#pining peter

break up make up fluff, some possessive/jealous tony, and some healthy relationships over here! 

It feels damn good to be back for Senior year.

Summer settles neatly onto the past of Tony’s shoulders, and he steps through the main entrance with a smile on his face.

Immediately, his crew flock to him. Abandoning their lockers- newly painted after summer- and eagerly inquiring after lunch plans and new timetables.

“I heard about Pete,” Steve says quietly, bumping Tony’s shoulder in solidarity. “That sucks man, I’m sorry.” 

“I’ve had all summer to get over it,” Tony sighs. He’d hoped it would be old news by the time school started. They’d had over two months for the gossip to die down. He should’ve known it was a long shot. “It was amicable. Mutual.” 

“Doesn’t have to be,” Natasha grins slyly, “we can say you dumped his sorry ass.”

He knows she’s teasing, but he trips her up just in case she’s not.

*

It only takes a week to settle back into old routines. 

He cruises by in classes like always, relying on his natural flair and intelligence to get him by, and football season starts up again. The freshmen learn their place quickly, check the rungs of the social ladder and know where to sit in the cafeteria. Tony’s at the top, of course, and it’s all pretty great. He likes seeing new faces of admiration to add to his narcissism bank. 

He’s walking down the hall on a Tuesday morning, when he looks up and by chance, catches a glimpse of Peter Parker setting books into his locker.

It’s the first time he’s seen him in a long time. Summer’s done him good. His freckles are all pronounced, hair longer and curlier than Tony remembers, in a cream sweater and tight green pants that should awful but just look good. 

“Tony,” Peter smiles, voice soft, and Tony had thought he was over it, but his heart jerks and flips like he was punched in the chest.

“Pete,” he manages, coming to a staggered stop by the boy’s locker. “How was your summer?”

Peter bounces on his heels the way he always does when he’s excited. “Math camp was awesome!” and he barrels into an enthusiastic regaling of the few weeks away. “I haven’t- haven’t seen you since we’ve been back.”

Tony nods. “Big year.”

Peter meets his eyes. “I’ve missed you. We could…hang out, if it’s not…I mean, it’s probably weird-“

“Not weird.” Tony murmurs, even though it is weird. “We could get milkshakes sometime when you’re free.” 

Steve and Natasha are sending him curious looks from across the hall. 

“That’d be great,” Peter beams, “I’ll text you?”

*

He’s over it, he says to himself, watching Peter suck down a strawberry milkshake with extra whipped cream. 

He’s over it, even as Peter manages to pry him open the way even his own mother can’t. 

He’s over it, even when Peter touches his wrist and says that he doesn’t have to play football if he doesn’t want to. And that MIT will definitely accept his college application. 

“I was thinking,” Peter’s cheeks blush, a lovelier shade than the milkshake, “I might apply to MIT too. That could be kinda fun, right? Imagine if we both got in?” 

Totally not over it, Tony thinks to himself, as he imagines four years of college with Peter B. Parker. 

*

“So, what’s the 411?” Nat asks in the cafeteria, squinting at her pudding cup.

“The what?”

“The lowdown, c’mon, Tony, you and Peter broke up right after the semester finished. No one saw you all summer. And now you’re friends? I want details.” Her eyes light up with possibilities, “was he cheating with that guy from Harrison college like you thought?”

He has to close his eyes, shame rushing through his system, “no, he wasn’t. We’re- we’re in a good place. It’s good.”

“Where were you all summer?”

“I was working on myself, that’s all. A little fine tuning, here and there. It wasn’t too hard. Can’t really improve on perfection.”

She throws her pudding cup at him.

*

Contrary to popular belief, Tony’s never actually started a fight before. Never thrown a punch. 

He has now though. There are bruises on his knuckles. 

“We have to break up,” he says to Peter, on the last day of school, tucked away under the bleachers near an empty field. Everyone’s pulling pranks inside as per tradition. 

Peter nibbles on his bottom lip, and his lashes are long and his eyes are huge. “We love each other,” he points out, but he doesn’t sound beseeching. He’s nodding, like he thinks they should too. 

