Chapter Three – First Impressions for a Second Time
The car sped along the interstate and Peter could see the New York skyline getting smaller in the rear-view mirror.
"Thank you for collecting me Mr Stark," Peter said as they cruised along, "And for lending me the glasses."
"No problem," Mr Stark smiled at the teenager, "Happy was supposed to collect you but he got held up with drinking coffee with your Aunt."
"Seriously?" Peter burst out laughing.
"Yup," Mr Stark laughed slightly too, damn Happy wasn't kidding when he said the kid was infectious, "I told him to meet us back there with your stuff, I was in the city anyway."
"Thanks," as they drove along Peter remembered the last time he'd spent time in a car with Mr Stark; it had been right after the fight in Germany, "Mr Stark?"
"Mmm?"
"Is it ok if I make a video diary like I did the last time?" Peter asked nervously, "I wouldn't show anyone of course."
Mr Stark thought for a moment, "We'll get you set up with a secure StarkPhone and then you can."
Disappointed Peter answered, "It's ok, it doesn't matter anyway." Mr Stark noticed the pink tinge to Peter's cheeks and read between the lines; the kid thinks he has to buy it himself.
"Every associate and Avenger gets one so we should have yours by the end of tonight," Mr Stark assured him.
"Seriously?!"
"That's why I said it."
"Mr Stark thank you!"
They drove on for almost an hour chatting about what Peter had been up to at school, Mr Stark was quickly learning how intelligent the kid really was, and about some of the stuff the Avengers had been up to. Mr Stark told him they'd discuss it in more detail when they got to the Compound.
"Here we are," Mr Stark announced as they cruised down a beautiful road leading to the heavily secured gates that marked the edge of the Avengers Compound. Peter couldn't take it all in fast enough as the car purred closer to the magnificent white and glass buildings, pausing the car Mr Stark handed Peter his phone, "You can start you video diary on mine," he said by way of explanation.
Peter gaped at him before quickly pointing the camera out of the window towards the buildings, "This is the coolest thing I've ever seen!"
"Look over there," Mr Stark pointed to where a Quinjet was taking off, "It's a bit bigger than the tower isn't it."
Peter turned the phone in a circle to take everything in, Mr Stark flashed his dazzling smile when the camera passed him. Peter was inclined to pinch himself to ensure that this was all actually happening.
Mr Stark stopped the car beside the first of the buildings and beckoned for Peter to pass him the phone before turning it around so that the two of them were clearly visible in the video, "Welcome to the Avengers Compound Mr Parker," Peter grinned so hard his face hurt.
"Thank you so much Mr Stark," Peter exclaimed, grinning even more widely at his mentor.
"Let's get you acquainted with the place," Mr Stark decided without pausing the video, "I see what you mean, this is fun."
Peter followed suit and with glasses still firmly in place followed Mr Stark who turned to video him walking into the Compound laughing slightly.
"Here take this," Mr Stark said handing him the phone so that he could type a code in, while Mr Stark wasn't looking Peter turned the camera to face him so that he could mouth "Oh my god!"
Deciding to stop videoing for now before he drained the battery Peter handed Mr Stark back his phone and followed his hero through the foyer and into the heart of the enormous building.
Mr Stark led him through hallway after hallway each as stunning as the last. Floor to ceiling windows graced every wall, the tiled floor so clean that it shone in the setting sunlight.
"This is the common room," Mr Stark indicated a huge circular room that they had just entered. Along with multiple couches there were armchairs, beanbags, gaming consoles, huge TVs and at the back a snack bar.
"Wow," Peter gazed around the room trying to take it all in, Mr Stark smirked beside him and continued into the room.
"I'll introduce you to everyone tonight, they're busy at the moment," Mr Stark informed him.
"Ok cool," Peter hurried to catch up as Mr Stark headed towards the far side of the room where Peter could see yet another hallway.
"You like it right?"
"Ugh yeah," Peter grinned, "This whole place is amazing."
Behind them Peter heard a commotion that sounded like a bag of bricks being dropped, wheeling around he saw a very red faced Happy entering the common room.
"Nice of you to join us," Mr Stark called smirking slightly at the look Happy gave him.
"I can get those," Peter said quickly when he realised that it was his bags that had created the noise.
"Oh you'll get these?" Happy answered before pointedly looking at Mr Stark, "Thank you."
As Peter hurried to pick up the majority of his bags he was surprised to see Mr Stark pick up the remaining ones, "I'll show you to your quarters now."
"Thank you Mr Stark," Peter said excitedly, trying to get his head around the fact that Tony Stark was carrying his bag.
"Happy," Mr Stark called over his shoulder, "Vision wanted to speak to you about something."
"Great," Happy muttered before exiting the room the way that he'd come.
Peter followed Mr Stark into the elevator at the end of the hallway that took them up to the top floor.
"Your quarters are next to mine," Mr Stark stated as they walked along the sparsely doored corridor.
"I thought you said before I was next to Vision?" Peter asked before he could help himself; the memory of the conversation from his only previous visit to the Compound coming back to him.
