Who: Peter Parker and Klara P. Coulson What: plants and pizza When: yesterday Where: his and Tony's place Warnings: feels, c for cute Status: completed doc
Klara caught an uber over to the apartment where Tony, Morgan and Peter were at. She had a spider plant, two webbed succulents and an air plant.
She gets the spider plant to carry the air plant and walk itself to the door. She knocked, the webbed succulents in one arm. She was standing in a long sun dress and sandals, her hair loose and slightly curled.
"Hi! I brought plants!!" She beamed at him when he opened the door, happy to have brought cute plants, in cute containers.
Peter was home alone for the afternoon and if it were May, he definitely would have had to have gotten permission to have a girl over while she was out. But Tony would probably just be grateful he had human beings who weren't sociopaths or aliens over to visit and was probably still silently questioning if Peter was gay.
He opened the door when she knocked, grinning brightly. Especially when he saw the cute little plant at her feet literally carrying its new friend. He couldn't help laughing. "Come on in," he offered. He widened the door so she and the plants could come inside. Where he was going to put all his new friends hadn't really been decided yet, but he was sure he'd find the perfect spot. Something out of Tony's way. Besides, if they were moving soon, he shouldn't let the plants get too attached to any one spot.
"Do you need me to carry those? Or um… I mean, they seem to be doing alright on their own."
Klara smiled at him, "They wanted to be helpful." She guided them inside, laughing softly at them. They were cheerful little plants, healthy, and happy. She made sure they moved carefully so they didn't do any damage.
"They're doing okay but if you want to pick them up you can." She shifted the other plant in her arms, smiling, "are you okay with these? They're succulents, easy to care for. I figure they'd be easy to care for."
Klara reached out to run her fingers over the plant in her hand. "How are you?"
There was something soothing about watching her interact with the plants. Like when she had calmed the roses in that alley. He liked it. It made him feel more calm, too.
"They're perfect. And easy to take care of sounds awesome because I'm not down for the hard ones!" He had read a little about plants when she had mentioned bringing some over. Succulents were apparently just shy of unkillable, which sounded great, especially with everything that was about to go on in that family.
The containers were nice, too, and he scooped up the two plants on the ground, carrying one in each arm. "Do they need lots of light or not much light? Should they be separated or do they want to stay together?"
Which was a sentence he never thought he'd say. But he trusted Klara to know what the plants wanted.
"I am glad you like them. I think they'll do well here. They like you already " she looked at the plants in his arms. "Succulents and air plants are near impossible to murder. I think you'll be fine."
"They'll be fine in moderate sunlight, so wherever gets morning or afternoon sun. They don't need much water." She smiled as she followed him. The plants were happy enough, looked healthy, and they didn't take up tons of space.
"The spider plant is happy on its own. It spawns its own company. I would put the succulents and air plant together. They like each other, and would do best." She blushed a bit, "I hand raised them together."
Peter couldn't help laughing a little. Somehow calling it murder was so much different than saying you had killed your plants. And considering how close she was to them, he understood it.
"I knew you'd know," he told her with a smile. Looking around, he chose an empty bookshelf that had plenty of room for both the air plant and the succulents. "It's really bright here around mid afternoon so they can have some sun bathing time." He was sure they'd like that.
"And if you think the spider plant would be okay with it, I kind of want to keep it in my room." She had chosen it specifically with him in mind, after all. It made sense to keep it close to him. And even if he ended up sharing with Ryder, he couldn't imagine anyone not enjoying being around such a fun looking plant. "And I don't really have a lot decorating it yet."
She truly felt for her plants, she worked hard to keep up a good relationship with them. Klara felt for them. People tended to forget their plants and she felt the need to help them.
She smiled warmly at Peter, "I'm glad you trust me. They will love the afternoon sun. They get a tablespoon of water a week, they don't require much at all! But they are gorgeous. They are elegant." She paused to turn one they way it wanted to be.
"Oh, yes! It would be happy. It knows it was chosen for you to enjoy, so it'll be happy nearby." Her smile was broad, and obviously pleased. Slender fingers played with fabric of her dress, quietly shy.
>
He watched carefully how she handled the little plant. The one that had seemed so cheerful showing up at his door. It was kind of cool, knowing they had their own personalities. "Of course I trust you. You know them best."
