Chapter Ten

Misunderstandings and confusions part 1

The weekend was over before Peter had completed half of the things he had on his painfully long to-do list. He'd managed to finish his physics homework, and somehow he'd scraped through the last hundred or so words of his chemistry paper.

He'd also been able to snap a couple shots of the Avengers lately, J. Jonah Jameson wasn't as pleased with those as there was no way he could pin anything bad on Spider-Man. But the Avengers sold papers, and Peter was slightly richer and more secure come rent-day now.

That isn't to say that his life was smooth-sailing, he was Peter Parker after all. But at least he had finally made the decision to say yes to Stark. He reasoned what was the worst that could happen? They would have a bad date, because they're so clearly incompatible and then they'd both move on.

Hopefully.

It was with a somewhat lighter heart that Peter went to work that day, as he sat at his surprisingly not cramped desk he thought of the easiest method to waylay Stark.

He didn't want to lay a trap (hypothetically speaking) for him near the bathroom, because one that looked creepy and two even though everybody poops. Peter doubted that Tony Stark pooped in a communal toilet.

He could go up to his office, but he was rarely ever there and besides Peter was kind, sorta afraid of his P.A turned C.E.O. Not for any particular reason, he just thought she was part ninja and considering how much Stark annoyed her he was sure that she would snap one day. And knowing his luck, the last straw would break her back just as he was talking to her.

That left hanging around near his laboratory downstairs but that would look suspicious and Peter really didn't need to look overt in anyway. The main method of keeping a secret identity was making sure that no-one looked at you, remaining under the radar so questions weren't asked. He couldn't risk anyone wondering anything about Peter Parker.

That meant he was left with the unenviable position of hoping that Stark would just walk by, in a lowly populated area where Peter could talk with him. There was a small part of him (ok a large part) that still believed that this was a joke. If it was then Peter would prefer to shame himself where no-one save Stark was around to witness it.

The day passed slowly, lunch rolled by and Peter left with the hoards of people eager for food. As he stood on the curb, he thought some more of the stupidity of the action he was soon going to take. There was a gap in traffic and without thinking he stepped forward.

Just as he stepped forward however he felt the tingle of his spider-sense, and was stepping back at the same time as feeling someone's hand pulling him roughly backwards. Followed soon after by the whoosh of a bus as it sped past him.

Peter turned to see who had pulled him back and was preposterously glad that it was the man he had been waiting for all day. He opened his mouth to say thanks and to say yes to the date when Stark cut him off.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded, Peter tried to look properly scolded but couldn't help but smile when he saw that Stark hadn't released his hand.

"What are you grinning at?" Stark continued, his voice only getting louder. In the heavy traffic his voice didn't really carry but any louder and they would garner a crowd.

"Sorry I wasn't paying attention" Peter apologised, sad that he was unable to tell him that he was fine all along.

"I don't care if you weren't paying attention, even I know to look both ways when I'm crossing the street and I..." Stark trailed off as he realised that he was still tightly gripping Peter's hand. He released it with quick awkward grin.

"Look can I talk to you..." Peter began seriously, but Stark interrupted him again.

"Uh, yeah I have to talk to you too. That date thing, couple of weeks ago, um I wasn't...that was a joke, sorry". Peter tucked his hands in his pockets as he watched Stark stumble his way through his apology, he smiled politely and said.

"Uh yeah that's what I wanted to talk to you about too, but now I guess I don't need to" he laughed self-consciously.

"Oh ok well glad that's sorted" was Stark's obviously relieved reply. Peter couldn't stand to be there anymore and deal with this mortifying scene.

"Sorry, but I gotta go lunch and all that" he said and started to cross the road. He just heard Stark's question as the lights turned red, "just out of interest what was your answer?"

Peter didn't bother to turn around, ignoring his boss and definitely ignoring the resounding yes in his head.