Chapter Text
“Mr. Stark’s latest announcement has caused quite the media frenzy. Honestly, phones’ve been ringing non-stop since yesterday.”
“I don’t remember making a public announcement.”
“Uh,” Chris groaned. “You know the staff all have a bet on when you’ll finally stop using that joke?”
Peter laughed, absentmindedly tracing the wedding band on his finger.
“I’ll stop confusing Mr. Stark’s when it's no longer funny,” he smirked. “Which’ll be never.”
“Course not.” Chris rolled his eyes. “But my point still stands Tony Stark’s announcement, referring to you, has left half the office sounding like a call centre. PR are being hounded.”
“I’d love to say I’m surprised but I’m not. A couple of years ago, we weren’t even allowed in the workplace. Now I’m running R&D alongside Tony, with you as my right-hand man. Yes, people are adapting, better than I thought they might, but there’s still a lot of backlash. Being told a male omega is the heir to one of the world's largest companies was likely to rile some people and confuse others. We were prepared for this response.”
“I guess. Y’know there are still mornings where I wake up and pinch myself,” Chris admitted, placing his files onto Peter’s desk. “Like, how did this become my life? It just seems so unreal. Living in a brothel for years to suddenly be living in my own apartment and working for Stark Industries. It’s just so surreal. Feels like only yesterday I was seeing you for the first time and being so confused. I’d never seen an omega your age before look so relaxed around their alpha. Especially during those first couple of months, everyone I knew was terrified. Whereas you were different. I mean, I get it now, but at the time I just couldn’t work it out.”
He smiled softly at the older omega. It wasn’t the first time they’d talked about their original meeting.
After his honeymoon, and he’d gotten his degree from MIT, he’d started working alongside Tony in R&D and quickly worked his way up the ranks. His work alone proving it wasn’t favouritism. When he became head of the department, Tony had suggested that he’d need to hire an assistant, his own equivalent of Pepper Potts. After agreeing he’d poured over the applications before finding one from Chris Phillips. After reading his application, he’d used FRIDAY to find a picture after the resume had sparked a niggle in the back of his mind, and his breath had caught in his throat when he’d laid eyes on the man. Chris Phillips was the same Chris he’d met all those years before at the first gala he’d attended. The one who’d been rented by Tiberius Stone for the evening.
He hadn’t had to read any more applications after that. He knew exactly who he wanted to be working by his side.
They’d quickly hit it off. Despite having completely different experiences after presenting, there were still similarities that they could both understand more than anyone else in their lives. They could discuss the annoyance of heats. How impractical it was to have to take an entire week off work several times a year. How, even now when things had changed, they’d be jeered at on the streets. Wolf-whistled by alphas. That there were times they’d be scared to go out alone in fear of someone trying to press their advantage.
It was getting better, but the issues certainly hadn’t disappeared. The perpetrators had just found sneakier ways of going about it.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “It sucks it took so long, but you’re here now. I think we can just finish up for the day, don’t you? It’s a Friday, don’t want to keep you any longer than necessary. Do you have any weekend plans?”
“Yeah, actually.” Chris perked up. “My parents are flying in for a visit.”
“Really? That’s amazing!”
Chris’ parents had struggled with his initial presentation. His dad had been raised a hard-core conservative and had completely disowned him. Making no effort to contact his son after he’d been sold on.
Chris’ mum was different. She’d tried to maintain contact, but circumstances had prevented it. The minute the law had been changed, she’d tried to contact Chris. Writing letters and eventually getting his number so they could chat on the phone. They’d moved to Florida about five years ago and it had taken time for his dad to come around, but they’d been talking over the phone for months now.
The fact they were coming to see him in person was amazing. He couldn’t imagine what Chris was feeling.
“Yeah. I mean, we’ve video called and stuff, but this’ll be the first in person meeting since I presented. It’s… surreal.”
“I’m so happy for you,” he grinned, moving to hug his friend.
“Thanks, man.”
Walking Chris to the elevators he bid him a good weekend, before making his way to the penthouse. Tony wasn’t expected back until later so after changing out of his suit and into something more comfortable, he set about making dinner.
