(no subject)
Title: Stuck
Author/Artist: caughtincobwebs
Chapter: 1/4
Universe: AU
Rating: M
Beta: sofiawonderland
Summary: Wade Wilson lived by the policy of never staying in a city long enough to get attached. He had lived in several places since he left his house in Canada, but he just stopped by New York after a decade of being unable to establish a decent life in one place.
Pairings/Characters: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Peter Parker/Tony Stark, Peter Parker/Wade Wilson, Steve Rogers/Matt Murdock, Teddy Altman/Billy Kaplan
Word Count: 4817
Part I - Born In The North
”I know I know for sure
That life is beautiful around the world
I know I know it's you
You say hello and then I say I do”
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around The World
Wade Wilson lived by the policy of never staying in a city long enough to get attached. He had lived in several places since he left his house in Canada, but he just stopped by New York after a decade of being unable to establish a decent life in one place.
Truth be told, he had been in better cities, with funnier people and pretty sunsets, with beaches that would make you want to cry watching the sun rise, and unbelievably entertaining nightlives, but he had never stayed more than six months anywhere. It was easy to find temporary work here and there, to make some money to survive, keep a bit to travel around, break some bad guys’ faces, break some hearts in the process.
He wasn’t the type to be put on a leash, build a family, have a beautiful front yard with green grass and a white picket fence. So it was a surprise, even for him, to be staring at the calendar now.
New York City had something.
The voice in his head claimed he knew perfectly well what was wrong with him. But who needed a conscience when he could just pretend it was just some annoying narrator trying to make him go crazy by dictating his life? The thing with New York was that he had been there for almost three years now. When he arrived and rented a cheap studio on top of that bar, he never dreamed it would be his own someday. He got the job as a bartender, telling himself he’d see everything New York had for him, and then he would leave with some cash in his pockets, just like he always did, but not everything went according to plan. Wade liked people, and people liked Wade, he could start small talks here and there, and make it grow into something where he’d have the person believing they were best friends.
It was easy, it didn’t hurt anyone, and he could always have someone to call if he got too bored.
And when you work in a bar, this is obviously the easiest way to get a customer coming back.
Except if you were Wade Wilson and you were dealing with a young man called Peter Parker.
He could still remember the day they met like it had only been yesterday: Wade had been working there for two weeks, it was a half past eleven, and it rained all day. Raindrops were still falling hard when he entered the bar, wrapped in his own black coat, looking around as if he was searching for someone. His brown hair was mildly wet, like he had run a small distance in the rain to get there. He didn’t even spend a second glancing over where Wade was, tracing his way back to a table where a man sat alone, his tie a bit loose in his perfect new Armani suit. That man arrived at least one hour earlier, ordered a whole bottle of whisky, the most expensive one, paid in cash and sat down to savour his alcohol. Wade tried to ask him if he was drinking alone, but the manager told him not to ask questions to that one. Ever. Because apparently he was rich, and because he was rich he had the right to get into bars and drink a whole bottle by himself.
He could remember stopping whatever he was doing to watch the conversation between the two, the youngest one tugging on the man’s expensive suit, telling him something about someone being worried about him, that he shouldn’t simply disappear and things like that. The man complained, offered Peter the glass - which he politely refused - complained a little more, and then was finally taken away by the young man, carrying the rest of the whisky with him.
It made Wade wonder what happened there.
He asked his manager, an old man with weird habits, who refused to tell him anything about those two, but said he could find out for himself - if he was so curious -, he just had to wait, because they would come back.
After a month or so, they did.
They were happy this time, celebrating something. Wade didn’t ask right away, but soon found out it was Peter’s birthday (that’s also how he got his name). He found out the older man didn’t like to be called Mr. Stark, would rather be called Tony, and loved when people could drink with him. He had almost a whole bottle of whisky during the night, while Peter settled for a beer or two. Tony liked noise, he liked when the girls were dancing for him, or when he was in the spotlight, and Wade swore he had never had so much fun during work before, mainly because Peter was making jokes all the time, telling him facts about Tony but always finding a way to get as far as possible from any subject regarding his personal life.
He asked for Peter’s phone number before they left.
All he got was a sweet smile, a no, and Tony’s protective arm around Peter’s waist. That alone would make him give up and find another city to have fun in, but Peter’s “see you next week!” made him stay a week longer.
Obviously, Peter’s next week actually took two.
But this time he was by himself.
He sat at the bar, and spent most of the night talking with Wade instead of drinking his beer. He showed him some bad magic tricks he had learned, they found out they had lots of things in common - same movies, same political views, similar ambitions -, and the moment Peter called him ‘bro’ he realized he had been friend-zoned. He wasn’t actually expecting anything bigger than that, if he was honest, it was just that Peter was interesting, all young and cheerful, and always making funny jokes. He could relate, not just because he carried that good aura too, but because they understood each other’s jokes, and he felt they could be really good friends.
That’s just one of the reasons that held Wade there two more months.
This and maybe how he could find anything he wanted whenever he wanted it, he could have hot dogs after midnight, and he would always have a place to go if he was bored or depressed. And Peter would invite him to go to parties he would miss because of work, and he would show Wade the pictures he took for the newspaper he worked for, and the ones he took for college.
He would confide him a few secrets, like how Tony was the one paying his studies, and how the man was having trouble with the empire inherited from his father. Maybe the promise he made to Peter that they would go to one of those nice parties one day helped him to just ignore the voice in his head warning him he should run.
