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The atmosphere is palpably tense. Your fork clinks a bit too loudly, and Stark looks up. Matt cringes at the noise.
Really, this is all Peter’s fault. “Please, It’ll be good for everyone,” Peter had said, convincing you to have dinner with Stark. You were reluctant, but after Peter had pestered you enough, you relented, and since you relented, Matt also relented.
And now you sit, poking at your salad. Peter clears his throat, uncomfortable. “Um, I got my Spanish quiz back. I got an A.”
“Good job,” Matt and Stark say, while you say “Yay!”
There’s a brief silence. Peter looks like he is physically restraining himself from saying a joke.
“I guess Karen helped?” You ask lightly. Matt was unable to, when Peter came to his office for help after school. Karen was less busy, however, and helped him out.
“Your AI?” asks Stark.
“My best friend,” Matt responds. “She works with me. Peter came to my office after school.” You look at Matt. The pride in his voice was unmistakable. He was showing off. Asshole. You resist the urge to kick him under the table.
“Karen was a lot of help,” Peter confirms quickly.. Stark almost sinks back into his chair, like he’s recognizing his failings. He meets your eyes, and you quickly look away.
There is a full minute of silence. You know because you counted in your head.
“This is so awkward,” Peter eventually sighs. He drags his hands down his face.
“You dragged us here,” Matt points out. You hum in agreement.
“Kid, of course it’s awkward. None of us like each other,” says Stark. He looks around the table. “We all know that.”
You nod. “I’ve made peace with it.”
Peter groans, abandoning his fork with a loud clack. “Okay, but I haven’t. You can get along. You just choose not to. It’s- it’s really stupid!” He crosses his arms and leans back.
“Peter,” you say, discontinuing the pretense that you’re eating. “Honey, we are never going to get along.”
“I’m not saying you have to be friends! I just- I- you’re all important to me,” he grumbles the last part. “Can’t you suck it up? Talk it out? Matt, you always tell me to talk it out with people before… y’know. So, take your own advice. You too, Mr. Stark.”
“Okay.” Stark says. “Okay, we can talk it out.” He looks you square in the eye, before looking at Matt. “I don’t like the two of you because you’re bad influences.”
You laugh, loud and brash. “Us?” You exclaim. “Bad influences? You took him to Germany without his parent’s consent!” You fling your hands up. “You left him. You dumped him like garbage, leaving him untrained and alone.”
Peter says your name, protesting.
“No, no, and then, when you felt like he wasn’t being exactly what you wanted him to be, you took his suit. His only protection. You took that from him.”
“That’s not what happen-” He tries. You just raise your voice, drowning him out.
“And even when you gave it back, you still didn’t take any involvement in his life. You’re a shitty mentor. You only talk to him when you need him. The only interest you have in him is for a personal weapon. Never have you picked him up from school, asked about his day, hell- whenever you want to see him, you text your fucking bodyguard.”
“Jesus Christ- that’s not the point. You two-” he points. “Are friends with an assassin. He kills people in front of Pe-”
“No he doesn't!” Peter cries, obviously outraged by the Wade slander. God, you wish you were Wade right now. Yesterday, he text you a picture of him sipping a martini in an undisclosed European country.
“Like you don’t.” Matt is deadly calm. “Don’t act like you don’t play god, Stark. You sit in your tower, with all of your tech, all of your super-powered friends. And us, the real people- we- we are the ones who clean up your messes.” Matt leans towards Stark, sneering. “Peter is what you wish you were.”
Peter pushes back in his seat. His hands twine in his hair. “Seriously, stop.”
A pause. “I’m sorry.”
You look at Stark, puzzled. He is not the kind of man to apologize, at least, that’s your impression of him.
He continues, and looks genuine as he speaks. “I want Peter to be better than me. That’s all I want.”
He always has been, you think, but keep it to yourself.
“I’m trying. And I’ve apologized more times than I’ve ever apologized in my life. I am mad at myself, okay? Everything you’re saying is true. Even though it’s so- detailed. Really, did you rehearse this?” He jokes weakly. Nobody laughs.
“Okay.” You say.
“Okay?” He repeats.
You huff, not quite angry anymore. The venting did wonders, it seems. You tap Matt’s arm. He nods at Stark.
“I obviously stand by everything I said,” Matt says. “But you’re going to do better. And if you don’t…” Matt leaves the threat hanging. You quirk your eyebrows up at Stark.
You pick up the fork, and spin your noodles on them, as everyone continues to eat.
You glance at Peter, intending to reassure him, or something. Instead, his wide grin is growing by the second. You are very concerned for him.
“Peter?”
“This is the best day of my life.”