Spiderman's Sister

How about knocking?

T: How about knocking?

Tony looks up and gives me an annoyed look. I'm annoyed too, and he'll feel it soon.

Victoria: How about you stop covering for my brother when he's skipping school?

His facial expression changes from annoyed to confused. As if he didn't know Peter was coming here instead of being at school.

Tony: Brother? And who do I cover for what?

Is he being deliberately stupid right now? Like he doesn't know I'm Peter's sister. Peter can't keep anything to himself, he must have mentioned me at some point. All of this is really pissing me off. I just wanted to have a lazy Friday night. And now? Now I'm wandering the halls looking for Tony Stark and now that I've found him he's acting like he doesn't know anything.

Victoria: Peter Parker? You know him, don't you?

Tony: Peter........

It takes a moment for him to put the pieces together. 

Tony: Then you must be the sister he's always keeping such a big secret about.

Secret? Peter? Maybe we're not talking about the same boy after all. On the other hand, he also managed to hide from me for a long time that he skipped school.

Victoria: Since I'm the only sister he has, that's probably the case.

Tony: Then at least we know who you are now. And what was that, Peter is skipping school?

Victoria: Yes. His teacher called me earlier and told me that he had been skipping afternoon classes for weeks.

Tony: And how exactly do you come to the conclusion that he was here at the time?

Just admit he was here and don't take me for a fool. I would hardly let my evening be spoiled by some pipe dream. I glare at him angrily.

Victoria: Because he admitted it when I asked him about it.

Apparently Tony has realized that I know what's going on. Because right now his attitude towards me is becoming less annoyed and a little friendlier.

Tony: Ok, ok, he was here. But he didn't skip school. Afternoon classes were cancelled.

Victoria: No, they weren't. The lessons took place as usual.

Tony stares in shock and disbelief. That's what I must have looked like when Peter's teacher called me earlier. It hurts to find out that Peter - one of the dearest and most honest guys i know - lied to you.

Tony: But..... Peter would never lie to me?

Victoria: Well, I thought so too. But when it comes to you and the Avengers, he finds it incredibly easy to lie to me.

Seeing that Tony doesn't seem to know what Peter is doing either calms me down a bit.

Victoria: You know, I have no problem with him being an Avenger and hanging out with you guys. But only as long as the school doesn't suffer from it.

Without asking permission, I sink into one of the chairs in front of his desk.

Tony: I don't want his schooling to suffer either. I keep telling him how important it is to get a good degree. After all, none of us can be superheroes the rest of our lives.

Victoria: Then you seem to get through to him just as little as I do.

Tony: I'll definitely talk to him about it again.

He drops into the chair next to me.

Tony: I really can't believe he lied to me.

Victoria: Hurts, huh?

Tony: Yes. I mean... we're talking about Peter. Even if his life was at stake, he couldn't keep a secret.

Victoria: Maybe that's what happens with teenagers going through puberty. If that's the case, it can't be over fast enough.

At that remark, Tony chuckles and shakes his head.

Victoria: Can we at least agree that if he shows up here again during school times, you'll send him home?

Tony: Of course.

For the first time since we've been talking, he's looking at me intently and directly.

Tony: How do you actually know he's Spiderman? He shouldn't have told anyone.

Victoria: Well, I'm not a genius. But I'm neither blind nor stupid.

Tony: That's not an answer to my question.

Victoria: Don't worry, he didn't tell me. But I keep finding remnants of spider webs somewhere and stumbling across prototypes for new webshooters.

Tony: Typical Peter.

Now I have to giggle too. That's actually typical of Peter. Well, now I've talked enough about this whole thing. I wanted Tony to share my perspective and he obviously does. Now I just want to go home, make sure Peter is home and enjoy the rest of my evening in peace. I grab a piece of paper and a pen from Tony's desk and jot down my cell phone number. Then I hand him the note.

Victoria: Let me know if he shows up here instead of being at school.

He nods and hands over a business card with his number on it. We say goodbye and I walk back the way I came to the large living room. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed when I find it empty. I was sort of hoping that handsome guy from earlier was still there. Not seeing him again fits the rest of the evening. I sigh before heading back to the lobby and pressing the elevator call button.

???: Who's in bigger trouble? Tony or Peter?

I wince again when he suddenly stands behind me. Gosh, does he always have to sneak up on me? Nevertheless, I'm secretly happy to see him again before I leave. He also wears a leather jacket and looks like he's about to leave the tower. 

Victoria: Definitely Peter.

I answer his question. In the next second, a PING sounds and the elevator doors open. We both enter the elevator in silence and go down. Hopefully the rest of the evening will be more pleasant and calmer than before.