And maybe because the morning after their most recent encounter he got an endorsement from his former boss, leaving him the bar. Poor old man had passed away.
He didn’t want to settle down, he told himself a thousand times he had everything under control, and he could sell the bar at any moment, pack his bags and leave.
Except he had promised Peter he would go to his graduation party sometime around the next semester, and Wade liked to keep the promises he made Peter. He wasn’t in love, far from that. They were friends, and Peter was Tony’s plaything, and maybe it was Peter’s crooked smile and the messy hair, or the way he wrinkled his nose a little when he was laughing, or maybe the sound of his laugh and the way his hazel eyes would linger a little longer on Wade’s blue ones when they shared a joke, but he didn’t really feel like leaving at the moment.
He was running a great bar, he had friends, good workers - he hired that Billy boy Peter told him about one day - and if he didn’t feel like leaving, why should he?
Right now, staring at the calendar and realizing how long he had been there, he made a mental note about a few bills he had to pay. In the back of his mind, he made another note: check if Billy had everything under control for tonight. Tony wanted the bar to celebrate something he had been talking about for weeks now, but Wade couldn’t really remember what it was.
The loud sound coming from his cell phone woke him up from his own thoughts, and as he picked it up, he couldn’t help the smile across his lips. “Hey, Petey!”
“What’s up, Mr. Wilson? Miss Potts want to know if Mr. Stark will get everything he ordered for tonight!” Peter’s voice sounded excited on the other end, surrounded by horns and people talking. He was probably walking on the street, during work.
Wade chuckled, leaning against the door frame of his office, watching young Billy prepare the bar for the night. He was a great guy, this Billy. “Sure. Gold Label and everything else he ordered. What is he celebrating anyway?”
“How come you don’t remember? Maria Stark’s Foundation is opening a new art gallery, and tonight’s the opening night. He invited big art names for the vernisage, but the real party will be at your bar, bro! But you don’t even have to pretend you care, because he doesn’t. He’s just trying to be a better person or something, Tony’s eternal dilemma with his ego.” Peter said in a rush. “I gotta go, just called to check things, Pepper’s going nuts.”
Wade nodded, a little distracted. It was all clear now, Tony was going to pretend to be the sober rich guy who cared about art, just to come back to the bar, drink himself into a mess, and then leave to have mind blowing sex with Peter.
He could live with that, sure. “Tell her not to worry. I have everything under control. See you tonight!” and with that, he hung up.
Life was unfair sometimes.
Part II - I won't let you let me down so easily, so easily
”How I wish you could see the potential
The potential of you and me
It's like a book elegantly bound
But in a language that you can't read just yet”
I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab For Cutie
He had checked the last item on his list when his boss announced he had to go out for a while, and that he should be the one opening the bar and placing the other guys in their places. Good thing Billy knew exactly what he was doing, because Wade was not the most dedicated boss in the world. He had this terrible habit of disappearing now and then to talk with a costumer that showed up sometimes. And tonight Billy knew said costumer was coming, because he knew how his boss got whenever Peter was there.
And apparently, on top of everything, they had this particular party waiting to happen.
Billy was a big admirer of Tony Stark before he started working at the bar, but now he just had this feeling that the man who had everything had something missing in his life. He seemed to be constantly depressed, drinking to a point he couldn’t even leave by himself, and always had someone to carry him home. Some thought that was awesome, to be able to drink all he wanted, and Tommy - his twin brother - would say Tony was just enjoying his life.
But it was just too sad.
Or maybe it was him, being sad for himself and thinking everyone else was sad too. He wasn’t in the better mood, not even close to his better days, and, to be honest, it wasn’t even being a good year. He just felt like blowing up everything and starting again, but he couldn’t.
College was being a pain, he had just broken up with a guy he was seeing because he was interested in another guy, who was straight apparently, and didn’t even talk to him that much. They were neighbors, and Billy knew way too many things about him.
The kind of thing that happen when you accidentally sees his garbage now and then.
You see, he could write a book on Theodore Altman’s habits just by checking his garbage, and this made him feel a little too creepy. That’s just one of the reasons Billy decided to back off. He had way too much trouble already - to share an apartment with his brother was by far the worst idea ever, he had a bar to take care of tonight, and College eating his social life - he didn’t need more right now.
He didn’t think Teddy was trouble though.
Or at least something inside him said that maybe Teddy was all he needed, the front door neighbor that worked as a part-time at Starbucks, who went to the same college as him but was majoring on something else. The guy who had deep blue eyes and blond hair, with sexy rings on his ears and a sweet smile that made him weak on the knees. The longest conversation they shared was the day the lift broke with both of them inside.
And Tommy.
Teddy was the one saying how old that lift was, and that they needed to talk to the building manager to check on it more often, while Tommy freaked out claiming they were going to die. He remembered he agreed - and told Tommy to shut up - and said they needed to have even more things checked in the building, because many things broke now and then. Like the lights in the corridor, that hadn’t been turning on, and Teddy called his attention to the front door, that wasn’t locking properly. By the time Teddy finished talking, Tommy was calling their parents to say his goodbyes, or something stupid enough that made Billy waste the last three minutes around Teddy trying to make his idiot brother get the hell off the phone. And by the time he managed to hold Tommy far away from him - using his foot - and hold the cell phone far enough, the lift started working again, and Teddy said his goodbyes with a kind smile that made him just stand there and stare, getting an annoyed look from his brother.
