"Hello. My name is Peter and I am your server this evening. The choices are spaghetti with – or without – meatballs, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy or baked fish. All meals come with steamed ghost broccoli."

Tony smirked as he settled into his chair, with Pepper beside him. Shuri had come over to the table when the two had arrived in the lounge, and she, too, smiled slightly at their waiter, who was holding a pad of paper in his injured hand and a pen in the left.

"What is ghost broccoli?" Shuri asked, curiously.

"Don't listen to him," Clint told her, shaking his head, amused. "It's cauliflower. My son saw something online and started calling it that, and Peter liked it and now he calls it that, too."

Shuri shook her head, as well.

"I will have the fish."

"Spaghetti," Pepper told him. "With meatballs."

"Mr. Stark?" Peter asked, politely.

Tony rolled his eyes.

"Spaghetti, of course."

"Fish for me," Clint ordered.

"He's a server?" Steve asked, walking over to the table with Carol beside him. The two were dressed nicely; slacks and a button down for him and a formfitting black dress for her. Nothing incredibly fancy, just enough to let on that they weren't staying in the lounge to have dinner. "I assumed that he'd be washing dishes, or something."

Peter had assumed that, as well.

"We can't get the brace wet," Tony explained. "And we don't dare let him try anything without having it on, still. Time enough for dishes when he's healed up a bit more."

"You two look nice," a new voice said, as Nick Fury walked over and seated himself beside Shuri. "Let me guess; gun show?"

Rogers smiled, but it was Danvers who replied.

"He's taking me into the city for dinner."

"And dancing?" Clint asked.

"If I can convince him."

"Does anyone need anything before we go?"

"Nope. Have fun you kids," Tony said, his eyes amused. "Be home by curfew."

"We will, dad," Carol replied, also amused, but clearly in a good mood.

They left, and all of them noticed that Steve had reached for her hand on their way out of the lounge.

"Someone needs a little cheering up," Alec said into Peter's mind.

He didn't say who, but Peter didn't need the nudge, really. He'd seen Shuri's expression, and knew that she had a bit (maybe more than a bit) of a crush on Steve. While she knew she didn't have a chance with him, of course, it was probably still no fun to see him going out on a date with someone who was far more suitable for him – even than a Wakandan princess.

Peter looked at Nick.

"Dinner, sir?"

"No, Parker. I already ate. I'm just here to amuse myself watching you. Bring me a cup of coffee, will you, please?"

"Of course." The boy walked over to stand behind Shuri, and leaned over until his lips were right up to his friend's ear. "Would my sweet care for a cup of tea?" he offered.

Shuri smiled.

"That would be nice, thank you. Do you need help?"

"He doesn't," Tony assured her, pleased to see the smile. He hadn't missed her expression, either – even though she was very careful to try and hide it. "He's being punished, remember?"

Peter rolled his eyes and walked away, heading to the bar with his pad of paper and Nick looked at Shuri, then at Tony.

"When is Shuri going home?"

"Tomorrow evening," Stark replied. He smiled at the girl. "Although I'm inclined to ask T'Challa if I can clone her and sent back the copy so I can keep the original. She certainly lights up the place."

"Raises the IQ by a lot, too," Nick agreed, hiding his amusement at the almost imperceptible flush the praise was causing in the girl's dark skin. "We certainly owe you big time for your help."

"It was my pleasure," she assured him. All of them. "Thanos would not have stopped at America, after all."

"Still owe you," Tony told her, agreeing with Nick, completely. "How do we repay you?"

"My people and yours are allies," she pointed out. "You cannot repay me – or the others – for coming to your assistance. That is not how it works."

"You saved Peter's life," Tony reminded her.

"And he saved mine. Both in Syracuse and when he stopped Thanos from winning. We are most definitely even."

Tony looked like he wanted to argue, but a crashing noise from by the bar drew everyone's attention. Pepper shook her head as they watched Peter crouch down and start picking up the tray and the hot drinks that had been on it.

"Maybe server isn't exactly the right idea…?" she said, softly, making sure the boy couldn't hear her. "If he can't carry drinks, you know we're going to end up wearing our meals, right?"

"He'll figure it out," Stark told her, confidently. "I have faith in him."

OOOOOO

"He does not get to have dinner?" Shuri asked, looking at Tony before turning to watch Peter take dinner orders from the table nearest the entrance.

The guardians were all there, along with Sirah, who looked uncertain at the idea of having Peter bring her a drink.

"He'll eat, later," the billionaire said. He didn't look too worried. Peter had managed to bring all of them coffee or tea and hadn't spilled any of it on the third attempt. "He's fine."

"It isn't a punishment if they coddle him," Nick pointed out. "Two hours won't kill him."

It was clear, though, that Tony was keeping an eye on his son. When Peter had brought them the tray with their drinks – carrying it with his left hand instead of the injured one – Tony had watched as Peter set the tray down on the table beside theirs before he started handing out the drinks, flirting a little with Shuri, who had enjoyed the attention. Peter's eyes didn't show any sign of pain, or frustration – or even annoyance, so the hand was unwieldy just then, but probably not hurting too much.

By the time the drinks for the guardians were ready and delivered, their meals were also ready, and Deena suggested to Peter that he not try to carry them all at once. Something he agreed with, immediately.

"Ladies first," he said, as he walked over with a larger tray, once more setting it on the table beside theirs. "Mom…" he set a plate in front of Pepper with a flourish that was only slightly wobbly since he was using his off hand. A kiss to the cheek. "Enjoy."

"Thank you, son."

He nodded, and set Shuri's meal in front of her.

"My Princess." Another kiss to the cheek – and Shuri smiled at the way Tony rolled his eyes at the treatment – or the endearment. "It pales in comparison to your beauty, but it's the best we have to offer you."

Clint snorted, clearly amused.

"Don't forget bread rolls, Peter Pony," the archer said.

"I won't."

Before he could even pick up the tray to go get the other plates for Clint and Tony, Natasha and Stephen both entered the room – and Peter suddenly found himself under the excited assault of the Cloak of Levitation. And then, unexpected, even while he was trying to free himself of the heavy fabric, Natasha walked over and caught him up in a hug, being very careful of his hand, but holding him tightly for a long moment before releasing him.

And then kissing him soundly before she let him go, completely.

"What was that for?" Peter asked, confused, but smiling.

Both at the kiss and because she looked incredibly happy.

"I can't hug my favorite guy?" she asked, brushing her hand against his cheek, and using her thumb to wipe her lipstick from the corner of his mouth where she'd smeared him.

"I thought you were her favorite guy?" Clint asked Strange, who was pulling out a chair for Natasha.

"I'm her boyfriend," The magician replied. "It isn't the same."

He looked pretty cheerful, too, though.

"What's going on?" Nick asked, looking at the two almost suspiciously.

"We'll tell you later," Romanoff replied. "Maybe."

"But…"

He was interrupted when Peter moved over to stand by them.

"My name is Peter," the boy said, formally, reaching into the apron pocket for his paper and pen. "And I will be your server, tonight."