"I haven't been doing it too much longer than you guys," Matt mused at his situation, "It's kinda weird how it happened for me."
"Is there a normal way for it to happen?" Mig scoffed, looking about the group as they did their introductions.
Murdock paused, looking contemplative for a long few moments, "Huh. I guess there isn't one. Not that I can think of."
"Rhodey would say I've always been like this due to childhood neglect leading to a complex or something," Tony dismissed, "But I think he's exaggerating."
"You would," a gruff voice scoffed, climbing out of the maze of tunnels.
"Ah, nothing like the stale odor of cheap beer," Matt pinched his nose. He nearly gagged when Logan blew his breath directly into his eyes.
"We're introducing ourselves to the new kids on the block. How about you be friendly for once," Tony leaned into the plastic window, "I called this meeting so they could get to know some people here."
The mutant sneered, "Names Logan. My brother is around here somewhere. I was actually looking for him before I came upon your 'meeting'." He used air quotes.
"Is he in the arcade?" Matt suggested, "I know some of the others went there after introductions."
"Not sure why he would be. I've never really known him to care for video games, but maybe."
"Maybe he's turning over a new leaf," Tony suggested, "Alternatively, he could still be in the tube labyrinth."
"This is my friend Miguel," Jason introduced the man, "You should especially like him. He's got claws and teeth like your brother."
"He can't talk?" Logan glanced over to the spider-man.
"I know how to talk very well, I'm also conscious about waiting when it's my turn to talk," Mig hung from the monkey bars, "Nice to meet you all. Thank you for inviting me to the party."
"No problem," Tony sent him a sly grin, "So what are we playing next?"
"I'm up for tag," Jason reached up, tickling 2099's sides as he tried to do a chin up.
Mig fell, running away from his friend's tickle attack, "Fine, you're it."
X
"This place is almost as nice as the other gym you took us to," Rio dodged a series of littles running past.
"Yeah, this has a bit more to offer in terms of what our kids need," Virgil watched the kids run around.
Another party, hopefully to cap the year off. We'll, probably not, but hopefully the last party this sizeable.
"Don't break anything guys," Beast Boy called out, hearing the actual children in the kids play area. With them catered to he had a minute to rush over to Jess and the parents.
"Hey, thanks for managing to convince them to have the party here when I'm working," he leaned into Jess and Virgil.
"We got you man. Hang out and get paid," V playfully punched him.
"You know it," he grinned, mentally praising his boss for being super cool, "Let me make sure the kids are good. I'll be back soon."
Jeff watched the green lad go before turning to the adult children, "I knew this was pretty open in this dimension, but I'd have never guessed it was this popular."
Adam shrugged, "Me either, high key. But you know how it goes, once you see one, you notice a lot more."
Dick nudged his friend, "How did you convince them to snatch this place up, anyway?"
X flashback X
Virgil looked between the men as they had a back and forth.
"I was hoping to have it at my home. Far more space for them to run about. Not to mention I can bring animals in for the children to play with," T'challa spoke confidently.
"It is quite a distance to travel. Another continent," Bruce commented, "Wayne Manor is much easier to travel to."
"Are you to assume I would not provide transportation?" the king questioned, arching his head in the direction of the man.
Bruce smiled, shaking his head dismissively, "Of course that wasn't my assumption. I'm merely stating that it seems a bit unreasonable regardless of whether you provide transport or not. Though the intention is good, that still adds up to 6 hours of transport for some people. Even with your technology, it's not as easy as, say, a two hour drive. Tops."
"And Wayne Manor is a much better suggestion simply because of time?" the king snickered.
"And the plentiful playroom I have to entertain both big and small children."
"It is important that children get fresh air as well. Gotham could be doing a bit better with its air quality."
Virgil nodded, texting his wife.
-Help, the rich people are flirting-
-What do you want me to do about it?-
-Help me!-
-Can't be worse than how you and Dick or Richie flirt. And if it is, take notes!-
V rolled his eyes at the comment. He should have expected nothing less from a woman who could meet his same level of sarcasm. Sometimes even surpass it. But only sometimes.
"You had that party a few months ago," Virgil reminded Bruce before turning to T'challa, "And you almost always have the barbeque at your place. It doesn't have to be something extravagant guys. How about something simple?"
"Like?" T'challa insisted.
"Garfeild works at The Crib. They rent it out all the time for parties and stuff. Why not there? It's a far more down to earth setting. Y'know, just a suggestion."
The men looked at each other, clearly upset that their financial junk measuring contest had been interrupted. But merely temporarily.
