Closer We Grow

Cafés and Secrets

They had reached the café, made their orders and found a place to sit.

“So what are you guys working on?” Icarus asked, striking up a conversation.

“Well I’m working on repairing my suit, trying to fix the nano tech that was...damaged...but that’s it, I’ve also made upgrades the the spiderman suit, adding emergency boosters to the feet incase little spidey here runs out of web fluid the moment he decides to jump off the roof of a building,” Tony said, looking over to Peter, who chuckled nervously.

“Well, I’m making adjustments to my web fluid, making it whiter and stickier. I’m also trying to get it last longer, but I’m mainly focusing on the first two right now,” Peter said, smiling as their orders were called “I’ll go up and get them!”

“Thanks, Pete,” Tony said before Peter left the table.

“So, what happened to your wing? Did Bruce figure it out?” Tony asked, making sure not to be too loud with the question, as he knows someone could easily hear them and spread word of a “mutant”, as the public would say, and it could easily upset Icarus.

“It’s just a pulled muscle and a few damaged feathers,” icarus responded, closing his eyes and resting his head on his hand “Bruce says I can’t use it for a month.”

“I’m sorry, Icarus. You’ll get to spend more time around the compound and tower, though!” Peter said, returning to the table with everyone’s drinks.

“Yeah, It’ll give me time to practice Mario Kart and finally beat your ass.” Icarus said to Peter, giving him a confident smile.

“You will never beat me, I have, and always will, wipe the floor with you,” Peter said, giving Icarus the same confident smile.
“We’ll see, Spider boy.”

“Spider-Man.”

“Whatever you say,” Icarus said, taking a sip from his drink.

The four of them continue with casual banter, talking about Tony and Peter’s suit upgrades and how Icarus is doing power wise, although they don’t talk about Icarus’ powers for that long.

Loki notices Icarus staring at two older, middle aged people. They seem to be looking back at Icarus, their eyes shifting to Loki when they see him looking back at them. Loki shoots them a glare, making them turn and walk away. Loki looks over to Icarus, who is smiling to him as a thank you. Loki smiles back briefly. He  turns his attention back to Peter, who is telling them about something Ned had said to him during school a few days ago. Loki looks at Icarus again and sees he’s not smiling anymore, well he is, but Loki can tell it’s fake. ‘Who were those people…’ Loki wonders to himself, turning his attention back to Peter. Loki notices that for the rest of the time Icarus doesn’t laugh, he just gives a half hearted chuckle.

    As more time had passed, they finished their drinks and decided to head back to the compound. They had been there for an hour and a half anyways. Icarus was walking with Peter in front of Tony and Loki, laughing about something as they walked to the car.
“Tony. Did you notice any behavioral changes with Icarus halfway through the time we spent there?” Loki asks

“Yeah, I noticed a couple glaring at him, but I noticed you took care of them, so I left it alone. I plan on asking him about it when we get back to the compound,” Tony responded

“Okay,” Loki said as he neared the car, seeing Icarus and Peter already standing next to it.

    The drive back had two people who referenced every vine that they got the chance to, one adult that seems to get it and one very confused adult. Both adults were relieved to hear Icarus laugh again, though.