper had gotten you laying on a chair.
When the dress is carefully put on and your shoes strapped on, you hesitantly join everyone in the front room where Wanda and Pepper have been very quickly dolled up themselves. Their eyes, as well as the stylists' who'd been working on you, widen upon spotting you.
"Peter Parker is the dumbest boy I know," Wanda says before she can help herself.
You huff, fidgeting as you stand before them all. "Be nice, Wands. He's still our friend."
"Yeah. Our stupid friend."
Pepper chuckles quietly, thanks the stylist for all their work, and then ushers you and Wanda outside. And thanks to Wanda's powers, they were put to good use in keeping the paparazzi at bay when they caught wind that Pepper Potts and an Avenger were at that particular salon.
"So do I even wanna know whose idea this was?" You ask once you're settled in the back of Happy's car once more.
Pepper smiles. "Tony was really upset when he found out about Peter taking someone else to prom."
"Oh no. Please tell me he didn't say-"
"He didn't," she's quick to assure you. "He just- he had more faith in Peter and was upset that his ship didn't sail."
"Oh my god," you groan.
Wanda snickers and pokes your side. "We are taking all the pictures when we get back to the tower. Tony had one of the empty floors completely transformed. You're going to love it."
You shake your head at the two women and enjoy the ride back to Stark Tower, your anticipation rising as the minutes fly by. Then when you're in the elevator, Wanda has to grab your hand to keep you from wringing them together anxiously.
The doors slide open and you grin at the sparkling, silver fringe hanging in front of you and the music that's already thumping. Colored lights flash and flicker along to the music's beat and you can't help but shimmy playfully against Wanda's side as she leads you further into the room. The walls are covered in metallic fringe curtains and the ceiling has some type of dark material covering it so that the twinkling lights pinned to it give off a starry night vibe.
Tony, Vision, Bruce, Steve, Bucky, Sam, Natasha and Clint are all in attendance, and all of them cheer and whistle when they spot you, Wanda and Pepper.
"Come. Come take pictures with me," Wanda says.
On the wall, there's a screen mounted there and below it is a table full of photo props related to a prom theme. Wanda immediately chooses a sign that says #1 Prom Date and you hold up one that says My Prom Date is a Hottie. The two of you take a couple of silly pictures, followed by a serious one where you're just smiling. Then you start pulling in the others, taking silly and serious photos so you'll have great reminders of the night. Sam, Bucky and Clint have fun with the crowns and mustaches, and in one of the last pictures, you make the men take a photo together with Steve holding the sign that says Team Tuxes.
No one questions why you aren't attending your high school prom, instead choosing to just have some fun of their own. Sam and Wanda make sure you barely leave the dance floor, and you take great joy in making Vision, Steve and Bucky dance at least one song.
Tony has a few round tables and chairs brought in for the dinner, and everyone laughs at jokes over some cheeseburgers and fries, as well as the shared stories of everyone's high school experience or lack thereof. Then once the dinner portion of the night is done and over with, the music gets turned back up and there's even more dancing.
Eventually the music gets turned down and Tony gathers everyone's attention. "Okay, okay, okay. You guys didn't really think we'd have a prom without voting for a prom king and queen, did you?" Clint cheers as Tony walks around a table, pulling off a small sheet that was hiding a king's crown and a queen's tiara. "So everyone come up here and grab a pen and slip of paper, and write down your vote."
A majority of the group grumble, but it's all in good fun and they end up gathering their pen and paper. You see Tony eagerly write down his vote with Pepper watching over his shoulder and then smacking him for whoever he's voted for. She shakes her head as she writes her own vote, and you stand next to Wanda and Vision as you think about who you're going to vote for.
"Any idea whose names you're going to write?" Wanda asks.
"Hmm.. I'm not sure." Your gaze wanders around the room until it lands on Steve and Bucky who look a little too serious for casting a vote. "Hey, Wands.. what do you think about a prom king and king?"
She follows your gaze and starts to giggle. "Hey, Vis. Change of plans. We're voting for someone else."