"We reorganised," Mr Stark said without his usual confident demeanour, "If you'd prefer to be beside Vision-"
"No sorry," Peter shook his head frantically, "This is great. Thank you."
"This is you," Mr Stark stopped outside a door at the end of the corridor.
"Wow," Peter's jaw dropped open as Mr Stark opened the door onto the room, his room.
"I'll pick you up for dinner in an hour," Mr Stark said as he dropped Peter's bags into the room.
"Thank you Mr Stark," Peter grinned up at the man, "For everything."
The door clicked shut behind his mentor and Peter stared around the room. It was huge. There was a wall of floor to ceiling windows that led onto a balcony, a bed that took up one whole wall, a door that led to a sumptuous bathroom, a walk in closet and a couch in the corner with a TV.
"Wow," Peter breathed again. Walking to the closet he took his jacket off revealing his Stark Industries shirt, he begun hanging his clothes up and putting things into the drawers. He took out his phone and typed a quick message to let Aunt May and Ned know that he had arrived safely.
When he had finished unpacking, washed his face and set his phone to charge he lay down on the couch to stare at the view from his window. His mind began trying to process the insane day that he'd just had; Mr Stark picked me up from school. He showed me around and made a video diary with me, again! This is my room. Tony Stark's room is next door. This is so cool!
A knock at the door roused him from his thoughts, "come in!"
"Glad to see you've settled in," Mr Stark chuckled from the door at the sight of Peter sprawled across the couch.
"This place is amazing," Peter said for the millionth time that day.
"You hungry?"
"Always," Peter laughed and sprang up, straightening his shirt in the process.
"Great shirt," Mr Stark said his lips curving into a smile.
"Thanks," he grinned back and followed the man out into the corridor.
"You like Chinese right?"
"Yeah it's great."
"Good, we don't cook very much," Mr Stark admitted as they descended towards the smell of food.
The smell of food combined with the noise of the group of people in the kitchen, which was joined to the common room, hit them. Mr Stark could see the Avengers throwing cartons of Chinese food to each other and organising drinks completely oblivious to the two men who'd just walked in.
"Stark," Natasha greeted as she spotted him causing the others to look around, there was a chorus of hellos as Mr Stark joined them.
"Everyone," Mr Stark greeted them, "This is Peter Parker," he gestured to Peter who he was proud to see was neither freaking out nor looking like a little kid. Mr Stark was pleased to report that Peter looked every bit the man as he stood tall and proud.
"Hi everyone," Peter said confidently, or at least he hoped he sounded confident, "It's nice to meet you all officially."
"Wait," it was Clint who spoke first, "I know you, Spider-Man right?"
"Yes sir," Peter grinned slightly.
"I knew it," Clint chuckled walking over to him, "Nice to meet you," he said extending a hand, "My kids are obsessed with you," at the raised eyebrows he clarified, "He's all over YouTube."
"You too," Peter shook his hand, "Thanks for not kicking my ass in Germany."
This comment received laughs from the group and Mr Stark could feel himself swelling with pride; get a grip Stark, don't go getting all sentimental he chastised himself.
"So you're joining us?" Clint asked.
Peter glanced at Mr Stark who answered, "Just for the summer, he still has another year of school."
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you son," Steve said stepping forward to shake his hand, "Just don't steal my shield again."
"Yes sir," Peter stuttered slightly, "It's an honour to meet you sir."
Mr Stark rolled his eyes at the clear Captain America hero worshipping and heard some of the others chuckle. Once Peter had shaken hands with all of the team Mr Stark directed him towards the pile of cartons.
"Help yourself," he instructed and Peter gaped at the tower of food.
Selecting a carton of salt chilli chicken he followed Mr Stark into the common room and saw the Avengers settling themselves around the room. Vision and Wanda sat together on a couch next to Bruce and Natasha, Clint, Steve and Sam all collapsed into beanbags and Mr Stark sat down on one of the smaller couches indicating that Peter sat beside him.
"Thanks Mr Stark," Peter said after settling himself down and tucking into his food.
"So kid, where are you from?" Sam asked from his beanbag.
"Queens isn't it?" asked Steve around a mouthful of food, Mr Stark raised an eyebrow and Steve laughed, "We New Yorkers can sense each other."
Peter burst out laughing at this and saw the others chuckling too, "Yeah I'm from Queens," Peter said, "I told Captain at the airport," he clarified.
"Call me Steve," Steve said again and Peter blushed.
The rest of the evening passed with them all eating far too much food; Peter and Steve easily ate twice what anyone else did due to their high metabolisms and before long they all started heading to bed in a sleepy food induced state.
"Goodnight Mr Stark," Peter said sleepily as he reached his door.
"Goodnight," Mr Stark answered from slightly further down the corridor.
"Thank you for everything," he said yet again.
"Don't mention it," Mr Stark waved his hand, "Oh and kid, call me Tony will you."
"Of course," Peter grinned, "Goodnight, Tony."
