Disclaimer: I own nothing Marvel or Spider-man related.
Excuse You, That is My Emotional Support Intern
It started with an invitation. The invitation. If there was a real world equivalent to the Wayne Gala, then the Archimedes Gala was it. It was held every Autumn in New York to raise money and interest in the scientific, technological, and medical fields. This year it would be hosted by Stark Industries at the Hayden Planetarium. Some of the greatest names in modern science and tech would be in attendance.
Peter was especially excited this year because he actually knew someone who was going. So along with watching coverage of the event online with Ned, he would also be able to get second hand information from Mr. Stark. It would almost be like being there!
It was the end of another lab day like any other and Peter was packing his things to go home, when Tony called his attention.
"Ah, hey kid before I forget, here." A silver iridescent envelope was shoved into his hands before Tony turned back to the gauntlet he was working on, seemingly unaffected. As he heard Peter open the envelope he added, "And you get to keep that; it's all wrapped up in a specially made gold alloy, so it'll never tear or wrinkle like regular cardstock. Just something I worked up. Proof of your first-of many I'm sure-fancy parties."
Peter stared at the gold, embossed invitation in his hands. It definitely had a little extra weight to it, with a bit of a metallic feel. Then he actually read it. Reverently brushing his fingertips over his name he glanced back up, meeting Tony's eyes over the workbench. "This is an invitation… to the Archimedes Gala," he said faintly.
The corner of Tony's mouth tipped up. "Yep."
"It has my name on it."
"It sure does 'Roos."
"But- but that means.."
"It means…" He was fully smirking over the open gauntlet at this point. "Comeon Pete, what do you think it means?"
It meant that the man who Peter saw as a mentor, and kinda sorta father figure(though he'd never admit that out loud, couldn't jinx it if the universe didn't hear you), took time out of his busy schedule to make him something he knew Peter would cherish. He gulped hardly able to believe it. "I-I'm actually invited? It's not a test or anything?"
Tony rolled his eyes, this kid. "Yes you're actually invited and no it's not a test. Everything I give you is not a test." He flapped a hand. "Besides, we'll only do tests once every three to seven years. Or you know, teenage milestone rebellion or whatever. Whichever comes first."
"Really? You guys want me there?" He tilted his head in confusion at the odd numbers. "Why every three to seven years?"
"It'll make sense when it happens, don't worry about it," Tony supplied flippantly. "And of course we want you there kid, Pepper's been nagging me all week not to forget to give it to you. You're gonna walk the carpet with us and everything. Should be fun."
"And I can really keep it?" Peter's eyes shone with so much excitement and happiness Tony felt something in his chest squeeze. He hoped it wasn't heartburn.
"Sure." It came out a little garbled so he surreptitiously cleared his throat and tried again. "Why don't you put it up on that wall of yours? I'm sure it'd look great." Referencing the large corkboard Peter had in his room of all his keepsakes. "Ya know, if you want to," he tacked on, trying not to appear to be too invested.
"Wow, thanks Mr. Stark!" Peter turned towards the lab door; he couldn't wait to get home and tell May all about it.
"Don't mention it kid. It's next Friday so that means we gotta switch our lab day to Thursday, that good with you?" When Peter nodded in the affirmative, he pulled out another envelope; this one was a light rose color. "This second one is for May, make sure you give it to her. And if you need any help with anything you let me know, alright?"
"Sure thing Mr. Stark." Peter carefully zipped the invitations into his backpack as he stepped out into the hall. "I'll see you next week!"
With a half-hearted wave, Tony chuckled to himself as he watched the teen practically bounce out the door and bop his way down the hallway to the elevator. He wouldn't have pictured himself as a mentor of any variety, much less to a spidery hyper-genius, but here he was.
After everything, all the betrayals, the fights, the frankly depressing ass revelations that had cropped up in his life, he could honestly say he'd never expected this. With everyone else usually wanting his name, his tech, or his prestige, Peter just seemed to like being around him. Tony was absolutely sure if he were just a local mechanic and nothing else, that kid would still swing(ha!) around asking questions and making unique observations about anything from physics to furbies.
Peter was just.. like that. Full of energy and spark, ready to soak everything up like an excitable sponge. He wished he could guarantee that it would never be used against him, but Tony knew the world didn't work that way. He would just have to be there for the kid, and kick the ass of anyone or anything that tried to turn Peter's own open heart against him. Without showing too much emotion of course.