That gives Tony the final push. He’s making the right decision. “I love you so much, Pete.”

“I love you too, Tony. But I think you’re right.”

“Is Harry okay?”

Peter looks away and Tony feels ashamed. “He’s fine. He’s not- he’s not angry with you or anything.”

“Tell him I’m sorry again, anyway,” he swallows hard, ducks his head. “And are you…are you okay?”

“I can’t believe you thought I’d-“

“I didn’t, really-“

“I would never do that to you, Tony.”

“I know, I know.” Tony takes a breath. “I know you wouldn’t. I’m sorry. I’m- I’m gonna change. But I think we should…”

“Be apart.”

“Yeah.”

Peter nods, and he smiles, tiptoeing up to kiss Tony right on the mouth. Sensual and full of longing. Tony groans against him. “Just something to remember you by this summer,” Peter sighs, winking, and Tony laughs.

He moves out of his parents house that summer and in with his aunt.

His dad is a bitch to get out of his head but every day it becomes easier and easier to ignore him. 

*

They tread carefully around each other. There’s a new friendship on top of an old foundation and they want to make sure everything’s solid before moving too far. 

“Separate timetables,” Peter confirms, sliding his back into his pristine notebook. “But we’re still on for Karaoke this Saturday? You can bring your friends.”

“Not a date,” Tony chuckles, “just friends hanging out.”

“Just friends.” Peter beams, “but…we should bring people. A lot of people.” Tony quirks an eyebrow and Peter sighs: bashful. “To resist temptation.” He explains. 

Tony laughs at that, loud and delighted.

*

“Maybe take another route to class.” Steve mutters, hands warning on Tony’s arm, trying to tug him back. “Let’s go around the west block-“

But now Tony has to see. He rounds the corner and- and-

There’s Peter, his hair ridiculously, adorably mussed from the wind outside and he’s in a flannel shirt with fucking dungarees, but more important than any of that- there’s a letterman jacket on his shoulders. 

The name B A R N E S - 12 embellished on the brilliant blue.

And that must be the name of the guy leaning against Peter’s locker, and looking down at him with interest. The guy’s built, with slicked back hair and dark combat boots and a weird sort of brooding intensity. 

“Who the fuck is that?” Tony asks, voice level, tone quiet.

“New guy.” Steve winces, “James, I think? Peter’s his assigned tour buddy.”

His knuckles ache with the memory of Harry, and he turns away.

*

Peter gets a new profile picture on facebook. It interrupts Tony’s flow of memes to see Peter balancing on a hay bale against the sunset looking like a country child. He smiles, before noticing-

It’s a video pic.

Tony plays it. 

“I’m king of the world!” Peter yells in delight, nearly losing his balance, arms flailing. 

“You’re a moron!” Someone behind the camera hollers fondly and Tony recognises the voice. The low, brooding timbre.

*

“So, you and James, huh?” He asks, going for nonchalant as he catches up to Peter as they walk to the parking lot after school.

Peter quirks an eyebrow in surprise. “Who?”

“James, new guy, very built, very tall.”

“Oh, Bucky,” Peter laughs, “I’m his assigned tour guide, I think he wants to try out for football so you could have another player on your team!”

Tony gets to his car and feels like everything’s slipping away. “How your MIT application going?” He asks desperately, and Peter hums.

“Sent it off yesterday, how about you?”

Relief courses through Tony’s system. “Sending it off tomorrow.” He promises and Peter gives him a ludicrously adorable thumbs up. 

*

The next morning, Peter is wrapped up in a leather jacket three sizes too big, and Bucky Barnes is  at his side.

Tony’s knuckles ache. He tries to pretend to be interested in the contents of his locker, but his ears are straining-

“Dinner, tonight?” Bucky says, voice low and inviting.

“I promised Ned we’d finish the Lego death star. You can join us if you like.”

“A movie on Friday.”

“Buck…”

“Think about it. Please.”

The bell rings. 

“Wait, take your jacket-“

“Keep it. I like seeing you in my clothes.”

