The sound of someone clearing their throat was what woke Peggy. She grumbled, nudging her nose against Wade's neck, trying to block out the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. When her thoughts caught up with her, Peggy's eyes snapped open. She and Wade had fallen asleep last night after trading stories and kisses. The teenager looked up and came face-to-face with her entire family looking down at them with varying degrees of amusement. "Morning," she told them.
"So I'm guessing last night went well?" Dad asked, looking the smuggest of them all.
Peggy looked back at Wade, smiling at the peaceful expression on his face. "It was amazing," Peggy said. "What time is it?" she asked.
"A little after seven. I figured you two could take the day off, provided you spend it here," Dad said.
The teenage girl sighed. "I'll ask him when he wakes up."
Not a few seconds later Wade grumbled and blinked his eyes open, smiling sleepily when his eyes met Peggy's. "Mornin', babe," he said, sleep still muddling his voice. Wade's stomach grumbled. "Ugh, I don't wanna get up," Wade complained, nuzzling his nose into Peggy's cheek.
Peggy chuckled. "Can you at least let me get up? I'm hungry."
"Noooo," Wade moaned, tightening his hold on his girlfriend.
"You do realize my entire family is watching us, right?"
Wade's eyes snapped open at that, looking up at the Avengers. "HisuperfamilyI'msorrybutyourdaughterisreallyhotpleasedon'tkillme?" he jumbled out.
Everyone looked at him silently before Peggy started laughing hysterically, clutching Wade so she wouldn't fall from the force of her laughter. Wade just stayed quiet for once, running one hand up and down her back while the other clutched her hip firmly. As her laughter died down, she looked at Wade, giving him a kiss on the cheek for his troubled. "You're gonna fit right in," she told Wade, extracting herself from the grumbling hero. Peggy patted his cheek. "You get up, you'll get the Peggy breakfast treat."
Before Wade could move, Uncle Clint leaned over the back of the couch and pushed Wade off. The ex-assassin rolled, hitting the floor with a muffled thud. Peggy leveled her uncle with a 'Captain-America-is-disappointed-in-you' look. "What? Breakfast," he emphasizes.
His niece rolled her eyes, walking over to the kitchen to grab the ingredients needed to make homemade waffles. This was something Peggy perfected when she was twelve and Pop was just showing the pre-teen the way around the kitchen. Just as she finished her first batch (with Pop and Uncle Bruce's help), Wade had been pulled from the floor by the heavenly aroma that his girlfriend was creating. "That smells amazing," he told her, taking the island seat closest to her.
Peggy grinned, opening her mouth to respond when thunder boomed from outside, and a giant bolt of lightning struck Dad's landing pad. Everyone covered their eyes from the light. When it died down, Uncle Thor, Aunt Jane and Torunn were revealed in all their Asgardian glory. "Cousin Margaret!" Torunn shouted, rushing over to Peggy. The mortal girl met her halfway, embracing Torunn. "It has been too long," Torunn said into her shoulder.
Peggy hummed in agreement. "Missed you too," she told her. The young women stayed like that for a moment longer before letting go of one another, Peggy also hugging her uncle and aunt. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but is there something wrong?"
"It has been long since I have seen my shield brothers and Mother was willing to rule until my return," Uncle Thor told them.
"Well we're glad you could visit," Pop said, giving Uncle Thor a hard clap on the back.
Uncle Thor just grinned before taking a deep whiff. "I smell waffles."
Peggy rushed back over to dish out the first batch, everyone receiving two waffles excluding herself before making more for their surprise guests and people with extra metabolisms (herself included). When all was said and done, she'd gone through five batches for everyone before finally sitting down to eat herself. Soon her plate was wiped clean. She sighed happily, leaning her head on Wade's shoulder. It was nice and peaceful until the alarm claxon went off. "Sir, there appears to be zombies amassing in Midtown. I believe Black Talon is responsible."
Dad sighed. "Avengers assemble," he mumbled unenthusiastically, standing up. He leaned over to kiss Peggy's forehead, hiding his smile in the skin there. He looked at Thor over his daughter's head. "You wanna fight some zombies?" Dad asked.
"Verily," the demigod replied seriously, already grabbing Mjölnir.
"Is the Other Guy needed?" Uncle Bruce asked, always nervous to bring the Hulk into a battle.
Pop pursed his lips. "Maybe not at the moment, but we'll have JARVIS inform you if the situation changes."
Uncle Bruce relaxed minutely before looking at Aunt Jane. "To the labs?"
"Yes please," Aunt Jane breathed out, sounding relieved. They got up as well, heading to the elevators. "As much as I love Asgard and her people, I miss my labs," the scientist was telling Bruce. His response was lost as the doors closed.
Uncle Phil also got up, putting his dish in the sink. "I should probably leave too. School starts soon and traffic's gonna suck getting there." He walked over to Uncle Clint, giving him a quick kiss. "Good luck," he said before also walking to the elevator.
As the Avengers each headed to their floor to suit up, it left Peggy, Wade and Torunn. "How has your education been?" Torunn asked.
"Its pretty good. I finish my secondary education in a few months before starting at the local community college. And you in the Hall of Learning?"
Torunn smirked. "I am as strong and wise as Father. I am the finest warrior in my class," she told them proudly.
"That's great!" Peggy told her, proud of her cousin.
"Indeed." It was then that she noticed the comfortable position Peggy and Wade were in, smiling brightly. "So you have found a life partner, Margaret?"
Peggy blushed heavily at Torunn's wording. "I hope so," she said before hiding her reddening face in the crook of Wade's neck. Wade ran a hand through her hair, calming the teenage girl instantly. "I've only known Wade a few days, Tor."