"I got ya kid."
"May! May! May!"
"Peter Peter Peter!" May parroted back turning from the stove with a chuckle as her excited nephew skidded into the kitchen and gave her a hug. "What's going on baby?"
With a huge smile, Peter flashed something shiny and gold in her face, reminding her of when he was younger and excited because he'd learned something new at school and wanted to show her. She was brought back to the present when Peter reached into his backpack and pulled out a sealed envelope and shoved it into her hands.
"Mr. Stark invited us to the Archimedes Gala!" Peter was almost vibrating in excitement at this point. "He made our invitations especially for us out of a gold alloy he developed. It's so cool Aunt May, they're never supposed to tear or permanently wrinkle no matter how much you fold them. And we get to keep them! We have to go, can we go? It's next Friday."
A warmth settled around May as she watched Peter talk, watched his eyes sparkle. She still had her hang-ups about him going out risking his life almost every night. But she knew he'd still do it, no matter what she said, even guiltily so if he thought her feelings were hurt or upset. Her sweet brave Peter would still help those that needed it, however he could. Ben had had that trait too. But to see him now, talking and waving his hands in the air, invitation clutched between his fingers, it was nice. She breathed a little easier at the sight; reminded that Peter was still the kid whose eyes lit in wonder any time something new to learn came along.
May pulled him forward and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. "Of course you can go," her facial expression turned apologetic, "but I have to work that day. I'll literally be getting home by the time we're supposed to leave for the gala. I'm sorry Pete."
"Oh," Peter's face fell a little. He was really hoping she could go; it would have been really fun.
She tapped two fingers under his chin. "Hey, buck up. We were supposed to go with Tony and Pepper right?"
"Yeah.."
Bringing both hands to cradle his cheeks, she smiled. "Well you're still doing that. You'll go, have an amazing time, and then come home and tell me all about it. You can tell me all the outrageous things Tony says and does at the gala; it'll be like I never missed it!" She looked into his eyes. "Okay?"
Peter nodded, smile growing again to match hers. "Okay."
May hugged him close and held up her invitation, the lilac coating glinting in the kitchen light. "Good. Now, if we're keeping these we gotta find good places to put 'em. These are beautiful keepsakes."
When Peter told Ned over the phone later that night, the other teen screeched so long Peter was afraid Ned would pass out. "Ned," he laughed, "calm down so I can tell you about the guest speakers Mr. Stark said would be there."
"Ohmygod Peter, you're going to be in the room with so many awesome people! Oh, do you think Dr. Banner's gonna be there?"
"I don't know Ned, Mr. Stark says he doesn't know where he is."
"Wouldn't it be totally cool if he just like appeared at the party, then disappeared again but not in a I-Want-to-leave kind of way but in a I-Have-to-leave-because-Secretary-Ross-and-his-version-of-the-Accords-suck-so-suck-it-Secretary-Ross kind of way? Like Batman, but he's the Hulk!"
"Yeah, that'd be totally awesome!"
"Oh oh, can I see your invitation?"
"Sure, come over tomorrow and check it out. You gotta see this thing Ned. Mr. Stark developed this special new alloy that's not supposed to tear."
"Wow, Mr. Stark made you an alloy!"
Peter snorted, amused by his best friend's continued hero worship. "Not me specifically Ned, he's probably just testing it out with my invitation cuz I've got an easy habit of breaking stuff. His words not mine."
Ned huffed. "Nope, Tony Stark made a special alloy with you in mind. Can't take this from me dude, its canon now."
One week later…
"Peter, I'm home!"
"Hey Aunt May," Peter greeted as he stepped out of his room, dressed in his best suit, Ben's favorite cufflinks at his wrists. "Could you help me with my tie? I can't get the knot right."
May's heart stuttered looking at him. He looked so grown up. Then he smiled and it was all Ben and she had to fight the clog in her throat as she imagined Ben with them now; winking at May and clapping Peter on the back as he demanded to know where this young man had come from and wherever did his punk of a nephew go? Ben would have been cracking jokes with that glimmer in his eye he got whenever he looked at Peter, the boy who had brightened their lives through the tragedy that befell their family all those years ago.
