Fishing went well for the most part. Jefferson proudly caught a few fish while Virgil fell asleep against his dad's shoulder. The giant coffee he had clearly being no match for the serenity of the lake breeze and nature sounds.
"How long until I catch something?" Miles asked in a whine.
"Just gotta have some patience, buddy," Robert told him, "Just enjoy the quiet and stillness of the crisp morning air. Take some nice deep breaths."
Spider-man slowly nodded, taking deep breaths. It was weird being able to hear himself think sometimes. Even when it was slow the city could be pretty loud.
After a good fifteen minutes Miles managed to get a solid catch.
"Uhh, uhh," He flipped out a little as the thing flopped around in his hands.
Robert simply reached over and grabbed the line, taking the hook out of its mouth and investigating it, "Nice job, you caught a yellow perch. These are pretty good," he tossed it in the cooler.
The teen turned to his dad with a proud smile, Jefferson smiled, shaking his boy's shoulder and praising him. He had his mom's dimples when he smiled.
X
"You remember when I said I wanted to explore?" Jason grumbled, tossing the carton in the trash, "I meant the woods, not the cabin."
Mig rolled his eyes, "Shut up, people need to eat."
"Yeah, but," he started, looking in the oven.
"Open it again and I'll stuff you in there! The muffins aren't ready!"
J mocked him silently, staring at the food as it cooked, "Think your dad will let us hunt some venison?"
"Dunno, probably not since we're in a rental. And we're only here for the weekend. Do you know how to clean a deer after hunting it?"
"Alfred used to take me hunting," he nodded, "Have you ever hunted anything other than people and monsters?"
"I enjoy hunting my food from the grocery aisle."
"Aww, boring! Next time we'll have to go on a longer trip so I can show you how to hunt."
"Cool, can't wait," Mig handed him a stack of plates, "Set the table and go see if they are done fishing. By the time you come back it'll be ready."
"You know something, you're real bossy," he turned his nose up, laying things out, "Oh! I call the froggy plate!"
X
"He made muffins and frittata."
"Sounds good," Robert checked his watch. Not too far past 8:30, so definitely breakfast time, "Gents. Wake up son," he shook his shoulder some.
Virgil mumbled something before sitting up and rubbing his eye, looking around, "I wasn't asleep, I just closed my eyes for a minute."
"I caught two fish, I caught two," Miles held up his fingers in excitement, "Dad caught one and your dad caught two too!"
"You're gonna be a pro in no time, honey," V stood, taking his fishing pole.
"Come on, son, let's see what your boy fixed us for breakfast," Rob clapped him on the shoulder.
They made their way from the pier to the house, becoming intoxicated by the smell of breakfast.
"Smells good in here," Jeff complained, checking out the spread at the table. He shook his head, making himself a plate and grabbing a drink, "What's the plan anyway?"
"You guys want to take a hike after breakfast?" V covered a yawn, thanking Mig for his plate.
"You sound more like you need a nap," Rob remarked, taking a bite of the still warm muffin, "These are very good Miguel."
"Thank you, they're orange," the giant smiled at the praise.
"They're ok," Hood snorted, sipping his orange juice, "Blueberry would be better."
"No one asked you anything, clown," Mig scoffed, turning his nose up as he handed Miles a second one.
"You watch your mouth, Nacho Libre! Don't be rude in front of your grandpa!"
"We can take this outside," 2099 bared his teeth at him.
"Sit down and eat, bubs, you two can play after you enjoy the meal with us," V cut himself another slice of frittata, "This is very good, thank you for making us breakfast."
"Ok," Mig sat, gleaming.
"Daddy's boy," Jason playfully teased him.
"And thank you for setting the table, Little Wing," Virgil told J.
"I.." Hood felt his cheeks getting warm as he toyed with his cuppie, "It was nothing. I help Alfred sometimes."
"Still appreciated," Robert agreed, finishing off his meal, "So what's this about a hike? You sure you don't want to do that more towards noon?"
"No, It's cooler, I think this is a good time to do it. Everyone has plenty of energy, right old man?"
Jeff rolled his eyes at the younger man's antics, "You think you're up for it? You were drooling on your daddy not too long ago."
"A mere distraction I use to keep him safe. If people think I'm asleep they think it's safe to attack and that's when I get the drop on them," Static dismissed, "And you fell for it. Now throw your shoes on and everyone grab a water."
X
The hike was awesome. The kids had a lot of fun, running in and out of the brush, trying to startle each other and climbing the trees when the adults took time to take breaks. And no stroll through a wooded area was complete without boys finding some branches to use as swords and lightsabers.
"Let me get this fish cleaned, we can have it for dinner," Rob gave his face a quick wash, "Care to join me?"
"I'm learning a lot today," Jeff fanned himself, following along to the kitchen.
"What are you doing? What are you learning?" Jason hurried after the older men, "Can I come?"
"We're going to gut the fish and clean it, so we can have it for dinner tonight."
"I want to help," J stood at the counter, watching as Virgil's dad set everything up for them to work.
"That's fine, go get the cooler and grab us some gloves. I'm going to make sure you and city boy here know how to live off the fat of the land. Miguel, Miles, do you want to gut and clean the fish too?"
"Yeah, pops, I'm coming," Miguel hurried into the kitchen, "Race you."
"Me too, me too!" the teen hurried to beat the much larger spiderman.
Miles' excitement was short lived when he saw the innards being scooped out of the fish. Jason was pretty content, not like he didn't gut people from time to time, not that Miles or Jeff needed to know that. Miguel, being the scientist, was incredibly detached and clinical about it. Making sure to check everyone's perch for signs of disease or parasites.
Miles just made his way to Virgil, figuring whatever he was doing was probably a little less messy.
"What you doing?"
V pulled a tote next to the couch, "Hey Sunshine. Grossed out?"
"I didn't even like dissecting frogs in class," he cringed, still thinking about the sounds.
"I didn't care much for the pigs," V agreed. He gave a shrug and a shake of the head before offering the kid a pack of cards "Want to play?"
"Sure," he hopped on the chair, "teach me how."
X
"Grilled cheese," Jeff poked the man's face with the plate, "Virgil."
With a jolt the man awoke, "Huh? Food?" He could see the kids all enjoying their own sandwiches and drinks.
"Eat something and go take a nap," Jeff handed him the plate, stepping away to grab his own food.
"I'm not tired. Do I look tired?" He bit into the sandwich, "Nope, not tired."
"You look tired to me," Jason teased.
"I was asking a rhetorical question to myself," V pointed at him, "Did you give your brother a sandwich?"
"And a juice, and an apple," he nodded.
Miles and Miguel looked to Hood in confusion.
"What brother? Where?" Miles looked about.
"Tim, he's in a hammock in the trees," Jason pointed.
"Interesting," Mig gulped his juice.
"Plates," V took all the empty dishes.
"Go to sleep," Jeff told him, taking the plates from his hand.
"I'm not tired," Virgil shook his head.
"Go take a nap," Robert told his son plainly, "everyone under the age of 35 take a nap."
"Ok," as soon as his dad said it, he made his way to his bed.
"I don't want a nap, I'm actually not tired," Jason complained.
Miles shook his head, "Me either. Can we go back outside?"
"You can go lay down and read a book. It's quiet time," Robert shooed them.
J grumbled, but didn't argue. Robert gave him the same granddad vibes as Alfred, and he didn't argue with his grandpa.
Rob snickered, taking a seat on the couch and grabbing the cards, giving Jeff a smirk, "You play?"