A tablespoon of water was doable. "That's about how much water I get," Peter joked, grinning brightly. "I way prefer a diet of Dr. Pepper." He could feel his aunt scolding him from a dimension away.
Now it was his turn to be shy. Quickly he ran through the list of things that might possibly be on the floor of his bedroom. Hopefully nothing too embarrassing. Just the Lego figure he was working on and some comics. With any luck at all. "Do you want to come help me find a spot for it?" May was alternate dimension scolding him for that, too.
Klara blushed a little.
"You should get more water. You are basically a house plant with complex emotions. You need food, sun and water." She chided gently.
"Sure, I would love to help." Though she followed him to his room and didn't go inside. She stood in the doorway, she did have old manners still, looking very shy and embarrassed that she was still sticking to it. She swept her eyes over the room.
For a moment, Peter just stared at her. (Which wasn't exactly a hardship, his new friend was very pretty, after all.) Then he burst out laughing. "I never thought of it that way. Fine, my plants and I will share some water. But I'm still drinking soda, too!"
He noticed how she didn't go inside the room and honestly, he wasn't overly upset by that. She was a good friend, had quickly become one of his favorite people here. But she was still a girl and an attractive one at that and the idea of her being that close to his bed was...weird.
...definitely not helping dispel Tony's thought that he might be gay.
"She can sit here by the window. I keep the curtains closed most of the time but I can open them enough for her to get some sunshine."
Klara smiled as he stared, "good! Water is good for you but I'm not saying give up soda, just add in water!" She looked a little self conscious at all the attention. Not that he could look at anyone else.
She looked at the window and nodded, "we can get Tony to hang her for you, from the ceiling, they like to stretch out." She cocked her head to the side.
"She likes it there. I think she will flourish for you there. She'll need more water than the others. Get a small watering can and pour in thirty seconds worth of water once a week."
She bit her lip in thought.
He gave her a look. "I can hang her, Klara. I promise. I'm not a little kid here." The words weren't said in a mean tone. Concerned, more than anything. It got frustrating, being Tony Stark's "protege", so to speak. Especially now. "I can do most things on my own."
Especially something as simple as hanging a plant. He didn't even need a ladder to do so. Or a hammer and nails, really. The webbing was strong enough to hold the plant if he wanted to do things that way.
But hanging it now would just look like showing off and he wasn't really up for that reputation. That was something he really didn't need. "I'll get her in the air soon. And I'll come down to the nursery and get her a watering can, too."
Klara flinched, "Sorry! I'm used to asking Phil to do those things for me still." She felt bad, she was used to getting help and permissions to do that kind of thing. "My apologies."
Her hands fidgeted in the fabric of the skirt of her dress, then she turned to get out of the way, making her way back to the other room. Retreating towards the plants, her comfort zone. Fingers reaching to brush over them, a faint smile curling her lips.
She carefully turned the other one a little, nodding as if she was listening to it. She took a moment to pull herself together, having caught herself feeling bad for things she shouldn't.
He felt really, really bad. Peter remembered what Pepper had told him and what Klara had said. Combined, he'd figured out a lot of things on his own. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. How could he be that stupid?
A moment later he joined her in the living room. He leaned against a wall, watching her communicate with the plants. "I'm sorry," he said softly after a minute, trying to not startle her. "I'm not mad or anything. I promise. You didn't do or say anything wrong."
Compared to the things she had been through, his dorky superhero teen problems were practically pathetic.
Klara didn't want to burden him with her history, she'd done that enough with people. Everyone treated her with gloves when she really wanted to learn how to be normal. But she got in her own way, too. Because you couldn't unexperience things.
"No, I need to remember when I am. You don't need help or permission to hang a plant. I should know better. I'm sorry." Her fingers dropped from the plants. It was a rare moment she looked as old as her theoretical years. She'd seen a lot, but she was still a teenager, lost and still trying to adjust. She'd come a long way.
His problems were still problems. She'd never gone through that phase, she'd never been allowed to, but she didn't think less of him because of them. She steadied her shoulders and offered him a smile. "Please don't feel bad."
He offered a genuine small. Honestly, he wasn't mad at all. Not even irritated. "No, honestly. You didn't do anything wrong and I don't want you worrying that you did. Sometimes… I mean, Tony is kind of a big deal back home. He doesn't even have a secret identity, he just is Tony Stark, you know?" No, she probably didn't know. Peter knew they were from similar worlds but that didn't mean she knew of them all.
