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Chapter Text

The first time Spider-Man met Iron Man was forever stuck in Peter’s brain like a core memory. 

Tony Stark, the genius inventor, was impressed with his webs – the ones he’d painstakingly formulated and made himself! Peter decided not to hide the fact that he was the creator of both the webfluid and webshooters. It wasn’t a clue to his identity. After all, who’d expect a teenager to invent such a thing?

And that meant they had common interests they could bond over. Other than saving the world, of course. It thrilled Peter to know that he could keep up with the man in a discussion.

It was after one of those discussions, relaxing in the Tower after a successful mission, that Tony threw in a casual remark: “I know you got a secret identity and all, but let me know if you ever need a job.”

Peter couldn’t help the snort. If only the man knew that he was already working for him. “I’ll let you know.”

There must have been something off about his tone, because Tony narrowed his eyes at him and just stared for a few seconds. Peter tilted his head innocently.

“No way you already work for me.”

Uh oh.

“Why would I work for you?” Peter asked, putting a hint of genuine confusion in his voice.

“Why would you not work for me? Stark Industries are the top company in the world.”

“Hmm…” Peter shrugged. “Debatable. And just because I’m good at it, doesn't mean I have to work in science.”

“Debatable?” Tony sounded so offended that a few of the closest Avengers turned their heads in their direction, but then decided they weren’t interested and returned to whatever they were doing. Peter was grateful. “Who’s better then, huh?”

Peter knew just the answer to make Tony mad. “I don’t know, Oscorp?” 

Tony glared at him. “You don’t believe that. I don’t believe that you believe that.”

“Oh? And how well do you know me?” Peter teased against his better judgement.

Now that Tony was so close to the truth, Peter had to just exude confidence. Don’t show weakness… Don’t let him know he’s onto something… 

Easier said than done.

“What good has Oscorp ever done?”

Peter paused for a few seconds, mind returning to that one specific field trip four years ago. Oscorp didn’t mean to give him superpowers, he knew that, but that was what happened so… was it a good thing? 

Probably not. He could have died. 

But the benefits remained.

“I have a great answer but first of all, I’m not sure if it even counts, and second of all, it would get totally misunderstood. Just like me by the Daily Bugle.”

That newspaper was so obsessed with calling him a menace that Peter almost felt impressed. In the weirdest and the most roundabout way.

“Try me.”

“Sorry, no can do.” Peter’s lips formed a tight smile under the mask, but he kept his voice light. “It’s a friendship level 8 conversation.“

Tony narrowed his eyes. “Wait. Have you worked for Oscorp?”

Thankfully, Natasha chose this moment to interrupt their conversation, just coming back from the kitchen area with a steaming cup of coffee. She leaned silently against the nearest wall, observing them with one eyebrow raised.

“What are we talking about?”

Tony let the interrogation go, addressing Black Widow instead. “I think Spider-Man here might be working for me, but I can’t prove it.”

“Oh?” Natasha measured him with a look that made him feel… seen. A part of him wanted to touch his mask just to make sure it was still on his head. Or cover himself with one of the multiple empty pizza boxes littering the room.

“I mean, if that’s what you want to believe, then go right ahead.” Peter kept his body and voice relaxed and prayed one of the best spies in the world wasn’t onto him. Even if Tony were to check every employee personally, what were the chances of finding Spider-Man among them? How would he prove it if he couldn’t do it so far? “It might be fun for me to watch you losing your mind, honestly.”

Maybe he was taking it too far…

“What do you think, Natasha?”

Her face stayed unreadable. “Wouldn’t hurt to check.”

Peter nodded enthusiastically. “Hard agree.”

He had no choice, he couldn’t show any weakness now. 

“Is there a point in trying to find Spider-Man’s identity now or is it just for your own satisfaction, Tony?” Steve asked from a nearby armchair and Peter suddenly realized they’ve garnered more attention since Natasha joined the conversation.

“What do you mean?” Tony gestured towards himself. “My satisfaction is the point. Now, FRIDAY, show me the profiles of our brightest employees. Focus on biochemistry and robotics. Aged twenty to forty. Male. Employed currently or in the last… five years.”

Perfect.

“Oh, you think I could be an ex-employee?” Peter put a hand on his chin in thought and nodded. ”That’s smart. But really, forty? You think I’m forty years old?”

Tony turned to look straight into his mask’s white eyes and said, “Scratch that FRIDAY, aged twenty to fifty."

“Hey!”

On the outside, he was theatrically outraged. On the inside, he was sighing in relief.

Tony clearly didn’t know his exact age, but he had to suspect that Peter was either in his twenties or thirties, simply because nothing else made sense… which excluded him from the suspect list from the very start.

FRIDAY started generating the results and now everyone watched with mild interest.

Peter really could do without the additional audience.

“That’s… a lot,” Bruce commented.

“Stark Industries hires only bright people,” was FRIDAY’s answer.

“This is not working out,” Tony complained, seeing how long the list was. “FRIDAY, narrow down the search to people on my level.”

The results disappeared and after a few seconds, one profile showed up on the screen.

Tony Stark’s profile.

Peter gasped. “Iron Man is actually Spider-Man?!”

Tony ignored his dramatics. “Not that much, FRIDAY, do you think I’m Spider-Man?”

“In FRIDAY we trust.” Peter put his hand on his chest solemnly. “If she says it can only be you, it can only be you. No more pulling wool over our eyes, Tony Stark. If that’s even your real name…”

Clint cackled, leaning over a table to get a better view. “Yeah, Tony, explain that!”

“This is the only result of your search criteria, boss.”

Peter loved FRIDAY so much. Too bad she was currently trying to find him in the employee database.

“Everyone settle down… Alright, FRIDAY, narrow the search to everyone on Spider-Man’s level.”

Peter wasn’t sure how well FRIDAY could judge his level of intelligence, but he didn’t mind giving it a try since there was no way FRIDAY would actually find him.

The screen cleared and a couple of seconds later a singular profile appeared before them… again.

Awww, FRIDAY, Peter cheered in his mind. That’s so sweet!

Outwardly, he just nodded, like he fully expected that result. “The truth prevails. You caught me. It is I, Tony Stark.”

Tony scowled at the sight of his own photo. “So we’re going to have to do it the hard way…”

That… sounded troubling. But there was no way Tony would find him, right?

…Right?

Peter was exiting the elevator with his supervisor, Dr Miller, when he experienced one of the biggest jumpscares in the recent month – Tony Stark, right there in the hallway, talking to one of the scientists.

What was he even doing on the lower floors?! Wasn’t he too famous, rich and busy to talk to them? Didn’t he have people for that? No offense, but Peter knew him well enough by this point; the man liked doing his own thing. This couldn’t be fun or interesting for him.

