"Anything you want to do before we send you home?" Tony asked Shuri on the way back to the compound.
He'd been tempted – more than tempted, even – to let Peter drive himself and Shuri in his car as long as there was a SHIELD shadow along with himself and Pepper following close by. Eventually, though, he had decided that a long day of getting ready, followed by a hearty meal (presumably), and then a movie might leave the boy too tired to drive home, safely, and unwilling to admit it.
Better safe than sorry, and there would be other chances in the future, he knew.
The girl smiled across from him and shook her head. She wasn't at all disappointed in the day that she'd had, and it showed.
"This was very enjoyable," she told Tony – and Pepper and Peter by default. "I do not know what else there is. The research I conducted mentioned night caps, but they seem to be alcoholic and I am not going to want to drink before going home."
She was old enough, of course, but knew that in his land Peter was not. And she knew Peter didn't really mind, since he wasn't all that interested in drinking in the first place.
"We can do a nightcap," Tony assured her. "They don't all have to be alcohol."
Although every one that he could ever remember having were. And were usually followed up with a one-night stand. Something to be avoided when it came to her and Peter, and something he was no longer interested in, of course.
"It's just a way to end the evening on a positive note," Pepper added. "I think a nightcap in Peter's room so you're not under the scrutiny of everyone for the last part of your evening would definitely be in order."
Peter smiled at that. He thought it was a great idea, but never would have dreamed of suggesting it, himself, knowing that Tony would have teased him (which he didn't mind, too much, but it was one of those parents embarrassing the kid things) and he was grateful that she'd thought of it.
"Sounds good. That'll give Stephen and Natasha a chance to relax a little."
"Not too long," Tony reminded them. "T'Challa is expecting Shuri home at a decent hour, and we don't want to do anything that makes him think twice the next time she's invited over."
Shuri smiled.
"He is very patient."
"What happened with Flash?" Pepper asked, curiously, changing the subject before Tony could suggest that Peter should have to keep the door to his quarters open while Shuri was in them. "Did you know he was going to choke?"
The boy nodded and then shook his head.
"No. I mean, I knew something was happening, but I didn't know it was going to be Flash. Just that it was in the area. It could have been the waiter or his date, or someone else doing something else."
"We were outside," Shuri reminded them, looking pleased with Peter's actions rather than annoyed that they had interrupted their date. "Someone could have been struck by lightning, or a falling crane."
Tony raised an eyebrow.
"A falling crane?"
She shrugged, still amused.
"It happens."
"Only when there's a crane around."
"Could have been a giant space rock, or something," Peter said, taking Shuri's hand, casually, and squeezing it, showing solidarity in the face of Tony's gentle teasing. "Or a lost pigeon."
Pepper's delicate snort was just as amused.
"We probably don't have to worry about that, but I imagine Flash can appreciate the first aid lessons that Stephen gave you, now."
Peter nodded. It wasn't the first time that he'd used them, and he was pretty sure that Flash wasn't in as much danger as the little kid he'd pulled from the fire, but it did feel good. Made him feel like a hero.
"He probably won't want anyone to know that I help him," the boy said.
"You and his dad can call it even, now," Tony said. "For all the help he was when you hurt your hand."
"True."
OOOOOOOOOOO
"Did they have a good time?"
Tony nodded, taking Ironpig from Nick and kissing the top of the piglet's head. He was getting too big to be called a piglet, but that was alright. Luckily, he wasn't one of those huge breed pigs that grew to be several hundred pounds; Ironpig was about 20 pounds, and it wasn't too much to tote around, luckily. He'd long since presented Gina Lee with a piglet of her own to make up for the fact that he had no intention of ever taking Ironpig out to their farm.
"It was good. Dinner and a movie are always a good time when you're a teenager, right?"
"And when you're mom and dad keeping an eye on things…?"
Stark smiled.
"We weren't spying on them, Nick. We were providing security in case something happened. Same as Natasha and Stephen."
The older man smirked.
"Right. Where are they?"
"Peter's quarters."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"We're not worried," Pepper told him, smiling at the interrogation. "They're old enough to be trusted not to do anything too inappropriate – and they deserve a chance to be normal, even if it's only for an hour or two."
"The Thompson kid already mentioned Peter in his social media."
Nick didn't press the conversation about Peter and Shuri, since he agreed, completely, and was glad that Tony and Pepper were being so relaxed about it.
Tony nodded.
"I'm aware."
Tony always received an alert whenever Peter was mentioned in a social media post. Pretty much anywhere online, really, but social media was the most common. Sometimes it was a passing comment made by one of his classmates – often it was a mention by Ned after they'd done something fun that he knew Tony wouldn't care was posted. Sometimes Ned even posted pictures of Tony and Peter when he made those comments. The other kids in Peter's class did, too, of course, just not as often.
This one was Flash, and it apparently had been made not long after they'd left the restaurant. Tony noticed the timestamp when FRIDAY had alerted him and he'd been pleased that the boy hadn't forgotten the rule about posting what Peter was doing while he was doing it. True, Tony didn't have the authority to tell Peter's friends what they could do when they weren't hanging out at the compound, but he did – and they all knew it – have the capability to wipe the media posts. The fact that an illicit post that potentially could put Peter at risk was also a very good way to not be invited to whatever fun Avenger adventure might be coming in the future was usually more than enough reason not to post anything.
Tony had shown Flash's post to Pepper during the movie, but was sure Peter hadn't seen it, yet. He had a girlfriend to pay attention to, after all.
'Peter Parker just saved my life – and kept me from looking like an idiot with my hot date.'
A picture of him and his date, and a photoshopped one of Peter at the table at the restaurant that showed Peter but not Shuri (another rule that the kids were careful to follow) and a short explanation of what happened.
It was only complementary, and Tony didn't even have to ask Pepper if she thought it should be deleted.
It was nice. Coming from Flash? Extraordinary.
"You're good with it?"
Pepper nodded.
"We are."
"When does the princess go home?"
Tony smirked, since Stephen and Natasha chose that moment to walk into the lounge.
"As soon as he opens a portal for Shuri."
Natasha chuckled but Strange just rolled his eyes.