DISC: I do not own Spider-Man or the MCU. Warning for minor swearing.
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Chapter Seventeen
The drive up to the Avengers Compound is almost uncomfortably awkward. Happy doesn't let up the murderous glare, to the point where Pete is literally sweating bullets as they head up the long driveway.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Mo catches the almost awed expression on Pete's face. She follows his line of sight to the building, trying to imagine what he's thinking as he stares up at its pristine facade, the reflective glass and tall windows, the jets taking off onto adventures unknown. Her heart sinks, remembering the words he screamed at her on her fire escape all those weeks ago, the desperation to prove himself.
The inside is as modern as the outside, all sleek lines and soft, dark tones.
"Is that my favourite niece I see?" Tony's voice rings out from behind them. She spins, plastering a smile on her face in time to see her uncle appearing from behind them. He pauses, opening his arms and she's surging towards them before her thoughts can catch up with her feet.
"Uncle Tony!"
"Little Margo," He exclaims back, as he gives her a quick squeeze. "What trouble have you got yourself into this time, squirt?"
"No trouble," she says.
Her dad scoffs from behind her and she glares at him. Tony raises an eyebrow, before turning to Pete with a smile.
"If it isn't Underoos," he says. "How was the ride up?"
"Good," Happy replies sullenly.
Tony glances at him, "Give me a minute with the kid."
"Which one?" Happy replies darkly.
"The spider one."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah," Tony says. "I gotta talk to the kid."
"I'll be close behind, " Happy says, sizing up Pete, who almost shrinks under his stare.
"Is there something I'm missing here?" Tony asks.
"Dad's bitter because I'm dating a hero."
Tony blinks, and then makes a motion of clearing out his ears, "I'm sorry, I think I misheard you, little Margo, care to repeat that?"
Mo grins, before squeezing Pete's arm, "Me and Pete are dating."
Pete splutters, his face flushing so brightly Mo's worried steam will come out of his ears or that his brain might short circuit. Tony points at the both of them, "You two? Dating?"
"Yup!" Mo says brightly. "Or sort of anyway, we've not been on a date yet."
Tony looks between them and then laughs, clapping Happy's shoulder loudly. Happy grunts, his scowl deepening, "Alright, boss, I get it."
"Oh kid, you don't do anything by halves do you?" Tony clasps Pete's shoulder, leading him forward.
"Uh, n-no, sir, I guess not."
"Come on," he wraps an arm around Pete's shoulders, "Let's talk business, leave these two to hash it out."
"A-are you sure?"
"It's the way it's done in the Hogan Household, kid," Tony smirks. "Better get used to it."
"Macdonald Household!" Mo shouts after them, but her uncle ignores her. Happy moves to walk after them, but Mo grabs the edge of his sleeve bringing him to a stop. He glances back at his daughter, who raises an eyebrow, "We need to talk."
"Come on, kiddo, I'm just giving him a hard time-"
"No, Dad, not about that."
Happy sighs, "I'm sorry about missing your calls-"
"It's not just the calls, Dad, it's…everything."
She settles on a nearby bench, crossing her legs into a basket. After a moment, Happy sits down beside her.
"I tried to talk to you before but you weren't listening," Mo says. "I get that you're busy and that Tony needs you, but you're hardly ever here, or there, or whatever. We've been here in the same country for nearly two years now and I've seen you what, five times? Six tops?"
"Margaret-"
"Dad, it's Margo or Mo. It has been for a while," she says.
"Margo," Happy says, "I'm sorry."
"Are you? Because you've apologised so many times now and nothing's changed."
"Honey, I didn't realise-"
"That, what I still need you?" Mo looks up at her dad with wet eyes. "You're my dad."
"I know but you have Angus now, I just thought…" he trails off. "And your mum, she wanted out of this life."
"Angus is my Da, yeah, but you're my Dad and I need you both. He understands that," she says. "Mum kept us bouncing around the country for years because of this life, so I'm pretty sure she knows better than anyone that I couldn't do better than sweet as pie Pete."
"Sweet Pete, really? You gotta say that to me right now-"
"Dad," Mo reaches for one of hands, squeezing it tightly. He looks up at her, his face lined with exhaustion and for the first time ever Mo can't help but think that her dad looks old.
"I just want to spend some time with you," she smiles.
Happy rubs at his eyes and sniffs, "Yeah well, maybe your old man would like that too."