"May," he questioned as she just stared at him.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she finally grinned back as she moved forward and got to work on the offending garment. "Look at you, as handsome as your Uncle Ben. He would be so proud." She eyed the cufflinks. "I'm glad you're taking him with you tonight," she whispered.
Peter nodded, glancing fondly down at his cuffs. "Me too." He could just picture Ben, smiling wide, ruffling his hair and telling him to slow down on growing up so he could catch up. Ben would have gotten a kick out of going to a fancy gala and hanging out with Mr. Stark. Peter was sure they would have gotten along well.
Still smiling, May smoothed his tie and lapels, and then brushed his curls off his brow before pulling out her phone.
"Oh Aunt May not the pictures!"
She playfully rolled her eyes. "Well how else am I supposed to have proof of my handsome, mature nephew huh? Now smile big Baby."
Despite his moaning and groaning, Peter dutifully posed for pictures, adding in his web shooting hand gesture on the last one and causing May to snort and declare it her favorite one. Then she joined Peter for a selfie, which he declared to be his favorite.
Peter's phone chimed with a text from Happy, letting him know he was downstairs and waiting. "That's Happy Aunt May, I gotta go."
May straightened out the shoulders of his suit and kissed him on the forehead. "Alright, go have fun. I larb you."
"Larb you too Aunt May!"
Oh Ben, she thought wistfully as she watched him walk out the door, you would have been so proud.
Thanks to heavy traffic, Peter was over an hour late when Happy pulled up to the entrance. All the guests were already inside, including the fashionably late ones, and the gala was underway.
"Alright kid, I'm gonna find a spot to park, so you go on in and find the Boss."
Peter was busy staring at the Hayden Sphere lit up by the surrounding lights of the museum. It looked totally awesome at night! "Sure thing, Happy, thanks."
"Yeah yeah, get in there already kid."
Peter scrambled out of the car and stepped out onto the gold carpet, amusedly taking note it was the exact shade of gold as on the Iron Man armor. Because of course Mr. Stark had the original gold carpet altered by a few shades. He quickly took out his phone, taking a selfie of himself on the gold carpet with the glass walls of the planetarium in the back ground to send to Ned later.
He was still chortling to himself as he came upon a couple of bored looking men in suits flanking the velvet rope sectioning off the entrance.
"Invitation." The one on the left held out a scanner.
Peter proudly displayed his invitation, ready to go inside and goggle at all and sundry.
"What's this?"
"My invitation Sir. Mr. Stark said I could keep it after it was scanned."
The guy on the right pulled out his phone as the one on the left shook his head and took the invitation from Peter to examine it closer, shooting him with a suspicious look. "All the invitations are digital, what are you trying to pull?"
"Nothing! I promise it's real, Mr. Stark gave it to me himself." Peter was pulling out his phone so he could text Mr. Stark and hopefully clear this whole mess up, when a scoff came from the side.
"Sure he did."
Peter turned to see a portly man approaching for a side door. The man addressed the guy still holding his invitation. "This the one causing the problem?"
"Problem? I'm not-" Peter started, only to be ignored and spoken over.
His invitation was handed over. "Yeah Boss, tried to pass this off as his invitation."
Peter nervously adjusted his suit cuffs, the soft weight of Ben's cufflinks bringing him comfort and calm. Okay he could handle this. What would Ben do? The answer helped him settle. Ben would keep a calm head and a firm stance. He tried again. "Look, I understand it's a little odd but if you just allow me to contact Mr. Stark he can expla-"
Only to be cut off again.
The man carelessly shoved the glinting cardstock into his pocket before snatching Peter's phone and grabbing him by the arm. "I'll take that, can't have you recording on the premises. And you understand nothin, ya hear; but you will. Come on, we're gonna be straightening some things out in my office."
As he was marched away from the front entrance, Peter didn't resist; even though he was strong enough to push the man's tight grip off his arm. It would draw too much attention from the already suspicious guard. This scrawny kid easily pushing away a generous 250+ lb adult? No way.
Plus it wouldn't be fair. Even if the guard wasn't playing fair by using his bigger size against him, Peter was enhanced; it would be too easy to break the man's fingers if he pushed back too hard in a struggle. His powers were reserved for fights against bad guys, not people who were doing their jobs, albeit overzealously.
