(Y/N POV)
Welcome back. I still couldn’t believe my first trip to Wakanda involved procuring vibranium. It struck me as odd that King T’Challa requested to see both of us in return for the metal we needed. We’d ordered from Wakanda before, but they’d never requested a personal audience.
“You don’t think we’re in trouble, right?” Peter asked, shoving clothes into his suitcase.
“I’m sure we’re not,” I replied. “Peter, you’re not packing that.” I reached forward and snatched his old video camera from his hand, setting it down on my desk.
“Hey!” he whined. “I want to record this momentous occasion!”
“We’re going for business, not vacation,” I clarified.
“Why not both?”
“Do you want to keep poisoning yourself with palladium?”
“Fine. But I’m still bringing my phone to take pictures.”
I smiled and zipped my small suitcase closed. It would take at least a day to reach Wakanda, and I had no idea how long they wanted us there. Ethan had told me T’Challa had something important to discuss, involving both of us, but hadn’t specified what.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
He nodded, dragging his suitcase behind him as we left my room. Peter’s birthday was a few days away, and I’d planned to surprise him with a room in Stark Tower. He’d been staying with May, but with Happy having moved in, Peter found things a little awkward. I’d already designed the room to his liking, walls painted red—his favorite—and a complete workbench for his suit designs. He’d grown accustomed to building outlandish suits to display in the Hall of Armor.
We stepped into the elevator, and as the doors closed, Peter widened his eyes.
“I forgot my toothbrush,” he blurted.
“I have an extra one,” I said. “I knew you’d forget.”
“You did?”
“Yep.”
Once the elevator stopped, Peter waited for me to exit before following. Happy waited by the jet, a huge smile on his face. I still remembered his expression the first time he’d seen Peter roaming the halls—it was like seeing a ghost.
If I had Peter’s video camera, I’d submit the footage to America’s Funniest Videos.
“Glad to see you, kid,” Happy said as Peter walked by. “How’s the heart?”
“Uh—it’s weird,” he mumbled. “Feels like I have a hole in my chest.”
“That’s because you do,” I interjected.
“And the fact that Y/N keeps poisoning me with palladium to keep me alive is a little strange,” he added. “It’s almost ironic.”
“I’m sure it is,” Happy said, grabbing our suitcases.
I skipped up the steps and into the plane, plopping down into a luxury leather seat. Since Peter’s resurrection, it felt like he was experiencing everything for the first time again.
“This is so cool,” he said, gazing around. “Was it always this fancy?”
“It’s the same jet, bub.”
“It looks so different!”
I laughed and pulled him into the chair next to mine. He giggled and wrapped his arm around me, bringing me closer.
“We’re going on a date to Wakanda,” he laughed. “This is luxury.”
“Business date,” I teased. “A little less luxury and a little more sophistication.”
“I can do sophistication!”
“I’m sure you can,” I said. “You’re my favorite sophisticated boyfriend.”
“I’m your only boyfriend!” He said, his eyes widening. “Right?”
“Yes, Peter. Don’t be silly.”
“Thank God.”
The plane started its ascent, and Happy climbed into the passenger room. After the Mysterio debacle, we couldn’t risk anyone traveling alone. The thought of that day in Prague made my blood boil with hatred, leaving me feeling helpless. Why hadn’t I been good enough?
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Peter asked, taking my hand.
I realized my fist was clenched, so I let go and laid it on Peter’s thigh. I was still so furious about what had happened, and I couldn’t get over the fact that I hadn’t stopped Beck.
“He’s still out there,” I mumbled. “And he won’t stop until I lose everything.”
“Well, you brought me back to life, so I’d assume you can’t lose me anymore.”
“But I hate the fact that I have no idea where he is, and he has massive control over my mind.”
“Then you should learn how to block him out!”
“Like in Harry Potter?” I joked. “Where can I find Professor Snape?”
“I’ll help you!” he exclaimed. “You don’t need wizards when you have Spider-Man!”
I smiled and ran a hand through his messy, brown hair. I couldn’t get over how excited Peter was about literally anything. It was like he was a little kid, and I found it incredibly endearing.
“You’re not healthy enough to be Spider-Man,” I said. “At least not until we get this vibranium.”
“Spider-Man never takes a day off,” he said, a proud grin on his face.
“Well, Spider-Man will today!”
“Fine,” he mumbled. “But only because you told me to.”