"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah."

Pepper smiled at the racoon.

"Don't sound so surprised."

"It was good," Drax said, with approval on his open face. "Make believe, yes, but a good way to learn tactics and plan strategies."

"And to learn teamwork," Gamora added.

She hadn't played, but she'd watched entire campaign with interest. Tony had noticed that interest almost immediately, of course, and had gestured for her to sit close to him, so she could watch him lead the others in the story and do the rolls that were needed to determine how well they succeeded or failed. She was clearly not enamored of being part of the party, but he had a feeling that she wouldn't say no to leading the group, sometime – and he'd make sure that if she was interested in learning to be a DM he'd give her some pointers and all the research material she needed to get started.

The rest was just imagination.

"It is," Natasha agreed. She looked over at Peter, who was almost asleep where he sat between Ned and Shuri. "And the company is good."

"I am groot."

"He liked it," Rocket translated for those who needed it.

Sometime during the evening, Nutmeg had woken, stretched and left the little den made by Peter's sling. The kitten was now sprawled on Groot's head, gnawing on a twig, idly.

"I'm glad." Tony looked over at Peter, too, but he'd been watching him all evening, somewhat surprised that he hadn't fallen asleep, sooner. The boy could be stubborn when he wanted to be. Tony knew that. No sense tempting fate, though. "I'm going to walk Peter back to his room."

Peter sat up, a little, affecting alertness that just wasn't there.

"I'm good."

"You look tired," Ned told him, before Tony could say anything. "You should get some sleep so we can do brunch, tomorrow."

Pepper hid her smile behind a sip of coffee, while Natasha didn't bother. It was easier to take the order from his friend – especially his friend who hadn't been allowed to come visit for so long. Peter shrugged, knowing that Ned liked going to brunch with them (and he did, too). It would be even more fun with Shuri – and might keep Tony and Pepper and the others from worrying if he felt well enough to do something so far from bed.

"Yeah. I'm a little tired," he admitted. He was going to mention that he didn't need anyone to walk him to his rooms, though, but he didn't, because while he didn't need it, he certainly wanted the company that Tony was willing to provide. Instead he looked at Pepper. "You'll come, too?"

She nodded.

"Of course."

Tony got up, saying his goodbyes to the others and then plucking Nutmeg from Groot's head. Ironpig had gone to Clint's, but Peter assumed Tony wasn't quite ready to risk the apparently dangerous Flerkin with the others. He was a little surprised, then, when he finished hugging Natasha goodnight and tony handed the kitten to him with a wry smile and told him to tuck Nutmeg into his sling for safe keeping.

"That's weird…"

Alec was amused.

"He found out that Flerkin have the same ability to augment others that the cloak does," the ancient sorcerer told him. "So don't be surprised if he has that kitten all over you for the next week or so."

"What do you mean they can augment others? Will he make me stronger?"

"Strength isn't an ability," Alec told him. "But your ability to heal faster than normal is, and Tony – and Pepper and the others who know about it – are willing to do anything that it takes to get you healthy as quickly as you safely can heal. Including allowing you to be cuddling and sleeping with a flerkin."

"Is it true?"

"Of course it is."

"How did they find out? Wong?"

"I told them. Say goodnight to Shuri so we can get going, will you? She's waiting."

Peter turned from his internal conversation and hugged the princess.

"I'm sorry I'm too tired to hang out…" he apologized.

"Ned will keep me company," she told him.

"Her and Sirah, both," Ned added, trying to sound nonchalant.

And failing. He was clearly happy to see Peter, of course, and make sure that his friend was getting better. But a pretty alien? Especially one that kept looking at him like Sirah was? He'd been the first person that Peter had introduced her to, after all – and he'd made her a TV dinner. She liked him.

"We'll keep them out of mischief," Natasha assured Tony – who had hesitated just a moment. "Go do what you need to do and come back. We'll play cards."

Pepper nodded and Peter finished saying goodnight to the others – and thanking them for playing D&D with him. He was pretty sure the guardians, at least, could have found something more interesting to do. Then he made sure Nutmeg was comfortable, and with the cloak still draped over his shoulders and humming cheerfully in his mind, he headed for the door with Pepper on one side and Tony on the other.

