#my worry is that it would either be taken as a ''hating on Pete'' set and I'd get mad shit for it in my inbox

[laesas]

did you ever make a post about pete not liking tankhun ? i know you mentioned it a few times in your tags but i don't remember seeing a post. (i share your opin ions.)

I definitely toyed with the idea of meta or a gifset but I didn't ever make a full post! I love unrequited love and I ESPECIALLY love the extremely rare platonic version which Tankhun and Pete absolutely nail in my opinion!

There are loads of moments where Pete's smile drops around Tankhun very quickly, or he insults Tankhun behind his back. Instead of laughing things off like Arm and Pol, he almost has a wincing fear-response to Tankhun, which we don't really see at all from the other bodyguards.

I think that Tankhun likes to think of himself as being close friends with his bodyguards, and he does genuinely show a lot of open affection for Pete and eventually concern for his safety. But I think ultimately for Pete, Tankhun is just a part of Pete's job, and over time resentment has built up until he thinks of Tankhun as one of the *worst* parts of it. I definitely don't think he resents Tankhun enough to hurt or endanger him, but that's about as far as it goes, there's certainly very little love there.

Something about that dynamic is just particularly brilliant, especially when combined with Pete's eventual defection from Tankhun's side to Vegas'. He chooses a man who has beaten and tortured him over a man who showers him in affection and throws parties on his return.

I utterly adore Tankhun but I think as a character that's grown up in a gilded cage, he doesn't really understand that what Pete needs is a sense of his own autonomy rather than being dragged to "fun" "lets cheer up Pete" parties that Tankhun has demanded on his behalf. At least with Vegas he *chose* to go back, he handed Vegas the ropes, let him lock him back up again. Even before he develops feelings for Vegas, Pete has clearly felt like a subhuman pet for Tankhun and the main family for a long, long time and I think ironically Vegas acknowledging Pete's humanity is the tipping point for him.

I think even without their nascent romantic love as a factor, Pete would always choose Vegas. Because despite the threat of suffering, he offers a sense of freedom that Tankhun's gilded cage does not. It all makes for an incredibly interesting betrayal, and makes Pete choosing Vegas over Tankhun all the more pointed. By choosing to be Vegas' pet, he chooses to be human.

[blissfulparker]

Seasick→P.P pt.2

Parings→ peter Parker x reader

Warnings→slowburn, fake dating, fluff

Summary→when you lie to your mom about having a boyfriend before vactation peter steps in to help. But being in a fake relationship isnt as easy as you thought. especially not easy when you two have feelings for one another. 

A/n→ here is part two of seasick! @spectacularlyspidey made me this lovely moodboard, I love Ren 🥰 I hope you guys enjoy it and I’m going to try and post it more often if that is what you guys want💗

Toothbrush, Peter, you need your toothbrush.” May helps him pack. She seemed more excited than peter. Peter placed his clothes into bens old suitcase as if it was a chore. Hes scared, beyond scared. What if your family hates him, what if they think hes less of what they expected, what if they catch on? All the ideas and scenarios ran through his head.

“May, i've got it. I'm 19 not 14.” he reminded her and she pouted. She knew the whole plane, he had nothing to hide from her Anyways.

“You know that you can still say no.” she comes over to run a hand through Peter's hair. She knew when Peter had a crush, she always did. Although normally he'd get scared of going on a field trip with one or a study date, never a summer vacation.

“She needs me to do this. I told her i would and were setting boundaries on the plane so when we get there its not weird.” he told her and she hummed.

“I know you really like her, like more than a friend. I have a tingle too.” she teases and peter scrunches his face. “But think this can be a start, you maybe could start something here.” she kisses his forehead before leaving him in his rom to finish packing. He looks over at his phone to see the time, he sees how you’ll be at his house soon and picking him up for the airport. The airport where you'd meet your family in Florida where you’d go out to sea.

He shuts the suitcase and listens to the sound of it zipping up before flopping on his bed letting the time run out.

-

8 hours, it was an 8 hour flight filled with anxiety and fear. You had both agreed on a list. A list of things to do around your family

-forehead kisses are allowed(kisses on the lips not necessary unless needed)

-holding hands as often as we can

-snuggling up to one another

-going places together like the pool or restaurant

-pet names

-make up stories about each other

-hands always on one another

That was about it. That's all you two had to do and you'd keep it up for a week. Then when the two of you get home things go back to normal. Normal. That word hurt peters ears. Normal meant there were no real feelings and he'd have to let go of you.

“I-i can hold your bags.” he offered as you two got off the plane. He wore his Columbia hoodie with sweats, probably not the best option for landing in Florida but he was so nervous.

You give him a warm smile and nod. You were nervous too, for almost all the same reasons as peter. You wished you could have just taken ned, ned or another friend who was just seen as your friend. Someone you didn't have to think so much about kissing. Someone you didn't have to think about pretending to hold. Someone you didn't have to worry catching feelings for.

“Wait,” you stop him and he looks at you with soft eyes. “My mom is really....touchy. She loves hugging and she might kiss your cheek. It’s nothing to intentionally make you uncomfortable but i'm really sorry in advance.” you warn him.

He nods as from a distance your mom shouts your name. She's wearing a sundress and sandals, ready for a vacation. Your dad is next to her smiling ready to hug you, now he knew it was real. All of it was now real. If your mom and dad intimidated him he was scared to see the rest of your family.

“Oh sweetheart i've missed you so much, ugh New York is such a small yet big state. We wished college did hog you so much.” she kisses your cheeks.

“Mom, dad, this is my boyfriend...Peter, the one I've been telling you about.” you hold his arm and he's already smiling and going in to shake hands. Your mom takes him for a hug and gets pink lipgloss on his cheek.

He sees how much you look like her, the hair, the eyes, the smile that's so contagious, but the personalities are completely different. She was bubbly and happy all over the place while you, you were a little more reserved and only showed the good side to your friends. Save the best parts of you for the best people.

“Ugh i was starting to think she'd never get one, especially not one so handsome and smart.” she holds his arms giving them a squeeze. “Wow he works out too you can really tell.” You quickly take him back before he gets uncomfortable.

“Mom…” you warn and she scoffs.

“Sweetheart, you know I'm teasing. Your sisters are already boarded and waiting so we can leave when you two are ready.” sisters. You never told him about sisters. He didn't even know you had any siblings. He thought you were always an only child. You never talked about any siblings or really family except your mom and dad and occasionally your aunt.

But he can tell by your facial expressions that you were already dreading it more than him, dredging sisters but he didn't know why. He wasn't going to push it either. By the shift in your body he knew it was best to just question when you two were alone.

He willingly followed your family into a cab where you four set off for a week of one of the hardest masks he had to put on, the mask of pretending to love you when he really did but could never tell you.

-

Never being on a cruise ship before he had no idea what to expect. His bare knowledge being the titanic—which did not help his fear of the ocean—even for the smartest kid, normally, he didn’t know much about boats. He never even considered himself to be on one, until last summer he never even thought he’d be in Europe for his senior year of highschool. That’s how he had to think of this, Europe. Semi-relaxing, regular peter, Europe. This was a once and a lifetime opportunity for him to be on a cruise with no Spider-Man activity, No stress, nothing but the sun on his skin.

“So we eat dinner at 7pm, you kids can get all settled in...maybe find yourself at the spa or the pool. Don’t be shy to order room service, ugh the boy is handsome but skinny.” Your mom comments once again. You give her eyes and a groan as you follow her down the hall to your room. “Oh please, you eat too, you're starting to lose your color.” She picks up your arm and you take it back.

He didn’t think the teasing was that bad, sure the appearance comments were too soon but he thought it was all a part of her bubbly personality. May teases all of them to eat when they’re over. May has teased all of them but always in a nice way.

When Peter dated Gwen—his ex girlfriend—last year she was the same. Always telling Peter about his appearance but he never really cared what she had to say. He just really needed someone at the time to move on from you.

“Here is your room, you kids have fun.” She hands you the card and kisses your cheek. “Wear the sundress your sister picked out, don’t be late.” She warned and walked down the hall. Only a few hours in and you wished you would’ve made some crap excuse about having a late final or actually telling the truth.

You two enter the room and Peter is shocked. It’s a gorgeous beach themed room. If he were a child he would already be jumping on the bed and touching everything. You seem to just drop your bags on the floor and immediately go to the bathroom. He leaves you be, taking in the beauty of the room, the California king bed, the wall hung T.V. The view of the ocean that made him slightly nervous but he didn’t mind. There was a dress on the bed, the sundress your mom wanted you to wear.

“Oh fuck.” You rub your face seeing that there’s the one bed. You thought maybe she’d at least use some sense and get two beds, that or a two roomed hotel. “I’m sorry pete, I thought she would maybe get us two rooms or—“

Another thing he seemed to notice was how money didn’t seem to be an issue for your family yet you never seemed to come off as well off. You lived in a small apartment like peter, your clothes were mostly thrifted or old, you ate ramen about three times a week and if it wasn’t that it was cheap pizza. Just like the rest of the group. You never came off as rich, it shocked him to even hear about a cruise, it shocked him even more that you could just say about how they could’ve gotten two rooms on a ship.

“It’s a California king,” he gestures. “We’ll fit without touching each other.” He calms you with a soft smile seeing how stressed you were.

“You’re not too scared of ships are you?” You ask him remembering how he said something about being afraid of the water.

“Well...Uh...no but yes, it makes me nervous but—“ your hand places itself over peters for comfort and he freezes up. You notice and quickly take your hand away.

“It won’t feel like anything trust me, you don’t feel the ship rock or anything. It’s not the titanic.” You reminded him as you picked up your phone and looked at the time. You two had plenty of time to get yourself ready.

“So….” he clasp his hands together and you look over to him. “For dinner how should I act?” He questions. You’re getting comfortable in the bed already while he’s still scared to touch it.

“Just be Peter, um...maybe a hand around my shoulder at one point or hand holding? Just like our list said. Really sell it. They’re gonna ask a lot of questions of how we met and stuff like that but I can do all of them if you want.” You tell him and he nods.

“Right,” he responded thinking the best thing to do was just be peter, the peter you knew, not the peter who was totally in love with you. “Just be peter.”

And that’s all he had to do.

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[ampmiscfiles]

Let Us Love You: Chapter 9

Start From The Beginning

Sam checked in with FRIDAY before entering the elevator. Ever since his tentative...whatever....with Peter had started, he had been taking extra care to avoideveryonewhen leaving and reentering the tower whenever he saw him. While blockers kept an individual smells hidden from random  people, there had been cases of mates sometimes being able to pick up hints of each other's smells anyway. Since Sam was a beta, Peter's scent never meant anything to him, and he hadn't even smelt anything from him lately. Hoever, with two super soldiers with enhanced senses in the tower, Sam didn't want to chance the lack of scent just being him. He had made a promise to keep their interactions secret, and he intended to keep it.

The two were slowly getting to know each other. For Sam, everything about Peter was new, but for Peter, it more so a game of similarities and differences.

Sam would be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying getting to know him. Peter was a genuinely good person, and if things every worked out between him and the others, he could be a valuable asset to the team.

The public sure seemed to love him.

Something that seemed to amuse Peter greatly for some odd reason.

Still, Sam avoided talking about his fellow teammates like the plague. He desperately wanted to ask more about Peter's past with the, rightfully dubbed, "Evil Avengers", but didn't want to overstep.

“Dr. Banner has entered the common area.” FRIDAY answered.

“Ok. Bruce is clear.” Sam replied.

Bruce was probably the only person in the tower he didn’t have to worry about. There was no way he’d pick up on Peter’s scent, nor would it even matter since he was a beta and not romantically interested in Peter.

Also, he was the only other person in the tower Peter seemed comfortable talking about.

Peter had held a lot of respect for the Bruce Banner of his world. So much so that Sam had taken up teasing him about being a Bruce Banner fan boy.

Interesting enough, Peter seemed to be an even bigger fan boy here.

The Bruce Banner of his world lost a lot of his freedoms and abilities to do research after the Avengers turned and trapped him, so eventually Peter had run out of research papers to read.

Here though, here Bruce was continuing to put out papers, and Peter was consuming them at an alarming rate.

Maybe he could bring Bruce to meet Peter one night.

Bruce had displayed plenty of interest in getting to talk to Peter, and Peter had definitely displayed his own.

Yeah, maybe Peter wouldn’t hate him if he brought Bruce.

“Hey, Bru-“ Sam’s greeting stopped short as a very disgruntled Bruce Banner lay on one of the couches, taking deep breaths.

“Uh…everything ok?”

“If by ok you mean I won’t Hulk out, then you should know I’m straddling a thin line right now. I can’t go back to the lab or the line will break.” Bruce huffed.

Sam grimaced at Bruce’s obvious efforts to calm himself were only marginally working.

“We’ll, I’m going out. Wanna join me? Maybe getting out of here will help?”

Bruce paused, lifting his head to look at Sam. The green tint to his eyes started to fade as he considered the option.

“You know, maybe that’s a good idea.”

Sam grinned as Bruce stood up.

Peter was gonna freak, and hopefully in a good way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“When did you start coming here?” Bruce asked. “It’s a bit out of the way for us.”

“It’s what I needed. With the raging alpha hormones, I wanted to be as far away as possible.” Sam sighed before smirking.

“Plus, I get a little private bonus for coming here.”

Bruce raised an eyebrow as he followed Sam into the rowdy bar.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” Bruce frowned, uncomfortable with all the people.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be clearing out soon.”

Bruce continued to frown, but followed Sam to the bar anyway. As they sat down, a muscular black man stood in front of them. He raised an eyebrow as he took in the sight on Bruce.

“Taking a real chance there, Wilson.”

Bruce looked up as Luke Cage moved in front of them.

“I’m aware.” Sam nodded. “But I’m pretty confident it’s gonna be fine.”

The man shrugged before setting Sam’s usual down and asking what Bruce wanted.

“Just water please, I’m not really a drinker.” Bruce winced.

“Strange to come to a bar for water, but to each their own, Banner.”

“I didn't know you ran a bar.”

“It's pretty low key. Mostly just known here in the Kitchen. Anyway, when you come back, leave Wilson at home next time.”

Sam choked on his drink as Luke laughed, moving on down the bar after giving Bruce his water.

“Jerk.” Sam muttered, no bite to his words.

“How long have you been coming here?” Bruce asked.

“About a month or so now. Couple of nights a week depending on certain factors."

“How have we not noticed you’ve been going out so much?” Bruce asked.

"Well, in your defense Bruce, you're usually tied up in some sort of research and buried in the lab."

"Don't talk about the lab." Bruce grunted. "That is a terrible subject at the moment."

"That's only raising my curiosity."

Bruce huffed as he took a sip of his water.

"Let's just say that Tony is in big trouble for the foreseeable future."

Sam laughed as he patted Bruce on the back.

"Just let me and Clint know what we need to do for you. Clint's been dying to have a go at Tony since he rigged one of his arrows with confetti during training."

The two continued talking, Sam occasionally taking note of the fact the crowd was thinning out quickly. As it neared the time Peter would most likely come from the back, Sam turned to Bruce with a serious expression.

"I'm gonna tell you something Bruce, but you've gotta keep it a secret."

"Is this something that could get us in some sort of trouble?" Bruce asked wearily.

"......no? Maybe? Probably? Yeah, definitely." Sam shrugged with a smile. "But if it makes you feel better, you'll be getting an immeasurable up on Tony."

Bruce raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Okay.....what's the big secret?"

"The drinks and distance from the tower aren't the only reasons I come here."

"Are you seeing someone Sam?" Bruce asked. "You know you don't have to keep it a secret from us."

"Oh, I'm 'seeing' someone alright, and I do have to keep it a secret and now you will too."

"Why-"

"Hey Sam!"

Bruce's head snapped up in surprise as a smiling Peter Parker walked over, clearly not noticing Bruce's presence.

"Hey, Pete." Sam smiled nervously. "I..um...hope you don't mind that I brought a friend? I told him the rule of meeting you."

Peter frowned as his eyes moved to the person next to Sam, then choked on air.

"D-Dr Banner!" Peter gasped.

Bruce just looked between Peter and Sam in shock, desperately trying to figure out what was going on. How had Sam managed to get close to Peter without anyone knowing?

"H-hi." Bruce stumbled, holding out his hand and praying he wasn't going to have to kill Sam.

He knew how protective the Defenders could be when it came to Peter, and he had no desire to have trouble.

Peter stared a moment before grasped his outstretched hand and began shaking it excitedly.

"I know I should be upset and throw you out Sam, but I'm to busy having a mental freakout at the fact I'm meeting Dr. Banner properly as opposed to when he rescued me from prison."

"Y-yeah." Bruce grimaced at the memory of the last time he had physically seen Peter. "I didn't know they were gonna do that...."

"Yeah, I kind of figured that." Peter smirked, pulling back his hand. "I've never seen someone look so...done with people."

"We may be a pack," Bruce sighed. "But I know stupid when I see it."

Peter laughed as Bruce ran his hand down his face.

"If you have time Dr. Banner, I'd love to get to talk to you. I have so many questions about your work. I've been pouring through your research papers and I've wanted to pick your brain so bad!"

Bruce blinked in surprise at Peter's eager face.

"Careful Bruce," Sam grinned. "Peter's a total fanboy."

"I'm not ashamed to admit that, Wilson." Peter scoffed.

"Well," Bruce said slowly, unsure how Peter would take what he was about to say. "I can't deny I've been wanting to talk to you either. I'm fascinated by your abilities. I mean, I've seen videos of you getting hurt pretty badly, then be out the very next day seemingly fine."

"Tell you what, Dr. Banner." Peter grinned. "We close in a bit. If you guys aren't looking to leave soon, maybe we can talk more. I'll answer your questions if you answer mine."

"Deal." Bruce smiled.

Sam smiled in satisfaction as he leaned back in his chair. He had been nervous to bring Bruce. He didn't know how Peter would handle it. Despite the fact Peter knew Bruce was a beta, and uninterested in the dynamics that came between alphas and omegas, he was still a part of the pack. Looking at him now though, he knew he had definitely made the right call by bringing Bruce. Peter got to fanboy over the one Avenger he had even seemed remotely okay with from the beginning and gain a new friend, not to mention Bruce finally had someone other than Tony to talk science with.

Speaking of Tony, he still wanted to know what the man had done to nearly cause Bruce to lose it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was after Luke and Peter closed down the bar that Sam finally got his answer. Peter's praise of Bruce's work ultimately led to Bruce admitting what happened between him and Tony.

He blew up half the lab!" Bruce growled. "Four months of my research gone in a few seconds!"

Peter gasped in outrage.

"Four months worth?" he shouted. 'What was he doing?

"I don't even know!" Bruce groaned. "One minute everything was fine and then the next, half the lab was on fire!"

Sam struggled to hold his laughter in. He hated Bruce lost his research, but Tony was gonna have to fork out some major money to fix the area, and do some major groveling to earn Bruce's forgiveness.

For once, Sam wished he and Bruce could tell the others about meeting up with Peter. That would really stick it to Tony if Bruce could let that little gem slip.

"I'm really sorry about that Dr. Banner." Peter frowned. "I would be furious too. I'm saddened at the loss of, what I'm sure, was something amazing."

"Not much I can do about it now." Bruce sighed in defeat. 'I'll just have to start over and please, Peter, call me Bruce."

"Wow. Ok, Bruce! I wish I could help." Peter said dreamily. "I'd love the chance to say I got to work with Dr. Bruce Banner!"

"Hey! What about the fact you get to be friends with The Falcon?" Sam huffed, crossing his arms. "I'm pretty cool to, you know."

"Sure, sure, Sam." Peter smirked, waving Sam off.

"I can't believe this. Here I bring you your man crush, Banner, and this is how you repay me?"

Peter laughed, ignoring Sam's disgruntled muttering as he turned back to Bruce.

"So, you have questions for me?"

"Y-yes! If you don't mind talking about your abilities that is."

"No, it's ok." Peter smiled. "To be honest, I've never really gotten the opportunity to study myself on a molecular level. I can tell you everything I can do, and the fact I've noticed myself acting spider like at times." A slight blush rose to Peter's cheeks at that admission.

"Oh, what's with the blush Parker?" Sam grinned, leaning forward.

"N-nothing!" Peter answered quickly.

"No. I refuse to ignore this. Again, I brought Banner! Let's hear it."

Peter sighed, taking a sip of the coke he had.

"I....I was pretty....pretty turned on once by a woman I knew. She was pulling a con at a strip club. I went to catch her and she caught me in the audience and....her dance.....well.....you know, there are species of spiders that are seduced by...dancing? I don't exactly know what the spider that bit me was.....but I know it was genetically altered...possibly even crossbred-"

"Wait! Are you telling me this woman danced her way into your pants?" Sam snickered as Peter's face turned red.

"I couldn't help it! I was practically in a trance! But no, we didn't get that far. The Avengers attacked the club before I could get her alone. I'm not sure how it would have gone if I did."

"That's....that's something." Bruce stumbled. "Not to be a downer Peter, but you should probably keep an eye on that."

"Yeah," Peter puffed out. "Not exactly good to be an omega getting horny just by watching someone dance for them."

"You a horn dog for dancers now, Jones?"

The three men's heads shot up as a smirking Jessica Jones pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Jones?" Bruce asked, looking at Peter.

"Yeah," Peter said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Can't exactly be Peter Parker here. So I'm-"

"My lesser good looking cousin." Jessica cackled.

"How have you not told me this yet?" Sam asked, shooting Peter a pointed look.

"Hey, Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"My last name is Jones now."

"I hate you."

Peter laughed as Jessica turned to Bruce.

"Luke told me Peter had been meeting up with Wilson here, but how'd you get drug into this?"

"I almost lost control at the tower when Tony blew up my research." Bruce deadpanned.

Jessica blinked at him, silent for a moment before bursting out laughing.

"I bet Stark was shitting his pants!"

"He disappeared pretty quickly." Bruce sighed.

"Well, I hate to break up the party, but we've got plans. Come on you two." Luke said, strolling up to the table and pointing at Peter and Jessica.

"Matt just called, Karen's on her way to the hospital. Looks like the kid is making an early appearance."

Peter and Jessica jumped up, scooping up the glasses on the table and putting them behind the bar for clean up tomorrow.

"Give the happy couple our best, Pete." Sam smiled, following the trio out the door.

"I will. Dr. Banner, it was an honor to officially meet you! Please come back. You don't have to bring Sam." Peter said, shaking Bruce's hand with a grin.

"You keep talking and neither one of us are coming back." Sam said, crossing his arms.

"I'd be so devastated at the loss of your presence." Peter said flatly.

"You would be. I'm great company, you ass."

Peter grinned, making to respond before Luke cut in.

"Cut the chit chat, Jones, we gotta go."

"Coming! Well, later guys! I got a nephew to meet!"

"Nephew?" Bruce asked.

"Yeah. I'm gonna be 'Uncle Peter' whether Matt agrees or not. It was already approved by Karen. Anyway, later! Thanks for breaking the code, Sam! I can forgive you because you brought Dr. Banner!"

"Call me Bruce!" Bruce shouted as Peter ran off with a wave.

Once he was out of sight, Bruce spun to Sam with wide eyes.

"How could you be seeing Peter behind everyone's backs! If they found out, they'd kill you!"

"It was a complete accident I found him." Sam said, holding up his hands in defense. "I was just wanting a drinking hole far from the tower. I knew this was Luke's place so I stopped in. I had no idea Peter was working here part time."

"Are you not worried about his blockers failing? We don't exactly pick up on any omega or alpha scents like they do."

"I just have FRIDAY let me know where everyone is when I get back and I go straight to the shower and then run my clothes under the water before burying them in the laundry. Even if Steve and Buck enter my room, there's no smell to pick up."

"Wow." Bruce said, letting out a breath. "Have you ever gotten as close to Peter as you did tonight? I mean, was there always the bar between you?"

"Yeah, so we're gonna have to be a little more careful tonight. It's pretty late though, so everyone should be asleep. Not that I think anyone would be approaching you considering the fact that, by now, I'm sure everyone's heard there was an accident in the lab."

"Don't remind me." Bruce groaned. "Now I have to wait for Tony to rebuild before I can even restart my work."

The two walked to where Sam had parked, sliding into the seats before Bruce spoke again.

"Do you think I could ever get Peter to the lab? He said he wanted to work with me, and I could catch up a lot faster with a mind like his."

"I think you know the answer to that, Bruce. Peter's not going anywhere near the tower."

"Yeah." Bruce frowned. "It was just a thought."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you really ok with Wilson having brought Banner?" Jessica asked, turning around in the front seat to look back at Peter.

"Well, I don't have much of an option now, but yeah. Bruce wasn't a bad guy in my world. He's the only Avenger I don't have a problem with. He was just as much a victim as everyone else."

"You don't think he'll spill to the others?"

"Honestly, no. He helped me leave the tower that time, plus Sam told him the deal, and Sam's yet to rat me out."

"As far as you know." Luke said, looking the the rearview. "I'm not saying I don't trust Wilson. To tell the truth, I don't think he'd tell them, unless he didn't have a choice. Just be careful, kid."

The car was silent the rest of the way to the hospital. Each person lost in thought.

"Well, here we are kids." Jessica said as they pulled into the parking lot. "Is Rand here?"

"Yeah, he's how called. He was with Matt when Karen went into labor."

"He better not think he's holding the baby before me." Peter huffed, climbing out the back.

"Relax, 'Uncle Peter', we all know the pecking order." Jessica said, rolling her eyes. "But I'm after you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Danny met them as they got out the elevator.

"Karen's still in delivery. I've never seen Matt as serious as he was when Karen called, and that's saying something given his general demeanor when he's out." he grinned.

"Devil Dad Mode activated." Peter laughed.

"He's gonna be such a pain." Jessica grumbled.

"He's not hitting the field any time soon." Luke said, crossing his arms. "He wonn't be in any mental state to be of any use."

"No new parent-"

"No, Pete." Danny said, cutting him off. "I'm sure parents were protective in your world, but this is a completely different deal. Alphas are fiercely protective of their babies and omegas. Karen's comfort level with you and us was the only reason Matt was as calm as he was during Karen's pregnancy. He knew he could count on us. This though, this will be different. If Matt even lets us in the room."

Peter frowned. It seemed like he was constantly learning something new.

"So you mean, we came here for nothing?"

"No, we came here as support. Even if Matt doesn't let us in, knowing we were here will mean something to both him and Karen."

"I'll never get to hold my nephew!" Peter pouted, throwing himself into a chair and crossing his arms. "I didn't have any siblings, so this is as close as I'm gonna get."

"Relax, drama queen." Jessica said, falling into the seat next to him. "You'll get your chance eventually."

"This world is stupid. All these hormones are on my nerves."

"Oh?" Jessica smirked. "Just wait till you get back there and those omega instincts you try to keep buried kick in."

"What?"

"You telling us you haven't felt even the slightest bit overprotective of Karen?" Luke asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, we all know you and her haven't exactly been getting along with her encouraging you to get to know the Avengers, and yet you still go over to Matt's apartment and sit with her whenever you're not working. Hell, you've even had her come stay the night at your place when Matt's gone out for a long night."

"So? Friends don't always have to get along you know." Peter scoffed.

"No, but don't sit there and deny you've gotten over a lot with Karen faster than normal during her pregnancy." Danny smirked.

"That has nothing to do with anything other than not wanting to stress her out!"

"Well, you didn't see any of us throwing the offer out." Jessica grinned smugly.

"None of that has anything to do with my stupid omega status. I would have done that regardless. Karen and Matt are my friends."

"Sure, Pete." Three voice said at once.

"I hate all of you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce fidgeted as they got closer to the tower.

"You gotta calm down man. At this rate your nerves will be picked up more than anything else." Sam warned.

"I'm just not in any mood to be discovered. I wanna be able to meet with Peter again."

"I've been doing this long enough, Bruce. Just do what I told you. I'll get us to the rooms, you go shower and rinse out your clothes." Sam soothed, not at all worried about being found out.

As he turned to pull into the parking garage, he slammed on the breaks. Standing in the open was a disappointed Steve and a guilty looking Tony.

"What are they doing here?" Bruce asked, eyes wide.

"Well, judging by Steve's face, I'm pretty sure you're about to get a rare Tony Stark apology."

"You think Steve will smell anything? I mean, could we be over estimating him and Bucky? I mean, Peter was wearing his blockers and there are a lotof other smells in the bar...Jessica! She sat at the table with us! If we smell like anyone, we'd smell like her!" Bruce said, panic leaking through.

"Hang on, Bruce."

"Wha-"

Bruce cut off as Sam threw the car into reverse and sped through the parking garage backwards.

"What are you doing!" Bruce shouted, gripping the dashboard with white knuckles.

"I think I'd like to joyride a little longer." Sam said, flying out the the garage and spinning out onto the street.

"There could have been people coming!"

"This is the back of the tower. If someone was coming through here I'd have questions." Sam replied, merging into traffic.

The two were silent as they calmed their racing hearts.

"Sam-"

The two jumped as Sams phone starting ringing, Steve's name flashing across the screen.

"What are we gonna tell them?" Bruce groaned.

"Easy." Sam smirked. "That you weren't quite ready to deal with Tony yet."

"Well, at least we have a chance of them believing that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tony and Steve stood in the garage, stunned as they watched Sam peel out of the parking lot, backwards.

"You saw that too, right Capsicle?" Tony asked.

"Yeah." Steve replied, flabbergasted. "I didn't even know Sam could drive like that."

"So, does this mean I don't have to issue Brucie Bear that apology?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter smiled widely as he pushed open the door to Karen's room. From where he stood, he could see Matt hovering over Karen and the baby like the overprotective alpha he was.

"Hey, Peter." Karen smiled, looking up at him.

"Did you all fight for entry order?" Matt asked, lifting his head.

