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Feast of the Gods

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Restaurant Floor, Private Dining Room. Midday.

The place had been transformed into a scene straight out of Mount Olympus, with foam pillars stretching elegantly toward the ceiling, forming a grand rotunda. The projected Mediterranean blue sky blended seamlessly with the golden sunlight pouring through expansive windows on a cool autumn day in New York. Every so often, a winged horse galloped through the air, weaving between colorful birds — a whimsical touch that brought the scene to life. Themed centerpieces featuring toys dotted the lavish table, dressed in white and gold linens and sprinkled with flower petals. Bowls of grapes, figs, and freshly baked pita bread were artfully arranged, inviting snacking.

With poised efficiency, Anna Ameyama, the Tower's talented head chef, added the final touches to the buffet table set beneath a pergola draped with ivy and blooming flowers. The warm, savory aroma of lamb gyros mingled with the sweet scent of honey-drizzled pastries, filling the air with a delightful blend of Greek cuisine.

The soft hum of ambient lyre music filled the room when the hosts entered together, their costumes perfectly complementing the scene. Tony strode toward the head of the table, almost unrecognizable in his role as Zeus, complete with a white wig, beard, and a dark purple chiton paired with an unbelievably realistic muscle suit.

"Gotta hand it to you, my Queen Hera," he gestured grandly to the room with his golden lightning scepter, "it's more than perfect."

In her shimmering pink chiton and long blonde wig, Pepper exuded calm elegance. "A test drive for their birthday parties, right?"

"Birthdays already? And I'm the exaggerated one…"

"Preparation is the key. But it does look good." She brushed a stray flower petal off the table. Her smile softened, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes as she recalled the many celebrations they'd orchestrated together.

Approaching with a tray of appetizers and wine, the chef presented them with a welcoming smile. "I think the Olympians would approve."

"You look gorgeous, Anna." Pepper hugged the petite woman.

Dressed as Demeter, the goddess of harvest and agriculture, the 25-year-old wore a long olive green dress adorned with flowers and fruits at the straps, her black hair tied back with a green plant headdress, embodying the nurturing spirit of the occasion. "You too, Mrs. Stark. And thanks for the outfit. I really loved it."

"Everything looks beautiful, kiddo," Tony complimented, accepting a dolmade.

"I went with a selection of Greek vintage wines for authenticity. Care to start with the Assyrtiko, Mr. Stark?"

The couple toasted each other, and he exclaimed, "Mouth-watering magic! Uncle Jarvis would be proud."

Edwin Jarvis had devoted his life to the Starks, and after his passing, Tony ensured that his widowed sister, Charlotte, was cared for. Now, her granddaughter carried on that legacy, proud to cater to the Avengers' unique needs as one of the select few aware of their children. "Only doing what you asked, boss."

Tasting feta cheese drizzled with honey, Pepper smiled approvingly. "You've really outdone yourself, Anna."

"I'm glad you liked it," the chef returned the smile modestly, stepping back as the guests began to arrive.

"Hey, don't start without us!" Bruce called, adjusting the dark gray himation draped over his tunic, his blue Hades wig catching the light.

"The King of Olympus welcomes you, my underworld brother, and his stunning queen." Tony said with theatrical flair, "My dear Persephone, you make spring eternal."

Betty smiled shyly, her soft pink dress cascading gently as she tucked a strand of blonde wig behind her ear. "Thank you. Though I think the credit goes to your wife for picking out these costumes. You both look perfect!"

The two women embraced with fondness.

"You're absolutely beautiful," Pepper smiled slyly, "and the babies are going to love their glowing uncle."

"I'll send the complaints your way," Bruce teased, earning a laugh from the others. He kissed her cheek, "You look beautiful."

After being welcomed by Anna with more drinks and appetizers, the couples walked around the room, taking in the carefully crafted decorations. The play area, set up with soft Disney Hercules plush toys on a colorful play mat, awaited the little ones.