"I think that's a wonderful idea," the king gave the young man a gentle pat on the head, "I'll call and rent it now."
"No, no," Bruce whipped his phone out, "I'll handle it. Although I'm not sure how I feel about supporting a mob business."
That snide drip of vitriol wasn't unnoticed. But unfortunately Virgil was himself and made the remark.
"Don't you still give Jason allowance?"
The man snapped his head to him, throwing him a disapproving glower.
"There's that expression I'm used to," the man giggled to himself, "It's not a mob business btw. It's Legit."
"Virgil-"
"What package should we get?" the king interrupted Batman, "They have quite a few very nice ones."
"We need to discuss which location. There are multiple ones, some better than others," Bruce pulled up his phone and began looking through the locations, "We can still have an event for the children at your home. Wakanda would be a nice trip in the winter."
"I agree on another one at your home. It has been a while since I did have a proper tour," he read through the list of offerings, "There is no rule stating only one celebration has to happen."
"Hey, yeah, I already rented it out," Tony remarked, from the chair he was laying in, "Figured I'd go for the full package. So.." he flipped his glasses down and read the magazine he found on Bruce's table.
"We are here to discuss things like that. Not make a rash decision to out rank everyone else," Bruce scolded.
"Is it that bad being on the other end of it?" Tony flipped to the next page, not even giving the man his eyes.
"Now you listen here," Bruce took the magazine from him and began waving it threateningly.
"It was that or Asguard, I'm not sure you want drunk toddlers." he scoffed, reaching for the mag.
Billionaire arguing then commenced while Virgil put his earbuds in and started playing subway surfers.
X back to the present X
Dick laughed, "Yeah, that sounds right. I'm sure Bruce was banking on this being at his place."
"Truth be told, "Jess started, "I wouldn't have minded it being in Wakanda, but that is a lot more distance."
Jeff watched as his son and his friends ran around playing keep away.
"I'm pretty new to the game," chief turned to the other dads near him, "How long have you guys been doing this?"
"I'm pretty new myself," Sam agreed, "But Rhodes has been doing it since the dawn of time. I actually adopted one of his sons when he came back from a stint in Wakanda."
Rhodey nodded, "Yea, I've been doing this for decades. Practically since I met Tony," the man tilted his head, "Not sure who I killed in a past life but..."
Sam snickered, "He loves it."
"Yea, ok, you got me," the man laughed, "And you love it too."
"Meh, Bucky is ok," he chuckled.
X
A hard yank on the back of Mig's pants nearly made him fall, "Let go!"
"Come on," Miles pulled him, "It's time to eat. They're calling us in."
"We're still playing," Jason complained from the neighboring tube, "Go get Hobie."
"Hobie is already inside. Come on, Aunty is calling for you," he stated firmly, tugging him again.
Mig sulked, climbing from monkey bars, Jason following closely.
Peter held the door for them, "Come on, I'm hungry and you're walking slow."
"Sorry," he hurried into the restaurant section of the club, "Why are you walking funny?"
"Fight," he limped into the building, looking neither Jess nor Virgil in the face.
Mig shrugged it off, "You can sit with us," he pulled Jason behind him.
"Sure, we gotta see what the assigned seats are."
"Whhhhy would there be assigned seats?" Miles looked up at him inquisitively, "And its a lot of people here. Are they all assigned?"
"Most people tend to sit with their family and friends," Tony rushed in, looking for his seat.
Miles and Miguel exchanged a look as they were sat next to Hobie.
"Do you know whose baby shower this is supposed to be?" Miles nudged, "I haven't noticed any baby bumps. But you know more people than me here."
"Not to a great detail," Miguel watched as the attendants passed out the food.
"Who cares, this place is super fun and it's a lot of interesting characters," Hobie wrapped his arms around both their necks, "Just enjoy it and worry later."
"That's rich coming from you," Mig playfully pushed him away.
"And here's your food, guys," Beast boy handed them out their meals.
"Yes! Irish nachos!" Hobie dove into his fries.
"Don't make a mess," Miles continued big brother mode as he began to stir his rice bear into the chili.
The group managed to get 89% done with their meal when another server came out, pushing a cart.
"I hope you're all enjoying the party. We want to congratulate our parents and welcome our little ones into this world," she sang out with enthusiasm.
The woman walked around, handing out sashes to Virgil, Jess, the Morales couple and Bre, "For our parents. Congratulations."
The Spider trio watched in intrigue.