"They can fight." Peter shrugged. "But I was always gonna be first."

Karen chuckled, motioning for him to come closer.

Peter moved to the side of the bed, surprised by the lack of aggression from Matt that the others had warned him about.

"You're an omega Peter, you're non-threatening to an alpha and their omega and pup."

"I could be threatening." Peter pouted.

Matt scoffed.

"Please, Pete. You've damn near matched me in worry and protectiveness at times."

"I'm intimidation!"

"You're adorable. Now get over here and meet your nephew." Karen giggled.

"He's not an uncle." Matt said flatly.

"You're right." Peter nodded. "I'm not an uncle, I'm the uncle!"

Matt snorted before giving a smirk and turning back to Karen and the baby.

"So, what can I call this little guy?"

"Jack. Jack Murdock." Karen said, running a finger down the baby's chubby cheek.

Peter's eyes snapped up to Matt. He knew Matt's dad had went by the nickname "Jack" before being murdered by a sleazy mobster for refusing to take a dive during a boxing match.

At least, the Matt's dad of his world had.

Matt gave a small nod before running a finger down Jack's face

"Want to hold him?"

Peter looked up in surprise, eyes darting from Karen to Matt.

"Pick the pup up, Parker." Matt grunted.

Peter grinned as he carefully lifted Jack out of Karen's arms.

"Hey, Jack, I'm your Uncle Peter. You're lucky that I happen to have had the best of the best uncle role models to learn from. My Uncle Ben helped raise me. He's a big part of who I am today. I hope to be even half as good of an uncle to you as he was to me."

As Peter carried on talking to their pup, Karen watched them. Peter was a natural with kids apparently. She had a suspicion that it had nothing to do with his omega status either.

She let out a little breath as she made up her mind. She wouldn't push Peter any more after today. She had heard that he had started up a tentative friendship with Sam Wilson, so she decided to back off and let him come to her whenever he had questions. Peter was an adult, and she had a pup to take care of. She had to let go of worrying about Peter.

"Deep thoughts?" Matt asked her.

"Just thoughts." Karen smiled, leaning in to Matt's touches as he ran his fingers through her hair.

After a little while of talking to Jack as though he understood everything coming out of his mouth, Peter was forced to give the little pup back to Karen as he began to get a little fussy.

"Time to eat, huh?" Karen giggled, positioning herself.

"I'll leave you both to it." Peter said, backing towards the door to given Karen her privacy.

"Hey, Pete." Matt said, voice tight.

"Yeah?"

"Tell the others no more visitors tonight."

"You got it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So let me get this straight," Jessica started with narrowed eyes. "You get to go in and have baby time, but we are getting sent home?"

"I thought you were expecting that?" Peter asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Shut up."

"Relax Pete," Danny smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. "We did expect it."

"Matt can be salty even on the best days." Luke smirked.

"I'm gonna get my hands on that pup soon." Jessica nodded, face determined.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Where are you going?" Bruce asked, watching as buildings went by.

"I have no idea." Sam sighed. "I was just driving."

"How long should we stay away you think?"

"Well, considering the state of the lab, Tony's got no choice but to actually sleep tonight, so probably not much longer."

Bruce's head fell back against the headrest as Sam turned down a road and started making the return trip towards the tower. As frustrating as have to avoid Tony as Steve was, Bruce wouldn't deny he was happy to have gotten to talk to Peter. There was so much he wanted to ask, but he didn't know what to say and not say. There were a few times he had caught Peter looking at him as though he weren't really seeing him.

"Thinking hard doc?" Sam grinned.

"What happened to me in Peter's world?"

Silence filled the car as Bruce waited.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just the way Peter acted sometimes when I talked."

Sam sighed and rubbed his chin.

"Peter...he uh....he has an extremely soft spot for you...maybe even more than the copies of me and Bucky, and they were his best friends!"

"Why?"

"He felt sorry for you."

Bruce blinked in surprise as Sam gripped the steering wheel.

"What made him feel sorry for the me of his world?"

"He said.....he said you weren't really with the Avengers. He said they kept you prisoner, only letting you out when they needed Hulk. He respected your research and hated what they did to you."

Bruce was quiet as he turned to watch the city pass. The Bruce of Peter's world had had to live his ultimate fear. Being locked up and having Hulk be let loose like a monster had always been something in the back of his mind, but never something he would have thought the Avengers would do.

"Look, Bruce," Sam started. "I want you to know, that's never gonna hap-"

"I know." Bruce smiled tightly. "I do know, but I can't help thinking about how that Bruce must have felt."

"Yeah. The more I learn, the more I'm glad Peter did what he did. Having gotten to talk to him, I do hate the idea of him having not survived, but those copies couldn't continue on like that."

"I'm wondering what happened to send Peter here though." Bruce frowned. "A bomb shouldn't have tossed him into another universe."

"Bruce, with all that we've seen, I'm not above believing anything."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Natasha raised as eyebrow as she stepped into the kitchen the next morning. Tony was slumped over the bar countertop while Steve rummaged around, slowly gathering supplies for breakfast.

"Rough night?"

"Sam wouldn't let me talk to Bruce! They were gone all night. They even left the tower again when they saw me and Cap waiting on them in the parking garage."

"I'd avoid you to if you set my research back by four years." Natasha snorted. "Maybe Bruce just didn't want to hear your apology so Sam didn't give you the chance."

"Since when does Brucie Bear go out?" Tony huffed.

"Hmm, a friend helping out a friend....you're right, it's suspicious as hell." Natasha deadpanned.

"I wonder where Sam took him." Steve said, cracking eggs into a pan. "If Bruce enjoyed it, maybe we should all go."

"Go where?" Bucky asked, voice deep and raspy from sleep.

"Where ever Sam took Bruce last night after Tony blew the lab." Natasha smirked.

"Yes. It was a mighty explosion." Thor nodded, following Bucky into the kitchen.

"I get it. I messed up. For the record though, I was working on a gift for Peter." Tony scowled. "I don't see any of you doing anything to impress our headstrong omega."

No one replied.

"So......did uh....did you lose your work?" Steve asked with false casualty.

Tony looked at the super soldier flatly.

"Yes, Steve. Yes I did."

"It is clear that it was for the best then." Thor smiled, patting Tony on the back as he sat down next to him. "We can't have you blowing up our perfect little mate, now can we?"

Tony growled as Thor continued to smile, oblivious to the man's ire.

Natasha and Bucky tried to hide their smirks as they moved around the kitchen.

"Well then Goldilocks, what are your plans to help us woo our spider?" Tony ground out.

"Easy!" Thor smiled. "I shall take a more direct approach."

"We were specifically told not to do that, Thor." Steve frowned, looking up from where he was making eggs.

"Yes, but I do not plan to do more than make my intentions towards him known. You see, I simply wish to let him know of my respect and desire to earn his trust and affection. As a royal of Asgard, it is important to learn how to speak to people diplomatically. "

"Oh, I see that going over splendidly." Tony rolled his eyes before freezing. "You know what, let me know when you decide to do this. I'd just love to be there."

"Very well friend! I shall let you know once I have spoken to Ka-"

"Good luck with that." Sam chuckled, walking in and going to the refrigerator. "Karen had baby Murdock last night. You guys won't be getting anywhere near her any time soon."

"How do you know that?" Natasha asked, studying Sam closely.

Sam, despite his efforts to remain passive, flinched at her tone.

"You know. Word gets around the hero community."

"Did you hear this from wherever you took Bruce last night?" Bucky asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing him arms.

"Look," Sam huffed. "I took Bruce out last night to get him away from Fire Marshall Bill over there. We went to a small bar and ran into Jessica Jones and she got the call while talking to us. That's how I know."

"Well, we should at least send over a gift." Steve said, turning from the stove and scooping out eggs and bacon onto plates.

"You're like the mother of this team Rogers." Tony said blandly. "Are you sure you're an alpha?"

"You've never complained before." Steve challenged.

"Nope. No way. Not happening in front of the food." Sam glared, grabbing two plates and stomping out of the alpha filled kitchen.

"FRIDAY, take me to Bruce."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sam tried to hold back his laugh as a disgruntled Bruce Banner stood in the doorway of his room. The man's sleep clothes were rumpled and crooked. His hard stuck up in various directions and there were bags under his eyes.

"Shut-up."

Sam's laugh burst out as Bruce snatched the plate of food out his hand and moved into his room.

"Hey, be grateful you didn't have to go down there and get that."

"Why?"

"They were all in the kitchen, well, minus Clint."

Bruce frowned, looking over at the clock.

"It's time for breakfast. He doesn't miss breakfast."

"No I don't, so share."

Sam and Bruce jumped as the archer tumbled out the vent to Bruce's floor.

"The hell man?" Sam shouted.

"I was hoping to hear where you two went last night!" Clint defended.

"I just took Bruce out to get him away from Tony!"

"You could have invited me! Maybe I wanted to get away from Tony too."

"Why would you want to get away from Tony?" Bruce asked blankly.

"........"

"So....no reason."

"Come on! We're all betas here! We should stick together! I can't handle the Mopey Alpha Force."

Sam and Bruce sighed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter stretched, back cracking from where he had spent the last few hours bent over his desk. Various disassembled electronics littered his room.

"Alright, let's see if I got it."

Slipping his mask on, he waited.

A few seconds later, his lenses filled with light as the screens in the lenses began to provide digital readouts of various things he looked at.

"So far so good." Peter mumbled before taking a deep breath.

"GWEN?"

"Hello, Peter. It is nice to finally get to talk with you."

Peter's face broke out into a wide grins as a soothing voice filled his ears.

It had worked.

His own AI.

"How do you feel?"

"That's a rather silly question, Peter. I can't feel anything. You should know this."

Peter's jaw dropped.

"Did I really program you with that much sass?"

"It appears that way....possibly. I have also been learning during the course of my construction. You surround yourself with a rather sarcastic crowd, Peter. Personally, I think I'm going to fit in just fine."

"Oh come on GWEN, you're supposed to be my support! You're supposed to be nice to me!" Peter pouted.

"If it makes you feel better, I love you, Peter."

It was odd that he could practically hear the smile in her voice.

"Thanks GWEN. I love you too." he chuckled.

"Are you planning to go out tonight? If you are, you should get some sleep. You've been working since you got back from the hospital."

"Yeah, I was pumped after meeting Jack plus, I'm anxious for our first date night." Peter grinned. " I'm gonna download some maps into your system so you can help me around the city. In the meantime, I'm gonna go shower then crash. No work today."

GWEN was silent as he removed his mask and shook out his hair. Placing it on his desk, he picked up his phone.

"GWEN?"

"Fully connected here as well Peter. Transfer between suit and phone was flawless. I'm rather proud."

Peter laughed, setting his phone back down the desk and plugging it into his computer.

"Alright GWEN, access the map files and download them. I'll be back."

GWEN didn't respond as Peter gathered his clothes and made his way toward the bathroom. He hadn't told anyone he had been working on an AI. He wasn't sure he was even going to be able to do it, so he didn't want to open himself up for interrogations for no reason.

Now though, now it was different.

GWEN was fully operational.

Prior to her completion, her infant programming had been hiding in his phone, learning as he went to the best of her constantly developing coding. This was her first verbal interaction and everything seemed to be running smoothly. Maybe he could integrate her into more things.

As loath as he was to admit it, he couldn't deny Tony Stark had made amazing use of his own AI. His short time at the tower proved the AI controlled a lot of things there. Bruce had been able to let him out with a simple verbal command. Maybe he could find a way to put GWEN into his own apartment. Having an all seeing AI guarding him wouldn't be such as bad idea. It didn't much matter that he was more than capable of taking care of himself, being an unmated omega all alone only seemed to invite trouble.

Even more loathsome, was the annoying and tiny voice in the back of his head wishing to be able to go to Avengers' Tower and actually pick Tony Stark's brain about A.Is.

Peter scoffed as the warm water washed over him and he smothered out the voice. This world, while it had so many things he was happy with, there were many things he wasn't.

Being an omega came with so many limitations. Despite his capabilities, his strength and intelligence, neither of which he could or was allowed to display, the mere label of 'omega' meant more than anything.

Sure, omegas were able to hold down jobs, the best paying being OBGYN's since that was the only medical position society deemed appropriate for omegas, and oddly enough, omega's alone. Still, those omegas that took on the job, weren't well favored as they were also viewed as "unfit" companions.

Honestly, being an omega in the work industry was just weird as hell. You can work, but your options are limited. You can work, but certain jobs cause you problems. You can work, just take whatever job is the most favorable for flying under the radar.

Thanks to the omegas at Xavier's for their generous donations of the most powerful blockers to exist. Still, working for Luke and Jessica were the only real places that he felt comfortable. He was able to hide his second gender and they sure as shit didn't care. They paid, and they paid under the table to avoid any official paperwork trail. An omega working in a bar or doing detective work was unheard of!

Sighing, he got to the shower and toweled off, slipping into some sweatpants and a t-shirt before heading to the small kitchen. His apartment was far from extravagant. It was a small, one bedroom flat. Danny had helped him get it, paying the deposit and first three months rent while Luke and Jessica got him settled into his new positions. He had tried to deny Danny's help, but the man had been firm and unrelenting, causing Peter to swear to pay him back, something Danny had thought hysterical.

Making quick work of a ham and cheese sandwich, Peter walked back to his room, face planting onto the bed.

"Map files are uploaded, Peter. Get some rest."

Peter smiled before sleep took him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karen looked up from where she was feeding Jack and smirked.

"You're fidgeting dear."

Matt huffed before standing and moving to her side.

"I don't 'fidget'."

"You fidget almost as much a Peter."

"No one could fidget anywhere near as much as Peter."

Karen chuckled, before looking out the window.

"I think I'm going to apologize to him."

Matt paused, just letting her think.

"I've been to pushy. I know his history with his Avengers, and I still pushed him to meet the ones here. I just worry about him. He's an unmated omega out in a world where being that very thing can be such a hassle. He's so independent that he'd have so many problems should those super blockers ever fail. Not to mention he's not even on suppressants because we don't know why he's not showing signs of typical omega cycles of heats. He's been here long enough to have had at least one."

Matt sighed, pulling up a chair to sit next to the bed.

"Your concern is valid, Peter just doesn't want it. Still, he needs a little push to get to know them. Whether he wants to acknowledge them as his alphas or not, he needs to, at least, be able to fight along side them without the distraction of constantly fearing them turning on us. We fight together often enough for that to be something he should work on."

"He wouldn't like hearing that any more than hearing me talk about his omega needs." Karen chuckled.

"I don't care." Matt replied. "His attention is split during fights. It makes him dangerous to himself and us."

Karen was silent as she continued to feed their pup.

"Well, what do you propose?"

"Right now, nothing. Approaching Peter out of the blue about it is only asking for trouble. It's something that needs to be lead up to."

"Just be careful. I'm on shaking ground with him. He's been caring towards me because of my pregnancy, but I know there's an annoyance there. Still, I think it's an easy to repair relationship once I tell him I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Matt chuckled. "He's to good hearted not to accept a sincere apology."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thor took a breath. Being the God of Thunder, he rarely ever had any reason to feel nervous. Still, standing outside Jessica Jones' detective agency, he felt his nerves tingle.

Maybe he should have went to Danny or Luke. In hindsight, Jessica was most definitely the wrong choice. However, he was already here and it was important he be able to request a meeting with his omega, even if he had a chaperone during it.

Lifting his hand hesitantly, he went to knock on her door when a familiar thwip reached his ears.

Looking up, Thor watched as a very welcoming sight of blue and red swung overhead. He felt his face heat as he watched Peter somersault through the air with a loud 'whoop'. His omega's obvious happiness was a wonderful sound to his ears.

He watched until Peter swung out of sight and ran his hand down his face. To chase after him would only result in anger and aggression from the hero, but to not approach him at all only lengthened the lack of interaction and possible relationship building he and the other alphas wanted to do.

Why did the Avengers of Peter's world have to be such dishonorable and repulsive people?

"Can I help you, Captain Thunderpants?"

Thor startled as he turned to see a smirking Jessica Jones leaning against her open door frame.

"Oh, yes." Thor said, straightening himself. "I wish to speak with you."

"This wouldn't be about my favorite arachnid, would it? Don't tell him I called him that though, or I'll kill you."

"As a matter of fact, it would."

Jessica grinned mischievously as she motioned for him to come in.

"Better make it quick big guy. No guarantee Spider-Baby won't drop in, and I can't imagine he'd be overly excited to see you here."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter felt the adrenaline pumping through him. So far, GWEN had been operating perfectly. Her downloaded mapping system was working excellently, making quick work of getting to any crimes he picked up through the hacked police feed.

"You're a work of art GWEN."

"Are you seriously praising yourself, Peter?"

"Only marginally." Peter laughed. "I programed you to be self learning. I'm only hold so much responsibility for your amazingness."

"I'm not fully convinced this isn't you just bragging to yourself."

Peter just continued to laugh as he dove off the roof of the building he was on.

"No, patting myself on the back is what I'm really about to do. I wanna show you off. We gotta go visit someone."

"Ms. Jones is the closest of your approved contacts."

"I'll only feel a bit bad that Matt isn't who you'll meet first."

"I don't think meeting me is something he would be overly interested in right now."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Peter chuckled. "Alright GWEN, let's go pay my 'cousin' a visit."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I have to say, choosing to wear your blockers is a very good start, High Voltage." Jessica said, throwing herself into a chair and snatching a bottle off the end table.

"I want to assure him I mean no harm."

"You do realize that'll take more than a few blockers, right?"

Thor frowned and sighed, settling into another chair.

"I am aware. Our dishonorable counterparts have done us a great disservice."

"Well, not entirely." Jessica shrugged. "I mean, they are the reason he's here so....."

"We're grateful he's here, we just don't like the circumstances of it."

"Understandable. Look, I'm the last person you should have come to for this. I'm not an omega, so I can't help you there. I also enjoy drama, so I'm salivating at all your struggles." Jessica threw him a wicked grin.

"That is both unsettling and disheartening." Thor grimaced.

Jessica chuckled, taking a swig from her bottle.

"Look, I get it, Karen is currently off limits. I also get that considering she's with Matt, there's no telling just how long she'll be unavailable, but I seriously can't help you."

Thor sighed again, throwing his head back and looking at the ceiling.

"We worry about his health."

"So does Karen, but he seems to be doing fine. If you didn't know him, you wouldn't even be able to tell he was an omega. Those super strength blockers he got from the wonder bunch and Xavier's are amazing."

Thor didn't reply. While they had all caught on to the fact that Peter's scent seemed nonexistent, that had had no idea why. It had begun to scare them. It was a relief to find out his scent was just completely muffled.

"Tell you what Thunder God, I'll offer you a question. Have any of you tried just making yourself available?"

Thor raised an eyebrow in response.

"Like, going out at night and just sitting on random rooftops? Not pursuing him, just out and stationary."

"I hardly think that would matter. He never makes any attempt to approach us when there is a crowd, why would he do it alone?"

"Peter's a strange guy like that. Alone, he may have the security of being able to take you down, because, ya know, he can."

"Stark seeks to try to gain his attention through a gift."

"......a gift? Look, I know that a typical omega trait is to enjoy their alphas spoiling them, but Pete's not like that. Unless.....unless Stark's making some kind of fancy tech for him." Jessica said, rolling her eyes. "Pete's a real technology whore."

"Do not speak of my omega that way!" Thor roared, jumping up from his chair to tower over Jessica.

Jessica raised an eyebrow and went to open her mouth in challenge when the door to her office flew off the hinges and Thor slammed into the wall. Groaning, the god struggled to his feet, rubbing the back of his head. Before he could orient himself, a fist slammed into his face.

"You should have stayed down!"

"Peter!" Jessica shouted, jumping up.

"I told you! I told you! They were just waiting!" Peter growled, throwing another punch.

"Peter! Stop! It's not what you think! He wasn't gonna hurt me!"

"Stop lying! It's only one of them! We can take him!"

"Peter!"

Peter gasped as Jessica's fist slammed into his cheek, knocking him back. Moving in front of the rising Thor, she turned to face that stunned vigilante.

"And I told you, it wasn't what you thought. He got mad because he thought I insulted you."

"So? That doesn't give him any right to be threatening towards you!'

"It's fine!"

Thor wisely watched in silence as the two friends faced off. He hadn't actually meant any harm to Jessica, but he knew Peter was protective of all his friends. If he had known there was a chance Peter would show up here, he would definitely have made sure not to overreact to Jessica's, he can admit, harmless joke. It was just so hard to hear anyone speak of Peter with such a casual air when they were so far from being able to.

He took in a breath when Peter ripped off his mask. His mask mused hair stood up at odd angles, and his face was flush with emotions. The pretty honey brown eyes were dark with betrayal and anger.

"Move, Jess. I'm gonna deal with this asshole once and for all!"

"Sorry, Pete, but you'll have to go through me to do it."

Peter froze, the color draining from his face. He knew from her posture, Jessica wasn't joking. She was actually willing to fight him to keep him from going after the Avenger.

"Jess......"

"You have to understand, Peter. This isn't your world and he's not your enemy. He's an ally."

Peter's eyes darted between Jessica and Thor before sadness replaced everything. Shoulders slumping, Peter pulled his mask back on, and left.

Once he was gone, Thor guiltily looked at Jessica's gloomy face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you such stress."

"It's ok." Jessica sighed, closing her eyes and running her hand down her face. "Pete's got a lot he needs to work on. I don't agree with Karen's methods, but she's honestly been trying more than the rest of us to get through to Peter. We've all taken the approach of just letting Peter see us interacting with you guys and hoping that seeing how comfortable everyone is, that that would eventually be enough."

"Perhaps I should have let him fight me."

"Are you serious?" Jessica shouted, turning on him. "None of you have seen how strong he really is!"

"But if I had let him fight me, I could have shown him how I don't mean any harm."

"You mean, let him beat the crap out of you?" Jessica scoffed.

"Yes. If I truly meant him harm, I would never just allow him to do that."

Jessica let out a breath as she studied Thor's face.

"There's no guarantee that would work. Peter could just kill you instead of taking your unwillingness to hurt him into consideration."

The two were silent for a while, both thinking over what had happened.

"I think I may have made things worse for the rest of us." Thor frowned, lowering his head.

"Maybe. Maybe not." Jessica shrugged. "He may be speaking to me for a little while though."

"I'm sorry."

"Eh. It's fine. I've been through worse than this. I hate it, sure, but I'm not going to dwell on it. That's Karen's department, and by extension, Matt's. Matt's kind of Peter's caretaker anyway since he's who he went to first."

"I should head home." Thor said, heading to the door.

"Why not do what I told you and hang out on a rooftop somewhere? Who knows, maybe he'll show up for that fight."

He nodded before leaving.

Jessica watched before her anger suddenly flared. Running out the door, she screamed up at the sky, knowing there was a good chance her target would hear.

"Hey! You're gonna pay to have my door fixed, cousin! You asshole!"

[thebrownssociety]

Across The Serververse, Part 24

Warning: Swearing

The group of toons, consisting of Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Wile.E, Roadrunner, Yosemite, Granny, Speedy, Tweety, Lola, Pepe and Penelope [Marvin having had to stay with the spaceship as there was nowhere to land it], edged down the hall as the key chords of the film ‘Psycho’ rang in all of their heads. 

After a few minutes of this [it was a very long corridor] Sam bellowed. “Would ja turn that racket off ya flee-bitten varmint!? We’re tense enough as it is!” 

Pepe - who had been the one playing the violin - shrugged eloquently and exchanged a smile with Penelope as he said. “I thought it may break ze ice, non?”

Penelope giggled and shook her head. Pepe sighed dramatically and carefully placed the violin back into his hammerspace. 

Bugs rolled his eyes to the heavens. If they got through this next couple of chapters without murdering each other it would be a miracle. 

They made it to the end of the corridor, where there was another door. “What the fuck does he think this isth? Alicsth in fucking Wonderland?” Daffy exploded before literally kicking the door open and announcing in his loudest possible voice. “Rhythm - you pain in the tail-feathers - either you give Elmer back thisth minute or I introdusth you to a world of pain! And trusth me I can do it! I’ve reduced Doctor Scratchensiff and Porky to tearsth! I have literally hit Adolf Hitler over the head with a mallet!” *Beat* “True, it was a Caricature and had been instructed not to hit me back, but it sthill counts! So don’t think I won’t do the same to you if you don’t hand my immediate younger brother back THISTH INSTANCTH!”

A cold echoing laugh sent shivers down everyone's spine and the back wall moved as if an optical illusion and Rhythm literally stepped out the wall while laughing and applauding slowly. “An entrance fit for a ham.” Rhythm said, slowly walking towards them. 

“H-h-hey!” Porky said, sharply. “Th-th-there’s no need to be rude!”

Rhythm momentarily looked taken aback at being called out, but quickly regained himself and said, smoothly. “I take it you are here for the toon?”

“His name is Elmer.” Lola stated, folding her arms and glaring. “And obviously we are, yes. Now where the hell is he?”

Her older siblings made noises of agreement and for the first time a shadow of doubt spread across Rhythm’s face, as if he was just realising for the first time that maybe getting about twenty Toons who all hated him into one room wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll give him back to you as soon as you complete on of these three challenges.” Rhythm said, an unpleasant smirk spreading across his face. “Either you can challenge me and Pete in a game of Basketball-”

Bugs gave a sharp laugh and tapping Daffy on the arm, whispered. “Oi knew de author would have ta mention Basketball at some point.”

“Excuse me, Rabbit.” Rhythm said, glaring at Bugs “I am speaking here.”

. “Oh, so it’s moi toirn now den.” Bugs said, happily pushing past his siblings in order to walk straight up to Rhythm and stand as close to him as possible. “Oi take it de whole point of dis is so dat you can prove how good YOU are and how shit we are, right?”

Rhythm did a subtle double take, but didn’t back away or anything, instead just seemed vaguely amused as Bugs continued ranting. “Well in DAT case how about WE set YOU the three challenges and if you fail we get Elmer back, deal?”

“And if you lose?” Rhythm purred.

Bugs narrowed his eyes. “You get ME.”

Rhythm’s eyes lit up at that and he stroked his chin thoughtfully. While he was doing that Daffy lunged forward and grabbed his insane younger brother by the arm while hissing. “Hey, rabbit, I’m the one who’s meant to have a screw loosth ‘round here! The hell are you sacrificin’’ yourself to Rhythm for-!?”

Bugs rolled his eyes surreptitiously and whispered in the duck’s ear. Daffy kept his face completely straight - totally unreadable as a matter of fact - then said, darkly. “...Just don’t fuck it up, Bugsth.”

Before Bugs could response Rhythm snapped his fingers and regained control of the situation. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal. What’s the first challenge?”

“Ah-ah.” Bugs waggled a finger at him. “Show us Elmer first.”

“That wasn��t the deal.”

“How else do we know you’re not bluffin’? Show us Elmer or there’s no game, simple.”

Rhythm smirked and said. “If you insist. Pete - bring the human-toon down, will you?”

Lola’s fists balled up and Porky gave her hand a squeeze, reminding her to keep calm. Across from him and behind Rhythm, Wile.E looked slightly disturbed and held up a sign that said. ‘The rabbit does know what he’s doing, right?’

Trying not to make his movements to obvious, Porky mouthed. ‘Yes.’ back at the coyote, hoping the ‘super-genius’ wouldn’t feel compelled to contradict him or go on a rant about something. 

Wile.E didn’t rant, mainly because there was a loud clang and a glass box was lowered from the ceiling, supported by four ropes. Inside the box was Elmer who appeared to be in a state of suspended animation, similar to Snow White. 

His siblings stared up at the box like ‘Is this guy serious?’

Lola blinked and turned to Rhythm. “Mr Rhythm, don’t you think you’re going a little overkill here? I mean, he’s what? Unconscious? What do you think he’s going to do? Make a run for it?”

“Letsth face it, even if he’sth awake he wouldn’t have the braincells to think of that. One of us would have to drag him away.” Daffy commented.

The others all nodded and it was now Rhythm’s turn to look confused and he tried to regain control with an annoyed: “Just set the challenges, rabbit-”

“Wabbit.” Bugs corrected. Seeing the black man’s face look even more confused he explained. “It’s an Elmer-ism that’s stuck. 60 plus years, ya know. Long time.” And he flicked his eyes up to the glass box with a fond smile.

“Whatever!” Rhythm snapped. “I haven't got all day. Start, you stupid inkblot.”

Daffy’s eyes narrowed and he opened his beak, but Bugs put an arm across him to calm him. “Okay, Doc.” The rabbit said, deliberately calmly. “Let’s see if you're as good as a Toon.”

[itskateak]

Mint Ice Cream & Bubblegum Kisses - Chapter Three

(Bucky Barnes x Single Dad!Reader)

Series Summary: Y/N L/N works as an intel specialist at the Avenger’s Compound. He scans chatter on the international - and intergalactic - level for any information that might be helpful to the Avengers and other agents. But he’s also a single father to a beautiful eight-year-old girl: Angelica L/N. It’s tough raising a little girl on his own and working a full-time job, but he’s managing. A promotion has him launched up in rank at the Compound, leading him to work directly with the Avengers team. The only problem is it’s a 24/7 job. Life around the compound gets a little strange when his daughter is added to the mix of enhanced humans and ex-assassins.

Chapter Summary: Angelica seems to be settling in nicely and Y/N is still getting used to having his kid around in his workplace. Especially when she's known to be a little mischievous.

Word Count: 2.6

Warnings: Fluff, pranks, like four swear words, discussion of PTSD but it's very brief. Like very brief.

