Chapter Four
Flash

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Author's Note: Haven't updated in awhile. Been super busy. Don't judge me! Young Avengers are here to entertain you and stuff while I drink coffee and eat cheese puffs. So enjoy!

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Matthew and Markus were not your average teenage boys. This was only to be expected, seeing as they were the sons of an extremely powerful god (even if Jane's human blood diluted it a little bit). They were strong and fast, and if they lived on Asgard, they would be considered the perfect warriors. In New York City, they made do by playing sports (soccer, basketball, and baseball), and running every morning with their Uncle Steve. Thor and Jane were proud of their twins.

One evening at dinner, the Odinson family was seated around the table, eating spaghetti and talking about what had happened that day.

"Dude," Matthew said to Markus across the table, "we are going to mangle Cardinal Cathedral on Saturday."

"Cardinal Cathedral?" Thor asked, confused.

"They're the team we have to beat to go to the regional championships, Dad," Markus replied. "They're good, but with our team this year, we're unstoppable."

Jane smiled. "Well good luck you two. The three of us are rooting for you."

Matthew and Markus glanced at each other, confused. "… Three?"

"Oh, that's right," Thor said joyfully, "your mother and I have wonderful news to share with you. Matthew, Markus, you are going have a baby sibling in about seven and half months. Isn't that fantastic?"

"Whoa," Markus said. "That's just weird. I don't mean bad weird! Like… cool weird."

"I never even considered the fact that we could have a baby sibling one day. I mean, we've gone almost sixteen years without one… This is going to be very interesting. Boy or girl?" Matthew questioned.

Jane shrugged nonchalantly. "We won't know until Friday, but no worries you two, we'll keep you posted."

O~O~O~O~O

The next morning it was Tony's turn to make the six teenagers breakfast before school. He wore Ironman boxers and a black wifebeater as he scrambled the eggs and fried the bacon. The kids wandered in, one right after the other, to sit at the table and wait for their food. Loki and Peter were the last two to their seats.

"Why does it seem like you two come to breakfast later and later every day?" Steve asked his son as Tony set down a food-filled plate in front of him. "Honestly, you'd better not be doing anything too crazy in there. Do I have to take away your television, Peter Stark-Rogers?"

Peter took a huge bite of scrambled eggs and swallowed. "Pops, you know that I can't sleep without the television on. I just had a weird dream last night, woke up, and couldn't fall back asleep. Loki, being the super awesome friend that he is, helped me out and watched Adventure Time with me until I fell back asleep."

Loki nodded in agreement. "Also, Uncle Steve, no one in their right mind would sell drugs to two teenagers whose parents are Avengers. And if they did, well, then they would be really dumb."

In all honesty, that wasn't exactly how the night had panned out. Loki had gone down to Peter's room at 12:15, and the boy had still been awake, waiting for him. They'd kissed on and off for a half hour or so, until Loki drifted off to sleep with his face buried in Peter's neck, and Peter had fallen not long afterwards. Secret dating was hard. Their four "cousins," Gwen, Harry, Wade, and MJ were the only ones who knew about the relationship, and it was really starting to take a toll on Peter. He had always been very open with his dads about everything, and having to lie to them really sucked.

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Chloe was wringing her hands nervously. She had asked Markus to meet her in the high school auditorium during his lunch period, while she had study hall, and he had agreed instantly. She wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him that she liked him. She wanted to be his girlfriend. But… but she was so young, and he was in high school, and UGH WHY WAS LIFE SO DIFFICULT?

"Hey chipmunk," he said as he strode into the auditorium. "What's up?" He hopped up onto the stage to sit down beside her.

She looked down at her hands. "Uhm… you know what, never mind. It's stupid."

He smiled and reached over to take her hand. "C'mon chipmunk, you know you can tell me anything. I mean, we used to take baths together when we were little. I'm pretty sure that nothing you tell me can be as weird as that."

Chloe looked up at him with big brown eyes and sighed. "I like you."

He stared right back at her. "Huh?"

"I like you, okay. I like, fo shizzle like you. I like you a lot. I've liked you for awhile. I like you, and these feelings suck, and I hate keeping secrets from you because you're my best friend and I never keep secrets from you, and-…" he cut off her rambling when he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her palm.

"Chipmunk," Markus smiled even wider, "you have no idea how long I've wanted to hear you ramble like that."

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Peter was standing outside the entrance to his Dad's lab, pacing back and forth. He needed to tell his Dad; he needed to. His Dad and Pops always shared everything with him. He finally typed in the pass code and walked in.

"Hey kid," Tony said, not bothering to look up from his keyboard. "I saw you pacin' out there for awhile. You got something to tell your old man?" Peter sat down on the stool beside his Dad's and looked down at his feet. Tony looked over and his son and frowned. "Peter, you know you can tell me anything. I won't even tell your Pops, as long as you didn't murder anyone. Or if you're doing hardcore drugs, because Pops would have to know then."

Peter remained silent.

"I'll even buy you condoms. At least you won't get some girl pregnant."

"To be honest, Dad," Peter said, "I don't think pregnancy will be a problem."