“You know this is not going to work, right?” Tommy asked, eyeing him suspiciously. Billy made a point to never talk about these things with Tommy, and left.
As days passed, Billy found himself trying his best to meet Teddy around the building. He managed to spend a whole week trying to figure out what time he left home for College, and found out he left earlier than him, which made him wake up earlier every morning. And there were some days he got home late, and some days Billy wouldn’t even see him getting back home. And sometimes he would try to put the garbage out around the same time Teddy did, and this is what caused him to check discreetly whatever it was Teddy was throwing away - which once happened to be girl’s accessories, which led him to the realization that the guy was straight and had just broken up with his girlfriend -, and all that awkwardness while Teddy noticed he was watching, and passed by him with a sad smile, made it sink in that he was being a creepy stalker.
He wasn’t like that.
Really, he wasn’t. Billy was a normal guy, with normal desires and a normal life even though he lived with a crazy man. He needed to get himself together and concentrate on things that mattered, he could find himself a boyfriend without being creepy. Later. In a few weeks, or months, or years...
Part III - I've got to think so selfishly
”I've been a friend
With unbiased views
And then secretly lust after you”
Skunk Anansie - Secretly
Matt’s blind.
And thank God he’s not deaf too, but sometimes he wish he was. The situations he put himself in were almost always the most awkward ones, like the one he was right now, sitting on a round table with his client - Tony Stark - and Tony’s boyfriend, or whatever it was they called each other these days, who coincidentally happened to be his ex-boyfriend, while they talked about his actual boyfriend.
Matt was convinced his life was a bad sitcom, where shit would always hit the fan and he would find himself in situations like this. But well, it was his life and things could always get worse: Steve, his boyfriend and reason for this meeting, was about to arrive.
This would be good, if it wasn’t tragic.
He could tell Peter was holding his breath, trying his best not to move too much, or touch Tony too much, and he was pretty sure Tony had no idea a few months ago it was his name Peter was calling. Not that Tony would mind, he never did, but Peter was all reserved about his personal life, be it present, future or past.
“I’m happy Peter could arrange this meeting, I really had no idea we should sign a contract to be able to exhibit art in a gallery. I never had a gallery before. It’s Matthew, right? Peter told me you’re old friends.” Tony said all of a sudden, breaking the silence. Matt could hear Peter’s nervous laugh, his mind rushing to guess if Matt was going to tell they had been together before Peter met Tony, or if Matt was going to get mad he said they were friends.
He wasn’t mad.
He should be but he wasn’t, and he wasn’t going to tell Tony either. He didn’t have the right to be mad, because Peter never cheated on him, he was honest when he came to Matt and said they should break up because he had met someone. This was one of the things that made him fall for him, his honesty. He was unable to hurt anyone on purpose, he was in a good mood all the time, always cheerful and sometimes too nice for his own good. It was easy to get tangled on his web, and Matt wasn’t sure how much of him was still tangled there.
He loved Steve, he did.
They trusted each other completely, and had one of the most solid relationships he had ever had with someone. Like it or not, his life with Peter was crazy.
With Steve things were smooth, to say the least. “It’s always good to have a lawyer around, Mr. Stark.” Matt replied.
“Just call me Tony. You’re friends with Pete, you don’t have to be formal.” Tony said, and Matt thought he might be shrugging, by the sound of fabric moving over fabric.
“You’ll like him. He’s the best at what he does.” Peter said with a smile on his voice, and Matt couldn’t help smiling back. He was adorable, Tony was right to want him around. And he was about to reply when he heard footsteps getting closer to the door, in a rush, like they were late for something. He could bet it was Steve, the tall blond artist that couldn’t get used to the subway trains and would always get lost - and he would be right. He knew he would arrive with an apologetical voice, feeling sorry, truly sorry, and would try to explain why he got there late.
Like he did the moment he opened the door.
He took a deep breath after the fourth ‘so so so sorry’, and took a seat by Matt’s side, kissing his cheek softly before they started the long talk about the contract. Matt had Peter read it for them, just because he knew he’d stop to make jokes and turn the awkward mood into a light atmosphere with all of them laughing. He explained the terms to both of them, listening as Tony said something stupid about buying all the pictures Steve was going to put up in case it didn’t sell, that surprisingly made Steve laugh.
Matt felt when Steve let go of his hand to sign the contract. “I appreciate you’re giving me the opening of the gallery, Tony.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t give it to anyone else. You have big eyes on you, Steve, the media loves your work and the whole Second World War themed pictures. It’s different from whatever other artists are doing, your paintings have life. It’s like you had been there.” Tony said, and the yawn Peter let out showed he was pretty sure Tony had no idea what he was saying. But Steve seemed impressed.
“Thank you! It means a lot.” he made a pause. “But it’s actually about the First World War, not the Second.”
Silence filled the room until Peter chuckled.
“Tony, you should go back to school. You must have skipped history classes.” he said, joking.
“Or art classes.” Steve added, joking too.
“Guys, give him a break! He’s good with numbers and technology, not history and art!” Matt added. “Everyone has their flaws.”
“Laugh all you want. War is war, same thing, same dead people and sad environment.” Tony shrugged. “Steve made it beautiful in his art, and that’s what matters.”
