It's been about a week since the arcade outing, and Peter almost feels like it was all a fever dream, the idea of it alone seeming unreal. He relives the entire outing constantly, going back and forth between elation and anxiety about the whole thing. His mind can't seem to decide what to make of the interaction, but that doesn't stop the skip of his heart whenever he thinks he might hear Loki enter the room, or his falling smile when he realizes it's just Clint.

He knows it's not very likely to just run into him around the Tower, never mind how huge it is, but Tony is still trying his damnedest to keep them at opposite ends of the place. Not that it's working very well, Peter's already had his suit help establish loopholes with FRIDAY. But he hadn't expected to go from a night of adventures just to have it drop off into absolutely mind-numbing normalcy like this.

He literally played air hockey with Loki, the guy who tried to destroy the city he lives in, and now he's going around doing night patrols and working in the lab with Bruce, and hanging out with Ned like nothing has changed.

Peter leans back in his desk chair, stretching so far back he looks at his room upside down, groaning loudly to the empty room, hoping maybe he can expel his boredom through loud noises. He scrubs his hands through his hair and rubs at his tired eyes, finally straightening out before he breaks his desk chair.

He stands up and closes his laptop, needing a break from the bright screen and instead he turns to look out of his big windows, taking in the sprawling view of New York, just over the tops of the other buildings.

"We're a long way from Queens, Toto." Peter mutters to himself, and then something catches his gaze, up above the city. A sleek and dark bird taking flight over the buildings, going up toward the sky.

Peter knows, he can't explain how, but he just knows that it's Loki, and he feels a grin spread over his face, and before he can think it through, he's thrown his suit on and starts climbing out of his window.

When he reaches the top of the tower, he sees Loki standing there leaning against one of the many pieces of architecture jutting out of the roof, his arms crossed as he looks out over the city, looking way like the Cool Guy™ straight out of an older romance movie, and the situation is starting to catch up with Peter as he feels the dip of doubt in his stomach.

But, he swallows his anxiety, as best he can at least, squares his shoulders and lets the mask disappear as he walks towards the man he's starting to think of as his friend.

"Hey." Peter tries, but his voice sounds cracked and rough from being holed up in his room doing research for most of the day. He clears his throat around his embarrassment, but Loki just barely flicks his gaze in his direction before turning back to the view.

"Something I can help you with?" Loki's voice is cold, distant, and it sends a chill of dread up Peter's spine as his mind starts racing, pairing up with his anxiety and running away.

"Oh well, I just thought- well I saw you come up here, and uh…" Peter trails off awkwardly as he stares at Loki, who's turned to look at him with something almost like his usual sneer, but his eyes are sharper, missing that gleam of amusement they often carry. The look Loki fixes him with isn't a welcoming mischievous look, it seems closer to cruel.

"And you what? Thought maybe we could chill like pals? Want to play some video games and talk about girls?" A wicked smile stretches over his face, "Or boys, perhaps?"

Peter swallows as he stares at Loki, unable to process the callous and hard eyes staring right back at him, feeling like they're wrenching something out of him.

Loki takes a step towards him, "Let me be absolutely clear about something, Parker. I am not your friend," the word friend drips with acid as he stalks closer to Peter, "I am not here to entertain some fantasy or play babysitter." Loki crowds into Peter's space, forcing him to take a step backwards, "As much fun as it's been watching you make a fool of yourself chasing some idea you've had about me, let me assure you, you're mistaken. I'm nothing more than the snake everyone believes me to be, and toying with the insects has lost its charm I'm afraid"

"Well, glad we're on the same page" Peter breaths out, the words barely more than a whisper in the silent night. He doesn't flinch away from the smirk that lights Loki's features, doesn't move out from under the weight of that stare.

"Hmm, better run along now, Parker, before you get yourself grounded" The words are full of unattached disdain as Loki steps away, turning back to his perch overlooking the rest of the city, without a single backwards glance at Peter.

Peter feels like he's detached from his body as his feet start moving backwards, his brain stuck on the image of Loki smirking down at him, cruelty lighting his features. Peter suddenly feels cold, the night air blowing across his face as he reaches the edge of the rooftop, looking over the long drop and feeling like he's already lost his stomach. He hears Loki's voice in his ears, repeating the same words, over and over and over.

Peter looks over his shoulder at the lone figure against the black night, and he speaks before he can think himself out of it, "You don't have to fight everyone, ya know. You can let some people close." His voice is a whisper in the night, and he doesn't wait around to see if Loki even heard it, instead he steps off of the roof, free falling towards the ground before catching himself on a web and swinging out into the city.

"Okay, you are definitely cheating!"

"How could I possibly cheat? I'm rolling dice, the same ones you're rolling." Clint moves his game piece, completely dodging all of Sam's bought property and rolling again.

"I don't know, but you've clearly found a way." Sam says with a narrowed gaze, which Clint just smirks at, but when Sam turns his gaze away, Clint gives Peter a wink before sipping his beer.

