Title: Road Trip

Fandom: Avengers

Pairing: Carol Danvers/Peter Parker

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.

Author's Notes: a short series of stories about Carol and Peter on a road trip

i.

"Whatta ya think, Sweetheart?"

Peter strikes a pose and twirls an imaginary mustache. The display is as out of place in the general store as the beret is on his head. Carol makes a face.

"The hat or the sweetheart?"

"Both." She turns away but the smile she can't quite hide encourages him.

"Okay. How's this, Pumpkin?"

Carol glances back to find the black beret replaced by a red stocking cap with antlers and the words Oh, Canada stitched at the brow. Her eyes widen. "Too Halloween."

"Too scary, Cupcake?"

"No."

He gestures to a display. "We can get some penny candy, Lollipop."

"We're not in grade school."

"Coffee? Streudel?"

Carol replaces the knickknack she was looking at and scrunches her nose at him. "Is that a name or are you hungry?"

He grins his Petey grin. "Both!"

She thwaps him. "Stop calling me after things you eat!"

Peter leans in, undaunted. "Are you hungry...Your Worshipfulness?"

That same smile tugs at her lips. "Closer."

"Is that a yes or no, Nerfherder?"

She thwaps him again. "That's an insult!" But her smile is free as she turns back to not-actually-shopping.

Peter follows along. "It's not reeeeeaaaaaally."

Carol rolls her eyes. "Yes."

"Okay!" He stops. "Wait. Yes, what?"

She makes it to the end of the aisle and turns back once again. "Yes, I'm hungry."

Peter salutes as he joins her. "Okay, whatcha want, Stickers?" He grins a very self-satisfied oh, I'm so clever grin.

She pulls her lips in over her teeth; it is pretty clever. But. "Too complicated. Fudge."

Peter frowns. "You said no food names!" Carol points to a counter by the candy bins. Homemade Fudge Daily. "Oh."

Carol takes his hand and pulls him over. They peer in at signs explaining the different flavors. "What do you want?"

He shrugs, pulling her hand up with him. "You can choose." There's something in his tone that makes her look away from the case. It's in his eyes, too.

"Why do you want to call me some silly name?"

"I don't." There's something in his tone that makes her unable to look away. She chews her lip; he lifts his free hand to still it. It's in his eyes, too.

"What can I get for you?" The server looks from one to the other.

Peter smiles and drops his hand. "Have you decided, Sunshine?"

Carol takes a breath and smiles, too. She nods, turns to the counter and points. "That one."