“Mr Stark!” Peter’s supervisor exclaimed, eyes wide. “We weren’t expecting you here, sir!”

When Tony turned to look at them, Peter instinctively made himself look smaller. Not that he was that imposing to begin with. Not when he was Peter Parker.

“Oh, I know. Thought I’d drop in, check in on everything. Need to know my own company, right?” Tony’s smile was carefree but there was something about him that suggested that his visit wasn’t random.

Don’t tell me he’s here because of me, Peter thought, horror beginning to gather in his chest. He can’t be serious.

Was that little, meaningless conversation really that important that Tony would try to look for him personally? But Peter told him that he didn’t work for Stark Industries. Was he so distrustful and curious about Spider-Man’s identity that he’d investigate anyway?

What a stupid question. Of course he would. Tony used to be so annoyed that he wasn’t able to track Spider-Man down. But Peter always checked any nearby cameras before finding a place to change and his sixth sense warned him of any attempts at tailing him, which resulted in the stalemate.

Spider-Man kept on doing his job and eventually everyone begrudgingly accepted his need for privacy, but some nosy ones weren’t that happy about it, whether it was a matter of pride or bureaucracy.

Peter could work with their hurt egos. He wasn’t sure if he could say the same about them treating him like a child and his family and friends potentially being in more danger. He hoped his age wouldn’t change anything, but the facts were that most of the superheroes were years older than him and he was barely an adult. He could already imagine getting lectured about starting a vigilante career at age fourteen. It was better if nobody knew.

“Of course, of course…” Dr Miller nodded, buying the obvious lie without a second thought. “If there’s anything you need, just say the word.” Suddenly he remembered that Peter was still standing next to him like the awkward nerd he was and generously decided to introduce him. “This is one of our new interns, Peter Parker.”

That shook Peter out of his introspection. He decided to talk before his supervisor decided to say something else. The last thing he needed right now was a compliment. 

“Nice to meet you, sir,” he said like a fan that was meeting their idol but trying to be chill about it and failing only slightly, making sure that both the tone of his voice and posture were nothing like Spider-Man’s.

Tony nodded in acknowledgement. His gaze slid over Peter. “Nice T-shirt.”

Peter looked down. Oh. Of course, he had a T-shirt with a pun on it. The ‘once I told a chemistry joke, but there was no reaction’ T-shirt.

Well, good enough. Hopefully nothing else would happen and Peter would stay a forgettable face with a quirky T-shirt, one of thousands roaming the halls. (Faces, not T-shirts.) He didn’t want to endlessly worry whether he was saying too much or not enough or the wrong thing.

Then again, Parker Luck was a thing.

“If I need anything, I’ll ask you,” Tony addressed Dr Miller, as casual as they were. “Feel free to go back to your work now.”

Phew. Crisis averted.

Still, there was anticipation crawling right beneath Peter’s skin. A warning. A promise.

He’d have to be careful.

Peter was extremely aware of Tony's presence on the lower floors of the tower thanks to his enhanced hearing. Every conversation, every rumor, every whisper – nothing could hide from him, as long as he cared to listen. And that was the question: should he care? Should he try to gain more information and keep an eye on the ‘investigation’? There was a real possibility that all that knowledge would only make his behaviour more suspicious. He wasn’t the best actor, despite having a very separate alter ego. Not when directly confronted. His main advantage was that nobody suspected him to begin with.

To be fair, Peter Parker wasn’t suspected by Tony.

Spider-Man was though.

Peter decided to try and focus on his work, but from time to time a stray word would find its way to his ears and he couldn’t help but listen in. Just for a moment.

“Did you hear? Mr Stark was on our floor earlier today!”

“...I’ve seen Mr Stark asking Oliver about the new project, the one with smart bandages…”

“–Oh, Mr Stark, good morning! How can I help you?”

Every mention of the man’s name made him perk up like a pet hearing keys turn in the front door. It was so stupid. Still, he did his best to tune it out.

It’s been weeks since the conversation that started it all. How long has Tony been working on uncovering the truth? What else has he done? Who were his suspects?

But Peter didn’t see Tony again. Not for a while.

One day, he went to get himself a coffee, too tired to function without caffeine, when someone approached him from the side. Peter didn’t look up, assuming it was just one of his coworkers.

“Is the coffee here good?” the person asked and Peter froze, hearing a familiar voice. “I’ve never actually used those machines.”

Ever so slowly, Peter turned around, heart racing, hand carefully clasped around the cup. A part of him wanted to squeeze it hard and send the liquid flying.

“Mr Stark!” he exclaimed instead, not even having to fake the surprise. A few seconds of blinking later, an awkward smile formed on his lips. “It’s pretty good, I think? It’s Stark Industries, after all. Even vending machines are the best.”

Tony chuckled quietly. “Damn right, kid.” He looked him up and down, brows furrowing in realization. “Oh, it’s you. How many of those T-shirts do you have?”

Peter looked down at himself and his ‘never trust an atom, they make up everything’ T-shirt. Shoot. He knew his terrible sense of fashion would be his undoing one day. Either those T-shirts or the spandex. “A lot. But I think they fit the job.”

“I think some people would disagree with you on that,” Tony deadpanned, reaching out to get himself a coffee.

“Are you one of them, sir?”

“Definitely not. I’m thinking we should make them mandatory to wear.”

Peter’s polite smile turned into a beam. “I was always a fan of your innovative thinking, Mr Stark!”

Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to engage in conversation with Tony, but it just… felt right. Falling into old habits was way too easy. What he actually should do was walk the tightrope: too much talking could give Tony a crucial hint or make him realize that Peter and Spider-Man shared some massive similarities, but evading him would make Peter seem like he had something to hide. 

Which was true, of course, but still. Inconvenient. 

“You might be the only fan left if I do this…” Tony muttered. The coffee was ready and he turned to look at Peter again. “How old are you? I thought we didn’t hire kids.”

An automatic glare crossed Peter’s face for just a second before he forced himself to smooth out his expression again. “Because you don’t. And I’m eighteen. I’m a university student.”

“Could have fooled me with that face.” Tony’s eyes held a trace of amusement. “What are you studying?”

“Biochemistry.”

“Interesting, interesting. Not my specialty though.”

Peter nodded. “Your specialty is creating state of art robots, sir, we know.”

“Oh, really? People know? Thought I’d have to shout it from the rooftops.”

“You kind of do? Whenever you go out in the suit?”

Peter scolded himself mentally, but couldn’t stop talking. He should have disengaged. He should have stopped being so damn comfortable. But it was so easy after all those conversations with the Avengers where he faked confidence and cracked jokes! He knew this person. There was an established pattern of interaction. One-sided familiarity.