No he would handle this calmly, he wouldn't fight or argue. He'd just convince him to call Happy, Mr. Stark, or Miss Potts. They would vouch for him, and Peter would finally be let into the party. And everything would be okay. He glanced down at his cufflinks, that's what Ben would have done.
"Look I promise I'm supposed to be here, please just call Mr. Stark or Miss Potts, they invited me! Or Happy, their head of security; any of them can tell you my invitation's real."
The head guard, one Jonas Hikkburg, snorted derisively as he lazily flipped Peter's invitation over to study the back. "Nice try kid, but we get a bunch of gate jumpers at these events all the time. You are not the first one to try to get in by claiming to know Tony Stark. What's next, you gonna tell me you know Captain America too?"
"Well I did meet him once, he's was actually kinda nice despite the circumstances.. But I swear I'm supposed to be here, you could even ask FRIDAY, Mr. Stark's AI. She's supposed to be integrated with this event-"
"Not in the security office it's not. That thing doesn't belong here, this is a job for humans not machines," Hikkburg snapped, tapping his desk for emphasis. "I've heard some wild ones but that one might just take the cake." The security head slapped the invitation down on the desk, smirking slightly when Peter jumped. "Now, obviously you're not supposed to be at this event. You pretend to be, but that dusty suit and forged invitation say otherwise."
Peter sighed in defeat, trying to ignore the hurt that had settled deep in his stomach. He had been going back and forth with the increasingly belligerent security officer for almost forty minutes. It was no use trying to convince him if the man wouldn't even scan his invitation or let him call Mr. Stark. "Well if you're not going to let me in, can I please have my personal items back so I can leave?"
After staring at him for what Peter felt like was twenty minutes but was probably just five, Hikkburg grudgingly handed everything he'd confiscated from Peter's pockets back over. Everything except his phone and the invitation.
"Yeah, you're leaving," Hikkburg held the invitation up in front of Peter's face, the gold glinting slightly in the office lights. "But this isn't going with you." He crushed it between his meaty fingers, a sneer on his lips as he watched Peter's face twist in agony. With relish, the overbearing security guard balled Peter's precious invitation up and threw it in the trash can beside his desk. He tossed Peter's phone across the desk, watching dispassionately as he scrambled to catch it before it crashed to the floor. "Out," he snarled with a jerk of his head towards the door. "And don't let me catch your worthless butt around here again or I will call the police and personally make sure that charges are pressed for trespassing."
Peter surged out of his seat and headed for the door, determined that no one in the security office would see the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Maybe they were right, maybe he didn't belong here.
"I don't understand, Happy said he dropped him off at the door an hour ago. I haven't seen him yet." Tony searched the crowd, looking for Peter's distinctive mop of curly brown hair.
"Do you think maybe he met one of his idols and got caught up in a conversation?" Pepper asked. "He's very bright; anyone can see it once they start talking to him. Oh or he may be in the kitchens, we told him he could if he got hungry and I did notify the catering staff they were to give him whatever food he wanted." She looked dubiously at the crab puff on her plate. "These are kind of small; maybe we should have had Happy run him through a drive thru on the way here.."
Tony smiled at his fiancé, who looked radiant in her sequined navy blue gown; touched by her general care and affection for his protégé and his well-being.
"I'm gonna call him again, and if he doesn't pick up I'll have Fri track his phone."
Pepper nodded absently, worry in her eyes but not her face as she turned and headed off an approaching colleague. "Ron! Hi, how are the kids?"
With Pep handling the mingling for now, Tony slipped behind a curtain artfully trailing down from the ceiling, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
It rang in his hand and he answered without checking to see who it was, thinking it was a lost in the crowd Peter trying to track his way to them. "Pete?" he asked, still craning his neck to see if he could spot him among the large mass of people.
"That's why I'm calling Tony, what is going on over there? What happened to my child?"
"May?" he glance down at the phone in his hand in confusion, his senses going on alert, before bring it back up to his ear. "What's wrong? Is Peter okay, did he call you? I haven't been able to find him anywhere. Pepper and I were getting a little worried."