Part IV - I've never wanted something rational
”You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits”
Alanis Morissette - Head Over Feet
“How long do you think they can last without killing each other?” Peter asked, his body leaning against the door frame to Matt’s office, watching the pair go away. Steve with both hands in his pockets, and Tony talking and waving his hands all around. Matt was gathering the documents they had just signed, his cane resting against the table while Peter talked. The pair went ahead of them, being the ones that were essential for the gallery opening, and they still had to get changed into tuxedos and manage to put a bright smile on their faces.
“I hope it takes long enough for us to be there to avoid their deaths.” Matt replied. “How have you been, Pete?”
“Great, I guess.” He said, stepping towards Matt to take the documents from his hands and give him the cane. He knew Matt didn’t need any help, he could take down a man twice his size if he felt in danger, completely aware of his surroundings even though he couldn’t see a thing. “You?”
Matt chuckled when he noticed the cane in his hand as the documents were taken away. “Better than I thought I would. Steve’s great, and caring.”
“Looks like it! You’re still in one piece, he must be really nice.” Peter said, circling his arm around Matt’s, guiding him. “Tony’s pretty much okay too.”
Matt took a deep breath, pressing his lips together, eyebrows close in disapproval. “I don’t know. He makes me uneasy, like you could do much better if you only looked around. You know I’m not saying this because we have a past, it’s just... I worry.”
“I know.” Peter mumbled. “But, believe me, Tony’s great. He’s an awesome person, he’s good and sweet, actually.”
“I heard he has some issues.”
“More than Vogue, yes. Nothing I can’t handle, though.” Peter chuckled. Matt shook his head, his well-combed and perfectly in place red hair falling over the eyes covered by dark red lenses and round frames. “Try to be nice, I like him.”
Matt sighed, waiting as Peter stopped walking to fix his hair for him. “I know you do. But I also know you well enough to know you need someone taking care of you, and not the opposite the whole time.”
“I... Thanks. Just try not to worry too much, I can handle this, as I said.” Peter lingered a few moments longer than necessary, fixing the red bangs, and he knew Matt noticed, because he knew Matt that well. He sometimes missed the soft touch of calloused hands from martial arts practice, and the small smile he could play on his lips. The thing about Matt was that Peter would always love him, he’d always get his stomach turning whenever they were close. He aimed to be like him one day, so calm and collected, smart and with this thing that made him seem almost untouchable.
And when Matt’s fingers brushed against his, waking him up from his thoughts, he just chuckled.
“I’ll let you handle it. He breaks your heart, I break his face.” Matt said with a frown. He meant serious business, but Peter couldn’t hold back a laugh when he leaned his head against Matt’s shoulder.
“Sure thing! It’s a deal!”
Part V - I'm only gonna break break your, break break your heart
”There's no point trying to hide it (uh uh oh oh)
No point trying to evade it (uh uh oh oh)
I know I got a problem (uh uh oh oh)
Problem with misbehaving”
Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart
The Gallery was amazing, Steve thought.
Even though he had worked in the area for years - even owned a small studio to take commissions - not even in his dreams he thought he could expose his art in such a high class place. You see, he was just a kid from Brooklyn, working hard to get his share of the world, and suddenly things turned his way. He didn’t know where that Peter Parker kid came from, but it all led him to Tony Stark, and his men were now working on putting his art up for the vernissage.
“Did you like it?” Tony asked, watching his face and probably reading his thoughts. Steve nodded with a smile, and then turned to the side, watching him offer a glass of whisky, holding his one in hand.
“Yes, yes! I love it.” he smiled, he smiled, as the man sipped the golden liquid in the glass. “Thank you again for the opportunity.”
Tony laughed and shook his head. “Cute.” he said, watching the gallery. “You’re talented, I’m glad I got my eyes on you before other people did. Actually, I’m glad Peter’s friends with Matt, and Matt technically got his eyes on you. Or something.” He finished his glass. “How long have you two been together?”
Steve stared, confused. Tony called him cute?
Why was he drinking so fast? He took a sip of his own glass, taking his time to answer. “Uh... almost a year. You and Peter?”
“A year and a half.” Tony nodded. “Jailbait. But a good kid.”
Steve frowned. “How old is he?”
Tony thought for a moment, like he was calculating. Then Steve realized he was just watching the waiter come back with another whisky, as people started to arrive. “Twenty? Twenty-ish? Twenty-something for sure. He’s legal, if that’s what worries you, and, for your information, I’m not that old!”
Steve felt his face get warm. He was blushing, wasn’t he? Of course he was. He should’ve been kept inside a cell, unable as he was to have a social life without making a fool of himself. “Oh, no! No! I was not trying to say you’re too old, it’s just... you said jailbait. I just assumed...”
“That I was a horrible person, forcing little innocent Peter into an abusive relationship, not to mention you thought I was a pedophile. Again, cute.” Tony said, looking around. It was impossible to say if he was mad, or joking, or faking a serious face and rolling around inside, laughing at him.
So Steve stayed there, staring, carefully thinking about a reply to all that.
“No, I just thought you were going out with him since he was seventeen, or something. I didn’t mean to offend you.” He said in a pause, wondering if Tony was even listening, so focused on finding something in the crowd.
He was turning back to Steve - head still turned - when he grabbed the third glass of whisky. “You didn’t! Believe me, you didn’t. Most people think I’m his sugar daddy, it’s way harder to explain this one.” he finally stared at Steve again, a content grin gracing his features. “You look good in a suit. Must look good out of it too. Hey, why don’t you go out there and explain your art for the ones arriving? I gotta check if Pepper’s here, and if Pete’s coming already.” and with that Tony turned on his heels and left a gaping Steve alone to talk to the guests.
