With everyone gone, the tower was quiet, for what was the first time in a while.
I sat on my bed staring out the window at New York below me.
I could see all of the people down on the street and got lost in my own thoughts.
I was snapped to attention when I heard Saturday Night's alright blaring from the workshop. Smiling to myself I waited for someone to make an appearance and say hello.
No one came to see me, which I found strange, someone would usually come and say hi.
So I climbed down from bed and made my way to Tony's workshop. Maybe I could see him, just to make sure that nothing went wrong on mission.
I had had a bad morning, levels low and then high, then anxiety started up. I was just too overwhelmed to fight. Everyone gave me space, we all knew each other had demons and didn't ask about it often. Just respected the bouderies we put in place.
I reached the lab and when I opened the door, no one was there. That was odd. I called for JARVIS.
'Hey JARVIS, where is everyone?'
The music stopped. 'Mr Stark has requested I not tell you, and for you to wait in your room if you asked.'
I was very curious but also felt my chest tighten, before it could escalate I closed my eyes to take a breath.
As I did this I felt a human spirit enter the room, followed by a quiet breath, so, this one was alive. I smiled, 'so, who's trying to sneak up on the psychic?'
'Who usually is?'
I grinned at the familiar voice. That's when I heard it, a waltz played softly from the lounge room. My favourite orchestral piece. 'What's going on?'
Peter moved closer and gently took my hands in his, 'follow my lead and you'll find out.'
With my eyes still closed he lead me out of the room. I knew the way well enough to know we were in the lounge room, he lead me up the wall and onto the roof where we paused.
'Open your eyes.' The waltz picked up and I looked around. Glowing balls of soft light illuminated the room. I gasped at how beautiful it looked. Then I looked up into the eyes of my person.
His hazel eyes stated back.
The waltz reached its peak and we started dancing, twirling and spinning and dipping, laughing and smiling, when the waltz came to a close our eyes danced with laughter and Peter raised his eyebrow. 'Again?'
Another of my favourite waltzes filled the space and he lead me into another round of dancing. I could tell he had been learning from someone, definitely not Tony or May. I'd have to ask who.
This dance, even though the tempo was fast, we danced slowly, enjoying these moments we had together. He smiled and lifted his finger from our intertwined hands to point below us.
Tony and Pepper danced in a slow circle below us. It was a miracle they weren't throwing retorts at each other. I smiled and leant my head against Peter's chest.
As the peak once again came along Peter increased our speed, spinning us around the roof before dropping me and catching us with his web, so we spun around strung in midair.
I laughed in shock at the pure coordination and skill Peter just showed me.
With a tap of his wrist we were slowly descending to the ground. My face was glowing with joy and love for the human in front of me. I noticed that Tony and Pepper had left quietly. I wrapped my arms around Peter's neck and pulled him into an embrace.
'That was... wonderful? Incredible? I don't have the words...'
I pulled away to look at his face, which was turning red.
'Peter,' I rested my hand on his cheek. 'That was one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me.' His blush intensified.
'I just thought you're having a bad day.. and I wanted to show off what Nat's been teaching me..' He started blabbering.
'Wait. Nat's been teaching you? Nat. The assassin?' He grinned.
'Yep, she said something about a knife and a ball?' I was in awe, I'd have to ask for that story later.
'Where did you get these lights?' I nodded in the direction of the glowing orbs.
'Carol.'
'Carol's here?' I said excitedly.
'That was the next thing I had to tell you.'
I grinned and hugged him tightly. 'I thank you a billion times later but for now... where is she?'
'In a meeting with everyone else. The normal room.'
I grinned and started to sprint towards the meeting rooms. I didn't want to wait for an elevator, so I got one of my closest spirit power sources to teleport me outside of the door.