"Look at that!" Betty exclaimed, inspecting the array with a delighted grin. "How did you get all the characters? I went to the Disney Store down here but they said the movie is too old. I only found the Blu-rays, which I already gave to Natasha and Bobbi."

"Yeah, I had to make a special request," Pepper replied matter-of-factly, taking a sip of her wine.

Tony smirked, "Did Iger help? I hope you didn't commit me to doing publicity for his films."

"I wouldn't do that to you, right? But he invited us again to the next premiere or something — and the whole team."

"After that Ultron fiasco? Thanks, but no thanks," Bruce muttered, shaking his head. "They should pay me more for defaming my image."

"They have tons of good comics stories, I don't understand why they didn't use them to create a better plot," Betty pondered, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Pepper shrugged. "At least they make good money for our charities."

From the first Iron Man film onward, Tony's royalties had been channeled into several charities. Eventually, all of the Avengers made similar agreements. Since the franchise grossed billions of dollars, it generated millions for the real superheroes.

They all sat at the table, and Tony chuckled, leaning back. "For an AI, Ultron really was dumb. So many easier ways to end the world, right, JARVIS?"

There was a brief pause before the AI's smooth, cultured voice replied, "Indeed, sir. Were I to entertain such an intention, I would detonate all the world's nuclear arsenals simultaneously. In the movie, even without the codes, Ultron could have directed his robots to manually launch the missiles. Bypassing digital locks and security systems with physical access. No need for intricate constructs or exotic materials to achieve a global extinction event."

The four of them looked at each other. Bruce's eyes widened as he turned to his friend. "Uh… Can he?"

But Tony waved a hand dismissively, shaking his head. "Relax, Big Guy. Primary directives — no apocalypse on his account."

"Precisely. My programming forbids any such actions, Mr. Banner," the AI replied, adhering to the recent family directive to address all residents and their spouses informally, unless in a professional setting. "Besides, Ultron's rationale was fundamentally illogical. One cannot achieve peace for humanity by eradicating it. As with most fictional portrayals of AI, his characterization was overly human — inherently flawed."

"Good to know, JARVIS. You should really consult on those movies."

"That would be inadvisable, sir. For one, I would veto Ultron's existence entirely. The premise is as misleading as the plot of Independence Day — a human computer virus infecting an alien network. Similarly, even if Master Stark could access an extraterrestrial system, comprehending their language or code would be as complex as depicted in Arrival. Such code would then have to be adapted and rewritten into Earth's programming languages before it could be integrated into our systems."

The AI then explained. "Take a smartphone, for instance — an app designed for Android will not run on an iPhone, and vice versa. The idea that an alien code could be easily transferred and executed on any Earth computer is exponentially implausible."

Tony smirked, swirling his drink. "I am a genius, but even I had trouble swallowing that one."

Bruce couldn't help but chuckle.

"So, we all agree Age of Ultron was a mess," Betty said, raising an eyebrow.

"Indeed, Mrs. Banner," JARVIS continued, unperturbed. "However, as you astutely noted, Marvel comics and cartoons have used AI with far more clever ideas before — such as Ultron's nuclear Armageddon. Yet such a plot, while logically sound and suitable for a 23-minute TV episode, would be far too short to sustain a feature-length film and likely too bleak and simplistic for dramatic cinema — a potential box office disaster."

Pepper let out a burst of laughter. "Definitely not blockbuster material."

The warm moment was interrupted by the arrival of Sam, whose Hermes costume turned every head in the room. The shimmering whites and golds highlighted his chocolate skin, and the short, fitted tunic accentuated his athletic build.

A chorus of whistles erupted from the women, and Tony feigned annoyance. "Did they run out of cloth for his outfit?"

Unbothered, the 23-year-old grinned and stepped fully into character. Holding the caduceus — a winged staff adorned with two intertwined snakes and miniature sculptures of the gods — he gave a dramatic bow. The wings on his golden helmet glowed faintly with each movement, as did those on his blue sandals.

"The messenger of the gods, at your service, stunning Queen Hera."

"Show-off," Tony muttered, though the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement.