"I could probably make it to my rooms on my own," he told them once they'd left the lounge – and the others. "You can go play cards, if you want."

"And if you don't make it?" Pepper asked him, sliding her arm through his good one. "Then what? Someone trips over you in the hallway in the middle of the night and there will probably be a big lawsuit, or something…"

Peter smiled, rolling his eyes, but amused. He didn't bother to remind her that with the cloak on his shoulders, he – technically – didn't even need to walk to his rooms. If the ancient relic was willing, it could just float him and save him the walk. Much less keep him from falling on his face.

There was an amused agreement from the back of his mind, but the cheerful crooning never stopped. Peter knew that once he got into bed, the humming would turn into that lullaby the cloak always sang to him – and would almost certainly put him to sleep fairly quickly.

"Stephen's staying at the compound?"

"Until you're a little healthier," Tony said. "Yeah."

Because – like Alec had reminded Peter – the cloak could enhance him, as well.

"Yup."

Alec fell silent, but Peter didn't mind. He didn't mind them looking out for him, either. They were pretty good at it, by now. And he did want the company. Even if he didn't want to admit it and make them feel like they had to spend time with him because he was hurting, didn't feel well and was in the mood to be cuddled by mom and dad.

"Do you need something for the pain?" Tony asked as they reached Peter's quarters.

"No. It doesn't hurt too much. I'll just brush my teeth and go to bed."

"I'll make sure your bed's ready while you do that," Pepper told him, coming up with a somewhat reasonable excuse to allow him the privacy needed to brush his teeth and do anything else he needed to do to get ready for bed without having her hovering.

She moved into the bedroom and Tony helped Peter change into some clean sweats and a t-shirt – which was impossible one-handed. Even harder was putting on socks, and Peter wanted some.

"You're okay?" Tony asked Peter, softly, while they were still in the bathroom.

"Yeah. It doesn't hurt too much. Really. Just a dull ache."

"Enough to keep you from resting?" he asked, pulling up Peter's sock for him. "I want you to get some sleep, tonight – especially if we're going to try going to buffet, tomorrow."

"If it gets too bad I'll have Karen call Friday."

Tony nodded and tousled Peter's hair, lovingly.

"Come on. Mom's waiting to say goodnight."

She was, too. Pepper was looking through Peter's fridge and had started tossing outdated items into a bag they'd take with them when they left. She didn't chide Peter, though, since he'd been hurt and not up to taking care of such minor details himself. She stopped what she was doing when Peter and Tony entered the bedroom, and Peter didn't feel at all self-conscious when she pulled his blankets back and helped him ease into the bed to avoid allowing him to try it himself and maybe jar that injured hand.

"Are you good?" Tony asked, watching as the cloak unwrapped itself from around Peter so it wouldn't be getting trapped between the boy and the sheets. When he was settled, it added its own weight and warmth to the bedding. "Need anything?"

Peter looked at Pepper.

"Goodnight kiss?" he asked, hopefully, sleepy enough, now, to be willing to make a request that he never would make, normally.

She smiled and leaned over. Not only did she press a kiss against his cheek, but she held her cheek against his for a long moment before pulling away.

"If you need anything, call."

"I will."

"And if Ned sneaks in here to play videogames tonight, I want you to send him packing," she added, as Tony leaned over Peter to press his hand against his forehead. "Sleep is what you need more than anything, right now."

"Yes, ma'am."

She rolled her eyes, not at all fooled by his demeanor.

"Go to sleep, Peter Parker."

Peter felt a lassitude sweep through him as he finally gave in to the weariness that had plagued him – more so, now, since he was using even more energy to heal with the help of the kitten and the cloak being with him, nonstop.

"I love you guys," he told them, closing his eyes, and tucking his injured hand carefully against his side.

"We love you, too. Goodnight."

Tony led his wife through Peter's quarters and out the door, turning off the lights as they went.

Peter was asleep before the door closed behind them.