You, Wanda and Vision all write Steve and Bucky on your slips of paper. As you're giggling, Natasha and Sam are passing by and ask what the deal is. And when you show them who you voted for, Natasha's eyes get a scary gleam to them while Sam guffaws and quickly changes his own vote as well.
Tony takes it upon himself to tally up the votes once everyone is done and gasps in mock outrage when everything is finalized. Bruce takes a look at the winners and huffs a laugh before stepping back.
"Well it seems our first and only prom king and king are Barnes and Rogers. Whoop-dee-do."
Everyone cheers, whooping and whistling as the men laugh at the situation they've suddenly found themselves in. Steve takes the king's crown and Bucky proudly wears the tiara.
"Dance. Dance!" You cheer.
Forever Young by Alphaville comes on, and you and Wanda fall against each other giggling. The two men take pictures holding signs claiming them to be prom kings, and then they walk over to you and Wanda to crown you. Wanda takes Steve's crown and Bucky proudly crowns you with his tiara. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun comes on over the speakers and you don't waste a second before you're dancing with all the ladies in the room.
-X-
Prom at Midtown High was not at all what Peter expected it to be. People always spoke about the occasion being the best night of their high school lives, but for the life of him he couldn't bring himself to enjoy it. Not after his best female friend wasn't there to enjoy it with him.
Liz did her best to get him in a cheerful mood, but even her interest in him was not enough. He tried for her, he really did, but it was obvious his heart was not in it. So she did the one thing she knew would make him happy. She sent him on his way and told him to not mess things up YN anymore because a girl could only hold out for so long before she moved on or someone else snatched her up.
Peter tried to deny there was anything between him and YN, but then Ned and MJ intervened and told him he needed to take his head out of his ass and look at what was in front of him. It was easy to see that he's been in love with YN for years now, just as YN has been in love with him. It took him a few minutes to go through what seemed like a lifetime of memories, but yeah.. his friends were right. Maybe he was in love with YN. Maybe he's been denying his own feelings because he was scared to lose his best friend if she didn't feel the same way and never ever see her again.
Shit. He's definitely in love with YN and he's so tired of denying it.
So after apologizing profusely to Liz, he grabbed up his backpack from his locker that held a spare Spiderman suit so he could swing around the city and get to where he needs to be as fast as he can. He stops atop a building, texting YN with no such luck. He texts Wanda, but even she doesn't answer so he texts Tony as a last resort. Tony texts him back, telling him to get to the tower and which floor to step off on.
Peter swings to Stark Tower, landing on the roof and getting dressed once again but leaving his suit jacket in his backpack along with his Spiderman suit. Then with one backpack strap hanging on his shoulder, Peter takes the elevator down to the floor Tony mentioned.
And when the doors open, his jaw drops open in surprise.
Peter pushes through the silver fringe and his eyes dart all over the place at his fellow Avengers in suits and dresses. But the person who makes his heart stop is YN, all dolled up and head thrown back in laughter because of something either Wanda or Bucky has said.
"You know, you broke her heart when you decided to take another girl to prom instead of honoring your pact with her." Peter glances to his left, only to find Pepper standing there. "She had just bought her dress and shoes thirty minutes prior to you rushing in and telling her all about the other girl you were in love with."
"I didn't- I'm not in love with Liz!" He blurts, hand squeezing his backpack strap. "And YN said she hadn't bought her dress yet when I told her."
Pepper flashes him a sad smile. "She did. And she was so excited about it that Tony and I couldn't let all that go to waste," she says while gesturing to YN. Pepper watches Peter stare across the room, smiling fondly at him. "Peter, normally I stay out of everyone's business, but I'm afraid I must say something now."
His attention whips to her. "Miss Potts, I didn't mean-"
"It's okay," she assures him. "Whatever happened, happened. But I must say.. that girl is in love with you. She's so in love with you that she was willing to let you go and be with the other girl you had eyes for. So if you're going to break her heart, do it gently. Please."
