Chapter 2

A family dinner

Notes:

Okay, guys, really! I don't even know where to begin!

21 followers, 15 favorites and 8 reviews within 24 hours?! You guys are so amazing! Thank you so so much for your kind words and showing your support!

I posted this first chapter after which I went to bed and throughout the entire night I could hear Jarvis screaming at me like:

'Exuse me, but i have found something which I believe you will find most interesting' (I've got a Jarvis ringtone for when I receive mail)

And the next morning, i checked my mail and i was like... NO WAY!

Anyway, I'll stop holding you guys up, as promised, no long waits. Here's chapter 2 of A Tale of the Trickster and the Spider!

I really hope it will bring a smile on your face!

ps. some of the jokes are references to the latest Marvel movie, Infinity War. No spoilers though so please don't worry if you have not seen it yet.

I'm only trying to say that some of the jokes are best appreciated if you've seen all the marvel movies...


'Guys, I have ordered a bigger table, but until then, I suppose we have to make do with what we've got,' Tony awkwardly stared at his company, facing almost twenty super heroes assembled around a ten-person table.

'That's okay, Tony,' Steve said in his gentle voice, 'We're more than happy to welcome all of you, and we are grateful that you are willing to stand by our sides so that we may keep this planet safe. Now for the reason why we're all h-'

'Or, you know, entire galaxies...' Quill remarked, interrupting the captain.

'… yes, or that,' Steve smiled.

In the silence of a few nodding heads, Drax suddenly spoke from his place near the table: 'I don't want to scare you guys, I know you cannot see me right now, but I'm here. So now you know.'

'It's a good thing you guys are in space most of the time. I don't think I could handle one day working together with you,' Sam mumbled as he looked at Rhodey who gave him an acknowledging nod in return.

'Hey. Big guy.' Sitting on Groot's shoulder, Rocket tapped Bucky's head with one hand while holding his plate in the other. 'How much for the arm?'

'Steve... How did you say you met these people again?' Bucky whispered at his neighbor.

'They're friends of Thor,' Steve smiled, pointing at the blond god in front of them who was happily downing his second beer.

'… Makes sense,' Bucky answered while raising his brows in a sigh.

'I am Groot.'

'What do you mean "it's rude?" It's not rude, it's... I'm showing interest in this man and his arm, what's wrong with that?' Rocket asked in defense.

'I am Groot!'

'I got your point the first time, no need to get all upset about it.'

'Shall we say Grace and begin?' Steve quickly proposed.

'Grace,' Drax immediately reacted.

'No, I mean...'

'Perhaps, Captain, since we are of so many intergalactic backgrounds and cultures at this table, everyone should say Grace in their own way,' T'Challa proposed.

'It sure is an honor to have you with us, mister Black Cat sir,' Peter nervously smiled, feeling like he could faint at any moment as he was completely star-struck.

'Thank you,' T'Challa said with a merciful smile, 'You may address me as "sir" or "your highness", as you please, my young friend.'

'Yes, your highness, sir.'

'Has anyone seen Lokes?' Tony tried to ask casually.

'Haven't seen him, haven't missed him,' Clint said while casually continuing to eat.

'Hold on, my friend.' Thor cleared his throat. 'Has anyone seen my baby brother?'

Everybody looked around the table while giggling and snorting in search of the trickster god, who only looked up from his plate when he felt everybody staring at him. He dropped his fork and sighed. 'What? I am just not overly fond of interacting with such... diverse crowds. And for Norns sake Thor! If you call me "baby brother" one more time I swear I shall-'

'Found him,' Natasha interrupted, looking at the god of mischief whose face was almost as red as her hair.

'Very clever,' Loki snapped while he picked up his fork to continue his dinner, but as he found a large part of the eyes still on him, he dropped the fork in protest, even louder this time. 'What is it?!'

'I have a favor to ask of you,' Tony began, 'but I'd rather discuss it with you after dinner.'

'A favor?' Loki laughed. 'If there is anything you would wish to ask me, I suggest you state it now. I have plans after dinner.'

Tony looked at Peter, who was watching him with a fearful expectation. He was shaking his head, his eyes begging him to drop the issue.'Alright,' Tony said in his nonchalant manner, 'Will you be Peter's prom date tonight?'