A/N: this is in light of me recently being able to play Black Widow for work. as I said in the last chapter, things will be moving a lot quicker

Masterlist

Taglist is open! PM me, send an ask, or @ me on a chapter to let me know you’d like to be tagged! Strikethrough means I couldn’t tag you, but I will send you a message to let you know :)

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Angelica snuck down the hall toward the common room, trying to keep her steps light or as close to silent as she could get them. She resisted the urge to look up at the ceiling, knowing Peter was just above her. This was a new system they were trying out where Angelica went first as a decoy and Peter would follow for the proper scare.

They had a shared love of harmless pranks and therefore had started a small prank war on the other inhabitants of the compound. At first, it had only been against each other, but they figured out that they could do way more if they teamed up. 

Y/N had warned them not to do anything too bad, knowing how some of the people in the compound were affected by sudden surprises. He'd sat Angelica down and explained what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was and how what she might perceive as a harmless trick might trigger something or cause a breakdown. 

She had understood and in her very solemn way promised to run her more "fear factor" ideas by him first just to be safe. When he did shut down her ideas, she never argued and dropped the plan. Confuse not abuse was their motto.

Y/N, meanwhile,  was working in his office, watching text scroll across his screen. There was a lot less than when he worked general intel, but that didn't mean he could focus any less. Any small detail could make or break whether the information was crucial or not. Everything that came across his screen was very important, but some things had to be taken note of.

He had mastered reading and writing at the same time, his shorthand notes making no sense to anyone but him. He'd learned that the week before when he passed the intel off to Tony and he just stared blankly at the paper. Now, he translated his notes so others could understand. Sometimes, he couldn't tell what he was meaning to say.

A transmission from The Benatar came through and he pulled his seat closer. It was just a simple message about their whereabouts and where they were headed. Gamora had signed it off, saying that it was nice to meet him and that whenever they stopped by next, they had to properly meet. He wrote down their message before typing a message in response.

Received. Glad to know you all are safe and having fun up there. Stop by anytime you want. My daughter would be overjoyed to meet all of you. 

 - Y/N 

Y/N leaned back in his chair, taking up a pen to make notes as information on underground movements possibly related to Hydra agents flooded in. More bases had been popping up recently, despite Steve's attempts to drag them all down in the past. Instead of being against the Winter Soldier, though, he was with them. Which gave them the upper hand since he knew their inner workings.

A knock on his office door made him glance up. Bruce stood in the doorframe, his knuckles still against the wood of the door. He gave a shy smile. "Am I interrupting?"

"Not at all. Come on in, Bruce." Y/N set his pen down and rolled his chair to the end of his desk. "What can I do you for?"

"I just came by to see how you were settling in. We haven't talked much since you were offered the promotion." Bruce sat tentatively on the couch, looking very unsure of himself. 

"Things have been going well. It's nice of you to stop by, though." Y/N swiveled back and forth casually. "I like having my own office."

"It's great, huh? I have a whole lab to myself most of the time. Tony invades my space once in a blue moon but he has his own lab somewhere else." Bruce relaxed a little, laughing gently. 

"Angelica breaks the peace at least twice a day, but she's my kid so it's not as annoying. Except when I really have to focus. Then I kick her out for a bit." He said with a lopsided grin.

"She wanders into my lab every so often to say hello or ask for help with her science homework. She's lovely." Bruce smiled. "Very bright."

"Yeah, she is...I can't keep up with her at this point. She's going to surpass my skills soon." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Good thing she's got you guys to check her science. I barely passed it in high school."

"Really? I wouldn't have expected that from you." Bruce said.

"I was okay up through my sophomore year but once I hit physics, I lost all understanding. Algebra was never my strong suit, either." Y/N rolled his eyes. Bruce was going to respond when shouting down the hall caught their attention. 

Peter sprinted by the office, yelling over his shoulder: "Every man for himself!"

Angelica was a few seconds behind him and she slid into her father's office. "Hide me! Quick!" She slipped around his desk and curled up underneath it.

"Kiddo, what are you doing?" Y/N asked, giving her an amused look.

"Shhhh!" She shushed him and pressed herself into the corner, covering her mouth to hide her giggles. 

"Peter Benjamin Parker! Angelica Ellaine L/N! Get your butts back here!" Natasha seemed to be the source of the yelling as she stormed down the hall. She paused at the door to the office, leaning casually in the doorframe. "Hey, boys. You seen a tall spider or a little monster recently?"

Angelica shook her head vigorously in her father's peripheral vision. He pretended not to see her, making sure not to look anywhere close to her location. "Snitches don't get cookies." She whispered as quietly as possible.

"What'd she do now?" Y/N asked. He had to uphold the Code. Snitches don't get cookies, and he'd never betray his daughter.

"She tried to jumpscare me and then Peter swung down from the ceiling and scared the hell out of me." Nat folded her arms over her chest. "So, I'm trying to grab both of them to dump them in the pool."

Y/N laughed and shook his head. "I haven't seen her, except for a few seconds ago. She ran by on Pete's heels."

"Bruce, have you seen them?" Nat turned her gaze to the scientist, who suddenly grew visibly nervous. 

"Uh," He glanced at Y/N. "They ran by just a minute ago."

"Uh-huh...Well, I guess I'll just keep looking." Nat pushed off the doorway and started to leave before poking her head back in. "You're still a terrible liar, Bruce." She winked and disappeared.

"Is it safe?" Angelica whispered.

"Yep. Come on out." Y/N rolled back a little bit to give her space to move out. "Good luck out there, kiddo. Watch your back."

"Thank you, Mr. Banner! You deserve a cookie." Angelica smiled at Bruce, the full personification of the smiley-face emoticon. She snuck to the doorway and glanced down the hall before turning the same way Peter had run.

"How long do you think it'll be?" Y/N asked, returning his chair to its proper place.

"Until what?" 

His question was answered by a scream from down the hall that devolved into squealing laughter. There was some indiscernible shouting from three different people.

"Until Nat caught her at the corner." Y/N watched as Nat went running by, laughing, with Angelica thrown over her shoulder.

"Peter! Help! She got me!" Angelica yelled through giggles, hand extended out behind Nat's back.

"Angelica! No!" Peter followed, reaching for her. "Nat, give her back!"

Y/N shook his head fondly as the chaos grew quieter the farther they got. "We're settling in well, as you can see. She's making friends and creating chaos. I'd be worried if she wasn't."

"Did she always play pranks on you?" Bruce asked, smiling uncontrollably.

"On more than one occasion, I found shaving cream in my shoes." Y/N wrinkled his nose up at the memories. He had hated that feeling of shaving cream squeezing between his toes in his socks.

"Gross. She and Peter were bound to get along well, then." Bruce glanced at the clock and got to his feet. "I should let you get back to work. If Angelica has a science or math question, you can totally send her to me."

"Thanks, Bruce. You're a genius." Y/N rolled back over to his work station, shaking his mouse to wake his computer up. 

"I wouldn't say that," Bruce said as he walked backward out of the room, pausing in the doorway.

"Don't sell yourself short, Bruce! You're totally a genius." Y/N pointed with his pen, smiling as he spoke.

Bruce ducked his head sheepishly and nodded before he left the office.

Y/N returned to his screen, pulling his notes back into reach, and scanned the text again. Another couple of hours before lunch.

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"Your kid." Tony suddenly popped in, holding his phone out to show Y/N what was on it. "Your kid keeps changing my phone background."

Y/N looked up and glanced at the screen before bursting into laughter. It was a photo of a sloth dressed as an astronaut. In the past year, she'd managed to change her father's phone background and laptop wallpaper to that stupid sloth photo without his knowledge at least sixteen times. 

"Why?" Tony asked, defeated. "Why is she doing this?"

"She read about someone online who did the same thing to their parents and she took inspiration. I'm happy to see she's moved on to other targets." Y/N shook his head in amusement. "Shouldn't your phone be super secure or something?"

"It is! I don't understand how she keeps doing it. I've changed my password eight times and even had Friday monitor any attempts to hack in." Tony sank down onto the couch, tossing his phone beside him. 

"Well, she definitely can't hack things. She's smart, but not that smart. Usually, a password change will keep her from trying again." Y/N swiveled to the side, head cocked.

"This is the second time today," Tony grumbled, brows furrowed. "I don't get it."

"Well, you're the genius here." Y/N snorted, glancing at his screen again. "If my kid's not the one hacking your phone, who is?"

"Oh, my god," Tony said, standing quickly. He rushed to leave but paused in the door. "You're the genius, Y/N."

Y/N arched a brow in mild intrigue. "Uh-huh. You're welcome?"

Tony flashed a smile before turning. "Peter Benjamin Parker, how many times have I told you not to hack into my stuff!" He shouted as he walked down the hall.

"Kid, you're sowing chaos." Y/N glanced at his daughter curled up under his desk. 

"Huh?" Angelica looked up from her book, confused. "What's going on?"

"Peter hacked Tony's phone and changed his phone background to that astronaut sloth." He responded, returning to his work.

"Oh, Pete didn't do that." She said, turning her page. "Mr. Banner did after seeing us do it. Somethin' about getting back at him for leaving crumbs all over his lab."

Distant yelling floated down the hall to the office. High-pitched 'Mr. Stark, it wasn't me!'s were the only things that could be properly made out. Angelica made eye-contact with her father.

"Should I?" She asked.

"Nah." Y/N said and they both started to snicker. "He's a big boy. He can take care of himself."

Angelica giggled and returned her attention to her book. 

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Y/N pulled himself out of the pool, shaking his head to fling water off his face. He hadn't gotten to use the facilities yet since they moved in. The pool was really nice - way better than any of the public pools he'd been to. He used to swim once a week but work got in the way. Now that it was Sunday, he could enjoy the free access for as long as he wanted.

He grabbed a towel, dried his hair and face, and walked to the locker room. His shirt was folded up on a bench with his shoes sitting beside it. He dried the rest of his body off and pulled his shirt on. He slipped his feet into his shoes and froze.

"Dammit, Angelica!" Y/N shouted as shaving cream seeped between his toes and spilled over the top of his feet. He grimaced and kicked his shoes off, quickly wiping the shaving cream off. He picked up his shoes and went storming off to find his daughter.

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"Hey, Y/N. Sorry to intrude after hours." Sam knocked on the doorframe to his bedroom. 

"Hey, Sam. No worries." Y/N looked up from his book and set it aside. "What's up?"

"Bucky and Steve are coming back really early tomorrow morning. Like, three in the morning early." He wrinkled his nose up. "They might have sensitive intel from their raid so Tony's asked you to be in office by the time they get back."

"I won't yell at you since you're just the messenger, but really?!" Y/N groaned, running a hand over his face. If he wasn't a morning person before, he surely wouldn't be a happy camper at such an early hour. "Guess my plans to stay up reading have been shot."

"Sorry, man. It's what the boss wants. But really, blame Barnes because he wanted to get back as soon as possible." Sam crossed his arms and shrugged. "Always his fault if somethin' goes wrong. Man brings bad luck wherever he goes."

"I think that's a little harsh and biased. I haven't even met the guy, yet." Y/N leaned over to set his book on the nightstand. He snagged his phone and started to set an alarm or two for the morning. 

"I'm sure you've heard all the rumors. Some of them are true - about him being grouchy and an anti-social person - but a good majority of the rumors is just scuttlebutt. Er, gossip. He's got a good heart, but man he can be annoying as hell," Sam smiled fondly, though he tried not to look it. 

"Sounds about right," Y/N chuckled, sliding his charging phone underneath his pillow. 

"He's really slow to trust and open up, so if he's a little closed off and rough around the edges, it's not you. It's all him, so don't worry." Sam explained. "Might want to ease him into meeting the little rascal, though. He's skittish on his bad days and after missions."

"I took the liberty of reading over all of the team's files so I get why. Thanks for letting me know. I should get some sleep so I'm not as grumpy in the morning when I greet them." Y/N yawned on accident, covering his mouth with his hand. 

"No problem. I'll let you get some rest." Sam reached forward and closed the door as he left.

Y/N turned out the light and sank down in bed, drawing the covers up. He had at least four extra blankets just for the weight. He liked having the excess weight since it made him feel secure and grounded. 

"Hey, Friday?"

"Yes, Mr. L/N?"

"If I don't wake up from my alarms, please wake me." 

"Of course." 

Y/N fell asleep shortly afterward, not fully aware of how tired he had been. Moving and getting used to the new environment had really taken it out of him and his body was begging to catch up. A shame he'd only get five hours before being dragged from bed. That was going to be one of the very few downsides of this new job.

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Taglist- @supernaturalwintersoldier​ @shadowolf993​ @myybebe

[monaisme]

One Week Later - Chapter Four

This is the sequel to my one-shot, “The Battle”

Going through a magical portal was definitely one way to distract from the nerves borne of having to step back into one’s life five years later and all the chaos that came with it.

The portal didn’t seem like a big deal after the fact, especially after spending the last days watching the successful use of them as those remaining in Wakanda were reunited with family and friends. It didn’t stop Peter’s brain from wondering for a quick second how Wong’s magic worked—if he was really just stepping through or if there was more to it?—Like the transporters in Star Trek. Maybe that ring he’d been wearing contained technology that manipulated the particulate in the atmosphere and—

His train of thought derailed as Mr. Stark finally came through the portal and the circle shrunk and fizzled away into nothing.

“Well,” he announced as he glanced back at the vanished means of entry, “That wasn’t my flashiest entrance, but it’ll do.”

Mrs. Stark rolled her eyes and stepped up to give him a kiss. “Yes, dear, whatever you say.” She teased as she caressed his cheek. “That exit, though...” She gave her husband a playful wink and then patted his face. “The Divine Miss M would be proud.”

Mr. Stark smirked, “Yeah, Wong will definitely pay for that later.” He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer then planted a soft kiss on her lips. He mumbled, “I’m so glad we’re home.”

Peter had watched as they did their flirting thing, but mention of home had him looking away pretty quick. He fought to tamp down his discomfort.

Five years ago, Mr. Stark had been freshly engaged and behaving exactly how Mr. Stark was expected to behave, all snark and sarcasm with the occasional emotional outburst.

And Mrs. Stark was, well—she was Pepper Potts, but not just Pepper Potts. She was Ms. Potts; CEO to Stark Industries, #1 on the Forbes list of “100 Most Powerful Women” in 2017, and MJ had just told him—he sighed as he mentally corrected himself, MJ had told him five years ago that she was creeping up on Oprah and Beyonce in terms of net worth. He’d met her a few times when she’d stop by the lab to make sure Mr. Stark was drinking more than just coffee and consuming actual food—not just the mystery smoothies Dum-E would make for him on occasion. She’d been intimidating, but always polite and kind and left the lab with a smile for Peter and a peck on the cheek for Mr. Stark.

And while he’d been stuck in that stone? Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts had gotten married, built a home... moved on, and here he was— Peter was getting tired again just thinking of it.

Five years later was weird.

Peter scuffed his toe against the floor, unintentionally drawing attention to himself.

Mr. Stark straightened the two of them up and turned to him immediately, making sure to grab his wife’s hand. “Yeah.” It was Mr. Stark’s turn to blush. “Sorry about that. I guess we’re all a little relieved to be back, right? We can finally get back to normal?”

Peter chuckled quietly and shrugged as he refused to look up at the pair. “I guess?” He replied, but in his head, he knew better.

“Well,” The pair moved closer to him and Mr. Stark put a supportive arm around his shoulder. “I’m not even going to ask what you want to do, kid.” Mr. Stark stated as he turned Peter around and started walking him through the living room of the penthouse, “but before we figure out when you can see May, I need to know if an in person visit is even in the cards for today. I’ll just pop down to the med bay and have a quick chat with the doctor and—“

Peter didn’t think before he stopped moving and the words fell out of his mouth, all desperate and pleading. “Can’t I just come with you?” Mr. Stark was opening his mouth to say no, Peter was sure of it, so he kept going, “I don’t even need to talk to her! I’ll stay back and out of the way and everything. Please? I just want to see her.”

Mr. Stark couldn’t hide the sadness in his eyes. “Pete, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

But Peter was determined. “But it’s May, Mr. Stark!” He begged. “And you can’t tell me she hasn’t missed me, I mean, it’s been five years for her and I know she’d want to see me—“

“Kid, that has nothing to do with it. I promise. You know what your aunt is like.” Mr. Stark seemed to hunt for his next words, “She’s a beast in the best possible way—but now? She’s not, and the last thing she’d want is for you to see her... less than one hundred percent because then she’ll get upset that you’re worrying about her and then you’ll end up getting upset and none of us want that either, do we?”

Peter tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. “No. I get it, that’s cool. Just...” He trailed off before he said something stupid. He understood. He’d heard the doctor only a couple of hours earlier and he knew he couldn’t just go running into the med bay to throw himself at Aunt May. Stuff was going on and he wasn’t going to get in the way of it.

“Let’s give her chance to put on her game face, okay?”

“Okay.” Peter couldn’t have sounded more glum if he’d tried. He hated this.

“Hey, kid,” Mr. Stark pulled him into an awkward side hug as they all started walking again. “I promise you, we’ll get this sorted, but here’s what we’re gonna do. First, we’re gonna get you set up in your room,” they turned down into a hallway beyond the living room, “so you can take a nice, long shower—wash off all of those teenager cooties you’ve been sporting.” Mr Stark ruffled Peter’s hair as he attempted to lighten the mood. “Then, by the time you’re done, I’ll be back with all the information we need so we can make a plan, alright?”  

Peter nodded even though he wanted nothing more than to disagree with everything Mr. Stark was suggesting and make a break for the med bay. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. Five years ago, he was supposed to help get the gauntlet and then come home and train with the Avengers after May grounded him forever... and now, even his freaking homecoming was wrong. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to deal with all of this.  

Mr. Stark steered him through a doorway and stopped. “So, kid. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Peter blinked, confused. “Um, what—?“

“You’re room, buddy, what do you think?” Mr. Stark gestured into the room they were now standing in. “We tried to make it exactly like your old one... got FRIDAY to...”

Peter tuned Mr. Stark out as he stepped further into what was definitely a space meant for him. Now that he was paying attention, it took a second to know that he was in the exact same room Mr. Stark had put aside for his use before half of the universe disa—

It was like a needle scratching across a record in his brain. NO.

He needed to change the thoughts in his brain—wished it was as easy to do for himself as it was for the schematics laying about the lab... a swipe of the hand and BOOM, a fresh start—the lab he hadn’t been in for five years because he was trapped in a stone.

NO. He scolded himself again and clenched his fists tight; thrust them into the pockets of his sweatpants as he tried to reframe it. He needed to make it something else before Mr. Stark ended up looking at him that pitying way again. 

Okay.

It was the same room Mr. Stark had put aside for his use on those nights when they’d goof around with Mr. Stark’s tech until stupid late and then the two of them would fight over whether 80s horror movies were the superior movie genre when anyone with real taste knew that Star Wars and all things sci-fi was where it was at.

Yeah, that was better. He could do this.

He tried to relax his shoulders as he took in some of the details.

Peter was grateful that the room itself smelled as fresh and clean as the last time he’d been in it. The laundry detergent used to wash his bedding was even the same. His posters were on the walls and his books were back on the tiny bookshelf by the desk set up next to the wide expanse of window. The pens, papers, books, and even an unfinished lego project he’d left upon it during his last weekend were sitting in a box, waiting to be unpacked.

It was almost exactly where it was all supposed to be.

Almost.

And then—

Peter remembered an April Fool’s Day when he and Ned had been little. It had fallen on a Saturday, which of course meant a sleepover for the two new friends and, while May and Ben slept on, the boys had decided to be as diabolical as six year olds could be. It had taken all of three minutes, for all of the giggles and impromptu pillow fight, but they’d switched all of the red throw cushions from the couch with the brown throw cushions from the two armchairs in the living room. The cutlery tray in the kitchen was given the same treatment before Peter and Ned were satisfied with their first ever attempt at foolery.  

It was insanity, and May and Ben were absolutely baffled at how something so strange could have happened while they slept!

Peter smiled sadly at the memory as he realized this was that moment, except it wasn’t a goofy prank by two silly kids. It was like everything in the room was six inches to the left and Peter was supposed to be confused that something wasn’t quite right—

Nothing was right.

He wondered if this would be the thing that pushed him over the edge.

“Pete?” Mr. Stark asked again, softer this time and laced with an undertone of concern.

He closed his eyes for a moment then pasted a smile on his face. “It’s great, Mr. Stark.” He turned to face him, hoped he’d buy the ruse. “You wouldn’t know that anything was different except that my desk is finally tidy.”

Mr. Stark chuckled, “Look, kid, I know it’s not quite ri—“

“No! It’s absolutely fine!” Peter couldn’t allow him to acknowledge the imperfection of it or he’d lose it. “I hadn’t even thought about... this. It’s just like I left it,” he lied.

Mr. Stark wasn’t convinced. Peter could see it on his face. “Peter? Tell me what’s going on in your head. I can see that something is—“

“No.” Yup. He really needed to not be talking about it, “Everything’s great... this is great, Mr. Stark, thanks so much for doing this for me.” Peter then looked behind him to Mrs. Stark still standing in the hallway. “And you, too, Mrs. Stark. I’ll try really hard to not be irritating while I’m here.” He kept that same fake grin going, hoped for the best.

And then Peter put an arm around Mr. Stark and ushered him toward the door.

Mr. Stark pushed back a little, making his desire to stay obvious. “Pete? What are you doing?”

“Just what you asked, Mr. Stark. I’m gonna jump in a shower now and get ready for the day.” He’d gotten Mr. Stark one step into the hallway when the man pulled free of Peter’s unintentional restraint, turned around and braced himself in the door frame.

“Peter, stop.” He tried to catch Peter’s eye. “What’s going on?”

The question stopped Peter cold in his tracks. He was absolutely not prepared to answer the question. “What do you mean? I just said—“ He glanced over his shoulder back into the room. “Everything’s great.”

“Yeah, Pete, I hear you. You keep saying it. It’s great, but that’s not what I’m picking up here.” His voice held nothing but concern and he stepped closer to Peter. “Do you want to try again?”

And his plan had failed in all of one minute.

Dammit.

An unexpected anger flared, “No, I really don’t.” He hadn’t yelled, but he was a near thing. “Can I please just take a shower now?” He tugged at the sweatshirt that wasn’t his, stalked toward the dresser he’d yet to inspect and pulled open the drawer that thankfully held his t-shirts. He’d hoped it would be enough of a cue that Mr. Stark needed to leave, but that was apparently too much to ask.

“Peter, c’mon. I need to know what’s going on in that genius brain of yours. Do you want to talk? Do we need to change something about the room?”

“NO! It’s already changed enough!” Peter snapped. He grabbed his favourite shirt and slammed the drawer shut with enough force that the dresser hit the wall behind it with a crash. 

Mrs. Stark gasped at the outburst, bringing Peter back to himself.

He froze where he stood, his ears flushed with embarrassment at the loss of control-- being caught out. “Shit. I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

Mr. Stark stood silent as he waited for Peter to settle down, Mrs. Stark coming to stand beside her husband as the tension hung thick in the air.

And never before had he wanted Mr. Stark to leave him alone so badly.

“I think I need... can I just have a minute, please?” He whispered and fidgeted with the shirt in his hands.

“Peter, I don’t think we should--” his words cut off.

Mrs. Stark put a hand on Mr. Stark’s arm, effectively stopping him in his tracks. “Tony, wait a minute.” She gave Mr. Stark a ‘look,’ “It’s been a long week, and an especially difficult day for Peter. You go check in at the med bay while I check in with the others and give him a chance to catch his breath.” She addressed Peter next. “Does that sound like a good idea?”

Mr. Stark opened his mouth to protest, “But—”

Mrs. Stark didn’t bother to hide her glare. “I’m sorry. Did I pose that as a question?”

Even Peter knew from that tone that CEO Ms. Potts—um, Mrs. Stark was coming out to play, so he wasn’t surprised when Mr. Stark grumbled out a petulant ‘no.’

“Good.” She turned to Peter next, spoke kindly. “You take all the time you need, honey. I can’t imagine we’ll be longer than a half hour, but if you need more time than that, then you take it. We’ll meet up in the living room when we all finish. Does that sound good to you?”

Peter nodded a ‘yes,’ though he still refused to look at either of them.

She smiled, like the last minutes of Peter’s tantrum hadn’t happened, then continued. “Perfect. We’ll get out of your hair.”

She made to steer Mr. Stark out of the room, but he again stopped and turned to address his mentee. “Hey—“

But Peter refused to look at the man.

Mr. Stark tried again, “Hey, buddy. Listen to me. No one is mad. Okay?” He seemed to grapple with finding the right words for a second and then went on. “We all know this is messed up and no is going to blame you for not knowing how to react—but you have to talk to us okay?”

Peter couldn’t bring himself to respond.

Mr. Stark sighed, seemingly giving up on the moment. Peter glanced up, thinking he’d watch them walking out the door, but blinked in surprise at Mr. Stark waiting patiently for him to look up.

“If you need anything... if you need me, you let FRIDAY know and she’ll get me. Understood?”

Peter did nod at that, but kept quiet.

Mr. Stark sniffed and then cleared his throat. “Good. Go take your shower, sweetheart. We’ll see you in the living room when you’re done.” Peter thought he’d reach out to hug him, but he held himself back and Peter wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Instead, Mr. Stark grasped Mrs. Stark’s hand, gave Peter a wink and a nod, and the two of them left.

He waited a few seconds, listened for the concerned voices talking about giving him time to die away in the hall and then sighed in relief.

Finally.

Peter was alone for the first time since, well, he guessed five years ago. 

He stopped the thoughts again. It was too much, and he had thirty minutes to pull himself together, so that’s what he was going to do.

* * * * * *

Peter took a couple of minutes to be still and hoped it would be enough to get through whatever came next.

It wasn’t.

He did the breathing exercises MJ had taught the decathlon team before that huge meet against Bronx School of Science.

Maybe that took the edge of a little?

Finally, Peter gave up, realizing that it wasn’t going to matter what he did, at least for now. He just needed to get up and move.

And so he did.

He grabbed the rest of his clothes from the dresser, consciously ignoring the drywall dust on the floor behind it, and stepped into the ensuite.

FRIDAY had already started the shower knowing that Peter’s preferences wouldn’t have changed, so he stripped and stepped under the hot spray. He closed his eyes and counted his breathing again, but now that he’d moved from the quiet of his room, the urgency to get done and get to the living room started pressing on him.

He could do this. Whatever the world had in store for him, he’d manage. He’d done the whole starting over thing before, after all and hiding from it wasn’t going to change anything.

He wiped the water away from his face and grabbed the bottle of shampoo from the shelf, smiling to himself as he recognized the brand and scent on the label. He wanted to be quick, but he sound of the water beating against the ceramic tile and the soothing fragranced steam relaxed him more than he’d anticipated.

Maybe he’d be alright?

After a few more minutes of luxuriating in the heat, Peter finished washing up and stepped out to dry himself off, not bothering to do anything special with his curls. He slipped on his boxers then his jeans, keeping the towel around his neck so his hair wouldn’t drip everywhere. He finished off with one last vigorous scrub and tossed the towel into the hamper behind the door. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head, took a deep breath to center himself and caught a whiff of it...

He wondered how quickly Happy had been able to pull his stuff out of storage and how many times his clothing had been washed and washed and washed... all to try and get rid of that musty, unused smell that clings to old, discarded clothing. Except that the clothes hadn’t been outgrown or discarded—and below the layers of wash after wash he could still tell with his stupid enhanced senses that all that Peter was before was that stink of age and neglect.

An unnatural calm settled upon him as he pulled the shirt down from his face and left the bathroom.

He grabbed forgotten socks from another dresser drawer and sat himself on the bed to get them on.

He realized he’d get no reprieve from all of the reminders, and wondered why he wasn’t more upset.

It didn’t matter, though.

He looked at the clock on his bedside table. He’d already taken forty minutes and needed to get out to the living room. Mr. and Mrs. Stark were waiting—

And Peter figured that after five years, they’d waited long enough.

[madasthesea]

Trope: Jealousy

“You’re not my brother.”

Peter blinks at the little dark haired girl in front of him. He’d met Morgan a couple times, in the hospital with Tony. She’d been shy, but sweet, so this is unexpected. “Um, no, I—I’m not.”

Morgan eyes him for a moment, her eyebrows furrowed in aggravation. “Daddy calls you my brother, but you aren’t.”

“O-ok.”

Tony walks in then, his face creased in exhaustion and pain. The burns on his face pull down one side of his mouth in a perpetual frown.

But the heaviness is temporary. The second he sees Peter and Morgan his eyes light up, the frown twists up into a half-smile. He looks younger.

Peter’s heart flips in his chest at the sight, grief and gratitude in equal measure. Tony meets his eyes and his eyebrows crease like he can hear Peter’s thoughts. Tony takes a breath and opens his mouth—

“Daddy!” Morgan cries. Peter flinches as the moment is abruptly shattered.

“Hello, little miss,” Tony says, casually scooping her up into his good arm, propping her on his hip and kissing her cheek, making her giggle. “Have you been playing with Pete?”

They hadn’t been, really, but Morgan nods all the same. Tony carries her into the kitchen to begin lunch, leaving Peter alone in the living room.

Morgan roars as she brings her stuffed dragon down on the Lego castle Peter had helped her build. Peter fakes terrified screaming, making Morgan laugh.

Morgan seems to like Peter well enough when it’s just the two of them. She’ll play with him and watch movies, and on the rare occasion Tony and Pepper go out she’ll listen when he tells her it’s time for bed. But the second Tony is involved, Morgan gets fiercely protective of his attention and easily annoyed with Peter, as if he’s a babysitter who’s no longer needed once her dad’s home.

It’s not like Peter doesn’t know why Morgan doesn’t like him—she’s spent her whole life with Tony by her side every minute of every day and now suddenly Tony’s attention is divided. She’s an only child, she isn’t used to having to share. And she’s too young to know how to vocalize her jealousy to her dad. But it makes life pretty awkward for Peter. He can’t just turn down all of Tony’s invitations to visit, nor does he want to. He loves being around Tony, cherishes the time they spend together. But now, more often than not, it’s interrupted by Morgan throwing a tantrum or dragging Tony away to play with her.

