They Should've Known

.7.

"Surprise!" Every one of the avengers yelled, jumping from their hiding spot.

Peter put a hand over his mouth in shock smiling as tears of happiness fell down his face.

Harley chuckled as Peter pulled down his hand and smiled to everyone their.

"Happy birthday kid. You didn't think we forgot, did you?" Tony asked smiling.

Peter shrugged and nodded a little.

"Aww." Bucky and Steve said, walking over to hug Peter.

"Now, how about we eat?" Bucky offered, pulling away from Peter. Everyone nodded and walked to the giant table that they all sat at when they ate together.

As Peter looked at all the gifts, he smiled.

"You guys didn't have to do all this for me." Peter signed, he had taken to signing when he really wants to get something out to someone. It's rare but useful.

"Of course we had too. Your family, kid." Clint signed back, being he was fluent, along with Harley but he was busy admiring how happy Peter looked.

Harley placed a hand on Peters knee, making Peter smile up at him.

"It's good that your eating." Harley whispered to him smiling, Peter nodded in agreement.

"Alright, C'mon kid. You got gifts to open." Tony said, standing up and walking to the living area. Everyone stood up, and took their empty plates to the kitchen.

Peter sat on his usual bean bag next to Harley. Then, the gifts came.

After Peter added the last shirt and pants to the growing pile of clothes and new gadgets (and gizmos of plenty) and stuff to work on, Harley tapped him on the shoulder.

Peter looked to Harley smiling. Harley returned the smile and handed Peter a small folded piece of paper. Peter looked confused for a second then unfolded it.

Oof, took me long enough...
Happy birthday!
Now, here is step one of your birthday scavenger hunt! It's a gift from me.

Go to the place where you spoke your first words to me to find your next clue.

Have fun! You can have one hint from anyone in the tower but only one. Got it? Okay.

As Peter read it, he smiled more and more, knowing exactly where this was and oh how it went down was surly a story to tell his kids one day.

- Flash back -

Peter walked into the kitchen silently as usual.

The four year old walked to his dad, Steve, holding out his arms tiredly as a way to ask for him to pick him up.

"Oh, Good morning, bud. How'd you sleep?" Steve asked, picking up the small boy who just shrugged in response.

Steve sighed, giving up on getting the kid to talk. Bucky put a bowl of cereal in front of Steve and Peter. Peter smiled at him and picked up a spoon to start eating.

Once he finished eating, he jumped down from Steves lap and took his bowl and spoon to the sink. On the way, he bumped into a kid about a year older then him, making both of them drop what they were holding.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you. I'm Harley by the way, Harley Keener." The other boy said, smiling and holding out his hand for Peter to shake.

He didn't know why, but Peter felt he could trust this kid and only him. So, he shook his hand and spoke the first words he's ever said.

"H- Hi. I'm Peter, nice to meet you." He said semi confidently. Harley smiled and went to grab the broom the clean up the shattered glass.

Was this really the start of a new friendship?

- End of flash back -