I listened for a second and when I heard Rhodey say, 'the president is not like the marshmallow man from ghostbusters.' I burst through the door and scanned the room until I saw her. Carol stood facing the window but her head whipped around when she sensed me. I teleported again right beside her, which made everyone in the room jump except for her. We hugged each other tightly while everyone else complained, 'Jesus she gives me a heart attack.' 'That one of ghosts is very strange.' 'She is, strange like me.' Steven stood behind me, it was so rare when I got to see these two, I went to shake his hand while still hugging Carol but he pulled me away into his own arms. 'Enough of the love fest.' At the same time, Steven opened a portal to the floor below, Carol photon blasted the floor away, and I made the floor disappear. All three actions made the avengers sitting at the table fall through the floor into the empty room below. We all laughed at the fallen and slightly dazed avengers. I reappeared the floor and we all greeted each other.
When I figured out I had these powers I realised I didn't have the energy to use them. So, with Carol and Steven's help I draw energy from Carol's endless power and Steven's magic helps me control and harness that energy. In a strange way, it makes us all connected, it makes us like a family. After hours of sitting around, talking to Carol about her adventures around the galaxy and Steven asking me a million questions about how my body was coping with the energy. The sun was beginning to set. We all said our goodbyes, we never really knew how long it would be before we saw each other again, but we're always drawn back to each other. After Carol and Steven left, I shed a few tears, wished them safety on their journeys and went downstairs to see if Steve and Bucky had made dinner yet.
I had one of my spirits travel ahead to make sure I wasn't interpreting anything. It seems Tony beat me too it. Bucky and Steve stood red-faced holding each other. I choked back a laugh and made my way into the open plan kitchen, dining and living room.
'Hey kid!' Tony said energetically, possibly on awkward energy.
'Hey Tony.' I responded, chuckling to myself. 'What's for dinner boys?' I said rubbing my hands together. Steve cleared his throat. 'Pasta, your favourite.' I laughed, 'I'm getting so spoiled today, it's gonna go to my head.' I turned to Tony. 'Where's the other kid?'
'Tinkering, go get him for dinner.' And with that he shooed me away. I decided to run to the lab, why not?
I heard the lakes by Taylor Swift playing and Peter talking along. But as soon as I walked through the door Hayloft by Mother Mother started playing instead.
'JARVIS, what just happened?'
'Mr Parker told me that when anyone should walk through the door I should play something brown up.'
I laughed and hugged Peter from behind, while he hid his blushing face from me. 'I personally prefer a man who listens to Taylor Swift.'
'Of course you do.' I laughed again, it wasn't a secret how much I loved Taylor Swift.
Peter sighed and the lakes started playing again.
He spun me once and dipped me low. His lips brushed my throat as he spoke the lyrics in a haunting voice. When he finally pulled me up, my face was flushed and I was speechless. He shook his head and murmured about how little it took to rile me up. He turned back to his tinkering. 'I did come up here for a reason.' 'And that was...?' He prompted.
'Dinner's ready.'
'Well why didn't you say so?' He put down his tools and brushed his hair back.
'Race you.'
'You're on.'
I ran to the kitchen next to Peter. When we passed the door frame Tony clapped and JARVIS announced, '0.00028 seconds between them sir. Mr Parker seems to have won today.'
I slumped and sighed dramatically while Peter wrung out his hands like he won a trophy.
It took one look at each other before we burst into uncontrollable laughter.
After we had calmed down, we sat down at the table, next to each other, as usual, while Tony was at the head, Steve at the other, Clint and Nat next to each other opposite us, Bruce next to Clint and Rhodey next to Peter and finally Bucky on Steve's left. It left one chair empty, usually filled by Pepper or Thor or Sam, it was rare when all of us sat down together. By the time I'd sat down, half of the group had already dug in, the old ones, as I called them, waited for everyone to arrive before beginning the meal. I always appreciated that more than everyone else.
'So, how was everyone's days?' I asked.
'Well, we were supposed to have that meeting that you rudely interrupted.' Rhodey said.
I smiled and chuckled. 'You shouldn't have rudely interrupted my long-distance family reunion. Come to think of it, we should call all meetings here family reunions.' A chorus of chuckles followed my comment, and soon everyone had started their own conversations with each other.
