[Third Person POV]
"I'm planning on taking everyone to dinner to celebrate the grand opening. You want to join us?" Peter asked as he and Tony stood a few feet away from the bustling crowd.
Tony crossed his arms and gave a half-smirk, his gaze sweeping lazily across the crowd before landing back on Peter. "No," he said matter-of-factly. "I appreciate the invitation, but I only came here because I knew it would annoy you somehow. I'll be leaving in a few seconds anyway—I've got things to do." The corner of his lips curved upward into that familiar teasing grin.
Peter's expression stayed flat. "I'm honestly starting to dislike you," he said dryly.
Tony chuckled, reaching out to pat Peter's back in mock sympathy. "Get in line, kid. Everyone does eventually." He started to turn away, then added with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "By the way, it was nice meeting your very attractive aunt—"
Peter's head snapped toward him, his tone sharp. "You're lucky we're in public, or I'd lay you out for that comment."
Tony's laughter echoed as he started walking off, clearly entertained by the reaction. But before he went too far, he paused mid-step, glancing back over his shoulder. "Wait. Before I go, I gotta ask—what's your real reason for building this place?"
Peter blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
Tony gestured around them, motioning to the impressive facility filled with people, banners, and displays. "Come on, you can tell me. Surely you've got a secret motive, right? You don't have to play the saint here. Between us partners, what's the catch? PR stunt? Maybe a publicity grab? Or—ooh—perhaps it's a diversion for some elaborate criminal activity?" His tone turned theatrically suspicious. "Or maybe—and this one's my favorite—you buried your competitors under the foundation, and now you're building over the evidence."
Peter exhaled through his nose, shaking his head with a faint grin. "You watch way too many movies, Stark."
Tony raised an eyebrow but didn't reply, clearly waiting for an answer.
Peter finally looked at him fully, his expression softening. "I built this place for my Aunt and Uncle," he said simply. "They're stubborn people—always have been. Even when I was practically a millionaire and could've taken care of them easily, they refused to quit their jobs. Said they still had something to give."
Tony's teasing smirk faded slightly, replaced by something more neutral—curiosity.
"They didn't want to spend the rest of their lives doing nothing," Peter continued, his voice low, reflective. "So I built this place to make it easier for them. They don't have to work long hours anymore. They get to be their own bosses, doing something meaningful—helping people, making a difference, just… being who they are."
He turned slightly, hands sliding into his pockets as he began to walk away. "Not everyone needs some ulterior motive or sinister plot to do good by others," he said over his shoulder. "Sometimes, doing the right thing just comes down to understanding what matters—to your values, your principles, and the people you care about."
Peter raised a hand and waved lazily without looking back. "Anyway, I'll be seeing you, Stark. Despite your questionable motives and personality… thanks for dropping by."
Tony stood there for a moment, watching him go. His teasing grin softened into something subtler—a faint, knowing smile. As he turned to leave, he muttered under his breath, "He's a good kid. Still a brat in my opinion… but not bad." With that, he slipped his sunglasses back on and walked toward his car, disappearing into the soft glow of evening lights.
---
As the day wound down and the crowd began to thin, the once-lively atmosphere quieted to a calm hum. Peter leaned against a nearby wall, arms folded as he watched Aunt May and Uncle Ben laughing and chatting with volunteers, collecting signatures from those signing up for future programs. Their faces radiated pride and contentment, and Peter couldn't help the small, fond smile tugging at his lips.
A familiar voice broke his thoughts. "You look like a man deep in thought," MJ said as she approached, tying her hair up into a ponytail as she leaned beside him against the wall. Her shoulder brushed his lightly as she propped her hands behind her.
Peter didn't look at her. "So," he asked, his tone calm and even, "what did you learn?"
MJ's expression shifted, her gaze growing more serious. Without a word, she connected their minds—a silent pulse of thought linking them as her voice echoed gently in his head.
"They're threatened," she said mentally, her tone clipped and focused. "The higher-ups see Parker Industries as a rising tech giant—too fast, too capable. They think you're becoming a potential obstacle to their expansion. They've already started making plans to move against you before you grow any more influential."
Peter's expression didn't change. His eyes remained half-lidded, his tone devoid of emotion as he replied through the link, "Too late for that."
He exhaled quietly, his mind calm, almost detached as he continued, "Have Aria eliminate some of their board members from the equation. Have her dig up everything they've ever done—evidence, scandals, crimes, anything that'll stick. Leak it all. Get them arrested, detained, prosecuted. Make it so they can't show their faces in public again. And make sure it's deliberate so they know it's a warning from me."