He was just putting the garlic bread into the oven when Tony arrived home. Grinning when Tony’s arms snaked around his waist, pressing kisses up his neck and along his jaw.
“Smells amazing, Pete.”
“The food or me?” he teased.
“Both. Definitely both.” His hands tracing down his sides until his hands gripped his hips, pulling him back until his ass was pressed against the alpha’s swelling cock.
“Mmm,” he moaned, leaning back. “Y’know, I could turn down the heat and we’d have an extra…. Half hour until it was ready? If you had other plans.”
“I’ve always got plans to do nefarious things with my husband, Mr. Stark,” Tony murmured, sucking on his neck.
Shivering at the sensation, he adjusted the temperature in the oven before turning in Tony’s embrace.
“Well then, why don’t you show me, Mr. Stark.”
Hopping into Tony’s arms, he wrapped his legs around Tony’s waist leaning down for a kiss while Tony took them to the bedroom. He still wanted Tony as much as he did years ago when everything was still new and fresh. The difference being that now they knew each other’s bodies inside and out. Knew which buttons to press to get the other going, how to tease their partner. He could tell by the subtle hitch in breath whenever Tony got close, and Tony could tell by the way he tensed his thighs.
A familiarity that was just as intimate, if not more so, than the acts themselves.
Landing on the bed, he shimmied out of his clothes while Tony did the same before crawling on top of him. Kissing him deeply, they eventually pulled back panting. The alpha’s hands tracing down his stomach towards his cock.
“As much as I love a good tease, I don’t want to burn dinner. So, c’mon, Casanova. Hurry it along.”
“So pushy,” Tony smirked, but complied.
A hand disappeared between his legs to check he was ready before he thrust in quickly. The breath being pushed out of him by the force, pleasure coursing through him.
After an initial tease, Tony picked up the pace and fifteen minutes later they were both sated and in the process of getting redressed. Tony complaining about the Board meeting he’d been dragged to by Pepper earlier in the day.
Chuckling as he pulled on a t-shirt, he smiled at his alpha who was currently sniffing a shirt off the floor to decide whether it was clean or not.
“Who said romance is dead,” he mused, smiling cheekily at the man.
“Oh, be quiet,” Tony grumped, rolling his eyes. “We adapt. You love me, anyway.”
“Yeah, I love you, Tony.”
Tony smiled softly before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.
“And I love you more, Peter.”
Pressing another kiss to the man’s lips, he reluctantly pulled back before heading out the door.
“Where’re you going?” Tony complained.
“I told you; I don’t want dinner to burn.”
Straightening his tie for the tenth time in five minutes, he made eye contact with Tony standing behind him in the mirror. A nervous smile taking over his face.
“You sure you want to do this?” Tony asked.
“Yeah,” he breathed. Spinning round to smile at his alpha before moving to stand beside Ned. It was the right thing to do. “There’s been enough speculation already. It’s about time the heir of SI announced a new product anyway and I can’t think of a better one than this.”
Smirking, Tony shook his head before walking towards the door. He knew fine well that wasn’t the question Tony had been asking, but it was the one he was going to answer. He wasn’t going to let his nerves get the better of him now.
He’d kept a low profile since Tony’s announcement three months ago. The press had been hounding them for more information, for an announcement, for anything from the omegan heir.
Today was finally the day.
Rumours had been circulating for a couple of weeks now about the new aerosol bandages that had been invented by SI’s newest engineer – a feat given engineers don’t normally invent biological things – Ned Leeds, freshly graduated from MIT and snatched right up by SI. Given the pressure they’d been under for a public appearance, Peter had decided to hold a press conference. Give him the opportunity to boast about his best friend and his accomplishments.
“The reporters are ready whenever you are,” Chris announced as he walked in from the room. “Happy’s finished his perimeter sweep and everyone is now wearing their badges. I’m not sure they’re gonna know what hit them though after your announcement. I still struggle with it, and I’ve known for months.”
“You get used to it,” Ned mused. “Eventually.”
