The door creaked open, both man and teen held their breaths as Steve walked into the room. Steve stood in the doorway staring at the back of the boy in the chair who seemed tense as he stared at the wall in front of him. The boy had messy brown hair and a navy blue t-shirt on. Steve had forgotten how to move. Finally, after what seemed like hours but was more like seconds, Steve moved forward. He moved to the other side the table and sat down. He and the boy stared at each other although Peter looked more confusion thinking someone was playing a sick joke and then his expression changed to complete awe.
They sat there staring.
"H – hi." Steve stammered. Beating Red Skull was easier then this!
"Hi." Peter mumbled back. It seemed like the silence came crashing down. The ice had cracked slightly. Steve gave a small smile and Peter sent one back.
"So, I'm Steve, um, your great grandfather." Steve announced awkwardly. Peter laughed a little, Steve wondered what he was laughing about and then he figured it out.
"That's going to be hard getting used to. You look like you could be no more than ten years older than me!" Peter smiled. It didn't reach his eyes but it was an improvement to staring. Steve full out laughed. It was true. He was a great grandfather and everyone would just think they were brothers, father and son if you stretched the idea
Once they sat in silence again, Steve noticed something strange about meeting the kid.
"You don't seem surprised that I'm only a few years older then you. I'm guessing you know who I am."
"Yeah, you're Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America and you were unfrozen two years ago." Peter recited.
"Most people don't know who Steve is, they just know the Captain." Steve pointed out. Peter blushed slightly making Steve even more curious.
"I – I read about Doctor Erskine's experiment to make you a super soldier. I sounded painful." Peter explained. Steve nodded.
"You must know your science. I was told the ingredients they were going to use, the process and what the result would be." Steve explained and then he laughed, "All that science went straight over my head! I was strapped onto this table and then Erskine injected me with something and I said 'that wasn't so bad'. It was the penicillin. I can't say it did much to stop the pain."
"Just imagine what it would have been like without the penicillin." Peter pointed out and Steve gave a nod, that was true.
"So you understood the sciency stuff in the super soldier experiment then?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, I like science. Most people hate chemistry but I find it fascinating." Peter mumbled like he was embarrassed.
"There's nothing wrong with enjoying your hobby. Who are your favourite scientists? By the way, I probably won't know any of them, just a forewarning." Steve said.
"Actually, I think you'll know them. My four favourite scientists in no particular order are Albert Einstein, Erskine, Bruce Banner and Tony Stark." Peter announced brightly. Steve groaned. Peter looked like he said something wrong and almost retracted into his mumbling, quiet shell.
"Whatever you do, please do not mention that to Tony when you meet him." Steve announced and then explained, "I'll never hear the end of it!"
Peter looked surprised; Steve got the wrong impression so he kept talking.
"I live at the Avengers Tower, previously the Stark Tower and Stark is waiting outside. He'll tease me relentless if he finds out that my relative, no matter how close or distant, is a fan."
"You – you want me to live with you?" Peter asked dumbfounded. He knew he was meeting a distant relative but when he found out that relative was Captain America, he was positive the man didn't have any intentions of claiming guardianship. Steve looked just as shocked. Why would Peter think that he didn't want him? Would he really drive all the way here just to say he wasn't taking Peter?
"Yes." Steve said plainly, still shocked. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I just – I just – I don't know, why would you want me?" Peter asked. It was such as simple question yet so difficult to answer. Peter kept talking. "Surely you've heard of the history of my – our family. Everyone dies early. It's cursed."
Steve looked even more shocked. Was Peter saying he felt cursed?
"You're still here and I'm still breathing. We're made of sterner stuff. We need to stick together." Steve reassured. Peter still looked sceptical but dropped it.
"So," Steve said breaking the awkwardness, "you were telling me about your favourite scientists."
Peter nodded slowly before continuing. He explained how he was fascinated by Einstein and Erskine. He then explained how Bruce Banners research into gamma radiation was what first interested him in that area of science. It was clear that neither had forgotten the previous conversation.
"Why Stark then?" Steve asked.
"I know that Mr Stark only drabbles in science and those kinds of experiments but his research in mechanics and the relations between science and mechanics is fascinating." Peter explained. Steve nodded and listened as Peter talked on, he was really enjoying listening to the boy, his own blood. Ten minutes later, Steve was telling Peter about his great grandma when there was a knock on the door. They both looked towards the door and Nancy walked in.
"I hope you are now well acquainted. Will you be moving in together today?" Nancy asked. Both boys looked confused.
"I thought I had to go through tests to check whether I was legible to look after Peter?" Steve asked.
"That's all been dealt with." She brushed off. It was easy to see she was just as confused about that matter but had to let it slide. Steve guessed this had something to do with Fury, he would thank the man later.
"So?" Nancy promoted. Peter looked at Steve for guidance. Steve could tell the boy was still scared that Steve was going to leave him so Steve shrugged his shoulder and looked Peter straight in the eyes.
"I will only take Peter if he wants to come with me." He said. Peter gawped before closing his mouth and staring back at Steve.
"Y – Yes please." He stuttered. Steve broke into a wide smile which Peter reflected. Nancy smiled and then led the way to Peter's room so they could gather his things. Steve offered to take two of the boxes while Peter dug under his bed to grab his skateboard.
"You know," Steve said as Peter started emerging from under the bed, "Coming to live with me means you get to meet two of your favourite scientists."
Peter bumped his head as he lifted his head which was still under the bed. He rubbed it in pain before turning to smirk at Steve.
"Are you bribing me?" He grinned. Steve grinned back.
"I might but you already agreed to live with me so I don't need to." Steve pointed out. Peter mockingly glared at Steve before he remembered who he was talking to and shuffled to his bed to grab Uncle Ben's shoulder bag ensuring his letter was hidden in the bag. Steve sighed, it was going to take a while for them both to get used to this.
Finally, Steve followed Peter down the stairs where he said goodbye to a few people, got a fist bump from Vince and got hugged by Nancy. Steve then led the way to Tony's bright red Mercedes. He asked for Tony to drive something less conspicuous but upon seeing the options, this was the best one. Tony wasn't paying attention when they got there but when Steve opened the boot he spun around. Peter stood close to Steve, already slightly attached, and put his box and skateboard into the car. Once they had put everything away, Steve got in the seat next to Tony while Peter climbed into the back behind Tony's chair. Tony spun around and held a hand out awkwardly to the backseat for Peter to shake.
"Hi, I'm Tony Stark, you must be Peter." Tony greeted. Steve was surprised that Tony was being so civil – so, normal?
"Hi." Peter responded shyly as he took the hand. He mentally hit himself. He had never been this shy before. Why now?
"So, Petey," Tony said as he started driving, "what's capsicle told you about me?"
Peter glanced at Steve who looked back at Peter with a small smirk so Peter decided he was allowed to have some fun.
"Well, sir, he's told me you're obnoxious, annoying and full of yourself." Peter said in an offhanded tone. That was what he had gathered from Steve protesting about telling Tony he was a popular scientist.
Tony spluttered indignantly while Steve burst out laughing. Tony then glared at Steve with one eye while trying to pay attention to the road.
"I thought we were in a good place, Rogers!" Tony burst out in mock hurt.
"The kid's easy to talk to, honest feelings just came out." Steve quipped.
The rest of the journey was done with banter and mostly Tony trying to get Peter to talk more. Peter answered most questions but mostly he kept quiet. He was looking forwards to his new life, even though he missed his old one.
Did I do justice to the meeting scene? Please tell me, I'm biting my fingers I'm so nervous!