T.W: misgendering

"Bucky!" Captain's voice erupts as soon as the duo is noticed.

Unlike what Peter thought, the entirety of the team that was there when he arrived are still in the room, either crushed down on the couch or sitting at the table – though Tony and Captain America are keeping an abnormal distance between them. Even Happy is still here, talking quietly with Mr.Stark and Dr.Banner.

"Bucky!" Captain repeats as he gets up and makes his way towards them, a slightly annoyed look on the face. "What were you doing with her?"

Peter's heart sinks at the words, and even more at the tone. He doesn't know why the man made his question sound so suspicious, but it hurts, almost more than the pronoun he used.

Next to him, the boy can feel the rage of the adult before turning his head to look at him, nibbing at his bottom lip as his eyes water for the umpteenth time today. For a split second, he envisages to try and calm Bucky's boiling anger, but he also wants him to act – because Peter will never dare and correct or disrespect Captain America, but Mr.Barnes isn't just an unknown kid to the man.

"First Steve," the coldness of the tone makes Peter shivers almost just as much as the deadly look Bucky gives to his best friend, "you're going to quit using that voice right now because I'm not in the mood to listen to you make any weird assumptions. Second, it's him. This is Peter Parker, known as Spiderman – the guy on top of whom you let a whole building fall. And look! He's still alive, and in perfect health! Not to mention that that day, he was also able to stop my punches without flinching; you can't. Third, I was helping him unpack and trying to get to know him instead of arguing with Stark about something we already solved. Anything else you want to know?"

The room around them went silent as soon as he started speaking and seems to be hung on Captain's lips to see what he will respond. In the distance, Peter can hear Tony curse under his breath as he watches the scene with wide eyes. In fact, everyone one seems to look at them eyes wide open, as if it was the first time that Bucky ever talked like that to Captain – and thinking about it, maybe it was, which in a way makes the boy feel warm with joy but also so disgusted about himself.

"Well he," the teen cringes at the way Captain emphasizes the pronoun, hating how annoyed the adult in front of him looked, "has to go, he's too young."

The laugh that comes out of Bucky's mouth seems to surprise him, when it makes the boy freeze on the spot. It isn't a light laugh like he let out earlier, or a chuckle – even a giggle! It's a dry and forced one, one that almost sounds evil so to speak; and Peter hates it. He usually hates any other kind of laugh that isn't a nice and warm one, but right now, this is probably his least favourite one.

"No," the word comes out of Mr.Barnes as sharp as a knife, his fake laugh stopping abruptly, "I'll tell you what Peter will do. Because he may be young, but he's worth a shot. So, he's going to go and properly say hi to Stark, and then I'll introduce him to each and every one of us, you don't have a word to say about it. He already has his room here, and we agreed to give him a period of time to see if he could stay with us. So, Captain, you are going to give him a chance, whether you like or not."

The boy doesn't know if he wants to applaud Bucky or to tear up. His chest won't stop warming up, the weight on his shoulders slowly going away as the words he just heard repeat in his head. He's worth a shot. Such a sentence shouldn't have this kind of impact on him – but here he is, wanting to burst into tears because of it. He isn't even happy, but rather he feels appreciated – to a point he never felt before. It's not everyday that one of the persons you admire explains in front of you that you are worth it. And the adult didn't just say that, he mentioned things that apparently where extraordinary – when Peter thought it was just his luck. It's not his fault if his strength allowed him to stop Bucky's fist, or to support Captain's attacks; it really isn't that much.

Sniffing as quietly as possible and rubbing his eyes to wipe of his upcoming tears, Peter smiles – from a smile that he has difficulties to wear these days. Lifting his chin finally up, the boy looks directly to the man by his side and touches his arm to catch his attention. As soon as he takes his eyes off from Captain's shocked grimace, the teen grins as wide as he can.

"Thank you," he says out of the blue, his voice filled with a sincerity he himself didn't know he could express. No other sounds leave his mouth, his words resonating between them.

At first, Bucky's eyebrow lift in surprise and his mouth is left slightly open, but a similar smile as Peter's is quick to appear on his face as well.

"Anytime kid."

With that, he nods towards Tony, silently gesturing the boy to go as he pats his back – and Peter runs to him almost instantly. He doesn't respond in any kind of way, feeling way too overwhelmed for that. The last hours were a real rollercoaster of emotions, and he didn't recover quite yet – but he is certain that getting to know Bucky, even just a little, was probably the best part of it. He can't wait to finally get to talk to the others.

"Hi Mr.Stark!" the boy erupts in a joyful tone as soon as he reaches the table where the man is still sit, a confused look on his face.

"Hi kiddo..." it comes out as murmur, which makes Peter chuckle a bit, "what... What happened?"

Next to them, Happy huffs and tries to restrain his laugh – and the teen has to do the same. Sure, the previous moments were quite surprising, but probably not that much.

