Ms. Stark [Peter Parker]

Chapter 25| Beautiful

STEVE
3:46 pm; Monday- Avenger's facility

I stood, leaned up against the doorway facing the elegant glass window. This room was at the top level of the Avenger's facility, and the entire wall was a window, showing the view of the sunset. It was quite beautiful. Maria sat still though on the ground looking out to the view, with her knees bent. I don't know if she knows I am here, but if she does, she wouldn't mention it.

I gingerly move up from my spot and sit down next to her. We don't say anything, and the only sound feeling the air is a pleasant silence. It was surprisingly peaceful.

"I'm sorry," I finally state. She doesn't show much expression.

"It isn't your fault." She seemed to have stopped crying, and looked like she never did besides her red eyes.

"Who's fault is it then?"

"Mine."

"Not it isn't, stop talking like that."

"Yes, it is." 

I narrowed my eyebrows, trying to be gentle. I decided not to push it. I should just change the subject.

"Can you please tell me why you were crying?" She kept her head ducked, and she didn't respond.

"Did I do something? Did something happen at training?" She shook her head slightly like it was hard to almost. I thought about it... maybe it was something with her being on her monthly cycle.

"Is it... a girl thing? Should I go get Nat-"

"God, no," she cut me off harshly. I felt bad for getting into her business, but what if it was something harmful to her?

"Is it a school thing? Your friends? Did Peter do something, cause I swear if he did-"

"Steve, no! Nothing happened," she replied even harsher. I sighed and looked down.

Why are teenagers so hard to talk to? I could remember Bucky's younger sister, Rebecca, like this. It's funny how even after seventy years, girls don't change.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her fist curled up next to her thigh. An edge of a crumbled paper was sticking out, like a note. I squinted at it. Wait... is it a boy? My eyes went wide at the thought, knowing that couldn't be possible. Or was it? I never met any of Maria's past boyfriends, but I knew she had some according to Tony.

"Is it a boy?" I let my final offer out.

"I- I- I," for the first time she turned up to face me, "Steve, I really don't want to talk about this. Can you just go back to training? I'll be there soon, okay?" It was odd, she spoke kindly now. I wasn't sure how to respond, is there a need to push it? Tony might get mad if I don't figure out what's wrong.

"Will you talk to someone else about it since you won't talk to me then?" I blurt out. She frowns, not as if she was mad, but as if she was confused. I wanted to negotiate with her.

"Natasha? What about Bucky? You like Bucky a lot, don't you-"

"Peter."