May released a sigh on the other end of the line. "Peter's safe, but I'm not sure about okay. He came in about 10 minutes ago and has been hiding in his room since then. He won't tell me what's wrong, he won't say anything except he wasn't supposed to be there and that he took the subway back so he wouldn't be bothering Happy. I'm really worried Tony, he hasn't shut me out like this since-"
He heard what she left unsaid. Peter hadn't shut down like this since the spider bite and Ben. Tony's gut clenched. "I don't know what happened, but I'm gonna find out. I'll see you soon."
"Alright," May sighed. "I'll try to get Peter to talk, or at least eat. See you when you get here."
They hung up, and Tony tapped a few spots on the screen. "Friday, search the security feeds, send me all the footage you have of Peter at the Gala over the last hour and a half."
"Of course Boss."
"This was the only footage available of Mr. Parker at this event Boss," Friday supplied a minute later, bringing up a video of Peter being stopped at the door, refused entry and then being pulled away by security. The kid didn't even get into the event?
"What the- Fri, go ahead and bring up the feeds from the security office so I can see what went down."
"I'm sorry Boss, as I stated, this was the only footage available."
"What? Why?"
"I was never connected to the security division of this building."
"What?!" Tony spat. "Who is the security head here?"
"Jonas Hikkburg, aged 46. He has worked here for 8 years and has had multiple complaints on his previous work records."
"Okay Friday, I got it from here for now."
"Yes Boss."
Tony slipped his phone back into his pocket and straightened out his suit jacket, being sure to keep his anger in check. Though Pepper would know something was up as soon as she looked into his eyes, but that was okay because he wanted her to. Heads were about to roll.
He didn't bother with knocking on the door, he just barged in. The portly security head lounged behind his desk with his feet up, playing a game on his phone. It sounded like fruit ninja. Rolling his eyes, Tony cleared his throat.
With a sigh the man had the nerve to finish out his level before he looked up from his phone. Then he squawked, dropping his phone on his desk as he jumped to his feet in surprise. "Shit! Ah, sorry, sorry. What can I do for you Mr. Stark? Is something-"
"Wrong?" Tony cut in, scanning the nameplate on the desk. "There could be, Hikkburg. Tell me, are you the one that dealt with that," he waved his hand vaguely, "invitation snafu at the door earlier?"
"Oh that little punk?" Contemptuous superiority shone out from the man's face, his lips quirking up in a cruel smirk. "Don't you worry about a thing Mr. Stark, I scared the shit outta that little troublemaker. He won't be back. These little pissants get bolder every year. You know how it is, they try to get in so they can take pictures, brag to their little friends, steal souvenirs and the like. But I know I got this one good, you shoulda seen him; he was shakin in his little cheap suit!" A rusty chuckle escaped past his thin lips as he lifted his chin, crossed his arms and spread his feet apart; a grotesque of a hero's pose. "Your event is secure Sir."
Tony arched an imperious brow, holding down the anger simmering in his chest. Out the corner of his eye he catches a flash of blue fabric at the door. "Oh it is, is it? Tell me, I'm dying to know, how exactly did you secure my gala? What'd you say to the kid?"
"Oh it was the best, you should'a seen this dumbass's face once I was through. I mean you show up to a high end event in a shabby second hand suit and a forged invitation; little shit's lucky I didn't call the cops. And I told him so; kid's got some nerve! Tryna forge your signature? Ha! Then he tried to lie and pretend he knew yourself and Mrs. Potts. Hell he even tossed out some happy guy and Cap America. Whatta load of bull. I wouldn't be surprised if he was high. Anyway, I told him if I caught his worthless butt around here again I would have him arrested for trespassing. Matter of fact," he smugly tapped a sheet of paper on his desk, "I got all his information right here. If you wanna press charges, feel free to call the police from my phone Mr. Stark. Bet that'd put the little bastard in his place." He turned the office phone around on his desk and pushed it across.
If Tony's eyes had any lethal power, the man across from him would be ash at this point, so filled with anger was he. But Hikkburg didn't even notice; too busy patting himself on the back in a job well done. He wouldn't have any type of job once Tony was done with him. A glint from the trash can butting up against the side of the desk drew his attention.
Reaching inside, he pulled out a crumpled ball of gold card stock. Peter's invitation. His chest clenched at the sight of it. Aw, Pete. The kid had loved his first fancy invitation; May had confirmed it when they spoke during their weekly Spider-kid check in, highly amused by Peter's determination to find a perfect spot to hang it up in his room after the gala. He'd made it especially for Peter for that reason. The kid was a collector, he'd noticed. People, tech, little bits and pieces from important moments- if it was special Peter kept it.