"Oh nothing too important," he explains with a detached tone, daring to tease Tony, "you know, just me becoming friends with Mr.Barnes, him correcting Captain America's misgendering and forcing him to let me have a chance... like I said, nothing unusual!" He really does try his hardest to sound neutral, but the huge grin on his face makes his attempt fail – not that he actually cares.

"Yeah well, sorry to be surprised," the adult is quick to go back to his sarcastic and teasing self, "but it's not everyday that you get to see Steve's ass get a whooping!" Peter turns bright red as he realises, guilt trying to make his way to his heart; he didn't want the guy to argue with his best friend! "Anyways Underoos! I don't think you've met Bruce yet, right?"

Dr.Banner's mention makes the boy lifts his head way to fast for his to register it. For a split second, he forgot that the man was actually sitting with Happy and Tony, and just remained silent during the beginning of their discussion. His eyes widen when he meets his glare, mouth opening and closing as he tries to find the words.

"No, we didn't," the calm one of the doctor resonates suddenly, taking the boy's breath away, "it's a pleasure to meet you Peter. I'm doctor Bruce Banner, but you can call me Bruce. I understood that you were really interested in sciences?"

Peter's brain short-circuits – and it apparently makes Happy and Mr.Stark laugh really hard. He can't do anything against it; if there is another person except Tony that he really looks up too, it's Bruce Banner. How many times did they talk about his work during sleepovers with Ned? How many times did they tried to understand how the whole 'Hulk' situation actually worked while they were building LEGOs? He can't count the number of times he just stared at the adult's picture hanging on the wall during his class.

"Kid, you've been quiet for way too long, it's getting scary."

He knows someone is talking to him, but he doesn't register who, still lost in the realisation that he is indeed standing in front of Bruce Banner – and Tony Stark, but he is getting used to that last part.

A sudden touch on his shoulder snatches him out his immobility, making him shake his head as his body quickly fills up with excitement.

"Yeah, 'm sorry, Hi! Hello! Nice to meet you too!" Peter babbles as he takes the hand Dr.Banner was handing him, "I'm sorry I just processed now that you're you! I mean, I know who you are, we literally have your portrait hanging in one of my classrooms, but holy crap! You're in front of me! I just... I loved you work on the Gama radiations and your theories about its action on the organism and I'm so happy that you thought to put a copy of it in my room and-"

"Yeah actually that was my idea, but go on," Mr.Starks interrupts him with sarcasm, but he doesn't even register it, to caught up in his speech.

"We talked so much about you with my best friend and – Oh my god he will not believe me! He totally admires you! Not that I don't, I mean, I do really; like I really look up to you – but he's on another level! Would it offend you if I handed him a copy of your theories? 'Cause their gifts, but he would like it so much and he still didn't find one and I-"

"Wait, slow down please..." Dr.Banner stops him in his track, holding his hand in front of him – and only now does Peter remember to breathe. "You liked my works? You read them – understood them? And there is my picture at your school?"

His confusion piercing through his tone, the man leans on the back of his chair as Peter watches him doubtfully.

"I mean yeah," he starts again, slower, "they weren't exactly easy but with some time and research I think I understood most of it... And of course, there is your picture! Why not? It's even along other brilliant scientists!"

It doesn't make sense in the teen's head; he doesn't understand why Bruce would ask such questions. Doesn't he know that he is very famous as a scientist? And that they talk about him in his classes?

"I told you," Tony's proud tone forces Peter to stop glaring at the man in front of him, "he's a genius. He can be kinda stupid sometimes, or oblivious, but he's probably the smartest kid you'll ever meet, trust me on that."

The boy blushes furiously, turning crimson, as he sees Dr.Banner nod slowly in agreement, his eyes still wide open by his surprise.

"I'm not, Mr.Stark..." he mumbles, a little bit louder than a whisper, as he looks away and scratch his head, catching the glares the rest of the Avengers are sending him from the couch. They're not hostile, but rather intrigues, and it makes him gulp.

"Oh yeah, he also lacks of confidence, a little bit like you Banner," the adult retorts as he rolls his eyes, "come on kiddo, you can admit it, you know. I mean, I'm pretty sure not everyone could get into your school, remain a straight A student, be Spiderman, and manage to create their own equipment. You're quite something."

He doesn't reply, his cheeks warming up even more.

"But we'll talk about that later!" Tony changes the subject almost too fast, "I'll probably take you to the labs, so that you can show us how you make that web fluid of yours. But first, we're gonna get you to meet the others, because I'm pretty scared that their stares might see through us or something, come on!"

With those words, the man gets up energetically, throwing his arm around Peter's shoulder to grab him, and guides him towards the couch. The boy almost chuckle at what is happening, a smile still on his slightly red face – today is a really weird day.

Some more Tony time! And I have the pleasure to introduce you Peter the fanboy, and Bucky the cool uncle!
Did you like it ?
I really hope I'm not making too many mistakes (I'm still quite unsure with how I'm supposed to use some words and all so...)
Anyway, feel free to like and comment if you enjoyed this part!
Stay safe and hydrate,
H.