He knew he shouldn’t, he really knew it all… So why was it so hard?

Maybe he could play it off somehow. He had to.

“Kids these days,” Tony sighed, taking a sip of his coffee. “They think they know everything. The coffee is pretty good, by the way.”

“Well, I did know it…” Peter answered with a little smile, cradling his own cup with both hands before finally tasting it.

It was indeed good.

“Touche. You got me this time. Now, tell me, what do you think about working here?”

That was a good topic change for Peter. “It's the best, sir! It doesn't even feel like work because I can do all the things I'm interested in.”

“And the people? Has anyone in particular impressed you?”

Oh, that question would fool anyone else but not Peter. He was the only employee that knew Tony’s true intention behind it. “Everyone is so kind…  I don't think I can pick just one person.”

“Alright, how about this: base it on intelligence, not personality.”

This wasn’t the time to argue that Spider-Man’s personality was just as important as his intelligence, if not more important… So with regret, he ignored it.

Instead, Peter tilted his head. “Why are you asking, Mr Stark? Do you want to promote someone? Is this what this is about?” Then he gasped. “Are you looking for someone to take your place?!”

“Hold your horses, kid, I’m still young and spry, I don’t need an heir,” Tony scoffed. Peter's face flashed with doubt before schooling itself into neutrality, but the man noticed it anyway. “I may not be a toddler, like some of our interns, but I’m not old!”

Instead of taking the insult for what it was, Peter feigned ignorance. “Toddlers? What would toddlers do at an internship?”

“Get themselves coffees from vending machines, apparently.”

Peter blinked a few times, then looked at the coffee cup in Tony’s hand, almost like he didn’t mean to but his eyes were drawn there anyway. “Oh.”

“Not me.” Tony threw a disappointed glance at the traitorous cup and took a big gulp, wincing at the temperature. “Damn it.”

The way he looked at it like it simultaneously killed his entire family and could solve all of his life problems resonated with Peter on a deep level as a fellow caffeine addict.

“Speaking from experience, sir, sometimes we need to give up on coffee and go to sleep,” he said carefully, like he was talking to a ticking bomb. 

If someone said the same thing to him, he definitely wouldn’t listen, but who knows? Maybe Tony was more responsible and mature.

(Who was he kidding… Definitely not. Full offense.)

When the man turned his still disappointed eyes to him, he could only shrug and smile, awkwardness on full display.

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” Tony deadpanned, then downed the rest of his coffee, wincing once again, and threw the cup in the trashcan right next to the vending machine. “Right now, I have things to do.” He looked like he was about to walk off, but then turned back to Peter and looked at him. Something tingled right beneath Peter’s skin. “Have we met before, by the way?”

Now, that was a loaded question…

And it got Peter unreasonably nervous.

Did Tony recognize him? Was something about him familiar enough to connect him to Spider-Man? Was it his voice? But he spoke in a different tone and his voice was so generic… Was it the body type or the posture? It couldn’t be, not with the baggy clothes and trying to seem small. Was it his witty personality and sense of humor? Maybe. He wanted to be a total bore, but that didn’t work out – his mouth just spit out the first thing on his mind.

Pretend you’re not Spider-Man… Pretend you’re not Spider-Man… What would not-Spider-Man say?

“Well, I’ve been working here for a few months now…”

Tony considered it for a few seconds, still staring, then shook his head.

“No. Before that?”

Houston, we have a problem.

Now, he could lie and say that they had never met. This option had very dangerous consequences if Tony didn’t believe him.

Or he could tell the truth and become a bit more recognizable in Tony’s memory. Not just weird T-shirts, but also weird lore. Peter had it all. Tony would probably get distracted enough not to follow the hunch.

Peter hesitated before saying, “We did meet. Kind of. But it was long ago. I doubt you even remember this, sir.”

“Try me.”

After the recent events, Peter didn’t like this particular line.

“O-okay. It was… the Stark Expo. The one in 2010.”

Tony's face twisted into a grimace. “You were there? Sorry about that. We… didn't get the best reviews that year.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Mr Stark,” Peter immediately protested. “You didn't do this. And sure, the day was technically ruined, but it was a cool story. I was at that famous expo, right?”

He intentionally didn't mention getting saved.

“Right… So, when did we meet? You must have been a child back then.” 

Okay, now he had to mention it.

“I was getting attacked by a drone and you came by, saved my life and flew off again,” Peter explained as casually as possible. 

Tony's eyes widened in disbelief. “This is a cool story to you? You almost died?”

“I mean… yeah? My aunt and uncle were freaking out, but I was amazed. That was the coolest thing that's ever happened to me. When I told my friend, he agreed. You even said ‘good work’ to me!”

“I… did?” Tony's eyebrows furrowed in concentration. “What did you do?”

“Nothing really.” His gaze drifted to a nearby wall as he recalled the day. “But I had this Iron Man mask and glove, so when the drone focused on me I kind of aimed at it with my hand… and then you shot it from behind me. It was almost like I was the one to destroy it.”

Not everything was this clear, most of the chaos bleeding into each other and creating a mess, but this one event always stood at the forefront of his memory.

When Peter looked back at Tony to check his reaction, all traces of confusion were gone from the man's face. 

“That was you?!” he yelled.

Peter blinked. “You remember that?”

“Do I fucking remember that…” Tony muttered under his breath. “Yes, I remember. I can't believe I'm meeting the kid that almost got murdered at my expo again.”

Peter didn't know whether to cringe or pout at the thought.

“Hey…” He scratched the back of his neck. “It wasn't that bad…”

Face grim, Tony shook his head. “No, it was worse.” 

The finality in his words made Peter’s gut churn.

If Tony wasn't there to save him that day, he would most definitely die. Someone would find his dead body, still in the Iron Man mask. His aunt and uncle would mourn him. His tragic passing would certainly make the news.

But… it didn't, because he was still alive.

“What happened, happened,” Peter said, channeling all the wisdom his eighteen year old self could manage. “No use crying over spilt milk.”

“True.” Tony let out air through his nose heavily, then perked up again. “So, Iron Man cosplay? And now you work for me?”

“Yeah…?”

“I must be your favorite Avenger then,” Tony continued and it finally clicked.

Of freaking course. Peter’s desire to tease the man grew stronger again.

“Hmm…”

“...Really?”

The corners of his mouth twitched, faced with Tony’s unamused stare.

“I mean, there are just so many good choices–”

“Like who?” Tony cut him off, offended, but Peter wasn’t finished.

“–But yes, I guess that's true. And I'm definitely not saying it just because I'm under duress.”