"Are you sure it's a good idea to antagonize them? Won't that just make them come after you harder? It could get dangerous, you know," MJ said, her brows furrowing as she leaned forwards. Her tone carried a mix of concern and disbelief, her eyes flickered toward Peter, who seemed far too calm for someone talking about provoking dangerous people as simply Peter Parker.
"It's fine," Peter said casually, exhaling through his nose as if he'd already thought it through a hundred times. "They'll be too scared and paranoid to act out. That's why I said to make it deliberate. If we make them feel cornered, they'll start wondering if I've got something on them—something that could take them down completely. Fear is a powerful leash, Red. It'll make them think twice before doing anything stupid."
MJ tilted her head slightly, her lips pressing together as she processed his logic. "You know, if you're capable of taking them all out… why don't you just do it? Wouldn't it be safer? Less risk of them regrouping or coming after us later?" she asked, genuine confusion coloring her tone.
Peter scratched the front of his head, clearly frustrated but not at her—at the situation. "No, you have to understand something, Red," he said with a sigh, his voice dipping into a quieter, heavier tone. "The most dangerous enemy you can ever face is someone who has absolutely nothing left to lose. If we go after all of them at once, if we expose everything, they'll lose their restraint. The only reason they're not unleashing hell right now is because they still have something to protect, some image to maintain, some shadow to hide behind. Take that away, and what do you think happens next? Chaos. That's why I said we can't push them too far too fast."
He leaned back against the wall, folding his arms as his gaze hardened. "You have to remember, right now, we're at war," he said quietly, his tone carrying weight—serious and resolute.
MJ was silent for a few seconds, she let him continue, knowing this wasn't just paranoia.
"To really take them out," he went on, "we'd have to be patient. Pick them off one by one. Even if it takes months, years, or decades. Because this isn't a fight—it's a slow war. And in a war, if you rush in without thinking, people get hurt. Innocent people. So, to prevent that, we can't be reckless with our moves. We have to be strategic."
A brief silence filled the space between them. The tension that had built up from his words hung in the air until MJ suddenly lowered her head and began to chuckle softly.
Peter blinked in confusion. "What's so funny?"
MJ waved him off, her shoulders shaking slightly as she tried to hold back her laughter. "I'm sorry," she said between chuckles. "I didn't mean to laugh, but I just couldn't help it. I suddenly felt like I was in the middle of some secret spy thriller. You know—'covert ops,' code names, shadow wars."
Peter raised a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching before a small laugh escaped him.
"I mean seriously," MJ said, straightening up and theatrically clearing her throat. "Everything we just said could be straight out of a spy movie. Watch—" she stood up and began reenacting their entire exchange, alternating between dramatic voices. "'Boss, I came bearing information…'" she said in a deep, exaggerated tone. "'I see,'" she continued, now mimicking Peter's voice, "'this leaves us with no choice but to take them out one by one. Make it deliberate so they know it's a warning from me.'"
Peter rolled his eyes but couldn't help grinning as she kept going.
"'But boss,'" she said dramatically, clutching her chest as if she were in an old black-and-white film, "'isn't it too dangerous?'"
"'We have no time to worry about danger,'" she bellowed in mock seriousness. "'For we are at war—and war means casualties!'"
MJ threw a hand to her forehead and stumbled back, then brought her hand down over her face and declared with exaggerated flair, "End scene!"
Peter burst into laughter, clapping his hands. "Wow! Bravo! Have you ever considered acting? Because that was phenomenal!"
"Thank you, thank you," MJ said, bowing dramatically with mock pride.
Peter then flicked her forehead, causing her to yelp and stumble back. "Owchie!" she exclaimed, rubbing her forehead with watery eyes. "What was that for?!"
"For mocking me," Peter said with mock sternness, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "Now come on, they look about done over there. And honestly, public speaking has made me hungry."
MJ pouted as she followed him, still rubbing her forehead. "You know, I don't think I'm liking the abuse I've been getting recently," she muttered under her breath.
"I hit you because I love you," Peter said deadpan.
"...Woah…" MJ said as she couldn't believe Peter said that to her of all people.
"Sorry…" Peter said, growing embarrassed.
MJ just giggled, after all Peter's dark humor has never failed to amuse her and has been her source of comfort many times in the past.
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