Work Text:
Peter was hunched over his chemistry homework at the island bar in Avengers tower. He scribbled away at the equations as Tony paced back and forth in the kitchen, complaining about his problems to anyone who would listen– which at the moment was just Peter, Steve and Natasha. Clint had left a while ago, halfway through Tony’s rant.
To be honest, Peter had kind of tuned out most of his rambling, focusing on the paper in front of him. AP chem was no joke. However, a few words had managed to break through Peter’s focus, and they immediately caught his attention, causing him to look up and pay attention.
“I mean seriously, I didn’t think it would be that hard to find them. I found Pete just fine, though I guess he was 14, and Friday has estimated these guys to be older. And don’t even get me started on Fire Boy or whatever his name is. I’ve called the Baxter building three times in the past two days, and that little shit keeps putting me on hold and then never coming back. That’s my move.”
Peter tilted his head at the mention of his friend. Why did Mr. Stark want to talk to Johnny?
Peter wanted to voice his question aloud, and also ask who were the other two ‘older people’ that Mr. Stark was looking for, but he worried that he had already said that, and Peter asking would make Mr. Stark realize that he had not been listening. Luckily, he was saved by Bruce and Wanda walking in while Tony was speaking.
“Who are you looking for?” Bruce asked, walking past Steve and Nat into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of soothing tea.
Tony rubbed his hand over his neatly trimmed goatee before leaning on his elbows on the countertop Peter was working at. “I’m trying to find out the identity of Daredevil and Deadpool. But I’ve been working at it for like a week and I can’t figure them out.”
Peter perked up more, struggling to contain his smile at hearing Mr. Stark show interest in his friends.
Tony sighed, rubbing at his eyes. “They’ve found themselves on Fury’s radar and he wants us to see if we can get them in with us. Not to necessarily become Avengers, he knows that they’re more the work-on-their-own vigilante type, but to agree to occasionally show up in the case of any world ending events. He also wanted to get the Fantastic Four in on that same deal, but Stretchy is busy being a professor or something, Mrs. See Through is focused on raising her kid and isn’t doing any menial work like answering business calls, and I don’t even know what Pebbles’ deal is, he just is impossible to contact– my current theory is that he can’t answer the phone with his hands.”
Natasha smirked, amused as Steve sighed at Tony’s nicknames.
“So, my best bet to get in contact with them is Fire Boy, but he’s having too much fun watching me drive myself crazy to get in contact with them.”
“That… that sounds quite stressful.” Wanda said, genuinely sounding sympathetic. Bruce nodded, sipping his tea.
Tony ran a hand through his already tussled hair. “And if that isn’t enough, Fury texted this morning saying that he’s recently gotten word of some mercenary named Jake Lockley, but they think he has an in with the vigilante Moonknight, who he also wants me to get in contact with. I mean seriously, is this not SHIELD’s job? I’m Ironman, not his uncompensated intern.”
Steve turned to Bruce, “Me and Nat were about to head over to the Baxter building and see if Johnny will talk to us. We may have a better chance if we show up in person.”
Peter frowned. It was Wednesday, and a glance at the clock told him it was almost four o’clock. Johnny wouldn’t be home right now; he went with Sue and Franklin to some toddler gymnastics class on Wednesdays.
“Uhm Mr. Stark-” Peter started.
“Not now kid, get Friday to help with your homework.” Tony replied tiredly.
Peter furrowed his brow. If Mr. Stark would just let Peter speak, Peter could literally fix all of his problems. Peter had a monthly dinner with everyone that Mr. Stark was currently running himself into the ground trying to find. He had a group chat with them all in it, and one text from Peter- maybe accompanied with a picture of his puppy eyes- could have all of them standing in the living room within the hour.
“Mr. Stark- I was just going to say that I-”
“Pete,” Mr. Stark sighed, “I love ya, kiddo, but I have bigger problems to deal with right now. I’m about to spend my night roaming the streets of Hell’s Kitchen in hopes that I can find Daredevil and corner him before he runs off.” He let out another sigh before adding, “Of all the things I could spend my night doing.”
Mr. Stark would not be finding Matt out tonight. At least, not unless he planned on being out until 1 am at the earliest. Matt had texted the group chat last night talking about a case that he was working on, and had told them that he was going to be working late tonight with Foggy and Karen. If he chose to patrol at all, it wouldn’t be until late.
Steve clapped his hands together, sharing a look with Natasha. “We’d better head over to the Baxter building. Good luck, Tony.”
“If you’d like, I could try and do some research on this Jake Lockley guy? See what he knows about Moonknight, or whoever Moonknight is?” Bruce offered.
“I could help,” Wanda added, “I’m sure he can’t be too hard to identify.”
Peter could have laughed if he wasn’t getting annoyed at being ignored. Moonknight was practically impossible to identify, given that every lead he left behind- which were far and few between- led back to three different people, all who lived very different lives. Not to mention that the three of them were all over the world all the time.
Tony nodded, straightening his suit jacket that he wore over a Metallica t-shirt and paired with jeans. “I just texted Clint to tell him to get up on his rooftops and keep an eye out for Deadpool. I’ve heard he’s all over New York, but he was last seen in Queens.”