Last week, Morgan had tried to follow them into the lab—where she knows she is absolutely not allowed to go—and had been so upset when she couldn’t come with that they had ended up foregoing lab time altogether and spent the afternoon having a tea party instead, with Tony and Peter sending each other baleful looks as they sipped their imaginary beverages.

It comes to a head the next weekend. It isn’t one of Peter’s scheduled visits, but the minor concussion and six inch gash up his back mean that he’s at the Stark cabin anyway, Tony having sent a suit to fish him out of a rain drenched dumpster.

“I’m fine, Mr. Stark,” Peter says for the umpteenth time as Tony vigorously dries his hair with a towel.

Tony hums in disagreement, barely listening. “’Don’t open a Med Center in Queens,’ Pepper says. ‘Peter will think you’re hovering,’ Rhodey says—”

“You are hovering,” Peter interrupts. Tony just keeps muttering.

“They aren’t the ones that have to fly to the city twice a week to drag an unconscious, bleeding, delirious Spider-kid all the way back to the freaking boonies—”

“I am neither unconscious nor delirious. And you weren’t even flying that suit, technically.”

“Stop talking and get your suit off, you need stitches,” Tony snaps. He tugs on Peter’s ear in annoyance, but the touch is so light it’s more of a caress than anything, belying the anger in his tone. He’s just worried. It would be more annoying if Peter wasn’t the exact same way.

Peter peels the suit off down to his waist, sitting at the kitchen island while Tony gets the supplies he needs. Peter can hear Tony washing his hands and when he does come and touch Peter’s back, his fingers are warm from the hot water.

Peter takes a deep breath and does his best to relax under Tony’s touch, rather than tense up in anticipation of the stitches.

“There you go, buddy,” Tony murmurs. His voice has entirely lost its edge now, his only concern making sure that Peter is well taken care of. “I’m thinking five or six stitches for this, not too bad.”

Peter snorts humorlessly, then curses as Tony pours antiseptic over the wound.

Peter keeps up a rambling narration of his day as Tony works, trying to distract himself. Tony responds between sutures as he threads the needle again.

He’s in the middle of the third stitch when Peter tenses half a second before—

“Daddy?”

It speaks to how often Tony has done this that he knows not to flinch. Instead he lets go of the needle and carefully pulls his hands away from Peter’s wound.

“What are doing up, little miss? It’s late.”

Morgan eyes Peter warily. She can’t see Peter’s back from her vantage point, but that also means Peter’s staring her straight in the face and can’t really move.

“I woke up and can’t fall back asleep without a story.”

“Go ask Mommy, baby, I have to help Peter with something,” Tony says, his voice soft. His puts a hand on Peter’s shoulder, warm and gentle, to assure him that he won’t leave him.

Morgan pouts. “But you always read me my story.”

“I know, but I can’t right now, ok? I’ll come up in a little bit to check on you,” Tony assures her again. Under other circumstances, Peter is sure Tony would round the island and pick her up and kiss her cheek to soften the blow, but his hands are almost certainly bloody right now, and he doesn’t want to scare her.

“But,” Morgan starts again, her pout growing even more pronounced as she glares at Peter.

“Morgan,” Tony interrupts, voice firm but not angry. “Peter needs me right now. Go get your mom.”

Morgan’s face screws up as tears start gathering in her eyes, loud sobs trailing behind her as she turns and flees up the stairs.

Peter grits his teeth.

“You can go,” he murmurs.

“Nope,” Tony says, his hands steady as he continues on to the next stitch. “Bleeding trumps crying.”

“What beats bleeding?”

“Dying.”

“Does that mean crying beats dying?” Peter asks, inhaling sharply as the thread was pulled tight.

“No.”

“This game doesn’t make sense.”

“Peter,” Tony warns in that dad voice that he perfected during the Snap. Peter glances back at him and sees his tight jaw, the way his brow wrinkles. He hates the thought of not being able to comfort his crying daughter as much as the thought of leaving Peter bleeding in his kitchen.

Peter wonders for the first time if this is hard for him too. Morgan isn’t used to having a sibling, and neither is Peter, but Tony has never been a parent to two living children before. And the way he loves is so devoted, so all consuming, Peter imagines that it’s hard having to prioritize needs when Tony’s instinct is to fix everything.

“You can go, Tony,” Peter says again.

Tony sighs, setting the suture tools down and looking up at Peter with a tired smile.

“She has to learn to share me sometime, Pete. Because if I have any say in the matter—and I do—you’re not going away any time soon.”

Peter avoids his eyes, feeling suddenly horribly guilty. If he was Morgan, and his brother-but-not-really came back from the dead, he isn’t sure how much he would like him either.

There’s quiet for a few more minutes as Tony finishes bandaging his back, then he rounds to the other side of the island, raising Peter’s chin with a finger.

“We’re all adjusting, Pete, but that doesn’t mean things were better before. I would rather have Morgan be a little jealous than go back to... missing you. Any day. Not even a question, kid.”

Peter nods jerkily.

Tony eyes him for another moment, then nods. “Alright, my love. Pajamas for you, I’ll clean up here.”

Peter stands, shaking his head. He wants to hoard Tony to himself, wants to ask for an episode of Star Trek to help him sleep, wants Tony to stay and stroke his hair and hum under his breath when he thinks Peter’s asleep.

But they’re all adjusting. And if Morgan has to share, so does Peter.

“Go check on Morgan,” Peter says. “I’ll clean up.”

He can tell Tony wants to argue out of principle, but his eyes dart to the stairs.

“Go on. Crying trumps cleaning,” Peter teases.

Tony’s face softens as he looks back at Peter. There’s so much gratitude and adoration on his face it makes Peter’s throat tighten with emotion.

“You’re a good brother, Peter,” Tony murmurs. He leans across the isle and pulls Peter’s head down so he can kiss his cheek.

Peter hums and leans into the touch. “Goodnight, Tony.”

“Night, kiddo,” Tony says, starting toward the stairs. “Don’t sleep on those stitches,” he calls over his shoulder.

Peter huffs, gathering together the soiled towels and medical supplies, moving around the kitchen like it’s his own home.

 Morgan is in a bad mood the next morning, and her wary glances towards Peter have escalated into full on glares. Pepper and Tony both notice, having a silent conversation over the breakfast table that Peter can’t really understand. They spend the rest of the morning quietly putting together puzzles and coloring, but it doesn’t stop Morgan from breaking down crying no less than three times.

Finally, after lunch, Pepper takes her upstairs for a nap, whispering to Peter, “I’m so sorry, she must be tired,” as she does.

She is a bit more pleasant when she comes back, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. She even lets Peter help her build a tower out of Legos while Pepper and Tony make dinner.

It isn’t until they settle down for a movie together that Morgan’s temper really comes out.

Peter automatically gravitates to sit next to Tony, looking forward to curling into his side and dozing on his shoulder. Morgan, who’s already sitting on Pepper’s lap, frowns and crawls over Tony to take the available spot.

Peter stops short and blinks while Tony snorts. “Alright, little monkey, calm down,” he says, tugging on Morgan’s pigtail. She smiles up at him innocently.

Pepper shakes her head at her daughters antics, then holds out her arms to Peter. “Come cuddle with me, Peter, since Morgan doesn’t want to.”

Peter smiles and plops down between her and Tony and is instantly enveloped in a one armed hug from both sides. Tony’s hand lands in his hair while Pepper tugs him against her shoulder. He sighs contentedly, closing his eyes and savoring the feeling of family that surrounds him—

“No!”

Peter’s eyes fly open, jerking upright as he sees Morgan pushing herself away from her dad and standing on the couch, glowering down at Peter.

“You have your own parents,” Morgan snaps at him. “Just because they’re gone doesn’t mean you can steal mine!”

Peter’s jaw literally drops, more out of surprise than anything, but instantly a pang of hurt and grief echoes through his chest, making his breath come short. In the same second, Tony sits upright and Pepper gasps Morgan’s name.

“Morgan H. Stark, apologize to your brother,” Tony says, his voice serious and low.

“He’s not my brother!” Morgan yells, stomping her foot on the couch cushion.

Tony shoots to his feet, grabbing Morgan around the waist and hoisting her up against his shoulder.

Morgan screams, so high pitched it makes Peter’s ears fuzz out for a second. He can see Tony’s jaw twitch, but he doesn’t put her down. Peter knows that he isn’t hurting her—Tony would never, ever hurt his kids. Even in dire situations Tony is gentle with Peter and he’s certain that carries through to his daughter. But Morgan keeps screaming, tears pouring down her cheeks as Tony carries her toward the stairs.

Pepper watches looking torn, like she wants to follow, but instead she turns to Peter, reaching out and stroking his cheek with her thumb.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry, I don’t know...,” She trails off. “Listen, to Tony and to me, you’re our son. Alright? Morgan’s just... not used to sharing us.”

“I know,” Peter says, his voice more hoarse than he had expected. “I know, it’s ok.”

Pepper looks at him for a moment. “Oh, sweetheart,” she sighs, kissing the top of his head. “How about some cocoa, huh?”

“Sure.”

As Pepper goes to the kitchen to get cocoa started, Peter hugs a pillow to his chest and lets his hearing tune in to what’s happening upstairs.

Morgan is still audibly crying as Tony tries to quiet her. Morgan’s bed creaks as Tony sits down.

“You don’t love me anymore,” Morgan hiccups.

“Oh, baby, you know that isn’t true. You know it isn’t.”

“You sp-spend all your time with P-Peter.”

“Momo, I’m with you every day. Peter only comes for four days a month and even then we all play together. Think maybe you’re being a bit dramatic?” Classic Tony. He doesn’t sugarcoat, just tells the truth in his uniquely humorous way.

“No,” Morgan whimpers.

“Morgan,” he hears Tony sigh. Morgan’s sobs quiet down at her dad’s soft tone. There’s the sound of shifting fabric and Peter imagines Tony settling Morgan on his knee.

“Do you remember your fourth birthday?” Tony asks.

Morgan sniffles. “Yeah.”

“What did we do?”

“We had waffles and went to the dinosaur museum and I got to open a bunch of presents,” Morgan says, perking up a little bit.

“That’s right. And I let you eat cake for dinner and I gave you as many hugs and kisses as you wanted,” Tony adds, and Peter can hear the smile in his voice. He hugs the pillow a little closer to his chest.

“Do you know why I did that?” Tony asks.

“Because you love me,” Morgan reluctantly admits.

“Yeah, sweetheart. I love you so, so much.” More shifting, the soft sound of a kiss. “Now, do you remember a few weeks before that, when we went to Peter’s tree and we brought him cake and Legos and we played Spider-Man all day?”

Peter knows about his tree. One that Tony had planted in his honor after the Snap, on the edge of the lake. Tony had taken him there a couple weeks after he was released from the hospital. They’d sat there talking for hours and Tony had held him like he hadn’t wanted to let him go.

“You cried,” Morgan remembers and Peter squeezes his eyes closed.

Tony’s voice is thick when he answers. “Yeah, I did. Do you know why?”

“Because you love him,” Morgan mutters, her voice sullen again.

“Because I love him,” Tony agrees. “And I loved him even when he wasn’t there. I loved him when you were born, and when you said your first word, and two weeks ago when you hurt your ankle and I gave you piggyback rides all day. Does that mean I didn’t love you then?”

Morgan sniffs again. “I don’t know.”

“Of course it doesn’t,” Tony assures her. “Because guess what.”

“What?”

“I love you when I’m helping Peter with his homework. And when we’re watching movies after you’ve gone to bed or working in the lab. You don’t just stop loving something when you can’t see it anymore, baby. When you love something as much as I love you, you love it forever. Nothing will change that.”

Morgan’s little voice is cautiously hopeful as she asks, “Really?”

“Really. The only thing that’s changed is that Peter’s here now, so we don’t have to be sad anymore.”

“I didn’t like it when you cried,” Morgan confesses. “It made me want to cry too.”

Tony’s next breath shudders as he exhales. “Well, we don’t have to cry anymore, either of us. Cause I’ve got you, and Mom, and Peter, and I’m really, really happy.”

“Then I’m happy too,” Morgan says with all the innocence of a child. There’s the sound of another kiss and happy giggles.

“Good. But you’ve still got apologize to Peter, little miss. You hurt his feelings.”

“Ok,” she chirps easily. The floor creaks as if Tony just stood up.

“I love you both with my whole heart, Morgan,” Tony says quietly with a sincerity that’s probably lost on such a little kid, but it makes Peter’s eyes prick with tears.

There’s a pause and then, “You can’t love us both with your whole heart, Daddy. That doesn’t make sense. You can love us with half your heart.���

“Well, maybe dads have extra hearts, huh?” Tony teases, his footsteps coming down the hall. “One for you and one for Peter.”

“Nuh-uh,” Morgan cries.

“Mm-hmm. And one for Mom and then another one for Uncle Rhodey and Uncle Happy and cheeseburgers.”

Morgan laughs, then pauses. “Really?”

Tony is assuring her that he’s telling the truth as they come down the stairs, Morgan laughing with her head on her dad’s shoulder.

“Alright, baby girl,” Tony says, making eye contact with Peter and coming toward him. “Do you have something to say to your big brother?”

Morgan nods as Tony sets her down in front of Peter. He retreats toward the kitchen, hovering where he can still hear.

Peter stares at Morgan for a minute and she just stares back, her head tilted to one side.

“I’m sorry,” she finally says. “I was mean.”

Peter flounders for half a second, not used to such candor. “Um, I forgive you.”

“Can you teach me how to climb walls?” She asks, once again catching him off guard.

Well, not really, but he can’t tell her that when she’s willingly talking to him for the first time. “... Yes,” he says. He’ll figure something out.

“Cool,” she breathes, then clambers onto the couch next to him.

Pepper and Tony come in just a moment later with cocoa, both smiling as they see their kids. Tony sits down next to Peter, putting an arm around his shoulders.

Peter leans into him, closing his eyes for a second as he savors the warmth.

Tony buries his nose in Peter’s hair and mutters, “Did you hear all that?”

Peter glances up at him, feeling guilty but Tony just chuckles. “Good, that means I don’t have to say it all again.”

Peter snorts. “Love you, too,” he whispers. “So much.”

Tony smiles, welcomes Morgan into his arms as she crawls into his lap. He kisses Peter’s temple.

“I’ve got the best family,” he sighs happily.

[paradox-psyc-hoe-sis]

New Suits

Peter Parker x reader (but it's not a Peter x reader themed fic), Avengers x teen reader.

Word count: 3.4k

Summary: Y/n Stark and Peter Parker have planned the ultimate movie night together, but something gets in their way.

Warnings: body insecurities, angst I guess, mentions of weight and stretch marks, stuff like that. Both the reader and Peter are 18 years old.

A/n: Hello :) this is way more of an avengers x reader fic rather than a Peter x reader fic, but I needed the reader to be connected to Peter in a certain way so why not! Enjoy, my peeps - Honey

The clock ticked menacingly as you twirled the pencil you were holding between your fingers; last period on a Friday was always history with Mr Smith, and you hated it. Peter sat on the desk next to you and you could tell he was just as bored as you were, tapping his fingers against the polished wood table, staring into space. There were only three minutes left of class, and you were going to stay at Peter and May's apartment overnight to have a movie marathon, you couldn't be any more excited. As soon as the analogue clock on the wall turned to 2:58, you felt a vibration in your pocket and heard Peter's phone 'ding' in his pocket next to you, causing your teacher to turn around with a stern expression.

"I shouldn't have to remind you all of the one classroom rule," Mr Smith barked towards the class, "phones off." Once he turned back to face the whiteboard behind him, Peter turned to you with a confused look. Sneakily taking your phone out of your pocket, you saw a message from Jarvis:

"Happy Hogan is waiting outside for Y/N Stark and Peter Parker."

You silently showed Peter your phone before putting it into your backpack. What could Tony, or the Avengers, possibly want that'd ruin your weekend with Peter?

The bell rang piercingly through the classroom, and you packed up your bag.

"I can't believe we leave school in four months, it's crazy!" Peter started, shoving his textbook into his beige backpack. "One thing I certainly will not miss is this dreadful class." Peter kept his voice quiet, making sure your professor hadn't heard his snarky comment. Laughing, you and Peter walked out of class and down the corridor, towards to main exit.

"Why do you think Tones sent a car for us?" You asked, walking through the large double doors and into the sunlight. Both of you spotted Happy stood next to his car and headed towards the car park. "I haven't got a clue. But I'm sure Mr Stark," Peter emphasized, slightly disapproving of the nickname you gave your dad, "has a perfectly good reason. Besides, we'll probably only be at the tower for a couple of hours, right?" Nodding, you both walked up to the grey Audi.

"Hey Happy." You exclaimed with a smile. Once you all got in and buckled up, you took Peter's hand, and Happy began to drive out of the school grounds. "D'you know why Mr Stark wants us, Happy?" Peter asked, looking out of the window. Sighing, Happy looked into the rearview mirror to see you both. "I don't know." He said, looking back at the busy New York traffic, "Something about a suit update? I've been instructed to drive you both back to May's house at 9pm, so it can't be anything too important." You clenched up at the mention of a suit update, dreading what you were in for tonight.

You thought back to last year, remembering what exactly happened last time you got a new suit. You were quite insecure about your body, always wearing baggy clothes to hide it, but you couldn't always escape the sight of your own figure. To get a new suit, you need to have measurements taken, and the measurements have to be done in your underwear. You weren't fussy about having your measurements taken, as it was usually your dad that did it, but you'd recently been quite stressed about your appearance and weren't in the mood to do anything of the sorts today. Just this once, it didn't help that it was your father taking the measurements, either: you worried that if you became too fat or ugly, he would hate you. Considering you all were one big family, you wouldn't mind Bruce or Natasha doing it instead, so you were ought to ask them if they'd do it this time, to save any unwanted embarrassment in front of your father.

Soon enough, you got to the Avengers tower and headed straight for the common area. There, everybody was sat, waiting for Tony to arrive; Nat, Clint, Bruce, Steve, Sam, Bucky, and Rhodey. Peter sat down on one of the sofas, greeting everyone as he did so, but you stood in the door frame placing your backpack on the floor. "Nat, do you mind if I talk to you for a second?" Everybody turned to you, and Nat nodded with a smile. "Sure." She replied, hopping out of her seat and walking towards you. Nobody else was really phased by you and Natasha always spending time with each other, as you both were the main female avengers, and you saw her as a badass aunt. You began to walk down the hall, Nat to your right, taking slow steps.

"What's the matter, Y/n?" She asked, tucking a stray strand of crimson hair behind her ear. Stopping in the middle of the hall, you turned to face Natasha, a slight blush making its way to your cheeks - there was no easy way to say what was on your mind.

"I know this sounds really odd, but I was wondering if you'd take my measurements later on?" She looked slightly puzzled, but nodded anyway. You knew she'd want to know why, so you explained before she could ask.

"I'm just a little...insecure, that's all. I don't really want Tony judging me or my body, that's all." Her expression turned from puzzled to sympathetic, a slight hint of disappointment in her eyes. Uncomfortable, you looked down and stared at your worn out red converse.

"Y/n, you know your dad would never judge you, for any reason." You looked up at her as she rested a hand on your shoulder. "I'd really like to help you out, but I'm not qualified to take any measurements or information for Tony's work. Bruce helps to make the suits as well, y'know, and I could ask him if he'd do yours?" She spoke gently, stroking the side of your bare shoulder. You nodded, giving Nat a small smile. "That would be really nice. Thank you." Both of turned around and walked back to the common area. Just before you walked through the door, Nat turned to you and spoke. "You'll have to talk to Tony about this, okay? He's the best person to help you on this, and it might be good for you to get it off your chest." Nodding, you walked back into the common area.

You were sat on the grey sofa talking to Bucky when Tony walked in. Natasha quickly told Bruce what was going on when you went back into the common area, and he was happy to help, but you still felt a sense of nervousness like you had betrayed your father. Tony carried a piece of paper and a cup of coffee with him when he walked into the common area, sitting down on a chair.

"As you all know, we're doing new suit measurements and prototypes this afternoon, so you all need to be in the tower until 9." He spoke, talking a long swig of his coffee. "We should get measurements done by 6, and from then I'll need you to stay and give me information about anything new you want in your suits and stuff like that." He waved the sheet of paper he held and looked down to read from it, "This is a schedule that I beg you all to stick by otherwise I will lose my sanity even more than I already have. Clint, you're first to get measurements done in the lab, then you'll be followed by Steve, Sam, Bucky, Rhodey, Pete, Natasha and Y/n last." You swallowed hard when you heard him say your name, and tried not to think about the conversation you'd be having with him later on.

"Bruce and I are gonna go down to the labs now and set up. Clint, we'll need you down in about 10, capiche?" Bruce gave you a small smile before they both headed down to the labs, and with that, they were gone.

You watched as your colleagues left and came back, all indifferent to everything that had happened to them. You sat next to Peter, playing rock paper scissors until he had to go and get his fittings, when you talked to Natasha for a bit. When she was sent down to get her measurements, a wave of anxiety washed over you. You were next, and although you knew your dad wasn't going to see you, you still felt butterflies. Suddenly, Jarvis made an announcement on the speakers. "Miss Stark, Tony and Bruce require your presence in the laboratory."

Sheepishly, you rose from the sofa and said goodbye to whoever had returned from the lab and sat next to you - you hadn't paid attention. Once you got to the lab and opened the door, the only person you saw was Bruce.

"Hey Bruce." He looked up from his computer and smiled at you, rising from his stool.

"Hi y/n. Everything is set up in the next room, go in there and follow what Jarvis says, call me in when you're ready." You didn't reply, but walked to the door on the other side of the lab.

You knew this room all too well; it was the 'personal study' lab. It was more of an empty office than a lab, as it was only double the size of an elevator, but it had a small desk with some stray sheets of paper and pencils on top of it. It was rarely used, but when it was, it was for measurements, fittings, trying on new suits, practically anything that would require privacy. In the centre of the room was a small stool about a foot high. Before you could think anything of it Jarvis piped up;

"Good evening, Miss Stark. Please remove all unnecessary clothing. Do not remove your underwear. Then step onto the stool and await instructions."

Hesitantly, you kicked off your shoes and socks. You pulled your red crop over your head and threw it into the corner of the room, and began unbuttoning your high waisted jeans. You slipped your feat out of the wide leg trousers, leaving yourself in a black t-shirt bra and pants. Sighing, you walked over and stood on the small grey stool, relaxing your shoulders. "Jarvis, tell Dr Banner that I'm ready." You could hear Jarvis speak to Bruce in the lab, and within 10 seconds you hear a knock on the door. You answered, and Bruce walked in, carrying a tape measure and a small piece of paper.

"Are you ready to get started?" He asked, looking up at you. Taking a deep breath, you tried to relax all of your muscles. "Ready as I'll ever be." Bruce set down the piece of paper on the desk and began by measuring your waist, hips, and bust. When he got to your arms, you began to wonder where Tony was.

"How did you convince Tony to let you do my measurements?" You asked, trying to stay as still as possible. Without looking up, Bruce answered.

"I knew he wouldn't buy it if I asked to do only yours, so I did everyone's." He moved the tape measure over to your other arm, briefly jotting down a note on the sheet of paper. "What? You've actually done everyone else's?" He nodded, walking behind you to measure your legs. "It would seem suspicious if I only wanted to take your measurements, and nobody else minded me doing it. I told Tony that he should stay in the lab and start preparing ideas for the suits. He's just gone to make more coffee, that's why he isn't here at the moment. He'll probably be back any minute, though." Nodding, you were plunged back into silence. You didn't mind the awkward silence between you both, as he was family, but you wish you could try and start a conversation to distract you from your worries. Unfortunately, your mind went blank.

Ten minutes later, you were finished, and Bruce told you that you could step down from the stool. Before he left to let you change back into your clothes, he turned around to look at you.

"I know things are tricky, and it's not easy to appreciate yourself, but I just want you to know...we're proud of you. All of us, we love you so much."

You smiled slightly and nodded, and Bruce left.

Once you had out all of your clothes back on, you slowly opened the door back to the lab. There, you saw Bruce typing away at his computer and Tony, sat down at one of the desks, sketching out a suit on a large piece of paper. Tony only noticed you when you were halfway through the lab, and he put down his pencil. "Hey honey, you alright?" He asked, turning his swivel chair to face you. Already uncomfortable by the sight of him, you gave him a quick hug and slowly walked to the exit. "I'm fine, thanks, but I've gotta go for a shower. Talk to you in a bit!" You quickly backed into the corridor and speed walked to the elevator, making your way to the penultimate floor.

The elevator music today was a mix between jazz and swing - a mix that you despised. You took after your father, favouring classic rock over nimby-pimby music like this. When you got to your floor, the doors opened, and you were greeted with your room. Fairy lights and polaroids were strung around your double bed, an array of CD's and books littered across your desks. You were thankful that your room had an en suite, walking into the large bathroom. You ran the water until it was scalding hot, changed out of your clothes, and got in.

You were in the shower for no longer than twenty minutes before you heard, yet again, Jarvis reciting a message to you.

"Miss Stark, Tony is waiting for you in your room."

Groaning, you stopped the water and dried yourself off with a light pink towel. You put on a pair of pyjamas that you had thrown into the bathroom with you, brushed your hair in the mirror, and went back into your room. There, you saw your dad sat on your bed, admiring a CD.

"I'm definitely borrowing this." Tony stated, chucking the Nirvana album he was holding onto the bed.

"What're you doing here?" You asked, plopping yourself on your bed next to him, admiring your father as he scratched at his chin. "Gingey told me you wanted to have a talk, right?" Laughing nervously at the nickname you had coined for Nat when you were only a few years old, you picked at the skin around your fingernails.

"Right. Well, I had a problem, but now it's solved so I'm all good! You should probably go back to the lab now and do some more work." You rushed your words, desperate to get rid of Tony as quick as you could. However, he merely sighed, and sat up straight. He looked at you with an expression that almost literally read "I'm so fucking done with your woke-ass bullshit", which made you feel inferior.

"If you think I'm buying that, then you're definitely not a Stark. Try again, Y/n."

Before he could say another word, you rose from where you were sat. "Y'know, I think I might go and talk to mom about this. It's kind of a girl problem, Pepper will get it. See ya!" You quickly walked to the elevator door, and just as the doors closed behind you, you heard Tony mutter something about Pepper being on a business trip.

Shit.

From the elevator, you jogged down to the common area in hopes to find either Peter or Nat. However, when you arrived, the only person there was Sam, lounging on one of the sofas, scrolling through his phone. Groaning, you went to sit next to him, and rubbed your forehead.

"Hey honey, what's up?" He asked, sitting up straighter. Without looking at him, you shook your head, and replied. "I've had a pretty wild fucking day." Sam quietly laughed but tried to convince you that he was serious, pulling a stern expression.

"Ay, there's no need for that kind of language. Talk to me." He didn't turn his phone off, but placed it behind him on the arm of the sofa. You didn't bother to look and see what was on the screen.

Huffing, you turned around and sat criss-cross applesauce to face him.

"I don't like getting a new suit."

"...that's it?" He asked, frowning slightly. "Yes, that's it. I haven't been feeling like myself lately, and having to get a new suit fitted is just another reminder that my body will never be like every other girls. I'm ugly, I have a bit of stomach, stretch marks, there isn't a-"

"Ugly?" He interrupted, pulling a sour face. You nodded slightly, not knowing what else to say. "Y/n, you aren't ugly. And so what if you have stretch marks, or aren't a size zero? You aren't expected to look like a Victoria's secret model 24/7. Besides, you are beautiful in your own way. You were raised by a group of superheroes who save the world every week, you have the smarts of Tony Stark, the fierceness of Natasha and the morals of Captain America himself. Your body doesn't define your self worth, and it doesn't define who you are."

You were slightly taken aback by how good Sam was with words, but you gave him a small smile anyway.

"You should write poetry." You said, giggling slightly.

"Get your ass out of here before I push you out of the window, just for that comment." Laughing even more, you stood up and walked over to the door.

"And y/n," Sam added as you turned around, "go talk to Tony about this. He'll be pleased to hear it."

Pleased? Your dad would be pleased to hear that you're cripplingly self conscious of your body? Not focusing too much on the thought, you walked over to the elevator.

"Jarvis, where's Tony?" You asked, walking into the lift. Jarvis's voice was soon to reply.

"Tony is in Miss Stark's bedroom." Sighing, you pushed a button on the lift, and leaned back against the cool metal.

"Of course he is."

The elevator doors opened to reveal Tony on one side of your room, his back to you, admiring your shelf packed with books. He didn't have to turn around to know that it was you in the elevator.

"I find it slightly offensive that you can talk about it with Sam but not with me." You stalked over to your large white bed and threw yourself on it, staring at the plain ceiling above you.

"Talk about what?" You asked, looking over at your father. He walked over to the beanbag beside your bed and gently sat down on it. "Your feelings, opinions, thoughts, normal teenager stuff." He had a look on his face, as if he knew everything that was going on inside your head.

"How do you know what I talked to Sam about?" You questioned, sitting up on your shoulders.

"Jarvis picked the entire thing up, I was listening through my phone."

"Oh..." you couldn't be angry at Tony, he was your dad after all. You didn't mind him listening to what you had to say, but you wish you had the bravery to do it face-to-face.

"Listen, I know how it feels to be a teenager, and to have your parents expect too much from you. But your looks don't matter at all to Pep and I. They don't matter to anybody else, either. You have a great personality, and an even better mind, so don't feel like your looks are everything." Nodding, you stood up and walked to where Tony was sat on the beanbag. Offering a hand, you helped him up and stood directly in front of him.