He gulps. "I'm not- I'm not in love with Liz, Miss Potts. I'm in love with- I'm in love with YN, actually. It took me a while to realize it, but I did."
"Good." Pepper beams at him then. "Now go get her, Mr. Parker. And if you ever make her unhappy, remember that I know where you live and I'm friends with your aunt May."
Peter's jaw drops open in shock and Pepper nudges him forward. He goes, but not before dropping his backpack and then stumbling along the way towards YN, and Pepper feels proud of herself for a moment.
"Do my ears deceive me or did you just threaten harm upon Spiderman should he break our girl's heart?" Natasha asks, sidling up to the strawberry blonde's side. "What happened to your no meddling rule?"
"Shush. Don't let Tony hear you."
The two women laugh, watching as Peter Parker nervously makes his way to his best friend.
-X-
Wanda had clocked the second Peter made his appearance, but she didn't want to bring attention to him. So she subtly watched him for any signs as to how this night would go, mentally smirking as she watched Pepper give him a talking to. And then Peter was walking in their direction, wiping his palms on his pant legs.
"Hey, Barnes, come with me," Wanda suddenly says. "I need a drink."
"What? But-"
"Now, Bucky."
You smirk at Wanda's tone and Bucky's widened eyes, wiggling your fingers in a wave as he follows after the small brunette. Someone clears their throat and you look over at them, smirk faltering. "P-Petey! What are- what are you doing here? Prom can't be over already," you say as you push off the wall, standing before him.
"No. It's, uh, it's still going on."
"Oh." Your brow furrows. "Then why are you-"
"Liz sent me. She realized I wasn't paying her or anyone much attention and she said- she said.."
"She said what, Peter?" You ask, heart pounding. What the hell is going on?
He's obviously struggling with whatever's on his mind, but after a moment he seems to pull himself together. "She said I needed to tell you how I felt."
Your eyes widen at his blunt admission and you gulp, hope sparking. "And how do you feel?"
"Apparently the same way you do," he says. Nervously meeting your gaze, Peter takes a step closer and reaches for one of your hands. You let him take it and stand toe to toe with him. His eyes search your own for something and his free hand reaches up, cradling the side of your face. "I'm gonna take a big leap here and say that I've been in love with you since the seventh grade. A girl had asked me to the movies, but she stood me up and I cried about it. But you- you told me that-"
"-that you were the most amazing person in the entire world and it was her loss," you say, remembering his heartache from so long ago. Tears well in your eyes then. "I stayed that entire weekend in your room, building lego sets with you and eating all the pizza aunt May would allow us to eat. And I also might have threatened the girl who was so mean to you."
"Might have?" Peter muses, grasping your chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting your face upward. "YN, you left threatening notes in her locker for months. You've been there for me for as long as I can remember and I- I'm so sorry it took me so long to-"
You can't take it anymore. You lean up just a bit, pressing your lips against his and silencing him. Peter tenses, but then both his hands are cradling your face and he's returning the kiss. Whoops and hollers erupt all around you, but you don't pull away from Peter just yet. You and he are both smiling, laughing into the kiss before pulling away from one another. His arm goes around your shoulders as he tucks you into his side and your own arm goes around the back of his waist as you do your best to hide your red face in his chest.
"That's what I'm talking about, Parker!" Tony calls out.
"Remember, bug-boy," Sam muses, "you break her heart, I'm breaking your kneecaps."
You snort a laugh, shaking your head at them all. "Knock it off, guys. Let us enjoy this moment."
With just one look from Pepper, Tony goes back to minding his own business and Wanda sends a wave of red energy in Sam's direction to make him behave as well. You manage to pull Peter to the photo booth wall, taking numerous silly pictures by yourselves and with the others, and you laugh as Wanda passes off the king's crown to him.
In the last picture you take, you and Peter are facing each other, arms wrapped around each other's waists. He's smiling down at you and you're smiling up at him, and right before the timer reaches zero, you say, "For the record, I love you too."
Peter kisses you just as the picture is taken, his forehead resting against yours a moment later. "Best prom night ever."