"This one's on me, Klara. This is me being dumb. I promise." He stood up straight, then, walking over to where she stood with his new plants. "If it is something you did, I'd tell you. Honest. That's what friends do. They tell each other when things are wrong. But you didn't do anything wrong."
"I know Tony, but I forget? I worked with the young avengers for a little while but I guess I forget because I get so focused on what's right and What's not." She smiled nervously, "I'll try to be more mindful."
Klara nervously tucked hair behind her ear, "thank you I appreciate that. I don't know when I do things wrong. I need help with that. I want to be a better friend." She looked at him with a warm smile.
"I can make us food?"
"My insecurities aren't your responsibility," he reassured. "And don't think I don't like him. I do. Tony Stark has been my role model for years. He's a great man. But he's a lot to live up to." All of the Avengers were. But Peter was so grateful to be a part of it all.
"You're a great friend!" He confirmed brightly, his mood cheering quite a bit. "You've brought me plants to help brighten the place up. And now you're offering to cook?" Laughing, he shrugged. "I was going to say let's just go out for pizza but we can totally cook here if you want. I have no idea what's in the fridge but I can help. Miss Karen has taught me to cook a few things."
Now he was just being rambly. Mostly trying to make her feel better, but also to feel like less of an idiot for pouring his heart out.
Klara smiled, "I didn't mean to insinuate that you didn't! I can't imagine trying to live up to any of them. I have a hard time living up to me." She said gently, smiling.
"I am sure it is enough." She smiled at him, "home cooked is healthier." Sorry, Peter. "But I promise it will be better than the pizza here." She beamed at him, "I'm glad you think I'm a great friend. I'm trying."
She didn't think he was an idiot, she thought he was brave for doing so. It wasn't easy to spill your inner feelings, she was happy he felt okay with her to do so. "I'm glad we met."
Peter laughed. "So does that mean you forgive me for the whole barging into your room yelling thing?" He was very clearly teasing. Obviously they'd moved on from that debacle. They'd come a really long way and he was admittedly pretty proud of them.
"All right, then. Let's raid the fridge. I'll even do the dishes, since I already know you'll be doing most of the cooking!" And that wasn't a gender thing at all. He was just still learning and she apparently knew her way around the kitchen. Especially given the amazing pie she'd made.
Klara smirked a little, "oh I suppose it does." Teasing in return, or trying to anyway. She wasn't the best at that yet but she was trying! She smiled then found her way to the kitchen, raiding the fridge almost immediately.
"I can teach you? I'm teaching Pepper. I'm happy to teach you as well!" She looked back at him as she pulled cheese out. They raided the cupboards for the rest of the things she'd need.
"You were going to suggest pizza, so I'll make homemade pizza"
Peter’s eyes widened in surprise. “You know how to make pizza?” Okay, now he was even more impressed. Even Karen hadn’t taught him to make pizza. “That’s way better than calling for Domino’s.”
Not that he was going to give up on delivery just yet. It was great for when you were hungry in a hurry. Or just wanted gross, bad for you pizza. “If you’re teaching me and Pepper both, our house will basically be the most well fed one in Madison.” It was still a little weird, thinking about how their family had gone all Brady Bunch on everyone. But he didn’t mind it much. Ryder seemed nice and Morgan was more than thrilled to have her parents back together.
"I do! From scratch no less!" She smiled brightly, "it tastes better I think, and I've had pizza a lot!" She twisted her hair back and used her own hair to tie it into a knot to stay out of her way.
"I don't know - the pack house seems very well fed." She smiled then got down to business, showing him the steps to make the dough. It was pretty simple, really.
Then she'd walk him through the homemade sauce, pausing, "I'll have to go to the farmer's market to get more fresh herbs. Everything is next with fresh herbs!" She reached up to brush a hair off her face, smearing a thin line of sauce across her cheek.
"But I've never eaten at the Pack House, I have nothing to compare it to!" he reminded her, smiling brightly.
The dough was a lot more complicated than she seemed to think. He would definitely need help the first time he tried this on his own. But the sauce was actually pretty easy. He liked mixing it and adding the spices and herbs. "What, you don't grow your own herbs?" he teased gently. "I can go to the market with you if you want. Then you don't have to carry everything home by yourself."
