peter's birthday gift isn't really presented until he arrives at the apartment this evening. as soon as he enters the kitchen, the squad are gathered, a three-layer red velvet cake on the table with a ring of candles, and an assortment of gifts waiting to be opened.
from stanley and richard, ever the patriarchs, peter receives an envelope with $150 (richard hates buying gifts) and a dual photo frame, one with peter, aunt may, MJ and ned, the other with peter and the squad crowded together during a mid-summer barbecue.
jude's gift is less sentimental and more practical: a tiny tracking chip, designed to be installed in his back molar.
anthony looks somewhat incredulous before presenting his own gift; a polo mallet made of birch wood, scarlet and cobalt ribbons on the handle, a familiar black spider symbol painted on both faces of the mallet.
kate presents a small navy blue tin, containing a loose tea blend of chamomile and orange blossom: "perfect for granting a good night's rest". edwina follows up with a hand-painted teacup and saucer, both in a beautiful shade of crimson, silvery spiderwebs painted on the inside of the cup.
sansa, jordan and marie worked together on their own gift for peter (which is to say, jordan and marie split the cost of a gorgeous dark wash denim jacket, and sansa embroidered it with pearly white webs, peter at the middle of it, and a range of faceless but identifiable figures surrounding him.
jayce and viktor worked together to create an ointment that, once applied, releases a number of molecules that soothe and heal bruises at an accelerated rate.
inej and wyatt worked together to combine a leather-bound notebook with peter's initials stamped on the front, with a small bronze disc; a diary that can only be opened with peter's thumbprint.
victor presents a hybridized aloe vera plant that releasese the same soothing scent as lavender.
advik presents a ceiling ornament, a range of delicate wires forming a web, with tiny origami spiders suspended from each strand.
and aisling concludes the gifts with a key ring, three keys attached; one for the diner, one for the apartment and one for his new room. " just in case. you know? you might need a place to rest. "
"Wait, all of this is for me?" He'd expected a birthday cake, maybe - Aisling couldn't help herself when it came to feeding those she cared about, so it only seemed right. A cake was manageable. He could joke about it, blow out the candles, complain about getting older despite technically being nowhere near old enough to complain about getting older (don't you know . . . 22 is the new 35)!
. . . still, he hadn't expected this.
The gifts (and gifters) accumulate around him one by one, each somehow more personal than the last. Money he immediately tries to refuse before Stanley and Richard have the chance to insist. Though the frames have him going quiet for a moment too long, thumb brushing absentmindedly over the frame.
"Thank you." It's barely a whisper.
Then Jude's tracking chip earns a very different reaction.
Anthony gets an incredulous look back in return as Peter opens the mallet; "Is this because you think I need a hobby . . ?" uttered after. The tea earns a softer, more genuine smile from Peter. The cup and jacket leave him quieter, fingers tracing the silver webs and pearly embroidery, gaze lingering over the figures. "Guys..."
The ointment gets a grateful laugh, and the leather-bound notebook earns a raised eyebrow that turns into wide eyes when he discovers the hidden feature. The aloe plant is met with a quiet, but still genuinely delighted, "Okay, that's actually really cool."
Then the ceiling ornament (which he thinks is possibly the best spider related craft he's ever seen) is met with a gasp before he's looking up close at it again, following each delicate strand and tiny suspended spider with genuine fascination.
" . . . you're serious? My room?"