Author/Artist: caughtincobwebs
Chapter: 1/4
Universe: AU
Rating: M
Beta: sofiawonderland
Summary: Wade Wilson lived by the policy of never staying in a city long enough to get attached. He had lived in several places since he left his house in Canada, but he just stopped by New York after a decade of being unable to establish a decent life in one place.
Pairings/Characters: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Peter Parker/Tony Stark, Peter Parker/Wade Wilson, Steve Rogers/Matt Murdock, Teddy Altman/Billy Kaplan
Word Count: 4817
Part I - Born In The North
”I know I know for sure
That life is beautiful around the world
I know I know it's you
You say hello and then I say I do”
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around The World
Wade Wilson lived by the policy of never staying in a city long enough to get attached. He had lived in several places since he left his house in Canada, but he just stopped by New York after a decade of being unable to establish a decent life in one place.
Truth be told, he had been in better cities, with funnier people and pretty sunsets, with beaches that would make you want to cry watching the sun rise, and unbelievably entertaining nightlives, but he had never stayed more than six months anywhere. It was easy to find temporary work here and there, to make some money to survive, keep a bit to travel around, break some bad guys’ faces, break some hearts in the process.
He wasn’t the type to be put on a leash, build a family, have a beautiful front yard with green grass and a white picket fence. So it was a surprise, even for him, to be staring at the calendar now.
New York City had something.
The voice in his head claimed he knew perfectly well what was wrong with him. But who needed a conscience when he could just pretend it was just some annoying narrator trying to make him go crazy by dictating his life? The thing with New York was that he had been there for almost three years now. When he arrived and rented a cheap studio on top of that bar, he never dreamed it would be his own someday. He got the job as a bartender, telling himself he’d see everything New York had for him, and then he would leave with some cash in his pockets, just like he always did, but not everything went according to plan. Wade liked people, and people liked Wade, he could start small talks here and there, and make it grow into something where he’d have the person believing they were best friends.
It was easy, it didn’t hurt anyone, and he could always have someone to call if he got too bored.
And when you work in a bar, this is obviously the easiest way to get a customer coming back.
Except if you were Wade Wilson and you were dealing with a young man called Peter Parker.
He could still remember the day they met like it had only been yesterday: Wade had been working there for two weeks, it was a half past eleven, and it rained all day. Raindrops were still falling hard when he entered the bar, wrapped in his own black coat, looking around as if he was searching for someone. His brown hair was mildly wet, like he had run a small distance in the rain to get there. He didn’t even spend a second glancing over where Wade was, tracing his way back to a table where a man sat alone, his tie a bit loose in his perfect new Armani suit. That man arrived at least one hour earlier, ordered a whole bottle of whisky, the most expensive one, paid in cash and sat down to savour his alcohol. Wade tried to ask him if he was drinking alone, but the manager told him not to ask questions to that one. Ever. Because apparently he was rich, and because he was rich he had the right to get into bars and drink a whole bottle by himself.
He could remember stopping whatever he was doing to watch the conversation between the two, the youngest one tugging on the man’s expensive suit, telling him something about someone being worried about him, that he shouldn’t simply disappear and things like that. The man complained, offered Peter the glass - which he politely refused - complained a little more, and then was finally taken away by the young man, carrying the rest of the whisky with him.
It made Wade wonder what happened there.
He asked his manager, an old man with weird habits, who refused to tell him anything about those two, but said he could find out for himself - if he was so curious -, he just had to wait, because they would come back.
After a month or so, they did.
They were happy this time, celebrating something. Wade didn’t ask right away, but soon found out it was Peter’s birthday (that’s also how he got his name). He found out the older man didn’t like to be called Mr. Stark, would rather be called Tony, and loved when people could drink with him. He had almost a whole bottle of whisky during the night, while Peter settled for a beer or two. Tony liked noise, he liked when the girls were dancing for him, or when he was in the spotlight, and Wade swore he had never had so much fun during work before, mainly because Peter was making jokes all the time, telling him facts about Tony but always finding a way to get as far as possible from any subject regarding his personal life.
He asked for Peter’s phone number before they left.
All he got was a sweet smile, a no, and Tony’s protective arm around Peter’s waist. That alone would make him give up and find another city to have fun in, but Peter’s “see you next week!” made him stay a week longer.
Obviously, Peter’s next week actually took two.
But this time he was by himself.
He sat at the bar, and spent most of the night talking with Wade instead of drinking his beer. He showed him some bad magic tricks he had learned, they found out they had lots of things in common - same movies, same political views, similar ambitions -, and the moment Peter called him ‘bro’ he realized he had been friend-zoned. He wasn’t actually expecting anything bigger than that, if he was honest, it was just that Peter was interesting, all young and cheerful, and always making funny jokes. He could relate, not just because he carried that good aura too, but because they understood each other’s jokes, and he felt they could be really good friends.
That’s just one of the reasons that held Wade there two more months.
This and maybe how he could find anything he wanted whenever he wanted it, he could have hot dogs after midnight, and he would always have a place to go if he was bored or depressed. And Peter would invite him to go to parties he would miss because of work, and he would show Wade the pictures he took for the newspaper he worked for, and the ones he took for college.
He would confide him a few secrets, like how Tony was the one paying his studies, and how the man was having trouble with the empire inherited from his father. Maybe the promise he made to Peter that they would go to one of those nice parties one day helped him to just ignore the voice in his head warning him he should run.