"We love you, y/n. Peter loves you, I love you, Pepper loves you, all of the avengers love you. You just need to try and learn to love yourself." You saw a glint in his eye, recognizing the sincerity behind his words. He pulled you in for a hug and rubbed your back, letting you know that you were safe in his arms.

Maybe today wasn't as bad as you expected it to be.

[pkg4mumtown]

Welcome to Hawkins PD (Ch. 2)

Chapter Title: Welcome to Hawkins PD

Chapter 2 of 9?

Read Chapter 1 HERE

AN: Don’t ask me why I’m torturing myself by doing 1st person cover art, now. I have roughly 9 chapters outlined so far and it probably won’t go more than that. Hope you enjoy.

Warnings: Smoking, cursing, Hopper trying to be funny

Summary: You get to know your Chief a bit more as you make your way into Hawkins.

Taglist: @kingphillipblake​

If you'd like to be in my taglist (for this fic or everything) or removed, lmk. I'm not tagging anyone I had on my "all writing" list last year because I don't know if they still feel the same!

The start of the drive was uncomfortably tense. My nervousness was more obvious as I took my sunglasses off, allowing the Chief to see my eyes darting around the cab. I eventually let my gaze focus on the passing trees and forestry, getting lost in the green blur.

“Not too chatty, huh? We’ll get along just fine,” Hopper smirked as he basically asked and answered himself. He glanced at me for any kind of reaction, instead seeing me zoned out, “You okay, kid?”

I hadn’t been intentionally ignoring him but was snapped out of my stupor by the word “kid” hanging in the air.

“Kid?” he asked again.

“I’m not a kid,” I snapped and crossed my arms. I mumbled under my breath, hoping he wouldn’t yell at me as the words left my mouth, “I’m twenty-seven years old for Christ’s sake.”

Hopper simply raised his eyebrows and scoffed, “Sure got the hearing of one.” He tapped his steering wheel rhythmically and pursed his lips, “Twenty-seven, huh?”

“Mhmm, why?”

“Just older than what usually passes through the academy is all,” he shrugged.

“Yea, well, I tried to be a good little secretary and then a telephone operator just like mom and dad said but…” I trailed off.

“But what?”

“I fucking hated it, sir,” I sighed, suddenly remembering my manners. “When I told them I wanted to join a police department, they figured I meant as a secretary or a dispatcher. Imagine their horror when I packed up and told them their little girl was off to be a cop.”

“Old fashioned folks,” Hopper nodded.

“Still not an excuse, sir,” I grumbled.

“You can drop the ‘sir’ act, Y/L/N. You’re not a recruit anymore. ‘Chief’ or ‘Hopper’ work just fine at our station.”

“Sorry, s—Chief,” I murmured.

“It’s fine,” he brushed it off with a wave of his hand. “So, they didn’t come to your graduation?”

“Nope,” I punctuated by popping the “p”.

“Christ, I’m sorry…”

“My best friend came, at least. She got me these,” I smiled, pointing to the glasses that hung from my uniform.

Hopper chuckled at the sight of the glasses mimicking his own, “Yea, that’s a necessary part of the uniform. Next is the hat,” he tilted the brim down and winked.

I let out a not-so-feminine snort as both of our laughter filled the truck. I was worried I’d been too rude before, so I was grateful for the break in tension. I covered my mouth as I laughed, feeling Hopper’s stare as his chest vibrated.

“What?” I asked as I caught him staring instead of paying attention to the empty road.

“Nothin', just the first time I’ve seen you laugh. You’ve been so serious up until now,” he looked away quickly. “It looks good on you, y’know?” he added, his voice barely a murmur.

I felt my face heat up at his words and if his ears were any indication, he was embarrassed as well. I didn’t have to be a detective to see that. I cleared my throat and murmured my thanks before growing silent again.

“So, um, they help you get set up with a place in town already?” Hopper changed the subject.

“Uh, no, I’m gonna stay at a motel for a couple days while I get that and transportation sorted.”

“What!? No, no, no, no,” he replied quickly. “Trust me, you don’t want any part of those motels,” Hopper gave me a terrified glance, like he’d definitely seen some shit there. “I’ve got a trailer I moved out of that you can rent from me.”

“Chief, really, it’s okay. I can—”

“Y/L/N,” he cut me off with a pointed glare. “You can stay there as long as you want or until you find somewhere better. I’m not gonna charge you an arm and a leg for rent,” he reassured me.

“Thanks, I really appreciate that,” I gave him a small smile.

“Hey, I’m not as big a jerk as everyone says I am, alright?” Hopper grumbled.

“Who says that?”

“You’ll see,” he shook his head and sighed. “We can swing by the utilities office when we get there and get everything turned on for ya.”

The rest of the drive managed to fly by as we chatted, nothing too personal and mostly more about me than him. He drove me to the trailer after getting everything sorted out with the utilities and setting me up to make payments. The long driveway to the trailer crunched under his tires but the bumpy ride was worth the view in the secluded area.

“This is it,” he grunted as he put the Blazer in park.

“This view is great, why’d you move?” I asked as I took in the surroundings and spotted the lake behind the trailer.

“Eh, it’s just too small,” he motioned towards his torso with his hand.

I rose an eyebrow at him, letting my gaze land on his torso, flick over to the trailer, and back over to his face, “You’re not that big.”

“You know,” he started with a mischievous grin as he opened the driver’s side door, “a less secure man would have taken offense to that.”

“Chief!” was all I could manage to berate him with as he turned away from me and broke out in to laughter.

We jumped out of the truck at the same time and this time I didn’t protest when he offered to help me with my bags. His keys jingled softly as he stomped up the stairs and unlocked the door to the trailer. Hopper and his obscenely thick fingers fought with the keyring for a moment before finally freeing the key and handing it over to me.

“Here,” he murmured and held the metal between two fingers, effectively dwarfing the key, “and there’s a spare key under the first step,” he nodded outside.

Hopper took a couple spins around the living room and sniffled loudly, “Little musty, sorry. Um, I left quite a few things here, so it might just need some picking up and dusting. I kinda moved in a hurry.”

“It’s not a problem, it’ll give me something to do, Chief,” I reassured him.

We fell into an awkward silence, causing Hopper to step semi-discreetly to the door. He fished his pockets for his business card as he spoke, “Well, uh, if you need anything…”

I graciously accepted the card from him, “Actually, Chief, d'ya happen to have a map on you? So, I can figure my way around this place by Monday?”

“Shit, what am I thinking?” Hopper murmured to himself, realizing he’d just dropped me off seemingly in the middle of nowhere without a sense of direction. His brows knitted together in thought, making his thinking face look angry, “I can show you around right now if you want? Maybe grab lunch while we’re at it as a…congrats?” His lips pushed up and his eyes squinted as he waited for my answer.

“You don’t have to do that, really. I’m sure you have better things to do on a Saturday,” I tried to refuse. “I can manage with just a map.”

“My daughter is at her friend’s house, so I would either sit at the station bored off my ass or drink myself to sleep at home,” Hopper pursed his lips and feigned thinking with his hands on his hips, “Or I can give you a welcome tour.”

I laughed at this ridiculous man and his antics and finally relented, “Fine, but let me change at least.”

Hopper agreed and showed me the rest of the trailer. It was hard not to imagine this hulking man living in this tight trailer as he effortlessly stalked through the rooms. I could almost see his body engulfing the small couch or his broad shoulders bumping walls when he’d get drunk. The tour ended in the bedroom with a bare mattress and the floor littered with the odd empty pack of cigarettes. I tossed my duffel on the bed and started sifting through the civilian clothes I had packed. I heard Hopper open the closet and make a low noise of surprise.

“Hey, I left clothes here,” he held up a red flannel shirt from the closet, which contained a couple pairs of pants and a few random shirts. “A change wouldn’t hurt, nothing happens on the weekends,” Hopper brought the shirt to his nose and grimaced, but shrugged and piled it in one arm anyway. “If this shit gets in your way, feel free to throw it in a bag and chuck it in my office.”

I had pulled out jeans, a shirt, and a sweater and laid them on the bed. By the time Hopper turned back around with his findings, I had halfway unbuttoned my uniform shirt without thinking twice.

“Woah, woah, woah!” Hopper held up his free hand to his eyes right away. “At least let me leave first, Y/L/N! For Pete's sake…” Hopper felt his way out of the room, nearly tripping when his foot caught on the threshold.

As we got back in the Blazer, Hopper chucked his uniform in the back seat. He fetched a pack of Camels from his pocket and held them up in question.

“Mind?”

“Not if I can bum one off you, Chief,” I smirked, grabbing my bun and releasing my hair from its confines. I slipped my hair tie around my wrist and shook my hair out, not really caring how it looked, only that my scalp could breathe.

The corner of Hopper’s mouth turned up before he was shaking the box and pulling out a cigarette. He let it rest between his lips, then turned the box toward me so I could grab one for myself.

“First things first,” he mumbled around the cigarette while lighting it. I leaned my head forward as he brought the lighter towards me. After, I leaned back in my seat, hearing the snap of the lighter closing before I saw his hand extending towards me. “Jim,” his lips closed loosely to avoid dropping the cigarette as he waited with an open palm.

I shook his offered hand, fighting the urge explore the ridges of his palm, “Y/N.”

We took off in the direction of town, silently filling the Blazer with smoke. I tried my best to memorize my surroundings as Hopper pointed out different stores and buildings. He rambled about the owners of certain places, far more than just a Chief might know.

“You grow up here?” I wondered aloud.

“Yea,” he let out a silent laugh, releasing smoke from his lungs as he did. “Moved back about six years ago or so. Good catch.”

We pulled into the diner parking lot, just as my cigarette reached its end, “Damn, I’m sad that’s gone,” I spoke mainly to myself.

“Yea, Bridge got mad at me for trying to bring one when I visited ILEA a month back. How long were you deprived?” Hopper joked while getting out of the car.

“Mm, four months and change,” I answered slowly as if I was unsure.

“Ouch,” he grimaced and stepped ahead of me to open the diner door like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I pushed down my tendency to blush but failed, instead using my hair to block my cheeks from Hopper's eyes. What can I say? I had a thing for old fashioned manners.

He nodded a silent greeting to a waitress and made a beeline for an empty booth, because I guess when you’re the Chief you can just do that. After receiving an odd look from the waitress as we ordered drinks and more stares from women in the diner, I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. The waitress came back around to take our food orders and drop off our drinks, my drink earning me a mocking eyebrow from Hopper.

“Milkshake? Really?” he choked out a laugh around his cup of coffee.

“Excuse me, I’m still allowed the rest of the day to celebrate, Chief,” I replied with an air of pride and a smidgen of sass as I wrapped my lips around the straw.

“You’re right, you’re right,” he chuckled and shook his head, staring down at his coffee and then glancing out the window in a quick canvas.

“Thank you, though,” I started, causing him to meet my eyes. “Thank you for celebrating with me when my own family wouldn’t.”

Hopper swirled his coffee before speaking, “Guess you could say…we’re your family, now.” He raised the mug up and toward me, so I did the same with my glass. He tapped our glasses together in a toast and let a satisfied smile spread over his lips, “Welcome to Hawkins PD.”

I nodded enthusiastically and brought the straw back to my mouth, “Yea, I'll drink to that.”

I sipped on the shake, casually glancing around the dining area and seeing quickly averted eyes. I chewed my straw and furrowed my brows in thought. I’d been silently pondering for so long that I hadn’t realized Hopper was watching the wheels turn in my head.

“What’s up?”

“Mm,” I made a noise indicating I’d heard him as I swallowed. “Why am I being stared at by every woman here?”

“Well,” he cleared his throat, “Small town, new face…women gossip, is the first reason.”

“And the second?”

Hopper took a deep breath through his nose, “Remember when I said that everyone thinks I’m a jerk?”

I simply nodded in understanding.

“Well, ‘everyone’ meant…women.”

We sat in silence for a few seconds while his words washed over me. My eyebrows flew up as I realized what he meant while my hand moved to hide my laughter.

“No!” I gasped in amused shock behind my hand as I deciphered his words.

“Yeah,” he rubbed his brow and grimaced at my shocked face.

I leaned forward on my elbows, smiling widely. His playfully forlorn face told me he knew I’d figured it out and was waiting for the impending grief I was going to lay on him. “Chief…you’re a slut?” I couldn’t hold back the giggle that escaped my lips.

“Correction, I used to be a slut, alright?” he rolled his eyes. “I stopped when I adopted my daughter.”

“Mhmm,” I raised an eyebrow at him as if I didn’t believe him.

“I’m serious!”

After eating, fighting over paying for lunch (a fight he won), and taking me to the grocery store (yet another fight he won), we pulled up to the trailer. Hopper helped me take the bags inside and lingered in the living room.

“If I have any questions,” I showed him the map I stole from his Blazer, “I’ll call you.”

“I’ll keep an ear out,” he smirked and opened the trailer door.

I held the door open as he walked out, stopping when I spoke up, “Wish me luck buying my own car tomorrow.”

Hopper stopped in his tracks and turned around, “What were you gonna do? Walk to the dealership?”

“Uh, bus?”

“No,” he shook his head, turned, and kept walking, “I’ll pick you up at ten tomorrow.”

“Chief!” I protested, but he kept walking to his Blazer.

“They’re less likely to haggle you if the Chief of Police is there, alright!?” he shouted back, not giving me another chance to speak as he got in the truck.

Chapter 3

Hopper stuck his arm out of the window, offering a passive wave of his hand and a smile as he turned the truck around. I leaned against the doorframe and waved back, wondering how in the hell I was supposed to survive a career next to Jim Hopper.

[icanbehardcore]

Top 10 WORST Powerpuff Girls Episodes

For a long time, I have been wanting to make a project resembling a countdown list, being inspired by the likes of @umbramagna777​, @phantomstrider​ and even the Nostalgia Critic. After some considerate years, I have finally decided to make a list based on my all time favorite show The Powerpuff Girls.

Cartoon Network's breakaway hit of the late 90s and early to mid 00s starring three adorable, precocious little kindergartners with superpowers was a cultural phenomenon. Spawning hundreds and thousands of merchandise, a theatrical film, several TV specials, an anime and a reboot, it's unbelievable that a cartoon with an all female lead would become an icon in the cartoon industry.

Created by Craig McCracken fresh off two pilots in the "What A Cartoon" shorts and evolving from the earliest incarnation "Whoopass Stew", The Powerpuff Girls became the highest rated cartoon debut at the time. Critics praised this show for being so unique, entertaining, epic, action packed and nothing like anything else at the time, but most of all, this show was very, very funny.

But that doesn't mean this show gets all the glory and praise 100% per episode, like every television show, there will always be flaws and bad episodes and, the Powerpuff Girls is no exception when it comes to rotten entries in the line-up.

Whether you like these episodes or not, remember to respect each other's opinions, including mine. If you like these episodes, that's great, you're more than welcome to have your say, but be nice.

I am only counting down episodes from the ORIGINAL series, this won't include the movie, the anime, the Dance Pansted special, The tenth anniversary special, the christmas special or especially the reboot.

Mixing either of these up would be one big mess and would derail my points of view. With that being said, let's begin.

NOTE: Spoiler alert ahead.

 10. Keen on Keane   This episode was a new era for the original show, it had a new art style which was first introduced in the movie. So if you hadn't seen it, you would have had to get use to this new art style before getting puzzled or confused.

Unfortunately, these episodes were somewhat mediocre and after 2002, show creator Craig McCracken left the show to Chris Savino, so he could work on Foster's Home for Imaginery Friends. Usually when this happens, that's a sign of a show losing it's...err...Mojo. No pun intended. For a first of this newly animated version of the show, this episode is just ...well...sappy.  

So what's the story: It's Valentines Day...oh boy, what a way to start the new era of an already great show. I am NOT a fan of this holiday whether I'm taken or not. I prefer to keep romance and affection personal.

While receiving various little Valentines from her beloved students, Ms. Keane gets the one simple innocent question asked by the girls: "Where are you going out tonight?" and "Who's your sweetheart?" (don't you just love precocious little questions coming from kindergartners). Ms. Keane explains to the girls that she doesn't have time for going out on dates and is too busy for that sort of thing, this leaves the girls slightly worried, knowing she may be lonely and in need of a significant other half.

Later that evening, the girls are all at dinner with the Professor whose attention prompts the innocent, curious little question from an inquisitive Blossom "Why aren't you going out, tonight?".

Personally, if he WAS going out, he may need to hire a babysitter for the girls and knowing the Professor, he may end up calling someone but being delayed or on hold due to everybody with their arms round each other, making googoo eyes and lip wrestling all evening as they bask into their romance.

Anyway, the Professor tells the girls that HE doesn't have time for dates or going out, nor does he have a sweetheart...(hope he hasn't forgotten the events a long time ago when meeting Ima Goodlady who turned out to be using him and was revealed to be Sedusa).

On hearing this, the girls trade rather sly and calculating looks to each other, a plan has hit them. If their father isn't going out and doesn't have a sweetheart and Ms Keane doesn't have a sweetheart, why not get them together for date?

At Ms. Keane's place, she is busy grading homework. On hearing the doorbell ring, she goes to answer the door only to recieve a love letter from a secret admirer and a rose. Oh bittersweet cliches...

Round the same time, the Professor too recieves an identical love letter from a secret admirer (by the way, I do love how he recieves a red rose and Ms Keane recieves a pink rose).  The two admirers meet at "Petes-A Pizza", an obvious parody to Chuck E Cheese, you can just feel how out of place these two are.

Not to hurt each others feelings, the two adults try to strike a conversation, but seem to show no interest in each other, all they can do is slap on a plastic smile each.

As they try to communicate and interact more and order, Ms. Keane suddenly forces a hearty little smile, stunning and questioning the Professor. As she tells him to look behind him, he sees that his own daughters are hiding in the large ball tank, this catches on as both Ms Keane and Professor Utonium have realized that they had been set up.

Unfortunately, the evening was unsuccessful and the Professor offers his date a ride home with three dejected little girls in the back. Their high hopes sunk to the bottom, gone down like a ship, but the Professor tells them if they did end up going out, then he wouldn't have enough time to spend with his own daughters. As he walks her to her door, Ms. Keane trips on a crack, the Professor immediately dashes forward to catch her. After bewilderment and indecision on what to do next, Ms Keane and the Professor's hearts become intertwine. As they stand up straight, they both share a nervous laugh while blushing (by the way, I find this scene amazingly cute, I mean...the Professor here is just...OMG, how can you not just want to reach out and dive into his arms...ahem...).  Finally,  they hold hands and are somehow...in love. Also note this is the only time in the episode where they see each other  face to face. Feeling accomplished, the girls smile knowing that their mission is complete . The following morning, the girls notice that not everything is all hunky-dory! Now having a significant other half, the Professor neglects his family duties and lab work and Ms Keane neglecting her school duties and even forgetting to feed her cat. Why? Because the two most important role models in the girls' lives are now sickeningly sweethearts talking to each other endlessly on the phone together, complete with EVERY single sentence ending with a mushy pet name. And you know what? It's really degrading! Also that phonebill must be really expensive by now,

Because of the neglection, the girls don't know what crimes are being caused....seriously, not even watching the news? Also, doesn't Ms Bellum have a light for a signal? Why couldn't she  just set that up in the sky for them?

But no! Instead, Sara Bellum gets kidnapped while the conversation continues until the Mayor sneezes, causing the couple to realize that they were holding up phoneline and neglecting their duties, including feeding the cat. This upsets the Professor and complains about the past event where a cat made him jump off a building which somehow, Ms Keane doesn't believe and causes them both to suddenly break up. Hmm...like every other couple today right? Okay that was bad.

Overall, this was a weak episode with no crime fighting at all and for a new start of upgraded animation, this was pretty bad. Especially being a Valentines themed episode.

9. City of Clipsville  I ought to let you know that seasons five and six sucked. Big time and this episode is no exception. I am not much of a fan of clip shows and this one was really weak, lame and the repetitive dialogue is as entertaining as a stale book made for toddlers. "Remember when Mojo Jojo turned us into dogs?"...umm...yeah? There's like two episodes with pretty much the same chunks of animation of it and it doesn't help that they referenced BOTH episodes! Also, did we really want to be reminded of some of the more mediocre episodes?

Mind you, most of these little trips down memory lane never happened. These include The Professor marrying Ms Bellum...for some reason, the girls losing their superpowers without realizing until they fall off a building...the Professor turning the girls AND all of Townsville's citizens into helpless infants...(no, seriously...make way for cliche'd moments whenever a baby is in a cartoon, which I'll get to later), complete with Blossom spitting up over the Professor's shoulder.

BUT the most most shameful fan-service cringe-worthy moment would have to be a quote on quote flashback of when the girls sped up time and became teenagers. Oh my god! Just...yeah. Complete with their midriff showing, slender figures, skinny jeans and stereotypical valley girl accents and mannerisms such as blowing bubble gum talking on their cellphones and ...discovering boys, teenage boys...in this case, the Rowdyruff Boys.

Yeah...remember when I said that the whole counterpart thing is a drag, well they do it here too. But this time, they are somewhat getting along, yet the girls are ditzier. I do love some of the hidden innuendos snuck in this scene visually and audibly.

Besides this episode being a weak one, I do admit that I like how the girls looked as teenagers, a bit two fan-service material-esque but still cute. I love how Bubbles still kept her pigtails in, but are a little longer, Blossom's red hair still makes me jealous *seriously...) and Buttercup growing out that little bob, it suits her.

Of course, I can't mention this scene without the fact that it was a reference to Craig McCracken's fan mail he was  receiving from fans about what would happen if the girls and boys were couples. He hated the idea so he decided to poke fun at this little trope.

Interestingly, there was going to be a scene that never made it, but there were storyboards lying around of the teenage girls becoming popstars...obviously a reference to the likes of Mandy Moore, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and other teen idols, maybe even the lesser known band that have since broke up, No Secrets.

The episode gets more stupid as everyone somehow ends up in the house until the episode ends which turns out to be filmed in front of a "live audience". Yeah, just...weak.

If you do like this episode, that's great, it does have a few funny moments but I still feel like it's just another cheap bland clip show.  

8. Neighbor Hood Good god was this episode lame? The moral was a good one I will admit, but first, the story...Bubbles rushes home from school in time to watch her favorite show: The Wondrous World of Whimsical Willy. Mr. Willy being the host of the show (and an obvious parody of Mr, Rogers) greets his audience warmly, at first, he seems like the typical friendly, harmless, yet unsettling kind of person on a kid's show. He never snaps, he's calm and mellow. But when Daydream Lane loses all of the happiness and joy, Mr Willy asks his audience to hand over all of their cash to him so they don't lose hope.

Being naive and simple, not wanting the show to fall flat with misery, Bubbles somehow breaks into the town hall and takes off with the money in the Mayor's vault and hands it over to Mr Willy and the rest of the crew on set. By the way, the Mayor also donated...yeah, he's a man child. lol

Meanwhile, back at home, after getting a phone call from the Mayor, Buttercup and Blossom notice their sister live on TV with a huge bag of money, thanking Bubbles, Mr Willy and his gang celebrate until Bubbles' sisters barge in telling Mr Willy to literally drop his act.

Sweaty and nervous, Mr Willy finally snaps and reveals his true plan to steal all of the money of Townsville, showing his true colors at last. Bubbles demands an explanation and tells her sisters that Mr. Willy isn't a crook, he just needed the money to help save Daydream Lane. Blossom isn't buying it and tells Bubbles that none of this is real and that the whole set is just canvas painted with scenery and backgrounds and the crew are all crooks in costume.

Now shocked and realizing she had been conned along with the rest of the those who donated, Bubbles loses faith in Mr Willy and the show and even refuses to save his fall. In case you might guess, Mr Willy is arrested and thrown in prison and Bubbles apologizes for her foolish act and also that she shouldn't believe on what she sees on television. In a way, this is a great moral for kids, especially when the main cast are kindergartners, but come on, the girls are more precocious than this, they are better than this. This is basically a weaker version of Film Flam.

This episode is really unsettling for many reasons.  Mr Willy asking for donations from little kids, isn't that a little creepy and somewhat makes him a pedophile? But to go as far as flying all the way to the set on your own and revealing the stolen cash is even more risky and dangerous.

I have read something interesting here from the PPG wikia, this episode was based real-life events in a 1965 New Year incident where Soupy Sales, miffed at having to work on the holiday, ended his live broadcast by encouraging his young viewers to tiptoe into their still-sleeping parents' bedrooms and remove those "funny green pieces of paper with pictures of U.S. Presidents" from their pants and pocketbooks. "Put them in an envelope and mail them to me," Soupy instructed the children. "And I'll send you a postcard from Puerto Rico!" He was then hit with a pie. He later admitted that he was joking and that the money would be donated to a charity, but Sales was negatively affected by the incident.

Also I learned that this episode was actually written back in 1999 as a season 2 episode, but was scrapped since the staff feared a lawsuit from PBS, so instead the story was given to DC Comics named Remote Controlled. The story was much better and less mediocre compared to this one. It's such a downfall when a great cartoon runs it's course and episodes that were originally written for the comics suddenly have elements thrown onto the screen and never live up to how they could have been.

There's something else I would like to point out here. I saw this comment on the PPG wikia by a user named Crossoverfan4ever and he pointed out that Bubbles commited a crime and got away with it, and did she get punished? Of course not, because she's, cute, innocent adorable, precious, sweet little Bubbles who can probably get away with murder if she tried.

So...in A Very Special Blossom, Blossom steals a rather valuable set of golf clubs and gets punished for it with 200 hours of community service, yet the Professor asks the cops to go easy on her and she's also sorry (seriously, you can feel her sorrow in her voice and that face just says it all).

In the fan-loathing controversial episode Moral Decay, Buttercup commits a crime by breaking into the local villains homes and steals their teeth for money from the "tooth fairy" after already beating up crooks for committing crimes. Her punishment: Ambushed by her worst enemies as her sisters sadistically watch her get beat up (note that Buttercup is a little girl, so can you imagine the pain inflicted on her?). Going back to Neighbor Hood, yeah, it's bad. One of season five's worst.

7. Crazy Mixed-Up Puffs

Season six was definitely the weakest link in the original show's run, so in a way, it's a breath of fresh air when McCracken and Savino declined a season seven from Cartoon Network (much to the disappointment to the fans).

CMUP just made way for some really weak points in writing and character development and derailment. Whichever one, even my feelings for this are mixed up...or mesed up. Whatever!  

In this episode, Mojo Jojo is watching old clips of the past fights and battles he has had with the girls and soon stops for an ice cream break. Unforunately, a little girl is in front of him and he deters her. As Mojo orders his three scoops (which happen to resemble the signature colors of the Powerpuff Girls), the little girl throws her ball at him, causing him to drop the ice cream onto the floor. As it does, Mojo gets an idea.

Mojo then goes home to his lair and creates a dummy of a girl calling for help, attracting attention from the Powerpuff Girls, they fly over to save her and are immediately caught in his trap.

The machine swirls the girls together, fusing them all into one and because of this, the girls find it hard to fly, spin and even keep their own balance, not to mention worsening their arguments every single time. It's really unpleasant to watch.

From here, the girls  now have to rely on each other with trust and work as a team to stop Mojo. After finally making their way to Mojo, they defeat him, destroying the fuse machine with a huge blast, but are still stuck together as one.

As they make their way back to the Mayor's office, they get Professor Utonium to try and seperate them. Feeling hopeless, the Professor breaks down into tears knowing that his daughters will never be the same, but they tell him that they don't mind being this close and reassure him that everything is going to be okay. The Mayor finds a thread from their fused dresses and pulls it which somehow...separates the girls restoring them to their glory. I do love when the Professor tells the girls that he loves them all, it's moments like this that always make the show great, it's too bad this episode suffered from mediocicy, unpleasant arguments and...this (Really? After all you've been through, you decide to add this in here?) NOTE: Never let Paul Stec or someone else write a Powerpuff Girls episode storyline which may result into tasteless immature fart jokes...speaking of which...

6. Reeking Havoc Season six...why? Why did you have to go with this crap? An entire episode about flatulence? Really? Okay, well silently but still visually. I for one don't care for this kind of humor, it's immature, lame, not funny, pointless and...just go watch South Park if you're into that stuff (by the way, I'm a huge fan of South Park, freakin' ironic I know! lol).

The Girls have just returned home from enjoying a beautiful sunny day in spring, admiring the fresh air until their noses are suddenly inflicted with the smell of something ...not so fresh, in this case, chili. Yep! Because how else are the writers going to come up with an episode which is ten minutes of fart jokes. Real mature. Not.

It turns out that the girls father Professor Utonium is cooking this...chili for the "2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off" in Townsville. The girls reluctantly try a sample, as expected by them and those watching, it doesn't go down well (we even see a shot of Buttercup losing it in the waste-bin). Worried that he may lose again, Blossom decides that they should tell the Professor, but her sisters object due to the year before, in which the Professor lost and broke down.

Later that night, the Professor still thinks his chili needs something extra...or should that be "x-tra"...with that, he adds a drop of Chemical X into the concoction. Sure, because somehow that works right? Also, maybe adding COFFEE into the chili is the reason it doesn't taste so good. Later on that night, the girls (one by one) also happen to put a drop of Chemical X in the chili.

The following morning during the annual chili contest, the judges (which happen to be Ms Keane, the Mayor and Sara Bellum) are trying out all the dishes that have been made for the event when soon, they try the Professor's chilli causing reactions that they never experienced before. With that, the Professor is declared the winner of the contest and is awarded the trophy and with that, the Mayor hands out free samples of the prize winning chilli.

What then follows is nothing but flatulent puns, visual and audible, one after the other while everyone's guts start growling and all that gas happens to escape and creates...a giant methane monster. No, seriously! A giant cloud made out of everyone's gas! What were the writers thinking, seriously? It's like they have watched Ren and Stimpy and got some ideas off there, no? 

