Chapter Three:

Wade stood outside the door to banquet hall. He was a bit late already but he couldn't bring himself to push open the door. What if they all shrank away in disgust when they say him? What if Peter's parents hated him? What if he made a fool of himself?! Okay, he didn't really care about the last one, but. . .

He stood there adjusting his mask, set to stand there for who knows how long, and it may have been all night if Peter hadn't chosen that moment come running down the hall.

"Stupid stupid stupid!" He mumbled to himself. "Falling asleep right before dinner, what sort of a king are you you idiot!"

Peter was so wrapped up in cursing himself that he didn't notice Wade until he crashed into him. Wade meanwhile had been too busy trying to psych himself up to notice Peter and negelected to dodge. The two men landed in a heap on the floor in front of the door. Peter looked up into Wade's eyes in shock, taking in the other man's appearance. 'Why is he? Oh, oh.' He thought when his befuddled mind registered the mask.

"Woah there Kingy, I know I'm irresistible but I didn't think you'd fall for me this fast!"

Peter scoffed, "This was an accident. And will you please lay off the 'Kingy'. My name's Peter."

Wade laughed as he helped Peter to his feet. "Well then King Peter, I'm sorry I was in your way. And great. . . This just keeps getting more and more Narnia doesn't it?"

Peter gave him a confused look as he pushed open the door. "Narnia?"

Wade's jaw dropped as he followed him into the banquet hall. "You mean you don't know what Narnia is?! I mean I'd have thought the underworld would have books!"

"What about Narnia?" Steve looked up from the novel he was reading. (See, they did have books. Though no is wasn't Narnia, It was a novel Tony had found about a girl who falls in love with the king of the underworld. He gave it to Steve as a joke.)

Tony looked up from the Mirror he was using. He'd unlocked the magic mirror's secrets years ago and it now operated much like earth's smart phones. "What's Narnia? And nice mask." He said nonchalantly to Wade.

Both Steve and Wade shook their heads.

"Ah, Thanks, Jarvis picked it out." Wade said, "And it's only one of the best series' of books ever!" he continued enthusiastically. "I read all seven books about twenty times when I was a kid!"

Steve chuckled, "So did I." He confessed, suddenly slightly more accepting of Wade now, especially after seeing Wade in the mask. It made him see that beneath the man's tough exterior was a boy who was scared and confused and angry. He also saw that he was a great deal like Tony. (A/N Don't agrue with me, he's smart, he would be able to tell a lot from that one detail!)

"So, now that you too are finally here." Tony said putting away his Mirror and clapping his hands. "Let's eat!"

The rest of the meal passed with the four of them exchanging laughs and enjoying each other's company.

Tony was pleased to note that Peter kept stealing glances in Wade's direction.

Although had he know his son's thoughts he may have been disappointed. Peter wasn't falling for Wade just yet. He was still trying to figure him out. The glances he kept stealing were at the mask. What had made Wade decide to wear a mask? Was it for his sake? Or for their's? Peter longed to ask him. And as it turned out he got to.

After Dinner Steve and Tony said they were going to take one last walk through the palace garden's as they moved into a smaller castle on Hero's Isle in the morning. Peter smiled at his parents and said he would join them before turning to Wade.

"If you want to come along you know, you can. If you want to that is."

Wade eyed him throught his mask for a moment and then grinned, "Sounds like fun."

As they walked through the palace gardens Peter and Wade drifted behind Steve and Tony.

"So," Peter started casually. "What made you choose to wear a mask tonight?"

Wade glanced sideways at him for a moment before answering. "I uh, sort of look like a monster Peter. The mask helps me forget and not have to avoid mirrors."

Peter felt something stir inside him. "I'm sorry." He said softly, placing a hand on Wade's shoulder.

Wade grinned at him. "Also I didn't want to ruin your guys appeitites." He said jokingly.

Peter laughed, "There you go again. Never serious for more than a second."

Wade smiled at him. "I learned early on that taking life too seriously just makes it that much harder to bear."

Peter's expression softened. There was that side of Wade he'd sensed earlier. The side that He couldn't quite understand. But as they continued through the garden Peter found that he was starting to really want to.

OYO

Tony Looked over his shoulder at Peter and Wade walking side by side and grinned.

"You look like the cat that ate the canary." Steve said and he wrapped his arm around Tony's waist.

"I'm just glad to see our son making friends."

"And you're hoping it will turn into more than friends. I know you Tony." Steve with a smile. Before growing serious. "But you've got to give Peter the space to find love in his own time."

Tony pouted, "But I want grandkids soon!" He mock-whined.

Steve burst out laughing at that. Rewarding his king with a kiss. "We are practically immortal Tony, We can wait."

"You can, I'm not sure I can."

Steve just smiled, "It took us seven years to have a kid Tony, give them time."

Tony sighed and leaned against Steve's broad chest. "Alright dear, I will."

Steve kissed him softly. "Thank you. Now lets go finish packing, and leave those two alone for a bit."

Tony burst into laughter at that. "You want them to get to together as much as I do you hypocrite!" He said, smacking him playfully.

Steve blushed and shook his head. "No. . . Well, okay yes. But I'm not going to push."

Tony wasn't listening though, he was to busy laughing as he walked back towards the castle. "We're heading in kids, feel free to stay here." He called in between peals of laughter.

"Tony!" Steve scolded as he caught up with him.

Peter watched his parents with a smile, They were so ridculous sometimes.

Author's Note:

So, Just a small note, The Hero's Isle is where heroes go in greek/roman mythology when they die. I've made it sort of the "Star's Get Away" like Florida or Malibu for these stories. If any of the terms I use ever get confusing either ask or you can look up the mythology yourself, I'm mostly using Greek, just fyi.

Thank you for reading!