Tony stared until Hikkburg stopped chuckling to himself, the silence settling into the room like a heavy blanket. He let it linger, watching the man start to squirm and sweat. "This," he held up the crumpled invitation, "was not a fake. That kid that you tossed out of here, a special guest. Personally invited by Miss Potts-soon to be Mrs. Stark- and myself. The invitation, which you callously balled up and threw away, would have proved that if you or your underlings had bothered to scan it in the first place. And don't even think I didn't notice my AI's been disabled on this level. Who's in charge here?"
"W-what?" Hikkburg had slunk back down into his seat, cowed in the face of Tony's ire.
Tony sighed and rolled his eyes, wanting to get this over with so he could get to the kid. He huffed impatiently, already done with the idiot head of security. "Who's above you? Who's the boss around here? Whose job is it to handle your fuck-ups, because believe me this is a major fuck-up you got yourself into. Get them down here, I need to tell them what a colossal dumbass they hired-" The flash of blue caught his eye again. "Actually, scratch that, I don't have time for this; I have to go undo all the damage you've just done, so I'm gonna leave this to someone else. And trust me, you're gonna wish it was me that stayed by the time she's done."
Like a shark scenting blood on the water, Pepper swept into the room as he walked out, her attitude coolly professional and facial expression sharp as a knife. She'd heard everything and was determined to get her pound of flesh for the way Peter was treated. "Hikkburg, was it? The first thing you're going do is connect Friday to this entire building as agreed upon in the contract we signed with this company. Right now. Next, I want the full names and positions of the employees who deemed it fit to call security on Mr. Parker without scanning his invitation. Next, as Mr. Stark stated, you're calling your supervisor. Then I'm calling their boss."
Tony left it to Pepper, knowing that everything would be settled by the time he got to the Parker's apartment. And that that unintelligible oaf would never be able to use his position to belittle or intimidate anyone ever again. Not if his fiancé had a say in it.
May quietly let him into the apartment when he got there. "What happened Tony?"
He grunted, still angry over the attitude of that simpleton passing as a head of security. "Some wannabe Columbo security head stopped him before he could go in. Dragged him down to the back office and told him he wasn't supposed to be there because his invitation was fake. Can you believe that, the invitation I especially handmade for him was a fake. He would have known better if he'd checked the system, there was a special notation in there so he could keep it. But nooo, someone had to throw his weight around and tried to interrogate a 15 year old as if he were a career criminal."
May's facial expression had darkened with every word. "Did you handle this," she asked voice low. "Or do I need to go down there and do it?"
Tony held his hands up, afraid if he so much as moved wrong he would be cut by her eyes alone. He suppressed a shudder as he had a sudden flashback to when she found out about Peter's powers, and just exactly what his Stark Internship actually was. He swore up and down his ears rang for a week after she'd cursed him out. He never wanted to be on her bad side ever again.
"Hey, hey, it's all good mama bear. What do you take me for? Of course I handled it." He knew his smirk was evil, and he didn't care one bit. "I left him to Pepper."
May's body language immediately relaxed, though her eyes were still stormy. "Good, I hope it's thoroughly painful then."
"Oh trust me, it most definitely is. Happy will be bringing her over when she's done. She wanted to check on the Spiderbaby too."
"Ok good, he needs as many assurances as possible. I'll be dammed if my kid thinks he doesn't belong just because he's different," she stated fiercely.
"Hell yeah he's different, it's amazing the way his mind works. That kid's gonna light up the world one day May."
"Yes he is. If you can get him out from under his covers, that is." May nodded towards Peter's room as she walked into the kitchen to make tea. "He likes to burrow when he's upset."
Tony chuckled good naturedly as he headed for Peter's open doorway. "Understandable."
"'M not a Spiderbaby," mumbled the lump under the Thor themed comforter on Peter's bed as soon as Tony stepped into the room.
Tony snorted as he eased himself down beside said lump, absently making a mental note to order a few Iron Man comforter sets. "No use fighting it 'Roos, you'll always be a Spiderbaby to May and Pepper. Besides it makes them feel better about all the hero-ing, I'd let them have it if I were you."
