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Peter Parker has always loved animals.
Turtles, snakes, cats, wolves, sharks-any animal you can think of.
But especially dogs. He doesn’t know what it is, but dogs fascinate him. Throughout his entire fourth year of school, he researched dogs-their anatomy, their digestive abilities, their responses to stimuli, cutest dog breeds this year-you name it, he learned it. Eventually, his interest in learning about the animals faded slightly, overtaken by chemistry and robotics, but his love for the animals didn’t. And while many people can say that they adore dogs, in all their furry glory, not everyone can say that dogs love them back. Peter wouldn’t admit it, but dogs do love him back. Every dog he meets, wether it be a waddling corgi or a massive Dane, simply loves Peter, trying to tackle him and pepper his face with little doggy kisses.
Of course, Peter’s always wanted a dog, because how could you not? But they never had the space to take of such an animal, or the money to sustain it after Ben passed. He’s never actually prepared to get a dog, much less owned one.
Really, though, he doesn’t own these two Rottweilers and pit bulls. Their strays, basically, and Mr. Stark wouldn’t mind if they were kept at the tower for a few days, just until they found a home. Of course he wouldn’t. Peter’s reasoning? Mr. Stark would never find out.
Of course, even after much strategizing with Ned (“dude, your sneaking dogs into the place where THE Tony Stark lives? That’s badass, man”) and countless minutes working himself up to it, the plan does not go off without a hitch. It goes...the entire other way, actually.
FRIDAY, after affirming that there are, in fact, no Avengers in the Common Area, brings him up to that floor, one pit bull and Rottweiler at his feet, a Rottweiler in his arms and another pit bull in his backpack, named Patricia, Hamilton, Apollo and Cabbage respectively. Peter grins, stuffing his face into Apollo’s scruff. This will work out fine.
Of course, the second the elevator doors shutter open, Patricia barks loudly three times, alerting anyone within a three mile radius of their presence.
“Patricia! Get it together sweetie, we have a show on Saturday!” Peter hisses, just as Tony, Steve and Bucky run into the room, each freezing and adopting looks of confusion when they catch sight of Peter.
”Pete...what...what are you doing with,” Tony pauses, assessing the scene. “Four dogs? In MY tower, no less!” He finishes indignantly, raising his voice. Peter winces, his senses already out of wack from school, and from wearing his binder so long. Steve is cooing, watching as Peter adjusts the dog in his arms so that it can nuzzle farther into his shoulder.
” First of all, they have names, Mr. Stark. We have here Hamilton, Apollo, Patricia and Cabbage,”Peter nods at each of the canines in turn, not noticing Bucky’s ever growing confusion. “And well you see, they were all at the shelter because their such big dogs, right, and everyone thinks their scary, and they were going to be killed, so i said I would take them off their hands for a few days and ithouhtthatkeepingthemherewouldbeagoodidea?” Peter wheezes out in a single breath, looking panicked, although he doesn’t take his defiant gaze off of Tony.
Tony pinches the bridge if his nose, just as a Natasha and Clint walk in, each one perking up at the sight of the animals. They rush over, reaching out hands to let the dogs sniff. They growl, baring their teeth, and each pulls back, one much less gracefully than the other. Peter scolds them and they immediately cower (the dogs, not the people), nudging at his knees in apology. He softens, giving a nod of his head, and they drop down onto his feet, laying their heads on the floor.
Clint raises his hand to point at the teenager, “Okay, who else thinks that’s adorable?” He questions, huffing when all anyone else gives him is a shake of their head.
Tony sighs, hand pulling down his face dejectedly. “Tesoro, I know your responsible enough for this, I really do, but you’d have to be here a lot more, spending time with them, feeding them, walking them, and making sure they don’t eat my shoes. I like my shoes,” he says, inclining his head towards the smaller. Peter becomes a bobble head, giving Tony puppy dog eyes.
“Lee, do you yield?” Peter responds, holding up Apollo-his spider strength is truly amazing, that’s a full grown Rottweiler-and sticking his bottom lip out. Tony gives a long suffering sigh, throwing his hands up in defeat.
”You shot him in the side, yes he yields!” He says exasperatedly.
“ Well, I’m satisfied.” Peter says, setting down his back pack so the pit bull can scamper out, running around his ankles like an excited squirrel.
”We gotta clear the field.” Natasha shoos, waving them back towards the training room.
”Wait! To keep them, you have to drop that Mr. Stark stuff.” Tony says, while Bucky walks away, muttering about stupid teenagers and their stupid hard to follow references.
“Okay, Dad.” Peter smiles, scratching behind Cabbage’s ears and sitting down so the dogs can further attack him with their shockingly wet noses.
Tony chokes on his spit a little bit, which he will never admit to, face reddening with happiness. Natasha saves it to ‘tin can with a plan’ under one of the main sub files, ‘IronDad’ which she will always admit to.
Which is how the Avengers acquired two Rottweilers and two pit bulls, named after a god, a vine, a musical and a vegetable.