Chapter Text
Tony is just sitting down on the couch next to Rhodey when Clint arrives.
“So where’s this Kid Arachnid?” Clint says as he trots into the kitchen. Then he spots the set table and the bowls of cut fruit and the covered platters on the counter. “Oh! No one said this was going to involve food! If I’d known I would have come sooner!” He uncovers one plate to immediately stick his nose right in. “Bacon!”
In a split-second May appears out of nowhere, slapping his hand and shoving his face away. “Nuh-uh, mister! Maybe if you’d been a bit more polite about timeliness then we’d be eating by now! We’re waiting ‘til everyone gets here.” The I’m starving and yet I waited for you because I’m a kind and decent person so you better fucking do the same, goes unsaid but it echoes in her sharp smile.
Clint pouts, rubbing his hand. Tony notices that the other man takes care to step out of May’s range. “Nat, your girlfriend is being mean.”
In the living room, Nat doesn’t even look up from where she’s teaching Pete how to flip a coin so it always lands on heads. “Do I need to call Laura?”
Clint bows his head and grumbles, “No.”
Nat balances a coin delicately on her thumb, then with a flick of her forefinger it spins high into the air. When it lands on the table with a little clatter, it’s face up. “That’s what I thought.”
Pete lights up, face open and awed as he reaches out to pick up the coin and copy her. May watches the two of them with amusement, idly fixing the plates on the counter and keeping her body between Clint and the food. “Where’s everyone else?” she asks.
“Friends!” Thor booms as he steps through the doorway, Stormbreaker strapped to his back. “I am glad I am able to visit you! I was pleased when Bucky contacted me. It has been far too long.”
May is quick to reach over and press a kiss to his cheek. “It really has been, Thor. Did you use Stormbreaker to get here? And how’s everyone doing? Are your people settling into Norway alright? It’s on the news occasionally but I know you don’t like a lot of press there.”
The man beams at her. “I did indeed use Stormbreaker to travel here. It seemed urgent, so I thought it appropriate to do so.” He lays a gentle hand on her shoulder. “My people are adjusting. They have lost much, but I believe they are coming to love Earth as I do. Once we have rebuilt our homes you can be assured we will work to integrate ourselves more into your society.”
“I’m glad,” May says. Then she peers around his shoulder and raises a brow. “Is your brother not coming?”
Thor laughs sheepishly and scratches at his cheek. “Ah, no. He has elected to stay home. He said if we are in dire need of his assistance then of course he will come. But I believe he prefers to stay where he is most needed. He is working with Brünnhilde and Bruce on several projects and doesn’t wish to interrupt their progress.”
“How is Brucie?” Tony calls out as if he didn’t just have a two and a half hour video call with Bruce yesterday. Half of it had been Bruce complaining about Loki and the other half had been Tony rambling on about a durable, light-weight water filtration system that could supply a whole town with little to no cost. It had been a productive chat. They’d set their next call time just a couple days from now.
Tony lives for their bi-weekly chats.
He’s not jealous of Thor or anything.
Bruce just sees people in need and can’t control himself. He’s got to help.
Tony’s the same way. Just…a little more chaotic about it. Definitely more destructive, even taking the Hulk into consideration. But he’s working on it. Pep’s very proud of him.
“He is doing very well indeed.” Thor smiles kindly at him, like he knows exactly how much Tony misses Bruce. Actually, he definitely does because Tony’s cried about it on Thor’s shoulder. At length. Thor gives very good hugs. “Despite their original misgivings, he gets along well with Brünnhilde and Loki,” Thor reassures him. “He is fitting in well with my people, though I am sure he is eager to get back to the Compound once his work is done.”
It won’t be for a really long time, though, Tony knows. Because Bruce is doing his best to help the Asgardians get set up on Earth. For them to get independent. And then he’s going to help them integrate into human society while still maintaining their identity. It’s a long process. Tony’s really considering just going over there for a few months to help. Then he can snark at Loki all he wants instead of just quick quips over Bruce’s shoulder during video calls.
He’d visit, but he doesn’t want to overstep his bounds and he has other obligations. Tony has long since known that he can’t do whatever he wants whenever he wants, even though he’s desperately tried to prove otherwise most of his life.
“And we’ll be eager to have him back,” Steve says as he comes up behind Thor and pats him on the shoulder. “How’re you doing, Thor?”
Of course with Steve comes more of the glorious gang. As he and Thor exchange their usual pleasantries, Sam, Wanda and Vision pile in through the kitchen. Vision and Wanda are unsurprisingly sickeningly sweet. They’re holding hands, Wanda’s head resting on his shoulder as she smiles sweetly. Sam catches Tony’s eye over Wanda’s shoulder, glances at the couple and then rolls his eyes with an affectionate slant to his lips.
Tony grins and rolls his eyes, too, shrugging helplessly. Vision and Wanda have always been so involved with each other, but now that everything is over and done with, they’re adorable.
Tony lost JARVIS when Vision was born, but that doesn’t mean Tony resents him. Vision is his own man, with his own accomplishments and dreams, but Tony can’t help thinking of Vision as his one of his kids.