Peter's mouth dropped as everyone around the table stopped eating, Rocket almost choking on his food. Loki, his face showing complete surprise no one in this household had ever seen on him, remained silent, as he stared at Tony.

'This is a jest, I hope? I may be the Trickster god, but that does not mean I can appreciate all sorts of humor, and in this case I truly fail to see the comedy, Anthony!'

'It's not, this is a very serious matter,' Tony replied without so much as moving a muscle.

Loki now looked at Peter, whose face had grown brightly red with shame as he had fixed his eyes on the plate in front of him.

'So, you are serious?' Loki asked doubtfully.

'Yup.'

'Ha!' The trickster laughed. 'And why would I do that? Why me? You could ask anyone here to take the boy to prom!'

'Not me,' Rocket interrupted.

'I am Groot.'

'I don't think the kid will be very happy when a plant drops him off at school,' Rocket argued.

'I would like to go!' Mantis smiled as she raised her hand. 'I think it will be fun, we could dance.'

'I think you'll be overstimulated with all those teenage hormones and emotions raging through that school,' Quill remarked with a laugh. 'I've heard about these prom-things and, well...' but he broke of his sentence with a chuckle.

'...Okay, maybe not them, but it does not make any sense to me, Anthony,' Loki continued in an irritated manner. 'Why ask me?'

'Well, you are the only one here who could pose for a teenage girl,' Tony began and the table broke out in laughter at this. Loki stood up in disgrace, his face a deep shade of red, but Thor laid a hand on his shoulder.

'Come on, brother, let us hear what he has to say.'

'I've heard quite enough!' Loki hissed at him.

'I only meant that you have the ability to change your physical shape into something or someone else,' Tony explained, already sorry for his poor choice of words.

'Go to prom with him, Loki!' Sam shouted, encouraged by the chuckles of Rhodes and Barton. 'Come on!'

'It would be the nice thing to do,' Black Widow added with a shrug. 'Plus, I do believe you've still got some red in your ledger so...' she added as her lips slightly curled up around the edges.

'Guys, please,' Peter intervened, close to tears, 'Mr. Loki said he has plans. Stop pushing him.'

After this, the table grew silent again, people mumbling in their sudden embarrassment, while Peter focused his gaze once again on the plate before him as to stop himself from shedding a single tear. 'It's just a stupid prom, that's all,' he remarked in a hoarse voice. 'Sorry to bother you sir.'

At this Loki looked up in surprise as he kept his gaze fixed on the melancholic youth. He vaguely recalled the embarrassments he had faced on the feasts of Asgard. He knew what it was like to be embarrassed like this, especially when no one else seemed to have your back.

'Well... are you certain you cannot find anyone else?' Loki tried, hesitantly.

Peter kept his eyes on his plate with an almost imperceptible nod of his head.

Loki watched as everyone kept staring at him. He sighed deeply. 'Fine,' he muttered, almost in a whisper. 'I shall take you to your teenage hormone infested dance...' he added as his alabaster skin changed into a bright shade of red.

Peter looked up from his plate in disbelief.

'What?'

'I will not repeat myself! I know you heard me.'

'You heard him, son,' Tony said enthusiastically, 'That means we have to get you ready for your prom!'

'Eh, yeah... Yeah! Awesome, I'll get my suit and-'

'Oh no, no, I will get you your suit,' Tony smirked. 'A little Dolce&Gabbana or Hugo Boss? You'll look just the part.'

'Why do you have a suit ready for the kid?' Steve asked with furrowed brows.

'I'm his mentor and a mentor has to be prepared for anything, Steve. This is just part of tutoring,' Tony answered casually, though unable to hide his smile.

'I always thought that meant grading his essays and handing out stickers, though I was born over a century ago,' Steve smiled. 'The world has changed since then, I suppose.'

'Well, you go do what you deem to be necessary. I shall be waiting here,' Loki mumbled as he played with his food, his appetite deserting him.

'I think you would look nice as a blonde,' Quill added with a smirk.

'Blonde? On little Snow White here? No way,' Rocket reacted, looking Loki up and down.

'No one asked you anything, bunny,' Quill said with a smirk, mimicking Thor's deep voice.

'O, so that's what I get for trying to help?' Rocket sighed. 'Come on, Groot, let's go do something worth our time. All this talk about proms is bringing up my allergies.'

'I am Groot,' his friend agreed and they went over to the television set.