"I dunno he's been pretty elusive lately. I haven't seen those chillidogs or those donuts I was promised-"
Her dad engulfs in her a large hug, cutting off her words.
"I can't promise anything, kiddo, but I hear you," Happy whispers. "And I'll try."
She grins into his shoulder, as he squeezes her tightly, "That's all I want, Dad."
A glass door at the end of the hall slides open and they look up to see Tony and Pete entering a brightly lit room. The two are deep in conversation - or Tony is deep in talking and Pete is enraptured by whatever he is saying. Mo laughs at the adoration that's plain as day on the boy's face.
"I get it, you know."
She glances at her dad, "Get what?"
"Why you like him," Happy says. "He's like a giant puppy."
"What? Ew. No, I don't like him 'cause he's like a dog."
"I mean, the rambling, the hanging on your every word, the adoration…"
"Dad, stop." Mo grumbles, watching as Tony starts gesturing towards a door off to the side of the room. "I like him 'cause…he's Pete."
"Right," her dad drawls. "Because he's Sweet Pete."
"You're impossible."
"I'm your dad," he says, grinning. "It's my job."
A new door slides open in front of Tony and Pete, revealing what looks like a new Spider-Man suit. Mo's heart plummets.
"Is that…Is that a new suit?"
Happy watches his daughter carefully, taking note of the torn expression on her face, the way one of her hands are trembling as she starts to chew on her thumbnail.
"You want to find out?" Happy nudges his head towards them. Mo hesitates, and then shakes her head.
"Whatever Tony is saying to him, Pete needs to make his own decision about it."
They watch as the two converse for a moment; Tony takes off his glasses, pointing at the suit and then at Pete who just shakes his head. Her uncle considers him for a moment, before turning back towards them.
"Hap, kid needs a lift home."
Mo stands with her dad, trailing behind him as he approaches his friend and Pete.
"Yeah?" Her dad asks.
"Yeah." Tony replies nodding. Her dad glances between the two and then turns to Pete.
"You mind waiting with Margo in the car? I need a minute."
Pete nods before turning to Tony with an outstretched hand, "Thank you, Mr Stark."
"You're very welcome, Mr Parker," he replies, shaking his hand with a firm grip. Mo moves closer as Pete starts to walk away.
"See you around."
"Ok."
Pete's almost grinning as he reaches Mo, who shoots him a questioning look.
"Oh, uh," Pete hesitates, turning back to Tony and Happy. "That was a test right? There's nobody back there?"
"Yes, you passed," her uncle replies, almost a little too quickly. Her eyes narrow on him as he starts making a shooing motion at the two of them, "Alright, skedaddle there, go frolick like the young people you are."
"But not too much frolicking!" Happy calls after them, "I won't be too long."
Pete grins, swinging an arm around Mo's shoulder as they turn to walk out together.
"What was that about?"
"I just turned down being an Avenger."
Mo almost stumbles as Pete continues to walk on, his expression bright.
"You turned down the Avengers! But Pete, that was, that was, like, your dream! That's all you've been talking about for months!"
"I think," he says, "I've learned that someone needs to be there for the little guy when the big guys can't be."
Mo stares up at Pete, her chest swelling with pride. He turns to look at her, his eyes glinting with mischief, "Besides, if I'm spending all my time with the Avengers, who's going to take my girlfriend on a date?"
"Oh, so I'm your girlfriend now, am I?"
Delight warms her as Pete's ears flush brightly, "I, uh, I mean, yes? If you want to be, I guess I just kind of assumed you did, which I guess isn't fair, I probably should have asked you know, but uh-"
Mo reaches up to kiss him on the cheek, and his rambling stops mid-sentence, his whole face lighting up like a Christmas tree.
"I'd like to be your girlfriend, Pete."
"Oh, ok."
"Alright you two, hurry up, stop canoodling," Happy's voice rings out from behind them as he strides towards them. "I've got to pick up chillidogs and donuts on the way back."
"Yes!" Mo cheers.
"Uhm, that's alright, Mr Happy, sir, you don't need to-"
"Shut up, kid, I'm buying you a chillidog. Now get to the car," Happy says. "And it's Harold to you."
"Yes, of course, Mr Harold, sir, sure."
Happy sighs and holds open the front door for them to walk through hand in hand. And for the first time in a long time, Mo thinks everything is actually going to be ok.
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A/N: Ive gone back and added some additional scenes and generally tidied the last 16 chapters.