A year to Remember. Part 2, the Internship

Break-Out on the Night-Out

"What do you want Tony!", Clint whines, draping himself over the couch's arm, the last one to arrive at the room full of Avengers.

Everyone sans the soldiers and Nat was sluggish for the 8 am meeting. "Oh shut up Barton!", Tony snaps back, taking one more sip of his scorching coffee. Clint twists his neck upwards, staying flat on the couch as he stares at the billionaire. "But it's sooo eaaarrrlllyyy!" He exaggerates his whine just to get under the billionaire's skin.

It works, but it backfires. "Keep bitching and you won't be invited to meet the kid", Tony smirks at Clint jumping from the couch, sitting cross legged like an expectant child. "The kid? I'll behave! I'll behave", he grins, his hair flopping over his face, not dissuading his act.

"What do you mean meet the kid?", Steve asks, everyone similarly curious but less bold after Tony's threat. "I know we technically met him at your party", Tony corrects, though most of the room would argue that doesn't count as they barely spoke to Peter. He'd spent the evening mostly with Loki or Tony, with only the instance of Pietro's dance dragging him closer to the team. "But I was thinking we could have a better chance to talk to them".

Everyone chatters in general agreement, Nat the only one clued in. "Them singular or them plural?".

Tony grimaces, the one caveat that they might disagree with found. "It's the pretence", he groans, shying away from the team's mixed glares. "If we invite all the high school interns it stops being creepy", he explains, Pepper coughing at him as she walks by to her office, "Or nepotistic".

To his surprise, the avengers don't fight him. "Ned's a pretty good kid, wouldn't mind having him for dinner", Bruce comments, Sam adding his own praise of Abe before Nat chimes in. "I'd definitely enjoy a casual meeting with MJ, might wanna train her too". Now everyone's regretting their decisions, Nat's interest also setting it in stone. "So, tonight at 7?", Tony asks.

"Yup", Steve and most of the gang reply, the former choosing to add, "We can cook!". He shakes Bucky's shoulder next to him, the soldier left speechless at his drafting. Everyone cheers free of that chore, breaking into groups to prepare for the night. "You just had to enlist me", Bucky grumbles as Steve pulls him to the kitchen, "wasn't the US enough, but also my best friend!". Steve chuckles, "come on Buck", he smirks, grabbing their aprons on the way.

-

Honk, Happy calls the teens from his car, fond of Peter he might be, but he doesn't enjoy being late. "Come on guys", The kid hops down the stairs in front of their apartment.

Once again, Peter takes the middle seat so the others can enjoy their window seats. "Ok, I have an idea", Peter starts, MJ not missing her chance, "always concerning".

"Haha MJ", he deadpans while she snickers, "but I mean it. I was thinking we could all go out tonight. Maybe go out to an arcade, or a movie". His offer is met by agreeing nods, if a few reservations. "All Who?", MJ asks. "Us", Peter pulls Ned into a side hug, blowing MJ a kiss as she rolls her eyes. "Abe and Ray, Lok- Logan...", he stops himself last second, slowing down to avoid any other mistake, "and Pietro, he seemed lonely on Monday".

MJ smirks, knowing exactly how that Speedster's gonna react at the fact Peter wanted to invite him over. "Very Peter of you", she chuckles, knocking his shoulder with her own. "Thanks?", Peter replies, guessing it's a compliment but not sure specifically how, "So, you guys in?".

"Sure Loser", MJ doesn't skip a beat. "Yes Pete!", Ned shouts, Happy lifting the privacy screen for everyone's sake. "Yes!", Peter cheers, "I've already texted Abe and Ray. Abe said yes, nothing from Ray".

Ned turns from the window, "I can ask him, Bruce's lab is closer to the biochemistry labs", he offers, nodding his head along. "Thanks Ned", Pete replies, eyes widening at the latent realisation, "wait, you call Dr Banner, 'Bruce'?". Even MJ leans in curiously. Ned giggles awkwardly, "He insisted, said if we were working together we should use our names. Also it's easier".