They stood there in silence, eyes boring into him, but it didn’t feel dangerous anymore. It felt… fun.

And just when the man opened his mouth to say something…

“Mr Stark! Could I have a moment of your time?” a frantic voice called out.

A scientist was walking towards them at a brisk pace, a few thick folders in her hands, hair in a messy bleach blond ponytail, and glasses askew on her face, somewhat covering the massive eyebags. 

Taking a step back with his barely touched but thankfully still hot coffee, Peter let the woman monopolize Tony’s attention. She looked like she needed it. And he needed out. 

With one last smile and a nod, Peter walked away. Tony gave him a nod back and greeted the woman with practiced charisma.

Distraction successful. Help arrived, as unaware as it was of its role.

Now he just had to hope for the best.

Chapter Text

Something was flying through the air.

“Think fast!”

Peter’s hand shot up without looking, effortlessly catching the object in his hand, while his attention and other hand were still on the vending machine. Blinking, he opened his hand and looked at the… candy bar?

“What’s this?” he asked, turning to look at the owner of the company, strolling towards him like he was taking a relaxing walk in the park.

“This? Some food. Living on pure coffee isn’t good for you, kiddo.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Do as I say, not as I do.”

“What a poetic way to say ‘I’m a hypocrite’.”

Tony raised an eyebrow and Peter remembered who he was speaking to.

“I meant… You have such a beautiful way with words, Mr Stark, sir. I wouldn’t be able to say it so well, that’s what I meant!”

“Sure,” Tony drawled. “By the way, I wanted to ask you a question.”

Me? Uh oh.

“Yes?” Peter smiled awkwardly.

“You were on a field trip to Oscorp when you were fourteen. Is that correct?”

Peter’s mouth dropped open. 

What. The. Fuck.

An air of satisfaction surrounded Tony as he stood there, watching Peter’s stumped expression.

“There were pictures on your school’s website, not to mention your classmates’ social media posts,” Tony continued, looking straight into Peter’s eyes. “Quite a coincidence, wouldn’t you say?”

Peter forced himself to think. 

That was not proof, just speculation. He didn’t have to just stand there and take it! He needed to fight back! Make Tony regret ever uttering those words out loud!

“Mr S-Stark…” he stammered. “I’ve heard rumors, but I… I didn’t know it was this bad…”

Tony frowned. “This bad?”

“Y-yeah.” Peter nodded, squirming in place. “Your dislike for Oscorp… Am I– Am I getting fired? For going on a field trip when I was fourteen years old? I was just a kid! My school organized a field trip so I went! I swear it’s not because I like them or anything… and I’m not a spy either… I know you don’t like Oscorp, sir, but please understand that–”

“Jeez!” Tony shook his head with a heavy sigh. “Stop spiralling. You’re not getting fired. That’s not what I was talking about.”

Peter’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Oh, good. Please don’t scare me like that again, Mr Stark. My heart can’t take it.”

“Don’t talk like an old man.” Tony rolled his eyes. 

Don’t talk like a girl fishing for gossip, Peter thought, but kept his mouth shut.

Tony continued, “I think we both know what I was talking about.”

Would he be so vague if he was sure? Tony was keeping the conversation safe and open to interpretation.

Peter made a confused face. He wasn’t about to immediately fold. “Uh… So what are we talking about?”

Tony gave him a look. Nervous but confident in his choice, Peter didn’t let his little lost child facade slip.

They looked at each other for twenty very, very long seconds before Peter spoke up again, uncertainty coloring his voice. “Mr Stark?”

Tony squinted harder, then leaned back. “How about we go somewhere more private? Here, let’s go to an elevator.”

“Yeah, that sounds extremely suspicious, sir…” Peter muttered, but let himself be guided to an elevator that definitely wasn’t intended for regular employees.

Running away now would not help.

They entered the elevator and the door closed behind them.

“So…” Tony turned to stare straight at Peter. ”Spider-Man, huh?”

Thankfully, Peter expected a more decisive move on Tony’s part and didn’t lose his shit. Yet.

“Spider-Man?” he repeated, tilting his head a few degrees to the side.

Would Spider-Man tilt his head like an innocent puppy? Actually, he would. Because he was Peter. But Tony didn’t need to know that.

“Yes.” Tony’s eyes bore into Peter like they could see through him, right into his soul. “Spider-Man.”

But Peter didn’t react to it, no matter how much he wanted the floor to swallow him. “What about him, sir?”

“Tell me, what do you know about Spider-Man?”

Starting with the basics. Alright, he could do it.

“About as much as anyone living in New York, I guess.” Peter shrugged. The elevator was starting to feel claustrophobic with the weight of Tony’s attention on him. “Don’t you know him better, Mr Stark? You’re both superheroes.”

It would be more accurate to call Peter an unaffiliated vigilante, but he didn’t want to give Tony another clue by being so pointlessly specific.

But when Tony smirked and leaned against the wall, Peter suddenly had a bad feeling.

“Oh, I do and I’ve talked to him recently. Turns out he works for me, right here in Stark Industries. Crazy, right?” Tony chuckled. Despite playing nonchalant, he did not stop watching Peter. “Apparently, he got his powers at Oscorp. It happened about four years ago, so I checked every employee of mine that had any connection to Oscorp. Your field trip took place shortly before the first Spider-Man sightings. What a coincidence.”

Peter froze.

How? He didn’t say any of that, so how did Tony figure it out? Was his cryptic Oscorp comment really all it took? That was bullshit. No normal person paid so much attention.

Then again, Tony was in equal parts not normal and nosy.

Agh. Peter and his big stupid mouth…

But really, a field trip? Did he not have any actual Oscorp employees to check?

Relaxing just enough to look more like a wild rabbit and less like a deer staring into the headlights at three am, he asked, “Are you… trying to say I had something to do with Spider-Man’s powers, Mr Stark?”

“Okay, let’s cut to the chase. I’m saying you’re Spider-Man.”

Uh oh. Deflect.

Peter made sure to look appropriately concerned. “Excuse me, sir, but are you feeling okay…?”

“I’m feeling great. Don’t deflect.”

He knows!

That was awkward.

“I’m not… deflecting,” Peter spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. “That theory you just said, Mr Stark… is very… interesting? But I don’t know anything about it. And it really is just a theory. Do you have… any actual evidence? Of any of that? By any chance?”

Asking for evidence was quite confrontational, so Peter did his best to sound gentle. If Tony had it, then it was too late anyway. On the other hand – if Tony did not have any evidence, Peter didn’t have to confirm anything.

Tony pushed himself off of the wall of the elevator and took a few steps closer, lifting a singular finger like he was about to start a countdown.

