C178 Polite Conversation

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Peter, sensing the tension between Natasha and Mikaela, mutters. "Uhh…"

Natasha offered Mikaela a polite smile, though there was an unmistakable sharpness in her gaze. "It's nice to meet you," she said, her voice smooth and controlled. "Peter doesn't usually bring new people around here..."

Mikaela returned the smile, though she could feel the weight of Natasha's words and the challenge behind them. "Thank you," she replied, her tone equally polite. "Peter's been incredibly kind to me."

The two women sized each other up, both of them recognizing the unspoken suspicion in the air...

"Peter has always been a kind man," Natasha continued, her tone remaining polite but carrying an undertone of something more. "Though It's rare for him to bring someone new here. Will you be staying? In the Red Room, I mean?"

Mikaela shrugged, trying to maintain her composure despite the subtle probing. "I don't know. I only just got here," she said, her voice steady. "Peter… well, he's been helping me a lot. We've spent so much time together lately. He's been really supportive."

Natasha's smile remained in place, but her eyes narrowed just slightly, a hint of the challenge in them. "Supportive, huh? That's good to hear. Peter has a knack for finding people when they're going through tough times and offering his help. I'm sure he'll find someone new to help soon..."

Mikaela could see where Natasha was going with this, the underlying suggestion that perhaps her presence was temporary or circumstantial, her jaw tensing.

The words hung in the air, and Peter, feeling the charged atmosphere, glanced nervously between the two women. "Yeah, well, you know me," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "Always trying to help out where I can."

Natasha's gaze flicked back to Peter, her expression softening slightly. "That you do," she agreed, but her eyes quickly returned to Mikaela. "So, Mikaela, what do you do? How did you and Peter meet?"

Mikaela took a breath, sensing the underlying curiosity and the subtle challenge in Natasha's question. "Oh, we met under… unusual circumstances," she said carefully. "It's a long story, but…"

…

..

.

After hearing how Peter saved Mikaela, Natasha nodded slowly, her eyes carefully studying Mikaela. "I see," she replied, a brief fond smile crossing her face as she recalled how Peter had once saved her, too. "I guess we have something in common then…"

As Mikaela shared her story, she felt a step ahead of Natasha. However, after hearing Natasha's response and seeing the fond smile on her face, that confidence quickly faded. In its place grew a resolve to establish her place here, to prove she was more than just a fleeting acquaintance.

"I guess we do," Mikaela said, her voice a bit firmer, her eyes narrowing.

Peter could feel the tension between Natasha and Mikaela escalating with every passing second. He decided he needed to do something—anything—to lighten the mood and prevent things from boiling over. He cleared his throat, offering a somewhat awkward smile. "Okay, well, I think we've all had a bit of an eventful day," he interjected, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Maybe we should all just—"

Natasha and Mikaela glanced at him briefly, their expressions softening for just a moment before they realized they were supposed to be upset with him. After all, who said he could go around with other women, even if they weren't together?

But they didn't have time for Peter right now, quickly turning their attention back to each other, neither willing to lower their guard or give the other an advantage.

Natasha's eyes sharpened as she saw how Mikaela held Peter's arm. "So," she began, her tone beginning to lose its false friendliness, "you seem pretty comfortable..."

Mikaela followed suit, her cordial smile vanishing. "I'd like to think so," she replied, her tone sharpening as she pulled his arm even closer. "Peter's been incredibly kind and welcoming. He's made It easy to feel comfortable."

Natasha's fingers brushed the handle of her knife, her grip tightening slightly. She leaned in even closer, her voice now edged with a cold warning. "I'm sure he has," she said slowly, her eyes locked on Mikaela's. "But don't mistake kindness for fondness. It's easy to feel comfortable—until you overstep."

Peter shifted slightly, sensing that things were starting to escalate a little too much. He decided to be a bit more assertive, pulling his arm free and stepping between the two women. "Natasha, Mikaela, that's enough—"

Just as Peter was taking control of the situation, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the hangar. He turned just in time to see Tony Stark sprinting in, a look of urgency and alarm etched across his face.

Without missing a beat, Tony activated his Iron Man suit, which enveloped him in a flash of red and gold. He barely glanced at the trio before rocketing out of the hangar doors, disappearing into the open sky.

Peter's eyes widened in surprise, his attempt to defuse the situation momentarily forgotten. "Tony?" he called out, but the billionaire was already gone. His concern quickly shifted to the situation at hand. "Jarvis, what's up with Tony?" he asked, glancing around the hangar.

Jarvis's voice crackled over the PA system, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Impressive, Mr. Quill. How did you know I was integrated into the Red Room's systems."

Peter offered a small, distracted grin. "I figured it out a while ago. Tony's not exactly subtle and you won't be staying for long, no offense. Now, what's going on?"

There was a brief pause before Jarvis responded, his tone more serious. "There has been an incident at Stark Industries. The arc reactor prototype built by Howard Stark has been stolen. Mr. Stark is en route to assess the situation personally."

Peter's expression shifted to one of concern. "The arc reactor? How did that happen?" he muttered to himself, clearly troubled by the news. He hadn't anticipated something like this, and the fact that he hadn't seen it coming only added to his unease.

He turned back to Natasha and Mikaela, his demeanor suddenly more urgent. "I need to go check this out," he told them. "I'll be back soon. Just… try not to kill each other while I'm gone, okay?" He offered a half-smile, but his mind was already focused on the task ahead. 'And try not to kill me when I get back…'

Peter quickly headed toward a small Jedi ship parked nearby, preparing to take off. But before he could climb inside, he heard a familiar whirring sound approaching. He turned to see Bee sprinting across the hangar.