The following day, the methane monster soon causes chaos all over Townsville and his stench is so unbearable that it causes everyone to feel nauseous and complain. This then causes the Mayor to call the girls and...*sighs*...watching them trying to fight off a huge flatulent monster is just...well...yeah. Lame.  

As if stinking up the city has already been done in season 2's Down and Dirty, but that as caused by Buttercup refusing to bathe, but nope, we get a full on episode with gastronomical proportions and bad jokes!

From here, we get some rather ridiculously stomach churning moments including the girls actually trying to suck the monster up...err...gross? So...after the mention of a "match", Blossom gets an idea and takes off and returns again in seconds with...a giant match...no seriously AND to make this episode even more cringy, she mentions that she got it from the same place where she got the giant jar in "episode two season one". Was that really necessary?

I don't wanna go on since its pretty cliche'd with the fact that entering a chili cook-off with an ingredient that happens to be linked to chaos, it's obvious what that equals.

This was a bad episode and I mean really really bad. GOLDEN RULE: Keep fart jokes off this show! Oh wait...the reboot pushed that further! *sighs*

5. Gettin' Twiggy With It Consider this the Pet Sitter Pat episode of The Powerpuff Girls. Nearly every character in this show is likable, funny, great, relatable and somehwhat a decent role model. All but one...that being a less major character: the girls class mate Mitch Mitchellson. A sadistic, nasty, evil, selfish, greedy, manipulative  child who takes pleasure in bullying his fellow...ahem...classmates. Think of him as the Nelson Muntz of Townsville. Think of him as Ren Hoek off Ren Seeks Help in Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon, or maybe even Stewie Griffin. In this episode, it's Friday and that means one of the kids has the responsibility of taking the class hamster Twiggy home. The girls volunteer, but somehow Ms. Keane chooses Mitch to look after her.

This episode is legimately painful to watch in my opinion. As an animal lover (especially hamsters) who hates animal cruelty to a degree couldn't even watch this. It isn't funny, isn't a pleasure to watch, it's just sick, twisted and evil, I'm glad though that the episode itslef wasn't treated as comedic, that would make me up this episode straight to number one in my opinion. Mitch apparently says he never owned a pet before, yet you can clearly see that he has a snake in the background, what the hell?

I like how when Twiggy becomes a vicious monster, the girls do their part to save him, but still teach him a lesson in harming little Twiggy. It's rare for an episode to be played out seriously for the most part, yet this is just so difficult to watch. Especially all the ways Mitch tortures the hamster.

Gettin' Twiggy With It is just nasty and an unwatchable episode. It's unpleasant, demented and just uncomfortable to watch. For a better review on this episode, I suggest reading this: https://www.deviantart.com/regulas314/art/1001-Animations-Gettin-Twiggy-With-It-517452789. He does great reviews and provides decent detail.

Overall, Mitch Mitchellson is hands down my most despised character in The Powerpuff Girls, maybe even worse than Princess Morbucks. And that's saying a lot. 

4. Girls Gone Mild I don't think there's one countdown of top ten worst PPG without this episode at least appearing on there. It's bad, the story, the premise, the fact that this episode was inspired by letters Craig McCracken received from parents thinking the violence was appropriate as a defence, pretty much the Three Girls and A Monster of the Chris Savino era. This episode is basically like a reminder that parents and legal guardians are the ones who should ultimately take responsibility for their children's actions instead of just blaming other people for it. But for what it is, it's not funny or entertaining and definitely one worth skipping. Need I point out that the two people of "P.A.P.P" (People Against Powerpuff Girls) were played by the same people behind the voices of Cosmo and Wanda from The Fairly Odd Parents?

But seriously, where do these two come from? Clearly not from Townsville otherwise they'd be more than happy to ask for the girls help, but no, instead they eat everything up with complaints and threaten to sue the Professor if the girls start using their superpowers again. I hate tropes like this, especially when we all know in the end, they go back to normal and do what they do best. Now if only they were kicking Stanley and Sandra Practice's butts instead.

3. Moral Decay *sighs* some of you have definitely seen this one coming but you can see why. It's one of the most unpleasant, mean spirited and degrading episodes of the Craig McCracken era. What were the writers actually thinking?

Buttercup's nothing but a straight up sadist in this episode, the moment those mouth muscles form a malicious slasher smirk, she has straight up changed in personality throughout the episode. After accidentally knocking one of Bubbles' teeth out, she learns of the "tooth fairy" bringing money in exchange for teeth under kid's pillows and what does she do? She constantly abuses Bubbles just to try and knock out her teeth.

First off, Buttercup may be tough, but she loves her sisters dearly and wouldn't think of abusing her own sisters for kicks. Sure she gets into scrapes now and then, argues and teases them, but she would never want to hurt them to this extent!

UmbraMagna's stated this before on YouTube but have they go something against Buttercup, did they hate her character? Why did she always get the rough stuff in punishment and treatment? Think about it? In Down and Dirty, she refuses to bathe and even gets kicked out the house until she gives in and is forcefully given a full scrub by her own sisters. In Cover Up, a whole opportunity is wasted  on a story that could have had a heartwarming peptalk scene between Buttercup and the Professor, there, Buttercup feels vulnerable without her security blanket. You gotta remember that she is a little girl, it's normal for someone her age to have a baby blanket.

Going back to Moral Decay, it's a terrible episode that's just painful to watch and do NOT get me started on the ending. The Professor at his most non-caring right here, not to mention that close out ending scene. As punishment, the Professor pays covers Buttercup's dental bills with the money she "saved". By the way, I suggest you check out @UmbraMagna's extended review on this episode. Since mostly I'd be shadowing and echoing what she has said, along with A Very Special Blossom in her top 10 worst PPG eps countdown.

2. Sun Scream/The City Of Frownsville I put these two together because...well, they both aired together, simple as, bit cheap and not so well explained or thought but what else. These two episodes are just torture! Despite being on different topics. 

First off, Sun Scream. This episode is just a chore to get though. The girls all catch the sun after refusing to put sunscreen lotion on while trying to stop a solar flare from plummeting to the earth. What do their fans and the rest of the citizens do? They laugh at them, instead of showing concern for three kids who have badly been sunburned. Just...what has happened to Townsville?

The rest of the episode is nothing but the girls struggling to get up out of bed and trying to answer the hotline, getting dressed to even struggling to attack some con artists. I won't spoil this episode but if you have made it through till the end then good luck, this one's just painful to watch.

Then we have The City of Frownsville. Although being dedicated to those who lost their lives during 9-11 (with all my respect, I pray now even). Despite this, this episode is nothing but everyone sobbing their eyes out for ten minutes. If you can't stand nails scratching on a chalkboard, then you will definitely not be able to make it through this episode.

All of Townsville's put under a spell by "Lou Gubrious" and his machine that causes everyone to cry uncontrollably, this then reverses his mood giving him the new name "Hal Larious" (please, seriously?), the rest...ugh.

Skip this one while you can guys.

Before I get to number one, I'd like to give out a few dishonorable mentions.

Cover Up - For shaming Buttercup being a softy. Also her sisters cruelly laughing at her. Twisted Sister - First off, I don't hate this episode as a whole, I don't like what they did with the new sister Bunny. She's unstable, but her slurred speech and lack of English, as well as dying in so called comedic fashion's a bit too much. Fallen Arches - Blossom's unbearable in this episode. Sure, we should respect the elderly but refusing to fight these crooks and throw'em in jail. Just...no. Sweet and Sour - Ugh, cutesey animals getting away with crime and the citizens are just as clueless because they are "TOO CUTE!". Come on! Pee Pee Gs - Unsettling and nothing but pee jokes. Umm...no, unfunny and a cringefest. Prime Mates - Mopey Popo's constant complaining and rambling in his Droopy-esque voice and the girls not having enough screen time make this a true downer. A Very Special Blossom - Ugh, one of the first of episodes where one of the girls does wrong and gets punished for it. In this case, Blossom's dark side shows when she steals a valuable set of golf clubs just to please the Professor for Father's Day. That's Not My Baby - Ah the baby cliche! Whether it's abandoned or just being looked after the whole package is there. The baby never stops crying, and when it eats, it's diaper needs to be changed yada yada yada, I'm sick of this cliche and this episode's no better. HOW did they not even notify the Professor even? I left it out of here because the ending was actually clever. Cop Out - Forgettable, bland and yeah. Unfunny, also that cop. Ugh. Custody Battle - Just doesn't feel like a PPG episode, but a Rowdyruff Boys spinoff. Also the whole two daddies thing...nah. Divide and Conquer - I know education and learning's important but an entire maths episode...nope. Save Mojo - I'm a bit of an animal activist, no lies but...a cartoon chimpanzee with constant diabolical plans to destroy the Powerpuff Girls and take over the world, that's different (plus a cartoon), and...yeah. Basically Girls Gone Mild with animal activists and protesters. Say Uncle - Absolutely forgettable and lame. Mizzen In Action - I love the Crack McCraigen pun name but over all, this swash buckling episode's one of the show's most forgettable episodes. Seed No Evil - Bland and boring and...seriously, what's this all about seeds in olden times? The City of Nutsville - Bubbles gets stung in the throat by a bee/wasp and her sisters actually laugh at her...messed up. Also, squirrel apocalypse. Insane. West in Pieces - Ugh...ancestors of the Powerpuff Girls? really? As if Seed No Evil was no better.

And the number one worst Powerpuff Girls episode is...

1. Toast Of The Town I HATE this episode! Talk about character derailment, especially when you're in the middle of season five. If you can get through this episode listening to the Mayor speak in the third person, good for you, because there's a lot of it and it's enough to make your eardrums split.

The Mayor has a huge craving for toast (say, at least SOMEONE now has a toaster unlike everybody in Too Pooped To Puff few seasons back) but his toaster is out of range, so he goes to the Professor to have it fixed. And with that, we get some of the most cringe inducing audio, lack lustered story writing and some of the most ANNOYING dialogue in any episode! The Mayor is basically nothing but...a child in a man's body here. The Professor won't fix his toaster because he's busy, but after more complaining from the Mayor, he gets on with the job and the Mayor is so impatient he asks in seconds if it's done yet...really? The Mayor is an idiot, that's for sure, but at least he means well and loves his city and job and looks out for the girls. BUT his stupidity here is both questionable, childish and dumbed down to a tee!

The Professor makes the Mayor wait somewhere in the lab which he does despite still dejected and impatient. What follows is...the Mayor curiously pressing buttons like a child and setting off an alarm and causing a huge explosion in the lab...err...is this Dexter's Lab or The Powerpuff Girls? Some weird pattern here! Anyway, the Professor then proceeds to let the Mayor stay put by putting him in a high chair...for...some reason...

Later on, the Mayor discovers a can of Chemical X and rubs some of it on his head thinking it's hair growth formula and...his entire body is now the size of King Kong, complete with a shameless parody to boot. I don't need to explain anymore of this.

Seriously? The Mayor's third person speech and childish behaviour here is some of the worst character derailment I've ever seen. As I said with Gettin' Twiggy With It, there's a more detailed review here by Regulas314: https://www.deviantart.com/regulas314/art/Animated-Atrocities-Toast-of-the-Town-475588395

There's no other way I can mention this episode without any...ahem spoilers, but I suggest avoiding it while you can. SERIOUSLY! This episode's unbearable!

Compare the Mayor in episodes like Uh Oh Dynamo, where he was against the girls having the city destroyed (even though it was the Professor making the girls use the Dynamo). Then compare him here...it's just painful. And with that, let me know what you think which episodes do you think are th eabsolute worst? 

[imaginejamesandsirius]

Anything with Slytherin Sirius pining over james and getting jealous when he thinks some Ravenclaw is trying to date james?? Anything like this please? Set in 6th year?

If there were two things true about James Potter, it would be that he's gorgeous and oblivious. He was also oblivious about being gorgeous, which was a completely separate problem. If Sirius were to make a list of everything great about James, number three would be that's he's great at Quidditch, and number four that he's stupidly good at Transfiguration. He had made a list once-- or at least started on it-- but he'd gotten to thirty before realising that it was pointless to keep track where someone could easily find. Everyone already knew he was great, there was no reason to leave around evidence that Sirius was fully aware of it too. 

That being said, he was pretty sure James thought Sirius hated him. This is where the oblivious part of James got dialed up to one hundred. Anyone else would've long since figured out that he was flirting, but no, not James. Apparently, he was becoming convinced that the professors were conspiring to kill him by always seating them close together. Sirius had tried, to no avail, to explain that they took the same classes that had small sizes, and for the ones where they had large classes, the professors had figured out that Sirius caused less trouble if he was next to James. So if it was a conspiracy about anyone, it was Sirius, not James. 

Speaking of conspiracies: Benjy fucking Fenwick. Benjy wasn't a bad guy-- far from it-- but in this moment, Sirius kinda wanted for him to spontaneously come down with the flu. Or a really bad cold. A little trifle to get him to stop talking immediately. They were in Defense, and for some reason Professor Archibald thought it was a good idea to leave them by themselves for an undetermined amount of time. And bloody Benjy decided that he was going to ask James on a date, with Sirius sitting right next to him, getting more irritated by the second. 

If it had been anyone else, they would have immediately understood what was happening and either said yes or no. But it was James at the height of being a dumbarse, so he said, "I normally go with Remus and Pete," when asked if he wanted to go to Hogsmeade with Benjy. 

"Right, but I meant would like to go with me instead of them this time." 

"They tend to argue if I leave them alone," was James's response, and Sirius rolled his eyes. 

"I'm sure they'd be able to survive without you for a few hours so you could have fun." 

James frowned, all confused, and Sirius decided that enough was enough. 

"He's asking you on a date. Merlin knows why you'd be interested." He glanced at Benjy and added, "No offense." 

Benjy didn't get a chance to answer because James got offended on his behalf. Or maybe not on his behalf because what he said was, "Hey, I'm a bloody catch." 

"What do you think I said?" Sirius asked. 

"You said you didn't know why I would be..." James trailed off, frowning. "Wait. Were you saying you don't get why I'd be interested in Benjy?" 

"Yes. Nothing personal," he said to Benjy. 

Thankfully, Benjy looked more amused than offended. "It's fine." 

"Why is it nothing personal? I'm confused." 

"Don't worry about it," Sirius said, giving him a condescending pat on the head. 

James scowled at him. "Don't be rude. And I'm not a bloody dog, don't pet me." 

Sirius put his hand back in James's hair and ruffled it. 

"I hate you," James sighed, pushing at Sirius's arm to get him to stop. "Anyways Benjy, I'm not really interested in you in the... dating way. Sorry." 

Benjy shrugged with an easy going smile that was at least a little bit faked because rejection was never easy, even if you weren't head over heels for the guy. "It's alright. I didn't realise you were already taken," he said, and then he walked back over to his desk. Because everyone was chatting with their friends and messing around casting spells, nobody else was paying attention to them. 

James tilted his head curiously. "Taken? Who does he think I'm dating?" 

"Probably me," Sirius said, since James wasn't going to put it together by himself, and it would be more embarrassing if he had to ask one of his friends for help understanding. 

"Why would we be dating?" 

Sirius rolled his eyes again because his other option was to snuggle him and call him a lovable idiot. "Maybe because everyone wants to?" 

"Well that's not true." 

Sirius gave him a flat look. "You didn't know that he was asking you out, do you really think that you have a good grasp on who fancies you?" 

"You don't fancy me." 

He didn't bother to change his expression. 

James blinked at him. "Wait, really?" 

Sirius didn't bother to answer, leaning his head into his hand and raising an eyebrow. 

"There's no way. You hate me!" 

"You're such a tosser." 

"See? You do. Stop being weird and go back to plotting my death or whatever it is you do to entertain yourself." 

If it had been literally anyone else, they would have realised that yes, Sirius fancied them. But oh no, not James. James had to have it said to his face and not get it. It's a good thing Sirius got rid of any semblance of pride back when he was thirteen and realised that nobody cared how seriously he took himself. If Sirius still had any pride, he would've rolled his eyes one more time and gone back to doodling on his parchment, but he had nothing better to be doing right now and talking to James was always fun (if exasperating). "You must think I'm awfully morbid." 

"Aren't you?" 

"Of course not. You don't plan someone's death, that's a good way to get caught." 

James knew he was joking, thankfully, but it was a bit up in the air how much he knew Sirius was joking. 

"In case you were wondering, that was a joke." 

...and now James was back to scowling. Great. "I know what a bloody joke is, thanks. And if our dumbarse professor isn't coming back any time soon, I'm going to actually have fun." James grabbed his bag and went to sit by Remus and Peter. 

Sirius huffed, his mood turning sour. Back to doodling it was. 

Benjy fucking Fenwick threw a wad of paper in front of him to get his attention. 

"What?" 

"He's pretty, but he'd dumb as a flobberworm sometimes; I wouldn't worry about it." 

"It's sodding annoying, is what it is." 

Benjy gave a sympathetic shrug, then went back to actually looking at the course work. 

Sirius glared at nothing in particular, wishing that he could just walk up to them and sit down. He had no pride sure, but he did have self preservation; he'd totally get hexed if he tried that. 

*

"Prongs," Remus said, pinching the bridge of his nose, "you know I would die for you, but you are so buggering stupid I'm about to kick you off of your chair." 

"What? Why?" 

Remus dropped his hand, staring at James flatly. Peter was giving him a similar look. "Are you serious, right now? Really, mate?" Peter said. 

"Are you going to clue me in?" 

"You've been pining after Black for how long? And then when he tells you that he fancies you, you accuse him of wanting to murder you? I'm sorry, Prongs, but there's only one way to explain that: you are a fucking idiot." 

"He didn't mean it," James said, affronted. He would've noticed something like that, despite what his friends thought about his observational skills. Sirius flirted with everyone! That's how he entertained himself, the same way James thought about the next Quidditch game and possible plays. "I would know if he had meant it." 

"Would you?" Peter asked. 

"Yes!" 

"Alright, mate. Let's say we believe that," Remus said. "What motivation would he have for telling you a lie like that in the first place?" 

"To embarrass me! He probably knows I fancy him and was going to humiliate me when I said that I fancy him too." 

"I thought you said Sirius Black is the physical embodiment of everything good and beautiful in the world." 

"He is!" 

"And yet you think he would do something like that to you." 

"He's great, I'm not. This isn't that complicated, Moony." 

"So you deserve the terrible things that happen to you?" 

"Well I wouldn't go that far, I'm not so bad when you get down to it." 

"So you wouldn't deserve it if he played that sort of prank on you?" 

James opened his mouth to answer, then paused. Frowned. "You're not my best mate anymore. Peter, you just got upgraded." 

"Fuck no. One, I agree with everything he just said, and two, I don't need the pressure that comes with that title. I am perfectly happy as the second best friend. It's where I'm going to live out the rest of my days, and you can't make me." 

"As your still current best friend," Remus said, pointing towards where Sirius was sitting, "I'm telling you to go ask him out and leave us alone until you need help planning what you're doing on that date." 

"He's not going to say yes." 

"You're wrong," Peter said. He sounded awfully certain about that, so James flipped him a v but go to his feet. 

"Fine. When he shoots me down, you have to get sloshed with me, and you don't get to complain." 

"Uh-huh." 

James sighed and walked back over to their desk. "Sirius." 

"Yeah?" he asked, looking up. 

From this angle, his eyes looked a very deep shade of grey that James kind of wanted to drown in. Seriously, how great would that feel? Maybe if Remus and Peter were right about Sirius fancying him-- which they weren't, but whatever-- he'd get to see them from even closer. "D'you want to go on a date with me?" 

Sirius blinked. "Are you joking right now? You turned me down like two minutes ago." 

"Well I had thought you were joking. Wait. Was that really you saying that you fancied me?" 

"Yeah, mate." 

"Merlin's pants, I'm going to have to tell Remus that he was right. Do you know how insufferable he is about that?" 

"I can't imagine it's nice." 

"Anyways, was that a yes? Because I totally thought you were going to turn me down and I don't have a plan." 

Sirius kicked the chair towards him. "Sit down, we can figure something out." 

"So it is a yes." 

Sirius chuckled. "Yes, it's a bloody yes, James." 

He sat down, then ruffled his hair as he thought of something. "Were you jealous of Benjy asking me out?" 

"How is it that you had no idea while it was happening, but now that it's past, you actually notice things?" 

"Bugger off, you were totally jealous. Aww," James cooed, "you were all jealous, that's adorable." 

Sirius laughed when James playfully pinched his cheek. "You're going to be absolutely horrible about this, aren't you?" 

"Yeah, there's no getting around that. Think you'll survive?" 

"Sod off, I'll outlast you any day." 

[not-close-to-straight]

More Than Words (Spideypool)(One)

Welcome to the story! This will be a time traveling shenanigan ft. Modern!Omega!Peter and Mountain Man!Alpha!Wade! Buckle up for 25 chapters (and growing!) of all the sass, sweetness and smexiness we love about Spideypool!

(For anyone new to my Spideypool: None of these characters are SM:HC/FFH. I pick my faves from Tobey Maguire/Andrew Garfield movies, and everyone else pretty much comes from the comics!)

(also, if anyone cares. The Title is from this cover of THIS SONG)

MTW MASTERLIST HERE

Enjoy!

**************** 

“To Peter, who managed to not only expose a terrible corporation for it’s greed and lack of morals, but also managed to shake Tony Stark’s hand without melting into a puddle of fan boy goo--” 

“Harry!.” Peter pinched the Alpha in the side and Harry oophed theatrically. “Either give me a proper toast or shut the hell up!” 

“I got one, I got one.” Gwen stood and raised her wine glass. “To Peter, who literally changed the world with his expose on Hammer Tech, and proved that the little guy can and does make a difference.” 

Peter rolled his eyes over the little guy comment but raised his drink anyway, and Gwen blew the Omega a kiss. “We are really proud of you Pete. Way to get famous.” 

“Way to get famous!” Johnny cheered and clanked his cup with Peter. “Also? Way to land that hell of a check. How many zeroes were on that thing?” 

“I counted three before the decimal.” Mary Jane tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear and leaned close for a quick kiss on Peter’s cheek. “Way to go, Tiger. Taking on powerful corporations, writing inflammatory exposes and catching the attention of Tony Stark? Not bad for a punky kid from Queens.” 

“It’s not bad.” Peter echoed, tugging the other Omega in for a one sided hug. “And meeting Tony Stark was pretty amazing, even though I think half the reason he gave me the grant was to rub it in Hammer’s face. Apparently those two hate each other.” 

“Look at that.” Johnny drawled. “The rich and famous are just like us , they have petty rivalries and everything.” 

“Hey, if their petty rivalries mean Peter doesn’t have to pay rent for the next year, then keep the bullshit coming!” Gwen decided loudly and Mary Jane murmured an agreeable, “I’ll drink to that.” 

“Was it really enough to pay your rent, Pete?” Harry raised his eyebrows. “All because of your story?” 

“Mr. Stark said something about how I couldn’t focus on saving the world if I was worried about my rent.” Peter shrugged off his friend’s wide eyed disbelief. “So he cut me a check from the Stark Foundation and told me to keep searching for the truth. And now--” despite his attempt at modesty, Peter’s smile stretched wide. “And now I’m not worried about my rent.” 

“So I’m thinking you and I should be roomies now since I would love to not pay rent for a year.” Gwen chimed in and Johnny snorted a laugh. “But let’s circle back to that later, because I found you something amazing when I was out thrift store shopping and this seems like a wildly inappropriate time to give it you, so here we go.” 

Peter shot a curious and maybe suspicious glance towards the usually prank happy Alpha, and tore the wrapping off the box while Harry protested, “I didn’t know we were supposed to bring congratulatory gifts tonight! That’s not fair, way to show us all up, Gwen!” 

“Well Har, I’d say give Pete a chunk of those famous Osborn millions, but I think he’s got the money part covered now.” Johnny leaned back in his chair and cocked his head in a clear challenge to the Alpha. “Which means you got nothing to give him, don’t it? Nothing to offer the Omega at all.” 

“And what exactly are you gonna give him?” Harry retorted, and Johnny bared his teeth as he replied, “Well a kiss, of course. Exactly what every Omega wants from a good lookin’ Alpha.” 

“Giving something I can get anytime isn’t really a present.” Peter deadpanned and Mary Jane giggled at Johnny’s affronted expression. “You give away kisses like you’re going out of business, Johnny. No Omega wants kisses that cheap.” 

“Brat.” Johnny huffed, scowling when Harry chuckled at Peter’s sass. “You’re just irritated you didn’t think of it, Harry. Gwen got Pete a present, I’m offering to give him kisses, so you’re the only Alpha around that doesn’t think enough of Pete to treat him well.” 

Harry’s lip curled in a snarl and Johnny echoed with one of his own, and just as Peter started to look annoyed, MJ cleared her throat and announced, “Boys! Alphas who act like knot heads won’t be invited to any more parties!” 

“Yeah, cut it out.” Gwen gave each of the other Alpha’s a swift kick beneath the table and scowled at them. “Stop ruining Pete’s big day.” 

“... sorry, Pete.” Harry deflated first, Johnny’s muttered apology coming next. “Sorry. Open your present and we’ll behave.” 

“Thanks.” Peter gave each Alpha a sweet smile, and went back to his present, quietly and wholeheartedly grateful for things like scent blockers. 

Nothing was worse for an Omega than getting a nose ful of hormone heavy Alpha scent, and today of all days, Peter didn’t want to play patient with a couple of jealous, horny Alphas. Usually Johnny and Harry were low key about their interest, but lately Johnny’s jokes had skewed towards sexual and intimate while Harry’s friendly protectiveness was inching towards possessive and Peter really just--

--oh God, he really just didn’t want any part of it. 

No thank you.

“Oh my god.” Attention diverted from the Alphas by his present, Peter burst into laughter when he saw-- “Gwen, is this a romance novel? ‘Claimed by the Mountain Alpha’?! Why would you buy me this?” 

“Oh please.” Gwen looked pleased as hell that her gift had made the Omega smile. “I have it on good authority you have an entire shelf full of smutty romances, Pete! And I know all your favorites are falling apart because you read the sexy parts over and over while you--!”

“GWEN!” Peter turned bright red and the Alpha almost cackled with laughter. “For the love of God, stop talking!” 

“I just thought you’d like something to read while you drink your champagne tonight.” Gwen amended, sounding only slightly less wicked. “You can get bubbly drunk and swoon over the x rated parts and I promise to only tease you a little for itt.” 

“Hey now, what an Omega does with their smutty novels--” Mary Jane started to defend Peter, and then paused to ask, “Wait. Were you going to drink champagne alone tonight, Peter? That is the saddest thing I’ve heard in my life! Champagne isn’t meant to be drank alone!” 

“I don’t think it’s the saddest thing in the world!” Peter protested. “Lots of people drink alone!” 

Harry was recovered from his earlier embarrassment and winked as he cut in, “Besides, I think it’s probably for the best Peter drink it by himself. I think we all remember what happened last time Pete got champagne drunk in public.”  

“Can confirm.” Johnny held up his phone and waggled his brows. “In fact, I still have the pictures! Shall we take a stroll down memory lane?” 

“That’s enough from all of you.” Peter said loudly and the group of friends dissolved into laughter. “Honestly though, Gwen. Did you set out to find me the cheesiest historical romance ever, or was it just a happy accident?” 

“I don’t want to say I went searching specifically for it.” Gwen’s glee over Peter’s embarrassment was almost comical. “But I did check six stores and ask people’s opinion about the purchase.” 

“Kill me.” Peter groaned. “Gwen--” 

“Holy crap!” Johnny snatched the book and ogled the cover, eyes overly wide. “Look at the tiddies on that guy! Are we sure he’s not the Omega?” 

“Not all Omegas have breasts, moron.” Harry took the book next, furrowing his brow at the scantily clad Omega clutched in a brutish Alpha’s arms. “Besides, that’s an old school Alpha right there, look at those fangs. No one has fangs anymore, they started yanking those on Alphas in the seventies. Gwen how old is this book?” 

“Apparently older than the seventies.” Gwen ran her tongue over her decidedly fangless teeth. “It’s nice they don’t just rip our fangs out anymore huh? A few hours at the cosmetic dentist and all us Alphas are perfectly socially acceptable.” 

Both Johnny and Harry grunted in agreement, and Gwen turned back to Peter. “Anyway sweetheart, I thought you’d like the book mostly for the vintage feel. It will fit right in with all of Uncle Ben’s records and Auntie May’s cross stitched pillows you keep around.” 

“I do like old fashioned things--” Peter began, but he was interrupted by MJ, who flipped a few pages of the novel and shouted, “WOW! Pete the sex in this is amazing!” 

The three Alphas at the table immediately began clamoring for the book and Peter could have just died when Harry read a line out loud about the Omega being taken roughly against the door and Johnny moaned through a description of the Alpha’s turgid--

“Alrighty then.” Peter snatched the novel and shoved it in his bag , blushing hard enough that the scent of embarrassment filtered out even through his suppressants, effectively shutting up the Alphas and making MJ automatically purr at him. “Please don’t read my smutty things out loud, and definitely don’t shout lines at the top of your lungs, mkay? Thanks.”  

“Aw Pete, we’re just teasing.” Johnny drummed his fingers on the table, clicking his tongue soothingly until Peter’s scent mellowed again. “Sorry about that.”

“We didn’t mean anything by it, Pete. But come on, be honest.” Harry waved down the waitress and motioned for another round of drinks. “An Omega like you doesn’t really want an Alpha like that, right?” 

“What do you mean an Omega like me?” Peter sipped at his wine and scowled at his friends. “What does that mean?” 

“You refused to kiss me until I had my fangs filed down.” Gwen pointed out. “And we were thirteen. They were barely fangs, Pete!” 