“Exhibit one,” he began, sounding very confident. Too confident. “My evidence of Spider-Man working for me and how he got his powers is that he'd told me himself. There’s no better evidence than a statement straight from the man himself, am I right?”

Peter couldn’t help but pull back for a moment, dropping the polite confusion in favor of an ‘are you fucking kidding me’ expression. He didn’t even care about the triumphant smirk on Tony’s face.

He had never said any of that! 

“Oh really. Wow,” he deadpanned. “Well, I don’t recall ever saying anything like that, therefore I cannot be Spider-Man. Open and shut case.”

“Don’t worry.” Tony grinned. “Memory loss happens to the best of us.”

“And the worst,” Peter added, looking pointedly at Tony. “But can I get some proof of Spider-Man saying that? An unedited recording will do. I cannot trust hearsay, Mr Stark. On top of that I’d like to point out that Spider-Man is clearly secretive about his identity, wearing a mask and all, so anything you’ve heard from him is most definitely a lie.”

Tony cleared his throat. “Let’s talk about exhibit two.” He whipped out his phone and after a few seconds of tapping, turned it around to show Peter a video. “Here, Spider-Man can be seen swinging into an alleyway at 10:49.” The footage showed exactly that, then sped up considerably. “And would you look at that, who exited the same alley at 10:53?”

The video slowed down again just to show Peter doing exactly that.

And that was… a bit more troubling.

Too bad he couldn’t plead the fifth.

“Alleyways are great shortcuts,” Peter improvised with a shrug. “You wouldn’t know, being rich and flying in your Iron Man suit, sir, but us peasants need them sometimes.”

“And what about Spider-Man?”

“What about him?” Peter asked. “He probably swung some other way and you’re not showing that. Maybe there were no cameras where he went. But even so – he’s always in Queens, I live in Queens, we will statistically cross paths at some point, Mr Stark.”

The man surveyed him for a few seconds, fingertip unconsciously drumming against the edge of his phone.

“I wouldn’t think anything of it before, I wouldn’t even notice it, but with everything I know now?” Tony asked, eyebrows raised high. “No way. Multiple times, and all of them in alleyways?”

Peter blinked. In response, Tony showed him another video. And then another. 

And then–

“Alright!” Peter raised a hand in front of himself. He was usually careful about changing in public places but sometimes he had no time or choice, hence this situation. “It really doesn’t show that I’m Spider-Man though, sir. It just shows that I was in the same location, for a very short time.”

“And what could you have done in such a short time frame?”

“Accidentally cross paths.”

“Try again.”

“Make out?”

“What.” Tony’s face went blank.

“Make out with Spider-Man?” Peter repeated with no conviction and not much hope in his voice. “I mean, it’s possible, right?”

Tony blinked slowly. “That… would be a whole different issue. Half-bestiality?”

“Ew.” Peter cringed. “Are you speaking like this to Black Widow, sir?”

“Let’s not mention her,” Tony hurried to say, like she was about to pop out of the ceiling of the elevator and beat him up. Honestly, Peter could see it happening. “We’re talking about you right now. And! I don’t have any footage of you entering those alleyways.”

On his next patrol, Peter would have to seriously consider destroying all forms of monitoring in the city. Clearly, they weren’t doing anything useful.

“Cameras are kinda spotty in those parts of New York, so no wonder.” 

There, an excuse that was actually true.

“You pay attention to the number and quality of cameras, huh?” Tony drawled.

Peter crossed his arms over his chest, desperate to put some distance between them. “I’d say I pay the normal amount of attention. The same amount that an average citizen does.”

“An average citizen would be scared to walk through shady alleyways,” Tony shot back.

“Well, we have Spider-Man in Queens so it’s not so dangerous anymore.”

“It’s even less dangerous when you’re Spider-Man.”

“Too bad I’m not him.” Peter tried to sound genuine. He really did. “I would feel sooo safe.”

Tony gave him a look that screamed ‘it’s not working’. “So you’re not gonna admit it.”

Once again, Peter tried to look politely confused. “I don’t have anything to admit, though?”

“Because I don’t have conclusive evidence.”

“Well…” Peter shrugged awkwardly. “You don’t, sir.”

“I could definitely get some,” Tony mused, “but I decided to give you a chance first before we move on to more… extreme methods.”

That didn’t bode well. 

In all seriousness, Peter was amazed that Tony didn’t take it this far at the start of their acquaintance. He was the type to. But Peter was good at being slippery and there were not enough leads – after all, the city had a population of over 8 million inhabitants. 

Eventually, they started working together, protecting New York against all kinds of danger. And when they got closer, Tony understood how much value Spider-Man put on his privacy and because he had proven trustworthy, the man respected it.

…Other than an occasional question or a reminder that he could reveal himself and Tony wouldn’t tell anyone.

Getting a hunch that the masked vigilante was working in his own company, right under his nose was apparently a good enough reason to break the status quo. Oh, and the fact that Peter basically told him to ‘go right ahead’. Maybe he should have plainly asked him not to investigate? Sure, it would be as good as admitting it… but feigning confidence didn’t work out that well in hindsight.

Peter didn’t even know if he could blame the man. If their roles were reversed, he knew he’d be going crazy too.

“Extreme?” Peter repeated.

“Like 24/7 stalking,” Tony said like he was talking about the weather. “Or stealing a sample of your DNA to test if you're enhanced.”

Peter’s jaw and hands dropped at the matter of fact delivery. “That’s so illegal. I could totally sue you.”

Tony rolled his eyes. “I have good lawyers. But if you want to tell the world why you’re suing me, be my guest.”

Ugh. This man was so incredibly annoying and egocentric. Why couldn't he understand the meaning of secret identity?

Another annoying thing was the fact that… Peter kind of wanted them to know who he was. To become a real part of the group and stop being that one guy who never showed his face. 

But it scared him. 

Once he did it, he could never take it back. The possibility of putting his aunt and friends in danger was making him sick to his stomach. It was so much safer to continue as they were – the Avengers and the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. A strictly professional relationship. For the most part.

Frustrated, Peter crossed his arms and glared at Tony. 

The man didn’t seem to care.

“Come on, kid. I figured it out already anyway. What’s the point in denying?”

The comment did nothing to make Peter feel less irritated. “If you figured it out, then what’s the point in me saying anything? You know best, sir.”

“Yes, I do,” Tony confirmed. Peter rolled his eyes. “And I’ll take that as a confirmation.”

A smile appeared on Peter’s lips, half-tense and half-sweet. “You can take things however you want, Mr Stark, that doesn’t change reality.”

The look Tony gave him was flat as a board. “Reality is that you’re a coward.”