Tony instantly knew what Peter was talking about. He turned to fully face his son, so their knees were touching. "Are you… confused?"

"Not in the slightest." Peter looked up at his Dad and smiled. "I'm gay, Dad. So gay that I've been sneaking around your back with a boy that I think I've been in love with for a long time."

"Well, at least you're sure." Tony ruffled his son's hair. "Do I know him? It's not Wade, is it?"

Peter laughed. "Oh god no! Dad, that would be disgusting. Besides, Wade's with Gwen now. You do know him…. probably a lot better than you realize."

"It's Loki, isn't it?" Tony asked. Peter nodded. "Oh god, you two sleep together every night. Do… do I need to buy condoms?"

"No. No to the tenth power. We just started dating. He's practically a baby." Peter looked down at his hands and smiled. "Although he is a really good kisser."

"You do realize that you have to tell your Pops?" Tony said. "He loves you. He was the first one to see you in that orphanage, and he just fell for you the moment he saw you. He'll be really hurt if you don't tell him."

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"Peter!" Steve smiled when his son walked into the kitchen. "Do you want a cookie? I just made some. Or maybe you should wait until after dinner, I don't want you to spoil your appetite."

Peter walked up to his Pops and hugged him. Steve, surprised, hugged him back. "Pops, there's something I have to tell you," Peter said, "and I hope it doesn't change your opinion of me."

Steve leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms across his chest. "Okay… hit me with your best shot."

"I'm gay."

"Okay, wow. Not mad or upset, but surprised." Steve smiled. "Are you… dating… anyone?"

"Yes. Loki."

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It was different for Loki. He asked both his parents, and his sister, to join him at the kitchen table. "I'm gay," he said, "I've known for awhile, and I've accepted it. I'm dating Peter, and I'm really happy. I hope none of you think less of me."

"Why would we think any less of you, Loki?" Chloe asked. "I know that I love you. I love you a lot. And the fact that you love Peter isn't going to change that."

Darcy smiled. "To be honest, honey, it wasn't as much of a secret as you make it out to be. I could tell. Your father could tell- right dear?"

"Of course, Darcy. Loki, you know your mother and I respect you and your decisions, and no matter who you decide to love, our feelings won't change." Bruce opened his arms, and his son rushed into them. "Calm down, kid."

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Loki: My parents understand it all. Like, way more than I thought they would be.
Peter: My Dads were pretty awesome about it too. I guess we had nothing to worry about.
Loki: :D Mom even said that I can still sleep in your room, because she TRUSTS ME!
Peter: Yeah, Dad and Pops said that they know how bad your sleep problems are.
Loki: Our family is awesome.
Peter: I bet everyone else is super envious.

O~O~O~O~O

Matthew was sitting in the special "Kid's Lab" that Tony had set up when they were little. His laptop was open in front of him, and he was typing up a paper on The Great Gatsby at quite an impressive speed. He hardly even noticed when the door opened, and Tasia walked in and sat down beside him. She pulled out her math textbook and got to work.

It was nice and quiet, with just the two of them working on their respective homework. Matthew continued to type as fast as humanly possible, while Tasia twirled a strand of red hair around her finger and took notes.

"What're you learning about?" Matthew questioned, not looking up from his screen.

Tasia looked up at him and smiled. "Oh, just simple binomials. To tell you the truth, it bores me to tears. I don't have any trouble with them."

Matthew looked up at her. "That doesn't surprise me at all, Tas. You're just as smart as you are beautiful." He looked back down at his screen, and didn't see her reaction to his comment. She blushed a deep red, before leaning over to kiss his cheek lightly.

"Thanks, Matt," she said before returning to her work.

O~O~O~O~O

Natasha and Clint were in the Library of their floor. She was sitting in the armchair by the fire, reading, while he worked on a report at the desk. Every few moments she would glance up at him, and then back down at her book. Being an assassin, Clint noticed.

"Nat, what's wrong?" he asked.

Natasha closed the book and looked straight at her husband. "Have you ever thought about us maybe having more kids?"

Clint froze and looked up at her. "Uhm… does this happen to be a trick question?" she shook her head. "Yes. I have considered it. Money wouldn't be a problem. It would all depend on how the two of us feel about it, of course."

"I think I might like to have another baby."

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Loki was sitting at his desk, working on his Honors Algebra 1 homework. His phone was sitting on top of his alarm clock, on silent so that he wouldn't be distracted. The homework was long and boring, because to be honest, binomials are really not all that exciting for the child of an Avenger. He was so concentrated that he didn't even notice his calculator… or the fact that it was floating six inches off the wood.

He turned to grab it, and it flew right into his hand. "Whaaaaa…" he released it, and it continued to float midair. "What the hell?" He shook his head and closed his eyes for a few moments, hoping that when he opened them again, everything would be back to normal.

It wasn't.

He picked up his phone and called his Dad. It rang for a few moments. "Loki? What's wrong?" Bruce asked.

"Dad," Loki started, "I don't wanna alarm you or anything, but my calculator is floating in midair."

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Author's Note: And so it begins. *insert wicked grin here*