Tony slams his locker shut. 

*

With blood pouring from his nose, Harry still manages to gargle out: “I’m straight, you dick!”

“Tony!” Peter cries in horror, rushing back to the booth. “What’s going on? Oh my god, Harry-“

Tony feels the world slipping out from under him. “I thought you were-“

“Oh fuck, it hurts! I think he broke my nose!”

“I don’t understand- someone call an ambulance! Tony, why are you even here?”

The words sound disgusting as he spits them out. “I followed you.”

Peter eyes are huge and astonished. “Why?”

“I thought…” He can’t say it. 

Peter gasps.

Tony doesn’t have to. 

*

Peter’s still in the band room after school, and Tony slips in silently, and just watches for a moment. Then he clears his throat. Peter jumps, before beaming at him. It’s a smile that makes you feel like the centre of the universe. 

“Why aren’t you going out with Barnes?”

Peter gapes, looking stunned, before scoffing. “Don’t be ridiculous, Tony, I couldn’t-“

“Why not?” He presses. “He’s handsome. He cares about you. You like each other.”

“Tony…”

“Pete.” Tony shakes his head. “Please, for the love of god, don’t think about me. Think about you. Do what makes you happy.”

Peter’s hazel eyes are swimming. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He admits after a long moment, and it stings Tony more than he’ll ever admit. 

“I have nothing to be hurt about. You’re my friend, Peter, and I only want you to be happy, okay? Do what makes you happy.”

Peter gives him a long look, before sniffling. “That’s really cool of you, Tony,” he whispers gratefully. 

Tony lets out a wet laugh, but has to admit that though it hurts- it feels a little good too. 

* 

“Alert, alert,” Nat whispers frantically, “incoming!”

Tony turns in his seat in the cafeteria, only to feel warm lips press against his own. 

Someone whoops.

“What makes me happy,” Peter whispers, once Tony’s returned to reality, “is you.”

Tony could fly. He gets up, cups Peter’s face in his, and grins. “Well then, I can only oblige. As a friend.”

“As a friend.” Peter giggles, and they kiss again. 

*

“Don’t be too upset about it,” Steve consoles Bucky in the corner of the cafeteria watching the couple kiss. “They’re kind of endgame.”

Bucky gives him an unimpressed look. “And who are you?”

“Steve Rogers. I play football.”

this blog is iMMORTAL. 100% true. we just took a lil nap, is all

All I Want for Christmas by NotEvenCloseToStraight

The Rules (Tis Them) by Ravenmaster

it’s okay to not be okay (series) by  Setkia

cornerstone by thespideyboy

I'm Just Trying To Love You Crazy (series) by  vintagerogers

The genius teen catches Peter's eyes in their first week. It's not only his brilliance, but the defiant pout he wears when moving among the much older students and his beautiful eyes that seem a bit sad when he forgets himself. Peter observes this in the first few weeks.

He also notices that there's a guy who accompanies Tony everywhere. He appears a bit intimidating, but seems to take care of Tony, catches him before he collides with the lamp post when he's too busy explaining something and shuts him up so that he actually eats some of his lunch. Peter finds out that they are roommates. He can't help the sting of jealousy he feels at that.

With each passing day he becomes more intrigued and enamoured by Tony. He often scolds himself for gazing towards him too often in class or in the corridors or in the cafeteria - anywhere, really where he has a chance to catch his gaze looking up from under beautiful dark lashes.

Peter also notices that whenever this happens the guy who's with Tony frowns in disapproval. He tries and usually succeeds at turning Tony's attention back to himself. One time though Tony smiles back and Peter can't fight his smirk at the sight of the blush that appears on his cheeks when the other guy - Rhodey, he found out - catches him at it.

Peter understands Rhodey's concern. Tony is one to be worried about and cared for. And Peter wouldn't want to do anything else while Tony's still so young. But he backs off and waits.

Years pass and he learns to be subtle about his attraction. Rhodey doesn't become friendly towards him but his face is less stern when he looks at Peter. The few times Peter gets the chance to talk to Tony or listen to his presentation make up for the times when impatience and loneliness become almost unbearable.