Ouch. That stung. Right in the feels.

“I’m not a coward,” Peter denied vehemently, recent thoughts about being scared for his close people conveniently forgotten. “Would a coward do the things I do?”

“Like what?”

His mouth was already opening when he had to pause before he said something stupid. After a few more seconds he decided on, “Like follow you to an elevator, sir.”

“Very funny,” Tony huffed, then gave him a challenging look. “Do you know what a brave person would do? Reveal their identity on national television.”

So typical.

“I’m not an idiot, sir.” The words escaped him before he could think, making him flush and lower his eyes when he realized that he’d just called his boss stupid.

Hearing an answering chuckle, he lifted his gaze back. Thankfully, Tony didn’t seem fazed. 

“How about revealing your identity in a very secure elevator to a highly trustworthy person then?”

Peter pressed his lips together, trying not to smile. “Are you talking about FRIDAY?”

“She’s not a person, technically.” After a moment, he added, “But if you hold her in such high regard, you can confess to her.”

“Confess?” Peter repeated. “I’m not in love with her. No offense, Miss FRIDAY.”

“None taken, Mr Parker,” the voice from the ceiling answered.

“Great, they’re bonding,” Tony muttered under his breath. Then he jolted like a lightbulb lit up above his head. “That reminds me! I’ve decided to make you my personal intern. It’s a much better job than slaving away on the lower floors. And much more prestigious too. Of course, if you ever wanna go down there, you still can. I can’t guarantee I’ll be available everyday. I’m a busy man.”

Once again, Peter was left speechless and without a clue on how to react.

A personal intern? To Tony Stark? Iron Man himself? He wanted him to work right next to him?

If someone told young Peter that a day like this would come, Peter would either laugh in their face or squeal in excitement.

But…

“Mr Stark. You can’t do that,” Peter managed to get out, barely not stuttering. “This… is not fair. It’s nepotism.”

Tony smirked. “How is it nepotism?”

It was nepotism, because Tony was offering him the job on the basis of being Spider-Man, obviously! Not on actual merit! There were so many more experienced employees, but he decided to offer it to someone he knew! How did he not know what nepotism was?

Oh.

Wait…

“Did I say nepotism?” Peter smiled awkwardly, trying to hide his mistake, but visibly struggling. “Sorry, auto-correct. I meant despotism.”

“What the fuck does–”

Peter cut him off before he could finish. “What I’m trying to say is, this is unfair to other employees!”

“Nah,” Tony said so simply and confidently that Peter could only stand there, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “The guy in charge of you, whatever his name was, he was singing your praises to the heavens. And I should have found an intern a long time ago, I just didn’t want anyone in my workshop.”

Peter was lost. Completely and utterly lost.

What was happening?!

His brain decided to get stuck on the easiest part of the whole speech.

“His name is Dr Miller.”

Tony rolled his eyes, not even surprised at the deflection anymore. “Wow, you must be reading my mind, that’s exactly the answer I wanted!”

Heat rising to his face, Peter lowered his eyes to the floor again. 

But he couldn’t help it, okay? It was so deeply ingrained, like the same instinct that stopped people from putting their hands in a burning campfire.

He forced himself to think about what Tony said.

“So,” he began slowly, “now you want someone.”

“High time,” the man confirmed. “Come on! The wage is much better.”

Actually…

In the sea of pros and cons, that factor had the biggest chance of convincing him to take the job. Money. Him and Aunt May weren’t doing that great. They were surviving, yes, but it would only take one unfortunate event and their carefully crafted semblance of peace would be out the window, gone with the wind. Everyone knew how big the cost of living was these days. Especially in a city like New York. Peter had his education and enhanced metabolism to thank for making an even bigger mess of their limited funds.

So the offer was very tempting, whether Tony stalked that aspect of his life yet or not.

The elevator was quiet. Blood was humming under his skin. “...How much better?”

Tony considered the question for a moment.

“Actually, no idea. It’s not like I’ve ever had a personal intern before.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “We can make it whatever. How about two times?”

“Two times?!”

“Three?”

“Three?!”

“Four?”

“Stop! Time out, time out!” Frantically, Peter made a T shape with his hands. They were not getting anywhere! “I’m not asking you to say a higher number, Mr Stark! I’m questioning your sanity!”

“I know. I just like saying them.”

Peter could only stand there and look at the man. “I… I have no words.”

Humming knowingly, Tony mused, “I bet Spider-Man would have some.”

Peter narrowed his eyes, looking at him with palpable suspicion. “Maybe.”

“What do you think he would say?” Tony continued, the corner of his mouth rising despite his efforts to keep a straight face.

Now, that was easy.

“That his job is saving the citizens of New York and he doesn’t need another one,” Peter answered without a second of hesitation. After a few more seconds, just to see Tony’s reaction, he added, “Or maybe he’d punch you.”

The way Tony’s face twisted in disbelief and then mock outrage was very satisfying. 

“I don’t think Spider-Man would punch someone for offering him a job,” he disagreed, sounding more than a little insulted.

“You think you know Spider-Man better than me?” Peter challenged, almost rolling his eyes. Oh. Wait. He didn’t even admit it yet! “The guy who was in the same alleyway as him two times?” Much better. Disaster averted. 

“Two times?” Tony made a face and shook his head. “I can’t compete with that.” Then his expression cleared and became serious again. “So, about the job.”

This again? It took a lot out of Peter not to wince. 

The problem wasn’t the job itself. Being Tony Stark’s personal intern was probably the best job on the planet and everyone in the building would sell a kidney to get it. The problem was everything that came with it.

Spider-Man wasn’t an Avenger. Instead, he kept to himself, independent and always there for the little guy. Peter Parker worked for Stark Industries, true, but as long as Tony didn’t know about his secret identity, there was no conflict of interest. 

So naturally, now that he knew, Peter was dreading what changes it could cause in their dynamic. He wanted to keep his day job and extracurricular endeavors separate. 

“Mr Stark…” The words were careful, slow. He didn’t know what to say.

Before he could make up his mind, Tony cut him off. “Actually, why am I even asking you? I’ve already made my decision. Let’s go up to the lab. I’ll let you have a test trial.”

The elevator moved.

“A trial?” He knew the word well, but somehow, it tasted unfamiliar.

“Yeah,” Tony confirmed, “to see if you like it. Spoiler: you will like it.”

Of course he would like it, that wasn’t the problem. Peter couldn’t wrap his head around something completely different.

“But… w-why?”

The elevator stopped and the door opened. They stood there in silence for a few long moments before Tony spoke up.

“Because I’m not getting any younger and I’m in just the right position to nurture talent. The next generation has to have some hope too. Don’t make my life any harder, alright?”

