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1. Training Session (Three days after Vex and Peter meet)
Vex had been in the training room for three hours. Three hours of music blaring behind closed door and blasts echoing through the thick steel walls. Peter had been in the workshop with Mr. Stark a few rooms down when the music started playing. When he questioned his mentor about it, Mr. Stark simply waved the question away and told him his daughter did it often.
"She uses the sound-waves from the music to create her blasts. That's her power. She turns sound into weapons. Or tools depending on what she's using it for. Now, hand me that Allen wrench over there."
That's what Mr. Stark had told him. Vex uses the sound-waves and he left it at that. But Peter wanted to see how her power worked. Which is why he was currently standing just inside the training room, watching the girl before him preform tricks and flips that would make seasoned acrobats jealous, all while also making use of her power. Peter stood in silence, watching her go through this routine like she had done it a million times before. When she finally stopped moving and looked over the wreckage, Peter finally spoke.
"How long did it take you to learn that?" He asked. Vex jumped, sending a blast in his direction. He yelps, shooting up a web from his gauntlet and pulls himself up towards the ceiling, barley avoiding being blasted back into the wall.
"What the fuck are you doing watching me like some creep?" Vex snaps, scowling at the boy. Peter flushes, lowering himself to the ground.
"I just wanted to see how you use your power. I've never heard of someone turning sound-waves into weapons and I just thought it sounded really cool. I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable and I definitely should have asked-"
"Do you ever shut up?" Vex snapped, but Peter could see the redness on her cheeks. She grabs her phone and speaker and storms out of the rooms and Peter realizes something. Vexara Stark looked fucking pretty when she blushes.
2. The Library (Five Days after Vex and Peter meet)
Peter Parker has never heard of a library inside a house but apparently that's something Tony Stark has because why not? He's wandering through the shelves when he comes across a small nook in the back. And of course Vex is there. She has headphones on, her phone laying beside her as she crochets something. It looks like a scarf. She's humming softly along to her music, singing the words under her breath.
Peter stands there for a few minutes, wondering if Vex would notice him. When it becomes clear the girl is too absorbed in her work to notice the other presence, Peter goes back to roaming through the library and seeing the different books Mr. Stark has in here. But one thing stays in the back of his mind for the rest of the day.
Vex has a really pretty singing voice. And Peter is going to try to here it again.
3. The Injury (A week after Vex and Peter meet, a few hours after she gets injured.)
If there's one thing Peter has learned bout Vexara Stark, it's that she is stubborn. She does things her way or she doesn't do them at all. Which is why Peter isn't surprised to see Vex forcing her way down the stairs with her crutches and nearly tumbling down the stairs twice. Peter hesitates before walking up the rest of the stairs to meet Vex halfway.
"Vexara, would you like some help?" He's scared of Vex, sure. But she's clearly in pain and Peter isn't going to let her suffer just because he's intimidated by the girl.
"Does it look like I need help, spider?" She snaps. Peter opens his mouth, the Vex scowls. "On second thought, don't answer that." She goes to take another step and would have most definitely tumbled down the stairs if Peter hadn't caught her her as her crutch slipped.
"Careful there." He says, arms wrapped firmly around her as he steadies her back up. "Can I at least help you down the stairs?" Vex frowns, then looks at the rest of the stairs she had to get down and sighs.
"Yeah, sure." She mutters, leaning into Peter as he helps her down the stairs. And Peter realizes that he likes being the one she's leaning on, even if he's her only option. Maybe one day, she might go to him without being forced to.
4. Movie Night (Two weeks after Vex and Peter meet, a week after Vex is injured)
Peter Parker never once thought Vexara Millard Stark would enjoy musicals. Of all the movie genres out there, a musical was not something he envisioned the girl beside him liking. She had nearly dragged Peter to the living room, despite her knee still being injured, and demanded he sit on the couch.
"Tony and Pepper aren't here so you're doing movie night with me. I'll chose the first movie, you can chose the second, and we'll figure out the third one when we get there." She told him, pointing to the couch and silently making him sit.
So yeah, when she had limped her way back into the living room with a bowl of popcorn and the TV remote, he did not think they would be watching Descendants of all things. She sung along softly to every song, and seemed to truly enjoy the movie. When it was Peter's turn to chose, he thought he would try to get on her good side and he picked the second movie in the series, even though musicals weren't really his thing. Vex had snatched the remote from him and clicked to the action movies instead.
"Don't bullshit me. You're an action movie type of guy, maybe horror on occasion. Don't chose something you think I'll like just to try and make me happy. The point of the Stark movie night is everyone gets a choice." She tells him, handing him back the remote. Peter hadn't said anything, just clicked on one of his favorite action movies.
And on the third movie, one they had agreed upon together, Peter had turned to look over at the girl who had fallen asleep on his shoulder about halfway through the movie. She had a soft smile on her face and it made her look beautiful. Peter silently promised to himself to make her smile like that when she's awake.
5. Thanksgiving (11 weeks after Vex and Peter meet, 10 weeks after Vex is injured)
Tony and Pepper had come back from their trip for a little bit and Pepper had been preparing a large dinner for Thanksgiving. Peter was quite sure he had never been in a kitchen that smelled so good. Every Avenger was at the compound, all doing something to prepare for the meal. Some of it was helpful, like Steve and Wanda helping bring plates and food to the table. Others, such as Clint and Loki playing around with Clint's arrows and trying to hang garland with them, were not so helpful. But Peter supposed that's the perk with having a big family.
Peter glanced at Vex, who was currently helping Pepper cook in the kitchen. She was laughing and outwardly enjoying herself, something Peter was not used to. But Peter supposed it had something to do with the way she was raised, something she had briefly explained the night before Pepper and Tony had gotten home. She hadn't gone into to much detail, but she had given Peter just enough to piece it together. She had been raised to sacrifice herself and yet here she was, allowing herself to be happy amongst a family she had built.
Smiling softly, Peter goes over to Tony to see what he can help with, vowing to himself to make sure he never made Vex feel that she ever had to sacrifice herself for them again. After all, family protects family.
+1. Christmas (15 weeks after Vex and Peter meet)
Vex had been watching the spider for quite sometime. And she was loathed to admit it, but she had grown to tolerate him. She had even started liking Peter's presence, as surprising as it was. She stuck her tongue between her lips as she tries to finish sewing on the leg to the spider she crocheted for Peter, deciding to ignore how much effort she put into his present.
That night, when she was watching Peter open his gifts, she watched him open the gift from her. His eyes lit up as if Vex had given him the best present ever. And maybe to him, it was. Vex waved off his thanks, claiming it was a low effort gift even though everyone in the room could see through the lie.
When she opened her gift from Peter, she stares at a new pair of earbuds. Ones that she had been eyeing for a while. They had better sound quality, they were smaller and less bulkier, and they didn't fall out near as easily.
"I never told you I wanted these." She whispered, looking at the older boy across from her. Peter shrugged, smiling.
"I saw you eyeing them in a catalog a few weeks ago and thought you would like them. I paid for them by myself as well." He says. Vex blinks, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Thank you." She whispered. His smile brightens and Vex finds she enjoys the sudden butterflies in her stomach. Maybe Tony was right. Maybe Peter Parker was a pretty decent kid after all.