Chapter Text
Peter supposed that, as father figures go, Tony Stark wasn’t the worst one to have. Even if he did like to embarrass Peter in front of all the interns by replaying ‘Spider-Man’s Top 10 Worst Fails’ on YouTube. The video had 100 views. 99 of them were Tony Stark, probably.
So, when Tony pissed him off again - Peter decided to retaliate.
He’d just been sitting on one of the ‘fancy’ leather couches in the Avengers Tower, looking at his phone when Tony had come strolling in, looking all-too happy with himself.
He took a sip of his obnoxiously strong coffee and cleared his throat. “Hey, Underoos. What’re you uh..doing?”
Peter blinked out of his focus and looked up. “Oh, Hi, Mr Stark. Nothing. Why? Do you have a mission for me or something? Because I made this new, really cool like, webfluid that’s-“
“No.” Tony said, and Peter snapped his jaw shut. A sly grin spread across Tony’s face.
“You know the new intern? The really pretty one. Long, dark hair?” Tony gestures vaguely to his hair.
“Italian? Wait, no, maybe she’s Spanish.” He pointed at Peter. “I spoke to her. Well, she spoke to me. Think her name was…Jada? J..something. But she said that she wanted some research reviewed. So I told her to come find you, because I thought you’d like to..help.” He finished with a wave of his free hand.
Peter blinked. “Me?”
Tony nodded, taking a long sip of his coffee.
Peter ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t know anything about reviewing research from interns. He was practically one himself. All he would do is make a massive, blithering fool of himself - and in front of a pretty girl, no less. But Mr Stark had asked him specifically, and he didn’t want to let him down.
“Yeah..uh, sure. I can try.”
Tony clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Atta boy. She’s loitering in the hall. So. Better now than never.”
And with that, Tony had just walked straight out. Peter stood slowly. Now? Like, right-this-second, now?
He wasn’t prepared for this. He didn’t even know what the research was about, let alone how to review it. He walked out of the safety of the living room, and got in the elevator, pressing the 3rd floor button. It was a pretty long way down, so he could just..practice on the way down. Right? The doors slid shut and Peter looked in the mirror. Fixed his hair. Twice.
He smiled and extended a hand to his reflection. “Hey. I’m Peter. Um, Parker. Tony said you wanted me to review some of your work, so here I am, ready to read-“ He stopped himself with a groan.
Fuck’s sake. That was cringe. Okay, round 2. Less..enthusiastic-interviewer and more casual.
“Hiya! I’m Peter Pa-“ Christ. This was going to go a lot worse than he expected.
The door behind him dinged! and he turned around, feigning nonchalance. His stomach twisted when he saw who walked into the elevator.
The very girl. Because, with his luck, why wouldn’t it be?
She went to press the 3rd floor button but it was already lit so she offered him a polite smile. “Oh, you’re going down there too?”
“No.” Peter said quickly, and embarrassment crept up his spine. “I mean, yes, I am. Sorry I- Yeah. I am.”
She nods, flipping through her research folder.
“What’ve you uh..got there?” Peter says, pretending not to care.
“Oh, some research. I’m going to get it reviewed by this kid called Peter.” She lifted a shoulder. “I asked Mr. Stark and he said he ‘trusted this kid’.”
Peter smiled a little. “Yeah?” He said, failing to keep the happiness out of his voice.
Her eyebrow twitches - like she’s stopping herself from raising it and questioning him on why that made him so..excitable. “I mean, if you ask me, it’s a little ridiculous. He’s just a kid. There are much better people, professionals, who could actually give me good feedback. I bet he doesn’t even know how to review research.”
Shit. Peter’s smile faded. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, uh..sounds..crappy.”
Well, that’s mortifying.
The doors dinged again and a few men in suits and clutching briefcases stepped in. This was his escape. He slipped past them, muttering a ‘sorry, man.’ He stepped out of the stifling elevator - on the 22nd floor.
The Stark Industries worker bees milled around, carrying clipboards and briefcases. Peter walked through the maze of desks and potted plants and down the stairs. Tony’s office was on the 21st floor. He said it was for no reason - but everyone knew it was so he was closer to Pepper.
He knocked on the door. “Mr. Stark?”
Tony’s voice came through the door. “Come in, kid.”
Peter pushed open the door - which was heavier than he expected - and walked into the large, well-lit office. Tony was sitting at his desk, feet propped up on the table.
Tony grinned. “How did it go? I had a feeling she’d really..speak her mind with you.”
Peter narrowed his eyes. “You knew she didn’t like me.”
Tony shrugged. “I didn’t know. I…assumed. From her overall..” He waves his hand. “Vibe.”
“You tried to embarrass me.”
“I’d never, kiddo.”
“You did.”
“Didn’t.”
“You did.”
“Okay. Maybe I did. But hey - it’s funny!”
Peter shook his head. He turned on his heel and walked out, muttering under his breath. “Asshole.”