He received a huff in answer, so he figured he was on the right track. He'd never been the best at consoling, but he had to try. "So, you haven't really missed anything at the party so far. Hor d'oeuvres were fine, small talk was interesting."
Peter hummed in response, so he kept going.
"Had a pretty enlightening talk with a misguided soul in the security office."
Peter stilled. "You did?" he asked low and quiet. Hesitant.
Tony didn't like it. So he decided to keep it light, as if they were talking about the weather and not the guy that had tried to humiliate him. "Yep," he popped the 'p'. "He's been suitably re-educated and scarred for life, if I do say so myself."
A moan sounded from the lump of Peter. "Mr. Stark," he whined, "you didn't fire anybody right? It's not even your company!"
"Might as well be with the way they're running it. You cross me, I take your stuff. It should be a known rule-no, an edict, that sounds better." He didn't admit it probably would be once Pepper was through. "But no, I didn't fire anybody, but I did put the fear of God into a few folks."
The covers shuddered slightly, the light sound of laughter escaping their confines.
Tony relaxed, some of his worry slipping off his shoulders, glad he'd gotten a laugh out of the teen. "So, why'd you leave instead of just calling me for backup? I would've been there Kid. Instead I had to go down there and share breathing space with a total buffoon. Seriously, it's a wonder that guy hasn't been fired yet."
The lump of covers shrugged. "I dunno," Peter murmured. "I figured if they didn't believe I had an actual invite to the gala, maybe I shouldn't have been there. I didn't wanna end up embarrassing you and Miss Potts, so I just came home."
"You could never embarrass us Peter. Kid, you're smart as a whip and unbelievably kind. More importantly you're my intern, do you think I would have someone I didn't want around working for me?"
"No, I guess not. I'm sorry Mr. stark, I didn't mean to cause any trouble or have you fire someone tonight."
"You've got nothing to worry about Pete, you did nothing wrong. And I didn't fire anyone." Pepper had totally fired that jackass. But Peter didn't need to worry about that; poor kid would try to take on more guilt even though none of it was his fault.
"Okay," Peter hummed placidly, the sadness and feelings of inadequacy finally floating away.
"Now the way I see it," Tony started, checking the time on his watch, "we have a few things we could do here. One we could go back to the party and walk back in like the cool kids we are. Two we could totally ditch the party and hang out here or the tower, wherever you're comfortable. Or three, we totally ditch the party and go out and get something to eat. Your choice, you got me all night."
"Really?" the Peter lump asked. "You actually want to hang out with me all night?"
"Course I do Pete, it's part of why I invited you in the first place. You're fun to hang out with." He tapped lightly at what he thought were Peter's feet. "Plus that big brain of yours can actually keep up with mine. What do ya say Spiderling?"
"I guess we could go and get burgers or something," Peter said slowly. "I am kinda hungry."
Tony released a sigh of relief. "Oh thank god, I'm starving. Those canapés were tiny."
Peter poked his head out from the under the covers. Ah so he'd tapped his nose then.
"Can May, Miss Potts, and Happy come too? If-if they want to that is."
"Sure they can, I'm sure they're probably hungry too." Tony smiled as he pulled Peter's straightened out invitation from his coat pocket, setting it against the lamp on his desk. "Whatever you want kid."
"I think you'd better be careful with that Mr. Stark, I might end up extorting some ice cream out of you." Peter finished climbing out from his cocoon and smiled as his eyes lit on his invitation, happy to have it back. The night might not have turned out the way he thought it would but it didn't bother him like it did when he first got home. Not anymore. "Wow, that alloy you made is awesome! The last time I saw that, it was crumpled up like a ball of aluminum and now it looks like nothing even happened to it!"
Tony smirked, throwing an arm over his shoulders as they headed out the room. "I'll tell you the compound I came up with once we get our ice cream, you're gonna love it Pete. Nice cufflinks by the way."
And in other news, Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were spotted still in their formal wear, sitting at the counter of a little diner in Queens, eating greasy burgers and fries and laughing with their seat mates. They even treated everyone in the diner to ice cream.
Thanks for reading! This story is also on AO3 under the same title:)
Also in case anyone was wondering, this is connected to Bitch Better Have My Money, but this story actually happens before that one. Totally just writing stuff as it comes lol. There may be more stories later, if my muse is so kind ;)