Family Dinner
Billy got into the elevator with his family heading to dinner. His mom was leaning against the wall of the elevator casually talking to his dad. Meanwhile, Tommy was giving him a look that made him want to evaporate. He knew Tommy was going to do something. Tommy always does something.
“Please don’t.” Billy begged.
Tommy just laughed, which got the attention of his mother. She smacked him in the back of the head. “Be nice to your brother. If he doesn’t want to tell everyone else, you’re not going to tell them either.” She told Tommy sternly.
“But mom!” He started as the doors opened.
“But nothing. Just drop it.” She said, giving him a look as she left the elevator.
“Listen to your mother.” Vision said, putting his hand on Tommy’s shoulder as he walked past.
Billy gave Tommy a smug look before stepping out, but before he could take the step he was nearly knocked over by a whoosh of air as Tommy sped into the room.
“Is everyone here?” Steve asked as he worked to finish setting the table.
“Here, let me help Cap!” Tommy volunteered, taking the silverware from him.
“Thanks To-” He started before suddenly Tommy was sitting in his spot, table fully set, waiting for dinner to start.
“Let’s start!” He said eagerly.
Billy just rolled his eyes and sat down across from his brother while his mother sat beside him and his dad sat on the other side of the table, beside Tommy.
Everyone else slowly started to gather and took their seats. “Alright! We have spaghetti and meatballs. We have alfredo. We have garlic bread. We have chicken parm. We have broccoli. We have green beans. Something for everybody!” Tony said as Steve and Clint brought the last dishes to the table.
Usually, there was so much food it looked like it could feed a village, but to be fair, the group was basically a village. Between the super soldiers, the very hungry spider, and the gods, the food went fast.
Peter came and sat down beside Billy with a grimace, which just made Tommy laugh.
Everyone was talking and taking their seats, so no one was paying attention to the kids, but that didn’t stop Billy from shushing his brother.
“Alright, everyone here now?” Steve looked around from the far head of the table.
“Looks like it. Dig in everyone!” Tony said quickly from the opposite head of the table, earning a look of displeasure from Steve.
“Fine. Let’s start passing.” Steve said, grabbing the beans.
Peter looked at Billy as they were grabbing food and waiting to feel that tingle in the back of his mind. It came quickly enough.
“Tommy knows, but my parents told him not to say anything.” Billy’s voice echoed in his head. Peter nodded in response. That was fine. No one needs to know yet.
Just as he was feeling the tingle again Wanda leaned over to Billy. “You know the rules. No magic at the dinner table.”
“I wasn’t-” he started, but he knew it was no use as soon as he met his mother's eyes. She always knew.
Everyone was having their conversations amongst themselves. Clint was talking to Natasha and Tony about something that Tony clearly did not care about. Steve was talking to Sam and Bucky about their sparring plans for the weekend. Vision was talking to Bruce and Wanda was talking to Pepper. It was a cacophony of voices around the table.
“OH!” Tony said, getting everyone’s attention. “You thought I was going to forget!” He said, smiling at Peter.
“What?” Peter said, trying to sound unphased.
“Tony, I told you to leave them alone during dinner.” Pepper started.
“The children won Nationals, Pepper. They deserve the recognition!” He said smiling.
“No, we don’t. It’s just a high school academic decathlon. It’s no big deal.” Peter said quickly, making Tommy snicker.
“I’m lost. What are we talking about?” Clint started.
“I think he’s trying to bring up the field trip that Peter and Billy will be going on to the tower soon,” Natasha said before slurping a noodle.
“How did you know that?” Tony said before realizing who he was talking to. “I swear I’m going to soundproof every room in this tower.”
“I’ll never tell you where I get my information.” She said with a smirk, taking another bite.
“You’re going on a field trip here?” Sam asked with the widest smile.
Billy dropped his head into his hands with a groan.
Peter shoveled another fork full of food into his mouth.
“Don’t worry about it, boys. I’m sure that it will be a fun trip.” Steve said with a smile. “We’ll stay out of your way.”
Tony opened his mouth to protest, but Pepper spoke up before he could say anything.
“We won’t do anything to get in the way of your field trip, boys. Right, Tony?” She said, looking at him.
“I reserve the right to get in the way in the case of emergency business things, a kidnap attempt, the field trip being too boring, loose sharks, or anything of a similar nature.” He said trying to negotiate.
Pepper just rolled her eyes and turned back to the boys. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure you and your friends will have some fun and afterward, Peter, you can have your friends stay and we’ll invite over your teams and have a movie night. How does that sound? Wanda, would that be okay?” She asks.
Wanda sighs and looks at her boys. “That’s fine with me. Just remember, no powers on the trip.”
“Why are you looking at me? I’m not even going!” Tommy argued.
“Son, I believe that you know full well why that was directed at you.” Vision added.
“Great! So we’ll plan for the Young Avengers and Peter’s friends to come over after the field trip and hang out. I’ll make some arrangements.” Pepper said with a smile.
Although she had her issues with the tower becoming the home to half a dozen superheroes, she always seemed to have a soft spot for the kids.
“Thanks, Pepper, you’re the best,” Peter said with a smile. He knew he couldn’t trust Mr. Stark and the rest of the team to stay away, but at least he had Pepper on his side and the promise of a fun night afterward. It could be worse.