And maybe because the morning after their most recent encounter he got an endorsement from his former boss, leaving him the bar. Poor old man had passed away.
He didn’t want to settle down, he told himself a thousand times he had everything under control, and he could sell the bar at any moment, pack his bags and leave.
Except he had promised Peter he would go to his graduation party sometime around the next semester, and Wade liked to keep the promises he made Peter. He wasn’t in love, far from that. They were friends, and Peter was Tony’s plaything, and maybe it was Peter’s crooked smile and the messy hair, or the way he wrinkled his nose a little when he was laughing, or maybe the sound of his laugh and the way his hazel eyes would linger a little longer on Wade’s blue ones when they shared a joke, but he didn’t really feel like leaving at the moment.
He was running a great bar, he had friends, good workers - he hired that Billy boy Peter told him about one day - and if he didn’t feel like leaving, why should he?
Right now, staring at the calendar and realizing how long he had been there, he made a mental note about a few bills he had to pay. In the back of his mind, he made another note: check if Billy had everything under control for tonight. Tony wanted the bar to celebrate something he had been talking about for weeks now, but Wade couldn’t really remember what it was.
The loud sound coming from his cell phone woke him up from his own thoughts, and as he picked it up, he couldn’t help the smile across his lips. “Hey, Petey!”
“What’s up, Mr. Wilson? Miss Potts want to know if Mr. Stark will get everything he ordered for tonight!” Peter’s voice sounded excited on the other end, surrounded by horns and people talking. He was probably walking on the street, during work.
Wade chuckled, leaning against the door frame of his office, watching young Billy prepare the bar for the night. He was a great guy, this Billy. “Sure. Gold Label and everything else he ordered. What is he celebrating anyway?”
“How come you don’t remember? Maria Stark’s Foundation is opening a new art gallery, and tonight’s the opening night. He invited big art names for the vernisage, but the real party will be at your bar, bro! But you don’t even have to pretend you care, because he doesn’t. He’s just trying to be a better person or something, Tony’s eternal dilemma with his ego.” Peter said in a rush. “I gotta go, just called to check things, Pepper’s going nuts.”
Wade nodded, a little distracted. It was all clear now, Tony was going to pretend to be the sober rich guy who cared about art, just to come back to the bar, drink himself into a mess, and then leave to have mind blowing sex with Peter.
He could live with that, sure. “Tell her not to worry. I have everything under control. See you tonight!” and with that, he hung up.
Life was unfair sometimes.
Part II - I won't let you let me down so easily, so easily
”How I wish you could see the potential
The potential of you and me
It's like a book elegantly bound
But in a language that you can't read just yet”
I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab For Cutie
He had checked the last item on his list when his boss announced he had to go out for a while, and that he should be the one opening the bar and placing the other guys in their places. Good thing Billy knew exactly what he was doing, because Wade was not the most dedicated boss in the world. He had this terrible habit of disappearing now and then to talk with a costumer that showed up sometimes. And tonight Billy knew said costumer was coming, because he knew how his boss got whenever Peter was there.
And apparently, on top of everything, they had this particular party waiting to happen.
Billy was a big admirer of Tony Stark before he started working at the bar, but now he just had this feeling that the man who had everything had something missing in his life. He seemed to be constantly depressed, drinking to a point he couldn’t even leave by himself, and always had someone to carry him home. Some thought that was awesome, to be able to drink all he wanted, and Tommy - his twin brother - would say Tony was just enjoying his life.
But it was just too sad.
Or maybe it was him, being sad for himself and thinking everyone else was sad too. He wasn’t in the better mood, not even close to his better days, and, to be honest, it wasn’t even being a good year. He just felt like blowing up everything and starting again, but he couldn’t.
College was being a pain, he had just broken up with a guy he was seeing because he was interested in another guy, who was straight apparently, and didn’t even talk to him that much. They were neighbors, and Billy knew way too many things about him.
The kind of thing that happen when you accidentally sees his garbage now and then.
You see, he could write a book on Theodore Altman’s habits just by checking his garbage, and this made him feel a little too creepy. That’s just one of the reasons Billy decided to back off. He had way too much trouble already - to share an apartment with his brother was by far the worst idea ever, he had a bar to take care of tonight, and College eating his social life - he didn’t need more right now.
He didn’t think Teddy was trouble though.
Or at least something inside him said that maybe Teddy was all he needed, the front door neighbor that worked as a part-time at Starbucks, who went to the same college as him but was majoring on something else. The guy who had deep blue eyes and blond hair, with sexy rings on his ears and a sweet smile that made him weak on the knees. The longest conversation they shared was the day the lift broke with both of them inside.
And Tommy.
Teddy was the one saying how old that lift was, and that they needed to talk to the building manager to check on it more often, while Tommy freaked out claiming they were going to die. He remembered he agreed - and told Tommy to shut up - and said they needed to have even more things checked in the building, because many things broke now and then. Like the lights in the corridor, that hadn’t been turning on, and Teddy called his attention to the front door, that wasn’t locking properly. By the time Teddy finished talking, Tommy was calling their parents to say his goodbyes, or something stupid enough that made Billy waste the last three minutes around Teddy trying to make his idiot brother get the hell off the phone. And by the time he managed to hold Tommy far away from him - using his foot - and hold the cell phone far enough, the lift started working again, and Teddy said his goodbyes with a kind smile that made him just stand there and stare, getting an annoyed look from his brother.