***

Tony is stared at a lot when he arrives at MIT. He pretends to brush it off, but sometimes it really gets to him. Rhodey finds him one evening sniffling over his book. He doesn't say anything but afterwards keeps him company wherever he goes.

Apart from the haughty frowns and the whispering behind his back Tony finds being on campus exhilarating. He's excited about his classes and the labs and the library. If it wasn't for Rhodey he might not be eating or sleeping at all. It's just too much time wasted when he could explore! But Rhodey insists and so does his mother and Jarvis in their letters so Tony gives in.

It's in the cafeteria that he first notices that guy looking at him. Tony's ready to turn away from him when he realises that the other's expression is in fact friendly. He has nice eyes, too and he doesn't seem to mind a child being on campus.

Tony smiles at him. Rhodey's saying something, but he doesn't process it because holy fuck the guy smiles back at him. Tony turns towards Rhodey, eyes wide, hopeful enthusiasm bubbling in his chest - could he make another friend? - when he sees it in Rhodey's eyes. Disapproval. His smile fades immediately. He knows that expression only too well. He doesn’t ask Rhodey about the boy.

Years pass and Tony figures out a few things. First that his other friend - as he came to think about him - studies chemical engineering. Then, that he's name is Peter Parker. Then there's the last one, the tricky one - and this one is about Tony. He figures out that he's gay.

After that, it doesn't take a genius - even though he is one - to figure out that the fluttering sensation in his stomach that he feels every time he glimpses Peter Parker might not be due entirely to his um... friendly feelings. No. Tony starts to suspect that it has more to do with Peter's unruly curls and his playful smile.

Tony doesn't mention those things to anyone. He thinks about them though and sometimes imagines how soft Peter's hair would feel and how he would smile at Tony when he brushes a few strands out of Peter's face.

He's caught up in of one of these daydreams when he hears Rhodey speak. They're in the middle of one their endless study session for their last finals. Tony would ignore him but he looks particularly grumpy as he stares at something farther down the reading hall.

"What?" Tony asks, turning to look for the source of Rhodey's annoyance. He stops, though when he glimpses Peter Parker at the other side of the room.

"I said that that Parker person has been looking at you a great deal again lately."

Tony gulps. Suddenly he's hot all over and he can barely keep a stupid, giddy grin off his face. "Yeah?" he manages, his voice unusually high.

"Yeah," Rhodey grumbles. "Been doing it for three years... Hey, what's up with you?" he asks when Tony practically jumps out of his seat.

"Just um... need to... a book," he blurts turning back as he hurries down the hall.

He has no idea what he will do, but when he reaches Peter's desk he doesn't try to hide his smile, nor the happiness in his eyes.

"Hi," Peter greets.

"Hi," Tony answers. Peter doesn't speak, just keeps smiling up at him. Tony would happily stay like this forever, but in some distant corner of his mind he knows that they are in the library and the situation is bound to get awkward soon.

He tears his gaze away from Peter and points at the shelf behind him. "I was looking for a..." Shit. It's the astronomy section. Peter will know that he's not telling the truth as soon as he turns to look. There he goes, glancing over his shoulder...

But he turns back with a smile and stands up. "Help you find it?"

Tony nods and steps towards the shelf before Peter can see him blushing. He knows when Peter follows him by the now familiar fluttering of his stomach. Tony stares blankly at the books in front of him, not daring to look at Peter.

"Hey, isn't this the one?" Peter asks after a few seconds pulling a book halfway out. Tony's fingers brush against his as he reaches for it. Peter hums and Tony thinks he's smiling, though he doesn't dare look up.

Tony can understand- at least on a purely superficial level- why Pepper might have thought they were a good match. But hell, Tony’s counting down the seconds till he can get out of this restaurant and into his limo- very much alone.

He’s wondering why Pepper’s done this to him. Is it a punishment? Did he forget to sign some contracts again?