He used to fear Wanda turning Vision against him. He used to fear Wanda. But now she’s more like his awkward daughter-in-law who’s still learning to trust and accept affection from the people around her. She lived in fear for so long and Tony was the best available outlet. He understands that now. It took a while but he gets it. And yeah, he’s not one hundred percent guilty but he’s certainly partially to blame. Now they’re both just trying hard to mend what’s been always broken between them, and slowly but surely it’s getting better.
Wanda glances up and catches Tony’s eyes, too. She gives him a shy smile and wave before leaning up to whisper in Vision’s ear. The man looks over at Tony, too and nods his head, offering an affectionate smile. Tony can’t help but wink and blow a kiss. Wanda rolls her eyes, laughing. Vision’s smile gets a wry tilt to it.
“Heeey, guys! Do I smell pancakes?”
“Yeah, you do!” Rhodey calls, grinning as Scott saunters in. “Might even have a couple for you!”
Scott pumps his fist. “You guys are seriously the best. Why didn’t I join the Avengers sooner?”
“It’s ‘cause you’re always late to the game, Lang!” Tony raises his fist. “What’s up, hot shot? How’s Cassie?”
Bright-eyed and, as always, far too chipper, Scott skirts around everyone in the kitchen and heads straight for Tony. Leaning over the back of the couch Scott bumps his fist against Tony’s. “Ah, you know. She’s doing super awesome. Loving school and loving life. Thanks for sending over that engineering kit, by the way. There’s only so much I can teach her and she is way too smart for her old man.” Scott laughs, pride shining in his eyes.
“Don’t sell yourself short!” Tony admonishes. “You’re the best engineer I’ve ever met! Besides me, of course.”
“And me,” Rhodey cuts in. He offers a fist, too, which Scott obligingly bumps. “Hey, man. Good to see you.”
“Likewise,” Scott says, genuine delight in his voice. “But I’m definitely the best electrical engineer you know.”
Tony scoffs. “Get in line, Lang.”
“Dude, I disabled your suit.”
“Yeah, and that’s never happening again.”
Scott angles his best puppy dog look at him. “But I still did it. Admit it. I’m smart. Come on. Tony, admit I can kick your ass whenever I want. Not that I do, because I like you a lot. You’re a cool guy. But I could if I wanted.”
Tony shoves his face away, laughing. “Alright, alright! You might be able to give me a run for my money. Maybe.”
Scott slumps over the back of the couch, a dopey grin on his face. “I’ll take what I can get.”
“Now that’s some smart thinking,” Tony teases. He tugs at Scott’s sleeve. “Hope coming?”
“Nah, man,” Scott mumbles into the couch. “She’s got some stuff going on. Not even dimension-hopping spider-kids can tear her away.” He perks up and almost overbalances to tumble onto the seat next to Tony, but he catches himself at the last second. “Speaking of!”
Scott then does tumble onto the seat next to Tony. It’s an awkward roll that almost involves his knee smacking Tony in the face and does involve his shirt riding all the way up to his armpits. Tony’s always envied Scott’s abs. Tony’s always been confused by Scott’s abs. They’re perfect and shiny and how does Scott Lang have them when Tony doesn’t? Tony’s seen Scott slump on the couch for an entire week, binging The Bachelor and scarfing down a truly frightening amount of potato chips. Tony was there. He watched the entire thing with the dude. Tony did not walk away from that unscathed and yet Scott?
Scott’s abs were still perfect.
“Where’s the kid?” Scott asks while tugging down his shirt, completely oblivious to Tony’s envious stare. “I don’t see him?” Then his eyes widen and he leans in to whisper, “Did he turn invisible? Buckster mentioned he could turn invisible.”
“No,” Tony says. “I showed him up to Peter’s room so he can borrow some clothes. All he’s got is his suit and I didn’t want to make him camp out in it for however long he ends up staying.”
Scott nods, a serious look on his face. “Good call. Teenage boys are smelly.”
“Hey!” Peter protests from across the room.
“I’m just speaking from experience!” Scott defends. “You are the exception, bug bro. Usually.”
“I’m not smelly,” Peter grumbles. “Aunt May expects better.”
“Uh.”
At once, all eyes turn to the doorway leading out of the living room. Miles stands awkwardly just outside the threshold. He looks unbearably small and skinny in Peter’s borrowed clothes. The red hoodie dwarfs his shoulders and hangs down past his hips, the sleeves hiding his hands. The black athletic shorts have been cinched up as far as they can go. His feet are bare. They look cold.
“Hi,” Miles says, eyes skittering over everyone’s faces like he’s trying to take them in all at once and yet doesn’t register them at all. “I’m Miles. Morales. I’m Spider-Man, but like. A Spider-Man from a different universe.” He waits awkwardly in the stunned silence for a second. “I’m actually the second Spider-Man there,” he clarifies. “I took over after the original Peter Parker died.”
“What?” Peter yelps.
“What?” Tony shrieks.
“What?” May demands.
“Oh.” Miles shrinks away and clutches his wrinkled suit to his chest. “I didn’t tell you.”