Within seconds, Bee transformed seamlessly into an exact replica of the Jedi ship Peter was about to board, the cockpit hatch opening invitingly.

Peter couldn't help but chuckle at Bee's eagerness. "Don't want to be left behind again, huh, Bee?" he said with a grin. He hopped into the open cockpit, and with a swift motion, Bee launched into the sky, following the trajectory Tony had taken moments before.

…

Back in the hangar, Natasha and Mikaela were left standing alone, the tension between them palpable even in Peter's absence. The air seemed charged with unspoken animosity, a simmering hostility that neither of them made any effort to hide.

Natasha took a step closer, her posture firm, her expression cold and unyielding. "Let's not beat around the bush anymore," she said sharply, her eyes narrowing at Mikaela. "I don't know who you think you are, but Peter is important to me. I'm not going to stand by and let some random girl swoop in and mess things up."

Mikaela's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't back down. She took a step forward, closing the gap between them. "I don't care who you are or what you say," she shot back, her voice steady despite the tension. "I'm not going to let you scare me off. If you think you can just claim him for yourself, you're mistaken."

Natasha's eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flashing in them. "You have no idea what you're dealing with," she warned, her voice low and menacing. "You don't belong here so leave."

Mikaela's jaw clenched, her own resolve hardening. "I'm not going to step aside for you. If Peter wants me here, then I'm staying. And you're not going to intimidate me into leaving."

For a moment, the two women stared each other down, their expressions fierce and unyielding. The hostility between them was no longer veiled behind polite words or cautious smiles. It was out in the open, raw and unapologetic.

Natasha smirked, a flicker of admiration for Mikaela's bravery crossing her face, though it didn't soften her stance. "You've got guts, I'll give you that," she said, her voice tinged with a begrudging respect. "But this isn't a game. I'm not going to lose to some high school girl who doesn't know what she's getting herself into."

Mikaela squared her shoulders, meeting Natasha's gaze with unwavering determination. "I'm not going to lose either," she replied. "I care about Peter just as much as you do, maybe even more. So if this is a competition, then bring it on. May the best girl win."

Natasha's eyes narrowed further, a faint smile playing on her lips despite the tension. "Fine," she said with a nod, accepting the challenge. "May the best WOMAN win."

With that, Natasha turned and walked away, her movements confident and purposeful. As she left, she cast a final glance over her shoulder at Mikaela, her mind already racing with thoughts of how to secure her place in Peter's life.

Mikaela watched Natasha go, her heart still pounding but a new fire burning within her. She wasn't sure what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain: she wasn't going to back down. Not now, not ever.

————

Tony Stark arrived at Stark Industries within minutes, the thrusters of his Iron Man suit blazing a trail through the sky. As he descended, his landing sent a gust of wind blowing across the grounds, startling the employees and security personnel who had gathered outside the partially destroyed building. They watched in shock, fear spreading through the crowd. They had never seen his suit before and, in their panic, thought he might be another attacker.

The building itself was a scene of chaos. Large sections of the walls had been blown apart, leaving gaping holes that exposed twisted metal and shattered glass. Smoke billowed from several points of impact, and the acrid smell of scorched electronics filled the air.

Tony's helmet retracted, revealing his face, his presence calming the terrified crowd. He scanned the scene, his eyes narrowing as he took in the extent of the damage. Among the onlookers, he spotted Pepper Potts, who was staring at him with a mix of shock and relief.

[Insert picture of Pepper here]

"Pepper!" Tony called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the panicked crowd. "What the hell happened here?"

Pepper snapped out of her stunned silence at the sound of his voice. She quickly made her way over to him, holding a thick, bulky tablet in her hands. "Mr. Stark, it's… it's bad," she said, her voice tight with urgency. "You need to see this." She handed him the tablet, her hand shaking slightly.

Tony took the tablet and immediately began reviewing the security footage Pepper had pulled up. "?"

The video showed the exterior of the building just moments before the attack. Everything seemed normal until a group of enormous, menacing robots suddenly appeared, moving with terrifying precision and power. They blasted through the building's defenses, their weapons tearing apart walls and security measures with ease.

Tony's eyes widened as he watched. "?!"

The footage then cut to an interior view, showing the robots storming into the secure labs where his father's arc reactor prototype was kept. They tore through the lab like a tornado, ignoring the frantic attempts of security personnel to stop them.

The camera angle shifted again, capturing a close-up of one of the robots, larger and more menacing than the rest, as it carefully removed the arc reactor prototype, cradling it in its massive metal hands before retreating with the others.

Tony's expression darkened as realization dawned on him. These weren't just random attackers. "Decepticons," he muttered under his breath, his tone grim. Peter had warned him about these robots, and now they were here, attacking his company and stealing one of his most valuable assets.

Just as he was processing this, a loud roar filled the air. Tony turned to see a yellow Jedi ship rapidly descending from the sky, its engines humming as it maneuvered with surprising agility.

The crowd gasped and began to scatter, fearing another attack. But as the ship landed, it transformed with a series of mechanical clicks and whirrs into a familiar humanoid form.

Bumblebee.

The sight of another giant robot only added to the crowd's panic, and many began to back away, their fear palpable. Bee's bright yellow and black form towered over them, his eyes glowing with a soft blue light as he completed his transformation.

Perched on Bee's shoulder, Peter quickly surveyed the chaotic scene. "Tony!" he called out, trying to make himself heard over the noise of the frightened crowd. "What happened?"

Tony turned to face them, his eyes meeting Peter's. "Well," he replied, his voice tense. "We've got a serious problem."

A/N: 2281 words :)

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