Because even though Dexter is handsome- and he is handsome, just Tony’s type. Fit, and compact with big eyes and a slender build- fair and beautiful, but he’s…dull. Boring. Painfully average and just this side of rude.

Normally, Tony wouldn’t put up with it. He’d have made a crass comment and walked out, but this is a fancy place, and he’s already had enough public scandals for the past month. So, for this evening- and only this evening- he puts up with Dexter’s admission that not only does he not have a Stark Phone, but he actually owns an Oscorp Laptop.

Tony must have forgotten to sign some papers. This is definitely a punishment. Only Pepper would be this cruel. 

Dexter nearly leaps out of his seat in outrage and Tony startles, before quickly hiding his grin behind his hand at the huge wet stain all over the man’s trousers.

“I-I’m so sorry, Sir! Oh god- I’m- I’ll pay to have that dry cleaned!” Comes the stumbling, apologetic plea of the waiter, and Tony tries to hide his laughter in his steak as Dexter angrily stomps to the bathroom.

Ah, bliss. He’s free of the man’s company for a few minutes. He turns to the waiter gratefully, only to see the young man hurriedly packing things back onto the tray.

He watches casually as the waiter picks up the glass and hums consideringly at the pert, round ass clad in tight black pants, and as the waiter gets up- sees his face.

Oh, he’s so pretty. Tony feels his mouth water and he’s just about to try his smoothest pick up line- when something clicks.

Dexter’s order had come wrong, when they first arrived. His steak was well done when he’d asked for rare. His lime-infused source had apparently reeked of lemon, and- Tony looks down at their wine-glasses.

His own has been refilled with deep burgundy, and Dexter’s is empty.

The waiter can obviously tell what Tony’s realised, because he blushes (pretty, pretty, pretty Tony thinks on repeat. Is he broken?) and reaches to mop up the damp around Dexter’s plate. “In no universe does Oscorp broadband run faster than SI’s.” The waiter murmurs matter-of-factly, cheeks still pink but eyes sparkling and honest, and holy shit, Tony is in love.

“What time do you get off?” He asks, intrigued beyond belief, and the waiter shoots him a half scandalised, half delighted look, before Dexter comes back.

He shoots a glare at the waiter, and Tony feels a surge of protectiveness rise up. He stands up, balling his napkin and tossing it onto the table. Dexter frowns up at him, and the waiter is staring warily.

“Dexter,” Tony sighs, raising his wine glass, and the other guests turn to look, and fuck it, it’s just another scandal- “This has been horrible.” And he tips his wine all over the man’s insufferable face.

He feels maybe a little bad about it, but then the waiter is beaming and saying-

“I’m Peter Parker. You can pick me up from here tomorrow at 8.”

“What the fuck?!” Dexter screeches, but Tony hardly hears him, because Peter’s pressed a card into the palm of Tony’s hand and it’s white and pristine and all it says is-

Tony can’t stop staring at him.

Across the classroom, near the window where Peter Parker is bathed in afternoon sunlight and shimmering like an enchanted thing of beauty. With his perfect coffee curls and his hazel eyes and his effortless grace, Tony feels lust coil hot and tight in the pit of his gut.

Peter, who’s scribbling away at his paper, looks up as though he can sense eyes on him, and looks across the classroom.

Tony snaps his eyes back down to his desk guiltily; hot shame rising up to his cheeks, before sneaking another look to see Peter still looking over at him; perfect pink lips lifted into a smile.

Tony tries to smile back, but he thinks it comes out as a distorted grimace and he hates himself.

Is it not enough that Peter is the most obscenely beautiful thing he’s ever seen in his life? But does he have to be so nice? The popular clique, the ones that roam the halls of high school exuding confidence and superiority. The ones who never have to worry about anything, the ones that everyone else lower down in the food chain simultaneously hates and envies- why does Peter have to be the only one who is nice?

