• • • (Y/N)'s POV • • •

  I paced around my bedroom, rain pounding against my glass wall. The window peered downwards at the large garden that Wanda had requested the builders make for her. Something about a memorial to her brother, Pietro Maximoff, who had died in Sokovia. My room was perched up on the third floor, giving me an overview of the green land of Upstate New York.

  I walked to my closet, grabbing one of Clint's old t-shirts that he'd given to me once he didn't want them anymore. I added a pair of ripped jeans with it, then added some black combat boots. After so much time spent messing with my hair, I had managed to pull it back into a ponytail.

"(Y/N)!" My mother screamed, resulting in me exiting my room and making my way towards the steps. I looked at her from the top, arching an eyebrow and wondering what she wanted.

"Yes?" I asked, wondering what she was wanting from me this early in the morning. I mean, it wasn't too early, but still. It was roughly around eight.

"Come down and eat breakfast with us," She requested as I nodded. I trotted down the stairs, sitting down at the bar as Clint entered the room. He sat down on the stool next to me.

"They're on their way," Clint spoke as three boys walked in. They all had messy hair and looked like a disaster. They were all half asleep and tripping over just about everything in the room.

  The three were Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Peter Parker.

  Bruce was rubbing his eyes, then just placed his head in his hands and sat down at the dining table. Meanwhile Tony made his way to the coffee machine, beginning to brew something strong. Lastly, Peter was yawning, sitting down next to Bruce. Tony was the most awake of the bunch, seeing as he typically doesn't ever sleep.

"Stark, what did you do?" My mom asked, arching her eyebrow at the three.

"Nothing. Just..." He trailed off to yawn, "Trying to figure some stuff out," Tony replied as Clint arched an eyebrow. Tony was still rapidly and impatiently pressing buttons on the coffee machine.

"Figure stuff out..." Clint muttered under his breath, almost as if he was speaking his thoughts. My mother rolled her eyes at Tony's vague answer.

"Tell me, Stark. What were the three of you doing?" My mother requested. She knew a thing or two about mental manipulation. And especially now, when they were weak and tired.

"We were just up late, Nat," Tony insisted as she turned her attention to Bruce, knowing Tony wasn't going to let anything slip. Not only was Bruce the most out of it, but he and my mom were in a relationship.

"Love, where were you last night? I was beginning to get worried," She spoke in a weaker tone of voice. Clint slightly chuckled from the stool next to me, the two of us watching this as a form of entertainment.

We both knew that we would start getting answers now.

"We were running tests last night. Nothing to worry about. It was all to keep her safe," Bruce spoke, his fingers pointing at me as Tony gave him a death glare from across the room. My mom frowned, spinning to look back at Tony.

"What are you planning, Stark?" My mom snarled angrily.

"Well, unlike everyone else, I'm trying to figure out who the hell is trying to get into the HQ. And now we're onto something!" Tony insisted. I rolled my eyes.

"And what if you're wrong?" I asked softly, looking from Tony over to Bruce and Peter.

  Peter's eyes met mine, and suddenly the two of us were trapped in a staring contest. My eyes were locked on his, my mind drowning out my mother and Tony Stark's bickering as him and I observed one another from across the kitchen. It was more in a curious nature than anything else.

  It all seemed so strange. First, no one was allowed in. Then, all of a sudden, Tony has a kid my age with an internship here? It all seemed a bit... Not normal.

"(Y/N)...?" Clint's voice came into earshot as I jumped, looking over at him with wide eyes. He looked to Peter, then back to me, and an unmistakable grin appeared on his face.

"You're staring at Mr. Parker..." Clint muttered to me as I felt my face heat up. I shoved him, resulting in him laughing and everyone else to look over at us.

"You okay there, (Y/N)?" Tony asked as I nodded.

"Yeah..." I whispered quietly. I heard Peter's soft laugh, which made my face turn an even darker shade of red as I shook my head.

Unlike me, he has a life. He goes to school. He has friends. He probably has a significant other. I know that I wasn't even supposed to meet him. The simple thought of being his friend almost seemed too good to be true. But, in reality, that was what I wanted. A friend. Someone who I could talk to and who would understand what it's like to be here, surrounded by Avengers. Peter would know. He would understand. But I wasn't even sure if I would be allowed to go near him without my mother losing her mind.

I looked over at my mom.

"I'm going to my room," I spoke up, making my mom look at me with confusion.

"Okay," She spoke softly as I nodded. Her gaze seemed to be psychoanalyzing me, as if she was attempting to understand the emotions I was feeling. But she couldn't quite place it.

"Hey, (Y/N), would you mind taking Peter out to find Happy Hogan? He has school today," Tony spoke as I nodded. Peter blinked, looking away from his pancakes and orange juice to stare at Tony in disbelief.

"But, Mr. Stark, you said I wouldn't have to go to school today," Peter whined as Tony smirked evilly.

"Yes, I did say that. But you were the one that insisted on you going to school," Tony pointed out as Peter rolled his eyes.

"Um, sure," I muttered, which caused the two of them to stop arguing. Peter picked himself up from the chair he was sitting in, and began walking over towards me. The two of us then began the journey down the long and confusing hallways, which were very maze-like.

"Natasha Romanoff's daughter, huh?" Peter asked as I grinned and shrugged my shoulders.

"Adopted," I clarified as he shook his head.

"If she raised you, she's your mother. Genetics don't matter. She didn't have to birth you to mother you," He spoke, a twinge of passion in his voice, as I felt myself weakly smile.

  He's right.

"Yeah..." I breathed out with a grin. He weakly smiled back.

  We continued to make our way through the halls until we finally found the location of the main door. I pulled it open, spotting a black SUV sitting in the driveway. Happy Hogan was at the wheel.

  The two of us heard the car honk loudly. Happy was looking at Peter, motioning for him to hurry up. I looked back to Peter's warm eyes once again.

"I'll see you later," I breathed out with a smile. He smiled back.

"I guess so. You'll be seeing a lot more of me around here," Peter spoke with an awkward smile as I nodded.

"Just what I need. Because it's pretty boring being the only high schooler," I whispered with a smile. His smile became more relaxed and natural. Less awkward. Less tense.

  Peter left, running down the stairs and hopping into the completely black vehicle. I smiled, watching him throw his backpack in before climbing into the backseat. He gave me a small wave, which I returned.

  Smiling weakly, I closed the door behind me. I rested my back against the door and exhaled a shaky breath. My smile didn't waver.

  It was the only genuine smile I've had in a long time.