Title: The Invitation
Fandom: Suits & MCU
Rating: PG-13
Length: ~1100 words
Content notes: none apply
Author notes: this was written for intoabar, the prompt is: Peter Parker goes into a bar (or other establishment/space/area/whatever) and meets Donna Paulsen (again in this case). Peter is in college/grad school in this universe and various events from Infinity War & Endgame didn't happen
Summary: Peter is at one of Tony's parties and bumps into a familiar face that isn't one of the Avengers.

Peter tried not to fidget with his bow tie too much. It was tied correctly – Tony had done it – but it felt weird. He wasn't used to dressing like this. Even after knowing Tony for all these years and having to wear a tux at least once a year for some party or other. He just wasn't comfortable in suits. And he wasn't good at faking it either.

A hand landed on his shoulder paired with Tony telling him, "That tux looks amazing on you."

Peter rolled his eyes. "We're going to have to work on your compliments."

Tony frowned. "I complimented you."

"You complimented the tux. Or your tailor."

"You're not getting out of this party, kid. But you do look sexy as hell in that thing. Think I'm gonna do a Spidey redesign."

"Oh geez." He sipped his drink and tried not to look horrified at that comment. "Why do I put up with you?"

Tony's bright-white obnoxious smile lit up his face. "You love me. You know you do."

"Don't think that's it," he countered as Tony brushed a kiss to his temple.

"Gotta see some people. Go mingle." Tony shooed him, then walked away toward a crowd of people who nearly fell over themselves to get to the billionaire.

Peter turned around to head to the bar for another drink. On the way, he was met with a redhead idly commenting about how some people just want to rub elbows with Iron Man. He grinned at her and nodded. "No idea why. He's a pain in the ass."

"It's a nice ass though," she added, deliberately turning to look.

Peter glanced at Tony, then back with a shrug. "It's okay, I guess." It was better than okay, but he wasn't going to just admit that.

The redhead – who Peter recognized from the one time they'd met a couple years before – gave him a wide-eyed look. "You've seen it naked."

Peter snorted. He couldn't help it. "So has anyone who knows how to use the internet."

"Okay, you got me there, Pity Party."

Another smile. "Nice to see you again, Donna." He finished his drink. "I was heading to the bar, would you like something?"

"Maybe. Let's go together." She looped her arm through his and they walked. "Usually I just do wine at these things. Look sophisticated."

"You can't look sophisticated with a martini?"

She glanced down at her outfit, then back to him. "Not in this dress."

"Guess you're stuck with whatever ridiculously over-priced wine Tony had them get." Peter asked for a rum and Coke. "And if you could pour from Mr. Stark's bottle for the lady, please."

The bartender nodded and made the drinks. Peter thanked him and passed Donna her glass of wine. Then motioned her to walk ahead as they moved out of the growing crowd around the bar.

They stopped near a bar-height table draped in a pristine white cloth – everything at Tony's parties was pristine and perfect and expensive. Peter set his drink down as he said, "I have, you know."

Donna blinked at him, frowning. Clearly having no idea what the hell he was talking about.

Grinning again, Peter half-shrugged, then clarified, "Seen his ass. Naked."

That made Donna laugh. "I knew it!" she proclaimed. "So, a gym shower situation? Skinny dipping? Accidentally walked in when he was getting dressed?"

"Hot tub," Peter answered, simple, direct. Donna didn't need all of the details that went along with that admission.

She leaned in a little closer to him, dropping her voice to more conspiratorial tone. "One-on-one or a group dip?"

Peter almost spit his drink onto the stark white tablecloth. "Oh my god."

Donna laughed again. "You know I'll figure it out anyway."

"Shouldn't you already know if you're really that good?" he countered.

"Touché. Brat."

"Oh you have no idea," he added, spicing up the conversation on his own terms. He could drop little breadcrumbs without revealing all of the saucy details.

"I think I do. I also think you would be so much fun to play with. But I already have enough on my plate. I don't need to be taking on any more right now."

Peter had his drink poised at his lips, but lowered it without sipping. "Was that a proposition?"

"It could be," Donna said with a wicked smile. "But I'd have to make sure all parties involved were in agreement." She sipped her wine. "I can set up a little lunch meeting. We can all discuss things. If you're interested."

How had they gone from Tony's ass to a play party invite? Better still, how had Peter managed to be lucky enough to even meet someone who would extend such an invite to him out of the blue?

"Uh, well, maybe," he said. He liked the idea, a lot more than he thought he would.

Donna gaped lightly at him. "I invite you to lunch and I get a 'maybe'?" Donna almost sounded offended.

Peter gulped. "Well, I mean, this – I – am I being Punked! Or something?" His typical brand of 'luck' didn't earn him lunch invitation double dates.

Lowering her wine glass, Donna frowned. "I don't extend invitations to just anyone. My standards are much too high."

He looked at her sideways. "My question still stands." That revelation wasn't doing much to convince him that his luck might have changed.

"No, sweetheart. This is a legitimate invite."

He downed half his drink to chase his nerves. "Who all would be at this meeting?"

"Me, my pet, you, and Tony."

Peter almost choked on the drink he was sure he'd already swallowed. "What?"

Donna smirked. "Come on. Really? It's obvious. Well, obvious to me, because I'm Donna." She waited a beat, then said, "If I'm wrong, I owe you fancy dinners for a week."

"Guess you better warm up your credit card," Peter said.

"No," she countered. "No way. I'm sure I'm right about this."

Peter was going to keep playing out his attempted ruse when Tony strolled up and put an arm around him as he leaned in to kiss Peter's hair. Thus ruining any and all illusions to the contrary. "Hello again, Ms. Paulsen," he greeted the redhead smoothly as though he'd been directly invited into the conversation. Peter still didn't know how he did that every damned time.

"Mr. Stark," Donna returned. Then to Peter. "Wanna try again?"

He grinned at her. There really was no point in denying it anymore. "Send FRIDAY the invite. We'll be there."