POISON WEBS ↴ PETER PARKER

⇢ 20 | PARKER CAN HELP

Y/N 🍪

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TONY STARK SCARES ME.

Not in a 'Halloween, Monster, Spooky-Spooky' way, but in an 'I am so rich, I could buy your whole family and also you if I wanted to' way. He carried his wealth like an aura, and sitting across from him was like getting hit with an expensive whiff of cologne.

"Speak," he commanded, waving his hand limply at me.

I wasn't sure how to explain. It still came as a shock that he knew my issue surrounded Peter, and besides, I wasn't sure if he could accept the idea of liking someone outside of your fated partner. I was sitting on a thin wire, struggling to maintain my balance.

"I...um," I began, staring at the floor, "it's really nothing."

Mr. Stark was skeptical. "If it was 'nothing', you wouldn't be in my office."

"Well, technically, you invited me in here?"

"Excuse me?"

I widened my eyes, sinking into my chair. My heart was beating so fast. I should be dead of a stroke right now. The billionaire was spinning a pen in his right hand, watching me with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly, "I get defensive when I'm nervous."

It was true. Whenever I feel anxious, it's because I can't find a sense of stability. I don't have the answers. I'm confused. It's that emotion that makes me so tense when people question me, because I'd grown up with everyone expecting me to be the best at everything and to know everything.

"You don't need to be defensive," Mr. Stark said, "I'm here to help you."

I blinked. "You're just so....intimidating."

"I am, but I'm not threatening you. I'm just older and richer, but that shouldn't mean anything." He was complimenting himself as a reassurance for me. I assumed this was very on brand for him. "Maybe it would help if you called me Tony."

"Tony?"

"Just don't call me Mr. Stark, it makes me feel old."

Mr. StarkㅡTonyㅡreclined so far into his seat, I imagined it breaking and sending him falling to the floor. It was an innocent intrusive thought. I blame it on my raging anxiety at the present moment.

The silence in the office was both embarrassing and alarming, but Tony paid no mind. He seemed to be more smug about my being there. Perhaps he'd been expecting it (although I'm not sure why).

"I like to be reasonable in matters of the heart," the man began to say, "but sometimes you teens can be so stupid."

I felt slightly offended. "I'm sorry?"

"Oh, don't apologize."

"I wasn't, I just thought I misheard一"

"I'm screwing with you, Kid," Tony laughed. He set down his pen on his desk and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He seemed like he knew everything about everyone. He probably did. "Just be honest and tell me why you're really here."

"To find the perfect recipe for my project."

"No, Martha Stewart, I mean in my office."

"I don't know if I can really talk about it, Mr一uh, Tony."

He gave me a disappointed look, but he knew I was right. It made me almost think he already figured out what I was trying to say. He assumed it had to do with Peter from the start, and if I couldn't speak about it openly, he must have gotten the hint. One of our world's smartest minds.