They met Nico in his room, which was on the same floor as Ned's and Peter's, so it was easy to find and didn't pose a security problem for the SHIELD people that were always watching Peter but were now also keeping track (less formally) of the kids on the other teams. Like MJ, Nico had a suite for his team to meet in, but at the moment no one was there but Nico, Peter, and Ned.

"This is truly incredible, Peter…" Nico said looking at the lighter that Peter had handed him, and then looking back at the other boy. "Are you certain it is something you want to give away?"

Peter smiled and nodded.

"It's my honor to do it, Nico," he assured him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter that he'd written for Nico – and for Nico's family. "This is a letter," he told him. "Give it to your folks for me, will you?"

"May I read it?"

"Of course."

Ned had been taking some pictures – and video – of Peter handing the lighter and the letter over, but he grinned.

"If you can read it," he told the Japanese boy. "Peter's handwriting is crap."

"It's not that bad," his friend protested with a grin.

The two watched as Nico unfolded the letter and read it and the other boy smiled, too.

"My grandfather would be pleased. Thank you so much, Peter Parker."

"I think my grandpa would be just as happy," Peter told him, feeling that it was true. "I never knew him like you knew yours, but everything I heard about him makes me think that he would like the idea."

They looked at each other, uncertain what to say next, but before the silence could get too uncomfortable Ned snickered.

"This is a Hallmark moment."

Peter snorted, amused, but Nico looked uncertain.

"I don't know what that means…"

"Put that someplace safe," Peter told him, cheerfully. "And we'll go find something to snack on and I explain it to you."

"Okay."

It wasn't so late, yet, that they needed to worry about teachers being annoyed if their students were still out socializing, and Nico was the Japanese team captain, so had more freedom for that kind of thing. Besides, Nico's chaperones all knew what was happening with the boy they'd brought – although none had known about it when Nico had been chosen for the team and the name Peter Parker had been associated with the American team.

"Let's find some pizza," Ned suggested as Nico opened a drawer and carefully placed both the lighter and the letter.

"We already had dinner."

"Honorable exchanges of mementos make me hungry…"

Peter just rolled his eyes – but he didn't disagree.

OOOOOOOOOO

"So it's all laid on and set up?"

Tony nodded. He and Pepper were sitting at a table on the observation deck of the tower, right outside of the party deck and Tony's preferred landing spot when he flew into the city in his suit. She'd started their dinner, a simple meal of omelets and fresh fruit. A meal that Peter would have turned his nose up at since he didn't like omelets (he always said the eggs were runny and he didn't like that) while Tony had made a few calls to make sure everyone was on the same page for the next day.

An important consideration when a princess was coming to town, no matter how many times she'd been there, before. And more important since she wasn't going to be at the compound like usual for her visits. Now he was done with his calls and she was done making dinner, so they could sit down and eat and discuss the plan for the next day.

"It is," he replied, handing her a napkin. "Stephen's going to bring Shuri and company here, to the tower, and then Happy will drive us to the convention center. We'll try to time our arrival to keep the fuss to a minimum. No sense distracting Peter with the arrival of mom and dad, or the other kids with the arrival of Peter's exotic girlfriend."

Pepper smiled.

"You don't think Shuri's arrival would distract Peter more than ours?"

Tony shrugged, good-naturedly.

"I'm trying to convince myself that he's still more interested in us."

"Than a beautiful princess?"

Which made the billionaire smirk, amused.

"I am Ironman…"

She was amused, too, and spluttered, indelicately, as she snorted at that.

"The other kids will be happy to see you," Pepper reminded him. "After the competition so we don't distract anyone, unfairly."

"Right. We'll hide in the darkest corner and watch in silence – but then we get to go to the after party, right?"

"Right."

No mention of the fact that they might be consoling Peter's team after a loss.

"Good enough."

OOOOOOOO

"So you get to come?"

"Yes." Shuri smiled, cheerfully. "I will arrive with Tony and Pepper when they come."

"Is T'Challa coming?"

"No. He has many things to do, unfortunately, but I was told to pass along his good wishes."

"Tell him thanks," Ned said. He was sprawled on his bed munching on pretzels and scanning his emails but had no problem keeping up with Peter's conversation with Shuri. "We're going to need it. Japan's a tough team."

"Did you give the Japanese boy your grandfather's lighter?"

"Yes."

"I recorded it, Shuri," Ned told her, holding up his phone even though she couldn't see him since he was outside the range of the camera on Peter's phone. Technology could only do so much, after all. Even amazing tech like Peter's phone. "Want to see it?"

She looked at Peter.

"Is it alright?"

"Yeah. Of course."

Ned sent it over to her and both boys heard the soft chime from her own phone that told them she received the file. Shuri didn't need to bring it up on her phone, however. Instead, she simply routed it to one of her other displays and they watched as she watched the exchange between Peter and Nico from the beginning.

She turned her attention back to Peter.

"What does the letter say?" she asked, curiously.

"I just told them who I was and thanked them for sending me the medal and asked for them to please accept my grandpa's lighter as a token of the bond that we share. That kind of thing."

"That sounds very nice."

"I didn't want it to get too long."

Shuri nodded, but then she smiled.

"I must go, my love. I have much to do in order to clear my schedule to come cheer you on."

"Okay." Peter's smile was just as pleased. "I can't wait to see you."

"I will see you after the competition. Have a good night."

"Thanks. I'll see you, soon."

"Yes. Good night, Ned."

"Good night, Shuri. See you, tomorrow."

The call ended.

"Think we should go check in with MJ?" Ned asked, looking up from his phone, again.

"And let her know that we're not in bed getting the right amount of sleep?" Peter asked, shaking his head. "We'll check in with her in the morning and then we can tell her we slept all night."

"Okay."