Peter was quiet while he ate, which wasn't unusual but still rare.
'You alright spidey?' I asked, he picked up on my worried undertone and smiled brightly at me
'Just thinking about my new solution for some updated webs, it has micro magnets in it, so it won't fall off of some surfaces anymore. But the magnet's chemicals are leaking into the solution and changing the consistency to a runnier liquid, so I'm figuring out how to fix it.'
That was a tough one, so I said as much.
'I know.' He said with a sigh.
Tony, eavesdropping as usual, mentioned a few ideas, and the two went back and forth like father and son. Those two always made me smile. After chatting with Nat about a new song and debating with Clint whether Evermore or Folklore was better, everyone had finished and begun to clean up. After piling up the dishes, everyone except me and Peter sat down on the couch and left us to wash and dry the dishes as usual. After we finished that, it was one of my favourite times of the day, time to pick a movie and relax. I suggested a few, so did Peter, but no one knew what to watch. Finally we decided on Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. A favourite in this house... tower. After the first half of the movie most of the group was asleep. When the end credits begun, Steve carried Bucky back to their room, Pepper came in and dragged Tony to their room, Clint and Natasha held each other up as they stumbled to bed. Bruce was already asleep in bed, he left when he started dozing. Rhodey, who was still wide awake when to patrol for the night. Which left a sleeping Peter on my lap, and me stroking his hair while I listened to the beautiful score of the movie. I stayed in this moment just a bit longer before finally picking Peter up bridal style and gently tucking him in my bed, snuggling up into his side. His arm automatically moved to its usual place on my back, cuddling me closer. It was only moments before I fell into a peaceful, slumber.
When I woke up, the sun was just starting to peak through the blinds. I was still laying on Peter's chest. As I listened to his deep, even breaths, I realised how contented I was here. In Peter's arms, safe in a tower, surrounded by people I loved so much, people I considered my family. I was radiating joy and contentedness. I drifted into a light sleep. When I woke for a second time, I felt Peter's fingers lightly tracing my face, he could tell I'd woken up as he tapped my nose. 'Good morning.' He said, his voice still deep and slow from drowsiness.
'Good morning Peter.'
His scent hit me, slightly strong but not unpleasant, he smelt of sandalwood and warmth.
I finally opened by eyes and was greeted by his big brown ones starting at me. I smiled and traced a line from his forehead to the top of his nose.
A deep bell was heard from the kitchen. Breakfast.
'Breakfast.' Peter said.
'You can read my mind.' I replied.
Slowly we got out of bed, I just chucked on a maths pun t-shirt and some plaid shorts with my binder.
Peter put on some simple black shorts and the same maths pun shirt as me.
I laughed at our matching shirts and he chuckled in return.
I lead the way out into the kitchen, where I sat at the island. Peter sat next to me. Nat was cooking with Tony, I was surprised I couldn't hear the bickering from my room.
When Tony spun around he jumped in shock at the two of us at the table.
'I need to attach bells to you two.' He murmured.
Peter and I chuckled.
Soon enough two stacks of pancakes sat in front of us, surrounded by pieces of burnt bacon.
'I can't even tell who cooked what.' I said sarcastically.
'I can, Mr Stark you obviously cooked the pancakes.' We laughed at each other's jokes and Nat joined in, Tony jokingly scowled at us. After we had eaten breakfast. Peter and Tony went to the labs, Bruce had come out to join them not soon after. Clint and Nat had a mission for Fury, so they went off. I went and grabbed my book and sat in the lounge room, after reading for an hour or two, Bucky and Steve emerged and claimed they were going for a walk. I wished them safety and continued reading. After a while a walk sounded good, called Peter to ask if he wanted to come, when he didn't pick up and I heard the music blaring from the labs I knew he was busy. So I headed out, grabbing my coat on the way. The city was crisp and lovely. I sat for a while at one of my favourite cafes, just people watching. Before talking a short walk around Central Park and heading back to the tower. Once I got back to my room, I sat down in bed and stared out the window at the city below me.