“You know this is not going to work, right?” Tommy asked, eyeing him suspiciously. Billy made a point to never talk about these things with Tommy, and left.
As days passed, Billy found himself trying his best to meet Teddy around the building. He managed to spend a whole week trying to figure out what time he left home for College, and found out he left earlier than him, which made him wake up earlier every morning. And there were some days he got home late, and some days Billy wouldn’t even see him getting back home. And sometimes he would try to put the garbage out around the same time Teddy did, and this is what caused him to check discreetly whatever it was Teddy was throwing away - which once happened to be girl’s accessories, which led him to the realization that the guy was straight and had just broken up with his girlfriend -, and all that awkwardness while Teddy noticed he was watching, and passed by him with a sad smile, made it sink in that he was being a creepy stalker.
He wasn’t like that.
Really, he wasn’t. Billy was a normal guy, with normal desires and a normal life even though he lived with a crazy man. He needed to get himself together and concentrate on things that mattered, he could find himself a boyfriend without being creepy. Later. In a few weeks, or months, or years...
Part III - I've got to think so selfishly
”I've been a friend
With unbiased views
And then secretly lust after you”
Skunk Anansie - Secretly
Matt’s blind.
And thank God he’s not deaf too, but sometimes he wish he was. The situations he put himself in were almost always the most awkward ones, like the one he was right now, sitting on a round table with his client - Tony Stark - and Tony’s boyfriend, or whatever it was they called each other these days, who coincidentally happened to be his ex-boyfriend, while they talked about his actual boyfriend.
Matt was convinced his life was a bad sitcom, where shit would always hit the fan and he would find himself in situations like this. But well, it was his life and things could always get worse: Steve, his boyfriend and reason for this meeting, was about to arrive.
This would be good, if it wasn’t tragic.
He could tell Peter was holding his breath, trying his best not to move too much, or touch Tony too much, and he was pretty sure Tony had no idea a few months ago it was his name Peter was calling. Not that Tony would mind, he never did, but Peter was all reserved about his personal life, be it present, future or past.
“I’m happy Peter could arrange this meeting, I really had no idea we should sign a contract to be able to exhibit art in a gallery. I never had a gallery before. It’s Matthew, right? Peter told me you’re old friends.” Tony said all of a sudden, breaking the silence. Matt could hear Peter’s nervous laugh, his mind rushing to guess if Matt was going to tell they had been together before Peter met Tony, or if Matt was going to get mad he said they were friends.
He wasn’t mad.
He should be but he wasn’t, and he wasn’t going to tell Tony either. He didn’t have the right to be mad, because Peter never cheated on him, he was honest when he came to Matt and said they should break up because he had met someone. This was one of the things that made him fall for him, his honesty. He was unable to hurt anyone on purpose, he was in a good mood all the time, always cheerful and sometimes too nice for his own good. It was easy to get tangled on his web, and Matt wasn’t sure how much of him was still tangled there.
He loved Steve, he did.
They trusted each other completely, and had one of the most solid relationships he had ever had with someone. Like it or not, his life with Peter was crazy.
With Steve things were smooth, to say the least. “It’s always good to have a lawyer around, Mr. Stark.” Matt replied.
“Just call me Tony. You’re friends with Pete, you don’t have to be formal.” Tony said, and Matt thought he might be shrugging, by the sound of fabric moving over fabric.
“You’ll like him. He’s the best at what he does.” Peter said with a smile on his voice, and Matt couldn’t help smiling back. He was adorable, Tony was right to want him around. And he was about to reply when he heard footsteps getting closer to the door, in a rush, like they were late for something. He could bet it was Steve, the tall blond artist that couldn’t get used to the subway trains and would always get lost - and he would be right. He knew he would arrive with an apologetical voice, feeling sorry, truly sorry, and would try to explain why he got there late.
Like he did the moment he opened the door.
He took a deep breath after the fourth ‘so so so sorry’, and took a seat by Matt’s side, kissing his cheek softly before they started the long talk about the contract. Matt had Peter read it for them, just because he knew he’d stop to make jokes and turn the awkward mood into a light atmosphere with all of them laughing. He explained the terms to both of them, listening as Tony said something stupid about buying all the pictures Steve was going to put up in case it didn’t sell, that surprisingly made Steve laugh.
Matt felt when Steve let go of his hand to sign the contract. “I appreciate you’re giving me the opening of the gallery, Tony.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t give it to anyone else. You have big eyes on you, Steve, the media loves your work and the whole Second World War themed pictures. It’s different from whatever other artists are doing, your paintings have life. It’s like you had been there.” Tony said, and the yawn Peter let out showed he was pretty sure Tony had no idea what he was saying. But Steve seemed impressed.
“Thank you! It means a lot.” he made a pause. “But it’s actually about the First World War, not the Second.”
Silence filled the room until Peter chuckled.
“Tony, you should go back to school. You must have skipped history classes.” he said, joking.
“Or art classes.” Steve added, joking too.
“Guys, give him a break! He’s good with numbers and technology, not history and art!” Matt added. “Everyone has their flaws.”
“Laugh all you want. War is war, same thing, same dead people and sad environment.” Tony shrugged. “Steve made it beautiful in his art, and that’s what matters.”
Part IV - I've never wanted something rational
”You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits”
Alanis Morissette - Head Over Feet
“How long do you think they can last without killing each other?” Peter asked, his body leaning against the door frame to Matt’s office, watching the pair go away. Steve with both hands in his pockets, and Tony talking and waving his hands all around. Matt was gathering the documents they had just signed, his cane resting against the table while Peter talked. The pair went ahead of them, being the ones that were essential for the gallery opening, and they still had to get changed into tuxedos and manage to put a bright smile on their faces.