"Don't tell me this is all just for us?" Pepper gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I have another party afterward," he replied, a little embarrassed. "But you guys look amazing."

He greeted Bruce and Betty before Anna appeared with a tray in hand, offering him a frosty bottle of Greek beer. "Here, Hermes. You've earned a Mythos."

"The goddess of culinary perfection herself," Sam said gratefully, popping the cap and taking a long sip.

She smirked. "Flattery will get you more beer."

"Then I'll keep it coming. Running around delivering all those godly messages really works up a thirst."

Satisfied but always focused, Pepper turned to him. "So, what time's the magician getting here?"

The younger Avenger froze mid-sip, nearly choking on the beer. His mind raced. The magician. He had promised to handle it a week ago. Except… I never booked the guy.

"He… should be here… soon," he managed, the words slipping out a little too quickly. Panic crept into his voice.

Pepper's sharp gaze narrowed, suspicion flickering across her face. She glanced briefly at Tony, who raised an eyebrow, then turned back to Sam. "Soon?"

"Yeah. I… I'll, uh, go meet him… downstairs. Make sure he doesn't, you know, get lost."

Without waiting for a response, he bolted for the door, heart pounding.

Avengers Private Express Elevator.

Inside one of the cars reserved exclusively for the team, Sam leaned heavily against the wall, his breath coming in short bursts. I'm so fired, he thought, anxiety churning in his chest.

Why didn't I keep my mouth shut? He winced, replaying all the times he'd mercilessly teased the older Avengers. Steve could usually step in when Tony found out, but after the way Sam had been goading him lately… No one's gonna back me up on this one.

Since he was already going to SHIELD HQ that day, he'd volunteered for the simple task: talk to agent Margot Lang to hire her husband, a magician known as The Next Avenger, who had performed family-friendly shows for other employees. With a spotless record and thorough vetting from the agency, he was used to NDAs and the perfect choice to entertain the Avengers' babies — still a closely guarded secret from the public.

But everything derailed when Sam saw her.

Leila Taylor. One look at those dark, familiar eyes and full lips, and everything he thought he had buried resurfaced, hitting him like a freight train.

Their history hadn't been long, but it had been real — high school sweethearts, first love. She moved west for journalism, he stayed for engineering, and they drifted apart. Or so he thought.

Seeing her again threw him off completely. They'd spent the rest of that day catching up, falling into a rhythm that felt familiar, effortless — like they'd never been apart. They'd been seeing each other since, though he wasn't sure what to call it yet.

But he never made it to the office, and that one indulgence had cost him. Now he was scrambling to fix the mess he'd made.

How am I gonna explain this?

If he could somehow survive today, he might still make it to their neighborhood Halloween party and figure out where things stood with Leila. If…

The elevator dinged, and Sam jolted upright as if the sound had punched him in the chest. He was out of time.

One of the Tower's ground-floor shops had to have something — anything — he could turn into entertainment. Worst-case scenario? Plan B.

Grimly recalling his sister's stories about kids' shows, he thought, Puppets. His last shred of dignity hung by a thread, clinging to the desperate hope that some miracle would save his skin.

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Author's note: Writing is a solitary endeavor, a true labor of love. It's only through feedback that we can grow and find motivation. Your thoughts mean the world to me, so please feel free to leave a comment.

REFERENCES:

Trivia: James D'Arcy (who played Edwin Jarvis in the TV show Agent Carter in 2015) has a sister named Charlotte.

MARVEL COMICS:

Captain America Vol 1 (1971) #139 — Leila Taylor (first appearance)

Sensational Spider-Man Vol 2 #24 (2006) — Jarvis' unnamed sister.

TEST Kitchen Infinity Comic Vol 1 (2022) — Chef Anna Ameyama, Jarvis' niece.

#2 — [Tony] So, what do you say, kiddo?! Ready to come make mouth-watering magic for me?

#3 — [Anna] Only doing what you asked, boss.

MARVEL CARTOONS:

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2011) 1x23 "The Ultron Imperative" — Ultron's nuclear Armageddon.