Tony, a surly outcast who doesn’t care for interacting with his peers, eats alone most of the time. Sometimes he camps out in the biology rooms at lunch with a boy from the year above named Bruce, but most of the time he likes to be by himself. A lone wolf. He feels above all the high school drama- transcended because he knows that this is just a temporary state. What happens here and now doesn’t matter. Tony won’t ever fit in here. This is not his arena. His arena will be just after college, then he’ll start living his life and he’ll be popular and rich and as confident as he likes without having to worry about getting shoved into lockers by jocks who think that just because they can catch a ball they’re better than him.

But Peter Parker makes him…

Makes his blood run hot. Makes him want to engage in the stupid, so so stupid little scenarios. Makes him want to text until his fingers ache, makes him consider cramming love letters into the boy’s locker or maybe even hoping against hope to end up getting partnered with him in something again like they were in English a while ago.

But Tony isn’t special.

Everyone thinks Peter is beautiful. The boy may be small in stature but he has the face of an angel, and he lives on the rich side of town, he has perfect skin, and he’s on the cheerleading squad and he hosts supposedly phenomenal parties at his mansion whenever his parents are away. Peter extends invitations to everyone but Tony never ever goes. Most of the student body lusts after him, but Tony-

Tony thinks he can see a little more. He and Peter share practically all the same classes, and even though Peter seems on the surface like another pretty boy living on the highest rungs of society, though he seems like just another cheerleader, just another person who comes to school in a shiny red camaro in expensive clothes- he’s also…

He’s also in every AP class, and he has a grade point average that almost rivals Tony’s. He’s never missed a day of school and he never skips out on lessons and he gives all his teachers handwritten thank you notes at the end of each year.

And instead of ignoring Tony, or sneering at him, or shoving him into a locker, Peter every so often, gives him that gorgeous, heart stopping smile.

But then the end of class comes, and he can only watch as Peter and the rest of the other beautiful people stand up and leave. Tony lingers, waiting until the room is practically empty before packing up his things and going to find Bruce.

Homecoming is an ever-present shadow that lurks on the cusp of the horizon.

Tony tries to stay above rumours, really he does, but even he can’t help hearing, as he collects his physics books, as a number of students whisper about how Peter Parker rejected William’s request.

“He said he was going to ask someone,” a girl whispers, and Tony cocks his head, straining to hear:

“Really? Ask who?”

“Maybe he has a boyfriend who doesn’t go here. He’s probably dating an older guy.”

“That’s so unfair. Maybe it was just an excuse not to go with William. Maybe he’s waiting for someone else to ask?”

“Do you think I should?”

“I would pay to see that!”

Tony tries to ignore it, but instead he obsesses over it. He’s not going to Homecoming because it’s all superfluous and he doesn’t need to put himself through it. His mom had looked sad when he told her, but she’d ultimately understood and Tony had tried to reassure her. This doesn’t matter. None of it matters, and even though he has reoccurring dreams about walking into the hall with Peter on his arm, even though he thinks about wearing his dad’s old tux with staples in the sleeves, even though the thought of slow dancing with the only boy in school that manages to hold his attention seems to torment him every waking moment of the day- none of it matters.

He’s in the middle of eating a tuna sandwich and trying very hard not to get fish stuck in his braces when the entire cafeteria falls into a hush.

It’s unnerving, and he looks up curiously, expecting to see…honestly, he’s not sure, but he doesn’t expect to see Peter Parker standing at his table; heart stoppingly gorgeous in a silky red bomber jacket embroidered with green flowers, and a low cut v-neck black top and light wash jeans. He’s not expecting to see Peter looking at him, pink on his cheeks and glitter in his eyes. “Tony?” Peter asks quietly, but it seems exceedingly loud in the amazed quiet of the canteen.

Tony swallows a hard lump of tuna and stares in amazement. He almost wants to clean the dust smudges off his glasses to make sure he’s seeing things clearly. “Uh…hi?” He manages, croaking a little and instantly glowing scarlet as Peter smiles beside him. Peter’s voice is smooth as velvet; Tony’s still cracks here and there on certain words. 

“I was wondering if you were going to Homecoming?”

What-how-Tony’s brain isn’t working right. He feels like a complete mess in the face of Peter’s elegance. “I…I wasn’t planning on it?” He forces out and Peter nods like this is what he expected, a few perfect curls tumbling into his forehead.