“I hope it takes long enough for us to be there to avoid their deaths.” Matt replied. “How have you been, Pete?”
“Great, I guess.” He said, stepping towards Matt to take the documents from his hands and give him the cane. He knew Matt didn’t need any help, he could take down a man twice his size if he felt in danger, completely aware of his surroundings even though he couldn’t see a thing. “You?”
Matt chuckled when he noticed the cane in his hand as the documents were taken away. “Better than I thought I would. Steve’s great, and caring.”
“Looks like it! You’re still in one piece, he must be really nice.” Peter said, circling his arm around Matt’s, guiding him. “Tony’s pretty much okay too.”
Matt took a deep breath, pressing his lips together, eyebrows close in disapproval. “I don’t know. He makes me uneasy, like you could do much better if you only looked around. You know I’m not saying this because we have a past, it’s just... I worry.”
“I know.” Peter mumbled. “But, believe me, Tony’s great. He’s an awesome person, he’s good and sweet, actually.”
“I heard he has some issues.”
“More than Vogue, yes. Nothing I can’t handle, though.” Peter chuckled. Matt shook his head, his well-combed and perfectly in place red hair falling over the eyes covered by dark red lenses and round frames. “Try to be nice, I like him.”
Matt sighed, waiting as Peter stopped walking to fix his hair for him. “I know you do. But I also know you well enough to know you need someone taking care of you, and not the opposite the whole time.”
“I... Thanks. Just try not to worry too much, I can handle this, as I said.” Peter lingered a few moments longer than necessary, fixing the red bangs, and he knew Matt noticed, because he knew Matt that well. He sometimes missed the soft touch of calloused hands from martial arts practice, and the small smile he could play on his lips. The thing about Matt was that Peter would always love him, he’d always get his stomach turning whenever they were close. He aimed to be like him one day, so calm and collected, smart and with this thing that made him seem almost untouchable.
And when Matt’s fingers brushed against his, waking him up from his thoughts, he just chuckled.
“I’ll let you handle it. He breaks your heart, I break his face.” Matt said with a frown. He meant serious business, but Peter couldn’t hold back a laugh when he leaned his head against Matt’s shoulder.
“Sure thing! It’s a deal!”
Part V - I'm only gonna break break your, break break your heart
”There's no point trying to hide it (uh uh oh oh)
No point trying to evade it (uh uh oh oh)
I know I got a problem (uh uh oh oh)
Problem with misbehaving”
Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart
The Gallery was amazing, Steve thought.
Even though he had worked in the area for years - even owned a small studio to take commissions - not even in his dreams he thought he could expose his art in such a high class place. You see, he was just a kid from Brooklyn, working hard to get his share of the world, and suddenly things turned his way. He didn’t know where that Peter Parker kid came from, but it all led him to Tony Stark, and his men were now working on putting his art up for the vernissage.
“Did you like it?” Tony asked, watching his face and probably reading his thoughts. Steve nodded with a smile, and then turned to the side, watching him offer a glass of whisky, holding his one in hand.
“Yes, yes! I love it.” he smiled, he smiled, as the man sipped the golden liquid in the glass. “Thank you again for the opportunity.”
Tony laughed and shook his head. “Cute.” he said, watching the gallery. “You’re talented, I’m glad I got my eyes on you before other people did. Actually, I’m glad Peter’s friends with Matt, and Matt technically got his eyes on you. Or something.” He finished his glass. “How long have you two been together?”
Steve stared, confused. Tony called him cute?
Why was he drinking so fast? He took a sip of his own glass, taking his time to answer. “Uh... almost a year. You and Peter?”
“A year and a half.” Tony nodded. “Jailbait. But a good kid.”
Steve frowned. “How old is he?”
Tony thought for a moment, like he was calculating. Then Steve realized he was just watching the waiter come back with another whisky, as people started to arrive. “Twenty? Twenty-ish? Twenty-something for sure. He’s legal, if that’s what worries you, and, for your information, I’m not that old!”
Steve felt his face get warm. He was blushing, wasn’t he? Of course he was. He should’ve been kept inside a cell, unable as he was to have a social life without making a fool of himself. “Oh, no! No! I was not trying to say you’re too old, it’s just... you said jailbait. I just assumed...”
“That I was a horrible person, forcing little innocent Peter into an abusive relationship, not to mention you thought I was a pedophile. Again, cute.” Tony said, looking around. It was impossible to say if he was mad, or joking, or faking a serious face and rolling around inside, laughing at him.
So Steve stayed there, staring, carefully thinking about a reply to all that.
“No, I just thought you were going out with him since he was seventeen, or something. I didn’t mean to offend you.” He said in a pause, wondering if Tony was even listening, so focused on finding something in the crowd.
He was turning back to Steve - head still turned - when he grabbed the third glass of whisky. “You didn’t! Believe me, you didn’t. Most people think I’m his sugar daddy, it’s way harder to explain this one.” he finally stared at Steve again, a content grin gracing his features. “You look good in a suit. Must look good out of it too. Hey, why don’t you go out there and explain your art for the ones arriving? I gotta check if Pepper’s here, and if Pete’s coming already.” and with that Tony turned on his heels and left a gaping Steve alone to talk to the guests.