A year to Remember. Part 2, the Internship

Dinner Time

Then comes Abe. "What about me? Do I just go home and come back later... or...?". Sam salutes him with 2 fingers, responding. "That's up to you, but if you want you can spend an extra day with me". Want he does, "Thanks Sam".

"No questions Pete?", Tony now singles him out, a sudden paleness over his features, minus the light blush on his cheeks. "You've been quiet all morning?". Pete shakes his head, scratching his neck and sighing softly, "No Mr Stark, thank you".

Tony takes this as his cue. "Well, if that's all from you kids, let's go", waves Peter over with his hand, wrapping an arm around him as he guides him to his lab. Ned and Abe also disappear with their mentors, MJ letting Ray know she'll catch up before walking up to Pepper. "MJ, any problems?".

"Not problem. Question".

"Ask away", Pepper offers, smiling warmly even knowing of what she'd come for. "Is hanging out with Peter the only reason this is even happening?". Pepper's smile tenses as the question's asked, taking a second to think and stall before inevitably falling. "Mostly, yes. Peter and Tony have grown closer so they were hoping he would be more sociable and friendly than at Steve's party".

MJ scoffs, "You know that's not fair on the rest of us", She reminds Pep, not wanting the avengers to abuse their friendships with the rest of the interns just to get to Peter. "Don't worry MJ, I've made sure that Sam and Bruce didn't just bond with Abe and Ned to grow closer to Peter, and made sure that tonight is for all of you. That's why Peter is only 'mostly' the reason".

She shakes her head, frustrated by the duplicity but accepting the compromise. "And who gave Stark the excuses?"

"What excuses, everything Tony said was the truth". She don't buy it, "It was Natasha wasn't it?".

She concedes. "Yes".

-

Tony and Pete have a relatively good day down in the lab. Unfortunately for Tony, he had to race upstairs to check on everything while Peter went to lunch with the interns and Logan, but that's a sacrifice he was willing to make for tonight. And as the day passed, his curiosity caved.

"Mr Stark?", Peter asks chest deep in a motherboard restoration. "Yeah kid?". Peter slows for a second, double checking his words, "are you sure we won't be a bother tonight? If this is about what happened with Mr Falcon you really don't have to-".

'The guilt, he's gotta stop with the guilt' Tony thinks, quietly rolling his eyes. "Kid, you've done amazing work and the avengers liked meeting you 3 weeks ago so they want to see you again and meet your friends", He immediately shuts down, having learnt the way to fight Peter's guilt is with undeniable premises.

"Take the invitation you earned and that the Avengers want you to have and enjoy the night, ok?". Peter nods, "o-ok Mr Stark. But are you sure this is enough?", He points at his knee ripped jeans and math pun T-shirt.

Tony acts like he's thinking it over. "If you want we can always lend you a suit-", he stops himself, getting a better idea. "No, I can get one tailor made. Friday has the measurements, just say the word", he's smirking. Hard.

"No! No no that's alright Mr Stark". Tony's plan worked, "If you say so, and don't worry you look perfect for the occasion". Regardless, Tony made a secret note to add button up and collared shirts, as well as all kinds of pants and shorts, alongside a perfectly tailored suit to Peter's reserve clothes at the tower.

They return to their work and rhythm, Peter getting an — admittedly ridiculous — idea soon after. "Mr Stark? Ned, MJ and I were thinking of heading over to the LEGO and Nintendo stores by Rockefeller, do you want to come?"