Huh.

It seemed… honest. And something about it made a crack in Peter’s walls. It didn’t obliterate them, not yet, but… it was a start.

Despite his reluctance, Peter let Tony whisk him away and… he did actually like it. The lab was extremely cool. 

All the Iron Man suits, all the robots… He couldn’t believe he was actually there. Him, the real him, the simple nerd, Peter Parker. Not Spider-Man, climbing the walls and stopping moving cars. Even though the reason Tony invited him was because he found out about his secret… but he could ignore it for now. 

Working with Avengers on and off did nothing to subside his fan tendencies. It was taking everything in Peter not to start gushing.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad to be known. 

Not by everyone. But this was fine. 

Tony gave Peter a tour of the workshop and it was getting progressively harder and harder not to stare. Oh, how he wished to have something similar. But no, he had to make his tech in his bedroom or at school. It was either dumpster diving or stealing school supplies. 

One day…

At last, Tony leaned on the workbench, looking very satisfied with himself.

“So, how is it?” he asked like someone who already knew the answer.

And Peter couldn’t just let him have it.

“What, want me to compliment you and your billionaire setup?” Peter guessed.

“What I’m hearing is that it’s worth compliments.”

Looking around, Peter let out a noncommittal hum. “I’d make a better one if I was as rich as you.”

“Wanna bet?”

Peter glanced back at Tony and saw the challenge in his eyes.

“No, no, no,” he immediately denied. He wasn’t going to play this game. “The lab is amazing. The best I’ve ever seen.”

“And you want to work here.” Tony’s words were like nails trying to pin him down without a chance of escape. 

“Totally!” he chirped, voice heavy with sarcasm as he rolled his eyes.

Not sure how to take it, Tony measured him with a look that made it impossible for Peter to keep a straight face. Slowly, the corners of his mouth lifted until he was beaming at Tony.

The man watched him for a few seconds before sighing. “I have a feeling it’s gonna be hard to stay mad at you without that mask.”

This time, Peter didn't bother responding, but his smile got even brighter.

Chapter Text

The streets of New York were littered with fragments of destroyed buildings and vehicles as Peter observed them from his vantage point.

Collateral damage was a bitch. 

As Spider-Man, Peter always strived to minimize it to the best of his ability, but it wasn’t always possible. Human lives were still the top priority, so he’d gladly trade someone’s car for a life… and hope it was insured.

Their latest battle was finished, all the enemies defeated, and the dust was settling. Scanning the surroundings, Peter listened to the comms absent-mindedly. 

“–Yep, all clear. So, guys, wanna get some dinner?”

The answer was a tremendous ‘yes’. Everyone had their own idea of what they should eat and Peter smiled under his mask, listening to the bickering.

“What about you, Spider-Man?” Captain America asked.

Normally, he’d gladly accept, but he already had plans with Aunt May. “I’m kinda busy. Maybe next time?”

“Next time,” Tony repeated and it sounded like a promise.

It was good, the way their relationship changed in the recent weeks as they got to know each other for real. No masks, no lies. And Peter might play it cool, but Iron Man was still his favourite Avenger, no doubt about it.

Spending time with Tony felt familiar. It reminded him of evenings in his own apartment, doing homework with his uncle, watching movies, getting excited about how cool superheroes were… 

Just… being happy.

“How did your search go, Tony?” Hawkeye asked suddenly.

“What search?” Wanda chimed in before the man in question could answer.

“Tony got it into his head that Spider-Man is working for him and decided to track him down.”

“Oh, yeah, there was something like that…”

“And I was right!” Tony bragged and Peter wanted to facepalm.

Was there really a need to announce it so openly? They were in the company of Avengers. There were literal spies around them! They didn’t need more information about him!

“Oh?” Natasha’s voice was mildly curious.

“The plot thickens.”

“Damn, Spidey, is that true?”

Peter shook his head even though nobody was even looking at him. “No off-topic questions.”

“But this is on-topic?” Peter could almost hear Clint raising his eyebrow.

“Is that time you walked into a glass door last week and smashed your nose on-topic?”

A gasp. “How the fuck do you know about that?!”

Being on good terms with FRIDAY was a blessing. He wasn’t about to share his sources and lose the advantage.

Tony chose that moment to step in. “Stop pestering my employee if you don’t want to get blasted.”

Disgruntled mumbling filled the comms.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop for now, jeez… But I’ll circle back later…”

Peter sincerely hoped everyone would forget about it.

Or not?

Ugh. He didn’t know.

Being Tony’s personal intern was fun.

It was like all those conversations they used to have, but this time they actually did the stuff instead of just talking. And Peter was getting paid for it! 

What an amazing, amazing scam.

The normal internship was already so good, and now… He transcended. ‘Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life’, some people said. Peter felt that. 

He was allowed to do whatever he wanted, within reason. No blowing up the building was the main rule. Did that really have to be said? Like he would do that… Tony would probably forgive him if he did, though. He was a chill guy. But that wouldn’t happen to begin with, because he wasn’t Tony.

When Tony was free, they invented together or worked on their own projects. They talked and listened to music and ate unholy amounts of takeout. Well, Peter ate most of it because of his metabolism, but Tony watched and joked that he was like a black hole for food.

When Tony was busy, Peter could still work in his lab, but he sometimes liked to go down, check out what his old coworkers were doing, and help them out if possible.

They were currently working on upgrading Peter’s webshooters. No more dumpster-quality do-it-yourself mosaic of scavenged parts that fit together well, thank you very much, and no, they weren't bad at all, Tony, just budget-friendly. The old toys were about to go on their deserved retirement and give place to new and shiny ones, courtesy of Iron Man himself.

It took Peter some time to give up any pretense and stop deflecting or calling Tony ‘sir’ (unless it was for sarcastic purposes), but now that he did, he still had some questions he wasn’t sure how to ask.

Upgrading his gear was a good excuse to bring it up. Not to mention – brand new webshooters? Who would say ‘no’ to that? Hello?

“I don’t know how you’ve been managing with those… Didn’t they ever get stuck?”

The worst part was that Peter couldn’t even deny it, as much as he wanted to defend them. They didn’t deserve this treatment after serving him well and protecting the city for multiple years. “Well… If they did, I would just fix them.”

“And what if they did while you were swinging around, genius? Or fighting?”

“That’s why I have two? Duh?”

Tony shook his head in exasperation and Peter didn’t want to wait any longer for the perfect segue. Best rip the bandaid off quickly, before the thought distracted him too much.

“So. How’d you figure it out?”

Looking up from the workbench, Tony smirked. “About your identity.”

“No, about my grocery list. Yes, about my identity.”

“You’re curious, aren’t you?”