Peter responds with a small smile, but he's not feeling it too much, even as nice as it is to be surrounded by the team and friends at another game night. It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while they get around to it.

"Barton, you better not be cheating under my roof." Tony comes out of the kitchen, a fresh drink in hand and looking over the board game with scrutiny.

Clint puts a hand to his chest, mock indignation on his face, "Me? I would never." Nat raises an eyebrow and at him from behind her glass, but Clint ignores her, "Why, you believe me, right Steve?" Clint looks at him innocently as he buys more property from him.

Steve gives a small smile while he counts out the fake money, "Well, I know Tony is quick to assume things," Steve's eyes flick to Tony, something crossing his face that Peter can't quite decipher, "but there is something to the way you've been playing tonight."

"If by assuming you mean making astute observations which lead to logical and correct conclusions, then yes, I assume a lot of things." Tony lowers himself back in his recently vacated seat, the quip rolling off his tongue quickly, but not so much as glancing at Steve as he speaks.

"Your assumptions aren't always as correct as you might think, right, Bruce?"

Steve looks at Bruce imploringly, who puts his hands up in surrender and lets out a startled little laugh. "Oh no, I'm not getting anywhere near this, this is not my area."

"What's the matter, Doc? Afraid to get in the middle of a lov-" Clint gets cut off when Nat smacks the back of his head while passing by, "Hey! What was that for?"

"I'm keeping you alive!" She calls from where she's moved deeper into the kitchen, probably grabbing some more food.

Peter looks between the team with a bit of confusion. Tony and Steve fight all the time of course, but it feels different now, it kind of seems like he's missing something. Of course, he's kind of been in his head a good bit since his run-in with Loki earlier, replaying the whole thing in his mind, like pressing at a bruise you know hurts, but being unable to stop yourself from just poking it.

He tries to bring himself back to the surface and focus on his friends, his super powered friends that are currently sitting around playing Monopoly. Because why not.

He's always loved these nights though, as silly as they might be, the few times they can get together to just hang out, where Tony finally puts his phone down for at least a few hours, and Clint messes with everyone relentlessly, and Nat actually looks relaxed for a little while, smiling with the rest of them, ruffling Peter's hair occasionally. It's these nights that really make Peter love the Tower and being a part of the Avengers. Being a part of this family.

Peter finds himself smiling at the thought, watching as Rhodey makes some kind of deal to trade with Tony, while Clint shouts something about illegal insider trading and tries to rope Banner and Sam into a protest about it, which Nat rolls her eyes about as she sits beside Peter, curling her legs underneath her.

Peter's family used to be just him and Aunt May, just the two of them, and now? He's practically been adopted by a whole league of superheros, it's kind of surreal sometimes. And now, Aunt May is with Happy, so even her side of the family is growing, which is admittedly still weird, but it's good, it's good for her, Peter's just glad she's happy.

He misses his parents of course, and his Uncle Ben always, but he's found a family that's accepted him and helped him through so much, and he's so thankful for that, for all of them. Even when they drive him crazy, and cheat at Monopoly.

"Okay, Barton, that's it, you don't get to roll any more." Tony's voice cuts through Peter's thoughts, making him and a few others laugh.

"What? Don't be such a sore loser Tony!"

"I'll get right on that as soon as you stop being a cheater." Nat snorts at that and Clint narrows his gaze in her direction.

"Oh, and what are you laughing at, Miss Banned From Playing Clue Ever Again?"

"Just because I was critiquing the accuracy-"

"You gave a detailed rant about each weapon and how they were terrible choices for trying to get away with a murder."

"I was just-"

"Detailed, Nat."

"Yeah, we'll see who you call next time you need to hide a body." Nat mutters at him mockingly, and Clint just smirks back at her.

"Alright, hotels, come to daddy." Tony downs the rest of his drink before handing his fake bills over to Steve, and Peter watches the way their hands brush as they pass them over, Tony instantly flinching his hand back, a small twitch of his features the only other hint that something happened, anyone else might've missed it, but Peter knew Tony's minuscule facial expressions well by now. Usually they were indicating that Tony wanted to kill Peter, but regardless, he'd gotten pretty good at catching the cues there.

Peter feels his brow furrow as he looks between them, seeing the way they both stiffen, Steve's face a careful mask as he gathers Tony's change to hand back to him, and this time, they're careful not to touch as they pass the money back.

No one else draws any attention to it, but Peter swears he sees a look pass between Nat and Clint, not that Clint is all that subtle about it, and Peter definitely catches the awkward look on Bruce's face, but Peter feels more confused than ever. What is even happening here?

"So…" Peter tries, feeling a bit awkward, not really even sure what his mouth is doing, as it's definitely acting without Peter's express permission. "Tony, Steve, what've you guys been up to lately?"

The room, oddly, seems to freeze for a second, most everyone kind of stops moving, and definitely stops talking, but it doesn't last long, though the air still feels really weird, almost like his spidey sense is going off, but not really? Nat seems to be trying to hide a smile, and Clint is just straight grinning, no pretense whatsoever as he leans back in his seat, looking gleeful. Rhodey is also smirking a bit, and Bruce looks slightly pained.

