"You said you're leaving today?"
Tony Stark was rather surprised when he heard the news at Avengers Tower. His coffee cup hung motionless in midair. "This is a historic moment."
"I know, Mr. Stark, but the Avengers press conference..."
"Who said anything about the Avengers press conference? I mean you're about to travel through the multiverse. This is the first time in all of human history."
Tony Stark rubbed the bridge of his nose as he looked at the reporters streaming into Avengers Tower. "I'll call Reed and have him get ready right away. Come to Avengers Tower and show your face while we have time, then we'll head to the Baxter Building together. Tell that little girlfriend of yours to get to the Baxter Building and prepare in advance."
"Silk isn't my girlfriend—"
"Fine." Tony had no mood to waste time on this sort of thing. "Tell that girl who isn't your girlfriend yet to get ready. You have her number, right?"
The three seconds of silence from Peter Parker felt especially long to Tony Stark. His knuckles had practically tapped out the rhythm of the Symphony of Fate on the table by the time he finally got the answer, "I do." He clenched his fist and shouted, "Yes!"
"I need to get to the press conference. Get over here, quick."
A few minutes later, just as Captain was onstage giving some speech about how "we believe the Avengers will be a volunteer organization that transcends national borders and fights for justice and freedom...," Spider-Man finally came down from the top floor of Avengers Tower in the elevator.
"Can I ask you something? I don't want my identity exposed here."
"Of course." Tony Stark had absolutely no attention to spare for the press conference and immediately agreed to Peter's