Purple Hope

Game Day

____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
"How are the test subjects doing?"

"They are doing well. The serum has made them stronger than anyone before and they are still infants."

"That was expected. They were born with the genetics of a super-soldier. Add the serum and they should be even better."

"Yes. The other test are going well too, although the idiots can't control it."

"Children take time to develop so give them time. But don't be kind about it. And teach them while you wait."

"Of course, sir."
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

The next week passed and Natasha avoided Bucky more than she had the entire time he had been here. Wanda had spent her time trying to figure out how to help Nat without making a big deal out of it because the last thing she knew Natasha would want was everyone involved. And Bucky had been able to remember one thing. A pair of ballet slippers. Peter spent the week trying in every possible way to show Bucky that he could handle himself and that they should spar. Tony spent the week being sleep-deprived, drinking way too much coffee, and trying to keep his son from doing something stupid, even by his standards, in order to impress Bucky. Clint caught on to Natasha's avoidance of Bucky and Wanda's slightly different behavior towards his best friend. He didn't really know what to do but planned to ask Nat about it later. Steve spent the week like he usually did; going on runs with Bucky and Sam, training, scolding Clint for being childish and filling his shield with sparkles, talking with Bucky about his memories, stopping Pietro from setting the kitchen on fire, and screaming why every time Clint randomly cawed from the vents, dropped from the vents or tickled him with purple feathers after he fell asleep during movie night. You think he'd be used to it.

It was the first Sunday of the month, so their routine was a little different. They would have a big breakfast together, then lounge around for about two hours before all heading into the gym for sparing and different games to help keep their instincts sharp. It also helped with their teamwork.

Steve, being one of the few competent adults in the tower (the pour dude has to do so much), was making breakfast with Natasha and Wanda. Sam could cook as well but his abilities were limited to semi-decent eggs, toast, and pasta (not including the sauce).

"Nat," Wanda said placing some bacon in a pan, "I know you don't like shopping, but I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to the bookstore tomorrow."

"I don't know if I'd count the bookstore as shopping, but yeah, sure," she replied.

They finished making the breakfast of scrambled eggs (over two dozen). Super soldiers and teenage mutant spider kids eat a lot. Bacon, toast, and the easy canned cinnamon rolls. Natasha took a seat far away from Bucky and, after a week of it, Wanda finally noticed.

Everyone ate their breakfast happily and thanked the three who made it. They talked about random things. Missions they'd been on, possible upcoming ones, long rants about school from Peter, Morgan quietly asking Peter to swing her around the city because it looked like flying and then getting caught and Tony telling them both they'd be grounded for life, and Clint finally being threatened to be grounded if he didn't stop filling things with sparkles. The usual.

After breakfast Peter made them play monopoly which never ends well. Tony sat calculating the risks and trying to outsmart everyone. Pietro and Wanda were using their powers to sabotage each other and everyone else. Natasha keeping an unnervingly calm poker face. Peter, Steve, and Bruce just enjoying the game. Sam trying to beat Bucky and Bucky watching in utter confusion as the game progressed. Somehow him and Bruce 'died' which doesn't happen in monopoly, but it did, and they were out. Natasha had an incredibly thick stack of cash and Tony was in jail for the seventh time. Pietro owned all the railroads and almost won, and Wanda quit after Vision came in and sat quietly with Bucky and Bruce. The four of them started playing Uno, which Bucky seemed equally confused about, especially after Clint got kicked out of monopoly and joined them. He shouted, 'Pikachu I choose you' and successfully made Visions pick up three cards. Monopoly kept going until Tony inevitably out probability mathed them and the board ended up stuck to the wall by three knives.