'Peter has a thing for Brunettes,' Tony mentioned as he escorted the boy towards the stairs. 'I made a list, it's in the kitchen.'

'What?!' Peter shouted, but as he was being pushed up the staircase, he had no time to argue any further.

There was a loud knock on the door as Peter got a little push from his tutor to continue walking the stairs.

'Who is it, Friday?' Tony asked a little annoyed.

'It seems to be Doctor Strange, sir.'

'Seriously? Guy's got some nerve, showing up this late...' he mumbled. 'Fine, let him in! And warm up some noodle soup or something.'

'I shall turn on the stove, sir,' Friday spoke as she opened the automatic door.

'For the keeper of the Timestone he does have awful timing...' Tony grumbled.

'Doctor, welcome,' Steve greeted him with a kind smile.

'Captain,' Stephen replied with a nod, 'and... others,' he spoke while looking at the cramped diversity at the obviously too small table.

He sat down on Tony's chair and gave a quick smile to the group. 'I'm so sorry for being late, I had business to attend to. You know, keeping the world and all its dimensions in balance and such... But hey, I'm starving. What's for dinner?'

'Hi, Mister Strange!' Peter called from the top of the stairs and waved at him.

Strange looked up and awkwardly waved back, while Tony was dragging Peter along. As Stephen then noticed Loki's gloomy appearance and the tension of the eyes that were on him, his face grew more serious.

'What's... what's happening here? Loki, please don't tell me you tried to destroy another major city again! Thor, you promised me you would keep an eye on him!'

'What do you know about proms?' Vision asked in a serious voice.

'I beg your pardon?'

'Proms, you know. School dances,' Wanda added.

'I'm sorry, I seem to have missed something here. Why are you asking me this?'

'Loki is taking Peter to his prom,' Bruce spoke as he put down a plate of hot noodle soup. 'Long story short, that is.' He awkwardly smiled, still not sure whether he supported this outcome or not.

'Yes, it must be quite the story...' Strange blinked in disbelief.

'Sorry for the soup, everyone ate a lot more than I expected.' Steve awkwardly smiled while watching Thor and Drax downing their third dessert. 'I made it yesterday so at least it isn't some instant-stuff. We might have had some vegetables left, If Tony hadn't thrown the broccoli in the bin,' Steve added in a louder voice.

'I heard that!' Tony's voice sounded from the dressing room.

'I'm going upstairs, I really don't want to miss this!' Sam spoke as he stood up and jumped up the stairs, signaling Rhodes to follow.

Rhodes shook his head with a smile. 'This was not in my contract when I signed to become an Avenger.' He followed his friend op the stairs. 'You're enjoying this way too much Sam.'

'It seems like Tony could use some help,' Quill added, 'I think I'm wanted in the dressing room, considering that some advice from a Starlord always comes in handy. He'll be prom king when I'm done with him.'

'If he is going to be king, I will teach him all there is to being royalty,' T'Challa smiled and went up the stairs together with the Starlord, both taking a left.

'This place is like a freaking mansion. Where are they?' Steve could hear Quill complain from upstairs.

'It's on your right!' He quickly remarked and watched as the two casually turned around.

'We knew that,' Quill spoke, disappearing in the dressing room.

Steve watched as the two of them disappeared. He smiled and started gathering the dirty dishes.

'It's okay Steve, I'll handle this,' Bruce said as he took the dishes from his hands. 'I'm not much of a fashionista myself so I would be happy to stay here, you go upstairs.'

'It seems to mean a lot to you, Captain, so don't worry, we'll take care of this,' Thor added.

'Are you sure? I mean, there's a lot of dishes and I still need to clean the kitchen as well and-'

'Steve. Really, it's okay. Go.' Bruce almost pushed the captain up the stairs. 'I bet they already started.'

The captain watched as Bruce and Thor started to clean the table, feeling more than a little guilty.

'Just go already!' Bruce said with a laugh, to which the Captain smiled and he made his way upstairs.


NOTES:

Well, that's it!
I've decided to update a chapter every 1-2 days instead of 3-4, so really, i hope this is to your satisfaction!

Please let me know if you liked it or any other feedback for that manner! It was really fun but also challenging to write for all these different characters and we really tried to keep them as 'in-character' as possible so please let me know your opinion on this one!

Thanks again and see each other next time!