underneath the suit
pairing: peter parker x stark!thunderbolt!reader
summary: peter isn't prepared to take his clothes off for a meeting with the white widow, and he's much less prepared to meet his best friend for the very first time since fate tore them apart in a cruel twist of memory.
cw: angsty undertones, a little light flirting, tony stark mention
wc: 1k
a/n: mina writing and posting something in the same day? unheard of but i'll do it for the peter girls
From the changing room, Peter can hear someone new enter the bath, and he shuts his eyes tightly at the prospect of having even more company as he shimmies himself out of his suit. What comes instead of a strange voice though, is one that is too familiar — one that he hasn’t heard in years and makes his heart fall out of his chest.
“Yelena, I have a question about the timing of our mission tomorrow! Bucky says I shouldn't go out tonight, but John says that as long as I’m not too hungover, it shouldn’t matter.”
Peter swings the door open with the towel hanging around his waist, eager to see your face for the first time in so long. What are you wearing? Who are these friends you’re going out with tonight? Is Peter going to pass out at the sight of you? These thoughts circle his head so fast he doesn’t hear Yelena’s loud laugh at your question, or the way you insist for her to just tell you the time of the mission.
At the loud creak of the wooden door, both you and Yelena look over to him, and whilst Yelena lets out a loud laugh you feel yourself falter, blinking quickly at sight of the masked man in front of you. Peter feels his entire body go still, from the rigid muscles beneath his skin to the hairs that angrily stand above it.
“Are you seriously going to keep that thing on?” Yelena asks, and Peter tears his gaze from you, though not for long. It’s been forever since he’s seen you — a literal lifetime ago for him. You look exactly the same, just more mature. You’ve grown into your features and stand with the confidence of a woman, not an awkward teenager. And Peter - he knows the shirt you’re wearing, with the Stark Industries logo now peeling off the front from years of wear and tear.
Yelena follows Peter’s line of sight to look back at you with a quizzical expression. But you’re too busy staring at Peter to notice her stare. Your eyes scan down Peter’s muscular torso, noticing how developed his figure has become since you used to do rounds with him all those years ago. Even without his suit, you can see how much bigger his muscles have become, and the only thing that lets you place him is the mask covering his face, otherwise recognisable.
“It’s been a long time, Spider-Man.” You say, a casual smile on your face.
Peter nods quickly, forcing himself to swallow the lump in his throat before speaking so his voice doesn’t shake. “It has.”
“You know, we haven’t worked together since-” You shake your head, blinking slowly. “You left the Avengers so soon after my dad-”
“Yeah, so did you.” Peter mumbles, the goggles on his mask shrinking slightly when his face morphs with a sad expression. You nod, smiling sadly at him. “I’m back though. The new avengers, you know?” Peter nods, and the two of you stand in silence for a long moment, just acknowledging each other. As though the people you saved the world with on countless occasions aren’t gone. Or in your case, your family.
“So are either of you going to get in the bath, or are you going to leave?” Yelena asks. Peter nods, awkwardly removing the towel from around his waist and lowering himself into the hot water, giving you the dwindling chance to admire the muscles in his thighs, bulging against his tight briefs. You need to shake yourself out of this weird daze you’re in and remember why you’re even here in the first place. Peter stares at Yelena, unable to say anything while you’re standing right there.
Or at least, you used to be before Tony died, and the two of you could barely speak to each other without thinking of him. Before Dr. Strange’s spell tore you apart. Peter once believed you were the love of his life, before the world happened, before things got complicated.
Yelena slowly turns around to shoot you a pointed look — you’re interrupting her meeting. You shake your head. “No, I don’t have the time.” You secure your bag on your shoulder, taking a step backwards for emphasis. You unhook your headphones from the strap, ready to put them on.
“Uh, we should train together some time, Spider-Man. Or, you can train me — the muscles look great compared to the last time I’ve seen them.” Peter laughs shyly, nodding in thanks as you rush out of the room. When he turns his gaze towards Yelena again, she’s shooting him an incredulous look, as if searching for more context. “I didn’t know you guys were so close.” She says, squinting her eyes at him. Peter pushes his lower lip out, shaking his head. “We’re not, no. We were friends when we were both avengers.”
“And did she ever get to see you without that mask?”
Peter’s heart goes still for a beat longer than necessary. If only you knew that you had been his best friend. That the two of you would train and make jokes together, spending every second of your time together. When he wasn’t with you in the tower, you’d be with him at his Aunt May’s, baking cookies or sitting in the bottom bunk of his bed whilst doing something so ridiculous, you knew it couldn’t be done in the avenger’s tower. For example, build a lego tower.
But ultimately, no you don’t remember who he is, or what he looks like under his mask. So Peter shakes his head. But maybe he’ll take you up on that offer and see you soon.
