They stayed in the lounge with Tony for a few more minutes, but he'd really only been there hoping to catch up with Peter and/or Ned to discuss the concerns and limitations that he wanted in place for the morning's activities in the gym. Beyond that, he was going to go back to his quarters and spend some time with Pepper – and maybe have another cup of coffee.

Telling the boys that he'd see them in the garage, unless he decided to show up for the sparring, he excused himself and took his coffee and tablet and left.

"Where's Shuri?" Ned asked, when Tony had gone. "Have you seen her, yet, this morning?"

"No." Peter replied. He shrugged. "I didn't think it'd look right, if I went to her rooms so early."

"Yeah. Good point. Especially with her guard and all. So are you two dating, then?"

"No. I mean, I don't know. She sounded kind of mad at me, really."

"Before or after she kissed you?"

"Before. No. After the first one, but before the one at her door. She called me clueless and said I was driving her crazy."

"Well, you are clueless," Ned pointed out. I already told you that. And you're driving me crazy, too. For the record." He smirked. Everyone loved being proven right, after all. "So you probably are, then. I mean, she didn't kiss you goodbye, or something, I imagine."

"No." he hesitated. "Think MJ will mind?"

"No." Ned sounded certain of his reply. "We've pretty much been waiting for the official word, really."

"You have?"

"You're the clueless one, Peter," Ned told him with a grin. "Not us." He stood up, slapping his friend on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go play video games until it's time to go to the gym."

"Okay."

OOOOOOOOO

"Tell me again why I'm doing this?"

Steve smiled.

"You mean getting up early on a Sunday morning, going to the gym and waiting for a group of teenagers to come watch you fight a little kid? Probably because you're a sucker for brown eyes."

"Ned isn't a little kid," she pointed out, also smiling. "And I'm not going to fight him. I'm just going to let him put on a show to impress upon his friends that he's really learning his stuff."

"You're going to let him win?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Of course not. I have a reputation to uphold, after all."

Rogers chuckled. He knew she didn't mind getting up to spar early any more than he did. Which was why he was up and in the gym, too. He was helping her warm up and getting a little exercise of his own at the same time. They were both wearing sweats, t-shirts and were barefoot, and the mat they were on was the large one that they used when they were planning on doing a lot of back and forth maneuvers.

"Well, don't beat him up, too much. I'd like for us to have a nice, quiet, calm day. As nice as it can be with a lot of teens running around, that is."

"I won't." She smirked, and turned toward the door of the gym where a couple of Peter and Ned's classmates were peeking in, obviously looking to see if Ned or anyone else had arrived before them. "Besides," she added, waving the kids into the room. "Ned's improved enough, now, that we can make it look pretty impressive without even coming close to a smack down."

"Smack down, huh?" he echoed. "You're spending too much time on pay-per-view."

Romanoff just smiled, and greeted the kids while Steve tapped his earbud and asked Peter to tell Ned that they were ready.

OOOOOOO

By the time Ned and Peter arrived in the gym – a little breathless from hurrying over – the rest of the kids were all assembled in the gym. Except Shuri. Ned smiled at Natasha, kicking his shoes off and joining her on the mat, while Peter went to stand by Steve, who had moved to the side of the mat to give Ned and Natasha room, standing next to MJ, and next to Flash, who nodded a greeting to Peter.

"Your cat tried to steal my wallet last night, Parker. Is that something you taught him? Or is he just a clepto by nature?"

Steve smiled, able to recognize that the boy wasn't quite as annoyed as he was trying to sound.

"He tried to walk off with my shield, one evening."

"Really?" The teen looked surprised at that. And maybe a little flattered that Rogers had initiated conversation with him. "How would he have done that?"

"He wouldn't," Peter replied. "He's a baby – and pretty little. Steve just thinks he was trying to steal it. He was probably just admiring it."

Flash looked at Rogers, who shook his head.

"You admire things with your eyes. You steal them with your tiny little teeth in the strap vainly tugging for all you're worth."

Peter smiled, and shrugged – making MJ smile, too.

"Maybe."

They were distracted from the conversation, then, by Ned and Romanoff moving to the middle of the mat, clearly ready to start their 'bout'.

"This should be interesting," Flash murmured, more to himself than those around him.

Those standing with him agreed. But not for the same reason that he thought. Peter's smile widened, then, because while Flash watched the first pass that Natasha took at Ned, and watched the teen block her punch, easily, only to retaliate with a smooth sweep of his left leg, he was watching the other boy's reaction. And he saw Flash's jaw literally drop with surprise at how easily Ned went on the offensive and drove the superspy back with a flurry of blows that looked slow to Peter, but he knew were really pretty impressive.

"He's pretty good," MJ said, also looking surprised.

As were all the other teens gathered around the mat to watch.

"He's a quick learner," Steve agreed. "And he's particularly good at using his weight to his advantage. It gives him a lot of force. Unlike a scrawny guy like Peter, here, who has to rely on keeping out of your way."

"She's going easy on him," Flash pointed out, trying to find a flaw in Ned's ability.

"Duh," MJ said, rolling her eyes. "She's a ninja, pretty much, right? If she wanted to, she could wipe the floor with him. But that doesn't mean that he isn't any good. He's doing well."

They watched several more passes, and Ned held his own with each of them. He didn't land on Natasha – of course – but it was clear that he was pretty good.

Romanoff finally held her hand up to stop him, and he wiped his sweaty brow, bowing to her with a huge smile, despite being out of breath.

"Nicely done, Ned."

"Thanks, Natasha."

The other kids applauded, also impressed, and Peter slapped Ned's shoulder when he walked over to join him and MJ.

"Not bad," MJ congratulated.

He smiled, taking a towel that Steve offered him, and Romanoff turned to look at Peter, expectantly.

"Well…?"

The boy only hesitated for a moment, kicking his shoes off and walking onto the mat.

"Go get her, Peter…" Ned cheered.

The other kids were silent, watching as Peter bowed, politely, and took a defensive stance, first.

"Ready?" she asked, shaking her arms to loosen them up – although she was more than ready, herself.

She was just giving him a chance to get in position.

He nodded, and brought a hand up just in time to block her unannounced attack. His other hand came up, as well, when she spun in place and slashed another attack, and the gym was silent when Peter blocked it, too. The boy smiled, as always amazed at himself when the training he'd received from those around him came to bear so efficiently, and he allowed her next round of furious attacks and blows to drive him backward on the mat, but she never landed a single punch, or kick.

None even came close – although it looked like a near thing a time or two.

Then they went back to the center of the mat, and this time it was Natasha who went on the defensive, while Peter moved to an attack. They were going a lot harder and faster than Ned and Natasha had, and the kids watching were speechless at the demonstration. Steve smiled at the reactions, and nudged MJ, who looked over at him.

Rogers pulled a tennis ball from his pocket, showed it to her, Flash and Ned, and then, without warning, threw it at the two combatants. Without missing a beat, Peter caught it in his left hand, avoided a kick from Natasha and threw the ball back at Steve all in one, smooth, motion.

"Wow!"

Even Ned was impressed by that, and he knew what Peter was capable of better than any of the other teens.

Steve just shook his head, enjoying the fact that Peter was clearly having a good time. He watched as the boy spun, again, and then went back to the defensive, carefully calculating Natasha's moves, and trying to decide what was coming, next.

Just as Romanoff slashed out with her hand, the gym door opened and Shuri came in. Peter automatically looked her direction, and before Natasha could realize that he was suddenly distracted and pull the blow, the closed fist caught him across the mouth. Peter fell back with a grunt, and hit the mat, stunned.

"Ouch."