Peter let out a huff. Wade was currently in upstate New York visiting Xavier's School (probably against their will.) Clint would be wasting his time going out to look for him in Queens tonight. They would all be wasting their time tonight, but no one was letting Peter tell them that.
Peter stood up as Clint entered the room, complaining about how he should be retired. They continued to ignore Peter as they all confirmed their plans and began to head towards the elevator.
Part of Peter wanted to let them all go out and waste their nights looking for his friends out in the cold, because that’s what they deserve for not letting Peter speak. But he also couldn’t in good consciousness let them do that. Winter in New York was not fun.
“Hey!! Listen to me!!” Peter raised his voice, stopping his older team members in their steps. He huffed when they turned to him, looking shocked.
“Kid, what’s gotten into you?” Tony asked, eyebrows raised.
Peter scowled. “What’s gotten into me is that no one is listening to me. Deadpool is in upstate New York until Friday, Daredevil is busy all night with his day job, I promise you you will not be finding Moonknight, and you won’t find out anything about Jake Lockley that he doesn’t want you to find out. And you won’t be able to talk to Johnny tonight, one because he’s busy, and two because he likes messing with you guys. Stop acting desperate and leave him alone for a few days and he’ll get curious and come to you.”
The room held its breath as everyone stared at Peter in varying levels of shock. Partly because of the information he confidently provided and partly because he never raised his voice around them.
“And you know all of this… how?” Tony asked, skeptical but hesitant.
Peter crossed his arms across his chest, mentally wincing at how childish that must have made him seem.
“Because I know them all.”
Steve furrowed his eyebrow. “You know these vigilantes? The mercenaries?”
“You mean my friends?” Peter retorted. “Yeah, I know them quite well, they’re texting in our group chat right now. Probably planning our monthly dinner.”
Tony gawked. You could hear a pin drop, which was rare in Avengers tower. Peter started to feel uncomfortable with everyone staring at him. He shuffled his feet, letting his arms drop back to his sides.
Tony held up a hand. “I’m sorry. You’re friends with these people? All of them?”
“You have a monthly dinner together?” Clint asked, sounding far too amused.
“Do you know their identities?” Steve asked slowly, his tone flipping between concerned and curious.
Peter nodded, knowing that his friends wouldn’t mind him telling the Avengers. Peter knew that they would all eventually agree to work with the Avengers in case of big threats, especially if Peter asked them too. In fact, they’ve all already told Peter to call them if he or the Avengers were dealing with a threat that was too big to handle, and they’d show up ASAP.
Peter leaned back against the counter, casting a look at his forgotten chemistry homework. “Daredevil is a lawyer. Deadpool is just a guy- a weird guy, ex mercenary- but just a guy. Moonknight is technically kind of three people, one of them being Jake Lockley, and Johnny is just a shit, that's why he’s been blowing you off.
Natasha raised an eyebrow. “A lawyer? Let me guess, Matthew Murdock?”
Peter nodded as Wanda gave Nat a puzzled look. “How did you know which one?”
Nat shrugged. “I mean Daredevil runs around with a mask covering his eyes, and Matthew Murdock is a blind lawyer. It adds up.”
“You said you have a group chat with them all?” Bruce asked.
Peter nodded.
“Well. Tell them to be at the tower on Saturday. 8 am sharp. We need to talk to them.” Steve added.
Peter grinned. “Okay. I’ll let them know.”
Tony was quiet for all of three seconds before speaking again.
“And what do you mean you have dinner once a month?? You just go and hang out with a bunch of mercenaries?”
Peter raised an eyebrow. As if dinners with the Avengers were any less strange.
Tony seemed to understand his pointed look, waving him off with his hand. “Still. That’s- it- you shouldn't do that.”
Peter dropped back into his chair. “It’s fine Mr. Stark. They’re actually really nice. Sometimes Johnny brings his nephew and he’s really cute. And sometimes Mr. Logan Wolverine will join us too if we’re at Wade’s house. Matt’s house is fun too, he doesn’t even pay an electricity bill, ‘cause he can’t see anyway, so Johnny spends the whole night being everyone else’s human flashlight. And Marc, Stephen and Jake’s apartment is cool. They have a lot of cool textbooks that I like to read, and really cute pet fish.”
Peter glanced up. Everyone in the room was staring at him like he had grown a second head. Except for Natasha who looked almost proud.
Peter had never seen Mr. Stark look so confused, with his eyebrows scrunched and his mouth trying and failing to form words.
He gave the room a lopsided grin and a little shrug.
“You- uhm…” Tony cleared his throat, “You text them and we- we’re going to… we have… work… things. Yeah.”
He spun around and walked into the elevator without another word. Steve and Clint joined him as the elevator doors slid closed.
“I’ve never seen him look so lost. Good job baby spider.” Natasha smirked at him before heading down the hallway to her room, closely followed by Wanda and Bruce with his tea.
Peter grinned before pulling his phone out of his pocket. He opened up the “chaos group” group chat before tying out his message.
You guys will never believe what just happened. Also, I need a favor.