“You wear suppressants even on dates.” Johnny said next and Harry added, “You only call one of us for your heat at the very last minute when you can’t handle it anymore, then kick us out right after getting knotted.” 

“I called you Omega last week and you about bit my head off.” Gwen stated. “One time when we snuggled, you purred real sweet so I growled and called you pretty, and you kicked me off the couch.” 

“Okay okay okay!” Peter held up his hands in surrender. “Alright fine. Yes, Gwen I’m very happy that Alpha’s don't have fangs anymore because honestly, yikes. And seriously how is the growling thing hot? Growling is practically a threat!. I wear suppressants on dates so the Alpha has to pay attention to me and not my scent, but lots of Omegas do that, it’s not just me. You Alphas wear scent blockers too, how is that any different?” 

“And kicking you out after I get knotted? I mean--” Peter didn’t even have the grace to look ashamed. “What else do I need an Alpha for? What’s the point of you guys sticking around? I don’t want stinky Alpha cuddles after my heat, I want a shower and a pound of pasta.” 

Predictably, the three Alphas erupted into arguments about how post heat cuddles were necessary and that their knot wasn’t the only thing they were good for, and amid the commotion Mary Jane leaned over and whispered, “Okay, but you don’t really hate Alpha scent and growls, do you?” 

“It’s not my favorite.” Peter whispered back. “What’s sexy about an Alpha getting possessive and growling? They’re like a dog acting greedy with a bone, except instead of a bone they have knots!” 

“Oh my god.” Mary Jane muffled a giggle. “You’re absolutely right about that, but I stll think it could be romantic! An Alpha being driven so wild by my scent they are reduced to growls? Imagine having your true mate, your soul mate absolutely speechless, reduced to nothing but their basest instincts when they see you. Or wow, to actually be scent bonded? For an Alpha to know you are meant to be theirs just because of your scent?”

“And fangs?” She lowered her voice some more. “I know Alphas don’t have fangs anymore, but come on, Tiger. You’d totally melt if an Alpha pushed you against a door and ran their teeth over your neck. Imagine it with sharp and dangerous fangs. Just think about it.”

“I think you’re just a horny Omega who needs a good knotting.” Peter decided and MJ squealed at him. 

“I’m being serious! You don’t think it’s romantic? Not at all?!” 

“I think that our grandparents literally had to march on Washington to give Omegas the right to vote.” Peter said flatly. “Your parents campaigned to have their Omega-Omega bond seen as legal just so they could adopt you. It took years and years of serious legislation before Omegas had access to reliable birth control and suppressants so we could lead lives outside the house and it was May’s generation that demanded Alphas use scent blockers so the rest of us aren’t subjected to their aggression and hormones.” 

“Well sure but--” 

“Remember forced marriages because Alphas would scent match and imprint, and the Omegas had to mate so the Alpha wouldn’t snap feral and hurt someone?” Peter pressed. “Omegas and even Betas in the hospital for emergency or plastic surgery because an Alpha raged out and tore them up with their fangs? You’d rather have this sort of dynamic--” Peter pointed to the book, to the fangs and the Omega’s clear submission in contrast to the Alpha’s nearly animalistic dominance. “Then what we have now?” 

“Well it doesn't have to be all or nothing.” MJ groused. “Just because I like Alphas getting growly and maybe fantasize about getting stuck with some fangs doesn’t mean I want some Alpha to scent bond me and then force me to mate. Sheesh Pete, lighten up a little.” 

“History has proved, it’s pretty much all or nothing.” The Omega lifted on shoulder in a half hearted shrug. “It’s either fangs and no chemical regulators and a society where we Omegas are literally at the mercy of an Alpha’s hormones, or a world where everyone takes their medicine, Alphas get rid of the weapons in their mouths and Omegas can lead normal lives.”

“Pete.” Mary Jane rolled her eyes. “You talk like you have no use for Alphas at all. Look me in the eye and tell me you’ve never once read one of these stupid romance novel and wanted a mate of your own. Social things and work and all that aside, you really don’t want a mate? You’re twenty four and never even had a serious relationship. Don’t you wonder what you’re missing?

Something awful flitted through Peter’s dark eyes then, painful and vulnerable enough to make Mary Jane catch her breath in surprise. “Oh honey, are you okay?”

She reached for him, but Peter leaned away and schooled his features, managing a nearly bland, “I dunno, MJ. I think I prefer this life. Mates and scent matches are about as necessary as fairy tales, you know? I’m not missing out on anything.” 

“Pete--” Mary Jane whispered, but just then the Alphas decided to stop arguing and rejoin the conversation and Johnny stuck his nose in to ask, “What’s this about mates? Pete, are you finally thinking about settling down?” 

“Nope.” Peter slashed his hand through the air and shook his head. “Don’t get your hopes up. I was telling MJ that mates and scent matches are unnecessary, but what is entirely necessary is my next project, so I need to get home and get started. Mr. Stark didn’t give me all this money so I could blow it drinking with my friends.” 

“What’s your next project, Pete?” Harry reached for the bill before the Omega could, and passed his card off to the waitress. “I thought the Hammer Tech story was your entire workload.” 

“I’ve been working on a side project for a while now.” Peter blew the Alpha a kiss as a thank you for buying his drinks. “I was going to do one of those genealogy charts as a present for May and was tracking our family through secondary biologies, but then I came across an article that said almost all male Omegas have a mutant in their family tree. So I started researching mutants and it sort of spiraled from there into a --”

{{AUTHORS NOTE: This fic will include themes of racism towards mutants and will reference things such as WW2 concentration camps and past treatment of different religious/ethnic/indigenous groups at the hands of the government. It is talked about in a “It was terrible what they did back then” sort of way, and as the fic continues, I will try and TW anything notable with in the chapters so you can avoid/skip as needed}}

Peter stopped when Johnny and Harry shared very uncomfortable looks, and Gwen’s eyes widened in alarm. “...what?” 

“Pete.” Gwen cleared her throat, visibly thinking through her words before speaking. “Uh… the mutant thing isn’t really… I mean, people don’t talk about that, you know? No one talks about it. Maybe steer away from that when you do you family tree.”

“What?” 

“There used to be a lot of hostility towards mutants.” Johnny said slowly. “And even though they aren’t around anymore, people still get up in arms about it. Hundreds of people died in the mutant uprisings through the last century. My grandpa died in one of those riots, Pete.”

“I know he did, Johnny.” Peter tilted his head and trilled comfortingly at the Alpha. “And I’ve come across some pretty horrifying accounts of what happened on both sides of those fights. I’ve read about mutants in the camps during World War II, I’ve read about different battles across the country, the riots in the seventies-- I’ve read it all.” 

“Well, a lot of people think the mutant population is better off gone.” Harry spoke up then. “And no one wants to talk about it. It’s one thing to take on big companies who are ruining the earth, but the mutant control they enacted in the forties and fifties… there’s still people around that would take serious offense to you digging around in that. It’s better off left alone.” 

“I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes.” Peter waved off their concerns. “I’m trying to uncover anything, I’m looking for some answers about my own family tree and that’s it. Male Omegas being the last of what we could consider mutants is pretty interesting, but I’m not looking for anything inflammatory, just my own history. I’ll be fine.”  

“Promise me you’ll be careful.” MJ worried at her bottom lip. “I know what it means to look for who you are, Pete. Being adopted means I don’t know anything about my family and I understand wanting to look, but a connection to mutants…that’s not great, Tiger. You don’t want that, or at least you don’t want to make a big deal about it.” 

“I’ll be fine.” Peter repeated, slinging his bag over his shoulder and blowing kisses to his friends. “Thank you for the drinks and the little party, Gwen, thank you for your present. I’ll talk to you guys in the morning?” 

There was no reason to worry his friends with more details about this particular project. They didn’t need to know Peter’s research had skewed far past ‘ancestry’ and deep into concerning accounts of brutality and forced assimilation. They’d hate if they knew Peter had found scattered stories about experimentation and what scientists had done in a horrifying attempt to advance science, about schools that were more like prisons and prisons that were more like concentration camps right here in their own country. 

Peter had found hints of a settlement near the Canadian border thought to be a mutant village that had rallied and revolted, attacking a military installation, and killing every soldier, every woman and child. But worse were the hints Peter found about the same settlement, hints that said it had been less of a revolt and more of a massacre, less of an uprising and more of a slaughter, that the women and children had been taken from the village and held captive and the attack was an attempt at a rescue. 

It was horrifying, stomach turning, the sort of thing Peter couldn’t just leave alone--

--and then among the scraps and barely there information about the village had been a picture of a man who looked so much like him it was almost terrifying, and Peter’s growing interest in the project had taken an abrupt turn towards obsessive. 

There were blood stained secrets in the wilds near the border, secrets that involved someone related to Peter, and he fully intended to find out every single one. 

******************

“Journal, check. Extra battery for my camera, check. Couple of changes of clothes, check. Hotel itinerary, check.” Peter muttered to himself as he packed a backpack. “Ibuprofen, check. Phone charger, check. Digital recorder, check. Gwen’s terrible romance novel in case I get bored, check. Toiletries, check--” 

His doorbell rang and interrupted his packing, and the Omega wrinkled his nose in annoyance. He’d told the Alphas he was busy, Aunt May never came around without calling first, it had better not be the maintenance guy finally showing up to fix the leaky faucet at eight at night. “Hold on a minute!” Peter finally called when the bell dinged again. “Give me just a second to get-- Oh. Mary Jane.” 

Peter checked down the hall to see if anyone else had come along with the redhead. “Hey. What are you doing here?” 

“I would have called, but my phone is dead. Can I use your charger?” MJ pushed right past Peter and into the apartment, holding up a bag of Peter’s favorite take out as she went. “I kept thinking about you drinking that champagne alone and that drove me crazy so I stopped and got food and came to share the bubbly.” 

“You’re very sweet.” Peter stepped close to the other Omega and brushed his nose across her cheek, smiling when she trilled softly and returned the gesture. “I’m not doing much, so dinner and champagne sounds great. Thank you.” 

“Are you already working on your new project?” MJ’s coat landed over a chair as she went right for the champagne. “Or have you started that book Gwen got you? I swear Pete, would it kill you to do some relaxing outside your apartment? All you ever do is work and--” 

The pretty redhead paused when she caught sight of the half packed backpack, her gaze sharpening in curiosity. “--Pete? Where are you going? You didn’t say anything about leaving when he had lunch today.” 

“Yeah.” Peter scratched at the back of his neck uncomfortably. “Yeah, um about that. I’m heading for upstate tomorrow, gonna do a little hiking and poke around up by one of the lakes. Some rest and relaxation, you know? I won’t be gone more than a few days.” 

“Uh-huh.” Mary Jane narrowed her eyes. “Why didn’t you say anything?” 

“Well I mean--” Peter tried for casual, trying to make his friend laugh and hopefully distract her. “Remember the last time one of us tried to leave town for a mini vacation?” 

“Mm-hmm, Gwen was going to road trip to visit her Nana and we all ended up crammed in her Subaru and driving to Disney World.” Mary Jane picked up the legal pad full of Peter’s notes and read through the first few lines. “I vividly remember having to sit on Johnny’s lap the entire time-- Pete, this is all notes about mutants. Why do you have all these, you said it wasn’t that big of a project, just an ancestry thing.”

Damn it. “Yep.” Peter shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “That's-- that’s what I said.” 

“Then what is all this?” Mary Jane flipped through a few more pages. “Newspaper clippings and quotes and what’s this, a piece from an old book? What happened to researching your family tree?” 

“I... was.” Peter hedged, taking the legal pad from her hands. “I was researching. But then it turned into something else.” 

“Something else what.” MJ prompted. “Why are you so interested in mutants all the sudden? Where’s the mystery in it, Pete? They used to exist and now they don’t, and every book you pick up is going to tell you the same thing--mutants disappeared in the seventies and no one knows what happened.”

“Someone has to know what happened, MJ.” 

“Well.” The Omega huffed. “Sure someone has to know, but this is like chasing aliens. Everyone has accepted that mutants don’t exist anymore, and the people who haven’t accepted it get treated like they’re crazy until they get overly nosy and irritating and get visits from men in black suits. Is that what you want? To have everyone think you’re nuts?”

“Doesn’t the visit from men in black suits prove there’s something they’re trying trying to hide?” Peter pointed out with a small smile. “And yeah, I read all the books MJ. I tracked down newspaper articles, I’ve done my research on the claims the tabloids print about super powered humans and dangerous mutants. I know it’s crazy and I know--” he blew out a deep breath. “-- I know working on this could cost me every bit of credibility my last article gave me. I know that.”

“Then why are you risking it?” Mary Jane gestured to his bag, to the stack of information. “Don’t you remember Doctor Connors from a few years ago? He got hooked on research about mutants and genetic experimentation and ended up in a padded cell, screaming about turning into a lizard and regrowing limbs. All his research has been trashed, the books he’s written discredited, and everyone thinks his mental state was so compromised that his previous findings can’t be trusted. That could happen to you, Pete.” 

“It know it could, but I have to find out anyway.” Peter shrugged helplessly and Mary Jane threw her hands up in frustration. “I gotta find answers about this. If there’s a mutant in my family tree somewhere, I have to know who they are.” 

“This is about what happened at lunch.” MJ suddenly realized. “When we were talking about you missing out on something because you don’t have any interest in relationships. You got this real awful expression on your face. What's wrong, and what does it have to do with mutants?”

Peter looked at his friend for a long long moment, and then finally asked, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up every morning and grieve for something you don’t know you’re missing? It’s something essential from your core, from your very center of being, and you can’t even breathe for lack of it, but you don’t know what it is.”

Mary Jane only blinked at him, and Peter sighed, dropping onto the couch and putting his face in his hands. “I feel like that every day, MJ. It started after I lost my parents and it got worse when I had to move schools and a worse again when I moved out of May and Ben’s to get my own place. I have a great life, you know? I have great friends and a wonderful career-- I mean hell, I won an award today. Because of my work, those slums will be bulldozed and Hammer Tech has to pay to build quality housing for their workers. I did that, and I’m very proud of it.” 

Peter tapped at his chest. “But I’m still empty. Hollow. Something is missing from me and lately it’s been getting worse. I’m hardly sleeping, I can’t concentrate, I’ve lost like fifteen pounds cos I can’t make myself eat. I think I’m depressed but why would I be depressed?” and then with a self deprecating laugh. “I’d say I’m in love and needing my Alpha, but I’ve never been in love in my life.” 

“Oh, Tiger.” MJ clicked her tongue sympathetically and joined Peter on the couch, budging close and wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’m so sorry.” 

“This is why I became a reporter.” Peter suddenly sounded tired, exhausted really, more weary than Mary Jane had ever heard. “I’m looking for something in my life and being a reporter means I get to go places and meet people and research and maybe one day I’ll figure out what’s gonna fill this void inside me. I love you so much, MJ, but it’s not friendship I need. And before you say anything about me needing a bond, I am telling you--” 

Peter actually shuddered as he said the words. “I am telling you, the thought of mating with any of our Alphas makes me want to run away. Gwen is perfect and Harry is gorgeous and Johnny is hilarious, they are all amazing Alphas, amazing people and would be amazing mates, but I can’t be with them. They aren’t enough, they’re almost...they’re almost boring. I’m bored with them.” 

“You’re bored.” Mary Jane echoed, clearly not understanding but trying her best to be supportive. “What does that mean?” 

“You know why I read those terrible romance novels?” Peter offered her a wobbly smile. “Because those characters are completely fulfilled by whatever they find, whether it’s a life they didn’t know they wanted or a romance with someone unexpected or an adventure they didn’t think they were ready for. They are content and I don’t think I’ve ever been content. It’s like there’s a piece of me out there that I can’t get a hold of and until I find it, I can’t rest. I can’t rest, MJ. I’m just running in place, breaking my own heart over something I don’t understand.”

“And you think the thing you’re missing has something to do with this settlement up North?” She clarified. “Why do you think that?” 

Peter chewed at the inside of his cheek for a few seconds, then reached into his pack for a folded photograph and passed it over. “Because of this.” 

The other Omega studied the grainy picture for a minute before her mouth fell open in an ‘o’. “Pete, when is this photo from? This guy could almost be you, is this your great grandfather?” 

“I don’t know.” Peter admitted. “I’ve traced my family history back as far as I can trying to find him but there’s a point about a hundred and fifty years ago where the family split and the tree gets real messy in some spots and very blank in others. But when I was looking into the Haven settlement by the border, I found this picture in the very bottom of an old box of newspaper clippings and--”

“-- you think whoever this person is, he’s in your family tree somewhere.” Mary Jane guessed. “And if he was in the village upstate, then he was most likely a mutant and that’s why you’re chasing this story so hard.” 

“It’s a part of my past.” Peter ran careful fingers over the time yellowed photograph. “And maybe understanding more about the time period and more about who this person is could help me understand myself.” 

He placed the picture back and shook his head ruefully. “I know I sound crazy. And I’m definitely grasping at straws. This is probably nothing more than a coincidence but it also could be really important and as crazy as it sounds?” Peter waited for Mary Jane to meet his eyes. “MJ, this is as close to feeling whole as I’ve ever been. The search for answers is keeping me up at night but it feels good, it feels like I’m finally on the right path. I don’t even have words for how relieved I am every time I find something else. It’s just-- it’s just--” 

“Sometimes when our souls are involved, it’s more than words can say.” Mary Jane offered simply. “That’s what Ma says when she talks about how she and Pop fell in love. It was their souls recognizing each other, and there isn’t any words for how incredible it is. If this project is pulling at your soul, then no wonder you can’t let it go.” 

“Yeah.” Peter managed a smile. “It’s my soul. My soul is relieved every time I get a little bit closer to figuring this out, so I can’t stop looking. I won’t.” 

“And I don’t think you should.” Mary Jane handed Peter a few more notes from the table. “If this is what you’re called to do, then do it. I’ll support you, Tiger.” 

“I love you.” Peter breathed out shakily and leaned into his friend’s arms. “Thank you. I’m sorry, I know this was supposed to be food and champagne and then I got all intense and--” 

“Stop.” MJ hushed him, petting through Peter’s thick hair and purring softly until he went limp against her. “The food and champagne will keep. Let’s just hold each other for a while.” 

Despite Peter’s insistence that life was better with suppressants and blockers, that Omegas were better off not having their hormones and scents control their emotions, there was something to be said for the way two Omegas could connect and bond and soothe each other. 

Mary Jane always scented like sweet peaches and spicy ginger and Peter tucked his nose into the crook of her neck and breathed in deep as the Omega’s scent flooded rich with comfort and affection and MJ only trilled in approval when Peter stretched out on the couch and brought her down onto his chest so their suppressant muted scents could mingle for a while, calming them both. 

“You won’t do anything reckless up at the camp site, will you?” Mary Jane asked sometime later and Peter shifted beneath her until he could tangle his fingers in her long hair, tugging at the strands idly. “Pete? Promise me you won’t do anything crazy.” 

“I won’t do anything crazy.” Peter promised.

“Take some bear spray.” 

“MJ, I’m not taking--” 

“Take some bear spray, Pete.” 

“Fine.” Peter kissed the top of her head. “I’ll take some bear spray.” 

“Thank you.” 

Only after Mary Jane had closed her eyes and snuggled close again did Peter glance over at his phone when it lit up for the third time in just a few minutes. 

He had joined a chat group and message board several weeks ago, one dedicated to asking questions about mutants and Peter had asked a lot of questions. He had an entire list of things he had to know, and he sat up for hours every night reading answers and threads and following links and taking notes. 

And then finally, sort of suddenly really, someone named Nathan Summers had contacted Peter privately, promising answers to some of the harder questions. 

Peter had told him about the village up North and Nathan had known immediately what he was talking about. Nathan had suggested they meet up and walk the site together, Peter had only hesitated for a second before agreeing. 

He had to know. 

Peter’s phone lit up with another message from Nathan right then, probably double checking what time they were going to meet at the hotel tomorrow, and Peter swallowed back a flash of trepidation as he reached with one hand to type a message back. 

This was probably a terrible idea, but he wasn’t going to turn back now. 

He had to know. 

**************

**************

It took nearly five and a half hours to make it to the hotel Peter had booked, and he only stopped long enough to check in and drop off his computer before getting back in the car and continuing North. 

The supposed camp site was two hours off the highway, down a dirt road and nearly running into Lake Haven in some areas, skirting the edge of the mountain very closely at others. Peter craned his neck to take in as much as he could see without driving off the increasingly sketchy road, looking for signs or landmarks or anything that resembled the less than rudimentary maps he’d found. 

Winter warped the landscape here every single year, avalanches wiping away trees and displacing huge pieces of mountain, the rains flooding in the spring and summer washing away roads and swelling rivers until they jumped their banks and created new pathways. A dam built twenty-something years ago had created a lake where there hadn’t been one before and dried out a previously hidden valley and Peter knew he could be on a wild goose chase. The odds of finding anything resembling ruin or evidence of a village were slim anyway, but after a hundred and fifty years everything he was looking for could be hidden under water or swept under a mudslide or a rockslide or shit, New York even had tornadoes, it could have been a tornado--

“Oh thank God.” Peter breathed a sigh of relief when he finally made it around a final corner and into what was left of the parking lot of an old campground. The State had tried to make this area close to the border more accessible to the public, but no one came this far North without wanting to see Ontario or continuing West to the falls or just skipping the border to get into Canada, so the dozen or so installed campgrounds had fallen to ruin. 

Thankfully this one still had a mostly paved parking lot and what looked like permanent outhouses, and since Peter knew no one would randomly stumble onto his car here, he felt perfectly safe leaving it locked as he hefted his backpack and took off hiking into the woods. 

He was supposed to meet Nathan tonight at the hotel, so Peter had most of the afternoon to explore around the river and into the forest. The village was rumoured to be on the other side of the lake and he certainly wouldn’t make it that far today, but he could at least find a way through the forest so tomorrow hiking with Nathan would be easier.

“Tell me your secrets.” Peter murmured as he reached to touch a nearly faded plaque marking the site as one of historical significance. “I want to know everything.” 

Curiosity and the cat, right?

Peter lost himself for hours wandering around the massive trees, ducking under low hanging branches and climbing up and over boulders, stopping to take pictures as he went.

It seemed impossible that anyone could have survived here without machinery to clear a path, without lights to chase the shadows from the looming forest. How did they get water? How did they get supplies? Had the mutants considered themselves American and went to the Fort for supplies or did they cross the border and head further North? Was it a terrible life, a difficult life like the stories of settlers out West? Did they even speak English or was there a mutant language that had ceased to exist like so many other indigenous dialects?

Peter had so many questions, hundreds and hundreds of questions and he wanted to know everything and yet he found himself slowing, lingering, just looking as the urgency of it all faded away into awe and appreciation for the land around him.

It was beautiful up here, wild and open and Peter stopped just to tip his head back and breathe. He’d never noticed how polluted the city was until right now, hadn’t realized how loud traffic could be until he couldn’t hear anything but the birds and the hum of insects and the wind swooping through the trees. The sunlight filtered through branches in patches, lighting some areas golden and covering others in shade and if Peter tilted his head and listened, if he breathed deep and stretched his senses he could almost feel the lake close by. 

It was beautiful and peaceful and Peter thought maybe a bit of his soul settled as he leaned back against the sun warmed surface of a big rock and closed his eyes. 

Why did this feel so good?

Peter wished he’d thought to bring a tent just so he wouldn’t have to leave, but this time of year night came quickly, bringing the cold right along with it and with the sun already dipping in the sky, Peter had no choice but to leave the unexpected sanctuary of the woods and head towards his car. The road had been barely passable in the daylight and he couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be in the dark, and Nathan would be waiting at the hotel restaurant here in a few hours, so he really had to go.

Still, it almost hurt to leave and Peter touched the plaque again as he passed, lingering over the letters for a long moment and--

“You’re Parker?” a sudden voice from the gathering shadows, low, gravelly and frightening. “Peter, right? I didn’t expect you to be an Omega.” 

“Holy shit--” Peter whirled around, clutching at the can of bear spray MJ had demanded he bring along. “Who’s there? Who are you?” 

And then almost as an afterthought, “How do you know I’m an Omega? I’m wearing scent blockers and it’s half dark outside.” 

“I can smell it on you.” A shadow darker than the others separated and Peter caught a flash of Alpha red eyes from beneath a hood. “Those scent blockers you use only work on tamer Alphas. One like me can sniff out your biology without even trying.” 

“Ooookay. Well fair’s fair with that so if you don’t mind--” Peter swallowed a little and leaned in towards the stranger, flaring his nostrils and trying to gather as much of the Alpha’s scent as he could. 

But the Alpha reeked of blood and burning, of metallic and copper and smoke and when Peter sucked in a sharp breath ready to scream, the Alpha interrupted, “It’s not blood, Parker. It’s metal. Just metal and smoke is what you’re scenting. Don’t panic.” 

“You’re-- you’re Nathan Summers?” Peter bit at his lip and shifted nervously on his feet, hoping his suppressants were still working enough to choke the fear drenching his scent. Fuck this had been a bad idea. “You said we would meet at the hotel, what are you doing here? How did you find me?” 

“That doesn't matter.” A flare of a match and the end of a cigar lit cherry red between them. “And the name’s Cable. Haven’t been Nathan Summers in a long while now.” 

“It absolutely matters how you found me.” The Omega tried for a bravery he didn’t feel. “And alright Cable, you said you had some solid information for me, so I want it. It’s getting cold and dark and you’re wasting my time. What do you know?” 

“Mouthy little shit.” Cable might have chuckled, but it came out almost a growl. “Omegas always have too much attitude. I know you’re scared, I can smell it on you. You’re still gonna try and be a smart ass?” 

“Well I--” 

“You’re gonna stop looking into the meta humans.” Cable interrupted. “Your little project doesn’t exist anymore, alright? I had to get you face to face to make sure you weren’t a real threat, and now I’m telling you to stop looking into the meta humans.” 

“Meta--” Peter cleared his throat, his damned curiosity and the ache in his heart telling him to keep asking. “Meta humans. Is that what you called the mutants? Why meta? Are you saying the mutants have super powers? Or powers in general? I’ve only heard about physical mutations and there are a few recorded cases of feats of strength but--” 

“You’re not listening, kid.” Cable took a deep drag on the cigar and blew the smoke out over Peter’s head. “Stop asking questions, stop posting online, stop your research. Nothing involving meta humans ends well and you do not want the type of trouble this will bring. Back off, little Omega. Run along home.” 

“Go back to the meta human thing.” Peter ignored the flare of annoyance over being called little Omega and squinted in the dark when he caught a glimpse of something gleaming along Cable’s shoulder. “Just tell me yes or no. Powers? What about the settlement here, was it actually an uprising that brought the Army after them? It had to be an uprising if you’re talking about people with super powers, can you tell me if--?” 

“You’re trying my patience.” Cable grunted and turned further from Peter’s view. “This is your last warning kid. Stop digging around or I can’t be responsible for what comes knocking on your door. We’ve stayed hidden a long time just trying to live our lives, I’m not going to let some nosy Omega screw it up.” 

“No no wait!” There were a hundred things Peter should have done right then-- and all of them involved running away-- but instead Peter lunged forward and grabbed onto Cable’s left arm as the man started to walk away “Tell me! Tell me what’s going on! I’m tired of never getting a straight answer with these things and I have to know, you don’t understand I have to know--”

Peter had only a split second to realize he wasn’t feeling flesh but machinery under his fingers, and then a split second more to register an ear splitting noise like grinding gears before Cable flung him into the trees. 

Peter screamed as he went flying through the air, nearly bit his tongue in half when he smacked into a tree trunk, and lay there crumpled and stunned for a full minute. 

Machinery, the scent of blood, the weird clicking, the way Cable called them meta humans and not mutants and talked about-- 

“--We’ve lived a long time just trying to live our lives.” 

Our lives. 

Cable was a mutant and he’d just thrown Peter twenty feet without even trying. 

Oh my god, I could die tonight. 

“I didn’t mean to do that.” Cable was suddenly in front of Peter, over Peter, crouching down and reaching to check that the Omega hadn’t broken anything in the fall. “I know you’re just a kid and don’t mean to cause trouble but--” 

He stopped talking when panic turned the air bitter, and the Alpha covered his mouth when he gagged at the stench. “Parker, what--” 

“Your arm.” Peter’s eyes were very wide, his face very pale in the dimming light and Cable muffled a curse when he realized his hood and cloak had fallen away. “What the hell happened to your arm?” 

“It’s a long story.” Cable rotated the mechanism, grimacing over the grind of gears and the tug and pull of metal along his shoulder, up his neck and into his skull. “And one you don’t want to know. You think the rest of the world wants to hear about this? You think people want to know I'm walking around in the shadows?” 

“I--I--I--” Peter’s eyes darted from the mutant’s face to the metal at his arm, up to the eerie glow of one robotic eye and the flashing red of Alpha in the other. “How-- oh my god--” 

“I don’t even want to be like this.” Cable said then and he sounded bone weary, patting at a disc shaped object on the strap around his chest. “Kid, no one wants this. Whatever you are looking for up here? Let it go. Just-- Just let it go.” 

“I can’t.” Peter whispered and the Alpha’s expression flickered in what looked like resignation and maybe even understanding. “I gotta know and you-- you gotta help me.” 

“I’m not going to help you.” 

“But you have to!” Peter’s eyes dropped to watch when Cable touched that same disc again. “Why else would you come all the way up here?” 

“I came up here to warn you-- HEY!” Cable shouted in alarm when the Omega darted forward and snatched the disc away, kicking Cable right in the face before taking off running into the woods. “Goddammit Parker! Get back here right now! You don’t know what that thing is!” 

“Then tell me!” Peter cried as he fled. “Is this a mutant thing? Or a meta human thing? What is it? I want answers!” 