But Peter's attention is mainly on Tony and Steve, who seem to really pause, glancing at each other quickly, something definitely passing between the two of them, before Tony looks at Peter with his usual sarcastic expression, "Oh you know, same as usual, saving the world, protecting Earth from evil, etc. etc." Tony waves a hand in the air and pointedly looks back down at the board and seems to go about organizing his game pieces.

"Uh huh…" Peter responds, unconvinced, "And how about you Steve?" Peter takes a drink from his soda in hopes of appearing more casual about what is definitely starting to feel like an interrogation.

Steve seems to stare a hole into Tony's general direction, despite the fact that Tony seems to be ignoring him, before finally turning to Peter and responding, "Oh you know, the same old, dealing with childish jerks."

Rhodey just about does a spit take, and Sam seems to be fighting the urge to fist bump Steve, Bruce scoots his chair back a couple feet, and Tony looks up to glare at Steve fiercely, that look in his eye like he's gearing up for a good fight.

"Is this about Loki?" Peter asks, feeling like he's really being kept out of the loop here, and the only thing they've all been keeping him in the dark in is Loki, right? It's the only thing he can think of for why they're all acting weird and why he has no idea about what's going on. "Have you guys learned something new? About whatever is going on with him? Is that why you're acting weird?"

"We're not acting weird." Tony says in his usual matter of fact way. Curious people around the room snort lightly, causing Tony to glare daggers at pretty much everyone.

"No you're definitely acting weirder than usual." Peter looks at them warily, torn between saying he doesn't even care if there is information on Loki, but also still being insanely curious about him and everything involving him. Because Peter has issues apparently. "So, it is about Loki, then?"

They share a look and something passes between them and Steve definitely looks like he's going to say something, Peter knows that look, it's him digging in his heels and about to stand firm on whatever argument is about to take place, facing the problem head on like he does.

But Tony beats him to it, "Yep. Steve keeps trying to talk all about it and I've already told him what a horrible idea that is."

Their gazes don't waver from each other, technically talking to the room, but it feels more like a private conversation, "Actually, I seem to remember you slamming a door in my face before I could even get a word out. We can't not talk about it, Tony."

"That's where you're wrong, Cap, I can damn well do whatever I please."

"Oh the world already knows Tony Stark does what he wants, no matter who he hurts in the process." Tony's face seems to shift slightly, the words giving him pause as he looks over Steve's face with what seems like a small spark of hope.

Peter can't tell if he finds what he's looking for or not, but Tony's abruptly standing, putting his glass down on the table and moving, "Well, I think that's enough for me, Agent Coulson has been blowing up my phone all night, and you know how he tends to just show up on your doorstep if he doesn't get enough attention."

"Tony-" Steve starts, but Tony waves him off as he gets up and starts to leave

"I'll see you guys later, Peter why don't you take my spot in Monopoly." He tosses the dice at Peter, who catches them easily, if a bit startled.

Steve watches him go, a look on his face that's difficult for Peter to look at. It's maybe a turn or two later that Steve follows suit and says he has an early day tomorrow and should get to bed. Everyone's pretty much looking amused as soon as he leaves, and Peter waits until he's gone before turning to as Nat, "that wasn't actually about Loki, was it?"

She leans in conspiratorially and answers, "Not even a little bit."

Peter sighs, still feeling like he's missing something, but also kind of feeling like he doesn't want to know.

The next night, Peter finds himself lying in bed, scrolling through Reddit on his phone and just letting time slip by. Moondust by Jaymes Young is playing on his laptop, filling the room with a good beat and Peter's trying to relax, he's already had a good patrol through the City, being productive and all that. He's supposed to go hang out with Ned tomorrow and just veg out and play video games and Peter deserves that, okay? He deserves to just relax, take a load off for a little while.

There's been no word, or sighting, of Loki, and Peter can't really tell if it's a blessing or a curse, because he definitely still finds a small unsettling kernel of hope nested in his chest, still holding out for the possibility that they could be friends, but he also knows the absolute embarrassed mess of a person he'd be if he had to face Loki after what happened.

And, sure, Peter is like 75% sure this is just Loki's MO. From everything he's learned from Thor, the guy doesn't really know how to have friends, his go to is trickery and betrayal, because he doesn't know anything else. So sure he's probably just freaking out or something and pushing people away, or whatever. Peter definitely hasn't over analyzed this entire situation 8 ways from Sunday.

But he's not sure what to do from here, other than to extensively ignore the problem and hope it goes away. Hence, the slightly mopey Spotify playlist.

Peter has about a split second of his spidey sense going off before he's jerking himself up into a sitting position, just in time to see a body suddenly appear out of nowhere.

One second Peter is looking at his empty room, and the next, Loki is standing in the middle of it, swaying on his feet unsteadily as he looks around blearily. Peter is frozen in shock, until Loki seems to pitch and starts to fall over, and Peter finally moves and grabs Loki around the waist before he can hit the floor.