The Ultimate Fix-It Fic

15| The Bus Ride

PART 1

Peter, MJ, and Yelena boarded the bus just as the doors began to close.

"Thank fuck," Peter heard MJ huff as she sank down on a seat.

The bus was uncharacteristically empty, so the three of them could spread themselves out as they pleased.

Peter watched as MJ chatted with Yelena. His friend seemed a lot more comfortable with the woman than he was.

MJ glanced up from her discussion and caught his eye, discreetly signing a message to him with tiny finger gestures, 'You okay?'

Peter nodded quickly and MJ looked back to Yelena, who was showing her something.

"Peter, can you grab my laptop?" MJ called over to him a little while later.

He took her laptop from her bag next to him and leaned over to give it to her. "What're you going to work on?" he asked.

MJ shrugged. "Something Yelena asked me to research." She studied Peter with serious, concerned eyes.

He stifled a swallow as she continued scrutinizing him, suddenly noticing that neither he or she had let go of her laptop, fingers barely brushing, and the 10am sunlight filtering through the tinted windows reflected off her hair. MJ's eyes seemed to bore into him as he gazed confusedly back at hers, amber against caramel with tiny flecks of gold–

The bus braked suddenly and Peter lost his balance, stumbling in the aisle as the bus driver started calling out insults to the offending driver.

"Peter!" MJ said, sounding concerned. "Are you okay?"

Peter stuck out a thumbs-up from the floor of the bus. "I'm fine."

PART 2

Natasha tapped the back of her phone as she held it to her ear.

She had just tried to call Peter, but he either didn't have it on him or he ignored her, which was unlikely.

"Is he picking up?" Bruce asked from beside her.

The little 'problem' that made them detour to the upstate compound was Tony's tenth failed attempt at proposing to Pepper. Right now, Pepper wasn't saying no because they hadn't gotten to that part of the plan yet, but Tony accidentally blew up the lab that was closest to the residential wing so he called Nat and Bruce in a panic.

"Nope." Natasha sighed as she slid her phone into her pocket. "Try your protege."

"Michelle isn't my protege," Bruce retorted, taking out his phone. "Why can't you do it, anyways?"

"I've called her twice today," Nat said, crossing her legs as she watched Tony set up for attempt No. 11. "I've exceeded the quota."

"I'm sure both of them would be over the moon to hear from you," Bruce said, chuckling. "It's like they haven't talked to you in years and they tell you everything that's been going on."

Natasha scoffed. "Don't forget that time Peter asked you for love advice," she reminded her scientist. "He ditched his date yesterday."

Bruce furrowed his brows, line ringing. "I thought he liked Liz."

"Yeah, but he had to go fight her dad," Nat explained. "Liz's dad was the bad guy."

Bruce shook his head. "Hell of a taste, that kid."