Highschool Days

Chapter 13

NPOV

A dazed Peter stumbled into the penthouse, his aura bouncing with joy and romance.  All the Avengers looked at him with curiosity (including Aunt May). Clint raised an eyebrow at the spiderling. "What's got you in a good mood? Gotta boyfriend or something?"

Tony chuckled in his cup and everyone else snickered at the joke. Peter leaned against the wall dreamily, dropping his bag on the floor lazily, just like Wade would. "Mhm."

Then all hell broke loose.

Tony spewed all of his water through his nose before coughing and sputtering violently. Wanda grabbed the closest pillow and screamed into it. Vision looked at all of them in confusion. Steve shot up and spun around and twirled. Natasha's eyes were wide but she couldn't muster enough energy; no matter how hard she tried, she didn't know how to express herself at the moment. Bucky was laughing hard, Sam laughing beside him and smacking his knee. Aunt May was hooting and hollering, clapping as if she just heard the best thing to ever be said. Clint snorted and wheeze, clapping his hands together like a dying seal.

"I told you, Anthony!" Steve squealed. Tony's eyes were watering as he tried to catch his breath. Wanda turned to Natasha and started hitting her upside the head with the same pillow she used to scream in. Bucky caught his breath first and looked at Peter with red eyes. "Who is it, kid?"

Peter broke out of his little love-sick puppy state and shyly blushed. "Uh, Wade?" Peter said in a questioning tone. Aunt May stood up and brought Peter into her loving arms. "That's great, Pete!" Aunt May stated in her usual optimistic tone. Peter hugged her back tightly. Tony looked like he was about to retort, but bit his tongue.

Natasha tilted her head with a genuine smile. "That's amazing sweetheart." 

"I always thought Pete would stay single until he was 25 like Tony," Sam admitted. Bucky punched him violently in the shoulder and Sam recoiled. "Good job, kid," Sam grunted reluctantly. Bucky smiled. "Good choice. Tony would also agree wouldn't he?" 

Tony gritted his teeth and let out a shaky sigh. "I'm...so...proud of you...son."

Peter raced over and hugged Tony. "Really, Pop!? I could have sworn you would be the one against the idea," Peter ranted in disbelief. Wanda snorted, looking away to cover her laugh. Tony slowly petted Peter's head. "Nope, I am supportive of you getting into relationships all the way!" Tony lied straight to his teeth. At that moment a piece of Tony died.

Peter smiled widely. Steve nodded, sitting back down and hugging Tony in a reassuring way. "We all are happy for you, Peter," Steve stated proudly. Peter shyly rocked back and forth on his feet. Clint raised his hand like a child and Peter pointed to him.

"Yes?"
"Didn't you only know him for a good 2 weeks?" Peter glared at him. "Mind yo business, David!" Clint put his hands up in defense. "Hey, I don't judge!"

Steve shot back up, bouncing around like a school girl while clapping his hands. "I'm gonna go make some cupcakes. Oh, my baby growing up." Steve gazed at Peter lovingly before skipping away. Tony ran a hand through his hair, his chest rising and falling at a concerningly fast speed. "We're all so proud of you...Peter," Tony said calmly, the look in his eyes had disappointment, but it was clear he wasn't disappointed in Peter himself.

"It means a lot coming from you, Papa," Peter assured him with a small smile. Natasha, sensing Tony's uncomfortable state through body language and crossed her legs, relaxing with her hands in her lap.

"Pete, why don't you get changed out of those clothes? You smell like outside," Natasha claimed, her nose scrunched in a teasing expression. Peter sighed in defeat, walking backward to the exit. "Okay, Aunt Tasha."

When Peter walked out, Sam glared at Tony. "You own me my twenty bucks man."

Tony stood up and paced the room, his arms pinned behind his head. "S-So soon?" Natasha shrugged. "Peter has a bright personality. It was only a matter of time."

"I agree," Wanda added, leaning into Vision's chest, a soft sigh of contentment. Wanda grinned to herself for a moment. "Glad I betted on Steve's side, though."

Bucky smirked tilting his head. "It was kinda obvious." Vision couldn't help but smile too. "Sorry Tones, but you defeat was foreseen." Bucky and Sam traded looks for a moment before Bucky looked at the rest of the Avengers. "I'm just glad I voted for both sides." Bruce, who was quietly reading a book in the corner, looked up with a playful confused expression as if he heard a joke.

"You can't do that."
"Do what?"
"Bet on both sides. You can only choose one," Bruce declared. Bucky held his hands up in defense. "If it makes you feel better, Green bean: I betted more money on Steve than I did Tony."

Tony groaned in frustration, pulling a flask from out of pocket before tipping it over his dry lips, soothing the back of his throat. "Oh come on. Why is it always that Steve's side wins, huh?"

Clint leaned back cooly. "Easy: he's more sweet and innocent." Tony fake pouted. "Not true," he crossed his arms over his chest like a toddler, even blowing a curl away from his eyes, a trademark he gained from Peter. "He's not so innocent in the bedroom."

Natasha, who randomly had a glass of champagne, nearly choked before covering it up with a cough, her eyes watering.  Bruce closed his book, clearing disgusted. "Aw come on, Tones!"

Steve leaned in through the kitchen, a bowl of cake mix in his hands. "Woah, what happened?" He asked, sensing some sort of tense in the room. Natasha brought the wine glass away from her lips, pointing at Tony. "Steve, he said a bad language word."

Steve shot Tony a look before retreating back into the kitchen. Vision thoughtfully leaned forward. "Someone should contact Scott and tell him he lost the 145 dollars he lost."

Rhodey shifted uncomfortably. "Is it bad I only betted one dollar on Tony winning the bet?"

Tony placed a hand to his chest. "Rhodey! You're supposed to be on my side all throughout." Rhodey snorted. "Did anyone really believe Tony was going to win the bet?" Tony lifted his flask to his lips once again, waiting for everyone's response.

Everyone all shrugged and gave murmurs. "Aw come on!" Tony whined.