"And a cake for our babies," Garfeild grinned, placing a crown on Miguel, Miles and Hobie's heads. And a themed mini cake in front of each one of them.
Miguel gasped, bouncing excitedly as he saw the dino on his cake.
"Lookit!" Hobie showed his cake to Mig and Miles. He had a guitar shaped cookie on it.
The last spider-man seemed rather disappointed in how plain his was.
"Why the long face?" Beast boy leaned down.
"I'm not a baby," Miles pouted, "and my cake doesn't have a design or cookie."
A wide smile threatened to consume Garfeild's face as he set a small tray of prefilled mini piping bags and a canvas cookie in front of him, "That's because our big boy artist can decorate it himself."
He gasped, eyes lighting up. The young man quickly took the bags and started carefully playing with his piece as Hobie demolished his cake and Migs took a slightly less messy bite out of his.
"Say cheese."
The three looked up and smiled in time for a picture.
The group blushed, receiving a round of applause. Even Hobie had a warm hue on his face as he toyed with his lip ring.
"You guys enjoy your dessert, "When you're done you have to open your presents," Jess informed them.
"You didn't say this was a party for us," Rio and Jeff subtly glared at Virgil.
"Oops, must have slipped my mind," he laughed, taking several pictures of the kid with his camera.
"Did Bre know about this?"
"Of course I did, why do you think I suffered through getting my hair braided? So he could look good for the photos. You two were just out of the loop," she went to wipe the whipped cream off her boy's face.
X
The presents were so awesome. The kids got varying items from little toys and games up to a bike, professional art supplies, game systems, and the like.
The adults weren't left out either. The "new parents" got some cool stuff.
"Bro," Jeff gripped his friend's shoulder after receiving an impressive barbeque grill set, "It has a griddle and smoker."
"You even got a sweet apron and mit," V agreed, "Very sexy indeed. Can't wait to be served the first burger."
"I am fully erect."
The younger man glanced downward, "Yeah you are," he snickered, "Pretty sweet huh?"
He sighed deeply, "This is what it's like having rich friends? G*d d*mn."
X
The party was super duper awesome. The kids had a blast and made plenty of new friends. And no party with children would be complete without mayhem eventually breaking through. But thankfully it was quashed as smoothly as children hopped up on sweets running amuck can be.
The families had decided to congregate back at Jess and Virgil's house when everything disbursed. The kids were able to appreciate their gifts a little more without the obligation of playing with others right after.
Miguel was overwhelmingly content as he played on an old fashioned, him sized rocking horse. His happy blush as he swayed was endearing. Meanwhile Miles was having the time of his life drawing on one of his smaller canvases. He would have painted, but his parents said it was too late to paint. Hobie was having the time of his life playing with his new switch and putting barrettes, clips and bows in everyone's hair.
Rio held her gifts close to her, squealing like she was a teenage girl, "Oh I have always wanted to go to this spa!"
"Yes, it's very nice," Bre had gotten a very similar spa gift card. She wasn't much for that herself, but she appreciated the thought. She was far more into her custom Kitchenaid items. She was about to invite her kids over and cook up a feast!
"I want to touch my grill," Jefferson moaned.
"Is that an innuendo?" Jess teased him.
"I need to buy some new Kswiss now. I need my Cuban chain and tube socks."
"Not the Cuban chain," V snickered, "You and your attraction to Kswiss."
"And I need my tucked in polo, gotta have it. How else will the other dads recognize me?" he shook his head.
Jess laughed at the two men going back and forth, leaning over to Rio, "That spa is so breathtaking. OMG, the hot stones."
"Did you see what they gave us!?" she showed her friend the other little gifts.
"I'm real happy Gunner got gifted that Montessori crib. Now he can stop being spiteful and sleeping on the ceiling and with Miguel and at least try to sleep in his bed," she rolled her eyes at her little headstrong boy, "We'll just donate his toddler bed."
"When do you think we'll use that RV? I would love another camping trip."
Virgil subtly winced, "Hey, I work from home most days. You let me know."
"Look," Hobie crawled over to Nan.
"What? Am I about to get another bow?"
"No, it's Kirby," he waved his game at her, "And I have a cool palette," he grinned at the eye shadow he had been gifted.
"Ohhh, how fancy," she took the game offered, letting him teach her how to play.
X
By the time the kids collapsed it was nearing midnight and the adults had snuck out to the backyard to have some late night drinks and laughs.
It was odd how they all came to be such big parts of each other's lives over these few years. But it was great to have built friendships on the foundation of supporting their kids and each other. Things were only going to get better and more wild from here on out.
