Chapter Text
Stark Tower was unusually quiet today.
Peter sat in the corner of the lab, scanning holographic designs, while Tony had stepped out for a meeting. The usual hustle of the tower was gone—it felt soft, almost gentle.
Peter adjusted his glasses and leaned in over a small circuit board in his hands. He pursed his lips, thinking. Then, the side door opened.
Pepper Potts walked in.
Her heels clicked softly but decisively.
Peter jumped up reflexively.
“Ah—hello! I mean… Miss Potts! I’m… uh… the intern!”
Pepper smiled. Soft, but strong.
“Yes, Peter Parker. Tony’s told me a lot about you.”
Peter’s ears immediately flushed red.
“Really? I… um… I hope it was good things.”
Pepper chuckled lightly.
“It’s rare that Tony says anything good about anyone. Congratulations.”
Peter let out a tiny, confused sound like a kitten.
“Th-thank you…”
As Pepper straightened some papers on her desk, her eyes flicked to Peter. The way he tilted the glasses on his head while presenting the hologram, the way his fingers tapped on the table… the way his eyes darted upward as he solved the problem—
All of it.
All of it reminded her of Tony, at that age.
Pepper’s chest tightened for a moment. So much like him…
But she quickly masked it with a professional smile.
“Peter, what are you working on? One of Tony’s new projects?”
Peter’s eyes lit up, excitement blooming alongside his lingering shyness.
“Yes! Well, just a small part. I mean… Mr. Stark handles the main work… I just… uh… help.”
“Can I see?”
Peter lifted his eyebrows, trying to look serious:
“Of course! But… please don’t laugh. It’s still a prototype.”
Pepper raised an eyebrow.
“Tony’s prototypes usually explode. If yours hasn’t—well, you’re already ahead.”
Peter panicked and shook his head rapidly.
“No no, it won’t explode! I mean… there was one smoke incident, but that was my fault—totally my fault!”
Pepper laughed.
Peter smiled shyly in return.
---
Details caught Pepper’s attention.
As Peter opened the hologram to show the design, he pushed his glasses up onto his hair.
Just like Tony.
His speech sped up, then abruptly halted.
“Did I talk too fast? I’m sorry.”
Just like Tony…
Answering a question, he paused briefly, then delivered a perfect technical explanation.
Just like Tony…
Pepper’s eyes lingered on him for a fraction of a second.
So familiar… so recognizable.
The curve of his nose. The shape of his eyebrows. The little wrinkle by his eyes when he smiled.
Her throat tightened.
But she told herself it was just a coincidence. It had to be.
---
Peter muttered quietly while Pepper studied the design:
“Miss Potts… um… Mr. Stark sometimes seems to trust me a lot. I… I’m not sure I really deserve it.”
Pepper looked up, her eyes softening with surprise.
“Peter… Tony doesn’t trust just anyone. If he trusts you… there’s a reason.”
Peter glanced away.
“I’m just trying…”
Pepper stepped closer, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“And that alone is enough to earn his respect. You’re smart… and… a good kid.”
Peter’s throat tightened.
He swallowed hard.
“Thank you… really… thank you.”
For a brief second, Pepper felt a flicker of warmth—like a motherly instinct, familiar and comforting… though she barely registered it.
She simply squeezed his shoulder lightly.
“And… even the way you scratch your nose while walking outside Tony’s office—exactly the same.”
Peter froze.
“Y-you noticed that just now?”
Pepper smiled.
“Yes. Adorable.”
Peter’s face went bright red.
---
Pepper brought him a small cup of coffee—Tony’s favorite blend, but lighter.
“Less caffeine, just for you.”
Peter blinked, taking the cup.
“For me…?”
“Of course. A little version of what I give Tony.”
Peter smiled, shy and soft.
“I really like this…”
Pepper murmured in return:
“I liked meeting you too, Peter.”
---
Tony opened the door and walked in just as Pepper and Peter laughed together.
Tony frowned.
“Wait a minute. You two… getting along?”
Pepper, without looking at him:
“Yes. And Peter’s wonderful, by the way.”
Tony glanced at Peter—he immediately leaned back, glasses slipping, a sheepish voice:
“Ah—hello, Mr. Stark… we were just having coffee…”
Tony grumbled.
“Obviously. Anyone who drinks Pepper’s coffee is way too happy.”
Pepper rolled her eyes.
“Peter shares habits with you, you know?”
Tony paused.
“Shares habits? How do you mean?”
Pepper smiled but didn’t elaborate.
“Never mind… just… nice similarities.”
Peter rested his hands calmly on his knees, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Like a family…
Though none of them knew it yet.
---
The Avengers were gathered around the table, and Tony stood with his arms crossed, quietly observing. Natasha, Steve, and Bruce exchanged serious looks.
“I think he should join the team,” Steve said, frowning. “Spider-Man is fast, capable… but he operates in secret. Always one step ahead.”
Thor spread his arms.
“Then this little warrior… why does he not show himself to us? I would have him fighting at our side!”
Sam grumbled lightly.
“Maybe they think he’s too young. But I’ll tell you—his reflexes, his speed… I’d say he’s at least twenty.”
Bucky nodded.
“We’ll have to plan for it. Once he’s in the field and recognized, he’ll run. And I don’t think anyone can catch him.”