Unless she was already tired of him. He would probably be tired of him by now! He picked up one of the dish towels and leaned over, gently dabbing at the sauce on her cheek. "You're a very messy cook. The best kind to learn from!"
Klara laughed as she stirred the sauce, "I don't currently. I don't want to run Phil and kitty and Jean out with a billion plants so I keep it to a minimum." She teased back before grinning.
"That would be lovely, Peter, thank you. I would appreciate that!" The offer of help was much welcomed, Klara often tried to do things on her own.
"Oh!" She blushed as he wiped it off her face for her, "thank you!" A shy smile before she offered him a spoon. "Okay dish it out, then put on the cheese you want!"
>
"When we move into our new place, we can grow herbs there. I don't think anyone will mind much." Pepper really liked Klara, after all, and Tony seemed fond of her, too. So if she wanted to grow herbs, no one was likely to complain.
He grinned, then, a look of pride on his face when he realized she was actually excited to take him up on his offer. That meant he had done the right thing in offering. It also meant maybe this summer wouldn't be quite so boring as he had thought.
Blushing a bit, he shrugged off her thanks, using the spoon to carefully ladle some of the sauce on to the dough. Then he added a generous handful of the cheese. And another. Because it was cheese and you couldn't go wrong with cheese. "So if you wanted to make it with other toppings you'd just do the same thing but add them, too?" Seemed easy enough. Maybe there was hope for him yet.
She beamed at him, "yes exactly! All the toppings. Though with things like bacon or chicken you'll want to precook them. But otherwise things are fair game and easy to throw on!"
Klara seemed very excited, both in that he was picking this up and wanted to help her. It made her feel good for her company to be wanted. She ticked a stray hair back.
"Okay now we bake it for 15 to 20 minutes then eat!" While it was baking she'd set them up table wise and find drinks, moving easily in a kitchen.
Bacon and chicken on pizza actually sounded amazing and he already knew he was going to have to do this at least a couple of times a week.
"You know," he began, leaning against the counter so he could stay out of her way, "I've been really missing good pizza since we got here. Especially after eating actual Italian pizza. This is going to be a huge help."
He knew he should probably help her, but she seemed so at ease. Especially given it wasn't even her kitchen. If she looked like she needed help, he'd jump in. But for now, just chatting seemed good.
> Klara was at home in kitchens. "I am glad I could offer help then, Peter. I hope you'll like it." She laid napkins down and found the pizza cutter. She pulled the pizza out and set it down so they could cut it.
With the ease of someone who's done this a million times she relived the pizza into perfect, big slices. "Give it a minute then try it!" She looked nervous but hopeful.
He was wondering how she would do in New York. It was such a big city, especially Manhattan, and he knew she could get overwhelmed. But he would love to show her the sites and let her try all the fun foods. That she would undoubtedly turn around and learn to recreate.
Like the perfectly sliced pizza in front of him. Waiting for it to cool was the worst part. "I mean. I regenerate faster than most people, I'd heal if I burned myself, it might actually be worth it!" But he obediently waited, eyeing the pizza greedily before he felt the warmth die down to manageable levels. Taking a bite of the slice she'd given him, he actually closed his eyes for a moment, savoring it. "That's amazing. Really, Klara, this is easily in the Top 5 I've ever had. And that includes Italy!"
She had lived in old-world New York City. She would love it. He should totally see if he could take her. She loved the city, even if hers was older and dirtier than modern day. Klara loved exploring, she just, was paranoid about doing it on her own. It was scary. Too much without support was still hard.
“Yes but then you’d still have a burned tongue who was mad at you. I know waiting is hard.” she said gently as she sat down to take her own slice and wait. Then she took a bite with a smile. She liked pizza. “Top 5? I’m in the top five? That’s amazing!” she beamed up at him.
“I did not imagine top five.” she said as she worked her way down her slice, smiling shyly, only watching him through her lashes as she ate.
Peter fixed her with a playful pout. "Don't you use your logic on me!" he protested, but he had still waited obediently. Even if he'd be fine shortly, better to avoid pain while he could.
"Definitely top five. Honestly, probably top three." Italy was probably number one. It was Rome, after all. And the place around the corner from their apartment in New York was up there. But this stuff was definitely amazing.
"Thanks, Klara. For teaching me and all. And the plants. Definitely those, too." He was pretty grateful she had forgiven him for the cruise thing.