#riri is carolrhodey's daughter btw

[naferty]

Part 2!

~~~

Reunion

(Stroganoff au, a/b/o dynamics, stony, Gregory comes for a visit)

They celebrate the get together in his yard. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is out and clouds are slowly moving along. Tables are full of food and snacks. Chips and dip are on one corner and fruit and salad bowls are on the other. Soda, juice, cucumber water, wine and more are available and hot dogs and ingredients to make tacos make up the main course.

There’s plenty for everyone invited. Even the neighbors are invited to stop by and grab a plate for themselves and their families. Many happily take up the offer, chat with Tony and Steve and go on their merry way.

There is laughter in the air. Everybody is greeting everyone. Many are catching up and others are telling stories. Old friends and new and more family. Jarvis is out and about offering drinks, much to Tony and Steve’s dismay. Clint and Rhodey are arguing over the grill and who cooks the dogs better. The Nanas are sitting together in the center, joined by Winnifred. Their laughter in harmony and their stories embarrassing their sons. Tony, Steve, Rhodey and Bucky are left to moan in agony as their mothers reveal everything to everyone willing to listen.

Because of luck, T’Challa is there to join the festivities and brought with him his sister, who’s already causing trouble with Peter, Harley and Riri. Tony had gotten a bouncing castle for the ‘kids’ as a joke, but the joke’s on him as all four are using it to their full advantage. They don’t even care if they’re too old for it. It’s their temporary and personal hideout from boring adults.

Games are being played, drinks are drunk, hot dogs are being eaten and everyone is happy. Worries are far behind them and no one expects the shadow that follows after a sleek, blue and all aesthetic car or what it brings ahead for their festivities.

The first to notice the strange but recognizable face is Jan. It stops her in her tracks as she’s holding a plate of hot dogs and chips. She blinks and blinks again then shakes her head and blinks one more time before finally accepting that, yes, Gregory Stark is really standing on the sidewalk of her friend’s house.

Her sudden stop is not missed by others. Soon, everyone near her vicinity follows her gaze and come upon the same conclusion. That is indeed the CEO of SI and that is him walking towards their gathering with an insulting swagger and throwing shade with just his sunglasses on. His outfit consists of a sharp suit and expensive Italian shoes and is very out of place with all of their casual attires and sundresses.

Jan is quick to move through the crowd in search of Tony, but in the time it took her to find him many of the others further in the crowd have noticed the arrival of the misplaced CEO alpha. The laughter goes down. Whispers and hushed tones fill the air now. The music covers for the suddenly tense atmosphere, but the change is still easily noticed. It catches Peter’s attention. Not wanting to be out of the loop of in his own home he rushes out of the bouncing castle and looks for the source of the sudden silence.

His eyes go wide when he sees the sharp figure. He almost doesn’t recognize him. Photos don’t prepare you for the real thing and Peter didn’t actually expect the guy to show up, but he’s here now and Peter admits he’s a little excited. His Nana Maria might get what she wants after all!

The man stops short of reaching the center of the crowd. He looks around, taking in his surroundings before grinning and taking off his sunglasses. “I’m here at last. I’d apologize for being late, but what can you do? Where are the hosts? I’d like to personally thank them for the invite.”

Peter is left a bit unbalanced. Now that’s a strong personality. “Uh, Mr Stark? I mean - Sir?”

The eyes of the alpha land on him. Cold and calculating blue eyes. Nothing like his Mam’s warm and brown ones or even close to his Pop’s soft and caring blue ones.

“You Peter?”

Peter straightens his back. “Yeah, yeah that’s me. Peter’s my name and you’re Gregory Stark, right? You made it!”

“Yeah, I made it,” SI Stark’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Nice party, kid. What are we celebrating?”

Before Peter could answer Harley walks up beside him, posturing as much as a tiny ten-year-old alpha could. “Who’s the suit?”

SI Stark studies him for a second before nodding in… approval? “His uncle.”

“We have enough of those. Thanks,” Harley says and Peter is ready to shoo him away before he scares their Nana’s only chance at the reunion she wants, but SI Stark only laughs.

He looks between them. “Another one? Little Anthony went and had two of you, huh? Surprised he managed you,” he points to Harley. “Didn’t think he had it in him.”

That… sounded insulting. Is that meant to be an insult?

“Gregory, what a surprise.” Through the crowd came their Mam and right by his side stood their Pop. The two… don’t exactly look happy at their new guest.

Gregory is unfazed. “Anthony! A very long time no see. How have you been? How’s business?”

“Oh, you know. Living my life, moving along happily and debating on whether getting a signature stamp for signing all those contracts flooding my desk is worth an investment or not. You know how it is. So what are you doing here?”

SI Stark chuckles as he raises his arms in show. “I got invited. Took a long time for my invitation to arrive, but I finally got it. Thanks for that, Pete.”

All eyes turn to him, making Peter want to melt into the ground. Somehow, sending that letter felt like the wrong thing to have done. Looking around he didn’t see a single face happy at his choice. Not even his Nana Maria, who he had done this all for, looks happy to see her son there.

“You’re welcome,” he tries for cheerful. He fails.

Pop moves forward. “Steve Rogers,” he… introduces himself? - and shit, had they never met before? Did Peter just force his Pop and his brother-in-law to meet for the very first time? Did Peter just cause this gathering to become… awkward??

“Gregory Stark, but you all know that.”

Oh, my god, he did! He did force an awkward force first meeting!

He’s so grounded.

His Pop took a deep breath. The kind of breath that meant he’s holding back something that’s not going to be pretty if unleashed. Peter and Harley knew of that intake well. They grew up fearing it the one or two times it happened. Not aimed at them, thankfully. Aimed at some unfortunate soul unlucky enough to have the wrath of Commander Rogers on them. Gregory is not starting out great at all.

“Sure,” Pop is very unimpressed. “Food and drinks are in the back. We’re about to start some games. You’re welcome to join.”

“Don't think I will. I'll mingle. See what's so special. Perhaps catch up with Mother,” he says in an obnoxious tone before heading off into the crowd. Not bothered by the way the others seem to put distance when he gets close.

That's not how Peter expected this to go at all. They are supposed to be ecstatic and greet each other like long lost family members. Nana Maria is supposed to come rushing to her son and happily introduce him to everyone. Everyone here is supposed to include him with open arms, or at least less hostility, than what most are showing him now.

Instead, no one is smiling. No one even tries to pretend to smile. Not Jarvis, not even Nana Maria, and Peter doesn’t know why. 

He’s left to stand awkwardly as his guest meanders away and attempts small talk with his family members who are very obviously shunning him.