Chapter 30
By the time the doctor had had a chance to check the prosthesis and make sure the liner was dry enough to not cause any issue to the residual limb and the boy it was attached to, it was pretty close to lunch time. He sent the boys and their counselor off with a reminder to come back if anything needed to be rechecked by him. He sighed and went back into the cabin, closing the door behind him.
“Sorry about that.”
Wong shrugged, looking out the window at the retreating backs of those who had been on the porch. It had been interesting to watch the interaction between Strange and the campers. And was interested in watching him actually be a doctor.
“No worries.” He frowned, though, glancing out the window once more, even though they had all vanished from view. “Is it just me or did that kid know I was here?”
Strange raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“He kept looking at me.”
“He didn’t say anything.”
“I doubt that he saw me. Otherwise I imagine he would have spoken up.”
“Then why did you say he knew you were here?”
“Because he seemed to know I was here – or that someone or something was at the window. It looked like he was looking right at me every time he glanced over.”
Since Strange knew his friend was as observant as they come – and far more so than even he was – he didn’t argue it.
“Did you do anything to make him think that?”
“He didn’t see anything,” Wong said. “I had a spell up. Nothing got through.”
Now Strange frowned, but after a moment, he shrugged.
“Well, there isn’t much to be done, really. If he saw you, he’d have mentioned it, I’m sure. To his handler, if no one else.”
“His handler?” Wong echoed. “You mean his counselor.”
“Sure.” Strange smirked, pleased to know something interesting and ready to share it with Wong – although he wasn’t sure how interesting the other magician would find it to be. “Or the SHIELD agent pretending to be his counselor.”
“Why would there be a SHIELD-“
“If Tony Stark’s son wanted to go to summer camp, SHIELD would probably be all over the place making sure it was safe for him, don’t you think?”
Wong whistled.
“He’s Stark’s boy?”
The sorcerer supreme had told him the boy was going to be there, but hadn’t pointed him out, or anything. Only because he hadn’t had a chance to, yet. The little guy Wong had watched was small and seemed fairly fragile. And noisy, he added to himself.
“Adopted, yes.”
“Seems like a pretty well-grounded kid, from what I saw.”
“He is.”
“And a superhero born, if he tried to save his friend by jumping in the water after him.”
Strange shrugged.
“It might be the company he keeps,” the doctor pointed out.
Wong snorted.
“Tony Stark has a fancy suit, but he’s arrogant and opinionated. If it’s the company that he keeps then that little boy would be spoiled and insufferable.”
“He hangs out with the Avengers, though,” Strange reminded him. “Maybe he gets it from them.”
“Maybe.”
“Anyway, it’s almost lunch. Is there anything else I can help you with before you return?”
“No. I’m good. I’ll contact you if I have any questions.”
“You know where to find me.”
Which amused Wong to no end and he was still smiling when he vanished from the room.
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
“What are you looking for?” Barnes asked Peter, curiously, as the boy looked over his shoulder – again.
“Nothing.”
Peter had walked with Brian and Bucky toward the main building, since that was where the rest of the kids would be going soon and it was too late to try and meet the cabin to finish out the nature walk. He didn’t mind since he’d had a good time before the water thing had happened, so he didn’t feel cheated out of the walk, or anything, by needing to come back to get checked out. They would sit at one of the tables in the cafeteria and play cards while they waited for the others to join them, instead.
“Are you sure?”
Barnes looked over his shoulder, as well, but all he saw were cabins and trees. No people, and nothing interesting enough to keep the boy distracted.
“Yeah… pretty much.”
“What does that mean?” Brian asked, curiously, having been listening to the conversation and looking back the way that they’d come as well.
Peter shrugged.
“Did you guys feel anything tingly, earlier?”
“Tingly?”
“Like your stomach hurting?” Barnes asked, frowning.
He knew that the others had some kind of notion that Peter could feel when something was up. His stomach hurt him, from what he’d been told. Not a precise science, and not something the Winter Soldier really believed was possible in a little guy like Peter, but since Steve and Romanoff had both mentioned it to him more than once, it was something to take seriously.
Or at least follow up on.
Peter shook his head.
“It didn’t hurt,” he replied. “Not even a little.” He hesitated. “It kind of tickled, maybe?”
“What are you talking about?” Brian asked, confused.
Another shake of his head.
“Nothing.” He knew he sounded weird, and he didn’t want to have his new friend think he was. “Sorry.’
“No need to be,” Bucky assured him, resting his hand on Peter’s shoulder. “Just tell me if you feel it again. Maybe you’re just hungry,” he added, giving the boy an excuse.
Peter smiled at that.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“I am, too,” Brian agreed as they walked into the building and by the open kitchen entrance. There were a couple of people in there preparing some vegetables, but it was impossible to figure out what they were actually making as they walked by and into the cafeteria, proper. “I wonder what we’re having for lunch…”
OOOOOOOOOOO
“He hurt himself?” Tony asked, frowning – and looking more than a little alarmed. “Again?”
“It’s a small scratch on his elbow, Tony,” Romanoff told him. “He’s alright.”
“But-“
“Are you sure he isn’t hurt worse than it seems?” Pepper asked, her own expression looking concerned as she studied Natasha’s own expression to see if there was something she wasn’t telling them.
“He’s fine, guys.” Her expression was relaxed and calm, which was a good way to keep the boy’s parents calm, as well, she knew. “The doctor has already taken a look at him and his friend. They’re both okay and they’re already in the cafeteria waiting for everyone else to come for lunch.”
“Barnes is with him?” Tony asked.
“He is.”
Stark huffed, making Pepper smile since she knew he was looking for a good reason to bring their son home. And wasn’t finding it.
“Alright. Thank you.”
He knew he was being difficult and appreciated the fact that she was willing to put up with it – and keep him (and Pepper) up to date with what was going on.
Romanoff smiled.
“You’re welcome. Did you enjoy your letter from camp?”
Now they both smiled, too.
“It was adorable,” Pepper said. “But a little short.”
“And messy,” Tony added.
Which wasn’t new, of course. There was a reason they used texting and word processors, after all.
“Save it,” Romanoff told them. “I want to read it, later.”
“We’re going to put it on the fridge,” Pepper replied. “When camp is done you can come over.”
“Sounds good.”