Figuring Things Out
“So, what’s the deal?” Sage hopped onto the bed and laid her head on Wanda’s shoulder the instant they walked into the room.
Peter sat on the floor in front of them and Pietro sat on Wanda’s other side, practically vibrating.
Ned and Addy exchanged a look, the latter giving him a thumbs up and a grin, which made Ned smile in relief.
“I don’t know if there is one.”
Addy arched an eyebrow at her. “No, come on. We need all the information. How do you know her? Have you gone on a date yet? Is she into you too?”
Wanda shrugged. “I haven’t actually asked her out. I know my text kind of suggested that I was thinking about inviting her tonight, and I kind of was, but not seriously. I just… kind of wanted some advice. She works in the bookstore opposite the shop I work in, and she comes in at lunchtime every day. I think she flirts with me, but I’ve never really been good at gauging that sort of thing, and anyway what if she just wants to flirt, she doesn’t actually want anything else?”
“Here’s some advice, let me meet her.”
Sage rolled her eyes and tossed a pillow at Pietro. “Don’t listen to your dumb brother. I think you should ask her out. That way at least you know if she’s into you. I wouldn’t bring her by for a while yet, though.”
Adeline’s eyes narrowed. “Disagree.”
They all turned to look at her, surprised.
“Speaking from experience, the sooner you tell her, the better the news will go over. Obviously you have to be careful, because yeah there are people who will sell you out to the press, but you have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Innocent until proven guilty and all that.”
“So… What do you think I should do?”
“I think you should tell her what you do when you’re not at your day job. Just be clear with her that, yeah, you’ve got powers, yeah, you fight with the Avengers. Maybe on the second date, though. And don’t bring her to the tower until at least the fifth date.”
“Wow, does that mean I’m super special then?”
Pietro looked to Ned and began sizing him up. “What?”
“Peter and I have only been on one date so far.”
Wanda’s expression cleared. “You’re the boyfriend!” She looked between Ned and Peter. “Oh my god. You two are freaking adorable together.” She wiped a fake tear from her eye. “All my little cousins are going to get married before I am.”
Sage’s jaw dropped indignantly and Pietro started cackling.
“Excuse me?!” Adeline’s face was conveying a variety of conflicting emotions.
Peter grinned up at Ned. “Babe, you didn’t tell me you were going to propose.”
Ned laughed. “Yeah right. May would kill me if I tried to get engaged to you without talking to her first.”
“Peter, I still haven’t met your Aunt May.” Sage pouted at him. “You have to introduce me to her sometime.”
The boy smiled. “Yeah, okay.”
Pietro threw an arm around Wanda. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah.” She smiled at him. “Should we go see how things are going up there?”
Sage grimaced. “That’s probably a good idea.”
---
Peter and Ned were the first ones out of the elevator and they immediately made a beeline for Bruce.
Everyone else watched, amused, as Peter introduced Ned and then the two began fangirling, getting more and more excited as they started playing off of each other.
Sage went to give each of her fathers a hug, followed closely by Adeline who was acknowledged with a polite nod from Loki and a fistbump from Tony.
Thor, who’d been keeping a close eye on Bruce under the onslaught of the two teenagers stepped in with an arm around the shorter man’s waist when he began to look too overwhelmed. “Young Peter, is this your boyfriend?”
“Yeah! Thor, this is Ned. Ned-”
“Oh my god. You’re Thor. Thor is actually standing in front of me right now. Holy shit.” Ned eyed a bicep that was probably larger than his own head. “How much can you bench?”
Bruce nearly spat out the water he’d just taken a drink of and then choked out a laugh as Thor seemed to consider the question.
“To tell you the truth, I do not know. Steven! How much do you think I would be able to bench press?”
Steve blew out a breath and scrunched up his nose, thinking. “I dunno, man. A lot. Maybe like 100 tons?”
Ned’s eyes flew open. “No way.” He whispered.
Peter pouted and patted him on the back. “Breathe, dude. Hey, I can lift 10 tons.”
Thor grinned. “And you are still a growing boy! You will get there someday, Peter.” He clapped the kid on the back, almost causing Peter to fall over.
Bruce shot Peter a knowing look, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Yeah, Peter, you’ll get there someday.”
Peter scowled. “Yeah, yeah. Ned, let’s go talk to people who aren’t stronger than me without putting in any effort.”
Bruce chuckled as the boys walked away and stretched to press a kiss to Thor’s cheek.