“Stop with the endless questions and just give me the damn device!” Cable muttered a curse when the Omega only picked up speed, swerving towards the parking lot. “No! No you fool! Give that back right now, you have no idea what you’re messing with!” 

Peter was gone though, sprinting through the trees towards the lights of the campground, the device clutched tight in his hand. He was almost to his car, almost to safety, almost there almost there almost there--

--It was like hitting a brick wall, and Peter screamed as he jolted to a stop, his entire body forced to stillness abruptly enough to make his head hurt and his fists clench, pain washing through his core. 

“What?” Peter tried to make his feet move, tried to make his hands move, tried to do anything but he was utterly trapped and as Cable marched up to him with one hand held out and a furious red glint in his one human eye, Peter knew it was the mutant Alpha’s doing. “Wh-what is this? How are you doing this?” 

“There are a thousand things in this world you cannot begin to understand.” Cable said shortly. “And believe it or not, I’m not even close to the worst of them. Hand me that device slowly and I’ll let you go. Slow and easy, kid. No one needs to get hurt, alright?” 

“No one needs to get hurt?” Peter repeated, the words coming thick through honey, his tongue not quite working right. “You’re chasing me through the woods and threatening me and I’m supposed to think you’re not going to hurt me?” 

“You’re messing with things you will never understand, and I’m not going to let you ruin lives because you can’t stop asking questions.” Cable held out his free hand and snapped his fingers. “My patience is gone, so here it is. We’ve got two options-- I keep you suspended so you can’t run and you hand me that thing willingly, or I rip you in half to get to it. What’s it going to be?” 

Peter didn’t answer though, and after a moment Cable snapped his fingers again. “What’s it going to be?” 

“...is this supposed to be ticking?” Peter asked very very quietly, holding up the disc as it began to glow. “Because-- because it started ticking a few seconds ago. What’s happening?” 

“Oh god dammit--” Cable dropped the hold on Peter and lunged for the Omega, lunged for his device but a second before his fingers made contact, the ticking stopped. 

“No no no no---!” 

A flash of bright light, the acrid scent of smoke and when Cable stumbled to a stop, both the Omega and the device were gone. 

Gone. 

“Oh no.” The mutant dragged both his hands through his silvering hair and groaned. “What have I done?” 

*****************

*****************

1872

The early morning frost crunched beneath Wade’s feet as he stalked through the woods, heavy boots breaking branches and kicking stones out of the way, three or four rabbits hanging limp over his broad shoulders, a rifle held securely in hand. 

This time of year the bears tended to be fat and lazy so the Alpha wasn’t too concerned about disturbing one of them, but he’d seen mountain lion tracks outside his cabin the other morning and again last night, and the big cats were a different sort of danger altogether. Wade kept his eyes sharp as he scanned the trees and bushes along his path for anything feline, kept his nose to the air so he’d catch anything dead that would attract the predators, and kept his rifle ready just in case.

Sometimes fangs and brute strength just weren’t enough to keep a man alive in this wilderness. 

Wait. The Alpha stopped in his tracks when the air tinged with a scent that didn’t belong-- smoky and burnt and brimming with panic, but beneath all that was the thready scent of Omega and that-- well that wasn’t right at all.

What the hell was an Omega doing all the way out here?

“Oh shit.” Wade dropped his gear abruptly when he saw a form at the base of a tree, an Omega laying limp in the frost like he’d been dropped from the sky and left for dead. “Shit shit shit, how did you get here?” 

Wade ran careful hands up the Omega’s legs to feel for broken bones, pressed gingerly to check for busted ribs, glanced at and then away from the unmarked bonding spot and reached for the Omega’s chin to tip his head back and -- 

“Oh.”  The Alpha gulped when he got a clear look at the Omega’s features, thick hair and freckle dusted skin and gorgeous lips, dark eyes fluttering open in confusion and fear and Wade automatically rumbled something soft at the Omega, murmuring “Hey, shhh. It’s okay. I dunno what you’re doing here, but I got you, okay? I’ve got you. Let’s get you off the ground, come here.” 

The pretty thing didn’t weigh enough to matter and Wade lifted the Omega without any effort at all, but when the Alpha got a nose full of heady lavender and sweet honeysuckle scent, his knees buckled and nearly sent them both pitching back to the forest floor. 

“Oh.” Wade wheezed, hazel eyes snapping red and a growl working in his throat as the Omega scent filled his senses and left him reeling, stumbling. “Oh fuck--” 

“Mmmm.” The Omega was barely conscious but he still turned and tucked his nose tighter to Wade’s chest. “...smell...good…” 

“Damn it.” Wade automatically held the Omega tighter, helpless against his biology’s sudden call of protect, and more worrisome, the soul echoing claim of  mine. “Where did you come from Omega?” 

There was no answer, the Omega slipping unconscious again and the Alpha swallowed hard, barely able to form the words to ask. “And how long will it be before Cable comes back for you?” 

*****************

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[noxleyfin]

Marvel Imagine: School Is Hell

Avengers x 15-Year-Old (F) Reader (School Is Hell)

→ a/n: I don’t know any of the actors personally nor do I own them or their characters. What’s written below is fiction and should be thought of and treated as such. I am essentially using them as a name-claim and face-claim. I’m creating my own character and using the actors as background characters, and just using their name and features for details. I do not directly associate the actors with any ideas used in my writing. This writing is to be used for entertainment and fictional purposes only. → summary: when stupid flash goes too far,, Peter and the Avengers have a new mission; to make you feel better → warnings: idiot Flash, bullying, language, comforting bois Peter and Bucky, bad writing → word count: 1.8k → completion: done → (Y/N) - Your Name

2rd Person POV

“Hey, Bitch!” The ever-annoying voice of Flash Thompson echoed through the hallway, reaching your ears immediately. 

Conversations stopped as Flash sauntered through the crowd like he owned the place, though, to him, he probably did. Flash was your typical elementary bully; he thought he was better than everybody because he and his parents were very affluent, and he liked to flaunt it. His mouth is always full of dumb insults he and his cronies think are so hilarious and he has different names ones for everyone. ‘Bitch,’ ‘Whore,’ and ‘Skank’ are his personal favorites for saved just for you.

He was convinced a while back that just because you said you had an internship at Stark Industries once, you were either lying to seem cool, or you were paying or having sex with one (or all) of the avengers. To any sane person, it would seem man, but to Flash, it was simple and you were the biggest slut in the school. 

“So, (Y/N)...hang out with any avengers recently?” Flash taunted but you only stared at him. “Which one did you have last night, hmm? Maybe it was Captain America or could it have been The Winter Soldier? Or maybe you had them both at the same time!”

Okay, that was too far, even for Flash. For one, you were a minor, and second, Steve and Bucky were like your uncles. Hell, you even call them ‘Uncle Steve’ and ‘Uncle Buck.’ 

Usually, you didn’t let Flash and his comments get to you but you were already having a bad day and Flash’s conspiracy theories’ weren’t helping any.

“Just leave me alone, Flash.” You went to walk around him but he just pushed you back into the lockers, causing a grunt of pain to fall from your mouth at the force.

“Just another question, Skank. Did you or did you not have sex with the avengers?” He asked once again. 

You scoffed, shaking your head in disbelief, “You really are stupid, aren’t you, Flash?” Some people laughed at that. “No. FOr the last time, I am not having sex with Captain America or The Winter Soldier, or any of the avengers for that matter! I’m their assistant for god’s sake! Get it through your thick skull!” 

You were practically shaking by the time you finished ranting, you just couldn’t believe Flash was that thickheaded.

. You tried to walk past him again but he went harder the second time around. H walked away laughing while you did your best to cradle your bloody nose and blackening eye. A string of unsavory words escaped your mouth when you felt the blood seep through your fingers but no one paid you much attention. Every person in school is always up for watching the fights that take place but when it comes to after, they ran like scared mice. You were just glad Peter wasn’t there to see. 

“(Y/N), oh my god. Are you okay?”

Speak of the devil.

His face was full of worry as he handed you tissue after tissue, and held a wet tissue to your eye, all the while you tried to fight him off.

Peter was what you’d call an overprotective older brother friend. He also had an internship at Stark Industries and you were one of the few people he entrusted with his secret identity, leading you two to become very close. You were still a bit younger than him so when you met, he immediately became like an older brother to you.

“Pete, calm down. I’ll be okay.” You tried to reassure him but he wasn’t taking any of it. 

“I just wish I could go all Spiderman on him,” he responded with a sigh, making you smile sadly. 

“I know, Pete. I think I’m just gonna head home for the day. Get me the work, will you?” Before he could object, you walked out the doors. 

He felt defeated but couldn’t dwell on it long before Ned approached him from behind to lead him to their first class. 

10 hours later

Peter was on a mission, and the first step was making sure you were nowhere near him for the next hour or two, for good reason…he promises.

He entered the tower at exactly 5:30 and, after waving to the secretary Kayla, headed to the main elevator and went up to the common room. Luckily for him, all the avengers were there, and even luckier, you were nowhere to be seen. The beeping of the elevator caused the avengers to turn around, and see Peter. They frowned, however, when they saw his face. Normally, Peter would be smiling and barely able to stand still for more than a minute at a time., but today he was completely stoic and ignoring everyone’s greetings. He marched right past Same who was attempting to give him a high five and stood in the middle of the room.

“I need your help.” He said simply, startling the others. Peter Parker is not one to ask for help.

“Whatever is the matter, Son of Spiders?” Thor asked the teen. 

Peter took a deep breath, “It’s about (Y/N).”

At your name, the others tensed. You were like a daughter to most of the team, and a sister to Pietro and Wanda. If anything happened to your family, they would not hesitate to take you in, but if something had happened to you personally, well it would probably involve some kind of violence from the assassins. Different scenarios were running through everyone’s heads but Pietro was the one who spoke for the rest. 

“Vhat is wrong with (Y/N)?” 

Peter sighed once again, muttering something remarkably similar to “Lord, give me strength,” before explaining, “This kid named Flash has been harassing (Y/N)-,’

He was cut off by Rhodey. “Wait, harassing her how?”

“Today he got in her face saying things like she is…well having sex with you guys to keep her job. She tried to walk away but he punched her a few times.”

Silence followed his words. It was like someone had taken the oxygen right out of the room because none of the avengers felt like they could breathe. They were all in total shock. You were like a part of the big family and they would always admit that, they were extremely protective of you. 

Bucky was the first to speak, “Where does he live?” His voice was full of venom, you didn’t have to look close to see the veins popping out of his neck. 

“I can’t believe I’m saying this but for once I agree with the Tin Man.” Tony pointed out, ignoring Bucky’s annoyed glare pointed at him. 

Natasha was next. Peter had to do a double-take when he saw her fiddling with a set of throwing knives. “Where is (Y/N)? She didn’t show up for work yet.” She asked.

“She left school early so I’m not-,” Peter was cut off by the sound of the elevator arriving at the floor. 

Looking over for the second time in the past half hour, everyone saw you walk out the small room, head down as if you were ashamed. They see you visibly take a breath before raising your head revealing your state. 

Gasps were heard as well as a few curses from Bucky and Natasha, Bruse even let out a low growl. 

Steve stood up from his chair and approached you before anyone else had the chance to, “Hey, (Y/N). Why don’t you sit down for a while while I grab you an ice pack.” He offered but it sounded more like a demand. Still, you shook your head.

“I’m okay, Steve. Just a bit roughed up.”

Tony scoffed at that. “C’mon, (Y/N), you look like you just went two rounds with a tornado. Have a seat.” Tony patted the back of the chair for added effect but you shook your head once again.

“For real guys, I’m okay. I’m just gonna head up to the roof for a little bit, okay?” You tried to smile but they could tell it was forced. Heading  back towards the elevator, you were internally grateful to be out of that situation fast. 

When you were gone, Peter spoke up, unsureness and worry undermining his words, “Should ..?”

But Bucky cut him off before he could finish, “Nah, I got this. Relax, Kid, she’ll be fine.” He said and giving a nod to his best friend, made his own way to the elevator, requesting Friday to bring him to the roof.

When he arrived, the super-soldier saw your hunched form on the edge of one of the law couches Tony insisted be there (despite the fact that no one even went up there normally).

“Alright there, Doll?” He asked when you didn’t seem to notice him.

You didn’t answer.

Bucky sighed and sat next to you, “Peter told us what’s been going on. Who is this kid...Flash? Pretty dumb name if you ask me.”

This time you shrugged. “He just hates me because I work here and he doesn’t. I just don’t fit in there.” Your tone was sad as you spoke and Bucky could tell.

“I know what it's like to not fit in, Doll. I probably know it better than anyone." 

"Now hold on. Don't be narcissistic."

Bucky let out a boisterous laugh that you couldn’t help but giggle along to. In no time you two were laughing and throwing playful insults back and forth. Bucky even threw in a noogie at one point. 

“Feel better, Kid?” Bucky asked once silence settled between them.

“Yeah. Thanks for this, Uncle Buck.” You leaned into your surrogate uncle’s open arm and cuddled into the side of his chest, trying not to show yourself shivering. 

“It’s cold up here. Wanna head to bed now?”

“In a minute.”

While you said only a minute, the two of you stayed up on the roof all night watching the sunrise replace the stars in the sky as the morning dew appeared on the nearby plants by the seating area. Bucky would be lying if he said he had seen something prettier because, at that moment, he was thankful to whoever was up above for this young girl next to him; and while he didn’t completely understand what you were going through at the moment, he understood what it was like to not fit in. You reminded him a whole lot of his kid sister, Rebecca, from before the war. She was always so spunky and didn’t take any crap from anyone, just like you. 

Hearing soft snores, he glanced over and saw you asleep on his left shoulder. He chuckled lowly and stood up carefully, plucking you from the couch and carrying you in his arms to the elevator. When Friday took him to your floor, he let the AI open the door for him; he set you down on your bed gently, but when he went to leave, a hand reached out and gripped his wrist. 

“Stay...please?” You asked sleepily. 

Bucky smiled. “Course, Doll.” He laid on top of the covers and allowed you to cuddle up to his metal arm.

[timotey]

Ficlet: Once on the Internet (Always on the Internet)

Post Dark Blue Kiss finale, PeteKao. TW: discussion of a sexual assault.

He’s never gonna get rid of that dirt, is he?

💔💔💔

Pete hesitates at the glass door leading out onto the terrace, one hand on the door handle. For a while, he just stands there and watches Kao who’s sitting on the wooden deck by the pool, arms looped around his knees, staring out at the setting sun. Despite the late afternoon warmth, Kao’s huddled in one of Pete’s hoodies. 

Pete’s heart aches for him.

Quietly, he opens the door, and stepping out onto the terrace, he walks towards his boyfriend. He wants to rush to Kao, hug him, hold him but he’s not sure if it’s what Kao wants or needs right now. And this not-knowing makes Pete unhappy. He hates not-knowing, especially when it comes to Kao.

But the moment Pete drops down at Kao’s side, whispering a soft, “Hey,” Kao lists towards him, and without even looking at Pete, he leans heavily against him, as if he grew tired of holding himself up all on his own. Then Pete knows what to do: he wraps his arms around Kao, pulling him against his chest, and kisses the top of his head.

They sit like that for some time, then Pete starts with, “I talked to my dad--”

“I’m sorry,” Kao jumps in, his voice a little cracked around the edges. He’s still staring out at the sun, now almost sunk behind the horizon. “First my mom, now your dad. I seem to cause trouble for everyone.”

“That’s not true,” Pete says quietly yet forcefully, hating the idea of Kao blaming himself. “None of this is your fault.”

And it isn’t. Pete’s never doubted Kao, not even for a moment. When he walked into the door and his dad welcomed him home looking strained and worried and angry at the same time, when he told Pete, “I’m sorry, son…” Pete knew that whatever happened, it was not Kao’s fault.

Kao sighs miserably and shake his head against Pete’s shoulder. “There must be something wrong with me. Why else would these things keep happening?”

Rubbing his boyfriend’s shoulder, Pete says, “Kao--”

But Kao continues as if he didn’t hear him. “After what happened with Non, I was so careful, I made sure nothing I did could be taken the wrong way. But he... was my supervisor. When he called me into his office, I really didn’t think anything of it…” His voice trails off.

Pete swallows hard. He wants to punch the guy, the desire is so overwhelming he almost trembles with it. Which is why Kao’s next words startle him a little, it’s like he read Pete’s mind.

“I punched him, you know?” Kao says, lifting his hand to show Pete his bruised knuckles. From the look of it, it must’ve been one helluva punch. Good. “But that just made him angry,” Kao adds in a small voice.

Holding up his hand, the sleeve of his hoodie slides down Kao’s forearm a little. And now Pete understands why he’s wearing it: there are bruises on Kao’s wrist, marks left behind by a hand that squeezed way too hard. Pete hates that sight. He takes Kao’s hand in his and kisses his knuckles.

Kao snuggles closer. “His secretary must’ve been afraid of him because when she heard what was going on in his office, she didn’t come in, she went for your father.” 

There’s a smile in Kao’s voice when he continues, “Your father is really amazing, you know that, right? That guy was a head taller and had a good thirty pounds on him but it didn’t matter at all. Your dad looked ready to tear him apart.”

Pete knows. When he came home, his father was beyond angry - and not just at the man but also at himself, though none of it was his fault either. “I’m sorry, son. I’m so sorry. You asked me to watch out for Kao and I failed.” Yeah, that’s Pete’s dad. And Pete loves him.

Kao pauses and when he goes on, there’s not a trace of smile in his words anymore. “He blamed me,” he whispers. “When he started... touching me, he said he read all about me on the internet, what I was like, that he knew what I wanted…”

Fuck.

“I’m never gonna get rid of that dirt, am I?” Kao sighs unhappily. “Once on the internet, always on the internet, that’s how the saying goes, right? No matter what I say, no matter the evidence, some people will always believe what they want…”

With a heavy heart, Pete strokes Kao’s face and kisses the top of his head, still resting on Pete’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. What can I do?” he asks because he honestly doesn’t know. 

He doesn’t know how to make it right for Kao. He doesn’t know how to help him. He doesn’t know how to stop people from saying things like this and doing things like this to Kao. He wants to pummel anyone who even looks at Kao wrong black and blue but that wouldn’t help either. He wants to fix the world for Kao but he’s back to not-knowing, he doesn’t know how to do that and it’s killing him.

Kao wraps his arms around Pete’s waist. “Lend me your shoulder? And your ear?” he asks.

“All of me, if you want,” Pete tells him and he means it.

Kao smiles again. Pete can hear it in his voice when he says, “Yeah, all of you is good. I would like that very much.”

All of Pete it is, then. Kao doesn’t even have to ask.

[elisaphoenix13]

How To Make Tony Pass Out

AC/DC blared throughout the lab as Tony waited for the results of his current idea. Specifically if there was a way to transfer Peter's healing factor and enhanced strength to someone like him. Peter was a mutant super human, Stephen had his magic and martial arts...but Tony? He just had his brain and his suits. Take the suit away and what was he?

A billionaire with a smart mouth that got him into more trouble than out of it.

So he figured he could try and see if he could pick and choose from Peter's abilities and transfer them to himself. He would leave the sticking to walls to his son.

The music suddenly stops, which Tony found odd because FRIDAY usually just lowered the volume enough so that Tony could hear the test results. Depending on the results, he would think of something else to try out or work on and have her turn the music back up.

"Hey FRI? What happened to the music?" Tony asks as he blindly grabs a wrench off the table beside him, his front half buried in the hood of his most recent restoration project. His Iron Man suits (and his husband's and son's as well) weren't his only hobby. No, he had taken to restoring cars again. It required more physical exertion than the suits gave him and he kind of missed the glee he felt when he finally got an engine to purr.

"There's...something you need to see boss." The AI says slowly.

"More important than those test results?" The engineer backs away from the car and grabs a towel to wipe his hands on as he approaches the holographic screen FRIDAY had brought up.

"Much."

"What am I looking at?"

"As I was running tests, I was noticing some similarities. So I ran a separate test."

Tony raises an eyebrow. "Okay? Is there a point to all this or are you going to continue to beat around the bush and leave me guessing?"

FRIDAY sighs. Actually sighs when her separate test results pop up on the screen. "I ran a DNA rest."

Tony glances over the results until he catches sight of who his AI had done the test on.

Paternity Test 

Tony Stark to Peter Parker 

Probability: 99.9998%

The panic came on like a freight train. He stopped breathing. He got tunnel vision so all he saw were those numbers. One thought on repeat as black spots covered his vision from the lack of oxygen.

Peter is mine.

"TONY!" The engineer finally gasps, giving his brain and body the oxygen they desperately need, and he opens his eyes to find himself looking up into frantic blue eyes.

Up? He didn't even remember closing his eyes. Now that his brain had enough oxygen to focus, he noticed that he was lying on the floor. So he must have passed out. How very Tony Stark of him. His reaction to finding out the teenager he adopted was biologically his was to pass out and...

...there goes the panic again. Tony wheezes and gasps for breath as his chest tightens and Stephen uses his free hand to grab the the billioanire's and place it against his chest. The sorcerer's other hand was underneath Tony's head and he only knew that because he had felt it before the second attack came on.

"Deep breathes love." Tony, with the other man's help, get his breathing back under control, and then slowly sits up. "What happened? FRIDAY told me you passed out."

"Peter." The engineer whispers. "He's...he still has family. He has a living relative."

Now Stephen was the one who had panic in his expression. "Whoever it is...they can't take him away from us. Not unless he wants to go and I'm fairly positive he likes being here."

The sorcerer's panicked expression turned confused when Tony chuckles madly. The engineer moves to his feet, using Stephen's shoulders as support, and leans against the desk to pull up the earlier hologram that FRIDAY must have minimized after Tony passed out.

"You don't understand." Tony starts, and Stephen joins him at the desk when his husband points at the transparent screen. "His living relative? It's me."

Stephen stares at the screen in deafening silence and Tony's next words die in his mouth when a pained expression crosses the man's features. Did Stephen already know? No, that was doubtful. He made jokes about Tony and Peter having the same nose or anything miniscule like that, but that's all they were. Jokes. Now there was evidence that Peter was actually biologically Tony's.

And that's when it clicked.

Peter was Tony's...not Stephen's. The teen was equally both of theirs because they didn't share blood with him, but now it turned out not to be true. Tony shared blood. Stephen did not.

Mama Bear was feeling insecure.

"Stephen..." Tony's panic was gone right now. At least the panic about the news with Peter. The panic he had now was over the emotional turmoil on the sorcerer's face. "This doesn't change anything--"

"It does Tony. I don't know why, but it does." Stephen says as he covers his face.

"It doesn't!" The engineer yells. "So he's mine! So fucking what?! He's as much yours as he is mine!"

"How can you say that?" Stephen whispers.

"Because I didn't get to be there for all of his firsts! Words, steps, school days...as far as I'm concerned I still only have one more year with him than you do. Wehave him now. I can guarantee you that if we tell him about this...you will still be mom."

Stephen pulls his hand away from his face. "If? Peter deserves to know."

"Yeah, he deserves to know, but he doesn't need to." Tony says. "Either way, I'm Dad. You're Mom. End of story. What does it matter that we share blood?"

"Because he's not mine too!" Stephen shouts.

There it was. The insecurity out in the open.

"A year and a half ago, I was a neurosurgeon. All I cared about was my reputation. I didn't care about settling down. I had one friend. Then I got into the accident. In desperation I looked for a way to fix my hands outside western medicine and came across the mystic artes. I studied it...became a master...then became the guardian for the New York Sanctum." Tony remains silent as the man rambles. "I thought I found a new purpose in life, then you waltzed right into it. Turned my life upside down, and made me fall in love with you when I saw how much you cared about your friends. I saw how you always thought of them first before yourself, but you cleverly covered it up by making it look like you were doing it for yourself."

Tony again refused to say anything because he didn't want to ruin this. Stephen had cracked. He was opening up and doing it in more than a sentence.

"Then one day, I come to the tower and Peter is there. I hated kids. I almost turned around and left, but he saw me."

Tony smiles at the memory and finally spoke. "I told him who you were before that...and he asked you about neurology."

Stephen huffs. "That's what started it. After that, I don't know...but he grew on me. Most teenagers are inconsiderate and disrespectful, but not him. He wears his heart on his sleeve." The sorcerer rubs his face. "He didn't bother me. I liked him. Then out of nowhere, I start worrying about him. Is he eating enough? Is he sleeping? It was literally like taking care of another you--are you laughing?!"

Tony was. In his defense, he was trying to stifle it, but he did that poorly.

"I'm sorry...but do you hear yourself?" Tony asks with a snicker.

"Forget it. You're not taking me seriously."

"That's the thing babe...I am." The engineer reaches out and carefully takes one of the sorcerer's hands. His left, to twist the ring he had put there not too long ago. "Throughout that entire rant of yours...do you know what I heard?"

"Tony..."

"You were a parent long before Peter gave you that title...and he only did because you put yourself there. He didn't call you Dad. Or his uncle, or anything like that. He called you Mom. Peter and I might share blood but no one could ever replace you. I've seen him with his Aunt May, but you? He has a bond with you that rivals the one he had with her. Honestly, I should be the one who should be jealous. He's literally my kid and he clings to you! Dad just has all the expensive toys."

Stephen chuckles and it brings a smile to Tony's face as he brings the younger man into a kiss. "You're certain it won't change anything?"

"Peter might mentally implode like I did, but there's no chance he's letting you go anywhere. If you try, he'll hunt you down or die trying."

"Mentally implode about what?"

Stephen and Tony stiffen before turning to find Peter at the elevator. Thankfully he only seemed to have overheard Tony's last words, so when they stayed silent, he shrugs to himself before hopping over to the car that the engineer had been working on. The couple didn't even have time to say anything to him before he was leaning into the hood of the car and clanging away.

"Hey Pete...wait a minute before you get too occupied with that." Tony calls to him.

The teen leans away from the car and wipes at the oil smudge he already managed to get on his face. "Yeah Dad?"

Tony had to fight off another panic attack because now that word meant so much more. "Serious subject kid. Come here." The billionaire swallows the forming lump in his throat when Peter frowns, but he sets down the wrench he had grabbed just seconds ago to join his parents.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No...apparently I did though." Stephen slaps the back of his head. "Not that it's wrong! I mean, it worked out for me in the end. Not the best beginning..." Tony trails off when his son gives him a weird look. "I'm rambling. It will be easier to show you."

With that said, Stephen and Tony move away from the screen showing the paternity test results, and the engineer sighs heavily as he motions toward the hologram. He didn't know how Peter would react. Happy? Upset? Mad? Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if it was all three with some indifference mixed in. This was one of those situations where that would work somehow.

Peter just stared though. At least at first. His confusion turned into disbelief, then skepticism, then after a few more emotions he put on the best damn poker face Tony had ever seen. That didn't bode well for him.

"...Peter?" The engineer says quietly.

"Is this...is this real?" The teen asks numbly.

"If it isn't, then FRIDAY gave me a few panic attacks for no reason."

Peter took that a little out of context though. "You're upset about this?"

"What?! No kid! I just wasn't expecting it and I literally found out an hour ago that you actually are mine! I'm expecting you to be upset!"

"...would you have wanted me?" Peter whispers and Tony gapes for a few moments.

"I...I wasn't in the greatest place back then so I'm not sure." The teen looks away with threatening tears but Tony pulls his face back toward his. "I think I would have though. After a positive test like this to make sure it wasn't some woman trying to get my money, I would have cleaned up my act and taken care of you. Especially if I knew what a great kid you would turn out to be."

Tony had barely finished his sentence when he found himself with an armful of a sniffling teenager. Stephen had taken that as his cue to leave and give them time alone, but he was halfway around them when he felt a tug on his belt loop and he was pulled back toward the two. The sorcerer looks down in surprise and discovered that the fingers grasping tightly to his pants belonged to Peter. Tony gives him a knowing look when the teen pulls him into the hug, and then grins up at him.

"I don't really remember my mom...so you've been the mom I never had. This hug, this family, wouldn't be complete without you." 

A single tear rolls down Stephen's cheek as he returns the hug and Tony kisses his cheek. "I told you. This changes nothing."

Stephen's upper lip twitches. "Peter...there's one thing your father failed to tell you." Tony's eyes widen while Peter looks at him curiously. "He passed out when he saw the results."

The teen guffaws loudly and then yelps in surprise when his father pushes Stephen away and tosses the teen over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"This calls for a celebration of all you can eat ice cream, binge watching movies, and suffocating cuddles on the couch. Mom can go buy the ice cream."

Stephen rolls his eyes. "What flavors?"

"Stark Raving Hazelnuts." Tony says immediately.

"I wasn't asking you. I was asking my cub."

Peter grins, using Tony's back as support to look up at the doctor. "Rocky Road and Cookie Dough!"

"You know kid, you're a lot lighter than you look." Tony says as he walks over to the elevator and Stephen makes a portal before disappearing through it. When the doors close and the engineer asks FRIDAY to take them up to the penthouse, he loosens his grip on the boy when he attaches himself to the wall of the elevator. "He's jealous you know."

Peter tilts his head. "About what?"

Tony folds his arms. "The fact that you're actually, biologically mine. He wants that too."

"...he's my Mama Bear. No one can take that from him."

"You might want to increase cuddle sessions for a little while just in case."

Peter laughs. "I can do that. He gives the best hugs anyway."

Tony gasps dramatically and with mock offense. "What am I? Chopped liver?"

"You let me blow things up." The teen supplies with a grin.

"How could I forget that?" Tony asks with a hint of sarcasm as they exit the elevator and he points to the floor when Peter follows on the ceiling. "On the floor Boy Wonder."

"Can't. The floor is lava."

Tony looks up at the teen with a raised eyebrow and sighs in defeat when Peter smiles down at him. "Well the couch isn't so plant it."

"Yes, Dad."

Tony smiles.