Chuckling at his friends’ words he took a deep breath, grinned at Chris and Ned before leading them out into the conference room. Tony stayed in the wings beside Happy and Chris, while Ned walked by his side to stand with him at the podium.
Clearing his throat, he glanced around the room, smiling at the numerous cameras and faces directed towards him.
“Thank you for coming today,” he greeted the room at large. “I know there have been rumours circulating for a while now, so I thought I’d use my first public appearance as the heir to Stark Industries to confirm those rumours. Ned Leeds, who graduated from MIT earlier this year, recently started in our research and development labs. Not only is he an excellent addition to our staff, but he also brought with him his very own patent for medical bandages that can be used in the field. Not only will these help first responders and our troops across the sea, but they will also be available to buy from your local pharmacy. We want to help as many people as possible. Production is still in the early stages, but we hope for them to be ready for release by the new financial year.”
Stepping back from the podium, he let Ned take over as he explained the finer details of the bandages. Explaining how they worked and the benefits to using them over traditional bandages. Pepper had spent some time over the past week coaching Ned on what to say, how to address the reporters. It was all paying off. Ned had never presented himself better. Exuding a confidence he never knew existed.
Once Ned was done, he clapped along with the rest of the room before resuming his position behind the podium for any questions.
Raising his hands to silence the hubbub of voices, he gained control of the room once again before pointing to Ashley in the front row – one of his favourite reporters from the New York Times. From the start she’d fully supported male omegan rights. Always allowed him the time of day and openly writing about the past failures of the state.
“Thank you, Mr. Stark,” she said with a smirk, knowing that he still found the moniker odd when referring to himself. “This all sounds amazing, but we know that you and Ned were friends in high school. What do you say to the speculation that the idea behind the bandages was actually a joint effort?”
Glancing at Ned, he waited for his nod of approval before responding.
They’d prepared for this question. Coming up with an answer they were both comfortable with. Peter had been willing to outright deny the accusation, but Ned had wanted to share the credit. Feeling guilty that it was borne from Peter’s work. Without his web formula it never would have worked. But after a lot of back and forth, they’d finally come to a compromise.
“It’s true that Ned and I have been friends for a long time. And yes, Ned and I discussed the bandages at school. We brainstormed ideas, but bottom-line is that the bandages are Ned’s brainchild. Ned deserves the credit for this.”
The questions that followed were to be expected. The standard product launch questions that appeared every quarter. What were the expected profit margins, the release schedules, which production methods would be used. The type of questions he’d been primed for by the PR team. It wasn’t until Christine Everhart stood up that he grinned to Tony who was standing in the wings. She always liked to throw curveballs. Something he was looking forward to during this announcement.
Especially given the rumours that had started flying this past week.
“What do you say to the rumours that Spider-Man is going to sue for copyright infringement of his signature webs? Are you concerned about being able to handle such a scandal? Is this the sort of situation were having an alpha to help run the company would prove to be an advantage?”
“Well, first of all, that rumour is untrue. Spider-Man certainly won’t be suing Stark Industries, or Ned or I, for any form of infringement. If we ever do face such scandals, then we will deal with them like we always have. SI has a strong team of lawyers, an amazing PR department and will always have a strong leadership. My omegan status holds no bearing on my ability to run this company as we have already proven and will continue to do so in the years to come—”
“How can you be so sure? The limited research available so far shows a number of similarities between your bandages and Spider-Man’s webbing. I find it hard to believe he’s not going to want some retribution for that.”
“Trust me we don’t have to worry about that,” he smirked.
Turning to catch Tony’s eye off-stage, the alpha grinned at him before shooting him a thumbs up. They’d discussed it at length for a couple of months now. He knew it would happen at some point or another and he’d decided he wanted to take control of the delivery. To follow in his alpha’s footsteps.
Too many choices in his life had already been made for him. Leaving him at the whim of others. For this, he was going to be the one to call the shots.
Taking a deep breath, he grinned once more at Tony before doing the same with Chris and then Ned, eventually turning to address the reporters again. The room having erupted with more questions at his vague answer. Raising a hand for silence, he leant forward against the podium and smirked towards the cameras.
“The truth is,” he admitted. “I am Spider-Man.”