“Get to the point, old man.” Peter put his elbows on the table and his chin on his hands, staring Tony down. “You’ll die before you finish the story and no one will ever know the truth.”

“Rude,” Tony commented without an ounce of heat in his voice. “As we both know… my criteria were incorrect. Yes, I’m talking about your age. I checked the profiles, eliminated people, investigated them in any possible way I could, came up with nothing, changed my criteria and started all over again, still nothing, started again… and so on. Very annoying and time-consuming, might I tell you.”

Peter smiled like the epitome of innocence and kindness. “Glad to hear that.”

“I’m sure you are, you gremlin. Anyway, I decided that the situation needed a more direct approach. I talked to people. Thought you’d slip up or I’d recognize you.”

“Which didn’t happen,” Peter interrupted.

“Kind of did.”

“No, it really didn’t. You let it go. You had no idea.”

“I didn’t have proof,” Tony stressed, turning a screw in his fingers. “Which I acquired later.”

Peter pursed his lips. “Alright, alright, but why?”

“Maybe if you didn’t interrupt me all the time, you’d know, you little bug.”

“I’m not a bug,” Peter immediately denied. “I’m a feature.”

Tony just stared straight at him without a word, but none were needed. His point got proven in a fraction of a second.

Sighing, Peter made a show of zipping his mouth, locking it with an imaginary key and throwing it over his shoulder.

“That’s better. Where was I? Oh, yeah, my trips to the lower levels weren’t as helpful as I had hoped. And there were so. Many. People.” The man sighed, pausing his work on the webshooters as he recalled the events. “So I changed my approach again. Decided to track you down based on something specific to Spider-Man and I remembered that one suspicious comment you’ve made about Oscorp. So I cross-checked all of our employees and any type of connection to Oscorp, no matter how small it was.”

Even though Peter already knew where it was going, he couldn’t stop the glare from appearing on his face. A field trip, really? This was such bullshit.

“You didn’t exactly admit it, but Oscorp is known for questionable research and I had a feeling they… had something to do with your powers,” Tony continued, picking up the tools again, “so I checked everything before the first appearance of Spider-Man. I saw your profile appear. It wasn’t the only one, but something clicked. Even though I didn’t want to believe it. A fourteen year old, fighting crime on the streets of New York in colorful pajamas?”

“It’s a respectable suit. I had a budget.”

“No talking. You threw the key out.”

Peter rolled his eyes.

“Anyway, I had this feeling about the nerdy T-shirt boy. I followed it. Everything fit like a glove. The end of the story.”

“Thanks, I hate it.”

To be reduced to a mere ‘nerdy T-shirt boy’? That was the real tragedy. 

Especially considering the fact that he was wearing his ‘I make terrible science puns periodically’ T-shirt today…

“No need to be dramatic.”

Peter just gave him a look. “Says you.”

“Don’t do anything I would do,” Tony replied solemnly. After a moment, he added, “Or anything I wouldn’t do…”

“I–” Peter went silent. “I think you should stop giving people life advice if that’s the only thing you have to say…”

Their silly argument was ended by the sound of FRIDAY speaking.

“Boss, Miss Romanov is asking for permission to enter the lab.”

The world stopped. And Peter’s heart too. It was like the record scratch sound effect.

Should he run? Hide? Play dead?

There was no time to think!

“Ready to meet her, kid?” Tony asked like his intern wasn’t having a crisis right before his eyes.

“Wait,” Peter choked out, “you’re not gonna tell her, right?”

His mentor barely shrugged, watching him like he was a live comedy show or something. “If I know, then she probably knows too.”

That did nothing to console Peter. It actually did the exact opposite.

“If she knows, then it’s because you bragged about it to every Avenger around for no reason!” Peter hissed like a cat sprayed with water.

Tony chuckled and turned his attention back to the project at hand, but positioned himself just so he could easily watch both the door and Peter if chose to look up. “Let her in, FRIDAY. Let’s see what she wants.”

It was at this moment that Peter realized his original webshooters were right there on the table, so he quickly swiped them and chucked them into the nearest drawer. The new ones were still a work in progress, not in their final form, so he let them be, hoping that Natasha didn’t have expert knowledge in unconventional inventions.

Speaking of Natasha, Peter’s enhanced hearing could hear every perfectly balanced step and every calm beat of Black Widow’s heart before she even came into view. She walked like a ghost, and yet was so striking in appearance, with her bright red hair and extraordinary beauty. Something about her screamed danger and forced Peter to always be on his guard. Sure, they were allies, but that could change any day. 

He had his secrets and she had hers – not that he would ever ask her about them. He liked his head attached to his body.

Or maybe he was being too harsh and she was a marshmallow inside.

“What’s up?” Tony asked casually.

She lifted her hand, showing a thoroughly demolished… weapon? Probably a weapon. “Can you fix it for me?”

“Sure,” Tony replied, pointing towards the workbench. “Just put it on the table, we’ll take care of it and let you know when it’s ready.”

“We?” she repeated, now looking directly at Peter.

“Oh, yeah. That’s my intern. Very talented, so don’t worry, he won’t ruin anything. It’d be a challenge to ruin it any harder, to be honest. Not that I’d turn down a challenge like that…”

If Tony was actually a good boss, he’d tell Natasha to stop staring at Peter like a predator staring at their prey. Peter’s heart was about to give out.

Okay, fuck it. He was going to greet her.

“Uhm, hello, Miss Romanov, it’s nice to meet you, ma’am?”

For a few terrifying seconds, she didn’t speak. The silence was suffocating.

And then…

“Hello, Mr Parker.”

Fuck. 

“Are you keeping an eye on my employees?” Tony asked, eyebrows raised in mild amusement.

“It’s a recent promotion. I found it interesting,” she commented with a nonchalant shrug and with every word Peter felt more and more fucked.

She totally knew.

Every cell in his body wanted to jump out the window from the very top of the tower.

“Well, is there anything else?” Tony prodded. A clear suggestion to leave more than a genuine question.

“That’s all,” she replied and threw another glance at Peter. “I look forward to meeting you again.”

And then she turned around and left.

As soon as she was out the door, Peter groaned and hid his face in his arms, trying to become one with the surface of the table.

“Come on, it wasn’t that bad…” Tony consoled him.

Peter only groaned louder and more dramatically.

“Told you she’d know.”

“That doesn’t make it better!”

“Best get used to the feeling. I doubt that’s the end of it.”

Knowing Parker Luck, it definitely wasn’t.

Peter burrowed his head deeper into his arms, whole body buzzing with strange anticipation.

Maybe he was actually going crazy, because… 

As terrible as it was… a part of him couldn’t wait.