Bruce tapped his fingers on the table.
“Apparently he’s keeping his identity secret. But his skills are so obvious… yes, this is a problem that needs solving.”
Natasha added coolly,
“The kid… they think he’s young. But dangerously capable. They want to bring him onto the team, but he won’t reveal himself.”
Tony furrowed his brows.
“So what do we do, Steve? We need a way to get this ‘kid’ on the team before he keeps running.”
Sam laughed.
“I think we’re all going a little crazy. We’re making plans almost every night to catch Spider-Man.”
Steve took a deep breath.
“Plans… maybe it’s impossible. But we have to try. If he becomes part of the team… he could be invaluable in battle.”
Natasha paused for a moment, squinting thoughtfully.
“And what if he refuses? That… could be a problem. Because he will never reveal who he really is.”
Thor bellowed:
“This Midgard child is brave! But it seems he enjoys running. Then we must make a plan to catch him!”
Bruce nodded.
“And keep in mind… we might think he’s young, but his intelligence is sharp. While we’re planning, he’ll already be one step ahead.”
Tony’s face held that familiar, quiet, protective expression. Deep down, he could already sense exactly how Peter would behave—and in trying to catch this ‘kid,’ his own instinct to protect him quietly kicked in.
“Alright,” Tony said softly. “We’ll figure this out together. But without revealing his identity.”
Bucky muttered under his breath:
“Catching this kid… should be fun.”
Sam:
“Or crazy… definitely both.”
Natasha:
“Yes. But in the end, we’ll be the ones who win.”
---
Natasha stood at the hologram table.
“The plan is simple,” she said. “Positioning. Timing. Coordination. No room for escape.”
Steve nodded seriously.
“He always shows up on the balcony. A short pause after his patrol. That’s when we approach.”
Bruce added,
“Thor will cover his side. Sam will be observing from the air. I’ve set up sensors around the building.”
Tony smirked.
“Come on, kid. He can’t get away from us. Coordinated team. Avengers.”
Bucky sighed.
“I have a feeling this is going to go badly.”
---
The Plan – Stark Tower Balcony
A light breeze swept across the night. Spider-Man landed silently on the balcony.
“Hm, okay… one minute… the view’s nice,” he murmured to himself.
And then…
Thor boomed like thunder:
“STOP, SPIDER WARRIOR!”
Peter spun backward reflexively.
“…Is there no normal ‘hi’ anymore? Have you heard of that?”
Sam dove in from behind.
“We tracked your footprints, buddy!”
Peter jumped to the side.
Sam fell into the void.
“AHH—hey! Didn’t account for this part!”
Steve lunged forward.
“You’re not escaping!”
Peter flipped onto the railing.
“Escape? From you? I think we miscommunicated.”
Natasha stepped from the shadows.
“Surrender. The easy way.”
Peter raised two fingers.
“Um… whenever you say ‘easy,’ I automatically pick the hard way. Rule of mine.”
At that moment, Tony hovered above.
“Okay, kid, approach calmly. No need to reveal your identity. Just… talk.”
Peter turned to Tony.
“Talk? Because the three people below just tried to catch me…”
Bruce yelled from the side of the tower:
“Don’t get me wrong! This… was scientific observation!”
Peter chuckled.
“Sure, sure. ‘Science.’ Let’s not kid ourselves, Bruce.”
Thor suddenly spread his arms.
“COME TO ME, SPIDER WARRIOR! I SWEAR I WILL HARM YOU NOT!”
Peter tilted his head.
“Hmm… threatening, but polite. I appreciate it.”
Then the entire team encircled him.
Peter shook his head.
“We’re not counting this, right? Full-team ambush feels… unfair.”
Steve:
“Teamwork.”
Peter:
“Smells like desperation to me.”
Natasha squinted.
“We know you’re not that fast. Caught you in the open.”
Peter just snapped his fingers and stepped back.
“First: I’m fast.
Second: I’ll be out of this in three seconds.
Third: I’m having fun. Keep going.”
Before Tony could say, “Don’t fall off the roof, kid,”
Peter sprang into action.
One: leapt over Sam.
Two: bounced off Steve’s shield. “Shiny, nice!”
Three: slid past Natasha.
Four: swirled through Thor’s hair. “Shampoo advice?”
Five: stopped beside Tony. “How many pounds is that armor?”
Six: landed on the balcony railing.
And they all—without even turning—watched him spring into the night.
“Great job, everyone! But my rating: 4 out of 10.
Creativity: low.
Coordination: decent.
Chance of catching me: mathematically zero!”
Bruce yelled:
“This kid is mocking us.”
Natasha sighed.
“That’s literally all he does!”
Thor’s hand was still outstretched.
“BUT WE CAME WITH GOOD INTENT!”
Peter glanced back one last time.
“I know! But my intent’s better: I don’t get caught.”
And with that… he disappeared into the city lights.
Tony buried his face in his hands.
“We… really want to recruit this kid, right?”
Steve:
“Yes.”
Sam:
“Yes.”
Bruce:
“Yes.”
Bucky:
“Oh God, yes.”
Natasha:
“But we’ll need another plan first.”
Thor proudly shouted:
“THIS TIME, WE WILL SUCCEED!”
Tony sighed.
“No… we won’t.”