Torunn nodded. "Very well. But I will reserve the right to say 'I told you so' at your nuptials."
"I would expect nothing less," Peggy said.
"As we do not know when our parents will return, perhaps we shall watch a movie?" Torunn asked. Peggy shrugged, as did Wade, both getting up to follow the Asgardian to the living room. "Is there any particular movie that I should catch up on?" Peggy's cousin asked.
Peggy hummed in consideration. "I think they just released the new Doctor Strange movie. JARVIS?" Immediately the Doctor Strange logo appeared on the large television. "Thanks, J."
"My pleasure, ma'am," the AI said.
Everyone fell silent as the movie played. They managed to get through that, Captain Marvel and Suicide Squad before the Avengers returned, bringing with them the New Warriors. Kurt and Scott were covered in soot, while Johnny leaned heavily against his girlfriend. "Zombies. Why did it have to be zombies?" the Human Torch mumbled as Gwen led him over to the loveseat. "Why can't it be something easy for once?"
"Because life's a bitch and then you die," Wade quoted.
Peggy rolled her eyes. "So who managed to knock Black Talon down a few pegs?"
"Spider-Man, actually," Dad said, sitting down next to Peggy, allowing her to pillow her head in his lap and her feet in Wade's. Dad huffed a laugh, scratching her scalp lightly. "Guy just came out of nowhere. He even managed to grab Mjölnir."
Peggy blinked at this new information. "Huh," was all she had to say. VISION was worthy enough to pick up Mjölnir, something only Pop had been able to do once before, but only when things had become desperate, otherwise refusing to pick up the magical hammer. Peggy had created something, someone, who was worthy. Her phone buzzed, and when she took it out, there was a message from VISION.
I have received damage to my right forearm and left leg. It is not critical, but it will need to be repaired within the next few days.
Peggy managed not to cuss, getting up swiftly from her comfortable position. "Sorry, JARVIS just told me something went wrong with one of the projects I've been working on. Something about the engine," she lied smoothly before rushing over to the elevator. She breathed through her nose, trying to calm her racing heart. "Only a few more months, Pegs. You can do it," she chanted to herself. The elevator let off on the floor above Dad's. Ever since her interest in science had grown, Dad gave her her own floor to tinker and run her own independent experiments. Peggy entered her access code, strolling to the steel table she set up specifically for Vizh. "What happened?" Peggy asked, bringing up his diagnostics.
"Black Talon's minions managed to throw me into a building before I could stop them," VISION said. "I injured my arm attempting to help civilians away from the crumbling building."
Peggy smiled proudly at her creation. "You didn't have to help the Avengers, Vizh. Can I ask you why you did?"
VISION's green eyes looked at her. "It is my duty as one of humanity's guardians to protect the innocent from those who intend to do harm unto others."
Peggy hummed thoughtfully. It was quiet as she ran a few more diagnostics. "I'm proud of you, VISION. You have more humanity in you than most people I know, homo sapien or not."
VISION gave her a grateful look. "Thank you, Miss Peggy. Though I doubt others will see me from a similar viewpoint."
The teenage genius shrugged. "You never know people's reactions until you tell them the truth. Besides, I'm more worried about the rock in your head scaring people," she told him, pointing to the Infinity Stone smack-dab in the center of VISION's forehead. "But I think everything will work out in the end, and I'm prepared to go down swinging if need be." With that said, Peggy went and grabbed some synthetic vibranium sheet, setting to work on the repairs for VISION. She gets lost in the work and conversation with the android, talking battle tactics for a while before switching to children. Vizh had become fascinated with children, one walking up to him after the battle to hug his uninjured leg. Peggy cooed at him. "That's adorable," she told the android.
Vizh tilted his head to the side. "How is that 'adorable'?"
"Because, even when you're pretending to be somebody you're not, you're still a role-model. You keep it up and you might take up being Spider-Man full time," Peggy teased.
"I do not wish to be Spider-Man. You are Spider-Man, not me. I only fulfill the role when you cannot." VISION seemed to hesitate for a moment. "With your permission, I would like to be a guardian full time, after you reveal to your parents your identity as Spider-Man."
VISION's request made Peggy pause. "You said 'guardian', instead of 'hero'. Why?"
The AI mulled over the question for a moment. "I am not a hero. I am simply doing what needs to be done, because there are many who cannot protect themselves from people like Black Talon and Attuma."
Peggy's heart swelled with pride. "And that's what makes you a hero, Vizh. Besides, you don't need my permission to do everything. You have your own will, and only you can decide what you think is right."
VISION gave the girl a small smile as his major repairs were completed. "I believe I will continue to watch Casablanca while I 'recuperate'."
"Ok. I'll be back before my patrol to run a few more diagnostics. Try to experiment with the different dream sequences you picked out, ok?"
VISION nodded. "I will try, Miss Peggy."
The kid genius smiled in return before heading to the elevator. When she returned to the common floor, Peggy felt slightly guilty at leaving Wade alone with her family for the past hour and a half, but seeing him smile at something Uncle Clint say made Peggy's stomach flutter at the sight. "Glad to see you're still kicking," she told her boyfriend, walking to him and claiming his lap as her seat.
Wade smiled up at Peggy. "Honestly, the death threats were nothing. I think the worst part was seeing Black Widow clear the blood off her knives. She's as meticulous as I am."
"Then you two should get along splendidly," Peggy told him, Wade settling into the couch while she settled into him. "Sorry, the repairs took longer than expected."
"No problem. I get that your science stuff is important," Wade said, bumping his nose into her cheek. Peggy smiled at his understanding, kissing the tip of his nose and letting the words of those she loved warm her.