Sliding Doors ⧨ Peter Parker

18 | Workaholic

Y/N

_

"I did something you'd be proud of," I said, clicking my tongue, "I think."

"What did I tell you about second guessing yourself?" Tony said, "I'd be proud of anything you did, kid, just make sure none of it's illegal."

We were in his workshop, fixing up the final touches to his nano-tech suit prototype. Well, I was in charge of the mock-up, and he was in charge of digitizing it.

"I may have asked Peter out this morning," I grinned, tapping away with my wrench, "in a friendly way, but still..."

Mr. Stark laughed, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "I thought you two were already past that stage."

"No, we weren't."

"I'd call clothes sharing far beyond that level."

"It's just clothes sharing!" I giggled, "that was it!"

The man chuckled to himself, swiping through the blueprints projected in front of him. I set down my wrench, hopping onto the work bench. I was supposed to go swinging with Peter in a few minutes, precisely at ten. I sent my mother a text earlier, saying that work was going to run late; she'd freak if she knew I was hanging out with a boy.

"So you like him?" Tony asked, "the spider-boy?"

"Yeah," I shrugged, "we've got a lot in common."

"But is it platonic commonality, or that soulmate crap?"

"Maybe a little bit of both, who knows?"

"You'll know. Just don't be all over each other when we go to Germany, deal?"

"It's not even a date, Tony," I said, "we aren't dating."

"You don't have to date someone in order to," he started, before pausing, "you know what? That's a different conversation."

"When you said you were a playboy, I didn't really understand it until now."

"It's all in the past now," he laughed, "there's only one person for me."

"Oh? Who's the lucky woman?"

"Your mother."

"Excuse me?"

"Relax, I'm joking. Take a little sarcasm, won't you?"

"Right," I nodded, shaking my head in amusement, "but seriously, who?"

Tony let out a satisfied breath of air, placing his hands on the table in front of him. Getting to know his personal life was completely different from his social persona. In front of the people, he was a Stark, one of the richest and most successful men in the world.

But now I only knew him as Tony; a hell of a good mentor.

"Potts," he said, "she's something else, I'm telling you."

"You're serious?"

"Why, you don't believe me?"

"I'm a little surprised, I'll admit," I started, "but now that I think about it, you guys are a good match."

He was about to respond, before the screen in front of him started blaring red. I hopped off the bench to get a closer look, the two of us inspecting the blueprints with confusion. My eyes scanned the layers, matching everything up, until I caught the problem.

"The carbon-fiber panel is blocking the oxygen sensors," I noted, "shift it up a few centimeters and you should be stable."

Stark smiled, a proud look on his face, as he started to make the adjustments. I returned to my mock-up, giving it a jesting nudge.

"Well, Melnitz," Tony remarked, "you're a smart girl. Don't forget that."

"My mom said I got it from my dad. The smartness, I mean."

The man froze, his hand stopping in the air. It was only for a split second of a moment, but I noticed it. Clearing his throat, he switched off the screen and turned to face me.

"Did you ever meet your dad?" he questioned.

"He died a few days after I was born, so no, I haven't."

Tony grabbed his jacket from the chair beside him, walking towards the door. I was taken aback by his strange reaction, but I shook that thought away. I heard rumors about him not having the best relationship with his dad, and maybe it was a tough subject for him. I wouldn't doubt it.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said walking through the glass doors, "don't stay up too late."