“I was thinking, um, maybe if you decided to go we could…” he shrugs, a small, hopeful smile on his face as he tips his head, “we could go together? If you want.”

The words don’t compute. Nothing really makes sense. He sets down his sandwich and tries not to melt under the thousand eyes looking over at them. He glances at Peter suspiciously; his heart pounding. “Is this…” he whispers, barely audible to his own ears, “is this a joke?” Fuck Peter, if it is. He’s just like all the others-

“What?” Peter asks, eyebrows furrowing together in adorable confusion. “What? No, Tony, I…I’m not joking.”

He sounds so sincere, but surely he can’t be. “We’ve never even talked,” Tony points out, “why would you want to..?”

Peter’s cheeks go even pinker and he ducks his head. “I mean- no, you’re right really, but I just- remember when we were paired up last semester in English? I just- I don’t know, you’re really…I thought we had fun.”

Peter remembers that? Tony had thought that the connection between them was entirely one-sided. He’d thought that Peter was just nice to him the way he was nice to everyone. But did he- did he feel how Tony felt about it? All flushed and excited because Peter Parker was sitting next to him and laughing at his jokes and- that was more than just politeness? He swallows hard, and nods jerkily. “No! No, yeah,” he stutters out, “that was fun.”

Peter smiles again; serene and breathtaking. “I get Homecoming might not be your scene, so maybe we could do something else? Um- you like sci-fi movies, right?”

Tony does love sci-fi movies, and his heart skips a beat over the fact that Peter remembers him saying that. Is this even possible? Could he see a sci-fi movie with Peter Parker? And yet…he should rise above it, really he should, but there’s something about the boy before him that- that makes him want to buy a carnation and hold Peter’s hand and smile with shiny metal on his teeth as his mom takes a photo on their old, beaten up camera. “Homecoming,” Tony whispers definitively, “homecoming would be- that would be nice.”

“Cool,” Peter whispers back; a smile in his voice, as he nods at Tony, and shoots him a little wave, before heading back to the table with the rest of them.

The cafeteria breaks back out into noise.

A little part of Tony continues not to believe it. Why wouldn’t he? He’s too smart to actually believe whole-heartedly that Peter Parker would want him. Why would he? Tony’s skin is still bumpy from puberty, and his braces make his lips all chapped and his glasses are too big for his face and he dresses like he just doesn’t give a crap (because he’s saving all his effort for when he’s older, for when he’s made it and if he pretends like he doesn’t care about having nice clothes, his mom won’t feel so guilty over not being able to afford them and he never, ever wants her to feel guilty).

He holds onto the hope, but carries the skepticism, and it only really goes away when Peter Parker steps into his house and gives Tony’s mother a box of chocolates and trips over the threshold because he’s so nervous.

The skepticism disappears completely when Peter wraps his arms around Tony’s neck under the cheesy disco ball to some pop song from the 80s and Tony’s hands shake as they settle on Peter’s waist and he’s certain he’s sweating like a pig, and Peter whispers into his ear, almost hidden by the music:

“I’m so glad you said yes,”

Tony holds him tighter; trembling and petrified and excited because he knows this is going to change everything. People are giving them looks, emotions range from surprise to utter confusion. “Why me?” He manages to choke out into Peter’s hair, and the boy pulls back to look up at him. Because it’s obvious to anyone in the world why Tony would like Peter, but why does Peter- why would he want some surly, easily annoyed nerd?

“You make me happy,” Peter says simply, one of his hands stroking through Tony’s short hair. “And I think there’s more to you than what everyone else sees.”

His heart clenches and flips with excitement. “I feel- I feel the same about- about you-“ he gushes and Peter laughs, burying his face into Tony’s sweaty neck.

When he gets home, his mom eagerly demands to know every single detail and instead of hiding in his room with his computer, he sits down and drinks the hot chocolate she makes in front of the fire, and tells her everything.

Deadpool has found the apartment belonging to Spiderman. Or Peter Parker, if the name on the door is anything to go by.