By the time Natasha delivered Ned to the compound and they reached the lounge, Peter and Stephen had explained the rest of the rules, the races the others were allowed to choose from for their characters and – once chosen by each – what they wanted each individual's specialty to be. It had taken a while, but the guardians were getting it figured out. Peter was relieved, though, to see Ned arrive into the room – carrying the small bag that he knew his friend used as a D&D pack as well as a backpack; most likely carrying a change of clothes and anything else that he thought he might need.

Pepper and Shuri were sitting at the table, as well. Shuri was listening to Peter explain the differences between each race and the classes available to each when she saw Peter look over at the entrance to the room and followed his gaze. Ned dropped the backpack on a sofa as he and Natasha walked by it, and then moved to the chair next to Peter that was standing empty for him. They weren't in the usual table in the corner; this one was much larger and closer to the entrance.

Ned assumed it was to make plenty of room for all of the people who were going to play that evening.

"Jesus, Peter," his friend said, looking worried. "You look like shit."

He did, too. Natasha had warned him on the way back to the compound that Peter's hand and arm had been badly injured. Ned knew that, but Natasha's warning made it sound like it was a lot worse than Peter had been letting on the few times that they'd spoken on the phone.

"You know that we hadn't planned to let you come out for at least another week," Natasha had told Ned as they sped along the highway, taking advantage of the light traffic and the incredible acceleration of Natasha's sportscar. "He gets tired, easily, and we don't want him overdoing it, so your job is going to be to be as restful a visitor as you possibly can while keeping things normal. Got it?"

"Yeah. I'll be cool. Really."

He knew the concession that was being made to let him go out to the compound and the trust that they were putting in him, after all.

Natasha wasn't the only one to roll her eyes at Ned's first words to his friend, but Peter only smiled. He wasn't offended or upset at the proclamation.

"I know. But I look better than I did a week ago, believe me."

His friend wasn't so sure. Peter had always been thin as long as Ned had known him, but he seemed even more so, just then, and it was probably the bandages, but he looked a little vulnerable – despite the amazing things that Ned knew he could do. And tired. So tired that Ned wondered why they had even let him out of bed, much less allowed him to hang out with anyone. Especially aliens and Avengers.

Ned gave him a pointed look.

"Tony knows you're here?"

Pepper smiled. Ned might have failed the restful visitor thing, but he definitely had passed the worried friend assessment, easily. Peter smiled, too.

"Yeah. He's making a D&D campaign."

"He's done with the campaign," Stark said, coming into the room just in time to hear Peter's reply. Tony walked over and stood behind Peter, his hand reached out and testing the boy's forehead, automatically, as he looked over at Ned. "How's it going, Ned?"

"Good. Thanks. Thanks for letting me come out early."

"You're welcome. We're glad you're here. You brought your D&D stuff?"

Ned grinned, excitedly, and Peter echoed it, unconsciously.

"Yes."

"Dinner, first, though," Pepper told them all – including the guardians.

"Are they ready?" Tony asked, looking at Strange and Peter as he moved to sit next to his wife – still watching Peter for any indication that he was going to fall on his face. "Got them all written up?"

Peter nodded.

"It'll be interesting."

Stephen snorted.

"A talking tree, a racoon, a couple of aliens and a displaced earthling joining in a D&D campaign? Yes; interesting is one word I'd use for it."

They could tell that he was looking forward to it, though. Better, as far as Tony was concerned, his boy was smiling and looked almost cheerful.

"I made a good starter campaign, so they should have a good time," he said, looking at the guardians as he said it. "If you enjoy yourself, you can take equipment with you and we'll spread the word across the universe."

Strange rolled his eyes at the grandiose way Tony suggested that and squeezed Natasha's hand, lightly, under the table, amused.

"Let's eat," he suggested. "I'm hungry."

He wasn't, really, but he was ready to get some dinner into Peter and make sure he didn't flag before things really got interesting. Besides, he still had to open a portal for Shuri to Wakanda, after all.

"Peter?"

"Yeah."

OOOOOOO

Despite being uninterested in playing make believe with the others, Gamora and Sirah did stick around in the lounge once dinner was finished so they could watch.

While the table was cleared of the remains of their meal, Stephen and Shuri left for a few minutes, returning with Shuri carrying a bag that held her character sheet and dice – as well as the figurine that she used to represent her little ranger. Rather than let Peter tire himself out going to get his, Ned offered to do it for him, and returned right after Strange and Shuri.

Tony waited, watching them all get prepared from behind the small barrier he used to shroud his actions in mystery, and double-checked to make sure that Peter didn't look too worn out as he looked down at his hastily edited notes.

"Your party is at the edge of a forest. In the heart of the forest lives an ancient sorcerer who holds the knowledge of the life-giving elixir known as Hunky-Dory. The only known cure for the poison that is slowly killing the daughter of the king of this land. A large reward has been offered for the elixir, and while some in your party aren't in the quest for the money, the rest are, and you're determined to find the sorcerer and discover where the elixir is located, so you can save the princess.

The only problem is that this wood is also known to shelter some of the most dangerous creatures known; from the mundane like wolves and bears the size of wagon carts, to dragons and magical beasts that would just as soon kill you on sight…"

Peter smiled, knowing that it was a great way for Tony to bring together all of the different character, classes, and races that they had in their diverse group. Not to mention it was a rather generic quest that would take as long as Tony wanted it to last. If interest started to wan, they'd save the princess quickly. If the others were enjoying themselves, it could be drawn out with several different scenarios to explore.

He wasn't surprised; Tony was creative and brilliant. Peter already knew that.

"You realize that when you start getting tired, the elixir will magically appear in some crazy final, climactic battle, right?" Alec asked, amused – although Peter knew he was also impressed with the clever way Tony was handling his audience.

"Yeah."

He didn't feel tired, yet, though, and was determined to enjoy having everyone around him.

"There are two paths," Tony was telling the others. "One leads to the right, and one to the left. Which way do you go?"

"I am groot."

Peter smirked, and Rocket rolled his eyes.

"He said he'll ask the trees where the sorcerer lives."

Stark smiled.

"Your character is an orc, Groot. Orcs don't talk to trees."

Only Avengers and guardians had that privilege, apparently. As well as those who were closest to them, of course.